Sussex County NJ Archives News.....Vanauken Murder, January 30, 1821
************************************************
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:
Clifton D. Cardin cliftondcardin@juno.com July 29, 2010, 5:09 pm

Torch Light And Public Advertiser, Hagerstown Maryland January 30, 1821
From the Goshen Patriot of Jan 1st - MOST HORRID MURDER - The murder which was 
briefly ...ticed in our last paper, appears to have been one of the most 
shocking description, and for the credit of human nature, we sincerely hope., 
that the reprots of the murderer being deranged, may turn out to be true. The 
following particulars, which have come to our knowledge.
	On New Years day, Mrs. Vanauken, wife of Wilhelmus Vanauken, of 
Wantage, Sussex County NJ went to a spinning frolic, at her sisters. For a 
considerable length of time (perhaps two or three years) previous to this 
Vanauken had been in the habit of frequently threatening to kill his wife, and 
also her daughter, to whom he was a step-father; providentially, this child 
was absent from home at the time of the murder, or in all probability she 
would have shared the fate of her unfortunate mother. During the former part 
of the day, Vanauken sent a black boy to tell his wife to come home, as he was 
near dying - she paid no attention to this, knowing it was not the fact - he 
sent the same message again. His wife and her sister then sent him an 
invitation to come and take dinner with them - In the afternon he sent the 
black boy away to keep holiday, telling him to stay all night. Towards evening 
he went himself for his wife - she returned with him in the evening - about 
bed time he took up a book and went to reading - she went to bed, and fell 
asleep, he continuing to read. When he found she was asleep, [this is his own 
statement] he put out the fire and candle, and made an attempt to cut her 
throat with a double balded knife - she awoke, and a senille ensued, in which 
she nearly overpowered him, and from the blood on the walls and doors, it is 
evident she was endeavoring to make her escape. Finding he could no succeed in 
cutting her throat, he took a large stick of wood and gave her several blows 
over the head. He aferwards beat her over the back part of the head with an 
aniron. At what stage of these acts of violence the fatal blow was given it 
was impossible to ascertain - but the deed was done.
	He immediatley went to his nearest neighbours, and told them that he 
had killed his wife, requesting some of the women to go and lay her out, and 
telling them to take a light, as there was no fire in the house - from there 
he went to the other neighbors with the same tale, and actually returned with 
them to the dreadful scene of his guilt. She was found lyng on her knees and 
face, almost naked, her linen being nearly torn from her. She was literally 
covered with bruises, wounds and stabs. Some of the bark of the club was 
driven quite into the head and remained there - she had  several stabs of a 
knife, and many more like the stabs of a fork. The knife was found half open 
and blood on the floor. The club was also bloody with some of the brains 
sticking to it. If any thing can add to the normity of this transaction, it is 
the fact that Mr. Vanauken was in a state of pregnancy, and expected to be 
confined in three months. At the time of the murder three small children were 
asleep in the house; and after the neighbors came, one of them crept upon its 
lifeless mother. The reading of this narrative of facts will naturally lead 
the mind into a train of reflections, on the horrible crime of murder, and we 
forbear.
	Vanauken was taken into custody & committed to prison. We understand 
that his connexions are wealthy, and that his expectations were large, as to 
worldly goods.


Additional Comments:
Sussex County New Jersey wills tells us that his wifes name was "Hester" and 
that the daughter was Caty Jane Biddis, future wife of Simeon/Simon 
Cortright/Courtright/Kotrite;
http://www.sussexcountyhistory.org/pascal/wlabuv.html
VANAUKEN, Wilhelmus. 1726S - W. 23 Jan 1822. Wife: Hester (dec'd). Sons: James 
and Joseph. Daughters: Karin HOPPOUCH (sic), Priscilla and Sara. Other: Caty 
Jane BIDDIS, dau of 'my deceased wife'. Executors: James STOLL and William T. 
ANDERSON. Witnesses: Vancleve MOORE and Grant FITCH.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/njfiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb

This file is located at:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/sussex/newspapers/vanaukenmurder.txt