History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 84

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 84
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 84

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He was married Feb. 23, 1823, to Miss Anna E., only daughter of John Tucker, deceased. Their chil- dren are Sarah E., Mary Ann, John, William, Charles C., Anna E., Charles (2d), William (2d), Edward C., Alfred I., and Walter R., all deceased.

Mr. Tucker was in his political views for many years a Democrat, but subsequently espoused the principles of the Republican party. He was not a strong partisan, but supported candidates of probity and honor for official place irrespective of party. Though in no sense a public man, he filled for a term the office of alderman of New York City.

Mr. Tucker was in religion an Episcopalian, and a supporter of the worship of that denomination. His death occurred at his home in New York City No- vember 23d, in his sixty-first year. His widow, who survives and contributes this memento of her late hus- band, is a resident of New York City.

CHAPTER L.

NEW PROVIDENCE.

Situation and Boundaries .- The township of New Providence lies in the extreme northwest part of Union County, being parts of the Passaic Valley and First and Second Mountain. The township originally be- longed to Springfield township. In 1793, by an act of the Legislature, the inhabitants believing they would be better accommodated by being annexed to Springfield, this act was passed February 4th, pro- viding " That all that part of the township of Eliza- beth lying within the limits or boundaries herein described-that is to say, beginning where the line of the township of Springfield intersects the Passaic River; thence up said river to the line that divides the counties of Essex and Somerset; from thence on the line that runs between the two aforesaid counties until it comes to the head of the west branch of Green Brook ; thence down said Green Brook on said line until it comes to where the east and west branches form a junction ; thence up the east branch of said brook until it intersects the line of the township of Springfield at the northwest corner of the township of Westfield ; thence on the line of the township of Springfield to the place of beginning-shall be and hereby is annexed to the township of Springfield."

This part of the township went under the name of Turkey until an act of the Legislature was passed, Nov. 8, 1809, when it was called New Providence, and erected into a township with the same bounds as men- tioned, except on the Springfield line, which is thus described :

Beginning in the line that divides the township of Westfield and Springfield at the head of Green Brook ; thence northi twelve degrees and twenty minutes east to the south side of the road running from New Prov-

idence to Springfield and a little east of the dwelling of Amos Potter, Esq .; thence north forty-one degrees and fifty-five minutes west to the race of the saw-mill of Benjamin Bonnell, deceased ; thence into the bed of the river Passaic, in the Morris County line; thence up the bed of said river, etc.1

The boundary remained unaltered until the year 1869, when Summit township was taken from the northeast part, which left it about five miles long and two miles wide, bounded northeast by Summit town- ship, southeast by Westfield township, south by War- ren township, Somerset County, and northwest by Chatham and Morris townships, in Morris County. The Passaic River forms the western boundary.

Natural Features .- This oblong piece of territory, being parts of the First, Second, and Third Mountain Range, with its beautiful, picturesque valleys, contains an area of about thirteen square miles. Its formation and the outer slope and declivities of the First Moun- tain, along the ridges which form the dividing line from Westfield township, is of the trap rock, and many places rough and steep, forming ravines. Here the Green Brook takes its waters from the pond known as Felt's Lake, which covers many acres. The east- erly slope of the Second Mountain is more abrupt, in many places with steep declivities, and presenting wild and picturesque scenery. It is covered with a heavy growth of hemlocks, cedars, oaks, hickories, and other trees, many growing to an immense size. On this easterly slope the village of Feltsville, formerly a busy manufacturing place, is located. The ascent up this Second Mountain is steep; the roads are cov- ered with the débris of the drift-trap pebbles, which continue until we descend to the valley of the Third Mountain, known as the Passaic Valley, where the beautiful village of New Providence is located. Here we find an area of red shale and trap with some con- glomerates, called the Morris County conglomerates, having a variety of tints colored by oxide of iron.

In this valley the soil is of a sandy loam, with occasionally the outcropping of red shales ; for many miles through the valley there is no change. It con- tains many fine farms, the soil being naturally rich, easily cultivated, giving good crops of rye, wheat, and a general variety of vegetables. A large number of cattle and sheep are raised here. Fine orchards of apples, pears, and peaches are to be seen bearing choice fruit, and the forest trees of chestnut and hickory grow to a large size. As we go towards Union Village, in Somerset County, along the valley road (the Blue Hills, as they were called in the year 1690), the mountain range assumes a wider slope and is covered by a dense growth of timber until we leave the valley at the rise of Berkley Heights for Stony Hill, south towards North Plainfield township. Here we find a rough and abrupt declivity down the Second Mountain, large masses of trap rock, with a branch

1 Bloomfield's Laws of N. J., p. 213.

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NEW PROVIDENCE.

of the Green Brook running in the decp gorges which surround the Scotch Plains road. These public roads are kept in excellent condition with considerable ex- pense, and are creditable to the road managers. In the extreme southerly part of this township the trap is said the first settler in the westerly part of this township was Daniel Vail, son of Isaac Vail, of Green Brook, near Plainfield. The early settlement of New Providence proper was in the year 1736-38. As we have stated, some few farms had been made rock assumes a different crystalline strata, often form- , previous,y, but at the latter date a second allotment of lands was made by the " Elizabethtown Asso- ciates," as many below the First Mountain began to move up and settle upon these allotments. The fol- lowing list comprises the names of the first who

ing columns jutting out of the hillside, and when loosened, form elongated cubes from one to five feet, four- and six-sided, presenting the appearance of having been lately smoothed by hand and having perfect edges, showing conclusively to the scientist . came. They originally came from England, some that these mountains were much higher than at the present, and that these valleys were once under the influence of volcanic action.

In this beautiful mountain range, with its diversified scenery, can be seen fine farms with well-cultivated acres, having the appearance of thrift and content- ment.

RIVERS AND STREAMS .- On the westerly side of New Providence township the Passaic River (at this point a mere mill-stream ) finds its course flowing to the northeast and supplying many of the smaller mills until it reaches the city of Paterson, N. J., where manu- facturing is carried on to a great extent. We find that Green Brook, which is in the valley of First and Second Mountains (being the easterly dividing line of New Providence township), is fed by numerous springlets, and at its head source Felt's Lake, called Blue Brook or Pond, near Peter's Hill.1 There is a small stream, varying in depth, called the Salt Brook, of which men- tion is made as being historic at the time of the Revo- lutionary war. There are numerous springs of deli- cious water, some of them found nearly at the extreme elevation of the Second Mountain, but the most noted is the spring known as the "Cool Boiling Spring," upon the Bassenger farm, the water gushing up through a fine white sand. The other spring is known as the Sulphur Spring, upon the David H. Townley place. This is said to have been known as the Indian Spring,-the all-healing spring. On anal- ysis made it was found to contain magnesia and iron, and is known as the Magnesian Sulphur Spring. The whole township is well irrigated.

Early Settlements .- There may have been settlers in New Providence prior to the year 1720, but there is no positive information of any at an earlier date. In 1720 came Peter Willcoxsie, John and Phebe Badgley from Long Island. Another account of Peter Willcoxsie says that he came from England, and there was surveyed to him by Joseph Morss, surveyor for the " Elizabethtown Associates," four hundred and twenty-four acres of land, lying along the east branch of Green Brook, called Blue Brook, and was known as Peter's Hill, now known as Felt- ville. This is in the easterly part of New Providence township. The first settlers located on the mountain because it abounded in heavy timber and game. It

few were from Wales and Scotland, while a number came from Long Island, who were descendants of the original colonists of New England. The earliest settlers were Jonathan Allen, Joseph Allen, John Badgley, James Badgley, Thomas Baker, Jr., John Bedell, Nathaniel Bonnell, William Broadwell, John Camp, Jonathan Carll, Jacob Carll, James Canldwell, Elias Clark, Henry Connet, Daniel Day, Joseph Doty, Joseph Frazee, Jeremiah Hart, Uriah Hedges, Samuel Andrew, Anthony Littell, Jeremiah Ludlow, Jonathan Mulford, John Osborn, William Peirsons (Parsons), Benjamin Pettitt, John Pierson, Daniel Potter, Samuel Ross, Peter Rutan, Isaac Sayre, Eph- raim Sayre, Richard Scudder, Jolin Simpson, Aaron Thompson, Richard Valentine, Peter Willcoxsie, Edward Hedges, James Doty.

They were soon followed by others of the following names: Abner Bailey, Andrew Blanchard, Jacob Brittin, James Corey, Joseph Crane, Isaac Crane, William Crawford, Timothy Day, Philemon Dickin- son, Benjamin Force, Melancthon Freeman, Abra- ham Hendricks, Micah Howell, Uzal Johnson, David Lacy, Peter Lyon, Daniel Marsh, William Maxfield, Moses Miller, " Deacon Morehouse," "Lawyer Og- den," William Parrott, Andrew Prior, William Rob- ertson, John Roll, Nathaniel Smith, John Totten, Kennedy Vance, Daniel Wood.

All these it is said came within the first forty years of the settlement; "and at the time of the Revolu- tionary war many more came up only for a short season."

These first settlers were religiously educated and inclined. From a record it appears that they not only tilled the land, clearing waste places and making homes for themselves, but held religious meetings prior to the time their first church was established. They were called the Turkey settlement on Long Hill, and went by that name until about the year 1809.

In a short account given of the drawers of the allotment of land it appears that Joseph Allen, Jr., drew No. 113; he married Sarah, daugher of Peter Willcocksie (the family now spell the name Wilcox). Jonathan Allen, his father, owned one hundred acres, No. 28 of the Elizabethtown lots, surveyed above the First Mountain, where Joseph Allen afterwards lived.

Thomas Baker, Jr., emigrated from England with his father. He took part of a plot of ground, No. 50, of John Blanchard, March, 1738-39, of forty acres,

1 In 1734 named after Peter Wilcoxsie.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

and in 1761 he bought of William Maxwell lot No. 26, of ninety-nine acres, and also bought of Joseph Rolph and John Ocheltree lot No. 57, lying south of No. 50, and extending south to the Stony Hill road, and sold part of lot No. 57 to William Baker, and thirty-five acres adjoining Jacob Bedell to Jonathan Mulford, for his son, Cornelius Mulford, who lived upon it many years until he died.

Gabriel Baldwin (son of Ezekiel) removed from Connecticut Farms, north of the church. He mar- ried Rachel Littell, daughter of John or Henry Littell, of New Providence. He died in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Solomon Boyle emigrated from Ire- land and married a French girl in this country. He purchased of the East Jersey proprietors six hundred acres of land west and adjoining the Berkley tract, a long piece between that tract and Passaic River. William Broadwell, Sr., drew lot No. 13 of the Eliza- bethtown survey, and probably built the house upon it by the brook where the Parsons family afterwards lived. He also drew lot No. 18, south of No. 13, where Isaac Meeker subsequently lived. Johannes Vancampen (in English called John Camp) owned between three hundred and four hundred acres, lots No. 50, 51, 52. Jonathan Carle had in 1729, adjoin- ing Passaic River, 105 acres. James Colewell (spelled Cauldwell) came from Ireland in 1732 and settled here; he in the same year drew lot No. 30. Elias Clark owned lot No. 47. He married Betsey, daugh- ter of Benjamin Clark, of Rahway, and had nine children. William Connet was deacon in the Pres- byterian Church ; owned land lot No. - , and died 31st August, 1771. Elias Coriell owned lot No. I ; he came from Piscataway township, Middlesex County, married Sarah Runyon, daughter of Richard Runyon, and had six children. Stephen Corwin lived between the mountains near Feltville. He married Betsey Drew, daughter of George Drew, of Springfield town- ship.

Elnathan Cory (sometimes spelt Corey) lived in a house where now stands the former residence of Rev. Waters Burrows. His wife's name was Hannah. He owned about two hundred acres formerly owned by Jacob Carle, and also abont one hundred acres, No. 33 of the Elizabethtown lots, south of that tract. He died 8th October, 1766, in his sixty-fifth year. IIe left his lands to his five sons.

George Day came in 17- from Long Island.

The family of Daniel Dod came to New Providence, 1678. He was chosen deputy to the Provincial As- sembly in 1692.

Joseph Doty came from the east end of Long Island, and owned part of lot No. 39 of the Elizabethtown lots on Stony Hill. He married Sarah Badgley, sis- ter of John Badgley, and Peter Willcoxsie married the other sister, Phebe Badgley.

Thomas Hallock lived between the First and Sec- ond Mountains ; he married Sarah Bedell, daughter of Moses Bedell.

Robert and Nehemiah, sons of Hezekiah Hand, re- moved from Westfield to New Providence about the year 1796.

Jeremiah Hart lived on the southeast corner of the forks of the road at the Presbyterian Church, New Providence. He was born 9th December, 1714, and died 17th November, 1749; his wife, Sarah, was born 11th June, 1718 ; they had four children.

Uriah Hedges owned lot No. 39. Joseph Doty owned part of said lot afterwards.

Charles Hole lived close by Blue Brook, between the mountains, and owned a large tract of land near Uriah Hedges and John Badgley.

David Lacy lived in a house west of the parsonage house, nearly opposite to Dr. Kent's. He married Martha Parrot, and had eight children.

John Littell was one of the freeholders of Eliza- bethtown, and obtained lot No. 6 of Corson's survey above the First Mountain, containing one hundred and ninety-six acres, adjoining and lying directly north of Peter Willcoxsie, a four-hundred-acre tract, surveyed 6th January, 1736-37.

Jeremiah Ludlow lived in New Providence, where James M. Morehouse lived. He died 1st August, 1790, aged ninety-one years.

Peter Lyon was probably a son of Ebenezer or Nathaniel Lyon, who are named in the list of the second generation of the " Elizabethtown Associ- ates," admitted in 1699. He lived on Stony Hill nearly south of Littell's Bridge. He was born 1722, and died 23d September, 1781, aged sixty-two years. He married Joanna Clark, half-sister of Elias Clark ; they had eight children.

Alexander Martin lived on the south side of Long Hill.

William Maxwell, son of John Maxwell, of West- field, owned ninety-nine acres, and also a tract of land on Stony Hill.

Isaac Meeker (son of James) came to Turkey or New Providence in 1775, and settled on lot No. 18. He died 23d February, 1814, aged seventy-three.

Moses, son of Enoch Miller, of Westfield, married for his first wife Azuba Meeker, of Elizabethtown ; second, Molly Riley, an Irish girl ; third, Hannah, widow of Benjamin Bonnel. They lived on the bor- ders of New Providence township, near Union vil- lage. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Simeon Morehouse came up to this township from Elizabeth Town in the time of the Revolutionary war. He married Rebecca Meeker. Jonathan Mulford came April, 1740, "and bought of John Pierson four- score acres." His wife was Esther Conklin. John Noe came from Woodbridge, and lived on the ex- treme portion south of the township. He died 26th April, 1828, in his seventy-first year. Lewis Noe was brother of John, and lived near him. He died 5th April, 1838, in his seventy-third year. Ephraim Oak- ley was born 1700, and married Sarah -, who died the 9th April, 1761, in her fifty-second year. He died

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NEW PROVIDENCE.

3d April, 1761, and was buried in the New Providence churchyard. Smith Stratten Osborn came from Long Island, and owned land where Col. Israel Day lived. William Parsons, Esq., settled on lot No. 13. Matthias Parsons lived in Passaic Valley. John Pool lived on Long Hill. Benjamin Pettit, Esq., came about 1729, and purchased one hundred and five acres; he died in 1771. Samuel Potter came about the year 1734. Daniel Potter was a brother of Sam- uel, and owned lots Nos. 6, 26, 27 of the Elizabeth Town Associates. Abraham Price married Mary Anne Miller, daughter of Matthias Miller, and lived on Stony Hill. Jeremiah Raddin lived near Blue Brook, above Feltville. Dr. John Rague lived and owned land in or near the village of New Providence. Zebulon Riggs had three sons. One of them, Pre- serve Riggs, of Mendham. Morris Co., had a son, Elias, born 1st April, 1770, who was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. William Robison lived on Stony Hill about 1772. Nathaniel Roff lived in the Passaic Valley. Jonathan Buckman lived on Stony Hill, south of David Smalley, Esq. Peter Rutan owned two one-hundred-acre lots, Nos. 28 and 29, addition of the Elizabeth Town lots. David Samson lived on Long Hill; he had nine children. Ezekiel Sayer lived in 1785 on Stony Hill. Richard Scud- der owned and lived on the farm of one hundred acres owned afterwards by John Littell, Esq. He also owned one hundred acres of the farm owned by the late Thomas O. Scudder. John Simpson came from Long Island and settled on lot No. 27, above the First Mountain. Ellis Squiers lived in New Provi- dence. Jonathan Stevens lived where Samuel Squiers died. Ephriam Sutton lived on the Second Moun- tain west of William Allen's. Jacob Swain lived on Wolf Hill, near Union village. William Thomas lived on Stony Hill ; he was a half-bushel maker. Aaron Thompson settled on lot 31 of the Elizabeth Town Associates. John Tilyou and Elizabeth Tucker lived on Stony Hill, in New Providence township. James Totten was probably the son of Sylvanus Tot- ten, who lived in this township in 1765. Benoni Trembly lived on lot No. 61 of the Associates. George Townley lived on a farm in Passaic Valley. John Tucker married Catharine Line; he lived in the Stony Hill Valley. Daniel Vail lived on the extreme westerly limits of this township. Kennedy Vance resided where Samuel Squiers lived. Richard Valentine resided on the First and Second Mountain tracts of one hundred and eighty-four acres, lot No. 44; he also owned lot No. 35. John Williams' family lived in this township; he married Anna Spinning. He was born 10th August, 1768. Daniel S. Wood came to Passaic Valley about the year 1754.

The following genealogical or family sketches of some of these first settlers are taken from records and from statements made by some of the descendants of families now residing in this township. We give the different ways the names have been spelled, the first

orthography being usually in the old manner of spell- ing them :

Ailward (Alivard), Henry, came from England and settled back of the Second Mountain in the Passaic Valley. He married a Miss Compton. They had three children,-David, John, and Henry. There are many of the name still in this township and in Mor- ris County, N. J. Henry Alward, Jr., married Mary Cox, and had eight children. One of the grand- children, Jonathan Pennington, who was born 21st July, 1812, graduated at Princeton College, studied theology, became a Presbyterian minister, married Catherine Fredenburg, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Fre- denburg, of Somerville. They went to Western Africa as missionaries. He died in April, 1841, and she returned home.

Alling (Allen), John, was a man in humble circum- stances, laboring by the day (bottoming chairs). His father, John, died intestate, 1685. (He was no rela- tion to Samuel Allen, founder of the Newark family, who came from New Haven, Conn.) He was one of the Elizabethtown Associates in 1699. His sons, Jonathan and Joseph Allen, and perhaps a cousin, Daniel, who came to Turkey, now called New Provi- dence, about the year 1671, or soon after. Jonathan owned one hundred acres (No. 28) upon the First Mountain, and some acres upon the Second Mountain afterwards owned by William Cory.

Baily (Bailey), Abner, was one of the earliest set- tlers in New Providence township. It is said that he came from Connecticut. He was a hatter by trade, and carried on the business in Passaic Valley. He married Margaret -, who died the 15th March, 1793, and for his second wife married a Miss Sarah Cochran, of New York. The record says that he died without children, Jan. 10, 1810. The name of Rev. Gamaliel Bailey, a Methodist clergyman, is mentioned in 1790, who preached in this section, then called the Elizabethtown Circuit. Again there is mentioned in 1664 one John Bailius, and also John Bayly, and are also mentioned as signers to the five hundred thousand acres bought of the Indians, and also again in contract with Governor Carteret for lots, and that he was one of the four patentees mentioned of this whole section. Abner may have been a descendant.

Balwin (Baldwin), Gabriel, lived in what was called Wade's Farms, and afterwards called Connec- ticut Farms, whence he moved to what was then called Turkey Hill, now New Providence township. He married Rachel Littell, who died Oct. 30, 1794, in her sixty-third year. He died -, aged eighty- six years. They had five children,-Mary, Susan, Nancy, Samuel, and David. Samuel Baldwin mar- ried 13th March, 1794, Johannah Squiers, and went to Ohio; Susan Baldwin married Nathan Halsey, of Parsippany ; Nancy married Daniel S. Wood, son of Capt. Daniel S. Wood; David married twice two sis- ters, daughters of David Brant, by name of Phebe and Polly Brant.

348

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Bebot (Bebout) .- The name of the head of this family is not mentioned, but it is known that he came from Holland very early and married Mary Miller, sister of the Rev. Benjamin Miller, of the Baptist Church of Scotch Plains, and that he had two sons, John and Peter. Peter Bebout lived in New Provi- dence, and married Dec. 1, 1767, Sarah Jewel, and had a son Ebenezer, who went to the West after ar- riving to manhood. For his second wife Peter Bebout married Sarah Darling, half-sister of William Parrot, Sr., and had nine other children,-Peter Bebout, Jr .; William, who married, 1st, Martha Tingley, 2d, Hannah Ogden, of Hanover, Morris Co .; Christian, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Abigail, who married Isaac Potter, son of Col. Samuel Potter; Mary, married John Osborn, son of John Osborn ; Martha, married 12th November, 1786, 1st, John Be- dell, son of Jacob Bedell, and 2d, Luther Jones; Lewis, who died at the age of fifteen years; Stephen, who married Sally Cory, daughter of Elder Daniel Cory ; and Nancy, who married, 1st, Simeon Dunn, 2d, Elisha Coriell, of Green Brook. Peter Bebout, Sr., died 13th January or 23d August, 1784. The statements differ. This family have lived in this township for over a century.

Bedel (Bedell), John, Sr., had a son, John Bedell, Jr., who was an elder in the church in Turkey (New Providence). He lived where Isaac Crane lived on the borders of the township. The lot No. 20 contained 114 acres, and No. 24 contained 100 acres. There also was an elder in this church by name of Jacob Bedell. The family is quite numerous. Jacob Bedell, son of John Bedell, married Avla Powers, and at his death, the 16th June, 1777, she married Capt. Jonathan Mulford. She died about 1803.

Bedford, Bradford (Bredford) .- It is said that these three names are the same. I find that John S. Brad- ford was the son of Stephen Bedford, whose father's name was Timothy Bredford, or Bedford.

Bunnill, Bunell, Bollin, Bonul, Bonel, Bulen, Bu- niele, and Bonnel .- Nathaniel came from Long Island (it is said there was one other family who came from Holland) to Elizabethtown, and was one of the Asso- ciates; from there he removed to Passaic Valley above Chatham, and there lived. He married Hannah Miller, of Westfield, and had seven children. Na- thaniel Bonnel, the second son of Nathaniel the first, was born 1731, and died July, 1809. He married Elizabeth Allen, and had thirteen children. He was captain of the militia and a treeholder; and also in the list of ruling elders of the Presbyterian Church of New Providence, 1737, his name is recorded. He must have married the second time, but no children are named by this marriage. Nathaniel, the third by his first wife, born 3d day of June, 1756, married Martha Crane, daughter of Isaac Crane, and by this marriage there were eight children. He died 5th day April, 1814. His widow, Martha, died 20th June, 1846.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 84

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224