History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 172

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 172
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 172
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 172

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of Wilkes-Barre Fort. After the close of the war he married a daughter of James McClure, and in 1795 removed to Allegheny County, N. Y., where he practiced the art of surveying which he had learned in his youth. He carried on a large land business ; was appointed one of the judges of the county ; was its treasurer for fifteen years, and commissioner of loans front 1808 until he removed from the county to Dans- ville, N. Y., in 1831. He died there upwards of eighty-five years of age. Such, in brief, was the life of one of Pennsylvania's bravest patriots and frontiersmen.

BRODHEAD FAMILY .- The ancestor of the Brodhead family is said to have come from Germany to England and to have settled at Royston, in Yorkshire, in the reign of Henry VIII. On February 28, 1610, King James I. granted the manor of Burton or Monk Britton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to John Brodhead and George Wood, the principal free- holders of that place.

Daniel Brodhead, grand-nephew of John, the above-named grantee, was the ancestor of those who bear the name in the United States. He was born in Yorkshire, married Ann Tye, was an officer in the army of King Charles II. and accompanied the expedition of Colonel Nicolls from England in 1664. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the military forces at Kingston, September 14, 1665, where he re- mained till his death, July 14, 1667. He had three sons,-Daniel, Charles and Richard.

Daniel, son of Richard, was born at Marble- town, N. Y., in 1693, married Hester Wyngart, moved to Pennsylvania in 1738 and settled on the stream since bearing his name, upon land acquired some two years before from the pro- prietaries of the province, apparently for service rendered, comprising one thousand acres. It embraced the present town of East Stroudsburg, and an additional purchase of five hundred acres extended the area to Wallace's Mill Dam, on McMichael Creek. This property was known locally as the " Brodhead Manor " and the settlement at Dansbury, being in the several divisions of counties, first in Bucks, then in Northampton and now in Monroe. On Septem- ber 25, 1747, he was commissioned one of the

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justices of the peace for the portion of Bucks County north of the " Blue Hills," which he held for the rest of his life. The authorities of the province considered it a necessity to have a magistrate there to watch, report and, as far as possible, thwart the Connecticut emigrants, who were at that time preparing to assert their claim to Wyoming, and he is said to have per- formed this service with zeal and ability. At the organization of Northampton County, in 1752, Mr. Brodhead was re-apppointed justice and at the same time Aaron Depui and John Vanetta, for Smithfield and Middle Smith- field.

At the period of this settlement (1738) nearly all the country north of the mountain was a wilderness; the nearest neighbors were the Dupuis, on the Delaware River, at Shawnee, three miles above the Water Gap. The Indians inhabiting the locality were known as the Min- sis, called also Munseys, and known more par- ticularly by the whites-with other tribes on the same stream-as Delawares. With thesc Indians Daniel Brodhead appears to have been on friendly terms and desired to aid in promot- ing their civilization. He became acquainted with such of the Moravian missionaries who, on their way from Bethlehem to and from their mission stations (extending as far as Shecomeka, in Dutchess County, N. Y.), often lodged at his house and enjoyed the rest and hospitality so much needed after these long and tiresome journeys through a wilderness country. He was ever their friend, and induced them to establislı an Indian mission at his place, and he erected a suitable building for the purpose. It was situated on the west bank of the creck, near the present iron bridge, and was the second church building north of the mountain.

Daniel Brodhead dicd at Bethlehem (whither he had gone for medical treatment) on July 22, 1755. Some of his children were educated at Bethlehem. His son John was a pupil there in 1752.

Fourth Generation. - Children of Daniel Brodhead and Hester Wyngart: Charles, who married Mary Oliver; Garrett married Jane Davis; Daniel married Elizabeth Depui; John married Mary Davis ; Thomas died at sea ; Luke

married Elizabeth Harrison, 1737-1806; Ann Garton never married.

Fifth Generation .- Children of Charles Brod- head and Mary Oliver: Hester Wyngart Brod- head married Josiah Elting; Charles C. Brod- head never married, 1772-1852; Ann Brod- head married Abram Deys; James Brodhead never married ; Mary Catharine married John Jenkins; John C. Brodhead never mar- ried, 1781-1859 ; Richard Brodhead never married ; Oliver Brodhead married Susan Hal- lack.

Children of Garret Brodhead and Jane Davis: John Brodhead married Catharine Heiner, 1766-1821; Daniel Brodhead never married ; Richard Brodhead married Hannah Drake, 1771-1843; George Brodhead never married; Elizabeth Brodhead married Francis Joseph Smith, M.D., 1775; Rachel Brodhead married David Dills; Samucl Brodhead mar- ried Hannah Shoemaker, 1779.

Children of Daniel Brodhead and Elizabeth Depui : Daniel Brodhead ; Ann Garton Brod- head married Joseph Heiner.

Children of John Brodhead and Mary Davis : Richard Brodhead married Elizabeth Murdock ; Elizabeth Brodhead married Rev. Storms.

Children of Luke Brodhead and Elizabeth Harrison : Thomas Brodhead, M.D., married Mary Curtis, 1765-1830; Daniel Brodhead married Rachel Nottingham, 1767-1848; Jolin Brodhead, D.D., married Mary Dodge, 1770- 1838 ; Mary Brodhead married Leonard Har- denberg, 1772; Ann G. Brodhead never mar- ried, 1774-1852; Luke Brodhead married Elizabeth Wills, 1777-1845, 1789-1877; Elizabeth Brodhead married Richard Went- worth, 1779-1868 ; Alexander Brodhead mar- ried Elizabeth Bloom, 1781; Eliza Brodhead married Joseph Barton, 1798.

This portion of the genealogy of this family is given to show their identity with the carly history of this part of the State up to and in- cluding the period of the Revolution ; those who figured therein and others in whose lives there are incidents of historical or general in- terest, are mentioned in the following notes.

The four succeeding generations of the family are scattered over the Union. Tracing the

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genealogy farther is not a legitimate part of this history.

Charles Brodhead, the eldest son of Daniel, of the fourth generation, in company with Aaron Depui and Benjamin Shoemaker, was intrusted by Governor Morris with a commis- sion of a difficult nature, that is, to invite the Indians of Wyoming to a conference at Harris, (Harrisburg) with a view to a treaty, and to take charge of and accompany them to that place. The other gentleman named being un- able to attend, Mr. Brodhead undertook the mission alone. He twice visited the Indians at Wyoming, once on the 9th of November, 1755, and again in December following. It was dur- ing this last visit, or in the same month, that the Indians made the attack upon the paternal home at East Stroudsburg (elsewhere related).

On the 29th of April, 1756, Charles Brod- head entered the provincial service as ensign, and on the 15th of March, 1758, was commis- sioned lieutenant in the Augusta Regiment, Colonel Claphan commanding, and was sta- tioned at Fort Angusta (Shamokin). He was on the first jury at the organization of North- ampton County, in 1752. He afterwards re- moved to Ulster County, N. Y. Charles was the father of the Hon. John C. Brodhead, member of Congress from New York.

Garret Brodhead, the second son of Daniel of the fourth generation, was a short time in the Revolutionary army, in a New Jersey regi- ment. All the other brothers being in the service, he was required at home to attend to the large property left by his father. He was appointed magistrate in 1770, and held the office for many years. He died in 1804.

Daniel Brodhead, the third son of Daniel of the fourth generation, was in 1773 appointed deputy surveyor-general under John Lukens. In the summer of 1776 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and on the 4th of July of that year was ordered by the Committee of Safety of Philadelphia " to proceed with one battalion of five hundred riflemen to Bordentown, N. J., to be employed agreeable to a requisition of the Honorable Continental Congress." He was in most of the battles fonght by Washington's army till 1778, when, being colonel of the

Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, he was trans- ferred by General Washington to the command of the Western Department, with his headquar- ters at Fort Pitt, where he remained till nearly the close of the war. His command in this department was one constant struggle with the Indian allies of Great Britain, extending along the whole frontier, and the results were so satis- factory as to receive the approval of Congress by special resolution. He received the appoint- ment of general before the close of the war. The Indians being finally subdued and dis- couraged, thousands of soldiers and frontier citizens were free to join the Continental army, and the glorious triumph soon followed. At the close of the war General Brodhead was ap- pointed surveyor-general of Pennsylvania, No- vember 8, 1789. He died at Milford, Pa., November 15, 1809. His son . Danicl was ap- pointed lieutenant in Colonel Shee's battalion, Jannary, 1776. He married for his second wife, General Mifflin's widow. His danghter, Ann Garten, was baptized by Rev. J. H. Goetchius, Mr. Fryenmuth's successor in Smith- field, on February 12, 1758.

John Brodhead, the fourth son of Daniel in the fourth generation. Of John there are no facts at hand other than the simple statement that he was a captain in the Continental army and removed to the State of New York, but the time is not ascertained.

Luke Brodhead, the sixth and youngest son of Daniel of the fourth generation, was in every sense a patriot. At the outbreak of the Revo- lution, he felt that the full measure of his ser- vices were due to his country, and he was impa- tient to volunteer the extent of that service without waiting, by advice of his friends, the tender of a commission. He entered the first American Rifle Regiment, commanded by Colonel William Thompson, which marched direct to Boston, where he distinguished him- self, as on other occasions, as a brave soldier. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the rifle regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles, and was severely wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island. During this imprisonment he suffered great hardship in the sugar-honse and prison-ships at New York,

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but he was not forgotten by his country. John Hancock commissioned him a captain in the Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Magaw. Captain Brodhead partici- pated in the battles of Short Hills, Brandy- wine, Germantown, Monmouth, etc.

But the wounds received at Long Island, and the suffering endured in prison, so impaired his health that, though he received the commission of colonel on the day that his brother Daniel received his as general, he was obliged to quit the service and retire to his family. He was the intimate friend of Lafayette, to whom he was much attached. He was appointed a mag- istrate in the dispnted district of Wyoming, but did not go there to reside.

Colonel Miles, in his autobiography, speaking of the battle of Long Island, says : " We took Major Moncreiff, their commanding officer, prisoner ; but he was a Scotch prize to Ensign Brodhead, who took him and had him in pos- session several hours, bnt was obliged to sur- render himself." Captain Brodhead continued to suffer from his wounds for the remainder of his life, and died at Stroudsburg June 19, 1806. He was the first child baptized by Rev. John Casparus Fryenmuth, the Dutch Reformed clergyman, in Smithfield, which occurred May 22, 1741. Peter Casay and Anna Prys were his sponsors.

John Brodhead, son of Garret of the fifth generation, was born March 3, 1776, died Sep- tember 5, 1821. He was the first clerk of the courts, prothonotary and register and recorder on the organization of Wayne County, Septem- ber 10, 1798. The court was held first at Mil- ford, the present shire-town of Pike County. Studied surveying under Col. William Wills, of Smithfield, and received the certificate March 27, 1792. Elected to the Legislature about 1812. He was the father of Daniel M. (mar- ried Eliza Barton), John H. (married Louisa Ross), William F. (married Jane Dingman), George W. (married H. Dougherty) and Henry R. (married Emily Stull). The Rev. Augustus Brodhead, D.D., for twenty years missionary in India, and now a pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton, N. J., is a son of John H., above named. Mrs. Sena-

tor Van Wyck is a danghter of John H. The account of this branch of the family belongs, more particularly, to Pike County.

Richard Brodhead, son of Garret of the fifth generation, was most of his life a resident of Pike County, and is spoken of in that connec- tion, as also his sons herein named. He was the father of Sarah, who married the Hon. John Westbrook; Garret, who married Cornelia Dingman ; William, who married Susan Cool- baugh ; Jane, who married Moses S. Brundage; Albert Gallatin, who married Ellen Middaugh; Charles, who married Mary Brown ; Anna Maria, who married John Seaman ; Rachel, who married John J. Linderman, M.D. ; and Richard, who married Mary Jane Bradford.

Richard. Brodhead, the youngest of the above family, was educated at Easton, and studied law there. He was elected to the Legislature soon after his admission to the bar ; was mem- ber of Congress and United States Senator.

Dr. Francis Joseph Smith, who married Elizabeth Brodhead of the fifth generation, was a political refugee from France and a man of decided ability. His real name was J. J. Aerts. The assumed name was for political reasons.

Thomas Brodhead, M.D., of the fifth gene- ration, was born at Dansbury (East Strouds- burg), in 1765. He went to Ulster County, New York, when a young man, and studied medicine with Dr. Oliver. He was an eminent physician and acquired a large fortune in his practice. Died November 11, 1830.

John Brodhead, D.D., of the fifth generation was also born at East Stroudsburg, October 5, 1770. In his twenty-second year, after hearing a powerful discourse from a Methodist itinerant, he returned home, retired to the barn to medi- tate and pray. After his conversion he entered the itinerant field in 1794 in his twenty-fourth year, and was appointed to Northumberland Cir- cuit in this State. The next year he was transfer- red to New England. He was forty-four years in the ministry, four years a member of Congress from New Hampshire and for a number of years member of the State Senate. He was Senator and acting as chaplain at the time General Lafayette visited that plaee.

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When Governor Morrill introduced him to Lafayette, Dr. Brodhead inquired if he remem- bered Captain Luke Brodhead. " What, Cap- tain Brodhead of the Pennsylvania line ? Cer- tainly, I knew him well." Dr. Brodhead re- plicd : " He was my father." "My dear sir," continued the general, " how glad I am to see you ! Your father was a brave man. It cheers my heart to find that the sons of my comrades in arms still love me."

Dr. Brodhead was the father of Daniel, who was navy agent at Boston in 1854; of Dr. John M., second comptroller at Washington for many years ; of George H., president of the Board of Brokers in 1874 and Secretary for many years before ; of Thornton F., colonel of the First Michigan cavalry during the Rebellion, and was killed at the second Bull Run battle, Septem- ber 2, 1862 ; and of Jonah A., who entered the army of the Rebellion at the commencement of the war and continued till the close, ap- pointed licutenant-colonel and paymaster at the end of the war.

Luke Brodhead, also of the fifth generation, was born at East Stroudsburg. He was the honored and beloved ancestor of those of the llame who reside at the Delaware Water Gap.

NEW YORK BRANCH .- It is designed, in this connection, to speak only of such of the New York branch as have been in public life, and the nature of which will appear of interest to the general reader.

Charles Brodhead, of the second generation, married Maria Ten Brook. From him are de- scended Professor Lewis Brodhead, of Rutgers (formerly Queen's) College, and Charles W. Brodhead, who was a captain in the army of the Revolution and commanded a company of grenadiers, which he raised and equipped mainly at his own expense, and was present, under General Gates, at the surrender of Gene- ral Burgoyne, at Saratoga.

He died September 21, 1799. His sister Elizabeth married Theodoric Romeyn, D.D., a distinguished Dutch Reformed clergyman and founder of Union College (1744-1806). Dr. Romeyn's son, John Brodhead Romeyn, D.D. (1770-1825), preceded Rev. Jacob Brodhead in the pastoral charge of the church at Rhinebeck,

and for several years was pastor of the Presby- terian Church at Cedar Street, New York. Dr. Romeyn preached the funeral sermon of Alex- ander Hamilton, in 1804, from the text, " How are the mighty fallen !" A marble tablet, bear- ing his name, is placed in the wall of Dr. Johnl Hall's church, Fifth Avenue, New York.

Jacob Brodhead, D.D., was also a descendant of Charles, first above named (1782-1855). He studied languages under Rev. Abram Van Horn, of Rochester, commencing at twelve years of age. He was sent to Schenectady, under care of his uncle, Dr. Romeyn. He en- tered the junior class in Union College in 1799, and graduated in 1801. He pursued his theo- logical studies under Dr. Romeyn. He was called first to the Dutch Reformed Church at Rhinebeck, in 1804. He married Eliza Bleeker, of Albany, the same year. In 1809 he received a call from the Collegiate Reformed Church in New York, where he remained till 1813. In the summer of that year he accepted a call from the Crown Strcet Church, in Philadelphia, where he remained thirteen years. His next call was to the Reformed Dutch Church in Broom Street, New York, where he remained till 1837. His pastoral work was suspended for several years on account of ill health, but he continued to preach at intervals till his death, in 1855.

Governor Tompkins appointed Dr. Brod- head chaplain of the Third Regiment New York State Artillery in the War of 1812, and, while stationed at Philadelphia, he worked sev- eral weeks on trenches thrown up for the de- fence of the city, and one of the redoubts was called after him, Fort Brodhead.

John Romeyn Brodhead, the historian, was a son of the Rev. Jacob Brodhead. He gradu- ated at Rutgers College in 1831 ; studied law with the late Hugh Maxwell ; admitted to the bar in 1835. Attached to the United States Legation at the Hague, in 1839, under con- mission from Governor Seward, of New York, in 1841, he spent three years in Holland col- lecting materials for the "History of New York," and brought home, in 1844, a collection of over five thousand separate papers, which the Hon. George Bancroft, after careful exam- ination, pronounced the most valuable collec-

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tion of material for American history ever brought across the Atlantic.

Mr. Brodhead was secretary of legation un- der Mr. Bancroft as minister to England, from 1846 to 1849. From 1853 to 1857 he was naval officer at the port of New York. As State historian, he published two volumes of the " History of New York," but left the remain- ing volume unfinished at his death. He was born in Philadelphia January 2, 1814 ; died iu New York in 1873.1

RECOLLECTIONS OF PETER ZIMMERMAN AND OTHERS. - John George Zimmerman came from Berks County to Smithfield and purchased a property of Daniel Shoemaker, in 1802, con- sisting of a farm and a grist and saw-mill lo- cated on Marshall's Creek, at what is now known as Branchville. The grist-mill stood about one hundred and thirty yards from the present mill and had two run of stone. In 1815 he took the old mill down and built the present stone grist-mill, with three run of stone. Mr. Zim- merman was a practical miller and his mill, as rebuilt, was the best in the vicinity, and received patronage from Smithfield, Middle Smithfield, Price, Stroud and Mount Pleasant township, in Northampton. There was an old grist-mill at Shawnee and another at Stroudsburg at this time. J. G. Zimmerman owed five hundred and sixty acres of land, and carried on milling and farming until he died, in 1827, when his business was continued by his family, consisting of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood. Isaac and George had managed a store in connection with the milling business. The hillsides at that time were covered with a fine growth of oak timber, and the farmers, in winter, made large quanti- ties of oak staves, heads and hoops for barrels and firkins, which the early merchants took in exchange for goods and shipped down the Del- aware to Philadelphia on rafts. The Zimmer- man Brothers some years shipped a million staves and leads, and sometimes glutted the market. Isaac and George were both unmar- ried and died aged about fifty-two. George was

au excellent miller. Peter bought his interest and continued to run the mill until he sold it to Heller & Smoyer, the present owners, in 1866. They have added another story and put in four run of stone.

Daniel Zimmerman, the third son, was a miller and storekeeper, and lived to be eighty- six years of age. Henry and Joseph were merchants and farmers. Peter Zimmerman, now aged eighty-two, has been a miller sixty- eight years, a business in which he excels. After selling the old mill, he built, in 1852, another grist-mill one hundred yards farther up Mar- shall Creck, with four run of stone, which was sold to Lantz & Phifer in 1875-76, when, farther up the creek, he built, in 1878, another grist-mill with three run of stone, which he now owns. Besides these two grist-mills, he has built two saw-mills, the Cataract House (which will accommodate about forty guests), several dwelling-houses and barns. There had formerly been tanneries at the upper and lower falls. George McEwing built a tannery at the upper falls and continued tanning until 1860. Francis J. Ervin had a taunery at the lower falls, which was built in 1831. Ulrich Hauser lived about one-half mile northeast of Mr. Zimmerman. He kept a tavern, afterwards owned by his son John. Peter and Joseph were the other sons. Joseph Hauser married Colonel Vannier's daughter, and with her ob- tained the property now occupied by the Water Cure.

George Michaels and his sons John and George removed to Middle Smithfield in 1794 from a place called Drylands, near Nazareth. They purchased nine hundred acres of land. Peter, the oldest son, came the following year. Jolin Michaels, who is nearly ninety-three and lives across the river in Pahaquarry, says : "My father built a stone house where Frank H. Smith now resides. They cleared the upland, the lowland being already cleared. My father first built a frame house, the next house above him being my Uncle John's, his son George, aged eighty-six, now occupying it. The next dwelling above was Uncle Peter's. He lived in a log house, his son Samuel having built the present brick house. He had a family of six-

1 Furnished by L. W. Brodhead, of the Delaware Water Gap.

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teen children, fourteen of whom survived. One of these sons, Peter, has the place at present. John De Witt, Jacob De Witt and others of that name lived above the Michaels. Henry Strunk was adjoining my father's (George Mi- chaels, Jr.), on the south. He came from the lower part of the State about 1800. Strunk's sons were Henry, who retained the homestead ; Peter, who also lived on part of the homestead; and George, who was at Shawnee. Andrew Strunk, one of Henry Strunk, Jr.'s, sons, lives on the old Daniel La Bar place. The first farm after crossing the line into Smithfield is that of George Ehes, or Ace, who bought his land of William Place. It was afterward sold to Daniel Brown, and is now owned by his son John. The next farm was that of the well-known farmer, Peter Treible. He and his wife came from the lower part of the State on horseback, carrying their oldest child in their arms. Peter Treible had married a daughter of George Meyers, and assumed charge of his father-in- law's farm. He first lived in a log house, and afterward built a stone dwelling and kept tavern and had a post-office, called Treibleville, at his house. He was a good farmer and a man of some education. Of his eleven children, John retained the homestead, Henry lived on the hill above, and Jacob below Shawnee. George Walters had a log house on the road between the La Bar and Treible place in the year 1800. One of his sons, Michael, built a stone house south of the Daniel La Bar place, where he now resides, aged nearly ninety."

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 172

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438