USA > New Jersey > New Jersey biographical and genealogical notes from the volumes of the New Jersey archives : with additions and supplements > Part 24
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WILLIAM PATERSON.
William Paterson was famous for his influence in the Federal Con- vention of 1787. He was chosen United States Senator in 1789, but re- signed in 1790 to accept the office of Governor of New Jersey, which in turn he relinquished, March 4, 1793, on his appointment by Washing- ton to a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States. He held this high office until the end of his life. Judge Paterson re- ceived the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth, in 1805, and from Harvard, in 1806. He died at Albany, September 9, 1806. The fullest account of his life appeared in the Somerset Co. Hist. Quar- terly, Vol. I, pp. 161, 241.
EBENEZER PEMBERTON.
Ebenezer Pemberton was probably born in Boston. He pronounced the Valedictory at Princeton College on Commencement day, 1765, on "Patriotism." He was appointed a tutor in the college in 1769. On one of the public occasions, while he was a tutor, he was addressed by Madison, then a student, in a Latin address, valedictory and com- plimentary, on the part of the class, to the teacher. His life was devoted to teaching, and at one time in Phillips' Academy. In 1766 he became associated with Tappin Reeve in the management of the gram- mar school at Elizabethtown. He was admitted to an ad cundem Master's degree at Harvard in 1787, at Yale in 1781, and at Dartmouth in . 1782. In 1817 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Allegheny College. He died June 25, 1835.
CHARLES PETTIT.
For a sketch of Charles Pettit, see N. J. Archives, X., 133. To that it may be added that Mr. Pettit was one of the owners of Batsto fur- nace in 1781. He resigned from the Continental Army June 20, 1781. He d. Sept. 4, 1806. His eldest dau. m. Jared Ingersoli, in 1781; he was a famous lawyer, b. in New Haven, 1750, d. Oct. 31, 1822.
EPHRAIM PHILLIPS.
In a petition to the Legislature, dated April 20, 1771, Ephraim Phillips states that he has been Goal-keeper for thirteen years past, and asks for an increase in his daily allowance of sixpence per day for provisions furnished criminals, &c .- N. J. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, 2d Series, XIII., 74.
WILLIAM PIDGEON.
William Pidgeon was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1750. He resided in Trenton, on King (now Warren) street, near the pres- ent State street, and was a man of some substance. He advertised land for sale at Trenton in 1758 and 1760, as acting executor of Daniel
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Coxe, and also advertised land from 1751 to 1761. Gov. Franklin ap- pointed him, March 31, 1774, a justice of the peace in the counties of Burlington and Monmouth. In 1756 he was one of the managers of the Trenton lottery for finishing and completing the church in that place. He died at Stafford, Monmouth county, January 5, 1780, from burns in getting out of his house when it was on fire. He left £50 to the Methodist Society of Trenton, for the repair of their meeting house, and £3,000 to his executors, to be used for charitable purposes.
ROBERT FRIEND PRICE.
The earliest mention that has been found of Robert Friend Price ill the public records of New Jersey is in a deed dated July 14, 1755, where - by Hannah Roe and Abraham Roe. executors of the estate of Henry Roe, late of the township and county of Gloucester, convey to Edward Hollingshead, of Greenwich township, and Robert Friend Price, of New- ton township, Gloucester county, yeomen, for £500, a tract of 300 acres in New Whippany, Morris county .- Liber O of Dceds, Secretary of State's office, f. 441. This deed appears to have been in trust, to enable the grantees as trustees to pay the debts of Henry Roe, deceased, and Abra .. ham Roe .- N. J. Archives, XX., 193. In 1758, Robert Friend Price, Esq., at Haddonfield, was to receive subscriptions for the laws of New Jersey, which appeared in 1761, as the second volume of Nevill's Laws .- Ib., 295. By an act of the Legislature. passed March 25, 1760, Price was appointed one of the commissioners to see that the soldiers disabled in the war with Canada were properly provided for. - Nevill's Laws, II., 264. He was appointed a justice of the peace for Gloucester county in 1761 .- N. J. Archives, XVII., 274. He was Sheriff of that county in 1757. and 1764-65, and advertised many sales of land in that capacity .- Ib., XX., 145; XXIV., 383, 471, 515, 530, 531; Lib. R of Deeds, in Secretary of State's office, f. 307. The Governor commissioned him a judge of the Gloucester court of oyer and terminer, April 31 (sic), 1768, and again April 20, 1769; September 21, 1770; April 2, 1771; April 6, 1772, and May 16, 1774; also justice of the peace, December 7, 1769 .- Books of Commissions, Secretary of State's office, Trenton, sub nom. In 1761 he was elected one of the two Assemblymen from Gloucester, and was re- elected in 1769, serving as a member of the Legislature for fourteen consecutive years, and until the end of the Royal government. On Feb. 8, 1774, he was appointed by the Assembly on a Standing Commit- tee of Correspondence and Inquiry, to keep New Jersey in touch with the other Colonies in the great movement which culminated in the Revolution. In 1774 he was appointed by Gloucester county a member of the Committee-representing the several counties-which on July 23, 1774, nominated the Deputies to represent New Jersey in the Con- tinental Congress, chosen to meet on September 5, 1774, at Philadelphia. -Minutes Provincial Congress, 31. He does not appear to have sat in the Assembly in 1775, and on November 17 of that year the sergeant-at- arms was ordered to give notice forthwith to him and five other mem- bers that their absence retarded the business of that body .- Ib., 282. He still failed to appear, however. That he retained the public confi- dence, nevertheless, is shown by his reappointment, by the Legislature, on May 18, 1775, and again on May 21, 1778, to the office of judge of the Gloucester county court of oyer and terminer, and as judge of the court of common pleas, and justice of the peace, May 28, 1779. In January, 1776, he was living at Gloucester town, where, he advertised, he would settle the accounts of Blanch Roberdes, late of Philadelphia, shop- keeper, deceased .- 2 N. J. Archives I., 28. Mr. Price married, 1st, Mary Thorne, of Gloucester county, marriage license dated March 7, 1761;
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he m. 2d, Lizzie, dau. of John Collins, of Haddonfield (who d. 1761), and wid. of Samuel Hugg (whom she had m. in 1752). marriage license dated August 6, 1766; she survived him. and m. 3d, Daniel Smith. Mr. Price's acquaintance with his second wife was of some years' standing, as in 1757 he had gone on the marriage bond of Dr. James Mulock, who was about to marry Priscilla Collins, sister of Elizabeth, or Lizzie .- Clement's First Settlers of Newton Township, 81, 187, 397; N. J. Archives, XXII., 305. The will of Robert Friend Price, of Deptford township Gloucester county, bears date July 31, 1782, he being then "sick and weak," and was proved Oct. 29. 1782. In it he mentions wife Liza, and children Margery, son-in-law Samuel Mickle, Blanche. Hannah, Polly and Robert Friend Price; also brother, Thomas Price. Executors- friends John Est. Hopkins and James Wilkins. Witnesses-William Harrison, Danl. Wills, Jeremiah Paul .- Liber 23 of Wills, in Secretary of State's office, f. 306. Hannah Price (prob. his dau.) m. John Baker, of Burlington county, by marriage license dated Feb. 10, 1779. His son. Robert Friend Price, 2d, m. Mary Brian. mar. lic. dated Jan. 14, 1784. Thomas Price, prob. his brother, of Hanover, Burlington county, m. Edith Hart, of the same county, mar. lic. dated March 4, 1747.
PROVOOST FAMILY.
The progenitor of this family in America was David Provoost, who came from Holland to New Amsterdam before April 28. 1639. In that year he was granted a lot of land in Pearl street, near Fulton, where he resided for some time. In April, 1642, he was placed in charge of Fort Good Hope, at Hartford, Conn., to resist the aggressions of the English, where he remained until June, 1647, when he returned to New Amster- dam, and taught school for a time. He died in January, 1656. His wife was Grietje Gillis, daughter of Gillis Jansen Verbrugge and Barbara Schut. She was still living July 29, 1701. They had nine children, the second, David, born in Connecticut, and baptized Sept. 31 (sic), 1645. In partnership with Johannis Van Inburgh, of Hackensack, surgeon, David Provoost, of New York City, bought of Peter Johnson, of Hack- ensack, by deed dated April 7, 1698, half of a tract of 500 acres of land on Hochas brook, where it joins Saddle River-being at or near Para- mus or Hohokus, Bergen county. This property appears to have re- mained in the family many years. David Provoost married July 29, 1668, Tryntje Laurens, from Amsterdam. They had eleven children, among them:
William Provoost, baptized Oct. 8, 1679; married Nov. 20, 1700, Aefje Van Exveen, baptized Dec. 19, 1683, daughter of Gerrit Corneliszen Van Echtsveen and Wyntje Stoutenburg. William Provoost was As- sistant Alderman from the North Ward of New York City, 1708-9, 1709-10. He was already identified with New Jersey, probably occu- pying the paternal acres near Paramus or Hohokus. He was a wit- ness at the baptism of children of Paramus families in the Hacken- sack Reformed Dutch Church in 1705, 1710 and 1714. In 1722 he was elected a member of the Assembly from Bergen County. He appears to have been prominent in that body until 1725, serving frequently on Committees to wait on the Council. In 1725 he is referred to as "Col." Provoost. In the mean time he was recommended by Gov. Burnet, June 17, 1722, as "an eminent merchant" of New York city, for a seat in the Provincial Council of New York, and was appointed by the King, in July, 1723, serving until August, 1732. By deed dated Dec. 3, 1725, Jurya Westervelt, of Bergen county, and wife Cornelia, conveyed to William Provoost, of New York City, merchant, a tract of four and a quarter acres on the west side of the Hackensack river, in the pre-
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cinct of New Barbadoes, between John Wright, Gerrit Van Dien and the highway, for £68, New Jersey money. Here he took up his abode, and in 1726 his family were living there. He joined the Hackensack Dutch Church on confession of faith, July 13, 1727, being styled "Col. W. Provoost." His wife was probably dead before this. In 1728 he was appointed one of the N. Y. Commissioners to try pirates. It would seem that he took up his residence permanently at Hackensack about that time or shortly after. On May 6, 1734, he was sworn in as a mem- ber of the Provincial Council of New Jersey, in which he continued until 1740. On Dec. 1, 1739, he was appointed one of the Common Pleas Judges of Bergen County, and Colonel of the Bergen County militia, Dec. 4, 1739. For some reason Provoost attended no meetings of the Council after the last mentioned date. That body met on Dec. 29, 1739, and began a new session on March 26, 1740, at Perth Amboy. They sent a letter to Provoost, "in a pressing manner requiring his Attend- ance and afterwards they sent for him by the Serjeant at Arms at- tending the Council, which Serjeant at Arms reported that Mr. Pro- voost had promised him to Set out from his House in order to attend ye Council on Monday the Nineteenth day of May last [1740], since which they have not heard anything from the said William Provoost." Thus they reported to the Governor on June 9, 1740, and gave it as their advice that the delinquent Councillor should be suspended, which was done July 7, 1740. Gov. Lewis Morris wrote to the Lords of Trade that it was not from any prejudice to him that Provoost did not attend, nor was it to gratify any resentment of his that the Councillor was suspended, he being indeed a good friend of the Governor. The will of William Provoost, of New Barbadoes, Bergen county, dated April 22, 1745, was proved August 26, 1746. He left issue:
i. Wyntje, baptized April 27, 1701; d. s. p.
2. ii. David, baptized Nov. 8, 1702.
iii. Catharine, baptized Oct. S, 1704; married Gerard Beekman, "merchant of the City of New York."
iv. Maria, baptized July 21, 1706; married May 22, 1726, Rev. Reinhart Erichzon, minister of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Hackensack, Schraalenburgh and Paramus, 1725-1723; Schenectady, N. Y., 1728-1736, and later of Free- hold and Middletown, N. J. Issue: 1. Anna, baptized at Schenectady, July 13, 1729; 2. William, baptized 1737; 3. David, b. 1740.
v. Cornelia, baptized Oct. 20, 1711; she joined the Hackensack Church June 17, 1729, upon confession of faith. She mar- ried Perregrin Van Imburgh (who joined the church the same day she did), probably after Nov. 18, 1733, when she was a witness at the baptism of Maria Pettet. Issue: 1. Eefjin, baptized January 39, 1737; 2. Catrina, bap- tized Nov. 5, 1738. She is not mentioned in her father's will, and probably died before it was made.
vi. Wyntje, baptized May 13, 1722; died young.
vii. Anneke, baptized March 11, 1724; joined the Hackensack church Feb. 7, 1743, upon confession of faith. She was living at Hackensack in 1746, with her brother David.
2. David Provoost, frequently called David W. or David William Pro voost, baptized Nov. S, 1702. He joined the Hackensack church, Dec 8, 1726, on confession of faith. He married 1st, Feb. S, 1729, Anneke, daughter of Evert and Catharine (Provoost) Vandewater. They joined the Hackensack church Feb. 19, 1733, on certificate from the New York church. He married 2d, Oct 14, 1741, Geertruyt Reinder,
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(Rynders), widow of Nicholas Gouverneur and daughter of Barent Reinders and Hester, daughter of Jacob and Elsje (Tymens) Lester. She joined the Hackensack church, Nov. 26, 1741, by letter from the New York church. He advertises land for sale at Hackensack and in New York, in 1746 and 1750, being himself then of Hackensack .- N. J. Archives, XII., 287, 620. He was probably a merchant, near the Hack- ensack church, living on the tract bought by his father in 1725. He was appointed one of the Justices of the Quorum of Bergen county, Dec. 1, 1739. By proclamation of April 18, 1740, Gov. Lewis Morris urged the enlistment of patriotic Jerseymen to join in an expedition in behalf of His British Majesty against the Spanish West Indies, and appointed David Provoost, of Bergen county, as one of the persons to enlist volunteers for this service. He died at Hackensack early in 1765, leaving a will dated Feb. 21, 1760, proved March 15, 1765. He de- scribes himself as of New Barbadoes, Bergen county. He names wife Geertruyd, and children-William, David Rynders, Catharine and Affie, all under age, who with his wife are his heirs and executors of "all my estate whatsoever." Witnesses-Abraham Westervelt, Nicasie Kip and Sarah Gutridge. Issue:
By his first wife:
i. Wilhelmus, bap. March 4, 1730; d. in inf.
ii. Willem, bap. Nov. 10, 1731; m. May 31, 1758, Elisabet Van Wyck. He and his wife were living in the bounds of the Hackensack church in 1777.
iii. David, bap. Nov. 18, 1733; d. in inf.
iv. Catharina, bap. July 20, 1735. In the jurat to her father's will, March 15, 1765, she is named Catharine Leydack.
v. Samuel, bap. July 9, 1738; m. Henne Eerl (Earle). He was perhaps the Samuel Provoost who in August, 1765, took the benefit of the insolvency act. Children: 1. David, bap. Dec. 7, 1760; 2. Wellem, bap. Sept. 31, 1764; 3. Wil- lem, bap. Oct. 19, 1766.
vi. Effie. She was received into the Schraalenburgh church or confession of her faith, April 5, 1759; she was still living and unm. in 1765. Efye Provoost (prob. the same) and Abraham Lefferts had a child, Jenneke, b. Aug. 15, 1771, bap. in this church.
By his second wife:
vii. David Rynders, bap. between July 7 and Aug. 11, 1745.
COLONEL NATHANIEL RAMSAY.
Nathaniel Ramsay, a brother of David Ramsay, the Historian, after graduating. studied law and became eminent in his profession. When the war of the Revolution began, he joined the Maryland Line as a Major, and soon rose to the rank of Colonel. At the battle of Mon- mouth he particularly distinguished himself. From 1785 to 1787 Col- onel Ramsay represented Maryland in the Continental Congress. He resumed and continued his practice of law in Baltimore until his death, which occurred October 24, 1817.
GARRET RAPALYE.
Garret Rapalye, son of George Rapalye and Dinah (dau. of Gerrit) Middagh, was born in Brooklyn, May 31, 1730. He seems to have entered mercantile life in New York at an early age, for he was admitted as a freeman of that city, July 17, 1753, being recorded as a
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merchant by occupation. He engaged in the importation of iron- mongery and drygoods, his store being opposite the Fly Market, at the foot of Maiden Lane. In 1757 he offered for sale a new house on the Jamaica road, on Long Island, about a mile from Brooklyn ferry, with forty acres of land. His family owned the Wallabout. When James De Peyster, treasurer of the Province of New York, became financially involved, in 1768, Rapalye presented an account of moneys advanced him, and petitioned the Assembly for an amendment, for his benefit, to the bill pending in that body for vesting the late treasurer's estate in trustees for the payment of the public debt. In partnership with William Faulkner he opened a brew-house in 1768 at the Brooklyn ferry. Garret Rapalye and others received from the Province of New York, Aug. 16, 1774, a grant of 24,000 acres of land on the east side of Lake Champlain, subsequently located in Vermont. When the Cham- ber of Commerce of New York in 1772 resolved that its members would not receive New Jersey currency in payment of merchandise. Garret Rapalye was one of a large number of merchants of the town who advertised that they would continue to receive the currency of thelr neighbor Province as formerly. On June 3, 1775, John Rapalye and Garret Rapalye petitioned for a grant of 30,000 acres of land formerly granted to them and their associates, between the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers .- Riker's Annals of Newtown, 270; N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1885, p. 178; Colonial Records N. Y. Chamber of Commerce, Part II., 158; N. Y. Hist. MISS., II., 771, 778, 789; Stiles's Hist. Brooklyn, II., 318; Cal- endur Land Papers, N. Y., 625, 984; N. J. Archives, 28 :-. His business as an importer of iron ware naturally turned his attention toward the iron industry in America. On June 5, 1764, Benjamin and Thomas Coe deeded to Garret Rapalye "all one half of a certain forge with one fire, and one equai undivided half part of five acres of land which was surveyed for the use of s'd forge, with half of the stream of water (only excepting what the saw mill now standing upon the same prem- ises draws), standing, lying and being upon the Musconetcong river in the Frovince of New Jersey aforesaid, near the uppermost falls below the mouth of the Great Pond" (Lake Hopatcong). January 1, 1768, Rapalye leased to Joseph and John Tuttle, who were brothers, and then living in Hanover, his iron works for five years at £300 a year, reserving the right to build a furnace on one end of the dam. The Tuttles were to deliver all the iron they made to Rapalye in New York for £28 per ton for refined iron, and £24 per ton for Whippany or bloomed iron, but the prices to vary with changes in the market. This lease was so onerous that it caused the failure of the Tuttles. In The New Jersey Gazette, 1778, is noticed the sale of a large tract of land "at the head of the Musconetcong River, about 35 miles from Elizabethtown and 4 from Succasunny Plains, containing about 3,000 acres, having on it a large forge with four fires and two hammers . which is now under lease for eight and a half tons of bar iron
per annum. Rapalye mortgaged this forge to a London merchant, and on foreclosure of this mortgage it was sold in 1809 by the Sheriff to Thomas Cadwallader, a lawyer of Philadelphia. September 25, 1811, Cadwallader sold it to James and John R. Hinchman, for $1,000."- Hist. Morris County, 46-47. The forge established by Rapalye at the outlet of Lake Hopatcong had four fires for the making of bar-iron, and was called-after his native place-the "Brooklyn (or Brookland) Forge," and gave its name to the Great Pond, which was long known as "Brooklyn Pond." Here he took up his residence about the begin-
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ning of the Revolution, or perhaps before. In June, 1776, he advertises for sale five plantations at Squire's Point (doubtless at Brooklyn, as above). in Sussex County, containing 1.800 acres of land, with a very good grist-mill. He was then living on the premises. He also offered 9.000 acres of land about 60 miles back of Esopus, in the Delaware valley. "Also, a Shop to be Let. opposite the Fly-Market," probably the place where he nad formerly carried on his importing business. Not having sold his mill he advertised in August, 1776, for a good miller and a good fuller. On May 20, 1777, he advertised another "Valuable Plantation & Iron Works situate in Morris & Sussex County." describing it as "containing 2000 acres of good land, on which is erected a good grist mill, saw-mill. and a large forge with four fires. two hammers, one large stone coal-house, one large dwelling-house, and five small blacksmith's shops, all in good order, where 300 tons of bar iron can be made a year, as it never wants water."-N. J. Archires, 2d Series. 1: 133, 161, 380. By an unfortunate coincidence, the very day this advertisement appeared, in The Penn- sylvania Packet, he and his son George were haled before the New Jer- sey Council of Safety. and "had the oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance tendered to them, which they declined taking and desired until the following morning to consider them, which was granted." The next day Garret Rapalye appeared and entered into recognizance with Jacob Drake as his surety in the sum of £300 for his appearance at the next session of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace for Sussex County. George Rapalje's case was taken up the same day, and the Council finding by his own confession that he had some time in January previously, 'voluntarily gone over to the Enemy at New Brunswick, where he had taken an Oath of Allegiance to the King of Great Britain. whence he went to Staten Island. New York and Long Island. and has continued with the Enemy ever since, till within a few days & is now come back into this State, without Flag or Pass- port, of any kind whatever; The Board after mature Deliberation, Ordered, That a Warrant of Commitment directed to the Sheriff of the County of Gloucester. do issue against the s'd George Rapalje for ad- visedly & wittingly by Speech. Writing, Open Deed and Act. maintain- ing and defending the Authority. Jurisdiction & Power of the King of Great Britain as heretofore claimed within this State."-Minutes Council of Safety, sub ann. George must have been a truculent youngster to disturb the Council of Safety to this extent, considering that he was under 18 years of age at this time! Garret continued to reside, un- molested. at Squire's Point, for at least another year. Under date of March 4. 1778, he again advertises for sale the premises last above described (now expanded, however, to 3000 acres, instead of 2000). "which is now under lease for eight and a half tons of bar iron per annum." Also the other tract on Musconetcong river, known as Squire's Foint, containing about 1800 acres, "having on it an old forge and a very good grist mill, a dwelling house and barn, all in good order." Also the tract of 9000 acres, fifty miles from Esopus; also Another tract of 4000 acres, on Otter creek. He also advertises cattle. sheep, hogs and farming utensils. A glimpse of the style in which he lived is afforded us by the mention of "a phaeton and a pair of neat horses, chair and sulky, a fine English stallion and several breeding mares." The occasion of this proposed sale is frankly advertised: "I intend to remove to West Florida, chief of my family being now there." He accordingly requests his debtors to settle up at once, and
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agrees to accept Continental money or credit, "with bonds and good security."-N. J. Archives, 2d Series, 2: 91, 263. Riker says (Annals of Newtown, L. I.) Rapalye removed to New Orleans. Garret Rapalye m. Helen Denys, of New Utrecht, by whom he had issue, all baptized in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York, on the dates mentioned: 1. Joris, bap. March 12, 1755; d. in inf .; 2. Gerrit, Feb. 22, 1757; 3, Joris, Aug. 19, 1759; 4. Anna, May 26, 1762; m. 1st. Jacob Wilkins; 2d, Charles Smith; 5. Johannes, May 20. 1764; 6. Denys, June 15, 1766; 7. Dina, Dec. 27, 1767; S. Isaac, July 16. 1769; 9. Cornelia, Jan. 13, 1771. Dina is said to have been quite a favorite in Presidential circles in New York, in her early days, but later developed many eccentricities; in 1824 she m. John Fisher; after his death she m. 2d. in June, 1827, Lemuel Sawyer, member of Congress from North Carolina; she d. Jan. 30, 1849, in her S2d year. She lived on the old Rapalye homestead, on Fulton street, opposite Hicks street, Brooklyn.
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