History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 53

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 53

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).

Immediately thereafter he returned to New Jersey, and pursued his studies with Hon. Henry S. Little, at Matawan, and was admitted to practice in New Jersey at the June term, nearly 14,000.

1853, of the Supreme Court. He studied law abont five years previous to being admitted in this State, during which time he confined him- self closely to acquiring a knowledge of the law and its kindred literature.

Upon being licensed, he commenced practice spring of 1855, when he moved to Freehold. Here he soon made his presence felt and early won a place among the leaders of the bar. ITis practice became large and lucrative, and there was scarcely a case of any importance in the county in which he was not engaged. His in- dnstry was great, and his thoroughness of prep- aration and judgment in the trial of cases were most prominent characteristics.

upon the bench nearly ten years, when, in Jan- uary, 1875, he resigned his office of judge to acrept that of Governor, to which he had been elerted in the fall of 1874 over his compet- itor, a very popular man, by a majority of

As a judge he was industrious, quick and accurate in his judgment, and administered the law with firmness and wisdom.

at Middletown Point, remaining there until the the close of his first term, in 1871, he was prom-

With reference to his Governorship, the fol- lowing extract is taken from the "History of Essex and Hudson Counties :" "Just prior to inently named as a candidate for Governor, though he himself took no steps to secure the nomination, rather discouraging the movement in his favor. Notwithstanding this fact, his name was again brought forward in 1874, and a unanimous nomination tendered him by the Democratic State Convention.

" He accepted this nomination only at the per- sistent appeal of the party, declaring that as he

July 10, 1861, he was married to Althea F. had been nominated without any effort on his

294

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

part, so he must be elected, if at all. This course he was constrained to adopt, not from any lack of disposition to serve the political organization with which he affiliated, or unwil- lingness to assume the dignity and responsibility of administering the government of his State, but simply from a high sense of the impropriety of any action having a political bearing by one holding judicial office. This high-minded de- termination was appreciated by the people, who elected him by one of the largest votes ever cast for Governor in the State, though opposed by a candidate of great personal popularity. Most unmistakably was he called to his honor- able post by the popular voice, whose expec- tations were in no sense disappointed. His administration from the first was marked by ability, prudence and a patriotism inspired by desire for the public welfare. By his states- man-like views and noble aims he firmly in- trenched himself in the respect and regard of the community. Governor Bedle, on the ter- mination of his official career, resumed the practice of his profession, and has since been identified with many important causes, being still engaged in active practice."

The College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1875, conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.

He has always been a thorough student in his profession, and is now in the full vigor of mature life. Although a resident of Hudson County for the last twenty years, he belongs to Monmouth County, and is identified with its history.

AARON RHEA THROCKMORTON, who, for more than forty years next preceding his death, in 1883, had been a member of the Monmouth bar, and who, during that period, had honorably filled various important public positions of trust and responsibility in Monmouth County and in the State government, was a son of the Hon. Thomas C. Throckmorton, a native of Middle- sex County, who came thence to Monmouth and settled in Freehold in 1803. He was an officer in the War of 1812, subsequently a justice of the peace for forty-two years, and judge of the Monmouth Pleas twenty-seven years. In 1808 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Major James Craig, of Freehold, who was an |

officer in the Continental army, under Washing- ton. Upon their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Throckmorton took up their resi- dence in the house which afterwards became known as the Throckmorton Mansion, in Free- hold, standing on the north side of Main Street a short distance above the court-house. In that house their children were born, and there they lived together more than a half-century, until separated by death. She died in 1863, he in 1868. They had three sons, of whom Aaron R., the subject of this biographical sketch, was the second, born March 21, 1818. The two others were Barbarie, born in 1813, died in 1870, and Charles D., born in 1822, and died in 1875.

The education of Aaron R. Throckmorton was obtained in the common schools and at the old Freehold Academy. At an early age he became an assistant in his father's office, but about 1835 he went to New York, where he remained two years as a clerk in a mercantile house. He then returned to Freehold and began the study of law in the office of William L. Dayton (afterwards United States Senator and minister to France). After Mr. Dayton removed to Trenton he completed his studies in the office of Peter Vredenburgh (afterwards justice of the Supreme Court). He was ad- mitted as an attorney in May, 1841, and as counselor in May, 1846. Immediately upon his first admission he commenced the practice of his profession at Freehold. In 1853 he formed a law partnership with Judge James S. Nevius, and removed to Jersey City, where he remained only about one year. At the organization of the State Senate in 1854 he was elected secretary under the presidency of William C. Alexander, and held the position for three years.

In the fall of 1867, Mr. Throckmorton re- ceived the unanimous nomination of the Demo- cratie Convention for surrogate of Monmouth County, and was elected without opposition, receiving 2558 votes, which was the highest number cast. In 1873 he was renominated, receiving nearly three to one of the party vote in the primaries, carrying every township except one. He was re-elected without opposition in his party, receiving 7777 votes in a total poll of

295

THE BENCH AND BAR OF MONMOUTH COUNTY.

9182. In 1877 he was again renominated, carrying every township but one, and was again elected, receiving 6131 votes in a total poll of 9938.

Having been thrice elected surrogate almost without opposition, and having held the position for more than fourteen years in a manner which made him universally popular among the people, he, on the 8th of February, 1882, resigned the office to accept that of president of the Free- hold National Banking Company, to which he had been elected. He was one of the first directors of the bank at its organization, in 1855, and he continued a member of the board con- tinuously during the remainder of his life. The office of president he held from February, 1882, until his death, which occurred at Freehold on the 3d of March, 1883.

Mr. Throckmorton was married, December 14, 1848, to Elizabeth H. Ellis, oklest daughter of Hon. Daniel H. Ellis, then of Manalapan township. They had three sons, the eldest of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Throckmorton and her two surviving sons (Charles E. and William S. Throckmorton) are now residents of Freehold.

From the earliest years of his manhood Mr. Throckmorton took an active interest in public affairs, and he became widely and most favora- bly known as a publie man. The most impor- tant positions which he held have already been mentioned. In publie meetings and celebrations he was always a leader. In the preliminary measures taken to procure the incorporation of Freehold he took a prominent part, and drafted the bill, which was afterwards passed by the Legislature, creating the incorporated district. Prior to the first election under the charter, a public meeting was held for the purpose of nominating a "citizens' ticket " for officers, ignoring all partisanship. At this meeting Mr. Throckmorton presided, and the ticket there nominated was elected. The citizens' organiza- tion thus formed was maintained, and each year Mr. Throckmorton was called on to preside at its meetings until the time of his death, and it was largely due to his energetic leadership, perseverance and steadiness of purpose that the citizens' movement, having for its object the

securing of honesty and economy in the ad- ministration of the local affairs of the town, was maintained, and its nominees (with but few exceptions) elected.

In the formation of the Fire Department of Freehold Mr. Throckmorton was a leader, and he was until his death an active member. In 1860 he became a member of Olive Branch Lodge of Freemasons at Freehold, and filled in succession the several higher positions in it, ineluding that of Master for the years 1865-66 and 1873. He was also elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey for the year 1869. In 1873, having been appointed by Governor Parker commissioner to represent the State of New Jersey at the Vienna Exposi- tion, le, in connection with the business of that commission, made the tour of Europe, in com- pany with Dr. Vought, Hon. H. S. Little and other gentlemen of his acquaintance. On the death of Dr. Vought, who was a manager of the State Lunatic Asylum, Governor Ludlow appointed Mr. Throckmorton to the position, which is one of honor and great responsibility.

Aaron Rhea Throckmorton was a man re- markable for the many admirable qualities which he exhibited, both in public and in social life. The difficult duties of the important and responsible office of surrogate, which he filled so long and so honorably, were performed by him with a perfect fidelity, justice and honesty of purpose, which received their most emphatic recognition in the remarkable majorities by which he was re-elected for his second and third terms. "He was," said ludge Walling, " an excellent type of a good public officer. In the first place, he had that peculiar and very rare disposition which enabled him to discharge trying duties with an evenness of temper which was remarkable. Ilis industry and methodical habits enabled him to perform a vast amount of labor, and his careful and precise ways enabled him to do that labor well; but above all, he was a man of the strictest integrity. He left behind him a name which is a proud inheritance, an example worthy of emulation."

He was a genial, courteous and friendly man, full of benevolence and a kindly regard for the feelings of others. For the young practitioners

296

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

with whom he came in contact he had always a word of encouragement. From those who filled positions with or under him, and who were with him daily for years, his uniform kindness, consideration and forbearance won for lim a love which outlived its object, and still clings to his memory. To the poor his sym- pathy and his purse were always open. Needy families were shielded from cold and hunger by his liberality, yet his benevolence was wholly free from ostentation, and many of his charita- ble aets remained hidden until after his death.

For many years, and until the time of his decease, he was a communicant of St. Peter's Church of Freehold, of which he was elected junior warden in 1880. Referring to Mr. Throckmorton's connection with the church and his fidelity to its principles, his pastor, the rector of St. Peter's, spoke of him "as a devoted, earnest, faithful member, and a most liberal supporter ; one deeply interested in its welfare, eager for its prosperity ; as the friend revered, the companion esteemed, the parishioner always mindful of his churchly relation ; the Christian brother, walking in his vocation, re- membering his assumed vows of loyalty to his Divine Master ; striving, though in the midst of temptations and hindrances which come to every man, to do his duty ; the co-worker whose resolve was earnest, whose counsel was wise, whose judgment was helpful, whose lov- ing deeds were efficient."

CHARLES A. BENNETT, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Monmouth County, is now one of the senior members of the Monmouth bar, having been a practitioner in the courts of the county for more than thirty-five years. He was educated at Princeton College, where he was graduated in the class of 1844. He studied law under the preceptorship of Judge Benning- ton F. Randolph, was admitted as an attorney in July, 1847, and as counselor in July, 1851. On his admission to the bar he located in his native town, Frechold, where he has since re- mained in practice, holding, in the mean time, many important publie positions.

From 1850 to 1868 he was acting surrogate of Monmouth County, during the terms of Dr. A. V. Conover and Dr. John R. Conover. In

that position he had full control of all the business of the surrogate's office, for a period of eighteen years, performing its duties ably and honorably. For twenty-six years (March, 1848, to March, 1874) he was clerk of the township of Freehold. In 1853 he was elected secretary of the Freehold Mutual Loan Association, and continued to fill the office until 1869. He was elected secretary of the Momouth County Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1859 and secretary and treasurer of the Freehold Gaslight Company in 1860, and has held both these offices continuously to the present time. He also held the position of treasurer of the Mon- mouth County Agricultural Society from 1860 to 1883. The office which he now holds, of judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Mon- mouth County, was tendered to Mr. Bennett without any solicitation on his part, and the appointment was made by Governor Ludlow in April, 1882.

Judge Bennett is a descendant of an ancestor named Jeremiah Bennett, of whom little is now known beyond the fact that, in July, 1685, he became the purchaser of one hundred and thirty acres of land, situated on Navesink River, in Middletown township. For three or four gener- ations down from Jeremiah Bennett the descent is not clearly traced until we reach William Bennett, who was living in the lower part of Monmouth County before the Revolution. He was a great-grandfather of the subject of this biographieal sketch, and was probably a great- grandson of the Jeremiah Bennett before men- tioned.

William Bennett was the father of a family of six children, of whom were the sons Hen- drick, Garret and William. The eldest son, Hendrick, was grandfather of Charles A. Ben- nett, of Freehold. Hendrick Bennett was born October 15, 1752, was married to Elizabeth Nowlan, October 16, 1774, and died in Freehold July 28, 1833. His wife, Elizabeth Nowlan, was born January 27, 1754, and died August 29, 1817. The children of Hendrick and Eliz- abeth Bennett were (1) William H. Bennett (father of the subject of this memoir), born August 1, 1775, and died in Frechold April 20, 1848; (2) John Bennett, born March 27, 1778,

297

THE BENCH AND BAR OF MONMOUTH COUNTY.

died (unmarried) November 30, 1812; (3) Eliz- abeth Bennett, born March 11, 1780, married Philip White, died in Freehold August 10, 1849 ; (4) Nancy Bennett, born March 24, 1783, died in Jannary, 1784.

Schanek, was born December 29, 1754, and died November 19, 1802. Their danghter, Jane Lefferson, wife of William H. Bennett, was born April 16, 1782, and died at Freehold May 28, 1866.

William H. Bennett, eldest son of Hendrick The children of William H. and Jane ( Leffer- son) Bennett were eleven in number, all born in Frechold village, where their father settled immediately after his marriage. They were (1) Sarah, born October 11, 1801, married Wal- Bennett, was married, December 29, 1800, to Jane Lefferson, daughter of Oukey Lefferson and his wife, Sarah (Schanek) Lefferson, and great-great-granddaughter of Leffert Pieterse Van Houghwort (or Hauwert, a village in the | ter W. Hart, died -; (2) John, born

6. A.Bennett

province of North Holland), the common an- October 15, 1803, died March 24, 1864; (3) Elizabeth Ann, born January 22, 1806, died August 10, 1813; (4) William, born August 13, 1808, died August 1, 1832; (5) Henry, born March 17, 1811, now living in Freehold; (6) Garret S., born May 13, 1813, died September 27, 1860; (7) Gilbert, born June 18, 1815, died October 28, 1×43; (8) Eliza Ann, born April 17, 1818, married John L. Doty, and is now living in New York; (9) Charles A. (to whom this sketch has especial reference), eestor of the Leffert family of Kings County, N. Y., and Monmouth County, N. J. He emi- grated from Holland to America in 1660, settled at Flatbush, L. I., and married Abigail, daughter of Auke Janse Van Nuys. He died December 8, 1704, and his wife died July 19, 1748, at a very old age. Their great-grandson, Oukey Lefferson, was born November 8, 1747, was married to Sarah Schanck, August 21, 1771, and died June 29, 1809. His wife, Sarah Schanck, daughter of Garret and Eleanor (Voorhees) | born June 4, 1820; (10) David V., born April

298

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

22, 1822, died September 1, 1842; (11) Hudson Bennett, born May 1, 1825, now living in Free- hold.

Charles A. Bennett was married, September 28, 1854, to Eleanor B. Clayton, daughter of Elias C. and Louisa M. Clayton, of Millstone, N. J. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been Charles A. Bennett, Jr., born May 8, 1856, now a lawyer of Freehold; Mary Louisa Bennett, born January 4, 1858, and died No- vember 17, 1883; and Fred. Bennett, born September 5, 1864, now employed in a mercan- tile house in New York.

WILLIAM L. TERHUNE, lawyer, Matawan ; was born in New Brunswick, N. J., May 16, 1815. His father, John Terhune, bookseller and publisher, ninety-two years old, is still living and engaged in the same business in that city, in which he has been for over seventy years. He held the appointment of judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County, and for a long time was alderman of the city of New Brunswick.

The ancestors of the family were Huguenots, who left Holland in the last century, first set- tling on Long Island and afterwards came to New Jersey.

Abraham Terhune, the father of John, was in the battles of Monmouth and Springfield, in this State, and for some time did garrison duty at West Point, N. Y.

W. L. Terhune graduated at Rutgers College, in New Brunswick, in the class of 1835; the same year entered the law office of the late Ilon. James S. Nevius, afterwards judge of the Supreme Court ; was licensed to practice September, 1838 ; removed from New Bruns- wiek to Matawan, then Middletown Point, 1842, from which time to the present he has continued there the practice of his profession.

In 1843 he married Margaret, danghter of the late William Little, a successful merchant and business man of the county, one of the original corporators of the Farmers' and Mer- chants' Bank of Middletown Point, and after- wards its president. Mr. Terhune is at present a director, notary and attorney of this institu- tion.

JONATHAN LONGSTREET .- Direk Stoffelse

Langestraat emigrated to America in 1657, hav- ing married, first, Catherine Van Siddock, aml, second, Johanna Havens, widow of Johannis HIolsaert. At an early day he purchased lands at Shrewsbury, and devised the same to his son Richard. Another son, Adrian by name, who died in 1728, married Stanekche, or Christina Janse, and had three sons-Jolin, Derick and Stoffle-and five daughters. Adrian Longstreet was by trade a cordwainer, but also owned a farm or plantation at Freehold, Monmouth County. His son John married, on the 17th of December, 1736, Ann, daughter of Peter Covenhoven and Patience Daws. They had five sons-Aaron (who died in youth), Pietras, Jan, Elias and Aaron-and one daughter, Antje.

Aaron Longstreet, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, resided upon the property now owned by him in Holm- del township. He married, March 9, 1778, Williampe Hendrickson, whose children were Hendrick, John, Lydia (wife of Barnes Smock), Annie (wife of Thomas Seabrook) and Nellie (wife of Obadiah Schenck, of Ohio). Hendriek Longstreet, whose birth occurred May 14, 1785, was during his active life a farmer in Hohn- del township. He was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Nellie Holmes, on the 11th of October, 1805, and had chil- dren,-Aaron, Eleanor, Lydia H. (married, November 30, 1831, to Daniel P. Schenck), Ann H. ; Emeline (married, March 6, 1839, to Hendrick Smock) ; Joseph H., Hendrick H. ; Mary Ann, John I. II. and Jonathan, born May 22, 1828. The birth of the last named and youngest of this number occurred on the homestead, in the vicinity of which his earliest advantages of education were obtained. He continued his studies at Johnstown, N. Y., and soon after entered Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1850. Deciding upon the law as a profession, he entered the office of Judge Peter Vredenburgh, of Freehold, and continued his legal eourse at the law-school of Honorable John W. Fowler, at Ballston Spa, N. Y., and after his removal to Pough- keepsie, Mr. Longstreet resumed his studies with Judge Vredenburgh, and was admitted to the bar in 1854, and began the practice of his

Jonathan Longstreet

299

THE BENCH AND BAR OF MONMOUTH COUNTY.

profession in Jersey City, from whence he re- Jacob Ten Broeck Beekman, was a native of moved at the expiration of the second year to . Somerset County, N. J., where the family were Freehold. On the death of his brother, in among the early settlers along the Raritan and Millstone Rivers. The name was originally spelled Beeekman.3 1857, he relinquished an attractive field at the bar to assume the management of the family estate at Holmdel, which has since occupied his His mother, Ann Crawford, was born, lived and died on the farm at Middletown. She was a daughter of George Crawford, by his second wife, Eleanor Sehanck, who was a daughter of Hendrick Schanck, by his wife, Catharine Holmes, a daughter of Jonathan Holmes, by his wife, a daughter of Captain Daniel Hen- drickson.4 attention. He has been identified with various leading business schemes in the county,-as president of the Holmdel Fire Insurance Com- pany, of the Keyport and New York Trans- portation Company and of the Holmdel Cem- etery Company. Mr. Longstreet's political affiliations have been with the Democracy, though his enthusiasm has never reached the George Crawford was a son of Richard Crawford, who was the second son of George Crawford, the eldest son and heir-at-law of John Crawford, who settled in this county some time prior to 1673.5 point which prompted him to participate in party strife or accept official position. Ile is a supporter of and worships with the Hohn- del Baptist Church.

The will of Richard Crawford, as published on pages 316-317 "Old Times in Old Mon- mouth," was not his last will. A subsequent one, dated October 1, 1794, was the one ad- mitted to probate. The will of his father, George, was proved at Perth Amboy, May 10, 1745, and is on record in Secretary of State's office at Trenton.

John Crawford, the first of the name here, died prior to 1731. He is the grantee in a Deed, dated in 1687, from proprietors of East Jersey, and recorded at Trenton in Book B of aced folios 211, etc. The property described in this deed is situated at Nut Swamp and still remains in the family.

George C. Beekman passed his boyhood on the farm at Middletown, and went to school in the old academy, where Honorable John S. Ap- plegate and Colonel George Arrowsmith, killed in the battle of Gettysburg, were playmates and school-boys together, and roamed over the

George C. Beekman April, 1869

Chilion Robbins

April, 18722

Amzi C. McLean April, 1874

Alfred Walling, Jr.

April, 1879

GEORGE CRAWFORD BEEKMAN was born on the Beekman farm, at Middletown, in this connty, July 2, 1839. His father, the Rev.

I Resigned, to take effect April 1, 1872.

1 To fill unexpired term of George C. Beckman, resigned.

3 Nee " Beekman" or " Beeckman," Ilolgate's " Amer- ican Genealogy," Pierson's "First Settlers of Albany," Riker's " llistory of Harlem," " Atlas of the New Jersey Coast," Ellis and Snell's " History of Somerset County, N. J."

4 Page 308, " Old Times in Old Monmouth."

5 Will of George Crawford, proved July 23, 1834, re- corded in Book C of Wills, p. 388, etc.

Will of Richard Crawford, proved March 8, 1806, re- corded in Book A of Wills, p. 116, etc., surrogate's office of Monmouth County.

In March, 1869, the Legislature passed " An Aet to facilitate Judicial Proceedings in the County of Monmouth," by which it is provided and declared " That the Court of Common Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the County of Monmouth shall hereaf- ter consist of four judges in addition to the Jus- tiee of the Supreme Court holding the circuit in said county, one of which judges shall be a coun- selor-at-ław. That whenever the Jus- tiee of the Supreme Court holding said cireuit shall be absent, such additional judge shall be president of the Court of Common Pleas, Quar- ter Sessions and Orphans' Court. That the said Courts may hold adjourned and special terms of said Courts, or either of them, under the same regulations already provided by statute in case of the Circuit Court of Over and Terminer and general jail delivery." The office of " law judge " in Monmouth County, created by this aet, has been filled by appointment as follows : 1

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 53

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148