USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 43
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1 Nevill's Laws, ii., 89. 2 Holmes' Annals, ii., 528.
3 Bancroft's Ilist. U. S., ir., 238.
4 Trumbull's Hist. U. S., ¿.. 360.
539
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
quantity of stores and three chests of money1- were taken to Montreal .? Among the prisoners were Colonel Schuyler and about half of his regiment.8 From Montreal he was taken to Quebec.4 There he remained a prisoner until October, 1757. He was then released on his parol to return in six months,5 un- less a cartel was settled. With a Frenchman and two Indians for guides and companions, he left Quebec on the 12th of Octo- ber, and passed through the wilderness to fort Edward. He arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 19, 1757. The hero's fame had preceded him, and when night came most of the houses in the city were illuminated, a bonfire was kindled on the common, an elegant entertainment given to him at the King's Arms Tavern, " and the Public in general testified great Joy on his safe Arrival."6 On Sunday, Nov. 27, 1757, he set out for his home, then called Petersborough, a short distance above Newark, on the easterly bank of the Passaic. Upon his arrival he was saluted with a discharge of thirteen pieces of cannon. The next night he visited Newark in company of several prominent citi- zens, where he was again saluted with cannon. Bonfires were kindled and houses illuminated " as an Honour due to his great Attachment to the Interest of his country, and uncommon Zeal for his Majesty's Service." An entertainment was given, healths drank, " and a general Joy appeared among all the Inhabitants."s
During the first week in January, 1758, he set out for " Trent- town." At " Prince-town " he was met by the people and pre- sented with the following metrical welcome, written by a young lady and addressed
" TO THE HONOURABLE COL. PETER SCHUYLER.
" Dear to each Muse, and to thy Country dear, Welcome once more to breathe thy native air ; Not half so cheering is the solar Ray, To the harsh Region of a Winter's Day ; Not half so grateful fanning Breezes rise, When the hot Dog Star burns the Summer Skies ; Cæsarea's Shore with Acclamation rings, And, WELCOME SCHUYLER, every Shepherd sings. See, for thy Brows, the laurel is prepared, And justly deem'd a Patriot, thy Reward ; E'en future Ages shall enroll thy Name, In sacred Annals of immortal Fame.""
1 Bancroft's Hist. U. S., iv., 238. " Holmes' Annals, il., 70.
3 The other half of his regiment was placed under the command of Colonel Par- ker and subsequently captured at Lake George. V. Y. Post Boy, June 6, 1757.
3 Col. Hist. of N. Y., x., 849. 6 N. Y. Post Boy, Nov. 21, 1757.
" Afterward known as " Kennedy's Farm," then as the " Village of Lodi," now
(in part) East Newark. N. Y. Post I oy, Nov. 28, 1757.
C. V. Y. Mercury, Jan. 9, 1758.
340
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Wherever he went he was greeted with demonstrations of popular favor. But the days of his parol were rapidly passing and nothing had yet been done relative to the exchange of prison- ers. All his efforts to that end were abortive. The King and Wil- liam Pitt could compliment him for the zeal he had so often shown for the public service, but " saw with concern the disagreeable sit- uation of that Gentleman, from the difficulties that have arisen, with regard to his being exchanged, and though his Majty will readily agree to any measures that shall be proper and practicable to obtain the release of so good a subject, yet it is thought, that no steps can be taken here for that purpose, till it is known what answer Mons" Vaudreuil shall have returned to the proposal made to him : and in case that answer should, as Colonel Schny- ler apprehends. prove to be negative," why, then. he was assured, no time would be lost to effect in Europe an exchange for him.1
As foreshadowed in this sympathetic assurance of the King, Colonel Schuyler was forced to surrender himself. The war was not ended, the term of his parol had long since expired, all efforts for his exchange had failed.2 and the French commander, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, had repeatedly demanded the return "of the brave old Peter Schuyler of New Jersey."3 True as brave, the old soldier had given his word, and like Regulus
Dimovit obstantes propinquos Et populum reditus morantenl,
and went back to captivity. He left his home about July 1, 1758,4 Lake George on the 21st, was received by Montcalm at Ticonderoga on the 23d, and by him sent to Montreal.5 He car- ried with him full power from General Abercrombie to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. On Nov. 1, 1758, he succeeded in effecting an exchange of himself for Sienr de Novau, command- ant at Fort Frontenac, captured by the English under Colonel Bradstreet, Ang. 27, 1758. ITe immediately set out upon his return, and arrived at Fort Edward on the 11th, with eighty-eight prisoners, including twenty-six women and twelve children.6 Some of these he had purchased from the Indians " at a very high price." During his imprisonment he had been of great ser- vice to his fellow countrymen, redeeming them from captivity, keeping open house and feeding them at his own table. In these benevolences he expended from his own purse £1,333, 9s., Ogd.,
' Col. Ilist. of N. Y., vii., 344. Ibid, a., 711-714. 2 Proc. N. J. Hist. Soc., i., 56 ; 2 Dunlap's Hist. of N. Y., Appendix, lxvii.
4 Col. Hist. of N. Y., 2., 772. Ibid, r., 774. 6 Ibid, r., 897.
N. Y. Post Boy, Dec. 4, 1758
541
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
for which he sent in his bill to the Provincial authorities in August, 1758. He also extended his liberality to other prisoners than those of New Jer- sey. The King refunded to him £211, 8s., 7d., thus expended.1
Shortly after his release Colonel Schuyler re- turned home, but on the opening of the campaign. in the spring of 1759, he again led his Jersey Blues? to Canada.3 He spent the winter of 1759-60 at home,4 but afterward rejoined the army and entered Montreal as a victor when that city surrendered to the British forces in September, 1760.5 He died at his home on Sunday, March 7, 1762. A paper of that day said, " He did honor to his country and gave a Noble Example to others : And it will be al- lowed by all who knew him, that he was a sincere Friend ; humane, beneficent and just to all man- kind."6 " He was a brave soldier, of a frank and open behavior, an extensive generosity and un- wearied in the service of his country. In person he was tall and hardy, rather rough at first view. yet a little acquaintance discovered a depth of sin- cerity. In conversation he was above artifice, or the traffic of forms, yet enjoyed friendship with a true relish, and in all relations, what he seemed to be. he was .- Matthew, vii., 20."
16. VI. Adonijah (34), m. Gertrude Van Rensselaer. By his father's will he received two tracts of land at Elizabethtown Point. His will, dated May 20, 1761, was proved May 28, 1762.
17. VII. Eva, m. P. Bayard : d. in 1737. 18. VIII. Cornelia, m. P. De Peyster. By their father's will these two daughters received two lots of ground
1 Col. Hist. of N. Y., vii., 844. Colonel Schuyler kept an account of the money advanced to each soldier, and when, on his return to New Jersey, the soldier received payment, the amount so advanced was deducted. I have now in my possession many of these receipts showing this fact.
2 A name first applied to the New Jersey troops in the French war of 174 ;. derived from the color of their uniform. A periodical of that time describes them as " the likeliest well-set men " who ever entered upon a campaign. Their uniform was blue, faced with red, gray stockings and buckskin breeches .-? Dunlap's Hist. of N. Y., Appendix, Irri.
" His commission was dated March 15, 1759. +N. Y. Post Boy, Dec. 3, 1759. . Ibid, March 11, 1762. "Col. Hist. of N. Y., x., 776.
" Smith's Hist. of N. J., 494.
542
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
on Broadway. Eva also received an Indian slave named " Molly," and Cornelia one named " Nanny."
Fourth Generation.
Philip [11] had ch. :
20.
19. I. Johanna, b. Sept. 2, 1713 ; m. Isaac Kingsland, June 24, 1741.
II. Arent, b. Feb. 23, 1715; m. 1st, Helena Van Wag- enen (37), of Aqnaekanonck, Oet. 1, 1741; 2d. Rachel -; had ch .: I. Philip; II. Adonijah. His will, dated June 8, 1798, was proved Dec. 15, 1806. Major Hayes, July 11, 1777, was or- dered to arrest him and lock him up in the Morris- town gaol as a disaffected person. He was released Ang. S, 1777, on taking the oath.1
21. III. Isaac, b. April 26, 1716 ; d. in inf.
22. IV. Philip, b. Dec. 23, 1717 ; m. and had el. : Philip and Garret.
23. V. Isaac, b. Sept. 8, 1719; m. and had ch .: Major Schuyler.
24. VI. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 22, 1721 ; m. Rev. Benjamin Van der Linde ; marriage bond dated Nov. 9, 1748.
25. VII. Pieter, b. June 7, 1723; m. Mary -; d., s. p .. Oct. 18, 1808.
26. VIII. Hester, b. April 12, 1725 ; m. Tennis Dey.
27. IX. Maria, b. Sept. 11, 1727.
28. X. Jenneke, b. Oct. 26, 1728 ; m. at Wesel.
--- Board ; resided
29. XI. Johannis, b. June 4, 1730 ; d. in inf.
30. XII. Casparus, b. Dec. 10, 1735 ; m. and had one ch., Hes- ter, who m. Gen. William Colfax, of Pompton (license dated Sept. 1, 1783), grandfather of Schuy- ler Colfax, late Vice-President of the United States.
John [14] had ch .:
31. I. Arent J. (39), b. Oet. - , 1746; m. his cousin, Swan Sehnyler (35), Nov. 2, 1772 ; d. Oet. 28, 1803. 32. II. Mary, b. about 1762 ; d. unm.2
Peter [15] had ch. :
33. I. Catharine, m. Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Casselis. She
1 Minutes of the Council of Safety, 83, 114.
2 Proc. N. J. Hist. Soc., viii., 122.
543
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
inherited her parents' property ; also the property of her grandfather, John Walter. She was also the heiress of Richard Jones ; d. s. p. After her death Kennedy m. Anne, dan. of John Watts and Margaret De Lancey, and great-granddaugh- ter of the Right Hon. Stephen Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler.
Adonijah [16] had ch. :
34. I. Van Rensselaer; II. Mary.
35. III. Swan, m. Arent Schuyler (31), Nov. 2, 1772 ; d. May 20, 1801, æt. 60 yrs.
37.
36. IV. John (41), m. Mary Hunter, Feb. 16, 1769 ; V. Peter. VI. Adonijah. At the age of twelve years he entered the British navy under Captain St. John, rose to a lieutenantey ; m. Snsan Shields, of Plymouth, Eng- land, where he settled, and where some of his de- scendants yet remain.
38. VII. Philip, d. s. p. His will, dated Ang. 29, 1795, was proved Sept. 26, 1795.
Fifth Generation.
A.rent J. [31] had ch. :
39. I. Ann, d. July 20, 1783, æt. 7 yrs., 8 mos.1
40. II. John A. (48), b. April -, 1779; m. 1st, Eliza, dan. of James H. Kipp, in 1800; she d. Nov. 17, 1805 : 2d, Catharine, dan. of Robert Van Rensselaer ; d. Oct. 12, 1817.
John [36] had ch. :
41. I. Anthony H., d. Ang. 21, 1803, in his 29th yr., unm.
42. II. John R., m. 1st, - Laberteaux ; 2d, Patty Cole- man, Jan. 6, 1803 ; d. s. p.
43. III. Mary, m. John Marley ; d. May 31, 1798, in the 26th year of her age, having ontlived her husband. The following poetical tribute was annexed to the notice of her death :
1 " The late excessive hot weather has occasioned much sickness in N. J. Mr. Arent Schuyler has experienced it in a high degree ; his eldest of two chil- dren & five negroes have lately been buried, & the youngest & only remaining child, with 10 negroes, are in so bad a state as their lives have been despaired of." Rivington's Gazette, July 30, 1783.
544
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
" Does youth, does beauty read these lines ? Does sympathetic tear their breast alarm ? Speak, dead Maria! breathe a strain divine ;
E'en from the grave thou shalt have power to charm ! Bid them be chaste, be innocent like thee !
Bid them in duty's sphere as meekly move !
And if as fair, from vanity as free,
As firm in friendship, and as fond in love,
Tell them, though 'tis an awful thing to die ! ('Twas e'en to thee), vet the dread path once trod,
Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high,
And bids the pure in heart behold their God."]
44. IV. Peter.
45. V. Swan, m. Thomas M. Harvey, of New York. April 16. 1804.
46. VI. Arent, m. Anne Miller, April 15, 1802; had ch. : I. Mary M., m. - Crowninshield, of Mass. : and II. Letitia Caroline, bap. Oct. 7, 1804, m. Geo. Powis : removed to Seneca; d. in 1870.
47. VII. Van Rensselaer ; became a sea captain ; d. umn.
Sixth Generation.
John A. [40] had ch. :
48. I. Arent Henry (55), b. Nov. 25, 1801 ; m. Mary Caroline Kingsland (28), April 24, 1828.
49. II. Harriet Ann, bap. Feb. 17, 1803 : m. Smith W. An- derson.
50. III. Angelica V. R., d. March, 1864.
51. IV. John A., m. Frances Elizabeth, dau. of Alexander Bleeker, of N. Y .; d. Nov. 21, 1855, in his 44th year.
52 V. Robert V. R., m. Kate M., dan. of Angelo Manchini, Sept. 9, 1851 ; d. Feb. 19, 1855 ; had ch. : I. Van Rensselaer, b. July 27, 1852.
53. VI. Jacob R. (65), m. Susanna, dan. of Timothy Ed- wards, Nov. 18, 1847 ; she d. Jan. 23, 1870.
54. VII. Catharine Gertrude, m. Henry S. Craig, Oct. 4, 1838.
Seventh Generation.
Arent Henry [48] had ch. :
55. I. Henry K., b. March 5, 1829: m. Ellen, dau. of Anthony P. Valentine, of Spottswood, Dec. ; 15, 1858; had ch .: I. Arent, b. Sept. 25, 1860; II. Campbell V., b. July 2, 1864.
'Rivington's Gazette, June 5, 1798.
545
THE KINGSLAND FAMILY.
56. 11. John Arent, b. Feb. 19, 1831 ; m. Kate M., dan. of Angelo Manchini, and wid. of Robert V. R. Schuyler (52), Jan. 14, 1863 : d. June 15, 1870 ; had ch. : I. Sidney S .. b. Ang. 25. 1864.
57. III. Smith A., b. Nov. 18, 1832: m. Bessie Kneeland : d. July 26, 1870.
5S. IV. Edwin N., b. June 15, 1834 ; d. Sept. 13, 1835.
59. V. Harriet A., b. Ang. 29, 1836 : m. Sidney A. Schief- Hin, Sept. 15, 1858.
60. VI. Sarah K., b. June 22, 1838: m. S. Van Cortlandt Van Rensselaer, Oct. 6, 1858.
61. VII. Arent II., b. Aug. 8, 1840; d. Sept. 20, 1863.
62. VIII. Richard K., b. June 24, 1842.
63. IX. Mary Caroline, b. Feb. 16, 1845 : d. Ang. 9, 1845.
64. X. Catharine Gertrude, b. Ang. 17, 1846; d. Dec. 16. 1866
Jacob R. [53] had ch. :
65. I. Sarah E. : II. Rutsen V. R., m. Harriet Angusta, dau. of Andrew D. Mellick, Feb. 4, 1873 ; III. Catharine V. R .: IV. Susanna E. : V. Edwards O. : VI. Angel- ica V. R.
KINGSLAND.
Isaac Kingsland seems to have been the founder of the family of this name, which settled on the east bank of the Passaic river. He was a nephew of Major Nathaniel Kingsland, of the Parish of Christ Church, on the Island of Barbadoes. By his uncle's will he received a large tract of land on New Barbadoes Neck, since then the home of the family. He was a man of some note, and for several years a member of the Council. IIe had a brother Gustavus, to whom he conveyed a tract of land on the Neck, Dec. 30, 1697. He m. Elizabeth -, and d. in the early part of the year 1698.
Second Generation.
Isaac had ch. :
2. I. Edmund (4), not yet of age in 1698: m. Mary, dan. of Judge William Pinhorne : marriage license dated Nov. 8, 1703. He was commissioner under the bill of credit act in 1723. His will is dated July 19, 1741. 35
546
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
3. II. John ; III. Mary ; IV. Hester, m. Philip Schuyler (11) ; V. Elizabeth : VI. Frances ; VII. Isaac.
Third Generation.
Edmund [2] had ch. :
4. I. William (6), b. in 1704; m. Margretta, dau. of Philip Coerten, Dec. 13. 1732; d. Oct. 24, 1770 : she d. Sept. 4, 1756. He was appointed Judge of the Bergen Common Pleas, March 8, 1749. Her father was a Huguenot, and came to this country shortly after the revocation of the ediet of Nantes.
5. 11. John : III. Isaac, m. Elizabeth Dow, wid. of Alexander Gaelt ; was Sheriff of Bergen County in 1764; IV. Hester.
Fourth Generation.
William [4] had ch. :
6. I. Elizabeth, b. March 2, 1734; m. Josiah Hornblower. The late Chief Justice Hornblower of New Jersey ' was their son : d. April 24, 1808.
7. II. Mary, b. Sept. 22, 1737 ; m. Edmund Leslie.
8. III. Edmund William (11), b. Aug. 17, 1741 ; m. 1st, Mary, dan. of John Richards : she b. March 20, 1741, d. Oct. 16, 1798; 2d, Sarah Jauncey, Oct. 3. 1801 ; d. Nov. S, 1728; she b. Dec. 25, 1748, d. Feb. 9, 1814. Captain John Richards adhered to the British during the revolution, but left his family on New Barbadoes Neck. Hearing that they were sick with the small pox, he attempted to visit them in Jan., 1778. When near Bergen he was captured by a couple of bandits under the guise of patriots. They took him through the woods to- ward the Three Pigeons. Before they reached that place they attempted to rob him. He resisted, and they shot him. Mr. Kingsland also sympa- thized with the loyal cause, and left home, it was alleged, to join the enemy, whereupon his wife was sent out of the American lines.
9. IV. Margaret, b. July 2, 1743 ; m. James Leslie.
10. V. Henry (22), b. Jime 7. 1745 ; m. Helena Van Vorst (33) ; d. May 1, 1828.
547
THE KINGSLAND FAMILY.
Fifth Generation.
Edmund William [8] had ch. :
11. 1. William, b. March 20, 1769 ; m. Margaret Kings- land (23) : d. Dec. 3, 1800, s. D.
12. II. John, b. March 20, 1769 ; m. Eleanor Campbell ; d. July 2, 1797 : had ch. : I. William S., d. in inf. 13. III. Burnet R. (25), b. Ang. 6, 1771; m. Eliza Smith : d. March 10, 1830.
14 IV. Margaret, b. March 26, 1773; m. 1st, her cousin, Wil- liam Hornblower : 2d, Charles Trinder.
15. V. Henry W. (28), b. June 4, 1774; m. Sarah, dau. of Joseph Jauncey, July 30, 1803 ; appointed Judge of the Bergen Common Pleas, Feb. 17, 1819: d. April 8, 1856 ; she d. Sept. 11, 1858.
16. VI. Richards, b. Nov. 29, 1776; m. Eleanor Campbell, wid. of his brother John ; d. s. p.
17. VII. Maria, b. Feb. 21, 1778 ; d. unm.
18. VIII. Nathaniel, b. April 9, 1779 ; d. Sept. 9, 1798.
19. IX. Caroline, b. May 9, 1781 ; m. Peter Reynolds.
20. X. George (32), b. Feb. 9, 1783; m. Frances L. Ten Eyck ; d. Oct. 20, 1866.
21. XI. Harriet, b. Feb., 1785: m. William De Forest, Jan. 23, 1814.
Henry [10] had ch .:
22. I. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 10, 1776; d. in inf.
23. II. Margaret, b. Ang. 16, 1779 ; m. 1st, William Kingsland (11): 2d, George Campbell ; III. Anne, m. Pierson Dey: IV. Helena, m. Robert Lee.
24. V. William C. (39), m. Sarah, dan. of William Hervey.
Sixth Generation.
Burnet R. [13] had ch .:
25. I. John S .. d. unm.
26.
II. Sarah, mn. Rodman M. Bartlett, M. D.
27. III. Eleanor, m. 1st, George S. Middlebrook, June 25, 1833 ; 2d, Stephen P. Britton.
Henry W. [15] had ch. :
28. I. Mary Caroline, b. June 21, 1804 : m. Arent H. Schuy- ler (48), April 24, 1828. 29. II. Sarah Eliza, b. March 14, 1806 ; m. Charles Adams, March 14, 1838.
548
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
30. III. Edmund William, d. May 19, 1825, æt. 17 yrs.
31. IV. Harriet R., b. June 24, 1807 ; m. Edwin Nesbitt, Sept. 23, 1826.
George [20] had ch .:
32. I. Edmund W. (42), b. May 21, 1816; m. Sarah Ann, dan. of Thomas E. Steele, M. D., Dec. 20. 1838.
33. II. Andrew T., m. Enphemia Lester ; d. Nov., 1860 : had ch .: I. Fannie.
34. III. Eliza T., m. James E. Camp.
35. IV. Richards. m. Sarah Merrill : had ch .: I. Fannie : II. Minnie : III. Henry B.
36. V. Mary C.
37. VI. George, m. Mary K. Nesbitt; has ch .: I. James E .; II. George; III. Harriet; IV. Sarah ; V. Mary.
38. VII. Washington, d. unm .; VIII. Nathaniel, d. unm. : IX. John J., d. unm.
William C. [24] had ch. :
39. I. William H., d. in inf.
40. IT. Cornelius V. V. (45), m. Margaret, dan. of John Viee- land.
41. III. Jane Ann, m. Robert Campbell.
Seventh Generation.
Edmund W. [32] had ch .:
42. I. Edmund W., b. Dec. 15, 1839; II. Frances, d. in inf. ; III. Mary Eliza, d. in inf. ; IV. George, d. in inf.
43. V. George, b. April 19, 1845 ; m. Angelina B., dan. of James W. Jauncey, March 28, 1866.
44. VI. Thomas Edward S. ; VII. Andrew T .; VIII. Frances L. ; IX. Mary C. : these four d. in inf. ; X. Mar- garet S., b. March 9, 1852.
Cornelins V. V. [40] had ch. :
45. I. John Henry, d. unm. ; Il. William C., m. Emma Vree- land; III. Enoch I., m. Lottie Ontwater; IV. Sarah W., m. Abraham Ackerman ; V. Helena, m. Abraham Garrabrant : VI. James H.
549
THE GAUTIER FAMILY.
The following Sketch was prepared expressly for the His- TORY OF HUDSON COUNTY by the late John Stagy Gautier, of New York. :
THE GAUTIER FAMILY.
The progenitor of the Gautier family in New York and New Jersey was a French Huguenot who came to America after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. By intermarriage a consider- able landed estate in Old Bergen County, N. J .. came into pos- session of the family. - This property, known as the "Gantier Farm." descended through Capt. Thomas Brown,1 and consisted
1 CAPTAIN THOMAS BROWN.
The parentage and birthplace of Capt. Brown have never been traced, but tradition asserts that he was born in Bergen County, N. J. (?), his father being of English, and his mother of Dutch descent. He was born in the year 1717, and followed the sea from his youth upward, and soon owned and commanded the vessel he sailed in. During the French wars he was captain of a privateer, and at other periods sailed on trading voyages to the West Indies, etc.
On April 16, 1747, he married Anna, daughter of Lawrence and Feytie Van Buskirk, of Minachquay. in Old Bergen County. By this marriage he had one child, Lawrence Brown, born May 18, 1751. Lawrence Van Buskirk died in the year 1752, and by his will left his extensive estates to his wife for her life, and on her death to his only son Cornelius, subject to certain legacies. This son never married, and as his death preceded his mother's, which took place Sept., 1756, the property, on the decease of the latter, descended to the four daughters of Lawrence Van Buskirk : Anna, wife of Capt. Brown ; Jane, wife of Jacob Van Horn ; Martha, wife of John Lagrange, and Sophia, wife of - Roll. Mrs. Brown being deceased, her portion, being one-quarter of the estate, was inherited by her son Lawrence. On March 23, 1757, Capt. Brown purchased another fourth part from John and Feytie Lagrange, the children of Martha, deceased, thus becoming the owner of one-half of the farm, including the " Old Homestead "
On Jan. 23, 1756, Capt. Brown had married for his second wife Mary Ten Eyck, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Gurney) Ten Eyck, of New York The issue of this marriage was also but one child, Mary Brown, born Oct. 17, 1756, who, on Oct. 6, 1772, married Andrew Gautier.
On becoming possessor of the farm, Captain Brown (I quote his own words) " proceeded to cultivate and improve the same, and at very great Expense re- paired the Old House thereon, which shortly after Was by Accident burned to the Ground, whereby the said Thomas Brown lost upward of one thousand eight hundred pounds.
"That in a convenient Time after the said Thos. Brown built a New House & other Conveniences at a little Distance from the Former which Cost him One thousand pounds, & continued for several years to improve the premises at a very great Expense."
The death of his son Lawrence in August, 1767," a minor, obliged him to purchase the rights of the three aunts, as the heirs-at- law of his deceased wife, and this was the cause of a long dispute with Jacob Van Horn. This quarrel was a very bitter one, and, after being twice referred to arbitrators, was finally
* This is an error: he died July 4, 1767.
550
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
of a tract of land situated at old Minachquay (commonly called Pamrapough), now Greenville, abont three miles south of Jersey City, and extended from New York to Newark Bay. This pro- perty, formerly a portion of the Lawrence Van Buskirk farm,1 when inherited by Thomas Gautier in 1782, consisted of 406 acres of land, 40 of which were in salt meadows, and the " old homestead," which was erected by Capt. Brown in the year 1760, and is still standing. The engraving of it on another page is a good representation as it appears at the present day. though conveying but a faint idea of what it was while in pos- session of the Gautier family. The place bore the name of " Re- tirement Hall," and was celebrated far and wide for its genial hospitality. It passed from the possession of the family in 1829.
The Gautier family in New York are supposed to be descended
settled in 1771, when general releases were exchanged. On June 5, 1769, Van Horn advertised the property of Capt. Brown for sale at a public vendue, · which actually took place, though the sale was never consummated. The prices the land was sold for at this vendue seem rather curious to our modern views of value, and were as follows :
For woodland near Bergen Point, £11 per acre.
For land near Van Horn's field, £6.10 per acre.
Capt. Brown owned and run the ferry from the western side of his farm on Newark Bay across the Hackensack river, forming a connecting link in the route of travel between New York and Philadelphia. This ferry bore his name, and its location is still pointed out as " Brown's Ferry." In the troubles of the Revolutionary War Capt. Brown espoused the patriot side with warmth and zeal, being one of the notable exceptions in Bergen County. In 1775 he was a member of the Standing Committee of Correspondence for Bergen County, and filled other offices of trust. In 1765 he was trustee of the roads and ferries in the same county, was justice of the peace, etc., etc. In 1757 he was a member of a commission to examine the transports in New York and to report the best plan of fortifying the harbor. He was a large real estate owner in New York city, and was admitted a freeman of the city in the year 1770. He was a man of large wealth, his property being in landed estates, moneys at interest and slaves, besides a large quantity of silver plate.
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