History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 206

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 206
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 206

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Another branch of the Voorhees family is that which is descended from Peter Voorhees (1st), the great-great-grandfather of John S. Voorhees, and son of Garret Courten, who in 1720 bought 231 acres of the Van Horn tract, lying about a mile west of Blaw- enburg, and settled upon it. It is possible that he was an unele of the Jolin Stevens Van Voorhees (previously mentioned) who came in 1738. Peter was twice married, both his wives being named Nevius. His children were Mary, Jane, Peter, John, Leah, and Sarah. Peter (2d), like his father, was twice married, and by his first wife had Peter (3d), who married Catharine Skillman ; Leah, who mar- ried Abram Voorhees; and Martin, who married Altje Van Dyke, and lived and died at Harlingen.

Martin had children,-Peter (4th), who married Jane Schenck, daughter of Capt. John Schenck, of Amwell, a brave and daring officer in the Revolution; John, M.D., remained unmarried, died in the South, where he had gone for his health, and was for some time an inmate of the family of Gen. Jackson ; Leah, married Dr. Ferdinand F. Schenck, M.D., lived and died at Six-Mile Run; Charity, married Joseph Pat- terson, lived and died at Ten-Mile Run; Sarah, mar- ried Abraham Cruser, for some time sheriff of Mid- dlesex County, lived and died near Kingston ; Fred- erick V., married Cornelia, daughter of Rev. Henry Polhemus, lived and died on homestead at Harlingen.

Peter (4th), who married Jane Schenck, lived on the homestead, being of the fifth generation and the last of the Voorhees family who owned and occupied it. Hle was esteemed as a worthy member and supporter of the church at Blawenburg, and rendered im- portant aid in the organization of the congregation and the building of the church edifice in 1830. Ile was for a time judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and for three years a member of the Legislature at the time the constitution was revised and amended. lle had other important public trusts committed to him, which he executed, enjoying the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He had seven children : Alice, who married John D. V. Joline, MI.D., of Princeton; John S., married Sarah Ann Van Doren, of Six-Mile Run; Charity, married Samuel D. Bergen, and now lives at Princeton ; Mary, married Reuben A. Drake, lived and died at Hopewell; Ada HI .; Jane P., mar- ried Rev. J. B. Davis, at present pastor of Presby- terian Church at Hightstown. She died in 1873.

Peter (5th) married Anna, a sister to Willinm L.

* From Information furnished by Mrs. J. L. R. Mosick.

838

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Dayton. Peter is a counselor-at-law, and lives in Cam- den. Frederick is unmarried, is a counselor-at-law, and practices at Mount Holly.

Judge Peter's sister Leah married Ferdinand S. Schenck, of the fifth generation of John Schenck, who came from Holland in 1650 and settled at Flat- lands, L. I. His father was Martin Schenck, of Mill- stone, who enjoyed public favor in a remarkable de- gree, serving in various public capacities,-as member of Assembly, judge of the court, sheriff of the county, etc. An active member of the Reformed Church at Millstone, he was an esteemed friend of Gen. Fred- erick Frelinghuysen, who did much to advance his public and private interests. Sheriff Martin's chil- dren were Ferdinand S., who married Leah Voorhees ; Sarah, married, first, Aaron Van Deventer, of Bound Brook, and, second, Joseph Van Doren, of Middle- bush ; Ellen, married Joseph Annin; Mary Ann, mar- ried Henry Wilson, Esq., of Millstone; and Uplean Van Sinderen, died young. Peter Voorhees (5th) died on the homestead July 4, 1853, aged sixty-six ; his wife, Jane Schenck, died aged about fifty.

Cornelius and Abram, sons of Cornelius, the first settler, both served in the Revolutionary army.

THE HOAGLAND FAMILY.

The old homestead of the Hoagland family (of which see illustration accompanying) is situated in Somerset County, on the west bank of the Millstone River, about a quarter of a mile from the village of Griggstown, and directly in front of one of those remarkable curves so characteristic of that stream. The bridge, which is now about a hundred yards down the stream, formerly crossed the river nearly in front of the house; many of the stones of it are yet to be seen. It is said that Washington, after the battle of Princeton, in his retreat before the rein- forced British army, crossed the old bridge, and then ordered it torn down in order to detain his pursuers, who were within sight, near the present residence of Abram Van Dorn. The bridge was probably re- paired at that time, and used for some years after- wards, as there are papers in possession of the family which refer to the building of one in 1787, probably on the present site.

The old family homestead of the Hoaglands pre- sents a case somewhat remarkable in this country, as having been in possession of the family in the direct male line (son succeeding father) since the earliest settlement of the country, and also in the fact that there has never been a mortgage upon it on record.

The family burying-ground, after the manner of our Dutch ancestry, is on the farm, within sight of the house, a few hundred yards distant. In that modest, secluded spot lie buried not less than four Christopher Hoaglands, all living to be old men, the first dying about 1748, the second in 1777, the third in 1805, the fourth in 1837, the successive heads of the family down to the present owner, Henry V. 1

Hoagland, who is now living on the farm, an old man of seventy-seven. Near by is ground set apart for the burial-place of the servants.

The present house was built in 1808, inclosed prin- cipally with shingles, and is still in good repair. Timbers in the cellar show that material from the old house was used in its construction; they ap- pear as sound as when first laid. In the hall stands the old clock, made in London,-at what time can only be conjectured. It has come down through the generations, and is beyond doubt one of the oldest clocks in the county. On the face is the name of "Frane De La Balle, London," and the case is figured with what appears to be carved work. It is still the " old reliable" as a timekeeper, and, from present appearances, will yet tick in and out many generations more.

Two barns are standing; the newer one, built, it is said, in 1765, is 40 by 52, and the older one, 28 by 40 feet, is probably the original one, built in 1727 or thereabouts. Children of the present owner remem- ber when both had the long pointed roofs whose eaves a tall man could reach from the ground. That part of their shape has been changed, but their frames re- main as the original constructors made them, appa- rently as sound as when put up.

Among the old papers is a deed for 4000 acres of land purchased of Thomas Hart, London, in 1702, beginning at a point on the Millstone River known as Punch-Bowl Meadow, next the Barker tract, running west to "unappropriated lands," south to a point on the stream known as No-Pike Brook, following its course to the river, and thence down that stream to place of beginning. This tract, as the papers show, was subdivided into three equal parts by the original purchasers. One of these divisions, containing over 1300 acres, was divided into four "lots," of about 350 acres each, and the Hoagland farm was called lot No. 1. It was purchased of a Dr. William Beekman, of New York, a son of one of the original purchasers, in 1727, by Christopher Hoagland. A deed in pos- session of the family shows that he bought a tract in Piscataway township, on the east side of Raritan River, in 1711, from Cornelius Powell, in which in- strument he is referred to as "Christopher Hoagland, late of Flat Lands, L. I." From this location he re- moved to near Griggstown, in Somerset County, in 1727. The papers show that he died about 1748, leaving three sons,-John, Christopher, and Marten- ius. In a quit-claim deed, dated in 1770, the heirs of Jolin and Martenius quit-claim all their right, title, and interest in the two-thirds part of the estate of Christopher Hoagland and Catrena Cregier, his wife, late of the city of New York, to Christopher Hoag- land, the grandson, as the paper states, of this Chris- topher Hoagland, of New York. This is signed by Jacob Hoagland, John Van Neste, Jores Bergen, Jr., and Christopher Hoagland, executors of John Hoag- land, deceased, and by Phebe Hoagland, Oakey

RES.OF HENRY V. HOAGLAND, MONTGOMERY TP .. SOMERSET CO.N.J.

839

MONTGOMERY.

Hoagland, and t'hristopher Hoagland, "son of Mar- tenius." John Hoagland was in the Council of the province of New Jersey in 1763. The Christopher above referred to died in 1777, leaving one son, Chris- topher, and eight daughters. Among the papers is an inventory of his property taken by Christopher Hoagland, Jr., and Peter Stryker, as executors, and appraised by William Baird and Peter Van Derveer, dated April 10, 1777. Also the vendue-book, dated April 21, 1777, with conditions of sale, articles sold, and the purchasers. Interest attaches to these as showing who were the actors on the stage in the long, long ago, and the value at that time of the various articles belonging to the farm. In the list is the valuation and selling-price of several colored persons, known then as slaves.

The son Christopher who followed him, living on the farm until his death, in 1805, must have been a man of considerable force of character. He was in the Legislature in 1778, and among his papers is a commission from Governor Livingston, dated 1776, making him justice of the peace for the county of Somerset, and his docket while acting in that capae- ity is among his papers, showing who were the liti- gants of that early day, the matters in dispute, and decisions rendered. In glaneing hastily over them we find one man arraigned for profane swearing and fined. Among the penalties imposed in some cases was the lash ; but the consent of the owner of the slave seems to have been required. It is noticeable, then as now, that grievances seemed to befall particular individuals with a sad frequency. Among the papers is a call on the Rev. Peter Lowe, of Long Island, dated 1795, to become the pastor of the churches of Six-Mile Run and Millstone, with the names of the elders and deacons of each church signed thereto. Christopher Hoagland heads the list from the church of Six- Mile Run. A letter from Fred. Frelinghuysen to C. Iloagland, dated Aug. 19, 1800, advises him to settle a matter in dispute about the support of an old col- ored woman named Philis, which he seems to have been inclined to litigate, wherein the wise observation is made that lawsuits rarely result to the satisfaction of either party. Other papers show that the matter was settled.

Strange as it may seem, in those days the naviga- tion of the Millstone was regarded as of much impor- tanec. The mill-owners were required to so arrange their dams that the boats could pass up and down, and Christopher Hoagland and Benjamin Griggs were authorized to see that the law or agreement was en- forced; also that these dams should be opened for the passage of tish from the 20th of March to the 20th of May of each year.

In those days a well-regulated homestead contained within itself the appliances for making almost every- thing necessary in carrying on the farm. On this place were a tanuery, blacksmith-shop, wheelwright- shop, looms where the linen and other articles of fam-

ily use were woven, machines for breaking flax and others for dressing it, spinning-wheels of various sizes and sorts, rope-works, ete.

The following is the genealogy of the Hoagland family : 1. Christopher Hoagland, of Haerlem, HIol- land, died about 1684 or 1686. He married, June 23, 1661, in New York, Catharine Cregier, of Amster- dam, Holland. (Will written March 13, 1676; re- corded Lib. 3, p. 83, in New York surrogate's office.) His children were : 2. Direk, baptized Nov. 1, 1662, in New York ; married Maria Kip, in New York, March 4, 1687. 3. Lysbeth, born 1664, died young. 4. Harman, baptized in New York, March 28, 1666; died young. 5. Martin. 6. Christopher, baptized Nov. 24, 1669, in New York ; married (1) Catalyntie, (2) Neeltje Voorhees ; resided in 1665 in Pearl Street, New York ; lived in Flat Lands in 1706. 7. Francis, baptized April 1, 1672, in New York. 8. Jacob, bap- tized Oct. 25, 1676, in New York. 9. Deynoot. 10. Har- man, baptized March 28, 1681 ; married Adriantje -, of Flat Lands, L. I., in 1716.

Christopher (6) had a son,-11. Christopher, who was born Sept. 5, 1699, and died in April, 1777. lle probably had brothers,-John and William, and pos- sibly others. The children of Christopher (11) were : 12. Helena, born 1725; 13. Christoffel, born 1727; 14. Maria, born 1729; 15. Catrina, born 1732; 16. Sara, born 1734; 17. Ariantje, born 1735; 18. Marga- rita, born 1738; 19. Harman, born 1739; 20. Sara, born 1741 ; 21. Femmetje, born 1743; 22. Dinah, born 1745; 23. John, born about 1747; 24. Martin, born about 1749.

The children of Christoffel (13), who married Sarah Voorhees about 1752 (she died 1813), were : 25. Cata- line, born 1753, married William Baird; 26. Ida, born 1755, married Martin (?) Nevius ; 27. Sarah, born 1756, married John Baker; 28. Jannetje, born 1758, married Cornelius Nevius; 29. Christoffel, born 1765, died 1837, married on Nov. 4, 1790, Nelly Wyck- off (she was born March 8, 1772); 30. Leanah, born 1767, married Isaac Huliek; 31. Lucas, born 1770, married Phebe Staats; 32. Isaac, born 1772, married - Michet ; 33. Jacob, born 1773, married Betsy Veghte; 34. Abraham, born 1775.

The children of Christoffel (29) were : 35. Abraham, born Dec. 22, 1791, and married Sarah Wilson, Jan. 6, 1816, whose children were Ellen, ISIG; Isaae N., 1820; Henry W., 1823; Isaac N., 1825. No descend- ants now living. 36. Peter W., born Sept. 10, 1794; married Mary Cruser, Feb. 14, 1823. She was born June 29, 1797; died 1861. Their children were Christopher, Dec. 7, 1824; Alexander (., Oet. 15, 1826; Anna, May 26, 1829; James Romeyn, March 7, 1832; Peter V., Jan. 3, 1835; Isane W., 1842. 37. Lucas, born Nov. 20, 1797 ; married Sarah Nevins, Dec. 5, 1821. She was born 1801, and died 1862. Their children were twelve in number. 38. Henry Veghte, born Nov. 30, 1803; married Phebe William- son Nov. 30, 1826. She was born July 3, ISOS.

840

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Their children are John Calvin, 1827; Peter Wil- liamson, 1829; Josiah W., 1830; Mary Ellen, 1834; Henry W., 1836; Emily, 1839; Sarah, 1841; Phebe Ann, 1843; William J., 1847; Christopher A., 1850; Theodore B., 1852. 39. Sarah, born 1805; died young. 40. Isaac, born 1808; died young. 41. Chris- topher Columbus, born May 10, 1810; died April 11, 1869; married Gertrude M. Labagh Sept. 11, 1832. He left thirteen children.

The children of Lucas (31) were twelve in num- ber.

We find that a John Hoagland had bought 176 acres (the farm of the late Cornelius Hoagland, of East Millstone) before 1754. It extended 18 chains along the east bank of the Millstone, and about a mile and a half in depth. He was probably the father of Tunis, born about 1750, and of a William Hoagland. Tunis died in 1836. He was the father of Cornelius, born 1793, who died at East Millstone in 1876. Cornelius had several sons,-Tunis, Isaac B., and Hon. John Van Doren. The latter was born Dec. 8, 1812. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1852, and has continued in this office, with the exception of a single year (1872), ever since. He was one of the judges of the Inferior Court of Com- mon Pleas, 1867-69, and again, 1874-79.

Sketches of other early families who have repre- sentatives in this township may be found in the his- tories of Hillsborough and Franklin townships, and elsewhere in this work.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

One of the first practitioners was John Reeve, born in 1765, who settled at Rocky Hill about 1787, or earlier. He became quite noted, and had a large ride .* Abram Prall Hageman was also an early practitioner. He was born two miles west of Harlingen, and com- menced practice in that village in 1810. His name appears in 1826 in connection with a bill presented for medicine and attendance on one Nathaniel Hutch, which was rejected on the ground that Hutch was a pauper of Monmouth County. J. F. Hageman, Esq., of Princeton, is a son of Dr. Abram.

Rocky Hill has in its surroundings everything sug- gestive of legend and historic events. It was pressed by the feet of many a Revolutionary hero,-nay, by those of the great chieftain himself. After the battle of Princeton, when Washington took the main road towards New Brunswick, the British, frightened and flying, made towards the heights of Rocky Hill, crossed Beeden's Brook, and crowded on until they reached the point formed by the junction of the brook with the Millstone River, just in front of what is now known as the old Van Dervcer homestead. Abraham Van Derveer says they came on a run, but when they reached the forks they halted, finding the ice much

broken. They then procured rails, laid them on the ice, and passed over. The Van Derveers had a large pot of mush, just taken from the fire, and intended for their breakfast. The British, hastily scooping it out of the pot with their hands, soon devoured it, and pursued their march, remarking that they had had "nothing but hot bullets for breakfast."

The oldest house at Rocky Hill was demolished shortly before 1870. It was once a tavern, and stood on the Georgetown (Lambertville) turnpike, in the middle of the village; this was the old Cruser home- stead. The family was of Huguenot descent, and set- tled on Staten Island at the close of the seventeenth century. A representative of this family, Hendrick Cruser, great-uncle of M. Van Dyke Cruser, settled at Rocky Hill early in the last century, and erected the flouring-mill now owned by David H. Mount & Co. In 1777 this mill was sold at sheriff's sale, and was bought by Abraham Cruser, Hendrick's brother, and grandfather of M. V. D. Cruser. He put his son, Frederick, into the mill to work, and he grew up in that locality. Frederick; was the father of M. V. D. The land on which the latter now lives was a part of the patent of Walter Benthall, by whom it was conveyed to Nicholas Lake. A deed still in the pos- session of M. V. D. Cruser shows that the land was conveyed, April 16, 1739, by Nicholas Lake and Mary, his wife, to John Gordon. In March, 1775, it was transferred by Gordon and Anna, his wife, to Jacob Schenck, and by subsequent purchase to Fred- erick Cruser, whose son, M. Van Dyke, now owns and occupies it.

John Van Horn was another early settler. He lived about half a mile northwest of Rocky Hill, and owned over 1000 acres. He was a friend of Gen. Washington, who often visited him. He had no chil- dren, and when he died he left his property to rela- tives, by whom it was divided and sold .;

Kalm, the Swedish traveler, mentions Rocky Hill in his " Travels." He says,-

"This morning [Oct. 29, 1748] we proceeded on our journey [from Princeton]. The country was pretty well peopled; however, there were great woods in many places. They all consisted of deciduous trees, and I did not perceive a single treo of the fir kind. . . . On a hill, covered with trees, and callod Rockhill, I saw several pieces of stone or rock so big that they would have required three men to roll them down. . . . About noon we arrived at New Brunswick," otc .¿

It is said that in 1795 there were but three houses on the site of Rocky Hill village, and one of them was a tavern; the other two were the residences of Thomas J. Skillman, near the river, and John Van Horn, where Henry Brinkerhoff now lives. He owned 1500 acres, 1000 of which was woodland, run-

+ He was a student at Princoton when those connected with it turned out, he among them, to defend their country. But he was so very young and small that his gun was taken from him, and he was sent back to college.

Į See Barber's " Historical Collections of New Jersey" for reminisconces relating to Mr. Van Ilorn, Gon. Washington, and the paintor Dunlap (pp. 462, 403).

¿ Hist. Coll. New Jersey, p. 312.

" See page 595 of this work for further account.

841

MONTGOMERY.

ning south of the village and over the hill, the re- maining 500 being a fertile plain lying northwest of the village, now making twelve farms, one of which is owned by Abraham Van Derveer. l'eter, who originally bought the land, was a son of the first Van Derveer who came from Holland to Long Island ; he died before the close of the Revolution.

Judge John Berrien owned the tract south of Van Derveer's land. He was one of the justices of the Supreme Court of the province. Dr. Thomas West Montgomery was his son-in-law, he marrying, in 1788, the judge's daughter Mary, among whose chil- dren were several who afterwards became distin- guished. One was the wife of John B. Shaw, purser in the United States navy, and mother of Mrs. (Bishop) Odenheimer; another became the wife of the late Com. Inman; one son, John B., was after- wards commodore of the United States navy ; Na- thaniel L., in the navy during the war of 1812, lost an arm, and was aide to Com. McDonough on Lake Champlain, in 1814; while a daughter, Eliza L., is now the wife of Bishop MeCoskry, of Michigan .* Still another daughter became the wife of Dr. John B. Ricker, a surgeon in the Continental army; he also rendered valuable service as a guide on several occasions, and was taken prisoner by Simcoe, of the " Queen's American Rangers."+ . Ralph Voorhees says John Berrien succeeded John Harrison as land- owner at Rocky Hill, and doubtless erected the house there in which Washington's "Farewell Address to the Army" was written. His grandson, Judge J. Mle- Pherson Berrien, was a prominent orator and states- man.#

ORGANIZATION.

At no place in the public records is it stated when the township first assumed its civil status. It was doubtless between 1762 and 1772. About 1762-63 the inhabitants of the "southern part of the western pre- vinet" petitionel Governor Franklin to grant them a patent for a new town, to be called atter himself .*

* Genealogy of Montgomery family, et aliis.

+ Wickes' Hist, of Med. In New Jersey.

# Sve biography ou page 640, this work.

¿ The petition was as follows:

" To his Excellency William Franklin Esqr Governor nud Comman- der In Chief In and over the Province of New Jersey and Territories thereon depending In America Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the same ;

" The Humilde I'etition of the Inbaldtants of the Southern part of the Westering Precinct of the County of Somerset and Province of New Jersey humbly pray that your Excellency would be pleased to Grant n Puttent for a Township to bo known by the name of the Township of Franklin for the Inhabitants of the said Southern part of the said Wes- tering precinct, the Bounderies of which are as follows,-

" Viz : Begining at Millstone River on the line of Joseph Cornell and Greatyo fornell and also at the beginning of the Township of Hillaber- ough thence along the line of the sand Township of Hillsborough the several commen thereof until it comes to the East and West Jerry line, that is to say first along the line of the said Joseph Cornell and Greatyo Cornell west north west nutil it comes to the Innl of Daniel Polhemus and Toghyns Voorheese, thence along their line as It runs until it comes to the Southeastorly Corner of the land of Iste Van Nuys thener along his lino Weat north West until it comes to the Southwest Corner of Ja- cobre Van Nuys Juuns Inul thenco North North East unth It comes to n

This petition was finally granted, but the town was called Montgomery. Although this may have oe- curred within a year of the above action, it is quite as likely that it may have been deferred several years, possibly until 1772, the date of the first record in the oldest public document now extant in the township, the volume in which are recorded the township elec- tions. This first minute appears to be the record of the first town-meeting held in Montgomery, and is in the following words:

" Pursuant to ou nct of the generil assembly of the Province of New Jersey, the frocholders and Inlinbitants of the western presink meet To- gether on the 21 thuesday of March, 1772, at the house of William Jones lu al presInk, and by pruallity of voutes Choose in the following Officers, viz. : Hendrick Vandike, Town Clerk ; Wm. Stryker, Gisbert Lane, Free- holders; Cornelius Tenbrook, Assessor; Thomas Skillman, Collector and Overseer of the Poore; Derick Longstret, David Snowden, Surveyors of the Roads; Overseers of the Highways: Henry Sillcock, Nnel Furman, John Ileth, John Stockton, NIcholas Guldur, Adorain Hogeman, Wil- linm Lake, Daniel Hegeman, Powel Ammerman, Daniel Stout, Martin Nufes.

" A Committee appointed as above safel for settling the presink business with the township of hillaborrow, and to raise the poore money of S' Western presink,-Viz., Josoph Stockton, Christophor Hogeland, Juar., John Vandike, and Derick Long-tret.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 206

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