USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Rockaway > Rockaway records of Morris County, N.J., families. : cemetery records, church history, military records, local history, genealogies of old families, nearly 20,000 data > Part 10
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In 1847 when nearly 70, he received a colleague in his son-in-law, Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle. From his fortieth auniversa- ry sermon preached Dec. 31, 1848, we learn that he preached-1,200 times, sol- emmized 417 "marriages, baptized 547 children, attended - funerals, re- ceived in the church 680 members, four- teen of whom became ministers. In the Geld of which lie first had charge there are now five Presbyterian and five Methodist churches for all of which he in some measure prepared the way, and some of which sprang directly out of his church.
For the last fourteen years he had given up the active duties of who ever prayed in public, and twelve the charge to his colleague, per-
forming such services as occas- permitted, but always keeping up a live-
He commenced his labors in a sincere fion . demanded, and his strength and prayerful spirit, giving himself
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ly interest and exerting a healthful in- fluence in the affairs of the parish, and maintaining a happy co-operation with the junior pastor.
The evening of his life was calm and peaceful and amidst the kind atten- tions of those who knew and loved him, because they and their fathers had proved him, he gently passed away when the last summons came he wel- comed it, and with his mind in perfect peace and clearness without a doubt or fear he departed to his rest while his whole people mourned for him as chil- dren for a father.
Father King was not according to common acceptation a great or learned, or brilliant man. His preaching never drew admiring crowds, but it instructed, interested and moulded generation after generation. His pulpit was occasionally occupied by such men as McDowell, and Richards, and Griffin, and Fraley, whose preaching was highly appreciated by the people, but it was commou to hear the admiration of the stranger qualified by the remark, "but after all, I would rather hear our own pastor," showing that in the judgement of his people whatever superiority to him others might display in brilliancy was more than made up in him by some substan-
tial excellence. His style of preaching was very simple, scriptural, earnest and affectionate. He was a good man, con- sistent in his life, "of good report of them who are without," satisfied will and faithful in his pastoral work, ever making it manifest to the flock that he sought not this but them. The success of his ministry is another proof that God uses unpretending but fitting in- strumentality to accomplish great re- stilts. A remarkable characteristic of lris preaching was its perfect orthodoxy and freedom from speculation so that he newer had to take anything back.
This sketch would be incomplete with- out honorable mention of the conduct of the parish of Rockaway towards their vemerable pastor. The very day he was sträcken with his last sickness, his resig- nation was tendered in consequence of his colleague's acceptance to the Presi- dency of Wabash College, and his un- willingness to be in the way of settling a successor, he had done the same thing when his colleague was called. But the congregation with a noble spirit refused to accept his last resignation, as they had the first, giving as a reason their wish that he should die their pastor, and be buried among his people.
(For family of Dr. King, see Beach Family.)
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Che Lamson Family.
Three brothers of this family landed at Plymouth in 1036, soon after the set- tlement of the Plymouth Colony. One of them, John, came to New Haven, who is the progenitor of the Lamson family of this section. He came to New Jer- sey in 1710, as the records of the New Jersey Proprietors at Perth Amboy show that the homestead farm near Dover was deeded by them in 1710.
John Lamson, or Lampson was an early settler at New Haven and probab- ly died there. He married Elizabeth Morris, who, with their son Eleazer, came to Newark. He is mentioned in the Newark Town Records as a fence viewer Jan. 1, 1693.
Eleazer married Abigail, daughter of Capt. Samuel Swaine and wife Joanna. The Swaines came from London to Con- neticut in 1635, came to Newark with the Branford Colony in May 1666. Had children : Elizabeth, born 1649 ; Joanna, born 1651, married Jasper Crane, Jr., died Sept. 16, 1720. Christiana, born 1659; Sarah, born 1669, and Abigail,
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who married Eleazer Lamson.
Eleazer and Abigail had children : Daniel, Thomas, who settled at Orange, was revolutionary soldier, and Eloazer, born 1720, died Mar. 24, 1789. He was at Rockaway, as a member of the Pres- byterian church in 1779 and as a bridge inspector with Capt. Stephen Jackson and Col. Jacob Drake in 1781. His wife Jane was born 1723, died Jan. 26, 1796, both buried at Rockaway. Newark rec- ords have Moses as a son of the first Eleazer, but as the records show that he was born 1750, and died Dec. 22, 1798, buried at Rockaway, it is conclusive that he was son of Eleazer and Jane. Their other children were Daniel, who resided near the Quaker church, also Rhoda, who was born 1751, died at an advanced age and buried at Rockaway. Thomas, who was born 1755, died Jan. 27, 1838, buried at Rockaway. Benja- min, born Mar. 1, 1761, died 1824, buried at Rockaway.
Benjamin married Thankful Hatba- ! way May 9, 1786, she was daughter of
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Jonathan and Lydia, and born May 15, 1787, died 1827, both buried at Rocka- way. Benjamin was Elder of the Rock- away Church in 1809, and inherited the property south of Dover and lived and died there.
Children : Daniel, born Apr. 3, 1788, married Phebe Jackson July 3, 1816. She was daughter of John, the son of Benjamin Jackson. This name is not on the Jackson records however. Ira, boru Mar. 29, 1792; Jonathan Hatha- way, born June 2, 1799, married Lucy, daughter of Capt. Job and Sarah (Coop- er) Talmage, of Franklin, Mar. 23, 1824. They removed to the Lake country in! Western New York and probably died there. Albert G., born Ang. 7. 1803 ; sold his share of the property to his brother Daniel and went to Western New York. Benjamin probably had son Eleazer and daughters, but have no rec- ords of them.
Children of Daniel and Phebe (Jack- son) Lamson, who remained on the old homestead : Jane, married Charles Thompson ; Rhoda, married Hedden, of Center Grove; Chloe, never married, lived at Philadelphia ; Eleazer, a school teacher, born Ang. 28, 1810, died Sept. 28, 1860, married Elizabeth A., daughter of Capt. John Seward, of Hurdtown. - She was born June 10, 1812, died Mar. 14, 1893, both buried at Berkshire Val- ley. Charles, married Nancy Chrystal, of Dover.
West ; John C., married Esther Ayres. of Franklin present, resident of the old homestead. Martha, married Jacob Kontz, of Ninkey.
As will be seen by the church records, the latter part of the last century and the first part of this no statioued minis- ter was at the Rockaway church, and if we consult the marriage records at Mor- ristown we would find that at this peri- od a large part of the marriage cere- monies were performed by the Justice of the Peace, generally spoken of as 'squire.
Esq. Benjamin Lamsou held that of- fice at this period, and hes finances must have been largely increased by the swains, young and old, in all this region around about. Tradition re- lates of oue unprofitable mvest- ment. A twice widower, a resident of Pigeon Hill, had contracted a matrimonial alliance with a young widow, a resident of the mountain region above Hibernia, which nuder peculiar circumstances did not materialize. The best laid plans of mice and men, etc.
The arrangement was that the widow- er's neighbors who had team and con- veyance, was to go to the widow's and bring all her household goods and chat- tels, including a barrel of soft soap, an indispensible article in those days to every thrifty housewife, and appear at "Squire Lamson's where the widower would meet her and they two would be made one, and then proceed at once te the home of the widower, where a wod-
Children of Charles and Nancy : Al- fred, married Sophia Ann Cooper, daughter of David, of Franklin. Mar- eus, went to war in 1861 ; George went ! ding supper would be in waiting, pre-
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pared by the neighboring wives, and all", young and old had been invited for & grand jollification.
A messenger had been dispatched to 'Squire Lamson's to apprise him of the fact. The good'natured 'squire immedi- ately set his house in order ; threw on an extra supply of wood in the open fire place, to give them a warm and com- fortable reception, as the temperature ont was below the freezing point.
At nine o'clock, the appointed hour, the parties arrived, the widower, like many others, could not stand prosperity, and his friends had induced him to im- bibe too freely of the ardent spirits of that day, and on his arrival it took two of his friends to conduct him to the house. The widow, took in the situa- tion at a glance, and would accept no apologies, but informed the would-be. groom, that he was not the man who came up in the Hibernia mountains in for this.
search of a wife and made a contract, and that she would not marry him under any circumstances.
The wedding supper, which had been prepared with great care and skill under the supervision of the neighbor. ing housewives, must not be allowed to spoil, and it would certainly not save over until the next event, so all went to the house of the widower and great was the jollification thereof.
Another and similar circumstance happened soon after, so that the guests, many of them, could boast that they had partaken of four marriage suppers, at the residence of their friend only twice married.
There might. be a moral attached to to this bit of ancient history, that would benefit the present day and generation, but I shall not interfere with the mor- als, the manners or customs of that day
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Che Miller Family.
Among the early settlers in Morris Jest to go to church, succeeded in getting County were three brothers named Mil- there first. ler, who came from Holland perhaps as early as 1740 or 50, as each had sons old enough to serve in the Revolution.
Frederick Miller settled at Stony Brook, near Rockaway Valley, where his son Frederick bought lands, over 400 acres, in May 17SS, and it is said that some of the descendants still own parts of the original tract. He became a member of the Rockaway church in 1770 and is probably buried here.
There are those now living who re- member of coming to Rockaway church in Dr. King's time from Rockaway Val- ley and Stony Brook in ox wagons in summer and "jumper" sleds in winter, the only conveyances and propelling power used by the early settlers about their "clearings" and "patches," now called farms. A slow and sure progress- ive movement, but the best the early settlers had, and they accommodated whole families and sometimes neighbor- hoods, and usually those who had farth-
Jacob Miller settled at Hook Mountain, near Pine Brook : bought a large tract of land, on which some of his descendants now live and own in part. His sons, served in the Revolution.
Christian or Christopher, there is some uncertainty as to which name, set. tled on 600 acres of land near old Boon- tou. His son, John Frederick, it is relat- ed was one of Washington's Staff offi- cers or express riders, while encamped at Morristown. While the enemy were at or near Trenton it was necessary to communicate or get dispatches to Phila- delphia. Washington selected John Frederick Miller and the brown mare to carry these dispatches. The ride was a perilous one, and through the enemy's lines, but the brown mare and her dar- ing rider performed the distance and ro- turned bringing important information in just thirty-six hours.
The distance probably traveled at that time, and on this occasion was nearly
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150 miles, or an average, without in- cluding rest or time for feeding, of near- ly five miles per hour. The power of endurance' of both horse and rider over the rough roads of Revolutionary days would compare favorably with the im- proved horse flesh of to-day, covering the more direct lines and improved roads.
The daring rides of General Putnam, Paul Revere and General Sheridan have passed into history and poetry, but the feats of the brown mare and its dar- ing rider, John Frederick Miller has only been handed down in the plain prose of family tradition.
John Frederick Miller lived and died at Old Boonton, his place of burial is unknown. He had thirteen children. Frederick ; Alexander, married Phebe and died at Old Boonton. · Ada married(2) Pierson, and lived and died at old Shongum. Thomas died at Orange. Jemima; David died at Pine Brook ; Sarah married Tuttle, died at Brooklin.
Stephen, born Dec. 11, 1791, married a VanDine. Her mother was a Doremus, a lineal descendant of Aneka Jans. He served six months in the 1812 war, and did service at Jersey City and Sandy Hook with the Rockaway boys under the Jacksons. He died at Paterson, March 2, 1888. Lydia and Nellie died at Old Boonton. Ann married Tuttle, who married Sarah and died at Brook- lin. Obadiah died at Newark. Aaron died at Old Boonton. His son Edward now owns a part of the old Miller home- stead.
The facts of the Miller family were related to me by one of the descendants, who has taken no special pride in trac- ing ancestry or the interesting part of history connected with the family, in less than half an hour. To trace to the sixth and seventh generations of the three original brothers, all haying large families would occupy many years of time and research, as they are related to very many of the old Rockaway and Morris County families.
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Che Palmer Family.
The Pammer, Parmer and Palmer | buried at Rockaway. They had four- families were well distributed among teen children ; Aaron, married and went to the Lake Country in New York State. John, married Harriman and went to Vermont. Lewis weut to Vermont. Phebe married Joseph Losey. Rebecca married Feb. 7, 1813, Alexander, son of Deacon John Hill. He was born Feb 11, 1787, died Mar. 13, 1860. Both buried at Rockaway. the early settlers of Long Island, Con- netient and Massachusetts. As there are Palmer Genealogies locating the older families, I will only mention one Jacob Palmer, who came from Long Is- land and settled in Morris County at or near Franklin about 1760, and being by trade a forgeman, probably worked in the first forge at Franklin. He was mar- ried to Phebe Lyon, of Morristown, Now. 30, 1768, by Rev. Timothy Johnes. Both are probably buried at the Rocka way Cemetery. Dates unknown.
Children : Samuel, born at Franklin Nov. 30, 1769, married Neomi, daughter of Timothy Southard, Mar., 1791. She was born Oct. 2, 1772, died May 29, 1831. He died Sept. 28, 1845, both buried at Rockaway. Ezekiel [Date of births of other children unknown] married Sally Hall, daughter of John, of Say- brook, Ct., lived where John Miller now lives on the Dover road to Morristywa. He died 1844. She died about 1850, was born 1795.
Children of Samuel and Neomi (Southard) Palmer : Timothy, born Dee. 8, 1791, married Electa, daughter of John Garrigus, Mar. 30, 1814. She was born May 9, 1794. He worked in the Franklin Forge and lived nearby in the house torn but a few years. He died there Oct. 8, 1833. Both are buried at Rockaway. Jacob, born Jan. 11, 1793, lived at Franklin, forgeman, married Sarah, daughter of Aaron Bonnell, of Mt. Freedom, Sept. 24, 1818. He died Sept. 3, 1842. Both buried at Rockaway. Susanna, born Feb. 9, 1797, married Archibald Broadwell, of Vermont. He Was in the 1812 war.
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Died May 25, 1837. Was shoemaker and lived at Denville, She died Frb. 23, 18$4. Both buried at Rockaway. Mary Ann, born Ang. 4, 1799, married Silas Halsey Sept. 27, 1819. Went to Pennsylvania. She died Sept. 18, 1876. Silas Southard, born Apr. 11, 1804, mar- ried Mary King, daughter of Jeremiah Baker, June 26, 1834. She was born Ang. 24, 1311, died Feb. 11, 1888. He died Sept. 22, 1876. Built the house now owned by J. P. Crayon, in 1834, lived and died there. Both buried at Rocka- way. Amy, born Nov. 10, 1806, died Dec. 10, 1806, buried at Rockaway. Re- becca, born Oct. 30, 1808, married Seelee S. Tompkins Dec. 21, 1826, lived at Franklin. She died Dec. 20, 1871. He was born Oct. 15, 1802. Died Jan. 1. 1868. Both buried at Rockaway. Auna Eliza, born July 1, 1810, never married, lived at Franklin, died Jan. 1, 1875, buried at Rockaway.
Children of Ezekiel and Sally (Hall) Palmer, as far as I have found any rec- ord: Daniel, born about 1801, was a soldier and died in the Civil War about 1861. Elias, born Oct. 21, 1808, married (1) Nancy Lyon, who was born Oct. 21, 1823, Jane died March 19, 1860, married (2) Compton, lived at Franklin, died Dec. 9,1885, buried at Rockaway. Agnes,
married and went to Newark. Maria, married and went to Newark. Joanna, married (1) Frank Casterline, (2) Mat- chew Doyle. Charles; Sarah, married Win. Connett ; Sibbah, born 1823, mar- ried Halsey Howell, of Rockaway, May. 1846, died Oct. 5, 1893. Both buried at Rockaway. Hannah, married John Ayres. Should like to have the records of all this family.
Children of Timothy and Electa (Gar- rigus) Paliner: Albert, married, Went, South and died there. Neomi, married William, son of Job Brown, lived at at Franklin, buried at Rockaway, date unknown. John, married and went to New York. Silas Halsey, boru 1819, married Jane Shadrick. She married () John P. Hill, son of Alexander. He died Jan. 10, 1884, buried at Rockaway. Timothy, married Mary W., daughter of Stephen Dickerson, lived at Succasun- 28. William Mitchell, married Sarah Dowerty, of Plainfield. Jacob, married at Bridgeport, Ct., had three children, died in Morris County about 1895. James, went to Connecticut.
Children of Silas S., who lived at Franklin : Jeremiah, living at Dovor, married Mary Schofield Nov. 29, 1871. Heury B,, living at Franklin ; Seelee T., boru Sept 5, 1838, died Dec. 22, 1872, buried at Rockaway.
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Che Robarts Family.
The Robarts or Roberts families came from Long Island and were early set- tlers in Morris county at Rockaway, Mt. Freedom, Morristown and Bernards- ville. A number did service in the Revolution. The old Robarts home- stead at Rockaway is now occupied by Elias B. Mott. Abby of this family lived to be nearly one hundred years old, and died at Mt. Freedom. Eliza mar- ried a Poole, had one child named Dreusa. Chillion, who lived on the old homestead, married Phebe Russell, they had children : Mahlon, who married Mary Ann Morris, she married (2) David L. Ross, of Newark. Libeous, uever married, died at Mt. Freedom. Elizabeth, married William Mott, of ~ Rockaway. May 10, 1835. He was born Dec., 1810, died June 15, 1890 ; buried at Rockaway.
Children of William and Elizabeth (Robarts) Mott : Charles M., Edward T., William H., Jennie, Anna, Alice Lauraetta, who married Elias B. Mott Dec. 4, 1869, and Matilda. This Mort tchildren see Hill Family.
family came to Millbrook, or as then called Mott Hollow, about 1800. Joshua Mott born June 8, 1751, married Mary Kitchen, who was born Oct. 29, 1755. He died in 1837, she in 1834, buried at Quaker Church Cemetery. Children ; Rachel, born May 5, 1776 ; Samuel, boru Nov. 5, 1777; Gershom, born Oct. 8, 3779; William, born Nov. 2, 1780. mar- ried Mary Adams, died Nov. 5, 1855, buried in Quaker Church Cemetery. Joshua, born Apr. 28, 1783 ; Margaret, born Ang. 11, 1785 ; John, born Apr. 17, 1787, married Mary Briaut, died 1860. Children of John and Mary ( Briant) Mott : William, married Elizabeth Robarts; Samuel, born 1808, married Phebe A. Nicholas June 27, 1837, had children Theodore F., George S., Elias B., VanCleve F.
Children of Mahlon and Mary Ann (Morris) Robarts : Mahlon, Jr., married Louisa Woodruff ; Aaron. married Emma Messler and had children : Ed- ward, Etta aud Lillian, removed to Orange County. Elizabeth M, born Jan. 6, 1845, married Job T. Hill, of Franklin, Oct. 24, 1868. died Feb. 11, 1885, buried at Hill Cemetery For
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Che Southard Family.
In the earliest days of Hibernia, proba- I bly as early as 1740, not later than 1745, lived one Timothy Southard. He was unfortunate in the death of his wife, who, it is probable was buried at Rocka- way. They had one son, an infant at the death of its mother, and also named Timothy. The father sold out his house- hold belongings, not very extensive in those days, and carried the infant in his arms, and was going to make the jour- ney on foot to some of his relatives liv- ing at Elizabethtown Point, or to Long Island, where he came from. He stopped for the night at an acquaintance by the name of Hedden, then living on the back road between Rockaway and Hi- bernia, the only road then traveled, at that time perhaps a bridle path, and the family induced him to leave the infaut in their care until he should return in two or three weeks, which arrangement had been satisfactorily made, and Timo- thy proceeded on his journey, saying, that when he returned the family would be amply repaid for their kindness aud
trouble, and other arrangements for the keeping of the child satisfactorily made.
He was never heard from again, and it was thought that he had died grief stricken before he had reached his rela- tives, as they had never received any tidings from their relative, and a case of misplaced confidence, or intended disap- pering was unusual, as the ties of af- fection were stronger iu those days than in this present day and generation.
Young Timothy grew up with the Hedden family, and became as one of their large family of children, the hos- pitality of the early settlers had no boundary however scanty of provisions or clothing or close quarters the house provided, there was always room and a welcome for one more. Timothy grew up in these surroundings. married in early life, became a prominent member in the circle of society in those days, was a soldier in the Revolution, re- turned and died from the effects of his service for his country, a few years after near the place where he was
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"brought up," and was probably buried at Rockaway, though we have no writ- ten records to prove the samo, we ac- cept it traditionally.
He had quite a large family of chil- dren, who became connected with many of the good people of that time and generation. Nancy, was born 1758, married David Gordon, a Revolutionary soldier, soon after the Revolution. He was son of William, a captain in the army, who was the son of Joshua, & quartermaster in the army. Son.
father and grandfather all doing service at one time. David Gor- don, served many years, it said forty, as the "old sexton" of Rock- away. Dr. Tuttle's tribute to the "olf sexton," brings out the character and duties and life of early days of service. He was born, Sept. 23, 1759, and died July 23, 1852. His wife died Feb. 1851, both buried at Rockaway.
Neomi, born Oct. 2, 1772, married Samuel Palmer, of Franklin, Mar., 1791, and died May 20, 1851. Samuel Palmer was son of Jacob, who came from Long Island and married Phebe Lyon and set- tled at Franklin. Samuel was born at Franklin Nov. 20, 1769, and died there) ericksburg, Va., June 26, 1842.
Sept. 28, 1845. Both buried at Rocka- way.
Timothy, the third named Timothy, became a prominent citizen of Morris County, and distinguished himself as school teacher, justice of peace and law- yer and died near Lake Hopatcong, date not known.
Isaac and Benjamin are on the Rock- away church records as members at an early date, but whether of this family, I am uot certain, it is quite cercain there were a number of daughters, whose names and records have been handed down to this generation. Who can tell?
Tradition has it that this family of Southards who came from Long Island, were related and connected with the family of Abraham Southard, who came from Long Island and settled at Bask- ing Ridge in 1755. His son, Henry born Oct., 1747, was a revolutionary soldier, and afterwards congressman, died June 2, 1842. Samuel L., son of Heury, boru at Basking Ridge June 9, 1787, also dis- tinguished himself as senator, secretary of navy, and also many high offices of this State, where he was known as "New Jersey's favorite son," he died at Fred-
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Che Calmase Family.
The researches made by genealogists during the last five years have made many changes in the old families of the carly settlements, and it may be pre- dicted that the next five years will make still greater changes. Traditions will be a thing of the past, as no stone will be left unturned, and the coming years will develope many things good, bad and indifferent, that may have belonged to our ancestors, and a search for pos- sible traits of character, handed down to the present generation will find their way to all the general law courts, as a remedy for all the ills the flesh is heir to.
In the finding of an old will in Eng- land, dated 1638, made by John Tal- mage, mention is made of the children of his son Thomas, who came to Ameri- ca, authorities say to Boston, in 1630. William, probably died unmarried. Robert, settled at a later date at New Haven. Thomas, settled at South Hamp- ton, L. I. Jane, married Robert Walk- er, of Boston, The son of Thomas (2), also named Thomas, settled at East
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