History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 201

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 201
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 201

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).

The subject of this sketch is the great-great-grand- son of Garret. His great-grandfather was Albert, his grandfather William, and his father Peter. Wil- liam married Sarah Stoothoff, and had a number of children, of whom Peter alone reached mature years. The latter was born April 11, 1746. His first wife was a Cortelyou, by whom he had three daughters. His second wife was Juda Sutphen, who was born Oct. 25, 1764, and whom he married March 29, 1798. l'eter Stoothoff ocenpied two hundred and twenty- five aeres of land at Six-Mile Run, and the fifth gen- eration of the family is still on the tract. lle was a member of the Reformed Church of Six-Mile Run, where he held the office of deacon and elder, and died Aug. 7, 1826. ITis wife died Dec. 21, 1847.

Peter Stoothoff, son of Peter, was the only child who grew to manhood. He was born on the home- l'arm Oct. 2, 180-1, and passed his earlier years at

work on the old place and in obtaining a common- school education. After the death of his father he came into possession of the homestead, and has re- sided there since, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been a member of the Republican party since the war, though he has had no political aspirations. Ile is a member of the Reformed Church at Franklin l'ark, with which he has been officially connected both as deacon and elder. He has been an active promoter of the worthy enterprises of his day, and so passed his life as to command the respect and confidence of his friends. He now lives in retirement on his farm, and has attained a ripe old age.

Mr. Stoothoff has been twice married. His first wife was Eliza, daughter of Peter Quick, of Ten- Mile Run, whom he married Sept. 8, 1830. She was born Jan. G. 1806. By this marriage was born a daughter, Ellen, Jan. 21, 1832, died July 3, 1844. Mrs. Stoothoff died June 17, 1832; and on May 1, 1844, Mr. Stoothoof married his present wife, the widow of John S. Garretson, of Readington. She was born May 9, 1811. Of this nnion have been born Judith A., April 18, 1845, and wife of Charles B. Wyckoff, of Brooklyn; John II., Feb. 27, 1847, at present farming the home-place ; Sarah, Sept. 27, 1852 residing at home; and Maria, March 15, 1855, died Dec. 12, 1868.

815

FRANKLIN.

Wyckoff ; 1864, Cornelius G. Hongland, Jacob W. Veghto, Peter A. Voorhees ; 1865, Cornelius G. Iloagland, Benjamin S. Tuttea, Peter A. Voorheen; 1866-67, J. V. D. Iloagland, Benjamin S. Totten, Peter A. Voorhees ; 1868-70, J. V. D. Hoagland, Cornelioa W. Wyckoff, Joha B. Van Doren ; 1871, Garretson HIngeman, Alfred J. Voorhees, John B. Van Doren; 1872, Garretaon Hagemun, l'eter J. Stants, Alfred J. Voorhees; 1873, Peter J. Stanta; 1874, John M. Garretson, Peter J. Stunts, Isaac J. Von Noys; 1875, John M. Garrotson, William IT. Ayres, Isunc J. Van Nuys; 1870, WIlHam 11. Gullek, WIHlum II. Ayres, Isaac J. Van Noys : 1877, Willlam II. Golick, William H. Ayres, Iauic J. Voorhees, Garrot Voorhees, Jr., John De Mutt ; 1878, William II. Gulick, I. J. Van Nuys, IMIne J. Vuurheca, Garrot Voor- hees, C. N. Staats; 1879, James Cropsey, Garret Voorhees, C. N. Stants; 1880, James Cropsey, C. Nelson Stunts, Matthew Suydam.

FRANKLIN TAX-LIST, 1735.

The following tax-lists show the number of acres of land, number of cattle, number of sheep, and the amount of tax of every taxable inhabitant of the township of Franklin at a very early date. The figures are arranged in parallel columns, but, for convenience, they are given as below, with the simple explanation that a. is for acres, c. for cattle, 8. for sheep, and t. for tax. The spelling of the names is retained, but not the capitalizing.

Corel (Col ) Faermer. (Nothing). John Wytknegt, a. 100; c. 7; t. £1 1s. 3d. Abraham Van Voorlees, a. 297; c. 16; t. £2 11s. John Grnie, a. 3; c. 4 ; t. 6a. Id.

Hendreryk Van Derbylt, a. 100; c. 12; t. £1 88.

Lymon Von Anre Dalen, a, 200; c. 19 ; a, 13; t. £2 11s. 30. Peterus Wyckef, a. 300; c. 20; 8. 20; t. £'3 7s.

John Wyckoff, a, 300; c. 15; 1. 20; 1. £3 3d. Jucob Fontyn, a. 120; c. 12; 1. 6; t. £1 98. 3d. John Metsolner, «. 00 ; c. 9; s. 6; 4. £1 28. 23. Pleter Metseluer, a. Ion) ; c. 9 ; s. 8; 1. £1 68. 2d. James llerker, c. 1; t. 5e.

Ileynier Fontyn, a. 100; e. 13; t. £1 9s. 1d. Christyaen Von Dorn, a. 350; c. 18; 1, £3 4s. Henderik Blau, a. 110; c. 10; s. 9; t. £1 7s. 2d.

Jacob Buya, a. 50 ; c. 14; s. 11 ; t. £1 108. Johnnes Sebrunt, c. 16; s. 3; 1. £1 88, 2d.

Folkert Folkorse, c. 150; c. 15; # 8; 1. £2 38. 24. Charles Fontyn, Sr , a. 160; c. 13; s. 10; 1. £2 3a 34. John Funtyn, c. 6 ; 1. 75. 2d.

Denys Van Duyn, «. 200; c. 9 ; 8. 6; t. £1 103. 1d. Isack Yunse, «. 151; c. 13; 1. 7 ; 1. £2 1s. Corueles l'leterse, a. 100; c. 10; 1. £1 58. 2J. Abraham Duke, a. 60; c. 14; a, 15; t. £1 109. 3d. Corneles Sudam, a. 260; c. 11 ; 1. 20; 1. £2 98. George Anderse, a. 250; 0, 12; s. 12; t. £2 6s. 1d. Charles Fontyn, c. 10 ; a, 9 ; 7. £1 ]s. 31. Jacus Fontyn, a. 350; c. 19 ; 9. 14 ; 1. £3 7a. 1d.

Abrahom Fontyn, q. 200; c. 14; s. 14; t. £2 5s. 2d. John Sumark, a. 140; c. 6; 1. 3; t. £1 28. Willem Van Duyn, a. 250; c. 10; 1. 11 ; 4. £2 24. 3d. Sarouel Molfont, a. 30; 4. 13; t. £1 Gs. 3). Symon Van Wikole, a. 250; c. 10; 1. 10; 1. £2 11s.

Roeleff Sebrunt, a. 330; c. 20; s. 15; t. £3 78. 31. Philip Folkers, a. 100; c. 17; 1. 10; 4. £3 88. Josoph Folkora, c. 1; 4. 68.

John Anter, «. 230; c. 15; s. 11 ; 1. £2 80.

Johnnuos Koelbnk, a. 150; c. &; f. £1 1s. 3d. Philip You, a. 150 ; s. 3; t. 11a. ld. Tuenes Montanyo, a, 100; c. 9 ; 1. 7; £1 5s. 10. Gerbrant Pieterse, a. 200; c. 10; t. £1 108. 20.

John Broca, «. 390; c. 24; 0, 30; (. £1 ]18. Pieter Broca, a. 100; c. 24; 1. 1> : 1. £1 4s. 3d. Goorge Davids, c. 7; t. 80, 31). Pieter Woortman, c. 5; 1. 68. 3d.

Pieter Burno, a. (100?); c. 12; 4 £1 8a.

Pieter llelyn, a. (-) ; c. 4; 4. £5. Durgon Koeverl, a. 260 ; c. 3; 4. £1 5a.

Isaac llover, c. 2: 1. 2. 23.

Marlettae Kovort, u. 200; c. 9 ; 8. 4; 1. £2 1s. 1d. Tomas Bort, a, 100; c. 7; . 11; t. £1 3. 20. I'lllip Folkerse, Jr., a. 25 ; c. 12 ; t. £1 46. 13. llenry Wals, a. 2; c. 4; 1. 58.

Jncub Probasco, a. 300 ; c. 16; 1. 14; t. £3 ] .. Christoffel Probasco, c. 1 ; 1. 68.

Cornelia Van Aarsdulen, a, 200 ; c. 12; 1. £2 IN. Jacobus Willemse, a. 150; c. 11 ; 8. 3 ; 4. £1 10s. 1d.

llonderlk Gollek, a. 150; c. 9; t. £1 68, 3d. Jockem Guliek, a. 180 ; c. 9; 1. 0; 4. £1 9s. 1d.

Tomas Van Dick, a. 32 ; c. 6 ; 1. 98. Ilenderik Curtelyon, a. 300 ; c. 12 ; t. £2 Ga. Elbert Stoothof. a. 290; c. 23 ; s. 16; t. £3 9s. 3J.

Tuenes Van Pelt, a. 200 ; c. 14; s. 4; 1. £2 48. laack Symense, a. 300; c. 8 ; t. £2 1s.

Dirck Hogelant, a. 150; c. 10; t. £1 88. David Novias, a. 300; c. 10; 8. 11 ; (. £3 21. Hendrick Fanner, a. 100; c. 11 ; t, £1 Ca. 11.

Jacob Kinne, a. 130; c. 10; s. 6; t. £1 88.

James Prine, a, 300 ; c. 17 ; 8, 20; 7. £3 34. 13.

Leffert Hagewont, c. 3; t. 38. 3d. Kurumuel Greggs, a. 150; c. 6 ; 1. 3 ; t. £1 2. 2.1.

Obaddie Wilkens, a. 150; c. 9 ; 1. 8 ; (. £1 8g.

John Nelel, a, 100; c. 9; 4. £1 48. 1d.

Benyemon Greggs, «, 4; c. 5; t. Gs. 2d.

Juhn Musset, a. 1; c. 3; 1. 36. 3d. Franses Feurt, «, 3 ; c. 1 ; t. 1s. 20. Toums Greggs, «. 30; c. 5; t. 78. 38. Obnidia Homes, 4, 80; c. 5; 1. 108. 1dl.

Samuel Gollck, a. 200; c. 8; *. 7 ; t. £1 9s.

Willem Smiet, a. 100; c. 6 ; 1. £1 20. Lewis Moero, a. 1 ; c. 2 ; 1. £2 2s. Grace Harresen, a. 1 ; c. 2; 1. 2s. 24.

\ Tomus Soden, a. 00; c. 10; s. 16; t. £1 5s. Jolın Berico, a. 130; c. 1; 1. 78. 3d. Samuel Corneles, a, 50; c. 3: 1. 68. 1d. Willem Willense, a. 100; c. 5; 1. 11s. 1d.

Thomas Logges, 4. 12; c. 3 ; 1. 4s. 1d.

Menerlk Emans, a. 450; c. 10; s. 6; 1. £1.

Beniamen Emone, a. 150; c. 7; t. £1 5s. 1.1.

Tomne Yates, «. 200; c. 8; 8. 19 ; 2. £1 105. 3. Corneles WIlmme, 4. 50 ; c. 5; 1. 88. 341. Tuenis Quick, a, 100; c. 11 ; 8, 3; t. £1 11s.

Corneles De Hart, a. 8 ; c. 1; t. bs. 2.

Mieter Gulick, 0. 130; c. 7; * , 7; t. £1 3s. Id.

Tuones Gullck, a. 50 ; c. 3; 1. 60. 18.

Marten Polen, c. & ; 1. Go. 1dl.

John Stephens, a. 250; c. 11 ; «, 10; 4. £2 3s. 3d.

Willem Wallen, a. 1 ; c. 8; 1. 105. Daniel Gregga, «, 136 ; c. 9 ; 8. 7 ; 1. £1 78.

Josep Leigh, c. 4; t. De.

Jolin Corle, a. 250; c. 25; 1. £3 71. 30.

Pleter Pomle, a. 8 ; c. 3 ; 1. 4a.

John Stryker, u. 200; c. 15 ; t. £2 04. 1.1.

Robert Lawrence, a, 110; c. 4; t. 58. 2d.

John Vliet, a. 500; c. 17; s. 10; t. £3 10s. 1d.

Jacob Wicof, a. 150; c. 11 ; t. £1 !F. 1d.

John Folkers, a. 290; c. 13; 8, 10; 4 £2 1s. Id.

Daniel Hendericso, c. 1 ; 1. 50. Christoffel Probasco, a, 100; c. 12 ; t. £1 `s.

Froderik Van Leu, «. 400 ; c. 19; a, 13; t. £3 10%.

Daniel Andorvet, a. 1 ; c. 4; 1. 68.

Elins Burger, a. 4; c. 5 ; 1. Gn. Qd.

Paulo Miller, c. 4; 1. 54. Koert Van Voorheen, a. 160 ; c. 9; 1. £1 78. 1d.

Abraham llyer, c. 3 ; 4. 3s. 3.1.

Corneles Wyckof, a, 200 ; c. 12 ; 1. £2 1m

Symon Wyckof, 4. 300; c. 21; 1. 11, 4 £3 1 %. Adreaon llegoninn, «, 150; c. 12 : 0. 9 ; 7. £1 11. 31.

Ayck Sudanı, a. 138 ; c. 8 ; t. £1 6e. Jeroniemals Rappalye, a. 221 ; c. 22 ; 1. 21 ; 1. 63 3 21. Julın Frana, c. 4 ; t. ba.

Abraham Van Dorn, a, 130 ; c. 10: 1. £1 SA.

Lucas Koovert, a. 145 ; c. 8 ; t. £1 ds, 1d. Willem Yanse, a. 140 ; c. 10 ; 1. 10 ; t. £1 9%. Willem Robens, c. 6 ; 6 78. 21.

816

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

There were thus taxed in Franklin township, at this time, 1206 cattle and 592 sheep.

Another tax-list of Franklin, for the year 1745, is given in "Our Home," pp. 406-7, to which the reader is referred.

SIX-MILE RUN is situated on the road which forms the division line between Middlesex and Somerset Counties, about six miles southwest of New Brunswick. Its post-office has sometimes been in the one county and sometimes in the other, according to which side of the road the postmaster for the time being lived.

The post-office at Six-Mile Run, now Franklin Park, was established in 1826. The first postmaster was Lewis Boisnot, followed by William M. Baker, Henry H. Stryker, Cornelius Hoagland, with C. C. Beekman, the present incumbent.

The place contains one Reformed (Dutch) church, a fine district school-house, the usual conveniences for the mechanical arts, and about a dozen dwellings near the church, on the Somerset side of the road. There are about fifty dwellings within a mile of the church, without regarding the present county line.

This hamlet began to assume some importance about 1710. A church was built about 1718, at what is now Elm Ridge Cemetery, and stood there for forty-eight years. The first court-house of the county was at Six-Mile Run, and must have been built about 1714. At this date this was the most important locality in the county. This court-house was accidentally burned in 1737; when rebuilt it was located at Millstone. But a single example of the business donc in it re- mains .*

In 1766 the county line was surveyed, and the houses indicated, along the Six-Mile Run road.+ Di- rectly west of the church was Joseph Gifford's tavern, about half a mile west Adrian Manley's tavern, and opposite, on the Middlesex side, a little back in the field, the house of Nicholas Johnson. At Nine-Mile Run, on the Middlesex side and the east side of the brook, lived the Widow Hoagland, and opposite, on the west side of the brook, Jacobus Wyckoff. Half a mile farther west was a gate; Peter Gulick's house on the Somerset side, and Daniel Barcalow, some distance in the field, opposite. A still-house stood just cast of Ten-Mile Run, and Dallis Hageman re- sided opposite. Jacobus Labre lived just over the run, and Jacob Van Dyke half a mile farther on ; while on the Somerset side we find the names of John Gulick, Tunis Quick, William Donaldson, and Wil- liam Williamson, who kept tavern where the road forks westward to Rocky Hill.

Directly cast of the Six-Mile Run church was a tavern kept by the Widow Woods, and the houses of John Stothoff, William Stothoff, John Manley, Peter Pomme, Widow Stricker, Benjamin Hageman, and Simon Hageman are marked between the church and the brook. Opposite the house of Benjamin Hage-

man stood those of John Suydam and Peter Suydam, while that of Philip Kearney was on the south side of the road, but on the north of the county line, which curved around it.

East of Six-Mile Run, and on the Somerset side of the road, occur the names of Simon Wyckoff (near the brook), Jacob Wyckoff, Nicholas Van Lewen (Liew ?), Rev. John Leydt, Fulkert Van Nostrand, John Van Lever, John Kent's tavern, and John Shank's. Here a road is marked as forking off to- wards Millstone. On the west side of the Mile Run is a house of Philip French.

On the south side of the road, opposite Simon Wyckoff's, was the house of John Pyatt. Opposite Nicholas Van Lewen's was William Williamson's, while eastward, on the Middlesex side, occur the names of Samuel Garretson, Cornelius Bennet, Esq., John Bennet, and then comes a road leading to George's road. East of this is Jacobus Cornell's place, Leffert Waldron's house, and close to the Three-Mile Run his tavern. Three-quarters of a mile farther east is placed Philip French's farm-house. His dwelling was in New Brunswick.

June 25, 1872, the name of Six-Mile Run was changed to Franklin Park.

EAST MILLSTONE is situated in the western part of Franklin township, on the Delaware and Raritan Canal. It has a population, according to the census of 1880, of 431. It contains about ninety dwellings, three churches (Reformed Dutch, a Methodist, and a Roman Catholic), a district school and a high school, two general stores, two hotels,# two grain-stores, a hardware-store, a drug-store, a distillery, two black- smith-shops, a wagon-manufactory and wheelwright- shop, two coal-yards, a hay-press, and, until recently, a lumber-yard. It is the present terminus of the Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad. The Cedar Hill Cemetery is on the borders of the village. In 1873 the inhabitants secured an act of the Legislature authorizing them to make certain improvements in the streets.

Until about 1855 the place was known as Johns- ville. In that year the Millstone and New Bruns- wick Railroad was built, with a charter permitting the company to extend it to the western bounds of Hillsborough township. The building of the railroad gave an impetus to the growth of the village, which from that time was called East Millstone. In 1872 the railroad was extended across the river, under a new charter, and ran by a southwesterly course to the Delaware, at Somerset Junction. This was done to anticipate and prevent the building of the Bound Brook and Philadelphia road. As the latter suc- cecded, however, the extension of the Millstone road to the Delaware was abandoned in 1879. The track was taken up, and the trestle-work across the meadows is now in process of demolition.

* See p. 566 of this work.

+ See map of land patents, etc., elsewhere.

# The "Franklin House," established in 1829, and " Pace's Hotel," started in 1856, and now kept by Mr. Hulsizer.

RESIDENCE OF STEPHEN GARRITSON, FRANKLIN TP, SOMERSET Ca, N.J.

817

FRANKLIN.

BLOOMINGTON is situated at the most northern point of Franklin township, in a curve of the Rari- tan River. It is opposite the village of Bound Brook, and has at times been known by the name of South Bound Brook. The Delaware and Raritan Canal passes through the place. It contains more than one hundred dwellings, a population of 611, according to the census of 1880, a Reformed (Dutch) Church, an Episcopal Church, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright- shop, a store, an extensive lumber-yard, two steam saw-mills, and a grist-mill. A beautiful iron bridge crosses the Raritan, connecting Bloomington with Bound Brook.

WESTON is on the Millstone River, about two miles north of East Millstone; the Delaware and Raritan Canal passes through the place. It was formerly known by the name of Frogtown, but when William T. Rodgers became proprietor of the mill at this place he gave it the name of Weston; in the last century it was known as Van Nest's. There is a dis- triet school in this place, with a post-office, a black- smith-shop, a store, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, and about fifteen dwellings. An iron bridge erosses the Mill- stone at this point. A skirmish took place at Weston, Jan. 20, 1777, between Gen. Philemon Diekinson and a foraging-party of the British, sent out from New Brunswiek .*

ROCKY HILL proper is in Montgomery township, but opposite, in Franklin township, a village is be- ginning to grow up. The Delaware and Raritan Canal passes here, and has an extensive basin. The Rocky Ilill Railroad, connecting with the main Penn- sylvania Railroad, has its termination here. There are about a dozen dwellings, a store-house, a lumber- yard, a sash-and-blind factory, and the railroad engine-house.

MIDDLEBUSH is a small village near the centre of Franklin township. The Millstone and New Bruns- wiek Railroad passes through the place. It contains about twenty-five dwellings, with a population of $4, according to the census of 1880, a Reformed (Dutch) church, organized in 183-4, a distriet school, a high school, a store, a hay-press, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright-shop, and a post-office.

GRIGGSTOWN is a small village near the southern end of Franklin township; the Delaware and Raritan Canal passes through the place. It contains about twenty-five dwellings, a Reformed (Dutch) church (organized in 1842), a district school, a blacksmith- and wheelwright-shop, a store, and a grist-mill, run by water from the eanal. In 1834 it contained only half a dozen dwellings, a tavern, and a store. . \ for- mer grist-mill had been destroyed to make way for the canal. A copper-mine was formerly worked near this place, but with very little success.

KINGSTON is situated on the right bank of the Millstone, at the extreme southern point of Franklin

township and of Somerset County. Indeed, the greater part of the village is in Middlesex County, as Ythe main road is the division line. It contains a Presbyterian church, about a dozen dwellings on the Somerset side of the line, and about as many on the Middlesex side. There are others on the south side of the river. This was an important point in the Revolutionary struggle. It was just half-way between New York and Philadelphia.

The name of Gulick occurs frequently here in early times, and the family is still numerous in this and adjoining counties. Maj. John Guliek died in 1828. HIe and his son Jacob towards the close of the last century owned the mill now possessed by Mr. Isaac Guliek. It was owned by Lewis Scudder about the time of the Revolution. The bridge, built in 1798, is the third known at Kingston.

Joachim Guliek is said to be the first of the name who came to this country. He lived not far from Kingston, and owned a considerable quantity of land. He married a lady named Ben-Ami, of Turkish origin, and originally Mohammedan ; at least, they once had a copy of the Koran in the house. Their advent into this country is involved in mystery.

The Van Tilburg family once owned a large por- tion of the land on both sides of the road at Kingston. They kept the tavern for several generations, in the old building, lately torn down, opposite the present hotel. The Withington property lay east of Van Til- burg's, and a portion of it is still in the family.

In 1834, besides the church and academy, the town had four stores, a large grist-mill, a saw-mill, and woolen-factory, all driven by the Millstone River.

SCHOOLS.

This township has (1880) within its bounds fourteen district schools. The following statistical report is for the year ending Aug. 31, 1879 :

DISTRICTS.

Total amount received from all

wurces for public school pur-

Present value of school prop-

Wholo nuniber of children of

school ago residing In district.

Average number of mouths the

alumals have been kept upen.

Number between 6 nud 18 years eurolled during the year.

Average number who haro at-

Seating capacity.

GA. Clinton ...

$300.00

$1,000 (1)

02 10.

61. Bloomington ....

678.00

162 11.

81 0.3

CI. Raritan ....... ...

300 1售1

400,10)

44 10.5

89 10.2

67. Pleasant l'Inins ......

$(00),00)

4. 10,5

69 10.

2.5

GA. Three-Mille Hun .....

41.311

700.00

75 9.

71. l'p Ten-Mile Hon ..

300.00

48 10.

73. East Millstone ........ 2,53.43

74. Warton .....

9.5

78. Griggstown.

350.00

800.000

$7,063.70 $10,300.0 1,090 10.0 708 344 716 14

* See Bancroft's " United States," ix. 252 ; " Millstone Centennial," 51.

Number of teachers employed.

62. Cedar Dale ......

3011.00

65. Maidlebush

3+1,83

GJ. The Elm ..

3(00).01

70. Ten-Mile Han ........

300.00

46 10,3

66. South Middlebush -- 3.00100

41 10.

151 10.

erty.

tundel school while upen.

120 1

818

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The first schoolmaster iu this township, if not in the county, was Jacobus Schureman, the ancestor of the family of that name. He was a well-educated man and noted for his piety. He came from Holland in 1720, in company with Dominie Frelinghuysen ; they married sisters. The labors of Mr. Schureman were not confined to one locality, but he itinerated through all the charges of Mr. Frelinghuysen. Prob- ably the school at Three-Mile Run must be dated back to 1720, for he then lived in that vicinity.

The school-house at Weston, near the graveyard, between the river and the present canal, dates back to 1730 or 1740. It was located here to accommodate the large settlement in the northeast corner of Hills- borough (Royston, or Harmony Plains) and those in the northern part of Franklin. The place where it was located was known before the Revolution as Van Neste. The house was first built of logs. About 1798 a Mr. Gordon taught there; about 1800, Edward Beleher. Abraham and Garret Montfort are remembered as teachers about 1824. About 1834 this building was burned, and the district was then di- vided into Harmony Plains, in Hillsborough, and Weston, in Franklin.

Another very early school was at what is now called East Millstone. It stood about 250 yards south of the present canal bridge, and the eanal now passes over its site. It accommodated the present Millstone distriet, on the west side of the river, and a large sec- tion in the west of Franklin. This building was re- moved to a location west of Millstone church in 1807. Teachers named Flannery and Welsh are remembered by the older people as being here about the opening of the century.

The first school-house erected at Middlebush, about 1730, stood opposite the present house of John Wyck- off, and adjacent to an Indian hut then standing ; in it a Mr. Maxwell taught for some time. The second was opposite the present residence of Hon. J. Newton Voor- hees, being then on the land of Garret Voorhees, Sr., and was attended by scholars from the Raritan and near the Landing. The third stood on the present land of John C. Wyekoff, and opposite the house now owned by Jeremiah Voorhees, at the Middlebush road. The fourth was on the opposite side of the road, on land formerly of Frederick Van Liew, de- ceased. The fifth was, and still is, in the rear of the present Middlebush church. The sixth is the "Mid- dlebush Institute," erected during the past year by its principal, J. Newton Voorhees. The South Middle- bnsh school distriet was formed and the house built in 1858. Abraham Van Nuys, of Harlingen, remem- bers seeing one of the " old-time" school-houses, cov- ered with a thateh of straw. Doubtless the furniture corresponded with the exterior of the building.

At Three-Mile Run, Luke Whitlock, a brother of Mrs. Daniel Brunson, was a successful teacher during the first quarter of the present eentury. He removed with his family to Ohio about 1825. Other teachers

at that time were Groves, Rightmire, Vredenberg, Hardcastle, Beleher, etc., all successful.

A school committee began to be appointed in 1833 .* This was discontinued in 1847, when a "school super- intendent" took the place of the committee.

SCHOOL OR TOWN SUPERINTENDENTS.

1847-48, Rev. J. A. Van Doren ; 1849-5], Ralph Voorhees; 1852, Dr. Lewis H. Mosher: 1853, Rev. George J. Van Neste; 1854-55, John N. Hoagland; 1856-58, John J. Van Nostrand ; 1859-61, Ralph Voor- hees; 1862, Benjamin S. Totten ; 1863-64, Rev. J. A. Van Doron; 1865-66, Jer. R. Williamson.

POST-OFFICES.

Before 1800 there were few if any post-offices in Franklin township. The town now has the follow- ing: Griggstown, Kingston, Middlebush, East Mill- stone (Franklin Park, or Six-Mile Run, is on the Middlesex side of the road), Weston, Ten-Mile Run.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

Franklin township, like Hillsborough, has been noted for its religious character. Yet there was no church in the interior of this township nntil that of Middlebush was organized, in 1834. Until that date the churches were either on the border or beyond in other townships. The people of the northern part, if able to understand English, attended service at the Presbyterian church of Bound Brook from 1700 onward; those of the eastern portion, if English, went to Woodbridge (where a Presbyterian Church was organized in 1694) until a Presbyterian Church was constituted in New Brunswick; those of the southern portion went to Kingston. The Dutch in- habitants were at first supplied occasionally by Rev. Guilliam Bertholf, of Hackensack, and perhaps by ministers from New York and Long Island whose churches these people had formerly attended.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 201

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