Original version published in “The Bridge,” Fall 2002
This article precedes the next episode in my series on the route of the Delaware Flemington Railroad, a rail line that was surveyed, but never built. It was planned to run right through the village of Sand Brook, very close to the old mill.
The Rockafellar family is enormous, and not just in Hunterdon County. Like many of my trees, this one features branches of the family that I have come across in my research. But there are many others I know little about. They have been left out until I learn more about them.
The train continues on its way to Sand Brook. Having passed through the southern side of the Village of Sergeantsville, it now proceeds through the properties of James Carrell, Othniel Fauss, William Aller, Acker Moore and Mrs. Sergeant.
Since most of the Aller family lived in the northern townships of Hunterdon County, I am not very familiar with them, and hesitate to publish this family tree. However, some Allers did live in East Amwell, Raritan and Delaware townships, so I hope that errors here can be corrected by knowledgeable Aller descendants. Especially confusing are the Peter and Henry Allers.
This article was originally published in “The Delaware Township Post” on March 1, 2009. The Post went out of business, and the articles I published there have disappeared. It seems appropriate now to republish this article, greatly modified, here.
Recently there has been much discussion on the Facebook page “Historical Kingwood Township” about the history of Baptistown. So, it seems appropriate now to publish this article by Egbert T. Bush with his memories of the ancient village.
Continuing with the saga of the railroad that was never built. You can view the previous (and future) articles by going to the home page and clicking on the tag for railroads.
Disturbing news of late, somehow reminiscent of the lead-up to America’s first Civil War. Whilst scrolling through the Hunterdon Gazette recently, I came across an item that caught my attention, published on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1859:
This is part four of the history of the landowners living along the proposed railroad route that was surveyed for the Delaware Flemington Railroad Company in 1873 and was intended to run from Prallsville to Flemington.
(1) Martin Johnson (1754 – 1828) & Anna Trout (1758 – 1812)
I have very little information on Martin Johnson before his first appearance in Amwell township in 1798 when he purchased a large farm along the Delaware River from John Vancamp. His father was probably Daniel Johnson of Cumberland County, who named son Martin in his will of 1757. Martin Johnson served in some capacity during the Revolution, and may have become acquainted with Amwell Township during that time. This possibility is reinforced by the fact that in 1779 Johnson married Anna Trout, daughter of Amwell landowners George Trout and Hannah Lequear. The Trouts were present in Amwell in the 1750s. Their daughter Anna was the oldest of 11 children.