This article is part of my series on the Delaware Flemington Railroad Company and the rail line it had planned to build in 1873 to run from Prallsville to the Flemington Depot. My focus has been on the landowners along the proposed route beginning at the river in Delaware Township and running northeast through Sergeantsville and Sand Brook to the neighborhood of Copper Hill. Today’s article resumes the trip with properties located between Johanna Farms Road and Dayton Road in Raritan Township.1
Families
The families listed here are the ones whose names appear most often in my posts. The website has many other names of Hunterdon and old Burlington County families. Please use the search window to find what you are looking for.
Hoagland Family Tree
The Hoaglands (Hooglandts) came to New Netherland in the early to mid 1600s, along with the rest of the settlers of this Dutch colony. As so often happened, their children or grandchildren preferred to settled in the wilderness rather than the established colony, which is how Jan & Jacobe Hoagland came to Hunterdon County.
Opdycke Family Tree
The Opdycke family emigrated to America from Holland in the 17th century, settling at Gravesend in Kings County, New York. They certainly prospered in their new home and multiplied extensively. Consequently, there are many many Opdycke descendants, and also an extensive published genealogy. Because it is such a large family, I have not been able to research it as thoroughly as some others.
Thatcher Family Tree
The Thatcher Family was prominent in both Amwell and Kingwood Townships in the 18th century. They were also very prolific! They keep showing up in other family trees, so published the Thatchers is really way overdue. And you will see that this tree just goes on and on!
As is my usual practice, children of daughters are listed but not grandchildren. Surnames of spouses whose family trees have been published here are highlighted in green. Any additions or corrections are welcome, either in the comments section below or by email.
Besson Family Tree
First Generation:
(1) Francis Besson (c.1720 – bef. 1798) & Anna Elizabeth Case (c.1725 – 1798)
According to the will of Tunis Case in 1769, Francis Besson was married to Tunis’ daughter, Elizabeth. But according to the will of Adam Hummer written in 1781 Besson was married to his daughter Elizabeth Hummer. Besson was named executor of Hummer’s estate along with Hummer’s son Cort.
Bearder Family Tree
First Generation:
(1) Dea. Jacob Bearder (1768 – 1838) & Elizabeth Trimmer (1769 – 1832)
Actually, Jacob Bearder should be considered the second generation, as his father Andrew Bearder (1741-1829) and mother Margaret Shepherd (c.1720-1800) were the ones to emigrate to New Jersey from Germany. Margaret came as the wife of a Mr. Shafer, who died at sea. Her three sons were all under ten at the time. Shortly after arriving, Margaret married George Henry Wambaugh, who had also immigrated from Germany, perhaps on the same ship as Andrew and Margaret.
Bucking the Party Line in 1812
Two Letters Written by Sen. John Lambert
Senator John Lambert of Amwell is one of Hunterdon’s most interesting historical figures.1 He served in the state legislature during the Revolution and afterwards served as Acting Governor before being elected to Congress and then to the U.S. Senate.
The Coryell Family Tree
First Generation:
(1) Emanuel Coryell (1706 – 1749) & Sarah Tunison (1706 – )
The Somerset Quarterly published “Earliest American Ancestors of Somerset Families” in Vol. V p.188 et seq, which included this statement: “Elias, Emanuel (or John Emanuel) and David Coriell, perhaps with another brother Abraham, emigrated from the island of Corsica in 1663, and were French. Emanuel went to Lambertville and operated a ferry there in 1733.
Barber Family Tree
First Generation:
(1) Samuel Barber (c.1690 – 1751) & Eliada Alida Johnson (c.1695 – after 1782)
The Barber Family in present day Hunterdon begins with Samuel Barber who died sometime before May 1751, age about 61. It is not clear who his parents were. The family was primarily located on Lambertville-Headquarters Road in Delaware Township. Much of the family information comes from Hiram Deats’ notebook on the Barber Family at the Hunterdon Co. Historical Society, which includes his transcription of the Barber family bible.
Hunterdon Divided
(Hunterdon’s Militias, part 2)
My previous article (Hunterdon’s Militia) included mention of the Locktown Volunteers and their Captain, John Bellis, who happened to be “an ardent Republican” in a neighborhood of equally ardent Democrats or Copperheads.1 How Bellis managed to get along with his neighbors is an interesting question.