Blaw – Nevius Burying Grounds, Somerset County, New Jersey Contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Sarah A. Bitter on behalf of the National Blue Family Association Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ********************************************************* HISTORY OF BLAW – NEVIUS BURYING GROUNDS Locations: off Bedens Brook Road, Skillman, NJ 08558 Block 31001, Lot 27, Montgomery Twp., Tax Map of 1960, Revised 1986 To locate the burying grounds, proceed from the intersection of County Route 518 (Georgetown-Franklin Tpke) and the Great Road 1200 ft. south of Bedens Brooks Rd. to the former farm house and then west approximately 1100 ft. on John Blaw Drive to the cemetery on a golf course road. (around the 16th hole) The Blaw-Nevius burying ground is located within the lands of the DKM Properties Corp. Prior to the DKM acquisition, the farm property was operated as the Woodacres Dairy Farm by Atherton Hoebler and prior to that as a farm by LeRoy Skillman, William H. Terhune and by Nevius and Blaw Family members. In 1813, Isaac and Eleanor Blue (Blaw, Blue, Blew) and James and Elizabeth (Blue) Voorhees deeded, ". . . to W.B. Voorhees and all of the people of Blawenburg, for $1.00, land in the estate of Ezekiel Blue occupied by the old burying ground." The deed defines the width of the lot as being 99 links and the length as being one chain, 10 links on one side and 99 links on the second side. The Montgomery Township tax map of 1960, revised 1973, show the burying ground to be 120 ft. wide and 143 ft and 150 ft. on the long sides. The wire fence presently surrounding the cemetery is within these boundary lines. On the 1960 edition of the tax map, the burying ground was shown as Lot 11 of Block 31001. In the 1973 revision of the tax map the plot has no number but is identified by a cross within a rectangle in Lot 27. When Woodacres Farm was an active working dairy, the cemetery was kept in respectful condition by farm personnel. Since 1975, briers, bushes, and young trees have "taken over" the Cemetery. Groundhogs have undermined numerous monuments. Most of the early grave markers were field stones that may or may not have been inscribed with initials and dates. Some markers are illegible and there are a number of stubs that may be the remnants of broken monuments or eroded shale markers. On some lots there are open spaces between markers that suggest the presence of a marker at one time. From the distribution of the markers all, or most of the burying area, must have been utilized prior to the inactivation of the area as a burying ground. Today when you visit the Nevius-Blaw Burying Grounds in Blawenburg, New Jersey you will be pleasantly surprised to see a beautiful fence surrounding it. DKM Properties Corp has taken on the project of restoration of the Burying Grounds. It is now surrounded by open land comprising part of the golf course and beautiful homes. A road named John Blaw Drive running through the golf course and housing development passes approximately 90 ft. north of the burying ground. Pictures of the Nevius-Blaw Burying Grounds may be seen at http://members.tripod.com/nationalblue/ SOMERSET COUNTY GRAVESTONES NEVIUS BURYING GROUND, BLAWENBURG IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP The Nevius burying ground is located about one quarter mile south of Blawenburg, on the former Skillman farm. It contains more burials than would appear below, including some 150 marked by field stones without inscriptions. The present abstract was made and checked in 1939 by Isaac M. Philhower and Donald A. Sinclair. The Society has three other copies; one by Charles S. Fillips (July, 1932); another by Rev. Warren P. Coon (mid-1930’s); a third by Herbert E. Durham, appearing in the Somerset Messenger-Gazette (Somerville, N.J.), Aug. 6, 1940. The copy below has been compared with these three and all points of disagreement have been checked against the original inscriptions. * (A----_ "HA." Field stone, next to Jacob Voorhees Neeld. * Andrews, Williams, d. Feb. 2, 1827, in 43rd year ("Dearest Parent thou hast left us . . . "); "Widow" Sarah, d. Feb. 13, 1854, in 67th year (" . . . our dear Mother . ! . . "). * Baid, Eleanor. See Abraham Voorhees. * Blew, Abraham, d. 1785 (?). Field stone with crude inscription: "Abraham Blew / 1785" (last figure is unclear; may perhaps >be a "6" or "0". * Blue, Elizabeth. See James Voorhees. * (Blew, Frederick?) "FB d. / 25 May 1793" (field stone). Note that the Inventory of one Frederick Blew’s estate was dated May 27, 1793, and his will was probated less than three weeks later. Cf. N.J. Arch., 37:42. * Blaw, Frederic*’ wife, Jane Nevius, see Jane Blue (following entry). * Blue, Jane ---"Here lies the body of / Jane Blue died Octr / the 3 day 1783 age 60 9 mo. 8 Days" (field stone, next to that of M. B., who d, 1751). Note that Jane Nevius, b. Dec. 25, 1722, married (2nd) before 1767 Frederic Blaw; cf. A.V.D. Honeyman, Joannes Nevius . . . and his Descendants, pp. 384, 532-36. * (Blaw?) "MB / FE 17 da / 1751" Field stone, next to Jane Blue. * Blaw, Nely - "Nely Blaw / Died April 26 / 1768." Field stone, near M.B. who d . 1786. * Conover, David, d. March 10, 1817, in 65th year; wife Sarah ("of David Covenhoven") , d. May 30, 1796, aged 51.2.20; son Hohn ("of David Covenhoven"), d. Nov. 5, 1777, aged 3.8.19. * Covenhoven, John,, senr., d. April 28, 1767, aged 44.3.10. * Conover, Susanna. See John Stout., Esq. * Garrison, John*; wife Johannah S., d. Dec. 24, 1824, aged 29.1.5. * (H ----) "CH." field stone; no dates. * Hartough, Abraham, d. Jan. 26, 1854, in 31st year, Between John Hartough family and Martin N. Hartough * Hartough, John, d. May 25, 1854, aged 54.0.3, wife Eliza Ann Nevius, d. July 2, 1882, aged 77.1.7, Next to Abraham Hartough. * Hartough, Martin Nievius, d. March 30, 1891, aged 64 years & 4 months (cf. A.V.D. Honeman, Joannes Nevius . . . and his Descendants. p. 297). Next to Abraham Hartough. * Kershow, Jane, See Abraham Voorhees. * Kibbe, Oliver A.*; wife Catharine*; son Peter, d. June 26, 1868, aged 6 weeks. * Monfort, Bernerdus, d. June 16, 1832, aged 63.6.12; wife Ady Voorhees (of "Bernerdas" Monfort). d. Feb 14, 1826, in 58th year. * Monfort, Elbert, d. March 28, 1832, in 35th year. Back of Bernerdus Monfort and wife. * Neeld, Jacob Voorhees, See Samuel Neeld. * Neeld, Samuel*; wife Jane*; son Jacob Voorhees. d Nov. 26, 1844, aged 27.10.23. Next to a field stone inscribed "HA." * Nevius, Eliza Ann. See John Hartough. * Nevius, James, d. March 9, 1811, aged 87.3.10; Leah, d. Aug. 25, 1821, in 81st year. * Nevius, Jane. See Jane Blue. * Nevius, Joanna, d. Dec. 6, 1852, in 38th year. Next to Sarah Nevius. * Nevius, John M. d. Oct. 24, 1843, in 63rd year; "Widow" Mary (Skillman), d. May 17, 1856, in 78th year. Cf. Nevius geneal., pp.424, 501-02. * Nevius, Mary. See Peter J. Stryker. * Nevius, Peter -- "Here Lies The Body of / Peter Nevious Who Died / The 14 Day of Sept! ember / Aged 73 years 1768" (field stone). * Nevius, Sarah , d. M arch 22, 1882, aged 73 years 1768" (field stone). * Orton, John, b. June 9, 1809, d. Sept 5, 1869; wife Mary Ann Stryker, b. April 26, 1805, d. Jan 13, 1891. * (R---) "E R 1806 / May 23." Field stone; age not given. * (S---) "Here / Lase the / body of A.S." Field stone, next to that of I.S. (or J.S.) who d. 1794. * (S---) "H.S." Field stone; no dates. * (S---) "D 1794 / I S / A 11." (i.e. I.S. (or J.S.) died 1794, aged 11). Field stone, next to that of A.S. * (S---) "D 1802 D 23 / 1 S / A 76" (i.e., I.S. (or J.S.) died 23, 1802, aged 76). Field stone. * (S---) "D 1794 / J S / A 9" (i.e., J.S. died 1794, aged 9). Field stone. * Skillman, Mary. See John M. Nevius; Jacob Stryker. * Stout, John, Esq.*; "widow" Susanna Conover, d. Jan 27, 1852, in 78th year. * Stryker, Jacob*; "widow" Mary (Skillman), d. March 3, 1851, aged 78.4.21. Next to Peter J. Stryker family. Cf. W.S. Strker, Geneal. Rec o! f the Strycker Fam. , p. 28. * Stryker, Mary Ann. See John Orton. * Stryker, Peter J. ("Our Father") , d. Dec 8, 1883, aged 81.1.24; wife Mary Nevius ("Our Mother"). d. Jan 12, 1870, aged 59.1.27; daughter Sarah, d. Nov. 11, 1841, in 10th year; daughter Margaretta, d. Jan 9, 1857, aged 18.10.15; "A son" (not named), d. March 14, 1849, aged 6 weeks. * V(an) L. (---) "L VL / 1832" (field stone). Directly in front of M.V.L. * V(an) L. (---) " M VL / 1833" (field stone). Behind L.V.L. * Van Zandt, Garret*; wife Sarah*; son John S., d. July 20, 1832, aged 15.2.16. * Voorhees, Abraham, d. 1828, in 74th year (". . . He views his children with delight . . ."): wife (1st) Leah. daughter of Peter Coorhees. d. 1803. in 39th year; wife (2nd) Jane Kershow, d. June 16, 1852, aged 81.5.15; daughter of Jane (of Abraham & Leah), d. 1802, in 2nd year. Only year of death given for Abraham , first wife, and child! . Cf. Bible record., G.M.N.J., 21:70-71. * Voorhees, Abraham J., d. Sept 10, 1869, aged 56 years & 5 months; wife Elizabeth (Whitlock) ("of Abraham Voorhees"), d. April 6, 1845, aged 30 years; son James, d. July 27,1838, aged 0.4.14. Cf. E. W. Van Voorhis, Geneal. of the Van Voorhees Fam., p 569. * Voorhees, Ady, See Bernerdus Monfort. * Voorhees, Ezekiel B., d. April 16, 1872, aged 52 years & 11 months; wife Amanda*; son Charles Edgar, d. March 10, 1855, aged 0.4.11. (Voorhees?) "H V / 1844" (field stone, directly behind that of J.K.V.,). Note that Harriet, daughter of Peter & Frances B. (Stryker) Voorhees who d. Oct 11, 1844, had a sister Jan K. (ershow?) Voorhees. Cf. Van Voorhes geneal., p. 673. * (Voorhees, J ---?) "J V H / Died O / 1 d [or 10?] / 1801" (i.e., J.V.H. died Oct 1. [or 10], 1801. Field stone. * (Voorhees?) "J K V / 1838" (field stone, directly in front of H.V.) Probably Jane K.(ershow?) Voorhees, daughter of Peter & Frances B. (Stryker) Voor! hees, who d. Sept 20, 1838. See "HV / 1844" two entries above. * Voorhees, James, d. Aug. 10, 1834, aged 52.3.18.; wife Elizabeth (Blue), d. Aug 1. 1827, aged 42.8.23. Cf. Van Voorhees geneal., p. 568. * Voorhees, John A.*; wife Elizabeth*; "Infant" (name not given), d. Oct. 24, 1825, aged 12 days. * Voorhees, Leah. See Abraham Voorhees. * Voorhees, Peter*; wife (not named)*; daughter Leah, see Abraham Voorhees. * Voorhees, Peter*; wife Frances B. Stryker*; daughters, see H. V(oorhees?) an J.K. V(oorhees?). * (Voorhees, Petrus) "P V H / Born January / 24 1736 Died / May 14 1803 / Adj 67 3 M 21 D" (i.e., P.V.H., born Jan 24. 1736, died May 14, 1803, aged 67.3.21) Field stone. Cf. Van Voorhees geneal. p. 126. * Voorhees, William Baird. See Abraham Voorhees. * Whitlock, William B.. d. Feb 17, 1841. in 36the year; wife Ellen, d. May 24, 1847, aged 41 years; adjacent burials (parentage not stated! ): Sarah Elizabeth Whitlock. d. April 16, 1853, aged 17.11.8; Mart in N. Whitlock. d. Sept. 30, 1844, aged 4.2.6. Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey