USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 36
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That Henderick Matysen Smock, as he wrote it, emigrated from Utrecht, Holland, near the border line between Holland and Germany, and came to America in 1654, is clearly established. The first record found is of his purchase of land, contain- ing thirty morgens, from Jacques Corteljou, Janu- ary 16, 1665, in New Utrecht, L. I., where the first house was built in 1658. He married Guertje Harmens about 1665; took the oath of allegiance in 1687, and was a magistrate from 1669 to 1689. Late in life he appears to have resided with sons, Johannes and Leendert, on Staten Island, where April 1, in the 5th year of her Majesty's Reign, (Queen Anne) 1707, he was elected assessor; died 1708. He and his wife were members, and with others, founders of the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church.
From the emigrant, Henderick Matysen Smock, was descended, among other children, Johannes Smock, who on reaching years of maturity, re- moved to Staten Island, and thence, later, to Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, and married Catherine Barents, and settled on land near the present vil- lage of Holmdel, in Holmdel township, in 1712, and was the progenitor of the family in New Jersey. In
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Book E, of Deeds, page 226, Monmouth county clerk's office, at Freehold, New Jersey, is recorded a deed, dated December 9th, 1712, from Captain John Bowne, merchant of Middletown township, to Johannes Smock, late of Staten Island, New York, for 230 acres of land in Middletown township, and four acres of salt meadow, at Shoal Harbor. Ramenessin brook is called for as one of the boundaries of the tract.
Since this record was made, the township of Holmdel, has been set off from Middletown town- ship, and this tract of land lies now in Holmdel township, and is one of its fertile and desirable locations. Much of it has gone out of the posses- sion of the Smock family, but the Smock family graveyard is located on it, and is kept in good condition. Quite a number of the farms of this particular locality, were owned and occupied, at one time, by the different members and genera- tions of the Smocks, especially during the Revo- lutionary War period, for they were an agricul- tural people. It is within the memory of people now living, 1921, when the neighborhood was known as "Smock" town.
Johannes and Catherine (Barents) Smock, were members of the "Congregation of the Nevesink," the Dutch Reformed church of Freehold and Middletown, familiarly known as the "Brick Church," and situated now in Marlboro township, near Bradevelt. Johannes was a member of the grand jury in 1715. It is said there were eight children, although there are only four named in the will which was made, September 24, 1754; proved January 24, 1755.
Among the children was Hendrick Smock, born October 16, 1698, in New Utrecht, Long Island. After coming to Monmouth county with his father, he married Mary Schenck. She was the daughter of Garrett and Neeltjie (Voorhees) Schenck, and granddaughter of Roelof Martinse Schenck, who emigrated to America in 1650. She was born, November 1, 1699, in the Schenck house, which is still standing in Pleasant Valley, Holmdel town- ship, and died in September, 1747. Hendrick Smock died May 30, 1747. His will was dated May 27, 1747, proved October 8, 1747, and names three sons and two daughters. Among them was John Smock, familiarly known as "Colonel John," he having served with distinction in the War of the Revolution.
Colonel John Smock was born February 13, 1727; married Elizabeth Cowenhoven, May 7, 1741; died February 28, 1808. His wife was born in March, 1725; died May 7, 1812. On the homestead farm, where they are both buried, are tombstones mark- ing their graves, which are about two miles south- east from Holmdel village. The traditions of the community, and family records, tell of the Colonel as being a familiar character. He was sometimes called "Booty," because he was so particular about the make of his boots. Indeed he was precise and punctilious about everything, adhering rigidly to what was right and proper, in all things. At
the age of about twenty years, due to the death of both his father and mother in the same year, the management of the farm, and the care of his aged grand-parents devolved upon him-a privi- lege and duty from which he did not shrink, thus evidencing that sturdy character, so manifest in his later military career.
'In Revolutionary records we find the name, "Smock" prominent as serving on committees, etc., as well as in the list of soldiers, but none on the lists of Tories. He was a member of the Provin- cial Congress in 1776-1777; and it is recorded in the adjutant general's office at Trenton, N. J., that:
Colonel John Smock was in commission as Cap- tain in the First Regiment, Monmouth county, New Jersey Militia in 1777; promoted Major, ditto; pro- moted Lieutenant-Colonel, ditto, March 17, 1778; taken prisoner near Middletown Point (now Mat- awan) Monmouth county, New Jersey, May 27, 1778; commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of Colonel Asher Holmes' Battalion, New Jersey State Troops, June 7, 1780; a prisoner of war on Long Island; promoted Colonel of the First Regiment, and served as such until the close of the Revolution- ary War.
After the War, he was elected justice of the peace, and until his death executed the duties con- nected with this important office, in those early days of our country's history, when the powers and jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, were of more importance than they now are. He was a fine penman, and the writer has several well pre- served specimens of his hand-writing.
Few families can show a more patriotic record, or that they served their country in the War for Independence, more zealously than the Smocks; and from the "Official History of Officers and Men in the Revolutionary War," we read, "They bore an active part in the fights, performed efficient ser- vice in supporting the Continental Army," and Ad- jutant General William S. Stryker of New Jersey, wrote, "Col. Smock was a very distinguished officer." Others of this family, whose deeds have become matters of history, when the nation needed brave and trust-worthy men were:
Barent Smock, brother of Colonel John, who was a Captain also in the First Regiment, Monmouth County, New Jersey Militia; Captain of Artillery, and prisoner of war, September, 1780. Hendrick Smock, another brother of Colonel John, was Cap- tain of the Minute Men, 1775; Captain in the First Regiment, Monmouth Militia in 1777; Captain of an Artillery Company, 1778; Hendrick, son of Colonel John, Captain in his father's Regiment, and a prisoner of war, September 1780. (Of the lat- ter many tales are told of his protection of his weak- er fellow-prisoners on the prison ship, where they were confined.) Barent J. Smock, a cousin to Col- onel John, private in the famous Light Horse Cav- alry, commissioned a Corporal, 1779; Cornet ditto; Lieutenant ditto, 1780; Captain ditto in the same year. (Vide-Stryker's "Officers and Men in the Revolutionary War.")
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The Pleasant Valley region was so named by Martha Washington, as she stood on the hills one day, north of Holmdel village, where the Holm- del Cemetery is now located; overlooking the val- ley roundabout, she declared, "Truly this is a pleas- ant valley." But during the War it was known among the Tories and Royalists as the "Hornets' Nest." Beekman's "History of the Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County," says: "The Smock farm was the rallying place for the Middletown patriots to meet." Middletown township during that period, embraced the whole bay shore, and all adjacent territory as far as the Amboys. With the Smock dwelling as a centre, a circle of about four miles around would take in the greater part of the most active and zealous of the patriots in old Middletown township. A four pounder cannon was kept there, and on any occasion, day or night, was used as a signal gun, the boom of which could be heard over this whole territory. The report of this cannon was a notice to all, that the enemy was making a raid somewhere in Middletown town- ship, and every man of the associated patriots, seized his rifle or musket, swung his powder horn and bullet pouch over his shoulders, and often bare-footed, hatless and in his shirt sleeves, mounted his horse, (which as a rule was a good one, for they generally bred their own horses, and the section became famous as the home of good horses) and rode as fast as the horse could run, to this rendezvous. There, in a very short time, from all around, would come riding in, on horse- back, armed men. At once a troop would be formed to meet the coming raiders, sometimes by ambush, and sometimes by a wild tornado charge on horseback. This explains the swiftness with which the many raids of the enemy were met and repulsed.
This region was well called the "Hornets' Nest," for their stings meant death to the enemy. They never were wasteful of powder and ball, for they were all dead shots. The reception which the British sympathizers received from the women folk, was often as warm as it was from the men. They suffered greatly, even worse than from the Indians of former days, from the insults and ty- ranny of the roving bands of Tories, "Skinner's Greens," "Pine Woods Robbers, refugees from Sandy Hook, where they maintained a camp, which was called "Refugees' Town," and the crews from the British transports and men-of-war, which were anchored, from time to time, in the Lower Bay. The latter were hungry for fresh provisions and meat, after their long voyages across the ocean, subsisting on salt meat and stored pro- visions; and the rich and well-stocked farms of this community, easily reached by sailing up the Shrewsbury river, with their cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, poultry and well-filled cellars, smoke-houses, barns and corn-cribs, were an alluring temptation, which could not be resisted by these lawless marauders. The American patriots had no foes so ruthless to encounter as their own Tory neigh-
bors and countrymen in arms, and they were dreaded, as if they were so many savage beasts. To again quote Beekman's "History of the Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County":
Only two or three years previous, (Revolutionary War), the people of this vicinity were a good natured, hospitable, kind hearted, easy going, well to do class of farmers, as many of their descen- dants who still live on some of these farms are today. They had no military training, and knew nothing of the art of war or camp life, but were men of peaceful lives and kindly deeds. After three years of war had passed, these friendly and quiet farmers had become a stern faced, haggard band of desperate men. In that time, many of them had fathers, brothers or sons, who had starved to death in the British prisons. of New York City. Others, who had come home exchanged, emaciated skeletons, told horrible and ghastly tales of brutality. Many came home from the battles and other scenes of conflict, to find their wives and daughters, dishonored and gibbering idiots, their stock gone, and their homes and barns burned to the ground. These wrongs and sufferings had changed these quiet farmers into bands of fierce and desperate men, to whom fighting became a joy. But it had required a baptism of fire, misery and wrong, to stir up their quiet Dutch blood and easy natures to this pitch of savage desperation and wild fury.
New Jersey was more harassed by the cam- paigns of both armies, American and British, than any other section of the Colonies during the Revo- lutionary War. The incessant marchings and counter-marchings, the rude encampments, the ex- posure to all kinds of hardships and privations, had made veterans of the American troops. The rough encounters and adventurous enterprises, and the savage incursions of the enemy, had made the patriot soldiers and the peace-loving inhabi- tants, hardy, adroit and long-suffering, and ac- quainted them with their own power.
From family records and tradition we learn, that on June 3, 1778, about seventy Tories and refugees from Sandy Hook, marched through the country, pillaging and burning most of the prop- erty through which they passed, and took Colonel Smock and others, prisoners. They were imprison- ed for awhile in the old Sugar House Prison in New York City, located near Chambers, or an- other on Liberty street, and suffered very cruel treatment, and all the horrors of those notorious places of confinement. This expedition was led by a mulatto called "Ty" who bore the title of Colonel, and commanded a motley company of whites and blacks at Sandy Hook, and was a run- away slave from the Smock neighborhood. As he was acquainted with the people and their habits, and familiar with all the trails and roads, through the woods and swamps throughout the section, he was used by the Tories and refugees, as .a guide in their raids. On this occasion he had led this predatory incursion, through the woods and swamps, by unfrequented paths and byroads, and had taken their prisoners completely by surprise,
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and spiked the cannon, which was used as a signal gun, disabling it and thus preventing an alarm.
Many authentic stories are related about these Revolutionary War "Smocks." It is said that Cap- tain Barnes J. Smock, while a prisoner in the Sugar House, was taken out to be executed, but through the intercession of Colonel Elisha Law- rence, who commanded a British battalion of the American Loyalists, and who had been the last sheriff of Monmouth under the king, and knew Captain Smock, he was reprieved. But the hard- ships, indignities and insults he received as a British prisoner, he never forgot or forgave. He had a violent temper, a characteristic of the fam- ily, and his prison experiences embittered him. The Tories, and all others who sympathized with them, he hated with a cruel hatred, and on the slightest provocation would assault them with great violence. With him, it was a word and a blow, and the blow often came first. The court records for many years after the War, showed many indictments against him for assault and battery. For these, he was generally defended by Garrett D. Wall, a celebrated lawyer of that time, who either cleared him of the charge, or got him off with a moderate fine.
In his will, which is recorded in Book C of Wills, Page 340, etc., Monmouth Surrogate's Of- fice, Freehold, New Jersey, it shows that after be- queathing various amounts to the children of his sisters, &c, (he had no children of his own), the residue of his estate was given absolutely to his lawyer friend and defender before the courts, who was also made sole executor, in gratitude to him. The land which he owned, after it came into the possession of Garrett D. Wall, who lived at Bor- dentown, New Jersey, was put on the market and sold, and divided up by purchase among other well-known families of the community, some of whom were the descendants of some of his old enemies, the Tories, who were most numerous throughout this section of the county. Many tales are told, some true and others not, of Captain Barnes J. Smock's daring and adventures, of the intelligence and affection of a horse he owned, called "Paoli," and of his great strength, for he was a robust man, and often called "Leggy Barnes" on account of his long legs. He was no doubt, one of the most reckless, stubborn and fieriest of the Mon- mouth officers in the Revolution; but he was as strong in his friendships as he was afflictive in his enmities.
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Colonel John and his wife Elizabeth brought up a large family, thirteen children, who all reach- ed maturity and married, except one, who died the year following his birth. These children were: Mary, born February 28, 1748; Hendrick, of fur- ther mention, born October 25, 1749; George "Jor- is," born May 4, 1751, died in infancy; Alletta or Altji, born March 16, 1753; George, named for his deceased brother, born November 24, 1754; Eleanor, born October 28, 1756; Sarah, born July 12, 1758; Catherine, born March 18, 1760; Elisa-
beth, born February 27, 1762; John, born October 4, 1763; Garriot, born August 4, 1765; Jane, born March 12, 1767; and Ruliff, born November 30, 1769. His will, made June 4, 1800, proved August 13, 1808, Monmouth county, No. 8798, names wife, five sons and six daughters, of their thirteen chil- dren; and his sons Hendrick, John and Ruliff ex- ecutors. The records of the Marlboro Brick Church show that their children were baptized there, on the average of about a month after their birth.
Colonel John's son, Captain Hendrick, in his father's regiment, as has been stated, was born October 25, 1749; married Sarah Lane, 1780; died, March 25, 1815. His wife was born May 21, 1758; died May 28, 1826. They were both consistent members of the "Brick Church" in good and reg- ular standing, and their marriage, like those of their ancestors, was productive of a numerous issue. After the War, he was an active and en- terprising farmer, and a well-known personage in his day, having the rural and agricultural tastes of his forebears.
One of their sons was Aaron, "Orrie," as he was generally called by his neighbors and intimate friends. He was born, July 24, 1783; married Sarah C. Schenck, November 28, 1804; died, Aug- ust 17, 1835. His wife was born October 4, 1786, died August 8, 1825. Both were life-long and exemplary members of the Marlboro Reformed Church, in which is placed a stained glass win- dow to the husband's memory, he having served as deacon and elder in its consistory for many years. Orrie Smock did much for the advance- ment and interest of agriculture. It is claimed that he was the first to use marl as a fertilizer for land in this section, although its use as such was known in Maryland and Virginia. Portions of his farm were underlaid with it, and he opened extensive pits, and sold it to his neighbors for miles around, and used it to a great extent on his own farm. These marl pits were a busy place in the winter, when the marl was dug and carted and spread broadcast upon the land, to be plowed under, in the spring, when cultivation began. He did much, also, to encourage the raising of sheep, and was the pioneer in stock breeding in the sec- tion where he lived, buying and furnishing a mar- ket for early spring lambs and calves, through a firm of New York City butchers, until the raising of sheep and cattle became a profitable and a regular part of the business of farming. He would travel afoot all over the country, in the pursuit of this business, and became a well-known person- age throughout the community. St. Patrick's day, or thereabout, would be the date when shipments of lambs would begin, which were generally ship- ped alive, direct to the New York butchers, via steamboats and sloops from Keyport. He also be- came well-known as an accomplished horticultur- ist, and was the originator of the "Smock" peach, a hardy and delicious variety of this luscious fruit, and of the "Orange Pippin" apple.
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After nearly half a century of peace, that brought a considerable degree of prosperity to the people of the Nation, America agan entered into war, and with its old enemy, England. This war is known in history as the War of 1812. The cause of the War was brought about by the claim of Great Britain to the allegiance of American naturalized subjects, and the right to search Am- erican vessels for British seamen, which the United States would not tolerate. On June. 18, 1812, war was declared against Great Britain, which lasted until the end of 1814. The final event in this war, was Andrew Jackson's victory over the British at New Orleans, January 8, 1815, after peace had been declared. This victory made Jackson the popular hero of the Nation, and in 1824 he was nominated for president of the United States by the Democratic party and elected; and the Nation soon began to assume, led by Jackson, its claims "for popular rights." The same patriotic spirit of his ancestors, and devotion to his country, prompted Aaron Smock, a grandson of Colonel John Smock of Revolutionary fame, to volunteer in the defense of his country. He was stationed at Sandy Hook Fort, in the capacity of lieutenant, and served as such during the continuance of the war.
The marriage of Aaron Smock was productive of nine children, as follows: Garrett S., born Oct- ober 21, 1805; Sarah Ann, born November 22, 1807; Jane, born August 16, 1809; Daniel Pol- hemus, born December 9, 1811; Elizabeth, born June 31, 1814; William Henry, born July 3, 1816; Aaron A., born May 24, 1821; John A .; and Eleanor.
Daniel Polhemus Smock, fourth child in order of birth, and the direct ancestor of the branch of the family under consideration, married (first) Ann Schenck, daughter of De Lafayette Schenck, December 6, 1838. She was a granddaughter of Captain John Schenck, who was such a bitter foe to the British during the Revolutionary War, that Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of the British forces, offered fifty guineas for his head, dead or alive. His second wife, whom he married about six years after the death of his first wife, was Sarah Jane DuBois of Carlisle, Ohio, whom he married August 2, 1748. She was born September 11, 1824, and was the daughter of Daniel DuBois, who was a son of the Rev. Benjamin DuBois, a noted clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church. He preached acceptably for sixty-three years in the Reformed Church of Navesink, afterwards known as the Dutch Reformed Church of Freehold and Middletown, and of which the "Brick Church" at Bradevelt, is the present immediate representa- tive. "Dominie" DuBois as he was called, began his ministry in this church in 1764, and continued it through all the period of the Revolutionary War, and afterwards. He frequently showed that he could fight as well as preach, and on occasions shouldered his musket and knapsack, and joined the local militia, in resisting the frequent and un-
expected forays of the invading enemy. He was so eager to do his part, that he could not be kept in line, and a different arrangement of the troops bad sometimes to be made, for the safety of the "fighting parson," in an endeavor to keep him from too great an exposure on the firing line.
His son, Daniel DuBois, emigrated to Ohio, April 30, 1804, arriving May 17, having gone all the way in canvas-covered wagons, called "Prairie Schooners." With them went a goodly number of other families from Monmouth county. They settled in the fertile Miami river valley, locating at Carlisle, which came to be known as the "Jer- sey Settlement," and is so called to this day. The church which they established, was called "The Jersey Church," Daniel DuBois giving from his farm at Carlisle, all the land necessary upon which to build the church and lay out the sur- rounding cemetery, which was patterned after their home church in New Jersey. His daughter, Sarah Jane, after her marriage, came with her husband, Daniel Polhemus Smock, back to New Jersey, and lived with him on the homestead farm "Hop Brook" in the old neighborhood of her dis- tinguished grandsire. She became a member of old "Brick Church," where her grandfather preach- ed all the years of his ministry, and where so many stirring scenes and events, during that min- istry, were enacted. She maintained and contin- ued an active and consistent member of this his- toric church until her death; all her children were baptised there, and she lies buried in the cemetery surrounding the church she loved. Possessed of a sweet soprano voice, she sang for many years in the choir.
The Rev. Benjamin DuBois was the great- grandfather of Vice-President Garret A. Hobart, his daughter, Elizabeth (DuBois) Van Derveer, being the mother of Sophia, who married Addison W. Hobart, the father of Garret A. Hobart.
Daniel Polhemus Smock died February 2, 1896. His first wife, Ann Schenck, died April 19, 1842; his second wife, Sarah Jane DuBois, died July 19, 1900, and all are buried in the "Brick Church" Cemetery, where many of their kindred are interred. He owned and resided all his life upon the farm where he was born. Always a farmer, he was a man of exceptional ability in his chosen vocation. Many of his experiments and practices in cultivation and crop-raising, have become universal among progressive farmers. He also had the taste of his father for horticulture, and improved on some of the work done by him, notably the perfection of the "Smock" peach. He cultivated this to such a degree of perfection, that few orchards were planted without its being among the varieties selected, because of its good eating qualities, fine appearance and excellent shipping features. It has become one of the standards and is extensively planted, especially through the Mid- dle West. He thoroughly understood and prac- ticed the budding and grafting of trees, and the pollination of plants; and was continually develop-
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ing new things from old standards. Greatly inter- ested in good roads, and all public improvements of a beneficial nature, he was the leading applicant and promoter for the public road, along the whole west side of his farm, giving the land required for the purpose gratuitously, which secured a highway through what was previously an isolated community. The road leading east from the rail- road station at Marlboro village, after a score of years in litigation, was finally opened to the pub- lic the spring before his death, mainly through his efforts and means, and this opened up a fer- tile and beautiful section of farming country.
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