History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 177

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 177
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 177

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).

His wife was Rebecca Thompson, of Hunterdon County, whom he married Oct. 18, 1803. She was a member of the church, a pions woman, and died in 1849. Of this union were born the following chil- dren : John T., born July 29, 1804; Jacob, born Dec. 8, 1806 ; Margaret, born Sept. 3, 1808; Rachel, born April 22, 1810; Abraham, born Ang. 20, 1812; Rebecca A., born Oct. 21, 1814; Mary, born July 21, 1818 ; Jo- seph W., born July 23, 1821 ; William S., born March 24, 1824; Hetty Jane, born Dec. 18, 1827. Of these children only William S. and Rebecca A., wife of Christopher Insley, are living in 1880. Among those who remember him kindly are his granddaughter, Mrs. R. A. Apgar, and his son, William S., who deem it fitting to place his portrait and this sketch in the history of the township where he spent his life, and to the interests of which he contributed so much.

WILLIAM CREVELING.

His grandfather, Peter Creveling, resided near Jng- town, in Warren County, and was a farmer. His father, John P. Creveling, born Sept. 30, 1791, mar- ried Jerusha Happock, who was born Jnly 31, 1797, and died March 19, 1865. He died prior to 1854. He was a farmer by occupation, and owned something over one hundred acres of land adjoining the village of Broadway, where he lived the greater part of his business life.

William Creveling, son of John P., born April 2, 1810, on the homestead at Broadway, was a man of strong force of character, and lived a quiet and un- ostentatious life as a farmer. For a time he carried on the farm for his grandmother, after her husband's death, but soon after his father's decease he moved on to the homestead, where he remained until his death, which occurred Ang. 5, 1873. He was some- what active in politics, but never aspired to high of- ficcs, and, as a member of the Democratic party, he represented several minor offices in the township dur- ing his life. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Stewartsville for some time, and during the latter part of his life he was connected with the church at Washington. His first wife was Margaret Opdyke, whom he married Jan. 21, 1836. She died Dec. 25, 1852, aged thirty-eight years.

For his second wife he married, Oct. 25, 1854, Tam- zen, daughter of William and Anna (Weller) Miller, and widow of the late Robert Simanton. By her first marriage, Nov. 26, 1844, she had one son, William M. Simanton, who resides at Asbury, and married Ara- bella, daughter of George Richey. Mrs. Creveling was born Nov. 8, 1822. Her brothers and sisters are

Villillian Ercereling

Samuel, born May 11, 1812; Catharine, born Dec. 2, 1813, wife of James Lomerson ; Robert, born Jan. 1, 1817 (deceased) ; Elizabeth, born Jan. 30, 1819 (de- ceased), who was the wife of William Welsh.

Her father, William Miller, born Oct. 9, 1786, died Jan. 13, 1872. He was fifth son in a family of seven sons and five daughters of Robert Miller, born in 1746 and died in 1816. His wife was a danghter of Peter Weller, whom he married Sept. 17, 1811. She was born Jan. 21, 1793, and died Jan. 3, 1858.

The Miller homestead was in the township of Wash- ington, adjoining the William Shields farm. Mrs. William Creveling survives in 1880, and resides on the farm left by her second husband at his death. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Wash- ington, and a woman of great moral worth.

18 m Shipman.

HARMON SHIPMAN, grandfather of the above, came from Germany about 1740 and settled in the township of Harmony, Warren Co., N. J., where he purchased two hundred acres of land, most of which he cleared of its original forest, and upon which he resided during the remainder of his life. His first wife was Miss Howe, who bore him several children, of whom Abraham, born April 8, 1773, was father of our subject.

Abraham Shipman married, Feb. 1, 1800, Mary, daughter of James Eckman, of Franklin township. She was born Jan. 16, 1775, and died May 12, 1851; he died Feb. 25, 1848. The children born of this union were Jacob, Oct. 1, 1800 (died Oct. 13, 1876) ; William and Elizabeth (twins), Sept. 5, 1802 (the latter died Sept. 2, 1875); Naomi, Dec. 10, 1804 (became the wife of Peter Bowman, and married, for her second husband, Christopher Little) ; James, Oct. 31, 1806 (died Aug. 5, 1809) ; Charles, Dec. 8, 1817 (died Jan. 7, 1835).

Abraham Shipman, with his brother Harmon, suc- ceeded to the old homestead in Harmony upon the death of their father. In 1807 he sold his interest in the estate to his brother Harmon, and removed to Franklin town- ship, near Asbury, where he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, to which he afterwards added two contiguous parcels of eighty-three and fifty-seven aeres respectively. This land he improved, and erected com- modious buildings thereon.

He lived in a quiet way as a farmer, and was known as an honest man. He sought no political place, although he was a staunch Democrat of the olden time. Both he and his wife were members of the Valley Church,

near Hampton, and assisted in the building of that edifice.

William Shipman, son of Abraham, born on the old homestead in Harmony, married, in January, 1829, Margaret, daughter of Abraham and Ann (Inscho) Warne, who was born Jan. 23, 1810. Her father and paternal grandfather were farmers, and resided near Broadway. The children of this marriage are Abraham, Joseph (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Mary (de- ceased), George (deceased), Sarah Catherine (deceased), Amy (wife of John Willever), William W., Charles, and James II. After his marriage Mr. Shipman settled on a part of his father's property, the whole of which, upon the father's death, came to his surviving children, and is still in the possession of the family.

William Shipman has passed his life as an industrious and prudent farmer, and, while he has been favored with a competency, he has remembered the needy and de- serving around him. His plain and unassuming ways, his known integrity in all his business relations, and his conscientious regard for justice to all make him esteemed by his fellow-men. Both he and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church at Asbury since its organization, having formerly been connected with the Valley Church.

Mr. Shipman has always been a member of the Demo- cratic party, and in middle life took quite an active part in local polities. He has been honored by his fellow- citizens with several official positions in his township,- coroner, surveyor of roads, judge of election,-and in all has held office for some thirty years.

BENJAMIN WARNE was the first settler of the family in the township of Franklin, and selected his farm of three hundred and three acres adjoining what is now the village of Broadway. lIere for a time he resided in a log house by the brook, but prior to his decease erected a stone dwelling-house, in which his son's widow resides in 1880. He built a grist-mill on his property, which he carried on, and many years after his death his widow erceted a second one, which is still standing and has been used for milling purposes since. He died March 20, 1810, aged fifty-seven. His wife, Hannah MeKinney, was a woman of great energy and possessed a business enter- prise. After her husband's death she managed the farm, carried on the milling interests, and reared her children to habits of industry and business. She was born Sept. 30, 1769, and died Nov. 13, 1845. Their children were Thomas, born Sept. 23, 1796; Stephen, born April 3, 1798; William, born June 30, 1800; Elizabeth, born June 4, 1802, who became the wife of Chapman Warner; Richard, born July 1, 1804; Nicodemus, born Sept. 16, 1806; and John, born April 9, 1809.

Richard, son of Benjamin Warne, carried on the mill property and also the farm for several years prior to his death, which occurred Oct. 24, 1834. He also established a tan-yard and carried on the tan and currier business. Ile was a practical business man, and as long as he lived well represented the admirable traits of character so prom- inent in the life of his mother. His wife was Keziah, daughter of John and Rachel (Larason) Vun Syekel, of which union was born, Nov. 9, 1833, a daughter, Ilan- nah, who became the wife of John F. Phillips, of Mercer

Co., N. J. Mrs. Warne was born Sept. 4, 1811, and was married in 1832. She has been a member of the Pres- byterian Church for many years, and is n woman of great moral worth and Christian excellence. For her second husband she was united in marriage in 1835 to Stephen Warne, a brother of her former husband, of which union were born the following children : Elizabeth, Oct. 21, 1836, died at the age of twelve; Rachel, March 29, 1839, wife of J. E. Hulshizer, of Jersey City ; and Nicodemus, July 30, 1841.

Stephen Warne succeeded to the homestead by pur- chase of the other heirs to the estate. Ile carried on only the farm property, but retained possession of the mill, letting the tan-yard run down. He was a man of integrity in all the relations of life, and sought to do his part well as a citizen. He was a member of the Pros- byterian congregation at Stewartsville, and afterwards ut Washington, and assisted in the erection of church- edifices at both places. He was somewhat netive as a member of the Democratic party, was a freeholder of his township for several terms, and represented his sena- torial district in the State Legislature in 1843-45. IIe died Jan. 1, 1869, esteemed by all who knew him for his desire to do honor to all public places which he had been chosen to fill, and for his conscientious regard for justice in all his dealings with his fellow-men.

Nicodemus, only son of Stephen Warne, succeeded in possession of the estate of his father, and on June 6, 1866, married Zeruiah, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Carpenter) Hulshizer, of Greenwich township. They have an only child,-a daughter,-Keziah.

WASHINGTON.

I .- GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES, ETC.

WASHINGTON township is situated a little south of the centre of Warren County, in the tier of towns which border upon the Musconetcong. It is in shape very nearly square, being about four miles wide by five long. Its boundary lines do not, however, run in an exact east and west or north and south direction,- varying about 30°,-yet they are nearly at right angles with the Musconeteong and with each other.

The township is bounded on the north by Oxford, on the east by Mansfield, and on the west by Frank- lin township; while on the south the famous Musco- netcong separates it from Lebanon and Bethlehem townships in Hunterdon County.

Right out of the heart of this township, in 1868, was taken a tract of about a mile square, and formed into a borough, with a separate civil government. (Washington borough has been specially treated ou preceding pages.) The population of the township is a little over 2200.

II .- PHYSICAL FEATURES.

This township has very marked and varied physi- cal features,-pleasant valleys, swelling hills, and higher and bolder mountains, interspersed with which are numerous springs, rills, creeks, and rivers. The rugged Musconetcong Mountain sweeps along its southern bounds, and the Pohateong Mountain crosses it near the centre, while between these two ridges lies the Musconeteong valley, extending northward (in this township) from the river of the same name nearly to the village of Washington. To the northward of the Pohateong are other valleys and elevated table- lands extending to Scott's Mountain in the north. The latter, at Oxford Furnace (1114 feet above tidle- water), is a greater elevation than the Pohatcong Mountains near Washington borough (505 feet), or the Museonetcong Mountain at the Junction (512 feet). Proceeding northward from the Musconeteong River, the land gradually rises until the base of the Pohateong is reached. The Pohatcong Mountain is parallel to Scott's Mountain, and joins it to run into the Allamuchy Mountain to the eastward. There is one remarkable feature about most of these ridges,- the very gentle slope with which they sink away to the northeast and are lost, while at their southwest ends they fall off very abruptly, owing, no doubt, in part to the diluvial agencies which have acted power-

fully over this whole region; but it is chicfly struc- tural and the result of the peculiar and inclined fold- ing of the rocks.

The Musconetcong River and the Pohatcong Creek drain almost the entire surface of this township.

The "Roaring Rock" is locally renowned, and a great resort for picnic parties, romantically-inclined lovers, and those fond of the picturesque in seenery. The Brass Castle, a mountainous stream fed by springs, here dashes over rocks and fallen trees until it reaches the Roaring Rock, over which it rushes, to be again buried in the underbrush. The rock is about 10 feet wide and 20 in length. In the days of the early set- tlers it was called the "Indian Stomper," from the fact that it contained several large, circular holes, which had evidently been used for grinding or crush- ing corn,-a sort of rude aboriginal mortar. The name it now bears was given it by the present gener- ation, and is likely to adhere in preference to the early one.

III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.

One of the early land-proprietors of this township was John Bowlby, who owned several thousand acres. He gave the land for the old Mansfield-Woodhouse church. Col. Mccullough and Col. Mark Thomsont were also large landowners. The latter was located at Changewater, although he was interested in other portions of the county. The following letter, written by him, is preserved. The name of the person to whom addressed is not given. It is dated "Change- water, April 20, 1787," and is as follows :

" DEAR SIR,-I shall not havo it in my power to send you any money before the 12th of May ; If it will not then suit you to receive it for tho Pig Metal, I must send you the Bar Iron, agreeable to contract. I ex- pect by the above deto to be able to pay for the remaining 1016 tons of Pig, unless sadly disappointed, and should it not suit you to receive tho money then, It will be no Inconvenience to mo. I can assure you that paper money is now scarcor than Hard was before our Loan Money was Issuod. My Bellows will not want Dressing until October next. I will thank you to request Mr. Miller to come ofer then to Dress thour. I am your very Humble Servant.

" MARK THOMSON. " Please to send one Ton Piggy by tho boarer, John Swartzs. " 3i. T."

The "Historical Collections of New Jersey" says that "previous to 1811 there were not any dwellings here (in Washington village) excepting a few huts. In that year a brick tavern was erected by the late Col. William McCullough, of Asbury. A year later the dwelling now owned by Gershom Rusling was

+ For a sketch of Mark Thomson, seo tho Revolutionary and other general chapters in this work.

· By J. P. Snell.

713

714

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

built, since which the village has grown up and pro- gressed to its present prosperous condition."

This would indicate that Changewater was settled earlier than Washington, or, at least, that the former was the more prominent point prior to the year 1800.

A venerable pioneer, and a very large property- holder, in Washington township was the Col. Wil- liam Mccullough just mentioned. He owned the land on which Washington and Port Colden were built, and from thence to the Musconeteong and As- bury. His residence was at the last-named place, of which, as well as the village of Washington, he is ac- credited as the founder. Born in 1759; died at As- bury, in 1840.

Early settlers in the central part of the township, in what is now known as the borough of Washington, were the Laceys, Van Horns, Van Nattas, Crevelings, Van Dorens. In the history of Washington borough, elsewhere given, will be found special mention of the above. Garret Lacey and Jacob Van Horn were early justices; Maj. Hankinson was an early lawyer; Henry Hughes an early physician ; John G. Robbins the first harness-maker, and an early postmaster ; and Capt. Henry, Imla Drake, and John Beavers pio- neer innkeepers.

At Port Colden the oldest settler, so far as known, was Newbold Woolston. John B. Woolston, Esq., now residing there, is a grandson. Jonah Smith, de- ceased, and John Gibson, now living there at the age of upwards of eighty years, were also residents quite early. William Dusenberry was an active spirit here for many years. He built the first storehouse, erected a chapel and several houses, and engaged in mercan- tile traffic in the old stone building. Soon after his advent, and after putting up his store, he prophesied a large town would soon occupy the site. His neigh- bors, rather skeptical, called the settlement " Dusen- berry's Folly." But he, anxious to change this sug- gestive name, called the place Port Colden, in honor of Governor Cadwalader Colden, of New York.

Changewater, formerly known as the "Forge," em- braced the Thomsons among her earliest families. The forge was kept by Robert C. Thomson, son of Col. Mark, an old residenter. It may have been, and quite likely was, owned by his father. Jacob S., an- other son of Mark, lived at Marksborough, but was born at Changewater.

The first settlers at Brass Castle were the Wand- lings. Adam Wandling was born near the Brass Cas- tle Creek, in the year 1769. He lived all his days near the spot where he was born. He married Mar- garet Winegardner, and both lived to see their eighty- seventh birthday. His children were all born there, -- six sons and six daughters. Three sons died in childhood ; the others reside in the township,-Jacob about one-fourth of a mile east from the homestead, in the stone house, Peter, a half-mile south, and Adam near the old home. The homestead is now oc- cupied by Adam Bowman, a grandson. Catharine

married John Hornbaker, lived here for several years, and finally removed to Prince William, Va. Eliza- beth married John Bowman (deceased), and is now living with her son Adam on the homestead. Ann married John Rube. Mary married the late Samuel Creveling, and is now residing with her son, Adam Creveling, in Washington borough. Margaret mar- ried Levi S. Johnston, of Belvidere, and lived there. Sarah married John C. Winter, and is a resident at Washington. Catharine and Ann are deceased.

John Hornbaker was an early settler in the same neighborhood. His son, John, Jr., built and run the first mill in that section used for eleaning clover-seed. His wife was a Wandling.

Another old settler at Brass Castle was John Potts, who lived near the Wandling homestead, and whose land adjoined the farms of Wandling and Hornbaker. " Brass Castle" derives its name from the creek upon which it is situated, and is possibly of Indian origin, although its signification is unknown. About half a mile above the village, at "Roaring Rock," was formerly an Indian village and burial-place, where mounds are, or were recently, visible.

The mill-races on the upper and lower banks of the Musconetcong, at the "Forge," in carrying the water out of its natural channel, into Warren and Hunter- don Counties respectively, gave rise to the name "Changewater." It was known by that name prior to 1787.

Other early settlers who are recollected by our old- est residents were Charles Johnston, Gershom Rus- ling, and Henry Van Nest. The former was a saddle- and harness-maker by trade, which he followed for some years after coming to this place, and only relin- quished it to embark in the drug business. He es- tablished the first drug-store in Washington. Prior to this our citizens had to go to Easton for nearly everything in that line. He made quite a specialty in manufacturing and dealing in "burning-fluid." He is remembered by many as being a very particular man, and one who, while aiming to keep almost all the popular " patent" preparations of his time, was not slow to express his opinion of many of them, and that quite emphatically. His store, which was located on the site of the Beatty Block, he disposed of to Dr. Mattison only a short time before it was destroyed in the fire of 1869. Mr. Johnston died some four or five years ago, aged about seventy-five years. An only daughter, who married Dr. Osborn, is deceased. A son, who was engaged in the drug business in Phila- delphia (Johnston, Holloway & Co.), and who was in the habit of spending his summers here, died in Wash- ington, of paralysis, while on a visit in the summer of 1877. Mr. Johnston's residence was on Washing- ton Avenue, near the Centre Square, where now lives his widow, who is the only one of the family now left.

Gershom Rusling, son of James Rusling, of Beattys- town, lived on the place formerly owned by Henry Hankinson. He purchased the Hankinson farm

715

WASHINGTON.

about 1830. Some twenty years later he soll it to Henry Winters, who occupied it until about the year 1857, when Abram B. Stewart became its owner, di- vided it into town lots, and sold off to sundry persons; the old farm-house, the Ilankinson homestead, became the property of Dr. Cook, who now occupies it. Ger- shom Rushing was the father of Gen. James F. Rus- ling, of the Trenton bar. Judge Rusling, of Hack- ettstown, was a nephew. None of the name are now found in the township.

Jolin Sherrerd, the ancestor of the Sherrerd family in Warren County, emigrated from the city of Lon- don in the carly part of the last century. He settled at Pleasant Valley, in what is now Washington town- ship ( then Mansfield in old Sussex). The place is now generally known as Mattison's Mill, and is one and a quarter miles southwest from the village of Washing- ton, on the Pohatcong Creek. At this locality the elder Sherrerd lived and died ; his children were born here, where one son spent his entire life ; here, too, several of his grandchildren commenced their busi- ness career. He was at this place engaged in busi- ness pretty extensively for those times, carrying on a large farm, a store, and grist- and saw-mills. He was married at least twice, and left two sons sur- viving him ; one of these, John, removed to Phila- delphia, where his descendants are still residing.

Samuel Sherrerd, the eldest son of John, remained at the old homestead, and succeeded his father in the business there. Hle married Ann Maxwell, daughter of Capt. John Maxwell, of the Revolutionary army.

Samuel Sherrerd died in 1832, and, together with his father, mother, wife, and other relatives, is buried in the old Mansfield burying-ground, near Washing- ton village.

Samuel Sherrerd and Ann his wife were the parents of two sons and eight daughters, who arrived at ma- turity, and these were at one time, with the exception of one son, all married, and settled within thirty miles of their father. Eliza, the eldest daughter, is still living, at Shawnee, Pa. ; she married Joseph V. Wil- son, and several of her descendants are living in Bel- videre; Mary married Rev. John Flavell Clark, the father of Dr. Samuel S. Clark and Mrs. Ann S. Mc- Gee, both of Belvidere; Susan married William MI. Warne; he purchased the Pleasant Valley property, after the death of her father, and rebuilt the flouring- mill there. One son, Joseph, is the only member of this branch of the family remaining in the county. Ann married Charles S. Robeson, a brother of Judge James M. Robeson ; her descendants now reside at St. Louis, Mo .; Sarah, who married Richard Green, but is now the widow of Isaac N. Carpenter, and Jane, the wife of William Green, are still living at Easton, Pa .; Hetty, the widow of Dr. James Clyde Kennedy, resides with her son, Dr. Samuel S. Ken- nedy, at Stewartsville, Warren Co .; her daughter is the wife of Dr. Samuel S. Clark, of Belvidere; Rachel was married to Daniel Hollingshead, and died in the

West, where her son still resides; William ME., the younger son, married Sarah Barton, of Belvidere, removed to the West, and died at Shakopee, Minn., where his widow and daughter now live.

The ellest son, John Maxwell Sherrerd, was the most closely connected with the history of Warren County, and during his business life occupied a prom- inent position in regard to its affairs. (See personal sketches of John M. and Samuel Sherrerd, in the general chapter on the Warren Bench and Bar, ante- cedent.)

Henry Van Nest was an early grain-merchant. On the bank of the canal he had a warehouse, which is still standing. At one time he carried on a mercan- tile business-a grocery-in addition to his grain trade. In the latter he was quite extensively engaged. He subsequently leased the warehouse to Peter T. B. Van Doren, who there commenced his career as a merchant in Washington. Mr. Van Nest lived on Belvidere Avenue, north of the canal. He departed this life some twelve or fifteen years ago, leaving sev- eral children, of whom one son.and two daughters reside in Washington or its vicinage.

David P. Shrope, of Dutch descent, but a native of Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co.,-born Nov. 1, 1787,-set- tled in this township about the year 1810. He com- menced about that date to officiate as a clerk in the store of Samuel Sherrerd, located about a mile west of the village. Hle subsequently went South, but after a temporary stay returned to his native State, settling in Flemington, at which place and Anderson- town he resided until 1849, when he returned to Washington. From that time he resided here until his death, which occurred March 28, 1876, at the age of eighty-eight years and five months. Ile was buried in the old Mansfield burial-ground. He was promi- nent in civil affairs, both in Hunterdon and Warren Counties,-for twenty-five years was a justice of the peace, fifteen years a judge of the court, and for thirty years a master in Chancery, holding the latter position at the time of his decease. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1813, and was at the time of his death the oldest Mason in the State. He married Eliza Anderson, a daughter of Joseph Anderson, of Mans- field township. She died in 1848. "Squire" Shrope was also an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He had four children, but two only are living, Joseph A. and William. Joseph A., now living in the borough, has been a resident here for the past thirty-one years. Sixty years of his life have been passed in Washington and at Anderson- town, but a few miles distant. William resides at the latter place.

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 Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 177

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140