RITTENHOUSE. The first to settle here was William Rittenhouse (1696-1767). He married Catharine Howell (c.1700-1778), the sister of Daniel Howell, and acquired land at Rosemont, adjacent on the east to the Mount Amwell plantation of John and Elizabeth Reading. The family was prolific and active in Hunterdon County life.
In this week’s edition of the Hunterdon County Democrat, the regular feature “Old Ink” had an interesting item:
1887
PRESIDENTIAL–The house owned by Mr. George Hoppock at Rosemont is now undergoing an overhauling. This is an old relic, built in 1754. The rafters were raised on the day of Braddock’s defeat. It was long known as Rittenhouse’s tavern. It is reported that Gen. Washington took dinner in the house during the period of the Revolutionary War.
This article (here somewhat updated) was originally written in 1995 for the Township Committee, back when it was trying to decide what to do with the old farmhouse. Sarah Dilts had left the farm she inherited to the township and it had been turned into a true community park. But the house was a dilemma. How to use it and maintain it? At one point the township committee considered moving the police department there. But that was not feasible, and eventually the house and other structures were taken down. Here is how it looked before that happened.
This post is a follow-up to the previous one about the Bray family of Delaware Township, Andrew Bray and Sarah Rittenhouse. That post includes copies of the portraits of Andrew and Sarah Bray by William Bonnell.
I am not ready to write at length about Gen. Daniel Bray. But in order to write about his son Andrew, something must be said of the father.
by Jonathan M. Hoppock
published in The Democrat Advertiser, January 25, 1906
This article was written by J. M. Hoppock. I have added corrections and additions in footnotes. Mr. Hoppock’s very specific description of this building, which was demolished long ago, is invaluable to students of the township’s history and early architecture.
Mr. Bush Traces Ownership of Place Long Owned
by Bray Descendants
The Bray Family Portraits
by Egbert T. Bush, Stockton, N.J.
published by the Hunterdon Co. Democrat, April 19, 1934
The following article was written by Mr. Bush about a farm many people think of as the Chet Huntley farm or the Douglas Knight farm. I have added footnotes to flesh out the story.
This article by Egbert T. Bush describes an old sawmill on the Wickecheoke located on a perilous little road, known appropriately as Old Mill Road in Delaware Township.
I learned yesterday that the owners of the old Rake house on Sandbrook-Headquarters Road had taken down the remains of the house after it had been gutted by fire. This is disappointing, as it appeared that there was enough of the old stone walls to incorporate into a new building. Clearly not everyone sees the value in preserving such things. You can see a picture of the house and get the story of the fire here.
by Jonathan M. Hoppock
Democrat-Advertiser, 13 September 1906
This was the last article published under Mr. Hoppock’s name. He died on October 29, 1906, at the age of 68. The article was first published on this website ten years ago (2011). In reviewing it I have found many things of interest to add. I have also added headings to make reviewing easier and brought the footnotes into the text.
The trouble with writing about families is that the stories get more complicated as you move through the generations. Here is a brief summary of the children of Uriah Bonham and Anchor Fox.
1. Amos Bonham (1752-1817)
2. Dinah Bonham (1756-1810)
3. Mary Bonham (c.1758-c.1838)
4. Hannah Bonham (c.1760-aft 1790)
5. Zedekiah Bonham (1762-1835)
