History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 89

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 89

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Lunes a Schenck

rented the farm, reserving an interest in the an- descendant of Cornelius Wikoff (or Wykoff), nual revenne from the crops. Mr. Schenck was, on the 31st of May, 1827, married to Mary Ann, daughter of Richard S. Hartshorne, of the same township and county. The children of this marriage are Elizabeth A., Susannah U. (de- ceased), M. Jane, Hannah H., (Mrs. John W. H. Conover), Luey W. and Eleanor (Mrs. D. Arthur Van Derveer). A Democrat in his polit- ical predilections, Mr. Schenck has never been actively identified with the working phalanx of

who came from Holland in the year 1636, on the ship " King David" (Captain D. DeVries, master), and settled on Long Island, where he died, and where his son, Peter Clanssen Wikoff, lies buried under the pulpit of the Reformed Church at Flatlands, L. I. His descendants re- moved from Long Island to Monmouth County, N. J. Among them, four or five generations down from Cornelius Wikoff, the first ancestor in America, was Garret Wikoff, whose place of

516

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

residenee was in what is now the township of Marlborough, a little west of Marlborough vil- lage. Two of his sons, Peter and Samuel Wikoff, settled on farms near Imlaystown. Their half-brother, Auke Wikoff, was a lieuten- ant-colonel in the army of General Washington, and Peter Wikoff was one of the guides to the commander-in-chief at the battle of Monmouth. Samuel, brother of Peter, was the father of Jacob Wikoff, whose son Henry is the partieu- lar subject of this biography.

Jacob Wikoff, second son of Samuel and Ger- trude, was born on his father's farm, near Im- laystown, March 29, 1765. His wife was Alice Green (daughter of William and Ann Green), who was born December 15, 1772. The chil- dren of Jacob and Alice Wikoff were William, Ann, Samnel, Henry, Garret, Jacob, Gertrude, John, Joshua Bennett, and Ezekiel. The eldest son, William, lived in Middletown township, where he died about 1870, and where his widow is still living, eighty-five years old. The see-

The children of Samuel and Gertrude Wikoff, were six in number, viz.,-Garret (who lived and died at Griggstown, Somerset County, N. J.), Jacob (father of Henry), Samuel (who removed from Upper Freehold to Ohio, where he died), Olive (who married John Hendrick- son, of Upper Freehold), Catharine (who mar- ried William Croxson, and lived near Allen- town) and Mary (who married Thomas Saxton, who lived in Upper Freehold township, near New Egypt).

| ond son, Samnel, lived and died on his father's homestead farm in Freehold township. Gar- ret, now eighty years of age, is living near Galesburg, Knox County, Ill. ; Jacob died at his father's home aged about eighteen years ; John is now living near Galesburg, Ill., seventy-eight years of age; Joshua Bennett Wikoff never married, and died at the Wikoff homestead about 1855 ; Ezekiel removed to Knox County, Ill., where he died, and where his widow and ehil- dren still reside ; Ann married Daniel Denise,

517

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

of Freehold township, and died in 1831 ; Ger- , Republican ticket. He has, however, never trude was born April 9, 1809, married John Hallowell, December 20, 1838, and died June 7, 1841.

Henry Wikoff, son of Jacob and Alice (Green) Wikoff, was born in Upper Freehold township, August 25, 1802. In 1810 he removed with his parents to a farm which his father had pur- ; chased in Freehold township, about two miles from the court-house, on the old Colt's Neck

ents passed the remainder of their lives, Henry Wikoff lived for more than twenty years. On the 13th of January, 1831, he was married to Emaline West, and then settled on a farm of one linndred and thirty acres on the Colt's Neck road, one mile east of Freehold, which he had purchased in 1830, and which has now been his home for fifty-four years. After a married life of forty-one years, his wife died at their home, April 10, 1872. She was a daughter of Elisha and Rachel West, born August 20,1810, on lier father's farm, near Long Branch, where she re- sided until her marriage. The farm is now owned by John Hoey.

The children of Henry and Emaline (West) Wikoff have been William Henry (born July 21, 1833, and now living in the town of Free- hold), John W. (born May 23, 1835, and died September 17, 1838), Jacob S. (born December 12, 1837, and died August 27, 1838) and Charles Edward Wikoff (born November 19, 1843, and now living on the homestead farm of | his father).

Henry Wikoff has been from early manhood a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, of Freehold, and Mrs. Wikoff was also a member of the same church until her death. When they first settled on their farm, in 1831, they occupied a small house, which is a part of Mr. Wikoff's present residence, it having been sub- sequently enlarged and remodeled. Besides this farm of one hundred and thirty acres, Mr. Wi- koff now owns the two hundred aere farm which was his father's homestead, situated about two miles from Freehold. He has always been a farmer, and has followed no other vocation. Politically, he has always opposed the Demo- cratie party, never failing to vote the Whig or

sought or wished for public position, and has held none, except such township offices as no good citizen feels justified in declining when ealled on to serve in them.

William Henry Wikoff, eldest son of Henry and Emaline Wikoff, was married, in December, 1857, to Margaretta, daughter of Garret P. Con- over, of Matawan. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church of the town of Free- road. On this homestead farm, where his par- | hokl, which is their place of residence. Their children are two sons, Henry and Frederick.

Charles Edward, youngest son of Henry Wi- koff and his wife, Emaline West, was married, November 29, 1864, to Sarah Anne Forman, daughter of Richard Throekmorton Forman, and granddaughter of the celebrated Dr. Sam- uel Forman, on whose estate, near Freehold, she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Wikoff are members of the Presbyterian Church of Freehold. They have had two chil- dren,-Frank Forman Wikoff (born September 28, 1865, and now living with his parents at the homestead) and George Henry Wikoff (born September 26, 1877, and died January 1, 1880).

SIDNEY THOMPSON .- Joseph Thompson, the grandfather of Sidney Thompson, who was of English descent, and born December 11, 1743, was a prosperous farmer in the present township of Manalapan, Monmouth County. He married Sarah, daughter of Peter and Leah Conover, who was born December 22, 1744, and had children,- Thomas, whose birth occurred August 13, 1767; Peter, born April 12, 1769 ; Elias, July 11, 1771; Joseph, November 27, 1774 ; John, September 29, 1776 ; William I., March 19, 1779; Lewis, January 31, 1783; Cornelius, August 3, 1785 ; and Charles, July 18, 1788. William I. Thompson married Margaret, daughter of Denise Denise, who was born March 24, 1775. Their children are Catha- rine, born April 1, 1800, married to John S. Denise ; Denise, born September 23, 1802; Joseph C., October 23, 1804 ; Cornelia, October 3, 1806, married to David Buck ; Sidney, De- cember 7, 1808 ; William, March 6, 1816. The death of William I. Thompson occurred March

518

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

25, 1843, and that of wife July 5, 1856. Sid- formerly an Old Line Whig in polities, and on the organization of the Republican party found ney, their third son, was born in Upper Free- hold township, Monmouth County, and received its platform in accord with his opinions. his education first at the schools of the neigh- borhood, and later at Princeton, where he devoted three years to study, but, returning in feeble health, engaged for the time in no active employment. In 1843, on his recovery, he assisted in the cultivation of his father's farm and in 1846 purchased his present home in Freehold township, where he has since been

He has refused office, though for ten years justice of the peace of his township, during which period he amicably settled all disputes between his townsmen and never encouraged litigation. He was formerly connected by mem- bership with the old Tennent Church, but now worships at the Reformed Church of Frechold, and has been a member of its consistory.

Sidney Thompson

devoted to the labor of an agriculturist. He CHAPTER XVII. was married, on the 10th of December, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP. Hendrickson, of Upper Frechold township, MIDDLETOWNis one of the three original town- ships of Monmouth County, the others being Shrewsbury and Freehold. The first settle- ments in the county were made within the orig- inal limits of Middletown, by five families (two of which were those of John Bowne and Rich- their children being Mary Ellen, born June 24, 1858, married to J. Vannest Du Bois, of Manal- apan township ; William Denise, born No- vember 11, 1859, and residing with his father ; and Eliza H., born December 8, 1860, who died August 10, 1861. Mr. Thompson was | ard Stout), who came in the year 1664, about

519

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

one year before the first settlements were made in Shrewsbury, and nearly twenty years before the township of Freehold received its first settlers. During all that period Middletown and Shrews- bury were called the " Two Towns of Navesink." Of the early settlements made in these two townships under authority of the Monmouth patent, granted by Governor Richard Nicolls, an extended account has already been given in the chapter on Early Settlements and Land Titles.

The original division of Monmouth County into townships was made by an act 1 pas-ed in

1 Prior to this (in 1675) the boundaries of Middletown had been vaguely described and (as was then supposed ) established ; but this was done merely by a " town-meet- ing" held under authority of the "Monmouth Patent," an authority which was afterwards entirely ignored and dis- avowed by the proprietary government of New Jersey. The record of this action in the matter of establishing the boundaries of Middletown, is here given verbatim ;

" June the .29. 1675

" At a legall towne meting it was Agreed upon the maior part then present that Jonathan Holmes John Throgmorton Jolin willson John Smith Thomas whigtloc them or the maior part of them are chosen for to goe in to the woods about the 30th of this instant for to see and take a vew and consider were aboutes it will be most eonveant for the Southwest and sutherd parts of midelltowne boundes should Runn and to give there Result

" Testis Richard Hartshorne Towne clarke."

"July the . 10th. 1675

"At a legall towne meting it was by the maior part then present demanded of Jonathan Holmes John Throgmorton John Smith John wilson Thomas whitloc there Result con- cerning the southwest and southerd parts of midelltowne bowndes and there Result was as followeth : viz from the sontherdmost part of Richard Hartshorne meadow which was formerly water walles which lyes at the hed almost of wakeake creeke begining at an oke tree marked by the creek side ovre aganest the above sade medow and soe along upon a straight line till you com to an oke tree that is marked standes northwest side of Seeperamek [?] from thence upon a straight line to an oke tree that is marked that standes on the southwest side of memtokeameek that is neare the hed of the littell hop river and soe along the river till you come to a chesnut tree marked and from thence to the hed of a swampe that lyes betwene jumping Creeke swampe and the nut swampe and soe along the Run in that swamp in to the new sand Rear

" Testis Richard llartshorne Towne Clarke."

A town-meeting, held January 1, 1677, made some change in the bounds thus loosely settled by the agreement of 1675. The latter meeting resolved that " where as by that agreement it was concluded that the boundes should

1693, approved by Governor Andrew Hamil- ton on the 31st of October in that year. The part of that aet which has reference to Middle- town is as follows: " In the County of Mon- mouth the township of Middletown includes all the land from the mouth of Neversink's River, and runs np said River and Swimming River and Saw-mill Brook to Burlington Path ; thence over to the upper end of William Lawrence's land on Hop River; thence up the run which divides said Lawrenee and John Johnston, to the head thereof; thence to the lower end of Rich- ard Salter's land on Hop Brook ; thence up the said brook to the head thereof; thenee to the mect- ing of Gravel and Watson's Brooks; thence to the head of Matawan ; thence to the head of Cheese- quakes Creek ; thence down said Creek to the Bay, and thence round along the shore to where it began."

The boundaries above described included not only the territory now embraced in Middletown, but also all that of the present townships of Raritan, Holmdel and Matawan, and a part of that of Atlantic township, erected in 1847. The history of that township gives the description of its boundaries, including the territory taken from Middletown to form it. In 1848 the northwestern part of the territory of Middle- town was taken to form the township of Rari- tan, which, at its erection, ineluded also all that is now included in Holmdel and Matawan. The description of the territory then taken from Middletown (redueing it to its present limits) is given in the history of Raritan township. The present boundaries of Middletown township are: On the north, Sandy Hook Bay; on the east, the Atlantic Ocean," Navesink River and Shrewsbury township; on the south, Navesink River and the townships of Ocean,1 Shrews- bury and Atlantic; on the west, Sandy Hook Bay2 and the townships of Holmdel and Rari-

run from the litell hop river along the said rever to u chesnuttree and now by the maior vote concluded to runne from the chesnut tree by the hopriver along the said hop river in to the swimming Rever and soe in to the new said Rever in to the mane ocean.

" 'Festis Richard Hartshorne town clarke."

2 The boundaries given above-viz. : east by the Atlantic Oeean, south by Ocean township and west by Sandy Hook Bay-have reference to the peninsula of Sandy Hook,

520

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

tan. The principal stream of the township is Navesink River, which flows into Sandy Hook Bay. The upper portion of it is called Swim- ming River, and still higher up it becomes Hop Brook. Into this stream several small tribu- taries flow southwardly through the township. There are also several small streams flowing from the north part of the township into Sandy Hook Bay. Two railway lines pass through the township: viz., the New Jersey Southern, of which the northern terminus is at Port Mon- mouth (Shoal Harbor), on Sandy Hook Bay ; and the New York and Long Branch Railroad, which crosses the township in a southeasterly direction from its west line (against Holmdel) to the Navesink River, which it crosses at Red Bank. The sea-shore line from Long Branch to Sandy Hook also has its northern terminus within the township jurisdiction of Middletown. The population of this township by the United States census of 1880 was 5059.

The first election of freeholders in Middle- town was held in March, 1710, at the house of M. Depuy. The Board of Freeholders was created by an act, passed in that year, requiring the building and repairing of court-houses and jails in the several counties, and providing for the raising of moneys for that purpose. The act authorized the inhabitants of each town and precinct to assemble on the second Tuesday of March, yearly, and choose two freeholders for the ensuing ycar ; which said freeholders, together with all the justices of the peace of cach county, or any three of them (one whereof being of the quorum), should meet together and ap- point assessors and collectors, to assess the in- habitants and collect the taxes. In case any town or precinct should neglect to elect free- holders, the justices were authorized to appoint them. The board thus constituted continued to have the care and charge of the county business until the year 1798, when an act was passed incorporating the Board of Freeholders to act alone and independent of the justices, and with

which, though in possession of the United States govern- ment, is still, for township purposes, a part of Middletown. The southern boundary of this territory is a line across the neck, three-fourths of a mile below the llighland Sta- tion. at the drawbridge across the Navesink River.

the powers and functions which that board has since exercised.

Following is a list of chosen freeholders of Middletown township from the time when that body became an independent board to the present, viz. :

1799-1804. Tobias Polhemus.

1800-12. John Stillwell.

1805-10. Garret Stillwell.

1827-42. Daniel Holmes.

1832-42. Edmund Burrows.

1843-44. Hendrick Wikoff.

1843-47. William W. Bennett.

1845-47. James Patterson.

1848. Richard A. Leonard.

1848. William Griggs.

1849-55. James Patterson.

1849. John Hopping.

1850. William Griggs.

1856. Daniel Herbert.

1857-59. Elias W. Conover.

1860. Joseph G. Mount.

1861. Andrew Brower.

1862. Joseph Conover.

1863. Andrew Brower.

1864-69. William B. Hendrickson

1870-72. Samuel H. Patterson.

1873. Thomas S. Field.

1874-75. William T. Conover.

1876. John West.

1877-78. George W. Crawford.

1879-80. Derrick G. Campbell,

1881-84. William H. Thompson.

Old Middletown village, situated in the west- ern part of the township, is the point where the first settlements were made within its pres- ent limits by the Monmouth patentees and their associates, as has already been mentioned some- what in detail elsewhere in this history.

The Monmouth patent was granted by Gov- ernor Richard Nicolls in 1665, and some of the settlers had even a few months before that time located on some of its lands, under an Indian purchase, but it was not until 1677 that Mid- dletown was laid out as a village, as is shown by the original records of the township which are now in possession of Edward Hartshorne, and from which the following extracts referring to the laying out and to the "out lots" adja- cent, are made, viz. :

" December 30, 1667 .- The lotts of Middletown all layd out being numbered thirty-six: begining at the west end upon the south side with number one and

521

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

ending at the west end north side with number one and ending at the west end north side with no. thirty- six. . . The south side

John Rucman: Num: 1 Job Throckmorton . . 22

Edward Tartte . 2 James Ashton . 23

John Wilson . 3 John Throckmorton . 24

Walter Wall 4 William Goulding . . 25

John Smith . 5

William Reape. .26

Edward Smith . . 27 Richard Gibbins

John Bowne . 28 Thomas Cox . 8 Beniamen Burden . . 29

Jonathan Hulmes

Samuell Spicer .

. 30

George Mount . . 10

William Lawrence . .31

William Chesman . . 11

Danell Estall 32

Anthony Page . . 12

Robert Jones . 33

Samuel Holeman . . .13 William Laiton . . . 14 William Compton . . 15-

Richard Sadler .. . 35

James Grover .36

James Grover . 16

Steven Arnold . . 17

Ded Mc

Samuell Spicer .18

Bot

[Torn off ]

Beniamen Deuell. . . 21

" December 31, 1667 .- It is ordered and Agreed unto that James Grover shall take a survay of the land that is to bee laid outt and to lay it out in to lotts: and likewise Richard Stoutt and James Ashton are chosen to asist him in doing of the same.

" The lotts that are in the Poplar feild and mount- any feild are numbered as followith begining at the west end upon the south side

Richard Sadler 1

Steven Arnold . . . 26

William Reape 2

William Golding . . . 27 John Rueman 3 William Lawrence . . 28

Thomas Whitlocke . 4

Daniel Estall . 29 John Stoutt . 5

These lots have a private

Obadiah Holmes 6

cartway : runs thereon Jonathan Hulmes 7

from the west end to the James Ashton . 8 east end: wch way is two John Bowne 9 rods : broad: running Beniamen Deuell 10 east : northeast nearest : Edward Smith . . 11 Richard Stoutt .12 Samuell Holeman . . 13 the lotts turning from the said way south and by east : and one the north William Compton . . 14- side: north by west : other James Grover, senior . 15 two lotts lie at the south- east corner of the poplar ffeild : and other 5 lotts : are by choncsis supus Run. William Laiton . 30 Samuell Spicer . . 16 Richard Gibbins . . . 17 John Throekmorton . 18 George Mount . . 19 John Wilson . 20

Thomas Cocks . .21

William Chesman . . 22

Beniamen Burden . . 23

Edward Tartt . 34 Samuell Spicer .24 Robert Jones . 35 James Grover, junior . 25

" January 6th, 1667.1 -- At a court holden in the towne of Middleton consisting of Richard Gibbins : Consta- ble: william Lawrence Jonathan Hulmes: overseers It is ordered That all fences shall bee made sufficient by the 15th of April next uppon the penalty of 6 pence a rod that shall bee found defective : it is like- wise to bee understood that all tences shall be foure ffoot and 3 inches high at the least. It is like- wise ordered That noe person whatsoever shall fell timber uppon any man's land that is laid out yet every man that hath ffalln any timber that is in any man's lott hath liberty to take it away in three months Ordered That if any one shall ffell timber uppon the common and shall lett it alye three monts it shall bee lawfull ffor any one to make use of it : provided it bee neither Hewed nor cloven Overseers for the ffences John Wilson and Thomas Cocks are chosen overseers of the fence for this yeare

" Testis James Grover Town Clerke."

" December : 16: 1668 This agreement made with the overseers of this towne and James Grover, concerning the laing ont of the meadows: that is: that the sd James is to lay all the meadows out into lotts bee- tweene this and the first of June next, and the said James Grover is to have three sufficient men to goe along with him : till the worke bee fully done, and James Grover is to have for every acre that is layd out, one pound of good merchantable blade tobacco: it is to bee understood that the meadows that are to bee laid out are onely such that the towne shall thinke ffitt. Signed by James Grover."

" December 25:1669 In a legall towne meeting: it was ordered by the maior vote that the lotte in the poplar feild belonging to Thomas Cox shall bee made good with 6 aeres of good upland wch addition was made by the Judgement of William Lawrence and Steven Arnold and this to bee made before any other land be laid out.

"The whole quantity of upland of the lott : num- ber : 16: was this day by the present Posesor: viz: James Grover: Senior : surrendred to the towne: the towne upon the surrender at the request of the said James did grant the full quantity of upland of a towne lott to lye one the southward side of the mill streame begining at the southward end of the mill damme and soe running 40 Rods up the hill : and soe (in length) towards the river (to make up the whole complement of upland,

" Testis Edw Tartt, Town Clearke."

" April 4th 1670 The Constable and Overseers with the assistance of the towne Deputies Considering a nessesity of the recording of lands to prevent future disturbance wch may arise by meanes of land markes beeing gone or defaced doe hereby order : that an ex-

1 Old style is here used. The real date, according to Job Throckmorton . . 36 | the present style, should be January 6. 1668.

Anthony Page 31

Walter Wall 32

John Smith . 33

Richard Stoutt 6

Thomas Whitlock . .34

John Stout . . 19 Obadiah Hulme . 20

522

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

act record shall bee taken of every particular parcell of land belonging to the inhabitants of this towne by the Towne clearke : both the length : breadth : and number of acres : the forme and manner how it lies as exactly as may bee : and the same to bee recorded : and the clearke to receive eight pence for every such piece of land soe recorded."

" April 9th 1670 In a legall towne meeting it was this day ordered and agreed upon : that the way wch was formerly layd out by James Grover thorow the mountany feild and Poplar ffeild shall bee enlarged with the allowance of two pole of the bredth of every mans lott ffronting the said high way to make the sayd way full six pole in breadth : and it is likewise ordered that James Ashton and Jonathan Hulmes shall bee Imployed to treat with John bowne about changing of the lott number (14) for the like enlarment."

"Testis : Edw : Tartt: Town Clearke."

"Enlargement of the way wch was the length of some lots viz : number : 12: and number : 13: these above said to Joyne with James Grover for the doing of the same.

" It was likewise ordered and agreed upon : that for as much as the lott in the poplar feild (number 23) considering the badnes of it being throwne upto make good some other lotts : wch said lott did formerly be- long to Beniamin Burden : in consideration of wch liberty was this day granted to the said Beniamin to take up the full quantity of 9 acres of upland any where on the common: with in the town shipp pro- vided that the said Beniamin takes it up without the limitts of the Town : beyond the utmost extent of a 160 Rods.

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 89

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