This past month there were several fires in southern Hunterdon County, all of them accidental. One of those fires gutted a house that I had researched many years ago, so I, along with current and past owners, feel somewhat heartbroken that this lovely home has been destroyed. It is located a short distance south of the village of Sand Brook, along the Sand Brook-Headquarters Road.
This is how it looked several years ago:
The Rake-Sergeant House
And how it looked while the firefighters were at work:
The Rake-Sergeant House, March 2011
Another view of the house, before the fire:
The Rake-Sergeant House in 2000
And this year:
The Rake-Sergeant House, on fire
During my research, I took very few pictures of the interior, much to my regret. Here is one interior shot:
Interior of Rake-Sergeant House, east wing
The property on which the house stands has a long pedigree, dating back to the earliest survey in 1711. Dating the house itself is another matter. The two-story main house probably dates to about 1830, when William Sergeant purchased the property from Cornelius and Rachel Hoppock of Kingwood. As far as I could tell, the Hoppocks never lived on the property. They had acquired it from the heirs of John Rake in 1815. When Sergeant bought the farm with 32 acres, he was already living across the road on the farm of his mother, Mary Lake’s family. It seems likely that William Sergeant, who was 35 years old in 1830, may have been thinking of setting himself up in a more contemporary and fashionable house. He did not marry until 1837, his wife being Elizabeth Trimmer, daughter of John G. Trimmer and Mary Opdycke. Their only child, John Trimmer Sergeant, was born in 1838, the year that Delaware Township was created.
The smaller wing to the west may have been the original home of John and Elsa Rake, who probably came to Delaware Twp. (then part of Amwell) about 1760. Unfortunately, that original wing had been so much “improved” over the years, that very little of its original characteristics remained when I saw it, about ten years ago.
On the Delaware Township Post, I have written about the Rake Family Cemetery, which is located not far away. John and Elsa may have been buried there; John died in 1805, Elsa remarried and died as the wife of William Swallow sometime after 1815. I do not know the exact date. There is a certain amount of Rake Family history included in that post which you can find here. (The cemetery required five installments; the link starts you with the first one.) Much more can be written, of course, about both the Rakes and the Sergeants, but for now, I will include a final picture of the house, as seen from the old stone barn, ten years ago, barely visible behind some very old trees that have also been lost.
The Rake-Sergeant House, as seen from the barn
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
It was sad to read about a landmark house being destroyed by fire. Old houses are one of a kind, and very special.
What a shame. What are their plans – to rebuild? I suppose the addition that was wooden is gone, but what about the stone part – and those interior rooms (the one shot you included was beautiful). Tell us more (if you know)!
Hi Marfy
I heard about this fire from Joe C. but didn’t realize the severity of the damage done. A while back, the present owner, allowed me to take some external pictures. I was disappointed in how debassed the house and property had become from the original pictures. I doubt very much that this house will be restored. Once the stone foundation is super heated from a fire and then extanguished with cold water, the wall forms stress fractures throughout.
How Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always felt a personal interest in the House.
We visited the home and cemetery out in back in 1977! We took
several pictures which we will cherish!
We are descendents of John and Elsa Rake. John Rake passed away in
1805. Elsa sometime after 1815.
Terry and Sandy Rake
We have MANY pictures from the 10 yrs we lived there. I could share some if you want. The barn is also noteworthy. It has been in 2 books. This home was very special to us and friends and family who shared many memories there. On the land there was evidence of Native Americans. We worked with Conservation Stewardship on the land. There are several very old trees in the woods behind the house. My husband has been sharing history and pictures with Jeff Rake, a descendant. 83 Sandbrook lives on in our hearts.
Carol Calamoneri
I thought of you and Joe when I got news of the fire. I know how much you loved the house, and the whole property.