Shortly after publishing last week’s article, the Heaths of Locktown, David Sherman sent me four very interesting documents from his collection of Heath & Sherman memorabilia. They shed new light on the lives of Edward M. Heath and his son Robert, as well as their friend Lester B. Sherman, and his wife Fayetta Reep’s family.
The Heaths of Locktown
The Heath family turns up fairly often in my articles without ever getting the attention it is due. They were ‘fruitful and multiplied’ and owned quite a lot of land in various parts of the county.1
Heath Family Tree
In my article, The Heaths of Locktown, I have described family of the original Heath immigrant to settle in West New Jersey, here designated as First Generation. That should serve as an introduction to this tree. Shortly after first publishing this tree, I heard from a Fox descendant who had some suggestions and corrections. As a result, the tree has already been updated.
Hill Family Tree
I confess I do not have a whole lot of confidence in this tree. My first acquaintance with this family came from the properties they owned in the vicinity of Copper Hill in Raritan Township (See “Carman, Hoagland & Higgins”). That family was headed by Joseph Hill and Frances Woodley. My first version of this family tree was based on them and their descendants.
Hill’s Mills at Copper Hill
Here is an article by Egbert T. Bush about the Copper Hill neighborhood I have been writing about recently, with additional comments from me.
Hoagland’s Road, part 1
I recently concluded the history of the old Carman homestead farm, the 18th century farmstead that ended up being owned by a Hollywood movie star in the 1930s (The Carman Farm). There was one important fact connected with the Carman farm that I left out and will describe in today’s post: the Carmans owned a road.
July 4th in the 1830s
“There is something in a village celebration of great events, that has a character peculiar to itself.” Charles George, editor of the Hunterdon Gazette, July 5, 1826.
The Carman Farm
part eleven of The Route Not Taken
My previous article described the Carman homestead and the farm of Judiah Higgins, where the Carman Family Burying Ground is located. However, I failed to finish the history of the old Carman plantation. That is because it came to be owned by the next landowner along the railroad route: Aaron Carman Hoagland, the son of Mary Carman and Andrew Hoagland.
Carman, Hoagland & Higgins
part ten of The Route Not Taken
My previous article about the planned route of the Delaware-Flemington Railroad Company ended at the property of Samuel M. Higgins on the west side of Johanna Farms Road. The route then proceeded across Higgins’ farm in a northeasterly direction, passing not far north of a house near a branch of the Neshanic River.
Bellis Family Tree
This is a partial Bellis Family Tree, designed to show the ancestors of David Bellis, owner of John Lequear’s farm in Raritan Township, as described in “The Old Lequear Farm.” I had attempted to design a tree that covered all the descendants of Andreas and Maria Bellis, but that proved impossible based on the information I have found so far. So I decided to publish this partial tree and perhaps get to the rest of the family as more information comes my way. Apologies to those whose relatives are missing.