History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 17

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 17

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A post-office was established at Chapel Hill about 1850, with Cornelius Mount as postmas- ter. He was succceded by Alexander Waters, who kept store at the place. In 1882, Peter S. Conover succeeded him and is now postmaster. D. S. Bennett occupies the store in which the post-office is kept. The Chapel Hill beaeon is near this place.

In 1684, John Loofburrow was in possession of a mill on Maelise Creek. As late as 1815 the creek was navigable for sloops and schoon- ers within a half-mile of the mill. The farm is still in possession of the family ; the mill passed into other hands about twenty years ago.

HARMONY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is situated near the west line of Middletown township, northwest of Middletown village.

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

In 1829, Miss Hannah Herbert (afterwards Mrs. Joseph Collins) opened a Sunday-school at her house, in Harmony, and also invited preachers to visit her house and preach. Among those who did so were the Revs. Bartholomew Weed, Thomas G. Stuart, James Moore, James Long, Isaae Felch and Mulford Day. A so- ciety was organized soon after 1829, which was incorporated February 23, 1835, with John B. Dennis, James C. Polhemus, Peter C. Dennis, Joseph Johnson and Stephen Pangborn trus- tees. A lot was bought June 24, 1840, of Silas Newmau, under the condition that a church should be erected thereon. It was built soon afterwards and was used until 1864, when it was enlarged and repaired. At this time it was under the pastoral charge of Rev. G. H. Neal. It was dedicated November 3, 1864, by Bishop Simpson. The pastors since that time have been Revs. Ananias Lawrence, C. C. Eastlaek, S. H. Asay, J. F. Herbert, J. T. Heilenman, E H. Tunnicliff, J. Garrison, W. A. Massey, E. Gifford, A. J. Gregory, J. Wagg and J. T. Seachrist, the present pastor. This church is under charge of Port Monmouth.

The Fair View Cemetery is situated on rising ground between Middletown and Red Bank.

The Fair View Cemetery Company was in- corporated March 28, 1855. The grounds are finely laid out into lots, walks and avenues, and well 'set with evergreens and deciduous trees. They were laid out by Ezra Osborne, of Mid- dletown.

Oak Hill Nurseries (owned by Elnathan Fields) are situated west of Hedden's Corners and north of Nut Swamp. Fruit-trees, ever- greens and deciduous trees and shrubs of all kinds are raised for the market.

The peninsula of Sandy Hook, from its northern extremity southward to a point three- fourths of a mile below the Highland bridge aeross the Navesink River, is within the juris- dietion of Middletown for township purposes, though it is the property of the United States for military and other public uses.

The first owner of the lands of Sandy Hook was Richard Hartshorne, who came to this part of the country in September, 1669. In 1703

he made a deed of gift of the Highlands and Sandy Hook to his son William, who died in 1748, and left it to his sons Robert and Esek.

In 1762 the light-house on Sandy Hook was established. On November 16, 1790, an act was passed declaring " That the jurisdiction of this State in and over a lot of land sitnate at the point of Sandy Hook, in the County of Mon- mouth, containing four aeres, on which a light- house and other buildings are erected, shall be, and the same is hereby ceded to and vested in the United States of America for ever here- after."

The title of the property passed to the United States February 26, 1806, from Richard Hartshorne (son of Robert), Tylee Williams and Nimrod Woodward, who owned the portion formerly owned by Esek Hartshorne. In March, 1846, an act was passed giving to the township of Middletown jurisdiction in aud over all Sandy Hook, owned by the United States, lying north of an east and west line through the mouth of Young's Creek at low water, and extending across the island or cape of Sandy Hook from shore to shore.

The Sandy Hook light-house was established in 1762 and refitted in 1857. The light is ninety feet above the level of the sea ; height of tower from base to light, seventy-seven feet. Its lantern is of third order lens, fixed, and at an elevation of fifteen feet above the sea visible fifteen nautical miles. It is said to be the oldest established light-house in the United States, with the exception of Brant Point light, a small affair near Nantucket, Mass., which was built in 1759. During the Revolution the Sandy Hook light-house was fortified by the British, inclosing a eamp or cantonment which was occupied by Tory Refugees (black and white), and known as " Refugees' Town." The east and west beacon lights, on Sandy Hook, were established in 1842. The east beacon is forty-eight feet above the level of the sea. It went out in 1850 and was rebuilt. In 1880 a new iron tower was built on the site, and the light was used for the first time on the 15th of March in that year. A first-order steam fog syren signal, giving blasts of six seconds at intervals of forty seconds, is attached to the cast

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

beacon light, north point of Sandy Hook. The west beacon tower is forty-five fect above the level of the sea and thirty feet from the base to the focal plane.

The Sandy Hook light-ship lies nearly due east from Sandy Hook light and the Highland lights about fourteen miles, and is the first of the Sandy Hook lights to be discovered by ships coming in from sea. It was first placed there in 1823 and rebuilt in 1862. It has two lights, each forty-five feet above the level of the sea, and is provided with a fog-bell.

A fort was begun on Sandy Hook by the United States government during the War of the Rebellion, but was never completed. A signal-service tower is also at the place. The Hook is used by the government as a ground for heavy gun experimental practice. Life- Saving Station No. 1 is located at this place.

Spermaceti Cove is about half-way from the Highland bridge to the northern point of Sandy Hook. At this place, before 1812, a tavern was built, and called the Cove House. It was kept by Thomas Martin, and was destroyed by fire in 1854.

At the " Horse-Shoe" on the Sandy Hook isthmus, and about one mile south of the light- house, is the terminus of the Long Branch and Sea-Shore Railroad, where are located the steam- boat wharf, depot, engine-houses and water- tanks.

Besides the beacons on Sandy Hook, there are three others in Middletown township, viz. : Point Comfort, Chapel Hill and Conover. Waackaack beacon is in Raritan township, rang- ing with Poiut Comfort. They are all range lights established by an act of Congress approved .August 31, 1852. The report of the Light- House Board says they were all completed in 1856. Point Comfort beacon is forty-five feet above the level of the sea, Waackaack seventy- six feet, Chapel Hill two hundred and twenty- four feet and Conover sixty feet. Chapel Hill and Waackaaek have second order lens and the other two third order.

Point Comfort beacon is located near the shore on Point Comfort, while Waaekaack, with which it is in range, is inland, on the east side of Wakake Creek. Conover beacon is on Sandy

Hook Bay, near the Leonardsville dock, and is in range with Chapel Hill beacon, which stands on Chapel Hill, about two miles inland.

SCHOOLS IN MIDDLETOWN .- The township contains thirteen school districts and has school property valued at sixteen thousand two hun- dred dollars. Fourteen hundred and thirty- nine children of school age are registered in the township. Navesink District No. 59, embraces the territory on Clay-Pit Creek south and east of Navesiuk, where, in what was known in early days as Witch Hollow, a school- house was standing as early as 1800 and was there as late as 1820. " Master John Stevens," grandfather of Edward A. Stevens, of Hoboken, was a teacher there. About 1840, a school-house was built at Navesink, which was repaired from time to time and afterwards rebuilt. It is a large frame two-story house, and is now occupied by the school. This district now contains two hundred and twelve children of school age.

Chanceville District, No. 60, was formed under the present system April 23, 1857. The school-house in this district was built over fifty years ago and was rebuilt about 1858, and is now used. The district contains at present one hundred and three children of school age.

Harmony District, No. 61, has seventy- two children of school age. A school-house was built near the Harmony Methodist Episcopal Church before 1837. In that year it was known as Distriet No. 3. Daniel C. Hendrickson, Andrew Wilson and John Eastmond were trus- tees. A meeting was held May 25, 1842, to consider the expedieney of moving the school- house. A motion was made to change the site, which was carried. At a meeting June 11th, the action was reconsidered and vote again taken, and it was decided not to change. In February, 1857, another meeting was held, and the citizens were called upon to vote upon two sites,-the old one by Harmony Church and the lot near the corner of Jacob Halsey's land. The vote was takeu and again lost. Soon after this time the sehool-house was burned. No record of any ac- tion for rebuilding on the old site is found. A lot was purchased of James Willet ; the present house was built, and, with repairs, is still used. Middletown District, No. 62, embraces

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

old Middletown village, where the first English school in the province of New Jersey was taught by John Smith, who was an associate with Roger Williams in his exilement to Rhode Island. He came to Middletown and took up Lot No. 5 in the " Town Lotts." He opened a school in the new village, and was married by John Bowne, justice of the peace, January 3, 1672. He evi- dently retired from teaching a few years later, for it is of record, June 22, 1678, that "John Smith, late schoolmaster, of Middletown in the province of East New Jersey, purchased a tract of land called by the Indians Mengaelie, but hereafter to be called amongst the English by the name of Smith's Field." It is not aseer- tained when John Smith taught in Middletown village, nor where " Smith's Field" was located.

A school-house which was in use in Mid- dletown in 1785, was doubtless the one that stood on the Dr. Edward Taylor farm and in which he attended school in 1812. This house stood there until about 1830, when it was moved. Of the teaeliers in this old house were John Grant, Asher MeQuin, - Buell and Robert L. Austin, who was the last. He continued in the new house, which was built on the site of the present Reformed Church lot. When it was decided to build the church, the school lot was thought the most desirable, and it was purchased from the trustees in 1835.

After that sale, there being then no school-house, a stock company was formed to build an acad- emy, to be called Franklin Academy. April 19, 1836, John L. Hendrickson, William Wil- ling, Ezra Osborn, Dr. Edward Taylor, J. S. B. Beekman, Robert Hartshorne and James Pat- terson were elected trustees.

The present two-story academy was built, and Robert L. Austin became the first principal. School was kept in this building as an academy for several years. About 1851, it was turned over to the distriet, and is still used. The dis- triet now contains one hundred and twenty- seven children of seliool age.

Hedden's Distriet, No. 63, is in the neighbor- hood of Hedden's Corner, in the south part of the township, between Red Bank and Middle- town village. Jonathan McClane, the father of James MeClane, used to relate the tradition

that in McClane's Swamp, about half a mile below Hedden's Corner, there formerly stood a school-house in which an Irish teacher, in pun- ishing a scholar who was kept after school, killed him and buried him under the school- house. The swamp for many years after, and within the recollection of some now living, was called Haunted Swamp.

As early as 1785 a school-house was built on the site at Hedden's Corner, at which Jonathan McClane attended. Jacob MeClane also attended it in 1816. A new school-house was built about 1860, which was remodelled a few years ago. The district at present contains one hun- dred and eleven children of school age.

Leedsville District, No. 64, is located in the southwest corner of the township. In 1818, an old school-house stood on a knoll northeast from Jephiah Clayton's house, at which Mr. and Mrs. Clayton, William Jewell and Eliza Ogden attended. The house is now on the farm of Jephiah Clayton. About 1830, Cyrenus Thompson gave a lot of ground for school purposes, and on it the present house was built. It was rebuilt about 1855. The district at pre- sent contains one hundred and three children of school age.

Nut Swamp District is in the south part of the township, southwest of Hedden's Corner, west of Red Bank and east of Morrisville. Within the territory of this distriet the question of building a school-house was brought up in 1840, and on the 10th of March, 1841, a meet- ing of citizens was held at the store of Edward and John Miehaus, at which time and place Joseph S. Applegate, John Michaus, William Smith, George Bowne and Thomas S. Field were elected trustees of the Association for Promotion of Learning. The society was in- corporated November 27, 1841. A lot was purchased and the present house was built upon it and called the Union School-House. It is still used for schools. The district contains forty-nine children of school age.

Chapel Hill District, No. 66, embraces the little village or settlement of Chapel Hill, east of the centre of the township. The first school- house in what is now the Chapel Hill Distriet was built in 1817 on Garret Hill. The lot

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

(one-sixth of an aerc) was purchased Novem- ber 4, 1816, for ten dollars. It was bought of William Stillwell by William Morford, John Stout and James Hopping, trustees of the "Gar- ret Hill School." This house was used at the place until 1848, when it was moved to Chapel Hill, where it is still occupied by the school. The district contains at present eighty-one children of school age.

Highland District, No. 67, embraces the Nave- sink Highlands. The first school-house was built here, in 1834, by Peter W. Schenck and used for a private school for fifteen years, then abandoned. In 1845 the Highlands became a district, and Peter W. Schenck and Colonel William Jones erected a school-house on Jones' property, which was used for many years and then abandoned. In 1867 Ed- ward Hartshorne erccted a school-house near the Twin Lights. This was used un- til 1878, when it was sold to the Catholics, who occupied it as a chapel. Soon after the sale of this lot the district bought the present school site of Andrew Mount and built on it, and in 1880 the district voted two thousand dollars for the erection of a school-house. In 1884it was decided to enlarge tlic house, and two thousand five hundred dollars was voted for that purpose. The house was enlarged to forty by eighty feet. It is well furnished with all modern im- proved furniture. The district now contains one hundred and ninety-six children of school age.

Port Monmouth District, No. 68, embraces territory in the north part of the township, along Compton's Creek and Shoal Harbor. The first school-house was built there about 1858, and was used until 1883, when it was rebuilt. The district at present contains one hundred and fourteen children of school age.

Bay Shore District, No. 69, now em- braces the Atlantic Highlands, known in 1670 as "Shoal Harbor," and also as "Portland Point." On the 23d of March, 1807, Anthony Smith sold to Thomas Seabrook, Jacob Coven- hoven and Humphrey Tilton, trustces, nine perches of land for four dollars, for the purpose of erecting a school-house thereon. A house · was erected which was called the Shoal Har- | vicinity of which his life has been spent. Re-

bor School-Honse. In 1883 a large and com- modious house was erected at a cost of six thou- sand dollars, fitted with modern school furniture and dedicated November 9, in that year. The district now contains one hundred and twenty- one children of school age.

Brown's Dock District, No. 70, was taken chiefly from Chapel Hill District soon after the Garret Hill School-House was moved to Chapel Hill. It has been kept in good condition and is still used. The district contains forty-two registered scholars.

Seabrook District, No. 71, was taken from Bay Shore, and was named after Thomas Sea- brook, who was one of the trustees of the Shoal Harbor School District in 1807. The present school-house was erected in 1862 and additions were made in 1884. The distriet now contains one hundred and eight children of school age.

Holland District, No. 54, and Morris- ville District, No. 57, are both located on the dividing line of Holmdel and Middletown, and embrace territory in both townships. They are reported by Superintendent Lockwood in Holmdel, and are mentioned in the history of that township.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOSEPH FIELD .- Mr. Field is descended from English ancestry. The early members of the family resided on Long Island, from whence Elnathan, his grandfather, who died in his ninety-seventh year, removed to Monmouth County, where he purchased an extensive tract of land and became a farmer. He married Mary Willet, whose children were Thomas, Elnathan, Caroline, Mary and Huldah. Thomas was born on Long Island, and removed when a lad to Monmouth County, and spent his youth as a farmer in Middletown township. He mar- ried Rebecea, danghter of Captain Moses Shep- herd, of the same township, to whom were born children,-Joseph, Thomas, Mary (wife of Daniel West), Caroline (married to James L. Wilson), and Rebecca (wife of Elnathan Field). Josephi was born on the 26th of September, 1792, on the homestead in Middletown, in the

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

ceiving such education as the district school afforded, he, when a youth, made himself useful on the farm, and later purchased the land on which he now resides, the original tract embrae- ing one hundred and fifty acres, to which he has at various times added until it now embraces four hundred acres of arable land, which is devoted to general farming. Mr. Field has found it advantageous to let the farm, as the infirmities of age rendered labor difficult, and now as-

liberal towards all religious denominations, he inclines towards the Baptist faith.

CHARLES J. HENDRICKSON. - The great- grandfather of Mr. Hendrickson, was John Hen- drickson, whose son Daniel was born in 1735, and married Nellie Van Mater, who was born in August 4, 1735. Their children were Anna, born February 14, 1761, married to Charles Dubois; Cyrenius, born May 3, 1766; and John, born

sumes no responsibility in connection with its June 13, 1773. John resided upon the home- stead, which is still in the family, having married Mary Lloyd, daughter of John Lloyd. She was born October 17, 1772. Their children were Eleanor, Daniel, John Lloyd and Charles J., the subject of this biographical sketeh. He was born November 12, 1805, in the liouse which has for years been associated with the history of the family. At the age of twelve years he was sent to New Brunswick, N. J., management. He was, in 1867, married to Miss Uretta, daughter of John Hedden. Their children are Joseph, Uretta and Rebecca. Mr. Field, while a former Whig and now a Repub- lican in politics, is not strongly partisan, and votes for men of integrity and ability, irrespec- tive of party, always, however, declining offi- cial position. He is a director of the Middle- town and Red Bank Turnpike Company and . identified with other township interests. Though i and enjoyed the advantages of a thorough Eng-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

lish education, from whence he removed to New York, and began a mercantile career as clerk, acting for three years in that capacity. Mr. Hendrickson was, in 1826, married to Julia Ann, daughter of Rev. John Schureman, D.D., professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and granddaughter of Colonel Elias Conover. Their children are Julia (deceased), Mary Matilda, John Schureman, Lousia (deceased), Mrs. Edward M. Harts- horne and Ella. Mr. Hendrickson, on his

Covenhoven, who emigrated from Utrecht, Holland, to America in 1630. In the direct line from one of his three sons, Garret by name, was Hendrick, great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this biographical sketch. To his son, also Hendrick, who married a Miss Conover, were born children,-Garret H., Peter, Mary, Williampe, Jacob, and others who died in youth. Jacob, a native of Marlboro' township, resided within its limits during the greater part of his life, having married Eleanor,

Lohnly & then diecksoy

marriage, removed to the farm inherited from | daughter of Barnes B. and Lydia Longstreet his grandfather, which is his present residence. Finding active business more congenial to his tastes, he, in December, 1837, made Philadel- phia his residence, and for twenty years pur- sued a mercantile life, after which he retired to his farm in Middletown.

Smock. Their children are Mary (Mrs. John I. Taylor), Henry H., Azariah and Lydia (Mrs. John L. Bennett). Azariah was born on the 14th of February, 1821, in Marlboro', then Freehold township, and in infancy became an inmate of the household of his uncle, Garret Van Dorn, of Middletown township, then re- siding on the property now owned by Mr. Conover. After a period of instruction at

AZARIAII CONOVER .- The Conover family so numerously represented in Monmouth County are all descended from Wolfhert Gerritsen Van home, he became a pupil of the Lenox

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

553

Academy, at Lenox, Mass., and later gave his attention to the cultivation of the farm, for several years superintending its varied inter- ests. On the death of his unele he purchased the land of the estate, and has since that time been actively engaged in farming of a general character, ranking among the successful agri- culturists of the township. Mr. Conover was, in 1846, married to Miss Emily P., daughter of Thomas Sherman, who resided in the vicinity of Long Branch. Their children are Charles

Turnpike Company and the Middletown and Red Bank Turnpike Company. He is also a member of the Monmouth County Agricultu- ral Society, of which he was one of the organi- zers, and has been for years on the board of. management. Mr. Conover's religious eonvic- tions are in harmony with the tenets of the Reformed Dutch Church, with which he and his family worship.

REV. WILLIAM V. WILSON was born in

Azariah Conover

E., of New York, married to Carrie, daughter of Peter Chanfrau, of Long Branch ; Thomas (deceased) ; Williampe Van Dorn (Mrs. Sam- uel Rogers), of New York ; and Jacob, who resides with his parents. Mr. Conover's politi- cal sympathies are with the Republican party, though he has never been an aspirant for any offices beyond those eonnceted with the township, such as member of the township committee, township clerk and inspector of elections. He is a director of the Keyport and Middletown

Hunterdon County, N. J., November 18, 1811, was converted when about eighteen, and joined the church at Sandy Ridge in 1818. He had a thorough education, including a full conrse at Princeton Theologieal Seminary. On gradu- ating, he became a missionary of the New Jersey Baptist State Convention in Middlesex County. He was pastor at Keyport and of the Second Middletown Baptist Church, and in 1854 bceame pastor of Port Monmouth Baptist Church, where for more than thirty years he has fulfilled his

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ministry. He has been treasurer of the New Jersey Baptist Education Society, and is now (1885) its president. With preaching talents he combines an unusual aptitude for business, and he has freely and successfully used this for the cause of God. He succeeded in the almost inpossible work of extricating Peddie Institute from its financial difficulties, and has frequently, by his counsels and labors, helped to raise money needed for benevolent operations. His pub- lished sermon on giving, and other discourses

His father was a millwright by trade, and for many years a lumberman in Pike County, Pa., in which business this son was engaged in his earlier days. His father died at the ad- vanced age of ninety-six and his mother at eighty-one.

The subject of this sketch knew full well the struggle with poverty in obtaining an education, his own hands in great part supplying the neces- sary nieans.

His life, so far, has been a very busy one;

M. V. Wilson

and writings, have stirred up the people to great- er consecration of their means and larger efforts to spread the gospel.

Soon after his settlement at Keyport he mar- ried into the Seabrook family, at Shoal Harbor (now Port Monmouthi), where he has made his home ever since. This family and their ancestors have occupied this spot for near two hundred years. Deeds are in their possession, of land now wholly covered by the waters of the Lower Bay .of New York.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 17

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994