Monmouth County NJ Archives History....Lewis Morris History and VanDorn family: Beekman's, Early Dutch Settlers ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: JMP jpaatter@comcast.net ************************************************ The html index page for this book may be found at http://usgwarchives.net/nj/monmouth/beekman-hist.html ************************************************ EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY GEORGE C. BEEKMAN. MOREAU BROS., PUBLISHERS, FREEHOLD, N. J. Second Edition Printed, 1915. ============================ REASONS WHY THE NEW YORK HOLLANDERS MIGRATED TO NEW JERSEY. It may seem strange why the Van- Dorns, VanPelts, VanAmacks, (Aum- ocks) VanSiclens, (Sickles) and other Dutch people left the towns and vil- lages of New York, and the society of their relatives and friends between 1690 and 1720, when there was so much unoccupied land close by, just as fertile and cheap as that in Monmouth, Mid- dlesex and Somerset counties, N. J. Monmouth county at that time was reached from Long Island by sailing vessels, generally small sloops. They, of course, were dependent on the winds and tides. In calms or contrary winds a sloop might be two or three days in making the passage. In the winter when the bay was covered with float- ing ice or disturbed by violent storms, no passage was possible. The few people who then resided in Monmouth county were of a different race and language and had nothing in common with these Dutch people from Long Island. The country here was little more than a howling wilderness. No roads which deserved the name, but mere tracks through the primeval for- ests over the old Indian paths, very few bridges, no schools or churches of their language and faith. In short, none of the conveniences of civilized life. To understand this migration it is necessary to take a brief glance at the political and social conditions of affairs in the province of New York. Just be- fore 1690 the great revolution had oc- curred in England, which drove King James into lasting exile, and placed on the throne of Great Britain the Stad- holder of the Dutch Republic, William of Orange. Everything in England was in confusion, and they had no informa- tion or time to consider the affairs of a little colony like New York some three thousand miles away. When the news of this great revolution was re- ceived in New York, the old officials who had been appointed under King James were naturally supposed to be his adherents. The Dutch population were well satisfied to have a man of their own race and country, like Wil- liam of Orange, as their sovereign. In fact, for the first time since the pirat- ical seizure of New Netherlands, in the interest of this same King James, then known as the Duke of York, were the Dutch people really satisfied with Eng- lish rule. At suggestion and with support of many of the Dutch and English people, particularly those in Kings county. L. I., and New York City, a man named Jacob Leisler was chosen to administer temporarily the government of New York until communication could be had with the government of Great Britain. This, of course, would require from four to five months with the sailing vessels of that time. An Englishman named Richard Ingoldsby, who had been identified with the old officials appointed under King James, backed by the aristocratic clique who had previously controlled the provincial government, attempted also to rule. In this they were de- feated by the Leisler party and some of the leaders, like Nicholas Bayard, had been imprisoned. Jacob Leisler was a plain, sincere man, without any experience in political intrigue or du- 38 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. plicity. He was also without ability to manage public matters of such mag- nitude or at such a critical period. He was, however, a zealous protestant and an enthusiastic supporter of William of Orange, the revolutionary king. He took every possible way to have King William and Queen Mary pro- claimed the legitimate sovereigns of Great Britain at all the principal vil- lages and towns of New York. On the 4th of March, 1690, he sent an order to one John Langstaff or Longstreet of East Jersey, directing him with the aid of the principal freeholders and inhab- itants of the place to proclaim William and Mary king and queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, accord- ing to the form used, at chief towns of East Jersey, with all the solemnities usual on such occasions. This was done at the villages of Middletown and Shrewsbury, some time in the month of March, 1690, for they were the prin- cipal towns in this part of East Jersey. This action on the part of Leisler proves the utter falsity of the charge afterward trumped up by his enemies, that he was the ringleader of a Dutch plot to subvert the English govern- ment. Finally on the 19th of March, 1691, an Englishman named Henry Sloughter duly commissioned as Royal Governor, arrived in New York. He was entirely unacquainted with the people and the true situation of public matters. He naturally fell into the hands of the old English politicians and relied on them for all information. Many of these men were the bitter pol- itical and personal enemies of Leisler. They looked upon him as an upstart and the leader of the common people who had pushed himself forward, con- trary to usage, precedent or aristo- cratic connections. At their suggestion, made for a sinis- ter purpose. Sloughter appointed In- goldsby to demand from Leisler the surrender of the fort and the disband- ment of his military forces. Surprised at such a messenger and suspecting a trick, Leisler at first refused but finally when convinced that the new governor had really deputized him, he surrender- ed up the fort without any resistance. Leisler, his son-in-law. Jacob Mill- bourne, and several of his principal officers, were at once arrested and thrown in prison. Sloughter, who was a mere thing of putty, was persuaded by these conspirators to call what was designated a special court of Oyer and Terminer to try these prisoners. Leisler and Millbourne, knowing that their conviction and death was a foregone conclusion with this packed tribunal, refused to sanction the farce by a "plea of guilty" or "not guilty," but stood "mute" as it was then called. This so-called court, with indecent haste, found them guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging, mutilation of their corpses and confiscation of all their property. Sloughter, however, seems to have had a little idea of what was proper, for under date of May 2nd, 1691, he writes to Lord Inchiquin in England. After informing him of the "conviction of Leisler and his accom- plices" by a court of Oyer and Termin- er, adds "I am not willing to proceed but upon extreme necessity and until his majesty shall have information and his pleasure be known." If Sloughter had pursued this course the colonial history of New York, and his own memory would have been saved from a disgraceful stain. The arch conspirators, however, well understood that a review of Leisler's case by intelligent and disinterested men, would defeat their vindictive pur- pose. They at once took measures to change the governor's intention. We have no sure means of knowing what private representations they made to him, although many grave and scandal- ous rumors and reports were circulated among the people. We have, however, the records of their public proceedings, made up by them in the best shape they could put it. The following is their record, on the 11th of May, 1691, at a council held at Fort William Henry, New York: "Present: Governor Henry Slough- ter, Frederick Phillips. William Nicolls. Nicholas Bayard, Stephen VanCortlandt and Gabriel Monville, of the council." Then they go on to say that Governor Sloughter inquires "what is best for the peace of the country, as he was about to go to Albany" (then a trip of about two weeks). With one voice, showing previous collusion, they re- plied, "that to iirevent insurrection in the future and to preserve the gover- nor's authority, it was absolutely nec- essary that the death sentence against Leisler and Millbourne be forthwith executed." At this time there was not the least danger of insurrection yet with this bold lie, they induced the governor to sign the death warrant. Two days later, such was their haste, May 16, 1691, Jacob Leisler and Jacob Mill- bourne were strangled to death in the city of New York. They both met their death like christians and brave men. Thev asserted their innocence to the 39 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. last and declared that what they had done was for the protestant religion and in the interest of King William and Queen Mary. Thus was consum- mated one of the darkest crimes in the annals of the State and colony of New York. We cannot now realize the deep anger and lasting resentment aroused among the friends and supporters of Leisler, particularly in Kings county, L. I., where he had a numerous following. These men never forgot or forgave the aristocratic clique which with bit- ter malice and false pretenses had hunted these men to death. It affected and influenced the politics of New York down to the revolutionary war, when the "dangerous Democratic ideas," which Ingoldsby spoke of in one of his communications as being at the bottom of the Leisler troubles, were trium- phant. The whole case, however, came before the English government a few years later. In 1695 an act was passed by the House of Lords and Commons and approved by the King, righting this foul injustice so far as was possi- ble. This act is entitled 6 & 7 William III, Anno 1695. The following is the last section of the act. "That said conviction, judgment and attainder of Jacob Leisler and Jacob Millbourne, deceased, and Abraham Governeur, and any of them, be and are repealed, revoked, made and declared null and void to all intents and con- structions whatsoever, as if never made. This was a sweeping and full vindi- cation of those victims to partizan mal- ice and personal hate on the part of the government of Great Britain. It restored to their families the property that had been confiscated. At about this time the celebrated Minister of New England, Rev. Increase Mather. writes under date of January 20, 1696: "I am afraid that the guilt of inno- cent blood is still crying in the ears of the Lord against you. My Lord Bell- mont said to me 'that he was one of the committee of Parliament who ex- amined the matter, and those men. (Leisler and Millbourne) were not only murdered but barbariously murdered.' However, the murdered nun have been cleared by the King, Lords and Com- mons, etc." If such was the opinion of disinter- ested men, far removed from the scene of the troubles, the reader can judge how deep and bitter was the anger of the friends and supporters of Leisler and the relatives of the other men im- prisoned and convicted with him. Many of these men were alarmed. If Leisler and Millbourne could thus be executed and their property seized what securi- ty is there for any of us? was a natural inquiry. The young men about to leave home and make a settlement elsewhere looked around to see if there was some place Where they would be safe, where laws would be equitably administered and where there would be full liberty of conscience or religious worship. New Jersey was then governed by the proprietors. They had offered liberal terms to all persons who would settle on their lands, for without inhabitants their lands were worthless. Some of these proprietors, like the merchants in London, were influenced solely by mercenary considerations. Others, like William Penn and Robert Barclay, by philanthropic and conscientious mo- tives. Robert Barclay of Aberdeen. Scotland, had been made governor of New Jersey. He was famous as a scholar and writer and for his philan- thropy. He was a son of Robert Bar- clay, who at one time had served as a soldier under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, but in after years became a convert to the Friends. He is cele- brated by John G. Whittier in his poem entitled Barclay of Ury. He had brought up his son in the tenets of the Quakers or Friends. It was through this son that many of the persecuted covenanters and Presbyterians had been released from prison and directed to New Jersey. These prominent Friends were for several years the managing or controlling men in the government of New Jersey. This fact was known far and wide, and it was a guarantee that full religious freedom would be allowed in New Jersey and fair laws enated and equitably and justly enforced and construed. The Quakers themselves had suffered bitter persecution and their doctrine of peace and non resistance, etc., was an assur- ance to all that no persecution would occur under their government, as in- deed was the case. William Penn's name tpp, was a tower of strength. A Hollander, too, named Arent Sonmans, and his son, Peter Sonmans, after his death, was a proprietor and owned thousands of acres in Somerset and Monmouth counties. He was well known to his countrymen in New York and used his influence to direct the cur- rent of immigration to those counties. But it was the bitter discontent with the government of New York caused by the judicial murder of Leisler and Mill- bourne and the confidence in the men 40 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. who controlled the government of New Jersey, which induced so many of the young men to remove from the towns and villages of New York and settle in Monmouth, Middlesex and Somerset counties. This chapter in the colonial history of New York has never had the attention and consideration it deserved. It led to serious and far reaching re- sults. Bayard and' VanCortland, who had been so active in this injustice and outrage, were connected by blood with the patroons of New York. The wealth, influence and power of these men were used to suppress and smother as far as they could this disgraceful deed. They then controlled public matters almost as completely as Bill Tweed did in his day. Therefore, men were afraid to speak out and call things by their real names. Like the railroad corporations and Standard oil corporation and others of like character they had patronage and power. They could reward or punish. Thus ambitious men who wanted office, selfish men who wanted money, society men who wanted intro- duction and timid or cowardly men afraid of injury, and all the rest who were governed by self interest and cool calculation, did not speak out, but wound, turned and twisted their way so as to keep in with both factions or parties. Right, too, on the heels of the Leisler difficulty came the interference of Lord Cornbury with the church. His arbitrary efforts to establish Episco- pacy and his assumption of power over other denominations deepened the dis- content with the government of New York. The quarrels and contention and troubles in the Dutch churches of Kings county, L. I., from 1705 to 1714 and the government interference with them also disgusted the Smocks, Van- Brunts, Luysters and other Dutch people and sent the young men over to New Jersey where they at least could worship as they pleased. ============================= CONFLICT BETWEEN LEWIS MORRIS AND THE PEOPLE OF MIDDLETOWN. Jacob VanDorn, as the name is now spelled, with his brother-in-law, Arie (Adrian) Bennett, removed from what is now a part of Brooklyn, then known as Gowanus, to Monmouth county in the year 1697 or 98, just two centuries ago. He married about 1694 Marytje, (Maria or Mary) a daughter of Arian Williamse Bennett and Angenietje VanDyke, his wife, who then resided at Gowanus. Jacob VanDorn became a communicant in the Dutch church of Brooklyn in 1695. Our records in the Monmouth County Clerk's Office show that John Reid, a Scotchman, who was quite prominent in public affairs of this county between 1690 and 1720, and who was a faithful agent for some of the Scotch proprietors, conveyed to Richard Salter, by deed dated Decem- ber 23, 1689, recorded in Book H of Deeds, page 325, part of his land called Hortencia, lying principally in what is now Marlboro township and likely run- ning over into what is now Holmdel township, for Freehold township in 1689 had not been set off from Middle- town township. In this deed it is stated that the lands conveyed begin where "West Branch comes into Hop brook at a place called Promontoria." John Reid, who was an intelligent and pru- dent man, had doubtless satisfied the Indians and also procured a legal title from the proprietors of East Jersey for this tract of land prior to his transfer to Salter. Under date of April 2, 1697, Salter assigns this deed to "Adrian Bennett and Jacob VanDorn of Gowanus, Kings county, Island of Nassau," (Long Is- land). This assignment is recorded in Book H of Deeds, page 327, and was a very singular method to convey real estate. The number of acres is not stated. It appears that Bennett, Van- Dorn and Salter were thrown together by this business transaction and that Salter must have gained the good will and friendship of those two men by his fair and kind treatment of them; for only a year or two later we find Ben- nett and VanDorn resisting the sheriff of the county, John Stewart, and pre- venting him from arresting Salter. Our court records show that for their ac- tion in this matter they brought upon themselves the vengeance of the notor- ious Lewis Morris of "Tintern Manor." as he or his uncle, the first Lewis Mor- ris, had named it. This place is now known as Tinton Falls, in Monmouth county. The minutes of the courts of Mon- mouth county in clerk's office, for the year 1700, shows the folliwing record 41 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. entered at the instance of, and no doubt dictated by, Lewis Morris himself, for a new clerk, Drummond, also a Scotch- man, had just been appointed and he had no experience in making- up the court records. The following is a cor- rect copy of this record: "A Court of Inquiry held at Shrewsbury for the county of Monmouth, the 27th day of August, 1700. Lewis Morris, President. Samuel Leonard, Jedediah Allen, Samuel Dennis, Anthony Pintard, Justices. The Grand Jury of Inquiry for present ser- vice were these: John Reid. (a Scotchman). Jeremiah Stillwell, Alexander Adams John Slocum, Thomas Webley, Thomas Hewett, Patrick Cannon, * Abiah Edwards, James Melven, * John West, Peter Embley, * John Leonard Samuel Hopenge. William Layton, William Hoge. Those marked with (*) are Scotchmen. [Error:- Among the juryrmen named were other Scotchmen besides those marked with a star.] After taking the oath Lewis Morris charged them. We have no record of what he said, but judging by his other writings, when angered, it was a vio- lent harangue for the jury to indict Jacob VanDorn, Arie Bennett and the other persons who had resisted his pet sheriff, John Stewart, also a Scotchman. The jury were almost, outside of John Reid, the foreman, and the other Scotchman, made up of his retainers and henchmen in Shrewsbury township. The justices, also, who set with him had all been lately appointed at his suggestion by the Scotch governor, An- drew Hamilton. In plain words this jury was packed by Lewis Morris for the express purpose of indicting Jacob VanDorn, Adrian (Arie) Bennett and others of the Middletown people. They soon returned the following indictment, which had probably been drawn up by Lewis Morris himself and given to some of his agents on this grand jury. The following is a true copy of this indictment: "August ye 27th, 1700. - We, jurors present Richard Salter, John Bray, James Stout, David Stout, Benjamin Stout, Cornelius Compton William Bowne, Thomas Hankinson, Jacob VanDorn, Arian Bennett, Thomas Sharp, Benjamin Cook, Robert James, Thomas Estill and Samuel, a servant of Salter, for riotously as- sembling on the 17th of July and assaulting John Stewart, High Sheriff, and Henry Leon- ard, in the path near house of Alexander Adams and beat and previously wounded these said persons, took their swords from them, carried them away and kept them to the value of five pounds, money of this province. breach of the peace and terror of the king's liege people. Signed in behalf of the rest JOHN REID, Foreman. We have an accounty written by two of the most respected and honest citi- zens of Middletown township at the time of this occurrence which throws a different light on this subject. There is nothing in our early records to throw the least smirch upon the characters of Andrew Bowne and Richard Hartshorne. They were straightforward honest men, who tried to do their duty in a plain unostentation manner. They commanded the respect of all the people of Middletown. Even Louis Morris with his abusive tongue and malicious heart, could say nothing worse of them than that one was an Anabaptist and the other a Quaker and that they had deeated a bill to tax the people for the maintenance of the Episcopal priests and prelates, as in England. True copy of Andrew Bowne and Richard Hartshorne account of this trouble from pages 327-8-9 of Vol. II, New Jersey Archives. "East Jersey, Middletown ye 23d July, 1700 &c. Yours of 6th of April last come to our hands, it being the first we received from you for which we thank you ; but could have wish- ed you had sent us a more certain account of the settlement of the government, which, never so much as now, wants to be settled Since the departure of Mr. Salter, Col. Hamilton [the usurping Governor at that date] hath put Mr. Morris [Lewis Morris of Tinton Falls] into commission of his council and justice, believ- ing him to be the only man that can make the province submit to him as governor, with- out the king's approbation, and in order to effect it they turned out an Englishman who was sheriff and put in a Scotchman, [John Stewart, who resided in what is now Eaton- town township], who they thought would obey them without reserve. And it is said Morris has given out that he will carry his point in making the people submit to Col. Hamilton or he will embrue the province in blood. In order to which they seized upon several per- sons intending to force them to give security for their good behaviour, which one of them refused to do, and so continued in the sheriffs custody. This the people took greveiously, it being harvest time, and they had given out warrants to seize Richard Salter and others. And the sheriff [John Stewart with warrant issued by Lewis Morris, Justice] had like to have taken him. Which some of his neigh- bors understanding went and met the sheriff [John Stewart with his deputy, Henry Leon- ard], banged him, broke his head and sent him packing, upon which, as we are informed, the people resolved to meet on Friday, the 19th day of July, in order to go and fetch home him that was in the sheriff's hands, upon which Morris and Leonard, [Lewis Morris and Samuel Leonard] dispatched an express [man on horseback to ride fast] for Governor Ham- 42 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. ilton [he then resided at Burlington City] who immediately came to them, [at Tinton FallsJ. They pressed about fifty men [Morris' hench- men in Shrewsbury township and his Scotch contingent around Freehold, likely] and came on 19th of July [only two days after Sheriff John Stewart and Henry Leonard had been thrashed] in arms [with guns and other wea- pons] to Middletown [the village] and came to the ordinary [the tavern or public house, which then stood where George Bowne's dwell- ing now, 1898, stands] and there inquired for said Salter and one Bray [John Bray]. Then they marched off [went back to Tinton Falls | The people of Middletown [township] were as- sembled to the number of about 100 [another account says about 150 men] but without arms, only sticks [mild term for clubs] yet had it not been for the persuasion of some much in the public favor there would have been broken heads if not further mischief, the said justices having persuaded the person in the sheriff's hands to give security for his good behavior the day before this meeting. In this position things stand in this county and we believe that throughout the province, including the Scotch, there is six to one against owning Col. Ham- ilton Governor, and almost all bitterly against Morris, whom they look upon as the first man [as indeed he was] that opposed government. ANDREW BOWNE, RICHARD HARTSHORNE, One of ye Council." Some of our local Newark historians have in their one-sided efforts to eulo- gize Lewis Morris, spoken in a slight- ing way of Captain Andrew Bowne. There is no evidence to justify this in our early records. He was a plain, out- spoken, sincere man who always stood four square in his tracks. He could not cajole or flatter like Lewis Morris when he wanted favors, neither could he abuse in bitter fashion his oppon- ents, like Morris. He had no such com- mand of vituperative language, but what he said he meant, and he was al- ways consistent. Those who knew him best (his neighbors of Monmouth coun- ty) respected him, while Lewis Morris was detested for his arbitrary and un- scrupulous efforts to further his own interests even when he sat as judge of our county courts. He was constantly in law suits, during the years running from 1692 to 1698, and his influence and that of his cousin, Lewis Morris, of Passage Point, who was also a justice, gave him a decided advantage over the people he sued. The attempt of Gov- ernor Hamilton and Lewis Morris to overawe and intimidate the people of Middletown by an armed body of men failed. It ought to have been evident to them that the people of Middletown would not submit. They were dis- tinctly informed to this effect and had warning of what would happen and what did happen at Middletown village on the 25th of March, 1701, This record of that court as it stands on the minutes in the clerk's office was evidently entered at the dictation of Lewis Morris, who was then the presiding judge of the county courts. This rec- ord represents the people of Middle- town as breaking up this court, taking Governor Hamilton and the county officials prisoners, out of sympathy with a self confessed pirate, who had served under the notorious Capt. Kidd. and in order to rescue him from the officers of the law. This was a grave and serious charge and one very likely to be noticed and punished by the Eng- lish government. Piracy, however, was an offense outside of the jurisdiction of the Monmouth courts as it occurs on the high seas and it is cognizable only in Admiralty courts. So Lewis Morris failed to bring upon the people of Mid- dletown the vengeance of the home government. He however, sent a cer- tified copy of the court record to the English government backed up by a long communication. He also wrote about the same time to the Bishop of London saying that the people of Mid- dletown were the "most ignorant and wicked people on earth and have no such thing as church or religion among them." He also, a short time after his captivity at Middletown, went to Eng- land, in order to accomplish his vindic- tive or ambitious designs. Jacob VanDorn and Arie Bennett, al- though indicted and harassed for some time by the officers, were never brought to trial, for the proprietors of New Jersey surrendered the next year (1702) their right of government to the Eng- lish crown. Lord Cornbury and other new officials came into power who ig- nored entirely all the old disputes and quarrels. This old record, while unexplained, throws a dark shadow on the charac- ters of Jacob VanDorn and Arie (Adrian) Bennett, but when real facts are understood, it appears that they stood up manfully without regard to consequences to protect their friend, Richard Salter, and resist the tyran- nical and illegal acts of a usurping governor and his pretended officers of the law. It speaks well for their res- olution, courage and intelligence. 43 JACOB VAN DORN AND HIS DESCENDANTS. Between 1697 and 1701, Jacob Van- Dorn became the sole owner in fee of 675 acres of land in what is now Holm- del and Marlboro townships. This tract lies west of Pleasant Valley, and was joined on the east by lands of Jan Schenck and on the west by part of lands of Albert Couwenhoven. It runs from the southwest corner of Pleasant Valley over to what is now called Hillsdale, near Bradevelt station and the Brick church. This is a small val- ley running west from Pleasant Valley. Jacob VanDorn's land included all this valley and ran up into the hills on each side. It was covered with the prim- eval forests and undrained swamps when he settled there. At the north- west corner of the original 675 acres is a tract of woodland now (1898) owned by Hon. Daniel P. VanDorn of Free- hold, which has come down to him by descent from the first Jacob VanDorn, the pioneer settler. Jacob VanDorn erected his first dwelling, probably a log cabin, on the rising ground or knoll where the resi- dence of the late Thomas Ely stands, just west of the mill pond and on the north side of the road from Holmdel to the Brick church. Over this road the VanDorns, Scheneks, Couwen- hovens and Hendricksons, of Pleasant Valley and vicinity, travelled every Sunday to attend services at the First Dutch church for over one hundred years. After a few years the log house gave way to a more substantial and convenient dwelling, erected on the same site. Here Jacob VanDorn lived and died. On the stream which flows down from the hills, only a stone's throw east from his residence. Jacob VanDorn built a dam and erected a grist mill as early as 1714, if not earlier. This mill was a great con- venience to the settlers for four or five miles around, and it shows that Jacob VanDorn was a practical, energetic man, who understood the needs of that community. This mill remained on the same site until 1829. when Sheriff John J. Ely, who was then the owner, erect- ed a new mill about 200 yards further down the stream, where it still re- mains and is now known as Ely's mills near Holmdel village. Jacob VanDorn died bwtween April 24, 1719, and March 21, 1720. I do not know where he is buried, unless on his farm, as was then the custom. He was quite young at the time of his death, amd most of his children were minors. His wife, Marytje Bennett, survived him many years, and is said to have been an excellent woman and a most devoted mother. Jacob VanDorn left a last will executed in 1719. He devised half of his lands and half of his mill to his eldest son, Aure, or Arie, and the other half to his fourth son, Jacob. He also directs them to pay £75 to each of his other children except Isaac, his youngest son, who is to have £37 more than the others. Aure and Jacob VanDorn mar- ried sisters, daughters of their nearest neighbor, Jan Schenck, and run [sic] the mill together. After Aure's death in 1748 or '49, his only son, Jacob, occupied his part of the mill and the lands. He died unmarried September 9, 1785, and then Jacob Couwenhoven, son of his sister. Mary VanDorn* who married John Jacobse Couwenhoven of Middle- town village, came into the ownership of it. Jacob Couwenhoven erected a large and commodious dwelling on the site where Jacob VanDorn had erected his log house and his second dwelling. This house, although remodeled and latered, is still standing and bids fail- to outlast the showy and flimsy build- ings of today. Jacob Couwenhoven died April 28, 1815, and left the real property to his sons, Aaron, Ruliph and Isaac, who lost it, and in the year 1822, it was bought by Sheriff John J. Ely, and has been since occupied by his two sons William and Thomas Ely, and their heirs. Under the first Jacob VanDorn's will, the western half of the 675 acres adjacent to Hillsdale was as- _____________ *Mary VanDorn and John Jacobse Couwen- hoven had the following children: Jacob, baptized January 19, 1752. Antje, baptized January 18, 1753 : died young. Saartje, baptized June 15, 1755, married May 1, 1779, Joris Smock, who was born Nov- ember 24, 1754, and died December 7, 1834. His wife died March 30, 1794. Arie, baptized April 13, 1760. Catrena, baptized April 30, 1764. Antje, baptized September 5, 1773. 44 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. signed to and occupied by his fourth son, Jacob VanDorn, and on this he lived and brought up his family. The eldest son, Jacob, who afterward owned and resided on the eastern half of the VanDorn homestead and ran the mills, married three times and had fif- teen children. His first wife, Arriantje Couwenhoven, was baptized September 25, 1746, and was the daughter of Jacob Jacobse Couwenhoven, and Margaret Couwenhoven, his wife, who was a daughter of William Couwenhoven and Arriantje Bennett. By this wife Jacob Couwenhoven had the following children: [Omission:- After Jacob, insert "Couwenhoven."] John, married November 25, 1789, Ann VanBrunt. Jacob, married September 26, 1799 Catherine Schenck. Margaret, married February 18, 1798, Schuyler Schenck. Mary, who died unmarried, and always re- tained a room in the dwelling house where Thomas Ely lived, and where her father died. By his second wife, Eleanor Smock, whom he married December 29n 1782, he had: Elizabeth, married Fehruary 9, 1803, Daniel, a son of Dominie DuBois. Anne, married November 18, 1806, Sidney Denise, who was baptized January 30, 1788, and was a son of Judge Denyse Denyse and Catharine Schenck, his wife, a sister of Capt. John Schenck, the famous patriot soldier of Pleasant Valley. By his third wife, Nelly Schenck, whom he married December 10, 1788, he had: Ellen, married April 3, 1811, Peter Schenck. Ruliph, married first. Ellen VanCleaf, sec- ond, Maria VanCleaf, daughters of Joseph VanCleaf and Nelly Schenck, his wife. Aaron, married a Miss Bray. Jane, married February 3, 1820, Peter Garretson. Sarah, married John French. Caty, married John Frost. Arinthia, died unmarried. Peter, died when a little child. Jacob Couwenhoven's will was made April 24, 1815, proved June 22, 1815, recorded in Book A of Wills, pages 703, in Monmouth county Surrogate's office. The second Jacob VanDorn built a good and substantial dwelling on his half of his father's lands about 1753. When Jacob died, his son, Peter Van- Dorn, lived there, brought up a large family and died there. Then his son- in-law, Elisha Holmes, occupied the house and part of the 317 acres orig- inally assigned to second Jacob. Many of the old people now living remember Elisha Holmes. The first Jacob VanDorn, by his wife, Marytje Bennett, had ten children, all of whom were reared on the home- stead at Holmdel. viz: Arie or Aure (sometimes confounded with and spelled Aaron in English) his oldest son, was born about 1695 in Gowanus, (Brooklyn) married about 1730, Antje. daughter of Jan Schenck and Sara Couwenhoven, his wife, and died September 4, 1748, and is buried in the Schenck-Couwenhoven grave yard. His tomb- stone gives his age as 52 years and 8 months. His wife survived him for a number of years. He had one son, Jacob, baptized January 1st, 1734, and died September 9th, 1785, unmar- ried, aged 52 years, 9 months and 9 days; in- terred by his father. He had four daughters, viz: Mary, baptized March 31, 1731, married John Jacobse Couwenhoven of Middletown village. Sarah, born about 1736, died unmarried. Ann, baptized March 25, 1738, married Cy- renius VanMater, who lived near Stone Hill, north of Colts Neck. Neeltje, or Eleanor, baptized May 16th, 1742, married first Hendrick Smock of Freehold township, and second Garret Hendrickson of Middletown township; interred in Schenck- Couwenhoven yard. She died February 13, 1834, aged 90 years, 10 months and 8 days. Engeltje, (Angelina) born about 1697, and about 1718 married Roelof, son of the first Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voorhees, his wife. [Omission: - After "Engeltje" insert words "the second child of Jacob VanDorn and Marytje Bennett."] Her husband was known as "Brewer Roelof" Schenck to distinguish him from his cousin. "Black Roelof" Schenck. He resided on a farm lying on the north- west side of Pleasant Valley, adjoining that of his father-in-law on the north. This couple had eleven children. Some of them settled in Somerset and Hun- terdon counties and there cleared farms and raised families. Some in each generation went further and fur- ther west, and ever opening up the wilderness for farm lands, until now their descendants are found in all the northern tier of states to the Pacific ocean. And wherever they settled in the west, if sufficiently numerous to control public sentiment, (and it did not take very many of them to do this) we hear of no cowardly and horrible tales of lynching helpless and lonely prisoners in jail, but the orderly ad- ministration of the law, that no one should suffer death unless first proved guilty before a fair jury. Wherever they wont they took their Bibles, their homely virtues, plain ways and industrious habits. And while they never claimed any hol- 45 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. iness and perfection from all sins, and never boasted of being Pilgrims or the sons of Pilgrims, and above earthly things with all their hopes fixed on a crown of gold and harp in Heaven, yet they tried to live without wronging other people in word or deed, to im- prove and build up the country and start their children on an honest and industrious path in life. Christyjan, (Christain) baptized September 17, 1699, married Altje, daughter of Jan Schenck and Sarah Couwenhoven, his wife. She was baptized May 25th, 1705, and died at Middlebush, Somerset county, N. J., in 1801. It is said that when 95 years old she rode every Sunday when the weather permitted to the Dutch church at New Brunswick six miles from her home. Christian VanDorn removed from Monmouth to Somerset county about 1723. He purchased a tract of 525 acres in the north side of the present Amwell road at Middlebush. He let his young- er brother, Abraham, who also came at a later date to Middlebush, have 166 acres on the north of the 359 acres which he retained. Abraham VanDorn is said to have served as sheriff of Somerset county. 20 consecutive years, and was highly respected for his business qualities. In 1752. while Rev. John Leydt was pastor of the Dutch church at New Bruns- wick. Christain and Abraham VanDorn were both in the consistory, one as dea- con and the other as elder. They fol- lowed in their father's steps. He was the first deacon of the Dutch church in Monmouth, when the church was or- ganized in 1709, and his son Abraham was the first child baptized after the installation of Joseph Morgan, the pas- tor, by Rev. Bernardus Freeman, from Long Island. Christain VanDorn, by his wife, Altje Schenck. (sometimes spelled Alchy) had 17 children, all of whom grew up, married and had large families, except one named Roelof. At the time of her death, 1801, Altje Schenck VanDorn had 17 children, 129 grand, 200 great grand and six great great grandchil- dren, in all 352 descendants. For the names of Christain VanDorn's children, whom they married and where they settled, and some account of their des- cendants, see an article by Hon. Ralph Voorhees, on the VanDorn family in Somerset county in August, 1873, num- ber of "Our Home," a monthly maga- zine then published by A. V. D. Honeyman at Somerville, N. J., pages 337 to 342. Wilhelm (William) VanDorn, born about 1701, married Altje, daughter of Cornelius Couwenhoven and Margaret Schenck, his wife, of Pleasant Valley, and died young without children. His widow married for her second husband Cornelius Middach. Jacobus (Jacob) VanDorn, born Jan- uary 21, 1703, baptized in Brooklyn April 27th, 1703, married first Marytje, daughter of Jan Schenck and Sarah Couwenhoven, his wife. This made three sisters of this Schenck family who married into this VanDorn family. Marytje Schenck was born August 8, 1712, and died October 31, 1756. Jacob VanDorn married a second wife, Rachel, daughter of Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voorhees, his wife, also of Pleasant Valley, and a cousin to his first wife. She was at this time the widow of Guysbert Longstreet of Squan (Manasquan). Jacob VanDorn died February 26, 1779, on the western half of his father's lands, containing about 317 acres. He had by his first wife seven sons and three daughters of whom more hereafter. Augenietje, baptized March 29, 1705, married about 1729, William Wyckoff, who lived near Monmouth court house or Freehold village. This couple had five sons and six daughters. One of their sons, Jacob Wyckoff, born 1730, and died March 5, 1812, married Sarah Couwenhoven, granddaughter of Jacob Couwenhoven of Middletown. and who is named in his will. She was born 1733 and died August 25th, 1796. Their son William, was a colonel in the Rev- olutionary war and was the father of Nathaniel Scudder Wyckoff, one of the principal farmers and land owners in what is now Manalapan township, dur- ing the early part of the present cen- tury. Another son of William Wyckoff and Augenietje VanDorn was Peter Wyckoff, who was a guide or aid to General Washington at the battle of Monmouth, and was also the grand- father of the famous "Chevelier Henry Wyckoff," once editor of the Democrat- ic Review. Some of the descendants of this William Wyckoff and Augenietje VanDorn settled in Louisiana and others at Easton, Pa. The late Col. Wyckoff who fell at the head of his regiment in the battle of Santiago, Cuba, is said to be a descendant of this Easton branch. Katrintje (Catharine), born 1707, married a Cornelius Wyckoff, supposed to be from Long Island or Somerset county. Brom, (Abraham) baptized October 20, 1709, being the first child baptized 46 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. in the Dutch church of Monmouth. His father was a deacon at this time. He removed to Somerset county, N. J., and settled on the north part of the tract purchased by his brother, Christain VanDorn, at Middlebush. He became sheriff of Somerset county, and one of the leading and influential men of that day. Whom he married I am unable to say, but it is said he married a Forman. * Peter, baptized September 2, 1701, and was drowned at Shoal Harbour, (now Port Monmouth) when a young man and unmarried. [Error:- Date of Peter's baptism should have been "Sept. 2, 1711."] Isaak (Isaac) baptized March 13, 1715. He remained a bachelor and lived near the old VanDorn homestead and carried on a tannery, shoemaker shop and country store. Jacob VanDorn, the fourth son above named, owned and occupied under his father's will, about 317 acres, the west- ern half of the tract next to Hillsdale. He built the dwelling house where Elisha Holmes resided until his death. In 1715, while sick, he executed a will now in possession of Hon. Daniel P. VanDoren of Freehold. He afterward recovered and lived many years, or until 1779. He had other children born after this date, so he cut off his signature from this will and so cancelled it. He probably made a later will. With exception of his signature the paper remains unaltered. It shows, however, exactly what chil- dren he then had, what disposition he intended of his property and also what friends he trusted to look after his minor children and carry out his wish- es. In short, he speaks for himself in this will and I think it important that a copy should be preserved in print. It will interest his numerous descendants now residing in many states of our union. __________________ *In the grave yard of Old Scots burying ground we find a tombstone inscribed "Ele- anor, wife of Abraham VanDorn, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Forman, who died May 22, 1733, aged 20 years." Jonathan For- man married Margaret Wyckoff and became a communicant of the Dutch church in 1714. His wife no doubt brought up her children accord- ing to Dutch manners and customs and so the Forman children, like the Holmes, became Dutchmen through intermarriage with a more vigorous and sturdy race. I think his daugh- ter Elinor married this Abraham VanDorn, who removed to Somerset county, but he lost her almost as soon as he married her, accord- ing to the inscription on this tombstone. __________________ True copy of second Jacob VanDorn's will made in 1715, and afterward can- celled by him: "In name of God, Amen. I, Jacob VanDorn of Freehold, in the county of Monmouth and Eastern Division of the Province of New Jer- sey, Yeoman, this 28th day of May, A. D. 1745, being very weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, do make, ordain and constitute this my last will and testa- Imprimis: I resign my soul into the hands of God, my great and glorious Creator, who gave it me, and my body to the earth in hopes of a glorious resurrection at the last day through the merits of my blessed redeemer. Jesus Christ our Lord, to be buried at the dis- cretion of my executors hereinafter mentioned. And as for my temporal estate, which God, in mercy hath given to me, my will and desire is that my funeral charges first be paid, and all my other just and lawful debts discharged and the remainder to be disposed of as follows, viz: Item : I give unto my loving wife so long as she shall remain my widow, full possession of the farm I now live on with everything be- longing to it ; and if she should marry again, I give unto her £100 of this currency at 8 shillings the ounce to be levyed out of my movable estate. Item: I give unto my eldest son named Jacob, three and one quarter parts of my es- tate; it being divided into sixteen equal parts (viz: all my estate both real and personal). Item : I give unto my second son named John, three sixteenths parts of my estate, both real and personal. Item : I give unto my third son named Wil- liam, two and three quarters of sixteenth parts of my estate, both real and personal. Item: I give unto my fourth son named Isaac, two and one half of the sixteenth parts of my estate, both real and personal. Item: I give unto my daughter named Sarah, two and one quarter of the sixteenth parts of my estate, both real and personal. Item: I give unto my youngest son named Aure, two and one quarter of the sixteenth parts of my estate, both real and personal. My will and desire also is, that if any of the above named children should die, having no legitimate issue, their portion to be equally divided between the surviving children. My will and desire is that my executors hereinafter named, and I give them full power and authority, if my widow should marry again, so to dispose of the remainder of my estate, as may be by them esteemed the most advantageous for my children. And if any of my said children be under age at that time to bind them out to such trades as they shall see most suitable, paying each their several portions as soon as they shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, or as the payments shall come in, if they shall sell the said estate. Item: I do hereby nominate, ordain and constitute Roelof Schenck, the son of John Schanck, and William Wyckoff of said Free- hold, executors of this, my last will and testa- ment." Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of: JOHN BRAY, ISAAC VAN DORN. JACOB SCHENCK. 47 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. Jacob VanDorn had by his first wife, Maritje Schenck, the following chil- dren, all of whom were raised on the western part of the homestead tract: Jacob, born January 15, 1731, died October 19, 1761, unmarried. John, born January 6, 1733, married about 1756, his cousin, Augnitje, daughter of Roelof Schenek and Engeltje VanDorn, his wife. He removed to and settled at Peapack about 1760, and had sons Jacob. William and Roelof, and a daughter Ann. William, born December 3, 1736, married first Rachel, daughter of Guysbert Longstreet of Squan, (now Manasquan) and Rachel Schenck, his wife. She died about 1765 and he afterward married Mary Hunt. He re- moved to Peapack and had sons, Jacob and Gilbert, and perhaps others. He died October 5, 1816. Isaac, born January 24, 1739, and died Oct- ober 5, 1749. Sarah. born February 20th, 1741, married about 1761, John Antonides of Dutch Lane, at East Freehold, and had ten children. Aure, (sometimes mistaken for Aaron) born, September 14, 1744, married May 9, 1765, Ghacy, youngest daughter of Jan Roe- lofse Schenck and Jacomyntje Couwenhoven. She was born February 14, 1748, and died February 3, 1820. She was named after her father's mother, Geesie Hendrickson, wife of Black Roelof Schenck. but as the younger gen- erations lost knowledge of the Dutch lan- guage they would spell Dutch names according to sound, so "Geesie" became "Ghacy," "Antje" became "Onchee." "Altje" "Alchy." etc., etc. This couple had known each other from childhood, for the homesteads lay near each other. Aure VanDorn and Ghacy, or Geesie Schenck, his wife, removed to Peapack and settled there. They raised a large family of children. General Earl VanDorn, who was killed in the Confederate service during the war of the Rebellion, was a descendant of this couple and not of Aaron, son of Christain VanDorn, as erroneously stated in a foot note to one of Judge Voorhees" articles in "Our Home" magazine of Somerville. N. J. See foot note on page 339 of "Our Home." in the year 1873. Mary, born November 3, 1746, married John Schenck of Penns Neck. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war. Isaac, born March 14, 1752, married July 3, 1784, Anne, daughter of Garret Couwenhoven and Neeltje or Eleanor Schenck, his wife, who was born May 21, 1754, and died June 11, 1843. Isaac VanDorn died at Middletown vil- lage where he lived, on the farm his only son, Garret VanDorn, lived and died on, as has been heretofore mentioned. Peter, born July 4, 1755, married January 9, 1777, Jannetje, daughter of Elhert Williamson and Williamptje Schenck, his wife. Jannetje Williamson was baptized July 12, 1758. Peter VanDorn lived in the home his father built and occupied his lands and raised a large family of seven sons and four daughters. Among his sons was one named William who married a daughter of Daniel Polhemus at Phalanx, purchased a farm in the present township of Marlboro about 1816, where he resided until his death. He left surviving him one son, Hon. Daniel P. VanDoren, now, (1898) residing in Freehold, and who still owns his father's farm, and one daughter, Jane, who married the late John Rue Perrine, who was among the first farmers of Manal- apan township during the greater part of his life. Ann, born October 27, 1756, married Lewis, son of Thomas Thompson, who then owned the old stone house on the west side of the turn- pike from Freehold to Smithburgh. (now El- ton, formerly Clayton's corner). This prop- erty was owned by Achsah Hendrickson, wife of Enoch Hendrickson, for many years. Since her death one Hartman has bought it. The private family grave yard of the Thompsons is on the farm. This Lewis Thompson was a zealous and active loyalist during; the revolu- tionary war. In courting and visiting his wife near Pleasant Valley he had become familiar with all the roads and byways and also with the customs and habits of the Dutch settlers there. ________________ *Children of Peter VanDorn and Jannetje (Jane) Williamson, his wife. Mary, born February 21, 1778, married Rulif Smock. Jacob, born October 13, 1779, married Gitty Jane Schenck. Elbert, born November 14, 1781, married Sarah Cowenhoven. Williampe, born April 3, 1784. married Dr. Benjamin DuBois, son of Dominie DuBois. Ann, born January 30, 1786, died young. John, born November 28, 1787, married Mary Cowenhoven. William, born March 2, 1790, married Cath- arine Polhemus, died September 2, 1850. His wife died the day previous. Both were buried at the same time in the yard of Brick church. Isaac, born July 13, 1792, married Eleznor Hankinson, died August 16, 1858. Peter, born April 15, 1794, married first Catharine DuBois, second Elizabeth VanDer- veer. He died February 20, 1877. Arthur, born July 29, 1797, married Harriet VanCleaf. Jane, or Jannette, born April 29, 1799, mar- ried Elisha Holmes. She died September 27, 1837, aged 37 years, 7 months and 27 days. She was buried by her husband in the Schenck Couwenhoven yard. Sarah, born May 31, 1803, married Pierson Hendrickson, who carried on business for many years at Tinton Falls. 48 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. Captain John Schenck, the famous partizan leader, resided on an adjoining farm, now occupied by his grandson, David Schenck, and near the Van- Dorn's. A reward of fifty guineas had been offered for his capture or death by the British. There were, several mid- night raids made by the Tories and British to capture him. Three differ- ent times these bands surrounded his house between midnight and daybreak to capture him. He generally slept out in the woods or if in his house he had scouts outlying who brought him instant word of the approaching enemy. On one of these occasions the Tories were guided or led by this Lewis Thompson, who had married among his near relatives and neighbors. Knowing the country. Thompson managed so well that Captain Schenck barely es- caped in his night clothes from a rear window and concealed himself by lying down in a wheat field behind his house. It was in June and the wheat stalks were high enough to hide a man lying- down, but so near was he that he could plainly hear them talk and their threats to his wife, and recognized this Lewis Thompson. When war ended Lewis Thompson with his wife removed to Nova Scotia. After remaining there many years and learning that the old bitterness and anger had died away, they came back to visit their relatives. While visiting his wile's people at Holmdel he went one day into a coun- try store kept by one of his wife's rel- atives. While there Captain John Schenck happened to enter. As soon as his eye fell on Thompson, he turned to the storekeeper, saying "Either that Tory rascal must go out or else I will. The same roof can never cover us both, and if I go out I shall never step foot on your premises again if I live a hun- dred years." Knowing that Captain Schenck would do just what he threatened, and that he would lose the custom of his large fam- ily connections, he turned to Thompson saying "You must get out of my store and never enter it again." So Thomp- son left. He died before his wife, leav- ing several sons and daughters. One of his sons became a lawyer and settled at Somerville, N. J. His mother went there to live with him after her hus- band's death, and died there at an ad- vanced age. Van Doren Marriages From Brick Church Records. Joseph VanDoorn and Femmetje Wyckoff, Aug. 5, 1739 Antje VanDoorn and Jan Clerk, Dec. 29, 1721. [Error:- Date of Antje VanDorn and Jan Clerk's marriage should be 1744.] Arie (or Aure) VanDoorn and Geesie (Ghacy) Schenk, May 9, 1765. Catharine VanDoorn and Hugh Newel. Nov. 1, 1773. Isaac VanDoorn and Anne Covenhoven. July 3, 1785. Jacob VanDoorn and Gitty Schenck. Feb. 4, 1802. Williampe VanDoorn and Benjamin DuBois. Feb. 16, 1803. Albert VanDoorn and Sarah Covenhoven. March 14, 1803. John VanDoorn and Mary Covenhoven, Jan. 30, 1809. William VanDoorn and Catharine Polhemus. Nov. 28, 1815. Arthur VanDoorn and Harriet VanCleaf. Jan. 6, 1817. Peter VanDoorn and Catharine DuBois. March 4, 1817. Jane VanDoorn and Elisha Holmes. Feb. 17, 1819. Garret VanDoorn and Willampe Covenhoven. Feb. 24, 1821. Sarah VanDoorn and Pearson Hendrickson. Aug. 7, 1823. Margaret VanDoorn and Joseph D. Vanderveer. Jan. 13, 1834. Peter VanDoorn and Elizabeth Vanderveer, Jan. 26, 1836. Jacob VanDoorn and Eliza Jane VanMater. Dec. 5, 1837. David VanDoorn and Mary H. Crawford, Dec. 25, 1824. [Error:- Date of David VanDorn and Mary H. Crawford's marriage should be 1844.] _______________ From Inscriptions on Tombstone in Private Family Burying-ground on the Daniel D. Covenhoven Farm Near Taylor's Mills. Mary VanDoorn, d. March 16, 1877, 88 yrs., 5 mos, 2 days. Her husband. John VanDoorn. d. June 25, 1864. 76 yrs., 6 mos., 27 days. Peter Covenhoven, d. Feb. 12, 1857, 54 yrs., 10 mos. His wife, Sarah VanDoorn. d. Aug. 6, 1873. 70 yrs., 3 mos., 12 days. ___________________ From Christ Church (Episcopal) Grave Yard Middletown Village, N. J. Isaac VanDorn, d. May 7, 1831 ; age 79 yrs., 1 mon., 12 days. His wife. Anne Garretse Covenhoven. d. June 11, 1843; age 89 yrs., 21 days. Their son, Garret VanDorn, b. May 31, 1789, d. Aug. 6, 1856. His wife, Williampe Covenhoven, b. Jan. 1, 1791; d. Jan. 31, 1874. William, son of Isaac and Anne VanDorn, d. Mar. 1, 1817, age 21 yrs., 8 mos., 4 days. Mary VanDorn, daughter of Isaac and Anne VanDorn, d. Mar. 13, 1805; age 17 yrs., mos., 22 days. Jacob, son of Isaac and Anne VanDorn, d. May 30, 1808; age 22 yrs., 8 mos., 4 days. 49 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH. From Brick Church Cemetery. Peter VanDoorn, Sen., d. Apr. 18, 1834 ; age 78 yrs., 9 mos., 14 days. His wife. Jane Willemsen. (daughter of Elbert Willeinsen and Willempe Schenck) d. Jan. 28, 1845; age 86 yrs., 6 mos., 23 days. Peter VanDoorn, d. Feb. 20, 1877: age 82 yrs., 10 mos., 5 days. His wife, Elizabeth Vanderveer, d. Mar. 2, 1862, age 59 yrs., 12 days. Isaac VanDoorn, d.Aug. 16, 1858; b. Mar. 13, 1793. A soldier of the war 1812. His wife, Elleanor Hankinson, b. Mar. 23, 1805, d. Mar. 28, 1888. Peter A. VanDoorn, d. Jan. 17, 1876 ; age 71 yrs., 5 mos., 20 days. His wife. Elizabeth Kernaghan, d. Mar. 5, 1869; age 58 yrs., 5 mos., 23 days. Sarah VanDoorn, wife of John Patterson, d. Oct. 23, 1852; age 22 yrs., 1 mo., 24 days. William VanDoorn, d. Sept. 2, 1850, b. Mar. 2, 1790. His wife, Catharine Polhemus, b. July 16, 1797, d. Sept. 1, 1850. The last was a double funeral. In death they were united as in life. The fine mon- ument in yard of Brick Church over their graves tells briefly the story. Among the well known and honored citizens of Monmouth who have borne the VanDorn name was Rev. Luther Halsey VanDorn, a lineal descendant of Christain VanDorn and Altje Schenek his wife, of Somerset county, hereto- fore spoken of. He was pastor of the old Tennent church seventeen years. The children he baptized and the young- couples he married, are now old men and women scattered through the town- ship of Manalapan and those adjoining. They remember, however, Dominie Van- Dorns plain, earnest ways and talk, and the sincere interest he took in all that concerned their welfare. After he left Tennent he had charge of two churches in New York City, and then was called to a church at Montville, N. J. In the latter years of his life when his head was silvered and his shoulders bowed with the infirmities of age, he was pastor of the Dutch church at Mid- dletown village, in this county. Here he "died in harness." While a man of reserved and rather stiff manners out- wardly, he had a kind and sensitive heart, keenly alive to ingratitude, slights or insults, and very sympath- etic lor the troubles and sorrows of others. While he had his own share of the troubles, cares and trials which fall on a country minister of this de- nomination and also of domestic afflic- tion, he bore them with that reticence and dislike of every public exhibition of either joy or grief, hereditary in his family and race. When trouble and bereavement came to others- his par- ishiners and neighbors- he was re- markably tender and sympathetic in his efforts to console and comfort them, but in a very plain and homely manner. The writer once saw him, when an old man and a little while before his death, break down in public, and cry like a child while attempting to console the members of a family lately bereaved by death. The writer heard him in the pulpit a short time before his decease. The one idea which ran like a thread through his discourse, was that the mystery of life was as great as the mystery of death, and that both were controlled by the Creator. That the highest wisdom as well as practical judgment in everyday life, dictated en- tire trust or faith in the Creator, who did all things well, and had promised that "At evening time it should be right." I cannot recall his words which seemed prophetic of the end so soon to come to him, when he lay cold and still in his parsonage at Middletown.* His ideas, however, were identical with those expressed in the following verses- "We know not what it is, Dear, this sleep so deep and still; The folded hands, the awful calm, the cheeks so pale and chill; The lids that will not lift again, though we may call and call; The strange white solitude of peace, that settles over all. We know not what it means, Dear, this des- olate heart pain, The dread to take our daily way, and walk in it again, What knows not to what sphere, the loved who leave us, go. But this we know, our loved and lost, if they should come this day-- Should come and ask us "What is life?" Not one of us could say. Life is a mystery, as deep as ever death can be; Yet, oh ! how sweet it is to us--this life we live and see. Then might they say--those vanished ones, and blessed is the thought; "So Death is sweet to us, Beloved, though we may tell you naught; We may not tell it to the Quick, this mystery of Death-- Ye may not tell us if ye would, the mystery of Breath. The child, who enters Life, comes not with knowledge or intent. So those who enter Death, must go as little children sent; Nothing is known-- but I believe that God is overhead. And as life is to the living, so death is to the Dead." ______________________ *Rev. Luther H. VanDorn was sixty-two years old when called as pastor of the Middle- town Dutch church. It was through his re- quest that the new parsonage was erected on the opposite side of the street from the church edifice, and he was the first pastor to occupy it. In October, 1876, he was suddenly called away and his wife followed him February 25, 1881. Both are interred in Fairview cemetery. It was his wish to end his days and be buried in Monmouth county, for here his fore- fathers had lived, and numerous kinsmen sleep their last sleep beneath the soil of this county, and so it was. =========================