History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 199

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 199
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 199

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).

Tem Ditmars, who married Helena, was a grandson of John Johnson, who emigrated from Ditmarson, In Denmark, and was living Do a farm at Dutch Kills, L. 1., in 1640. Two of his grandchildren, Rom and Dowe.

Bottled on a tract of land lying on the west alde of the Millstone River, and running back from it for two miles to the neighborhood of Royce- fehl. Rem's part joined the river and remained In the family until about 1810, when, after the death of his son's widow, it was purchased and resided on by Abraham Beekman until his death. Since that time, l'eter N., son of Abraham, hus owned and resided on the old h questead. The land now owned by Jacob Schomp, aljolning it on the south, was a part of Rein's farm. Dowe lived in Roycefield. Rem was an active mem- ber of the Reformed Church at Millstone at the time of Ita organization in 1767. Ho had a son, Peter, also an active member, who lived ou that part of the place now owned and realded on by Jacob Schotup.

THE FRELINGHUYSEN FAMILY.

Thin distinguished family, of which Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, born in 1691, was the founder in Somerset County, presents the remark. ablo fenture of the first two generations being all ministers, and of the four succeeding ones (from llev. John, the son of Rov, Theodorus Jaco- bus) being quite as distinctively members of the bar. The sons of Theo- doros Jucobus wore: 1. Hev. Theodore, born In 1724, pastor at Albany fifteen years, went to Holland, and never returned ; 2. Rev. Jacobus, died during his passage to America, after being licensed by the Classis of Utrecht, in 1753, en route to Ulster Co., N. Y .; 3. Rov. Ferdinandu-, licensed in Holland, perished at sen, with him brotbor, while on his way homo to America; 4. Rev. John, born in 1727, preached at Raritan, andl died In 1751; 5. Rev. Henricus, preached in U'Ister Co., N. Y., and died in 1757, of smallpox. The two daughters, Auna and Slary, also married clergymen. Theso childrou word all born in Franklin township, this county.

The John above mentioned was the only son of Theodorus Jacobns who left descendants, and is therefore the ancestor of all who have sinco borne that name. He left two children, one of whom, Gen. Frederick, was the progenitor of a race of eminent lawyors. (Seo the chapter on the " Bonch and Bur of Somerset County.")

The residence of Rev. T. J. Frelinghuysen "doring the last years of his life was on u farm of 200 acres, bought of Danlol Hendrickson fur £350, venr Three-Mile Run, forming a part of the land nowor lately owned lyy John Brunson. It is described as bounded on the southeast by the luud of Danfel Hendrickson, northeast by tho pretended line of the heirs of Poter Sonmana, northwest by Duvid Seguire, southwest and northwest by Cornellus Bennet."*

THE VAN DOREN FAMILY.+

In 1874 the writer had the pleasure of meeting at The Hague, in Hol- land, the Baron de Westpha in, as his title was, who hebl the more active position of lord chamberlain to King William HIT.,-a position he had retained for at least eighteen years .! He was a Van Doren spelled In Holland by a small r), a descendant of the same ancestors from whom the American familien of that name are derived. By his idid access was gained to the goncalogical record office, and the early "family record" of the Van Dorens in Holland secured. There is no other copy, so far as we know, in this country. It makes the head of the family one Jan van Doren, who married Clyd von Damp; no dates given In connection with one of his three children (Nicholas) the date 1450 is mentioned. From this head twelve generations, containing forty-six nanny, brings the record to 1700, where it stops. The exact place of connection be- tween this family and the Pleter named below the record did not supply. por aro we yet possessed of the luformation requisito to note exactly where link fits to link.

The ancestor of the Van Doreus In this country was probably Pieter Van Doorn, who, with his wife, Jannetje Ranchen, hod a chill, Jannetje, baptized, na appears from the Collegiate Church records, April 12, 16.0. There was n Cornelis Lamborenn Van Doorn, who came over to Many In 1642, but, whatever hla relationship to Pieter, the latter seems to bo the head of the New Jersey families of the namo.į A Jacobs Van Doorn, probably Pleter's son (the evidence Is circumstantial only), was certainly the head of the next generation, ne hty history is well known. He removed from the western end of Long Island to Monmouth County about 1608. His wife was Marytje Bonnet. The 676 acres he uw ned in Monmouth, in the beautiful spot known as Plensaut Valley, near the present village of Hillmale, may still be nacertained lyy distinct lenin-

*" Fight Memorial Sermonn," Rer, A. Mcsaler, p. 154.

t Prepared by A. V. D. Honeyman, Esq.

: Soo Rer. William 11. Van Doren's article in " Our Home," p. 313.

¿ Except a branch In Monmouth County which dropped the Van and apell it Dorn ; they come from Diedlof Van Doorn, who married, in 1651. Elvle Janriens, ob Long Island.

810

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

dary lines, and the northwest corner of it, owned new by n Daniel Van Doren, has come down in n direct line through the family for one huo- dred and eighty years. The homestend residence was on the spot where Themas Ely now lives.$ Jacobus Van Doren's will, of 1719, is on file at Trenton, and from it the names of his ten children are clearly ascer- tained,-viz .: 1. Aria, born about 1695; 2. Engeltje, born about 1697, whose descendants settled at Peapack, Somerset Co., Amwell, Hunter- don Co., and elsewhere; 3. Christyjan (Christian), boro 1699, and the father of nearly all the Somerset County Van Dorens; 4. William, horn about 1701 ; 5. Jacob, born 1793, whose descendants chiefly settled at Penpack, Somerset Co .; 6. Angenyctie, born 1705, married William Wyckoff, of Freebold ; 7. Catharine, boro 1707, married Cornelius Wyck- off; 8. Abraham, born 1709, settled at Middlebush, Somerset Co , and became sheriff of the county; 9. Peter, born 1711, died a young man; 10. Isaac, born 1714, unmarried. The singular interval of ouly two years between the births will be noted.

The descendants of one of these children only will receive attention bere, innsmuch as they constitute the great bulk of the Van Dorens io this region .; Christian (as he spelled his own name), the third son, married Altje Schenck. They were the parents of the famous seventeen children,-famons because of the unmber, and because all of them save one married and raised families. At the time of her death, aged about ninety-six, she had no fewer than 352 descendants,-viz., 17 children, 129 grandchildren, 200 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great- grandchildren.#

Christian and Abram together removed from Monmouth to Somerset. They purebased 525 acres at Middlebush about 1723, and divided it into two farms. Christian took 359 acres fronting ou ths Amwell read, Abram 166 acres to the north of the first-named tract. There was some deception in the snle of this plet of 525 neres, a false agent of John Bennett having sold it to the Van Dorens. The latter repurchased it in 1763, paying $5.75 per nere. Christian erected a log house on his tract, abont 150 yards northeast of the present Middlebush chinreh, and planted an orchard, two of the trees of which lived and bore fruit in 1865, one hundred and twenty-five years after planting .¿ A frame building sup- planted the log one, erected a quarter of n mile farther west; it stood about one hundred years, and was burned down in 1859, the present residence of John B. Welsh being on its site. The lands of the two brothers, embracing the 525 acres, are now divided up into the following tracts : Walter J. Toulmin, Thomas Conner, John Egbert, Marcus Ben- nett, Mr. Bnrbanks, Mr. Woolsey, Ilenry G. Hummer, Jolin B. Welsh, John II. Thurman, Abram Van Deventer, Isane Covert, and the Franklin poor-farm.

The names of the seventeen children were: 1. Jacob, born 1724; married, first, Phebe Van Derveer; second, Jane Ditmars; n farmer who lived and died in Dedminister township. 2. John, born 1726; married Martha Scott; a farmer nt Millstone. The Van Dorens at White House are his descendants. 3. William, born 1727; married, first, Catharine Iloff; second, Maria Wyckoff; a farmer of Middlebush. 4. Maria, born 1729; married Petrus Nevins, of South Branch; died nged ninety-thres. 5. Aaron, bern 1730; married Margaret Stillwell; settled at Peapack; from him the present Peupack Van Dorens appear to be descended. 6. Sarah, born 1732; married, first, Jeremialı Lambert; second, Robert Ileod. 7. Christian, born 1734; married, first, Alche Van Bryck ; second, Maria Nevins; n farmer of Pluckamin. 8. Alche, born 1735; wife of Simon Wyckoff, of Middlebush, grandfather to Jacob Wyckoff, of that place. 9. Nellie, born 1737; wife of Jaques Voorhees, of Middlebush. 10. Abraham, horn 1738; of Griggstown; married Ann Van Dyke; grandfather to Rev. Isnac Vnn Doren, of Hopewell, N. Y., and had the most children who grew up and raised families of any of Christian's suns. 11. Peter, bora 1740; married Frances Hoff; n farmer of Millstone. 12. Jane, born 1741; married John Sutphen, furmer of Ten-Mile Run. 13. Roeliff, born 1743; died young. 14. Isane, bern 1744 ; umrried Sarnh Opie; lived at Neshanic. 15. Cornelins, born 1746; married Elizabeth Wyckoff; a farmer of Middlebush. 16. Joseph, born 1748; married

Sarah Vanderbilt; owned mills at South Braoch. 17. Benjamin, born 1751; married, first, Sophia Van Dyke; second, Dinah Ditmars.

THE NEVIUS FAMILY.[

Johannes Nevius was the first sirs of the families of that name in America, including the many who have resided in the valley of the Rari- tnn. He was from Selen (probably Solingen, in Westphalin), sod in early life became a trader. Venturing to engage io mercantile pursuits within the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, he finally settled there per- manently. The records of the Dutch Church show that, Nov. 18, 1653, this banus of marriage were published between Johannes Nevius, from Solen, and Arnientje Bleyck, from Batavis, isle of Java, Enst Indies. Johannes was elected a city schepen, " and in 1658 hecame "secretary uf the court of burgomasters and schepens." He seemed to bave spelled his surname " Nevius," ns is yet generally ndopted, but the family name has been variously spelled by many as Nafius, Nefyes, Nevus, Neefus, Nevius, Nevyus, etc.

Johannes hnd eight children,-viz., Jolinunes, born in 1654; Sarn, 1656; Cornelis, 1657; Marie, 1658; Cornelis (second), 1661; Petrus, 1662; Sara Catharine, 1664; nod Johnuna, 1667 or 1668.

Little is known of the children of Johannes save Petrus. He was the one through whom comes the Somerset County line. Ile was boro as stated, and wns yet living nt Flatlands in 1698 with bis wife, Janetje Roeloff Schenck, seven children, and one slave. One of his children, David, was born in 1702, nnd baptized at Brooklyn. This David Nevius (Neryus, as he spelled it) was the assessor of Franklin township who made ont the tax-list for 1745. He had six children,-Albert, Willinm, Peter D., Neltje, Jnnetje, and Altje. Peter D. had five children,-Gnrret, David, Peter, John, Elbert. Garret was the father of J. Staats Nevins, nt pres- ent of Pleasant Plains, Somerset Co., Mrs. Robert Tedd, decensed, of Lamington, N. J., and Peter Garret, the son of J. Staat Nevius, whe owns the homestead nt Pleasant Plains, and is of the sixth generation of the family who has possessed this same farm. Petrus wns another child, and possibly Martin ** and Cornelis, who, with the Petrus lust named, were privates in the Fifty-first Company of Kings County militia in 1715. The second Petrus married Altis T'en Eyck, March 30, 1717, and bad a 600 Petrus, who was born in July, 1718, nad died Dec. 2, 1793; he removed to Somerset after 1738. Ilis children were Peter P., David, Martin, and Wilhelminn.

Peter P. lived and died on the present farm of Isanc Voorhees, nt Pleasant Plains; he married Jane Stothoff. His children were : 1. Peter, who lived a while in Pennsylvania, but returned to Six-Mile Run. 2. Jolin, who married Gertrude Hageman, and had children,-Peter, Ben- jamin,tf nnd Elbert; the latter is a Reformed (Dutch) minister, once a missionary in Chinn. 3. Elbert, whe married Sarah Staats, and left ne children.

Martin lived at Blawenburg, and married Sarah Stothoff. llis chil- dren wore Johnnna nud John. This John hnd six children, ef wbom ons, Martin, lives in the old homestead nt Blawenburg.

David was born June 2, 1758, And died March 12, 1825. IIe married, Nov. 4, 1781, Elizabeth Schureman, a granddaughter of John Schurenmin, the emigrnnt. David Nevins had twelve children : 1. Peter S., born Aug. 23, 1782, died Sept. 27, 1870. Ile married Marin Van Doren. Ile was leng a farmer nt Plensant l'lains, and was one of the judges of the Som- erset courts for a number of years. 2. Aun, born May 8, 1784, married Peter Bogart, who lived at Princeton nud was long the steward of the seminary there. His children were Gilbert, who lives South ; Eliza, wife of Rev. William Neal; Willinm, who is South ; Margaret, also in the South ; John, and Duvid, the latter a lawyer. 3. John S., boru Nov. 30, 1785, married Lydia Van Dyke. William J., now of Princeton, John, of Now York, Rev. Henry, of Kentucky, and Archibald were their children. 4. David, born Aug. 19, 1787, married Margaret Schureman, his cousin, nnd lived neur New Brunswick. 5. Wilhelmina, bern July 4, 1789, mar- ried Isnac Skillman, n farmer, nud lived near Ringos. 6. James S., bern April 30, 1791, died Aug. 16, 1794. 7. Martin, born Feb. 28, 1793, died Aug. 14, 1794. 8. Elizabeth S., born Nov. 14, 1794, died May, 1800. 9. James S. (2d), born Sept. 16, 1796, died in 1859.## Hle married Catharine Polhemus. His children were Elizabeth, Mary, Catharine (wife of Rev. Dr. D. D. Demnrest), Ilenry, Jane, nnd James. 10. Margaret, born April 3, 1799, died nbout 1864. She married William Van Dyke, of Kingston.

* Or did in 1783. The above facts nre abridged from the letter of Rev. G. C. Schenck in "Our Home," December, 1873, where is to be found all that is known concerning Jucubus.

+ The writer being ongaged upon n complete history of the Van Doren family to the present generation, and "Our Home" for 1873 giving, in several articles, all the dates known concerning the family in the seven- teenth and eighteenth centuries, it has not not been dermed of historical service that these mnny names, with dates already published and te be republished in bouk-form, should be liere neted.

* For her great virtues, etc., see "Our Home," p. 54.

¿ Ralph Voorhees, in “ Our Home," p. 338.

i By A. V. D. Honeyman, Esq.

T A schepen held about the rank of a modern alderman.

## Ile had n son Johannes. This, or some other Johannes, had five

children,-Martin, Abraham, John, David, nnd Margaret. if His son, Rev. John L. Nevius, is now a missionary in China. ## See page 589 of this work.

Peter AVoorhees.

811

FRANKLIN.

The children were Margaret, who married Howard Malcolmi, of Phila- delphin ; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Joseph White, missionary to China; James ; Augustus ; Edward, a physician in Philadelphia ; Hlenry, a low- yer in Princeton ; Williom, and Annie. 11. Martin, who died July 30, 1817, a young man. 12. Isaac, born Oct. 8, 18/1, died about 1866. 110 married Susan Hutchings, and lived at Titusville, N. J.

THE VOORHEES FAMILY.

According to a custom prevailing in former times of adopting the Christian namo of the father as the surname of the child, the great An- cestor of tho Voorhees family was an Albert of Holland, who was born probably in the early part of the fifteenth century. His children were ! Stophon, Courten, Ilendrick, Jan, Hilbert, Wiavil, Gertian, and Mergin. Stephen Courten Van Voorhees," or Voorhuysen, son of Courten Albert, settled In Flatlands and married Wellimple Roeliffs. Stephen Courten emigratod from near Ilesse, in Holland, in April, 1660. His children wore Mergin, Hendrick, Lucas, Jun, Albert, Abram, Alche, and Jaoetje.

Minun Yan Voorhees, son of Lucas Stevens, the first emigraat, was born la Flatlanda, and married, April 25, 1717, Antie, daughter of Garret l'ieter- son Wyckoff, removing to New Brunswick, N. J., about tho samo year. Ile was afterwards married to Lemitje Stryker, widow of Jacob Wyckoff, of Six-Mile Run. Three of his brothers, John, Rocluff, Albert, also two sisters, Catrincho and Wellentje, removod with him.

Garret, brother to Minna, lived and died in Middlebush, in the bouse where John P. South now lives, and was tho owner of tho farmi of 183 neres connected with It. A part of the house was built of and now con- tains somo of tho timber of the old mill of Lucas Voorhees, which stood on the Six-Mile Run Brook. ilo was boro May 13, 1720, nod married, first, Neltjo Nevins, daughter of Petrus Nevius, of South Branch. She died Dec. 9, 1780. He married, second, Sarah Stothoff, of Six-Milo Itun, in 17:3, and died a short time after.

Garret, son of tho first Gurret, was born March 4, 1750, married Ma- tilda, daughter of Item Ditmars, of Millstone, lived at Middlebush, re- moved to Six-Mile Run in April, 1820, and died Oct. 18, 1823. Ilis widow, Matilda, died March 21, 1827. The other children of the first Garret were Ann, born July 10, 1752, menrried Abraham Beckman, Ilved at Griggstown, and died May 25, 1817 ; Catrinche, Dec. 27, 1754, and died Nov. 26, 1764 ; l'eter, May 7, 1758, married Margaret Bojce, and died on the old homestead ; Neltje, in 1760, and married Brugun Van Doren, who Hved at Pluckamin, where he died, and was the father of Mrs. John Hardcastle, of Somervillo, and Mrs. William Van Doren, of North Branch, both lately deceased ; and Catalina, May 21, 1764, married Juhn Van Doren, of Millstone (father of Dr. Garret Van buren), and lived at Bound Brook.

The children of Garret Voorhees and Matilda Ditmars were the fellow- Ing : Garret, born Nov. 22, 1776, died March 23, 1:77; Lena, March 11, 1778, married l'eter Voorhees, lived at New Brunswick, died Jan. 28, 1827 ; Nelly, May 27, 1780, never married, died ut Middlebush, Feb. 18, 1810 ; Jane, Sept. 13, 1782, married Richard Manley, lived at New Bruns- wick, and died September, 1843; Garret,t Nov. 6, 1754, married Sarah Whitaker, lived at Mue Brook; Dinnh, Moy 11, 1787, never married; Ann, Sept. 24, 1789, married Samuel W. Scott, lived In Yates Co., N. Y .; Jolın G., Jan. 17, 1793, married Hebecen Van Derveer, lived at Fairview, [11., died March 31, , 1839; Ralph (tho writer), June 20, 1790, married Sarah Van Cleef, daughter of Jolin Van Cleef, of Six-Milo Run; and Maria, Oct. 20, 1798, married Daniel Polhemus, and lives Dow at Fulr- view, III.

Could all the natien of the desceodanta of the first Voorhees emigrant to this country le collected, they would be very numerous. Besides be- ing In New York and New Jersey, they are In Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and HHnois. To the three that-named Western States minny familles calgrated prior to and at the commencement of the present century.

Albert Voorhers, recently a judge of the Court of Appeals, and also Ilentenant-Governor of the State of Louisiana, is a descendant of the seventh generation of Cornelius, of Middlesex County. Paulel W., a recent member of Congress from Indiana, la the great-grandson of Stephen, of New Jersey, who married Margaret Van Dyke, March 25, 1762, aud whoso son, Peter, married Lemma Van Arsdale, of Kentucky, In 1796, and removed tu Rutler Co, Chio, about 1800.

Jaques (Ist) was born with a crooked foot, and, being unable to walk, traveled abit over the country or his farm on horseback or in his phac- ton. Ho married Nellio Van Doren, daughter of Christian, and had three

childron,-Jaques, Altjo, and Abram. Although a crippde, Jaques (Ist was a man of unusual enterprise and perseverance. Ile managed a large fart, ond discharged the duties of county treasurer for a long time. Ho dealt much In Government money during aud succeeding the Itevolution, and afterwards was a partner with Col. and Judge Nelson, of New Brunswick, in owning a vresol called the " Favorite," which jdled between thot place and the island of Madeira, exporting produce ond bringing wings. Jaques also kept a store in the east end of Ily largo house, the celler of which was constantly stocked with different wines. An old store account-book, yet well preserved, contains the following accounts with noted persons living at some distance from the store:

" no.

"1792, Oct. Sth. Major Farmer. To acc't for wine, 10 gal., @@ 12s .- £6 12s. Gd.

Dec. 12th. 10 gals, (a, 12s .- £6 124. 60.

= Oct. 23d. Governor l'attervon. I pipo London marked winc, £65 56. 0d.

= May 30th. Richard Stockton. To 1 pipo marked, LO (s. OJ.

June Shl. James Parker. To 12 pipo wine, £30 0s. (M).

Nov. 19th. Andrew Kirkpatrick. To 12 pipo wine, £32 03. 0J.

1793, Ang. 27th. Dr. John Witherspoon. 27 gol. wino, (@ lis .- £20 0%. OJ."

Lucas Voorhees, brother to Jaques (Ist), built the mill opposite Jaques' store, and owned tho farm on which his great-graodson, Abram, now resides. llis daughter, Lucy, married Peter Qulek, of Ton-Slito Run .:

Jaques (2d), son of Jaques (1st), married Dinah Stryker, March 11, 178%. Their children, with dates of birth, were: John, 1790; Jaquer, 1792; Abram, 1705; Petor, 1796; Cornelia, 1800; Ellen, 1803. This Jaques was the first in this section to sow and ruise clover secd, prior to 1800.

Jaqnes (3d), son of Jaques (2d), had children,-Jaques, Matilda (who married John De Mott und lives at Milllebush), Frederick, V. L. (who married Eliza Beckman), Abram (who married Sarah Ana Buenson), and Johını.

JOIN HONEYMAN.

of Griggstown, had a strange, eventful history, which was never told in print until related by llan. John Van Dyke in " Our Hopie," 1873. Tho particulars of his conduct as "a spy of Gen. Washington" would almost seem to bo mythical, but for the corroborative proofs subsequently brought forward by Julgo Van Dyke when his statements wore chal- lenged by a local newspaper .¿ This man, born in Armagh, Ireland, abont 1727, of Scottish ancestry, hud como to America in 1758 oa the English frigate " Boyne" as a soldier to fight in the French and Indian war. On the passage ho had saved Gen. Wolfe's life, tho latter having been n fellow passenger, atl was rewarded by being made one of his body-guards. He fought at Quebec, where Wolle fell, and ulded in lear- ing his commander from the field. With an honoralde discharge he went to Philadelphia, married Mary Henry, an Irish girl from Colerain, and when the Revolutionary war broke out sought and obtained an in- troduction to Washington,-with what result will appear.

Early In 1776, Honeyman removed to Griggstown, to the house now opjwwsite the road which leads In from Franklin l'ark, the older por- tion of which etill stande. Here he soon became known as a syoipa- thizer with the British, and was proclaimed a Tory. That his removal to this point was designed there can be little doult. He acled the part of a tradesman in cattle, and the British, believing him a Tory, allowed him to pass and repass within their lines. The Counel of Safety, when In session at Princeton, ordered that " he be committed to Trenton tinol for High Treason," but subsequently took bail In Cho | They belleved him, perhaps, to be a traitor ; noue but Washington knew his guilt was felgned.

About Dec. 20, 1776, ho made a thorough examination of tho diaposi- tion of the British forere at Trent in from w. thin their linea, and escaped to the American army ' Seized by the Americans and Imprisoned, Washington interviewed him and allowed him to fer. Three days after, Washington was with his army in Trenton, Hall was captured, and tho conutry mife.

Says Judge Van Dyke, in reference to the effect of the knowledge of the spy's escape from Imprisonment by the American subflery upon the

* Van Voorheos means " from Infore Hesse."

+ Samuel, one of his suns, resides ou the homestead, and Nathaniel, cashier of the Clinton Bank and one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Hunterdon County, Is at Clinton.

: See also the Voorhees family In Montgomery ton uship. (See the " In Memoriam" volume of Dr John Homyman, by his ao,

A. V. D. Honeyman, published io 18"4. Gut.note, pp. 10-13.

[ " Minutes of the Council of Safety," 1777, pp. 169, 170.

: The particular ase interesting, sco "Our Home," pp. 445, 44J.

812

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

people of Griggstown, who now believed him all the more u Tory, from having been within the British lines: "The news of the capture und es- cape of Honeyman speedily reached his own neighborhod of Griggstown, where the indignation and excitement reached the highest point. It was well known there that he had gone over to the Euglish nrmy, und he had already received the title of 'Tory John Honeyman,' but now ' British spy, traitor, and cut-thront,' and various other disagreenble epi- thets, were heard on every side. Ilis house was surrounded at midnight by a crowil of his exasperated neighbors, who, by arrangement, had np- pronched it from different directions, supposing he might be there. They demanded the surrender of the traitor or that the premises should be thoroughly searched, and perhaps reduced to ashes. His wife protested that she knew nothing of his whereabouts and seemed grieved at his misconduct, but this only increased the demand and tumult. She soon efter unlocked the door, and, waving her hand, asked the crowd to listen a moment. They became quiet, and she inquired who was their leader. The answer, ' Abraham Baird,' came from all directions. Now, Abraham Baird was one of her well-known neighbors, a young man only eighteen years of nge, of stalwart frame, unsbrinking conrage, and unexception- able character, who had from the first espoused the cause of the colonies with all the energy and enthusiasm of youth. Ilo was afterwards in the service, and came out of it bearing the title of major. In his old age he received an honorable pension from the government. The writer wns well acquainted with him during his latter years, and he was one of the persons from whom much of the information herein narrated was re- crived. When the wife of Honeyman heard the name of Baird her ap- preleusions subsided, for she kuew him well, and knew that no harm could come to her or her children so long as he controlled affairs. She invited him to ler, und he went. Sbe handed him a paper and asked him to read it aloud to those outside. Ile did so, after first carefully looking it over himself. The paper which he read was as follows :

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 199

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