History of the city of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey, Part 59

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 466

USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > History of the city of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey > Part 59

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Same to Abraham Van Houten, of Paterson, March 22, 1803, for $1,285, that portion of the farm lying between Totowa avenue and the Oldham brook (excepting the small strip of John Stiles), 64.24- acres .- Ib., C, 319. This tract was acquired in 1865 by the Paterson Land Im- provement Company, which laid it out in building lots, and thus began the remarkable development of Totowa which has progressed apace ever since.

Same to Helmegh Van Giesen and Robert Van Houten, May 19, 1803, for $350, the tract between Totowa avenue and the river (except- ing the John Stiles plot, and the Cornelius Neafie mill-site), 17 acres .- Ib., C, 501.

1 Ib., F, 444, 446.

2 Bergen County Wills, A, 283.

3 Bergen County Deeds, E, 189.

4 Bergen County Deeds, E, 193. These two deeds-from Brockholls to Marinus, and from Marinus to Van Houten-were not recorded until June, 1788.

a free and unmolested passage to and from said mines› minerals and erections without any molestation or hindrance under what claim or pretence whatever by said Gerrit Van Houten, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, or any person or persons claiming by virtue or under him." By deed dated April 14, 1762, Henry Brockholls conveyed an acre of land to the Trustees of the "Low dutch reformed Congregation of Totua."1 It is probable that about this time, or earlier, Henry Brockholls conveyed a plot of four and a half acres, 2.72 by 19 chains, fronting on the Passaic river, to Abraham Godwin, for a tavern site. Both these small tracts were in Lot No. 3.

The heirs and executors of Henry Brockholls, by deed (unrecorded)2 dated December 27, 1768, in which they set forth the parties of the first part as "Frederick Philips of Philipsburgh in the County of West Chester and Province of New York Esqr., and Elisabeth his Wife The Honour- able Roger Morris of the City of New York Esqr., and Mary his Wife Beverly Robinson of the City of New York Gentle- man and Susannah his Wife David Van Horne of the City of New York Merchant and Ann his Wife William Living- ston of the City of New York Gentleman and Susannalı his Wife David Clarkson of the City of New York Gentleman and Elisabeth his Wife which said David Van Horne Fred- erick Philips Beverly Robinson William Livingston and David Clarkson are Executors of the last Will and Testa- ment of Henry Brockholst Late of Pompton in the Province of New Jersey deceased and which said Frederick Philips Mary Morris Susannah Robinson Ann Van Horne Susannah Livingston and Elizabeth-Clarkson are devisees of the said Henry Brockholst deceased and which said David Van Horne William Livingston and David Clarkson are Guar- dians of the Persons and Estates of Ann Brown and Sarah Brown Children of Mary Brown deceased who was a Daughter of Susannah French deceased one of the sisters of the said Henry Brockholst which said Ann and Sarah Brown are two other of the Devisees of the said Henry Brockholst and'Margaret Philips Adolph Philips Nathaniel Marston the said Roger Morris and Beverly Robinson Ex- ecutors of the last Will and Testament of Philip Philips deceased who was another of the Devisees of the said Henry Brockholst," conveyed to Garrabrant Van Houten, Marte Reyerse, Holmer Van Houten and Abraham Godwin, of the county of Bergen in the Province of New Jersey, yeo- men, in consideration of £1,800 New York money, "All That certain Tract of Land situate Lying and being near Passaick River in the County of Bergen in the Province of East New Jersey being Part of a Tract of Land formerly called by the Indians Totoa which said Tract of Land here- by Granted is known and distinguished in a certain Map or Chart made of the said Lands called Totoa on the fourth

1 Bergen County Deeds, P, 114.

2 This is an indenture handsomely engrossed on two great sheets of parchment, each twenty-six inches wide, one twenty-seven and the other twenty-one inches from top to bottom, securely fastened together, every signature and seal showing perfectly; the seals are impressed with the effigy of a man's head. The instrument was acknowledged January 4-5, 1769, before Jno. Stevens, one of His Majesty's Council of New Jersey.

229

THE SETTLEMENT OF TOTOWA.

day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and twenty-two and annexed to the Deeds of Partition of the saine between the Heirs and Devisees of Anthony Brockholst and Helmagh Roelofsen and Roelof Helmagh- sen by Lot Number three and the Name Mr. Henry Brock- ost and begins at Passaick River at the South East Corner of the Lot distinguished in the said Map or Chart by Lot Number two and runs into the Woods North West and by North Eighty seven Chains and thirty Links to a Stake there drove in thence along the Ridge of Hills North East one Degree and fifteen Minutes more Northerly Seventy two Chains to a stake thence south East and by South one hundred and five Chains to Passaick River then up the said River to the Place where it Began Containing about Six Hundred and thirty eight Acres be the same more or Less," "excepting and reserving out of the said Premises hereby Granted that Parcel of Land which was formerly Conveyed by the said Henry Brockholst to Marinus and also all that Piece of Land which the said Henry Brockholst gave or conveyed to the Dutch Church near Passaic Falls." In the following spring (March 27-28, 1769), the several pur- chasers of this remaining part of Lot No. 3 of the Totowa patent agreed to divide the same among themselves, and caused a map thereof to be made, apportioning the purchase into seven lots, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. This sub- division is shown more clearly by the map on page 231, re- produced from the original found among the papers of the late Judge Gerrebrant Van Houten, a grandson of the Ger- rebrant Van Houten named in the above deed. The deed of release to Martin Ryerson is on record;1 that to Gerre- brant Van Houten, although still in an excellent state of preservation, has never been recorded.2 After the prelim- inary recital the latter deed sets forth :

Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Marten Reyerse helle- migh van Houten and abraham Godwin for Divers Causes & Consider- ations them there unto Especially moving but more Particulerly for and in Consideration of the Said Gerrebrant van Houten his Releasing and Remising all his Right title & Interest of in & to these lotts of land Numbered and Described on the above mention mapp or Chart of the Same Drawing by the said Marten Reyerse hellemigh van Houten and abraham Godwin Containing three hundred and Sixty Six acres with which they acknowledge themselfs fully Satisfied & Contented HAVE for them selfs their heirs & assigns Granted Confirmed Released Remised and forever Quitt Claimed AND by these Presents Do Grant Confirm Release Remise and forever Quit Claim onto the said Gerre- brant van Houten his heirs and assigns forever all their Right title & Interest of in & to all those two lotts of land Nº. 2 & Nº. 6 Number two Begining at the South Eastermost Corner of lott Number one at Pas- saik River and Runing By the Said lott North thirty Six Degrees west fifty two Chains and thirty links to lott Number Six thence By the Same North forty one Degrees East twelve Chains and forty links to lott

1 Bergen County Transcribed Deeds, A, 97.

2 It is an indenture, on a sheet of paper, 13x16 inches in size ; be- tween "Marten fras Reyerse Hellemegh van Houten of the Precinct of Sadel River in the County of Bergen and Abraham Godwin of the Pre- -cinct of hagquackanonk In the County of Essex and Provence of New Jersey Yoms of the one Part and garrebrant van Houten of totawa in said County of Bergen and Provence aforesaid Yeom : of the other Part." It is dated March 27, 1769, was witnessed by Mary Ryerse and Anne Reyerse, and was acknowledged March 28, 1769, before George Reyerse, Judge of the Bergen County Court of Common Pleas. This instrument is in the author's possession,

Number three thence By the Same South thirty Six Degrees East fifty Seven Chains and thirty links to Pessaik River thence up the Stream thereof to the place where it first Begon lott Number Six Begining at the Eastermost Corner of lott Number five and from thence runing by the Same North thirty Six Degrees west forty one Chains thence North forty one Degrees East Eighteen chains and twenty links to lott Num- ber Seven thence by the same south thirty Six Degrees East forty one chains to lotts Number three thence South forty one Degrees west Eighteen Chains and twenty links to the Begining both lotts Containing in the whole one hundred and forty acres.

Godwin apparently lacked the ready money to engage in so considerable a real estate enterprise, as he gave a mort- gage (March 28, 1769,) for £300 to his associates in the pur- chase, on part of the Lot adjoining Garret Van Houten, containing sixty-two acres.1 He did not long remain in pos- session of his subdivision, for by deed (unrecorded) dated March 29, 1769 (he being then "of the Precinct of Hag- quacining, in the County of Essex, yeoman"), in considera- tion of £140 New York money, he conveyed to Garrabrant Van Houten and Helmegh Van Houten, both of the Precinct of Saddle River, yeomen,

All that tract of land lying and being in the township of Sadle river in the county of bergen at a place called totowa being the Northermost part of a lott of land knowing by the distincion on a certain map thereof by No. I Beginning at the Southermost corner of a lott of martin frans. Ryerse knowing by the distintion of lott No. 5 in the line of garrat van houten from thence Running north forty one degrees East twenty two chains & Seventy Links, thence South thirty Six degrees east Seventeen chains & Sixty four Links, thence South forty one degrees west twenty two chains & seventy links, thence North thirty Six degrees west Seven- teen chain and Sixty four links to the beginning containing forty acres Strict measure.

By deed (unrecorded) dated January 23, 1772, Abraham Godwin, then of the township of Saddle River, conveyed to Garrabrant Van Houten, of Totowa, for £417.10S. New York money,

All that Lott or percil of Land Scituate Lying and being in the town- ship of Saddle River in the County of bergin in the Eastern Division of the province of New Jersey frunting at pesaik River below the Great falls of sd River Being part of a Larger tract of Land formerly Sold by the heirs of henry brockholst to the Said abraham Godwin and partners Beginning at the North Edge of pessaik River and South Seventy-four Degrees west two chains and Seventy two Links from the South wester- most Corner of Said Gerribrant van houtens Lot it Being the Division Line of sd Abraham Godwin and sd garribrant van houten their Lotts from thence Runing North thirty six Degrees west Nineteen Chains thence North Seventy four Degrees East two Chains and Seventy two Links to the Line of Said Garrabrants Lott thence along his Line North thirty six Degrees west about twenty-one Chains to the Line of a Lott of Land Belonging to Said Garribrant van houten & helimigh van hou- ten thence South forty one Degrees west along the Line of Sª. Lott twenty two chains and Seventy Links to a Line of a Lott belonging to Gerrit van houten thence along Said Line South thirty Six Degrees East to pessaik River thence Down the Stream of Said River the Several Courses thereof to the Beginning place in which bounds is included four acres of Land adjoining to Sd Gerrit2 van houtens Lott of Land & a Small Lot of Land formerly Given by henry brockholst to the Dutch Church which is hereby Excepted as also a Smal peice of Groun of four pannel of fence in Lenght and two in bredth Reserved for a burieng place which together with the four acres is Esteemed to be about five

1 Bergen County Transcribed Mortgages, A, 14. This mortgage was payable Aug. 1, 1771, but remains uncancelled of record. On Sept. 12, 1769, Abraham Godwin, and Phebe, his wife, of Essex county, mortgaged the same tract for {250, to John Leake, of New York, for one year. This mortgage is cancelled .- Ib., A, 20.

2 Gerrebrant.

230

HISTORY OF PATERSON.

acres & one quarter of an acre and the Same being Deducted out of the above bounds therein Containing fifty one acres and three quarters of an acre be the Same more or Less.1

By deed the same day (January 23, 1772), Abraham God- win and Phebea his wife conveyed his tavern property on Water street to Martin Frans Reyerse ("in his actual pos- session now being," says the deed), for £190, New York money, by this description:

All the lot of ground lying and being in the county of Bergen at or near Totaway Bridge beginning at the Persimons Tree & heap of stones on the West edge of Passaick River at the South West Corner of Gerretbrant Van houten, it being end of division between said Godwin & Gerrebrant Van Houten and running up said river south 74 degrees west two chains 72 links to a heap of stones thence north 36 degrees west 19 chains to the stake thence north 74 degrees east two chains & 72 links to a heap of stones in said division, thence south 36 degrees east 19 chains along the said division line between said Van Houten & God- win to the place of beginning containing four acres and nine tenths of an acre.2'

THE SUBDIVISIONS OF LOT NO. 3.3

Lot No. I-The ancient tavern-site of four acres and nine- tenths, in the southeast corner of Lot No. I, which site was originally occupied by Abraham Godwin, and by him sold in 1772 to Martin Frans Ryerson, after Ryerson's death was occupied by his daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Isaac Van Der Beck. They having removed to Hackensack, con- veyed the property, March 20, 1802, for $500, to Judge Ger- rebrant Van Houten, grandson of the Gerrebrant who was one of the four purchasers of the entire tract (excepting this little plot, the church yard, and the small burying ground) embraced in Lot No. 3, in 1768. James Walker, and Ann his wife, of New York, joined in the conveyance of 1802.4 The residence then on the premises is still stand- ing, being the northeastern portion of the stone dwelling, No's. 115-12I Water street, known as the Doremus home- stead. About 1822, Judge Van Houten enlarged the man- sion to its present size, by building the southwestern exten- sion, faced with cut stone. He died in 1831, and in the di- vision of his extensive estate this homestead was allotted to his daughter, Catherine, wife of Ralph Doremus. The old house remains in the Doremus family.

The remainder of Lot No. I, southeast of the forty-acre tract, having been bought from Abraham Godwin by Gerre- brant Van Houten, was by the latter devised, in 1783, to his grandson, Adrian-Adrian Van Houten, and to his two daughters-Gerritye, wife of Michael Vreeland, and Metje, wife of Cornelius R. Van Houten. Adrian-Adrian conveyed his portion, July 6, 1807, for $1, 187. 50, to David Bensen, of

Acquackanonk, 1 in whose descendants it remained, for the most part, until between 1860 and 1870. This tract began "at a stake standing on the west side of Passaic river at low water mark at the distance of two chains and twenty links from the west abutment of the Paterson bridge being the northeastern most corner of White Matlack's lot," and ex- tended from the river northwesterly 30.89 chains to the forty-acre tract (about to the line of North Sixth street), and was 7.80 chains wide in the rear, and five chains on the river, the southwestern line being North West street. It contained 203 acres.

What is known in old deeds as the "White Matlack lot" was conveyed Jan. 20, 1792, for £75 New York money ($187.50), by Cornelius R. Van Houten and Metje his wife, of Totowa, to Alexander Phoenix Waldron, of New Barba- does ; it began "at Passaic river where a small brook or run of water empties itself in the Passaic including said brook." This brook flowed down the hill immediately southwest of Hamburgh avenue. The northeasterly and southwesterly lines of this tract were substantially parallel to those of Adrian-Adrian Van Houten, the purchase extend- ing northwesterly to the forty-acre lot, and comprising 15. IO acres.2 On the southwest, it extended nearly to Ryle avenue at the corner of Matlock street. Waldron conveyed the tract, Feb. 7, 1794, to White Matlack, a New York mer- chant, 3 who sold the land, Nov. 22, 1794, for £100 New York money, to Willet Hicks, another New York merchant.4 He mapped the tract out in building lots, and after selling thir- teen lots conveyed the remainder of the tract, " third of sixth month" (he was probably a Friend), 1820, for $500, to Daniel K. Allen, then a merchant in New York, but after- wards a Paterson manufacturer.5 Allen conveyed to Robert Carrick, Feb. 23, 1826, and Carrick reconveyed to Allen, Oct. 12, 1827. Although forty lots had been sold, the value steadily went up, and the consideration named in this last deed was $1,050, for about ten acres. Allen had a new map made of the tract, by U. W. Freeman, March 21, I828.6

The remainder of Lot No. I, from the river to the forty- acre tract, was probably released by Gerretje and her husband to Metje, wife of Cornelius R. Van Houten, and by her con- veyed, about 1795, to George Adams, of. Paterson. The title was next vested in James Barron, at whose death it descend- ed to his son, William Malcolm Barron. He conveyed this tract, April 19, 1813, to John Wallis.7 Wallis had the

1 Another deed for this same tract was given by "Abraham Godwin and Phebe Godwin, his wife, both of ye township of Hagquackanonk in the county of Essex," to Garrabrant Van Houten, of Totowa, dated August 1, 1772. The consideration is the same as in the former deed, and so also is the description, the only difference being that the name of Phebe Godwin is included. This deed was acknowledged by Abraham Godwin and his wife August 1, 1772, before George Reyerse, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Bergen county. It has never been recorded. It is in the author's possession.

2 Bergen County Deeds, D, 331.

3 See the Map of Lot No. 3, on p. 231, for these subdivisions.

4 Bergen County Transcribed Deeds, F, 636.

1 Ib., F, 346. Adrian-Adrian Van Houten in this and other deeds. called himself Aaron A. Van Houten, of Acquackanonk, and sometimes- of Paterson Landing. 2 Ib., A, 396.

3 Ib., A, 397. 4 Ib., W, 226. 5 Ib., M, 472. 6 Ib., Q, 241.

7 Ib., H., 326. John Wallis was born in New York in 1780. He en- tered the office of the Newark Gazette and New Jersey Advertiser as an. apprentice to the printer's trade. In 1800 he bought out the establish- ment, and his unexpired time as apprentice, giving his father's notes in payment. In the course of seven or eight years he paid off his debts, and sold out his paper, in order to devote himself to the law, and was ad- mitted to the New York Bar in 1810, attaining to an excellent rank in his profession. In 1841 he retired from practice, and spent the rest of his days on a farm near Clifton, in Acquackanonk township, where he died in 1854. His son, Alexander Hamilton Wallis, was a distinguished' -

N- 36.w. 89 ch

7 49 : 41

abrutiam Godwin. 102:00000.

evo.1

Nº 5

Marlen fr. fayafe 741 acres

Old Dutch Church and Island.

40 acres

NA19: 22:90

41.00

The Doremus homestead.

Q:36. 00:10 0

ฟารุ โบ้วว.

18:20 b.

74 acre

genrebrant van houten

65,6 acres

ferrebrand van houten

Clinton street.

Marten. fr Beyerfe

Nº 3,

gich 86h

18:266'

742 acres

586.69

Ney

10 c/ 24h

hollemight were houten

Haledon avenue.

lane.

Burhans

THE SUBDIVISION OF LOT No. 3, OF THE TOTOWA PATENT, IN 1769.

35 acres 3 quarter

50 to 118 ft. E. of Jeffer- son street.

Hellemeghvan houten 9

59 acres-1 gr

street.

Doremus

NA1. 8:18:30

NOG

12 chi 90 li

N: 41: 2:55:1061

231

232

HISTORY OF PATERSON.

property laid out in building lots ; but as many of them were almost perpeudicular, against the steep rocks, they looked better on paper than on the spot, and it was not until about 1870 that they began to find a ready sale.

The forty-acre plot, in the rear part of Lot No. I, extend- ing from a line somewhat southeast of Jane street to Bur- hans lane, appears to have been so divided between the two purchasers from Abraham Godwin that Halmagh Van Houten took the twenty acres lying between Oxford and Marion streets, while Gerrebrant Van Houten had the twenty acres between Oxford street and Rip Van Winkle avenue. Gerre- brant devised (1783) his twenty acres to his two daughters- Metje and Gerritje ; the former appears to have released to the latter, wife of Michael Vreeland.1 On her death it vested in her children-Hartman, Michael, Jane (wife of Albert Doremus), and Mary (wife of Jacob Van Riper, of New York) -who conveyed the same to Merselis Van Giesen, Sept. 30, ISOS, for $587.50 ; Merselis conveyed, July 16, IS16, to Cor- nelius and Adrian Van Giesen ; Adrian released to Cornel- ius, Nov. 29, 1819.2

The southwestern half of the forty-acre plot was devised (in 1783) by Helmagh-Dirck Van Houten to his son, Rich- ard-Helmagh Van Houten. He, with Rachel his wife, exe- cuted a deed therefor, Oct. 10, ISOI, to Abraham Willis, who the same day reconveyed to Rachel Van Houten. She and her husband executed separate deeds, March 24, I804, to Jacob Francisco, of Newark; he reconveyed to Rachel, May 1, 1813, and she sold the tract to Simon Y. Van Ness and Merselis Van Giesen. The Paterson and Hamburgh turnpike now intersected this twenty-acre farm, and Van Ness and Van Giesen sold that portion lying south- west of the turnpike, and next to the Wallis tract, about 5.25 acres, to John Thompson, June 6, 1814, for $425 ; he and his wife Esther reconveyed the same premises to Simon Y. Van Ness, Aug. 12, ISI5, for $420. Van Ness was a farmer, blacksmith and wheelwright, who carried on his various occupations on this land until he sold the tract, Nov. 8, 1828. That portion of the forty-acre farm bounded by the turnpike, Marion street, Laurel street and Burhans lane, was estimated to contain 4. 85 acres. Van Giesen re- leased his interest to Van Ness, May 17, 1816, receiving in exchange, the same day, the portion lying northeast of the turnpike, 8.63 acres ; Van Giesen conveyed liis 8.63 acres to Cornelius Van Giesen and Adrian Van Giesen, July 16, 1816, with other property. Adrian having removed to

Romulus, Seneca county, N. Y., released to Cornelius, June 3, 1825, and Cornelius sold the premises, April 6, 1826, to- John Burhans, who subsequently acquired the rest of the forty-acre tract.1

Lot No. 2-Gerrebrant Van Houten devised to his son Dirck, 15 acres of this lot, having a frontage of five chains on the river, with a depth of 30 chains. It thus extended from Temple street to the northeasterly line of the present Doremus homestead, and from the river northwesterly about to North Fifth street. The remainder (50 acres) was. devised by Gerrebrant Van Houten to his grandson, Adrian- Adrian Van Houten. Dirck Van Houten devised the 15 acres first mentioned to his son, Judge Gerrebrant Van Houten, in ISIO. Aaron A. Van Houten sold his part of Lot No. 2 by two deeds, dated July 6, 1807. For $612. 50 he conveyed to John H. Garretson 20 acres out of the north- west end of the lot, extending the full width of the lot, 12. 14 chains, and having a depth of 17 chains from the cross-line (Burhans lane).2 Garretson sold the next day, for $122. 50, to David Bensen, a strip of 4 acres off the southeastern end of his 20-acre purchase, lying between North Sixth and North Eighth streets, Rip Van Winkle avenue and Clinton street.3 The remainder (29} acres) of Lot No. 2 was sold by Aaron A. Van Houten, July 6, 1807, for $996.25, to Judge Gerrebrant Van Houten.4 Judge Van Houten thus owned all of Lot No. 2 except 20 acres, his lands extending from Clinton street southwesterly to the Doremus line (and including the Doremus homestead), and from the river northwesterly about to North Sixth street. He laid out most of this land in building lots in 1824.5 On his death, in 1831, his daughter Catherine received the southeastern portion of the farm, and his daughter Helen, wife of George I. Ryerson, of the Goffle, received the rear part, or what is known as the Temple Street Hill.

Lot No. 3-Upon the death of Martin Frans Ryerson this lot was released, by Isaac Van Der Beck and Rachel his wife, and Mary Ryerson, to Richard Stanton and Jane his wife, by deed dated October 16, 1792.6 Rachel, Mary and Jane were all daughters of Martin Frans Ryerson. Stauton having died, his widow, Jane, married James McCurdy, and in order to vest the title in her husband she and McCurdy conveyed this tract, by deed dated January 1, 1799, to Ben- jamin Helme, a Paterson lawyer, who recouveyed the prem- ises the next day to James McCurdy.7 The latter, by his will, dated December 12, 1800, ordered that all his property should be sold by his executors, and accordingly, upon his death in 18II, his surviving executor, Dr. William Ellison, put up his property at public sale, and Lot No. 3 was con- veyed by him, May 13, ISII, to Henry Godwin, who, the same day, reconveyed this lot to Dr. Ellison, for $1,950.65. 8 Dr. Ellison sold the entire Lot, Oct. 18, IS25, for $12,500, to Daniel K. Allen and William Dickey, who gave

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History of the city of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey, Part 59

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 466

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 466