Monmouth County NJ Archives History.....Couwehoven/Conover families: Beekman's, Early Dutch Settlers
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS
OF
MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
GEORGE C. BEEKMAN.
MOREAU BROS., PUBLISHERS,
FREEHOLD, N. J.
Second Edition Printed, 1915.
============================
19 THE SIX CONOVER BROTHERS AND
FOUR CONOVER SISTERS.
In one of my former articles I inad-
vertently stated that the three Conover
brothers who married Sehenck wives
were the only original settlers of this
name. I should have said that they
were the only brothers who married in
the Sehenck family, and were likely
the first ones to come here with the
two Sehenck brothers. As a fact there
were six Conover brothers and four
sisters, who were all born in Kings
county, Nassau Island, as Long Island
was then called, and removed to Mon-
mouth county.
They were the children of William
Gerritse Cowenhoven, who resided for a
number of years in Brooklyn. He was
a magistrate there in the years 1661-62-
64, and a deacon of the Dutch church in
1663. From there he removed to Flat-
lands. His name appears as a resident
and freeholder of that place, on the
assessment rolls of 1675-83-93. He was
also an elder of the Dutch church there
in 1677. Nov. 1, 1709, he sold his farm
at Flatlands to his son William, and is
supposed to have spent his declining
years among his ten children in Mon-
mouth county.
William Gerritse Couwenhoven was
born in year 1636. He married for his
first wife Altje, daughter of Joris
Dirckse Brinckerhoff. On 12th of Feb-
ruary, 1665, he married his second wife,
Jannetje, daughter of Pieter Monfoort.
By his first wife he had two sons.
Garret.
Joris, or George, who mairied Alletta
Luyster, or, as spelled on Brick church records,
Altige Luyster, where they became commun-
icants in 1731.
By his second wife he had eleven children:
Altje. b. Dec. 14, 1665 married Cornelius
VanAertsdalen.
Neeltje. b. Dec. 7, 1667 married John Pietese
Wyckoff.
Peter, b. Feb. 12, 1671, married Patience,
daughter of Elias Daws.
Cornelius, b. Nov. 20, 1672, (according to
Teunis G. Bergen), married Margaretta
Sehenck, Sept. 8, 1700. According to inscrip-
tion on his tombstone in the Schenck-Couwen-
hoven burying ground. Pleasant Valley, he
died May 16, 1736, aged 64 yrs.â 5 mos.â 17
days. This would place his birthday back in
1671. As his brother Peter is said to have
been born in 1671, there is a mistake either
in Mr. Bergen's record or in the tombstone
record. His wife, Maragreta, as spelled on
her tombstone, died Dec. 6, 1751, aged
73 yrs., 9 mos., 27 days.
Sarah, b. Jan. 6, 1675, m. Jan Sehenck.
Albert, b. Dec. 7, 1676, m. Neeltje Sehenck.
Jacob, b. Jan. 29, 1679, m. Sarah Sehenck.
Jan, b. Apr. 9, 1681, m. Jacoba VanDerveer.
Annatie, b. Apr. 13, 1683, m. Elbert Williamson.
William, b. Mar. 7, 1686, m. Annatie Lucasse Vorhees.
Jacomina, b. Dec. 28, 1689, m. Elbert Williamson.
Garret, William and Altje were the
only ones who did not come to Mon-
mouth county. Cornelius, Jacob and
20 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Albert came first, then Peter, Jan and
Joris. Sarah and Neeltje, of the daugh-
ters came first, as their names appear
among the communicants of the Brick
church as early as 1709, while their
sisters, Annatie and Jacomina appear
in 1717.
Joris or George Couwenhoven, who
married Alletta or Altje Luyster, al-
though the eldest of all the sons who
came to Monmouth, was the last one to
come. He evidently had children born
before he took up his residence in this
county. The Brick church records show
the baptism of the following children
of George Couwenhoven and his wife,
Aletta Luyster.
Elizabeth, b. Mar. 18, 1725. She married
May 7, 1747, John Smock, and died May 7,
1812. She and her husband are inteired in
the Smock burying ground, on the farm for-
merly owned by Peter R. Smock, the father
of ex-sheriff Rulief P. Smock, in Holmdel
township.
John Smock and Elizabeth Smock had
the following children:
Mary. b. Mar. 20, 1748.
Hendrick, b. Dec. 31, 1749.
Joris. b. June 9, 1751, died young.
[Omission:-Insert- Aletta, born about 1752]
Joris, b. Dec. 22, 1754.
Neeltje, b. Nov. 21, 1756.
Sara, b. July 30, 1758.
Caterina, b. Apr. 27, 1760.
Johannes, b. Jon. 19, 1764.
Roelif, b. Nov. 20, 1769.
In Book E of Deeds, page 226, Mon-
mouth clerk's office, is record of a deed
dated Dec. 9, 1712, from Capt. John
Bown, merchant, of Middletown town-
ship, to Johannes Smock, late of Staten
Island, New York, for 230 acres in Mid-
dletown township and four acres of
salt meadow at Shoal Harbor. Ramen-
essin brook is called for as one of the
boundaries of the 230 acre tract.
Joris Couwenhoven had the following
children baptized alter Elizabeth, wife
of John Smock:
Cornelius, bapt. July 2, 1727.
Daughter, not named, bapt. Jan. 1, 1729.
Peter, baptized Mar. 31, 1731.
We also find in these records a Garret
Couwenhoven and his wife, Sarah Trap-
hagle (Traphagen), had a son named
Joris, baptized Oct. 26, 1746. Aletta
Luyster appears as sponsor. As this
Garret Couwenhoven cannot be ac-
counted for among the children of the
other brothers, and the coincidence of
name also agreeing with Joris Couwen-
hoven's family, we think it reasonable
to say that he was a son of Joris Cou-
wenhoven and his wife, Aletta Luyster.
born prior to their removal to Mon-
mouth county.
In Book H of deeds, page 152, Mon-
mouth Clerk's office, is record of a deed
dated May 6, 1729, from John Antonides,
miller, and Johanna, his wife, of Free-
hold township, to George Couwenhoven,
yeoman, of Middletown township, for
105 acres in Freehold township. This
is about all the definite information the
writer has of Joris Couwenhoven.
As to the other five brothers, who
took up their residence in Monmouth
county the records are clear and cer-
tain. I will take them up in the order
of their respective ages.
Peter Couwenhoven married Patience,
daughter of Elias Daws, and is said to
have settled somewhere in what is now
Manalapan township. His Dutch Bible.
a very precious book to him, is now in
the possession of Mrs. Lydia H. S.
Conover, who has kindly furnished me
with names and dates of births of his
children as follows:
Hannah or Johanna, b. Sept. 26, 1695, m.
John, a son of Rev. Vincentius Antonides, a
Dutch clergyman, sent out by Classis of
Amsterdam to supply the churches in Brook-
lyn, Flatbush and Flatlands. The quarrel be-
tween him and Rev. Bernardus Freeman, who
had been commissioned by Lord Cornbury as
pastor of these same churches fills many pages
of the early history of the Dutch churches in
Kings county. L. I.
Jane, b. July 28, 1697, married ____ Williamson.
Alice, b. Sept. 28, 1699, died young.
Mary, b. July 11, 1701 m. Koert Gerritse Schenck.
William, b. July 11, 1703, m. Mary Calyer or
Colyer and died May 3rd, 1777. Mary, his
wife, died January 30, 1777, in her 70th year.
Both were buried in Tennent church cemetery.
Altje. b. May 21, 1705, m. Jan. 16, 1730.
Her cousin, William Williamson, who was born
Feb. 18, 1709, died April 22, 1788. He was a
son of Aert Williamson and Annetie Couwenhoven,
his wife.
Elias, known in after life as 'Ensign Elias,"
was born Sept. 12th, 1707, m. Williamsee,
daughter of John Wall, died Dec. 25, 1750. His
wife died March 24th, 1759, aged about 58
years. Both are interred in the Schenck-Cou-
wenhoven burying ground. Pleasant Valley.
Neeltje. b. Sept. 2, 1709.
Peter, b. June 27, 1712, married his cousin.
Leah Janse Schenck, and removed to state of
New York.
Anney, b. Sept. 29, 1714, m. John Longstreet,
son of Adriaan Langstraat and Christina
Janse, his wife. He was baptized Jan. 13,
1712, and married Anne Couwenhoven Dec. 17, 1746.
Pieter Couwenhoven, the father of
these ten children, made his will March
15, 1743. It was proved April 23, 1755,
and is on record at Trenton. N. J., in
Book F of Wills, page 259, etc. He
names in this will his wife, Patience.
his sons Peter, William and Elias, whom
he also appoints executors, and his
21 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
daughters, Hannah Antonides, Jane
Williamson, Mary Schenck, Aeltje Wil-
liamson and Ann Longstreet. He was
an active member of the Dutch church
and served as elder in 1711-21. I do
not know where he is buried.
His son Elias, called "Ensign Elias,"
who married Williamsee Wall, was the
father of Col. John Couwenhoven, who
was born March 8, 1734, married Elea-
nor Wyckoff and died April 21, 1803.
He is interred in yard of Marlboro Brick
church. He represented Monmouth
county in the Provincial Congress of
this state and was a member of Council
of Safety during years 1775-76. He
seems to have been one of the trusted
leaders of the people in Monmouth
county, at the very beginning of the
stormy days of our Revolutionary war.
The following resolutions representing
the views ol the patriots in Freehold
township are closely associated with
his name, if indeed he was not the
author and mover of them.
It required great courage and devo-
tion to the people's cause for a man at
that time to speak out so plainly.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabi-
tants of the township of Lower Freehold, in
the county of Monmouth in New Jersey, on
Monday, the 6th day of June, 1771, after notice
given of the time, place and occasion of the
meeting.
RESOLVED, That it is the unanimous opin-
ion of this meeting, that the cause in which
the inhabitants of the Town of Boston are now
suffering, is the common cause of the whole
continent of North America, and that unless
some general and positive measures for the
public sifety be speedily entered into, there is
just reason to fear that every province may in
turn share the same fate with them ; and that,
therefore, it is highly incumbent on them all
to unite in some effectual means to obtain a
repeal of the Boston Port Bill, and any other
that may follow it, which shall be deemed sub-
versive of the rights and privileges of free
born Americans. And that it is also the opin-
ion of this meeting, that in case it shall ap-
pear hereafter to be consistent with the gen-
eral opinion of the trading towns and the
commercial part of our countrymen, that an
entire stoppage of importation and exportation
from and to Great Britain and the West Indies,
until the said Port Bill and other acts be re-
pealed, will be really conducive to the safety
and preservation of North America and her
liberties, they will yield a cheerful acquiesence
in the measure and earnestly recommend the
same to all their brethren in this province.
RESOLVED moreover. That the inhabitants
of this township will join in an association
with the several towns in the county and in
conjunction with them, with the several coun-
ties in the province (if as we doubt not, they
see fit to accede to this proposal) in any meas-
ures that may appear best adapted to the weal
and safety of North America and her loyal sons.
Then follows the names of the seven
persons appointed as a committee of
Freehold township to carry said reso-
lutions into effect. Among them ap-
pears the names of Hendrick Smock
and Capt. John Couwenhoven.
A month later still stronge
tions were passed, and we find his name
again among the committee. Also in
in the proceedings of the congress of New
Jersey of the years 1775-76 we find his
name prominent. He was the great
grandfather of the late Hon. Charles H.
Conover, who was, during the seventies,
one of the lay Judges of our county
Ê courts, and who lived on the old Couwenhoven
homestead farm in Marlboro township, still (1898)
in the family ownership. He was a gentleman of
reserved and retiring manners, but upright
and faithful in the discharge of private and
public duties, and consistent and reliable
in his business dealings.
The writer for several years was
brought in close contact with him, and
learned to respect him for many excellent
traits of mind and heart.
==================================
ODDITIES AND PECULIARITIES OF THE DUTCH
PEOPLE AND THEIR DESCENDANTS
IN MONMOUTH.
To understand the character and
peculiarities of the different races and
people who settled these United States,
it is necessary to consider the nation-
ality from which each one springs.
Children of the same parents often dif-
fer greatly in appearance and conduct.
Sometimes they inherit the physical or
mental traits of a remote progenitor,
but we may generally expect them to
exhibit more or less of the character-
istics of the nation from which they
originate. Today we have in our coun-
try representatives of all the races and
nations of the world. Never before in
all times, was there such a heterogeneous
population. But among them all
there is no people who have more dis-
22 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
tinct and marked characteristics than
the Hollanders. They belong to a very
ancient race, whose known history goes
back to the days of Julius Caesar and
Pompey. In the battle of Pharsalia the
Batavians took a prominent part, as we
learn from Roman history. The Hol-
landers are a people who have ever act-
ed and thought Tor themselves. They
have never been imitators or syco-
phants. On the contrary, they are truly
said to be the oddest people in Europe.
Everything in Holland is different from
what it is in other countries. Even
their morsel of territory is neither
water nor dry land. Only by the most
herculean labors has it been wrested
from the ocean, and by unceasing vigil-
ance is it preserved from the constant
assaults of the waves. The reader,
therefore, can easily see how likely it
is for strangers, who travel hastily
through the country to make many mis-
takes in describing or understanding
such a people. We are all apt to esti-
mate others by our own experience.
The venal man loudly asserts that
"everj man has his price." The honest
man falls an easy victim to the plaus-
ible talk of the "confidence man"
The English writers and those of the
same school in America, often describe
the Dutch as a plegmatic people, as
slow, sluggish or torpid. It is true
that they are a quiet, grim and taciturn
people. It would be strange if they
were not, when we recall the wonderful
achievements of the little country,
about the size of New Jersey, and ever
in danger of inundation. "That beats
the Dutch" has become a proverb, when
some skillful or remarkable work has
been done. The love of truth and jus-
tice is said to be a national trait. As
a fact there is less crime in Holland,
according to her population, than in
anv other European country. They have
especially prized liberty and indepen-
dence. That industry, so noticeable in
Holland, where even the dogs are train-
ed to work, is based on this intense
love of "independence."
They know, as was said of old by the
wise king of Israel, that there can be
no true and permanent independence
without industry. The primeval curse
still continues that man must earn
lasting bread by "the sweat of his
brow" and not by spoils taken in Wall
street or watering railroad stocks or
patent medicines. To avoid, however,
the charge of partiality, or exagger-
ation, I will quote from the writings
of a Frenchman and an Englishman,
for the writers of both of these nations
have been very keen to see the faults
and failings of the "Low Dutch"" "If
this is not trued you can call me an
Englishman," is an expression very
often used by certain English writers,
except you must substitute Dutchman
for Englishman. But it shows their
animus and the lofty contempt and
scorn.
The following is from the pen of
Henri Alphonse Esquiros, entitled,
"Dutch at Home." "It has long been
remarked how naturally a pipe hung
from a Dutch mouth; and most local
habits are based on hygenic conditions
of climate. Beneath the foggy sky of
the Netherlands, a necessity was felt
to produce smoke against smoke. It is
a sort of local homeopathy. Some
physical writers have asserted that
tobacco smoke befogged the intellect;
but this observation is contradicted oy
the Dutchmen, who live in a climate of
smoke and whose minds are more pre-
cise, positive and clear in their details,
than those of any other people.
"In Holland we find what thinkers
born in periods of moral agitation never
attain and what Dante sought - peace.
It is not rare to notice in little wayside
hostelries, the inscription, "Pax Intran-
tibus." We might say that life is like
the water in their canals, it does not
flow. Be it illusion or reality, it seemed
to us that the hours strike here more
slowly than in France, and are ushered
into life with a song. The whole char-
acter of old Holland is found in the
solemn peals, in those aeolian voices
which the fathers heard, and which the
sons will hereafter hear.
"At Utrecht, a thoroughly protestant
town, the chimes played a hymn accord-
ing to the Reformed ritual. This Pur-
itan gentleness, the notes of which the
beels [sic] dash out in the air harmonizes
with the calm and reposed hues of the
scenery. The gardens which border the
water are kept up, gravelled and raked
with extreme care, and trees loaded
with fruit offer pleasing variety to the
slightly monotonous character of the
verdure." According to this French
writer, contentment and peace prevail
among the people of this land, and each
one is not trying to exceed or beat his
neighbor, or discontented because some
one else lias a few more dollars than
he has. Peace, quiet and contentment,
while easily mistaken for, are very
different from the apathy and stupidity
which come from ignorance and slug-
gishness. The bustle, excitement and
hurry which mark like in America is
unknown in Holland. The same slow
23 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
and sure walk and talk, although mod-
ified by modern environments, may be
seen in their genuine descendants in
America. Washington Irving, in his so
called Knickerbocker History of New
York has seized upon this trait as one
of the principal themes for his pleas-
antry, ridicule and caricatures. Other
English writers have done the same,
forgetting that the shallow brook ever
makes more noise than the deep and
silent river. English austerity and
stolidity can be well contrasted with
Dutch phlegm and grimness. Occasion-
ally an English writer appears who is
able to see some merit in other nations.
The following is taken from the London
Times of October 23rd, 1888, and is
supposed to have been written by an
author who has shed his "cockney
shell" and dropped his "Lion's skin."
He speaks first of the great prepar-
ations being made in Holland to cele-
brate the 75th anniversary of their lib-
eration from French domination, and
the re-establishment of their national
independence, and then goes on to say:
"No nationality in the world has
earned its liberties more worthily than
the Dutch or has more right to some-
thing of itself glorification of the score
of it. The land on which it dwells is,
if not its own creation, its salvage.
Without indefatigable efforts this mor-
sel of territory would have been a bar-
ren salt marsh. Human enterprise has
reclaimed and guards it and has con-
verted the whole into one of the most
productive regions in Europe. Not only
has it turned an expanse of foggy un-
wholesome fens into a vast model farm,
but it has built prosperous cities and
filled tham with the products of art and
civiliztion. The Dutch race has
stretched its hands everywhere and the
earth is full of evidence of its courage
and foresight.
The surprising history of its influence
and affluence is essentially connected
with its stubborn determination to be
independent; It defied the powers .,;
nature, it compelled the old world and
the new to pay it tribute; it made itself
learned and accomplished, beans., it
felt that it was performing the work
for and by itself.
In the history of its rise and for-
tunes, the maintenance of its indepen-
dence, with the briefest intervals, is a
continual marvel. Swiss independence,
with all its great deeds cannot match
the tale of the vitality of Dutch Freedom.
A highland people occupies defensive
strongholds and has little to provoke
covetousness. The Dutch inhabit a
country which can be overrun in a
week, and perpetually has been over-
run. "The Dutch have taken Holland"
is a byword the world over, and has
been for generations past.
By their industry they rendered it
long ago desirable and a constant temp-
tation to those powers who coveted
wealth. They have accumulated within
its territory incalculable riches, not
only of gold and silver and precious
stones, but masterpieces of art, ingen-
uity and patient industry. They also
endowed it with a network of valuable
external dominions, apparent prizes of
their conqueror.
Their maritime enterprise, distant
colonies, great mercantile marine, laden
with the precious products of the earth,
were so many additional temptations to
the unscrupulous powers of Europe,
not only hated and feared their
Republican and Democratic proclivities,
but looked on their little country and
small population as easily subjected.
In the midst of numberless dangers
Dutch independence seem to have
borne a charmed life. When they pro-
claimeed their independence of the great
Spanish Empire, until then invincible,
the first coin struck bore the picture of
a ship without sails, masts or rudder,
a mere hulk tossing on the mountainous
waves of a storm dashed ocean, with
the words "In God We Trust." This
truly expressed their desperate straits,
and that they realized that deliverance
could only come from Him Who holds
the world in the hollow of His hand.
Feudalism, instead of quenching, like
the cruelties of Alva and the tortures
of the inquisition, invigorated their
love of liberty and Independence. While
Europe languished under the burden of
thousands of petty despots, Holland
throve under its counts: Burgundian.
Spanish and French rule passed over
it, without stifling its free spirit. The
oath of the ancient Frisians that "The
Frisians would be free as long as the
winds of Heaven blow," seems to have
been kept in letter and spirit by their
descendants. Under a variety of forms
of government, the essence of Dutch
independence has gone on many cen-
turies, pertainaciously immovable. Only
in 1795 was there any serious risk of
an extinction of Dutch nationality. Had
France employed its armed authority
over the country for the simple benefit
of the Dutch people, and the building
up of a true Republican government,
objects which had induced a large part
24 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
of the Dutch people to co-operate in
assuming the French rule, the conta-
gion of French Democratic ideas might
have ended in absorbing Holland per-
manently in the French republic.
Bonaparte's dynastic ambition opened
their eyes to the fact that they were
regarded as a conquered nation and
were in chains to a tyrant, who sought
to aggrandize himself at the expense of
his wife, his friends, his allies and his
country.
For the uplifting of himself as Em-
peror he abolished the Bataviain repub-
lic and after four years of his brothers'
mock reign incorporated the province
of Holland as part of his empire. Up
to this time Holland troops and Holland
officers, like VanDamm, had served him
faithfully. In his disastrous invasion
of Russia some of the Holland regi-
ments had perished almost to a man in
the performance of duty. Thencefor-
ward it was a mere question of time
when the deceived and betrayed people
of Holland would throw off the yoke
of this Corsican soldier, and assert
their independence. The field of Leipsic
gave them this opportunity. A month
later the Dutch nation declared itself
once more free and summoned the
Prince of Orange home to lead the
movement. Circumstances then aided
Holland in its deliverance and in shak-
ing off the French yoke which the Hol-
landers themselves had originally co-
operated in adjusting. Coincidences
were equally favorable when its troops
marched with those of Marlborough and
Eugene. It profited by the great league
which William III constructed from the
vantage ground of the English throne.
Queen Elizabeth and Valois and the
Bourbon Kings of France had all helped
in its struggle for existence against
Philip II but the nationality, too, was
constantly on the alert and ready.
Generally it has been the heart and
soul of the international combinations
for resistance to a crushing monopoly
of powers in Europe. European liber-
ties owe yet more to the uncontrollable
Dutch love of independence than Dutch
independence owes to European succor.
The Dutch race are not especially con-
ciliatory, any more than is supposed to
be the English. Frequently it has
shown itself harsh, as Belgium found
between 1814 and 1830. Englishmen
have had cause to accuse it of commer-
cial rapacity and exclusiveness. Its
handful of people and morsel of terri-
tory ever in danger of being swallowed
up by the sea, has ever been throughout
a palpable and visible unit, which it
has been impossible for European coun-
tries to ignore and entirely possible for
them to obey."
This tribute from a foreign English-
man shows certain characteristics of
the Dutch and which their descendants
in America should naturally possess.
The Dutch farmers of the Transvaal in
Africa have exhibited the same spirit
in their determined efforts to preserve
their independence, and the Dutch set-
tlers of Monmouth showed the same
spirit during our revolutionary war.
===============================
CORNELIUS COUWENHOVEN OF PLEASANT
VALLEY AND HIS CHILDREN.
Cornelius Couwenhoven seems to
have been the first one of this name
who actually settled in Monmouth
county, but there is evidence that one
or more of this family had long been
familiar with the territory and the In-
dian inhabitants. As early as 1663 we
hear of a Jacob Couwenhoven, who
owned a small sloop and who traded
with the Indians for venison and furs.
The trade with the Indians for peltries
and furs was very profitable and ex-
tensively carried on by the early Dutch
settlers. The Albany records contain
an account of an attempt made In 1663
by certain of the English people at
Gravesend and other Long Island towns
to purchase lands of the Indians, known
as the Navesinks, and who occupied
part of what is now Monmouth county.
The Dutch authorities hearing of this,
sent an officer and a few soldiers in a
vessel to prevent it. When the boat
reached the southern point of Staten
Island, opposite the mouth of the Rar-
itan river, they met Jacob Couwenhoven
in a small sloop. He informed them
that he had been out trading for ven-
ison, also that a number of the Nave-
sink and Raritan Indians had gathered
at a place about three miles up the Rar-
itan, and that the English, in an open
s:oop, the day previous had gone up the
river to meet them. From this it appears
that Jacob Couwenhoven had made for-
mer trips across the bay and was well
++++++++++++++++
Photos:
House erected by Cornelius Covenhoven, the
pioneer sttler, on his farm at Pleasant Valley
in the early part of the eighteenth century.
Photograph taken by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover in summer of 1899.
The ruins of the early home of Cornelius Covenhoven,
who married Mary Hendrickson, and called his place
"Carroway" (near Keyport, N. J.)
Photograph taken by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover in July, 1898.
++++++++++++++++
25 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
enough acquainted with the Indian in-
habitants to distinguish those who
lived in what is now Monmouth county
from those who lived on the Raritan
river. It is more than probable that
the ownership of vessel property and
the continuance of this traffic with the
Indians would remain in the family.
The emigration of the Dutch people
from King's county, Long Island, to
Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth
counties between 1695 and 1730 was
quite large. Several vessels must have
been employed to transport their house-
hold effects, agricultural implements
and stock over the water.
Cornelius Couwenhoven, it is said,
owned a sloop which he named the
"Carroway." It sailed between the
East River and some landing, either up
Matawan or Waycake creek. His son,
William, afterwards owned the boat and
no doubt made trips from the Mon-
mouth shore to New York and Kings
county whenever there was a necessity
for it. In this way an inercourse was
kept up with the old people and goods
and passengers transported back and
forth. I think it likely that sometimes
the first settlers, prior to 1709, may
have had some of their children bap-
tized in the Dutch churches of Kings
county. There was no regular Dutch
church minister in Monmouth county
ujntil 1709, and, although there may
have been an occasional visit by a
licensed clergyman, there was no such
thing as regular services. It is to be
remembered that our early Dutch set-
tlers lived on isolated clearings with
the primeval forest all around them.
There were no schools for their chil-
dren. They learned to speak the Dutch
language from family intercourse. The
children also would hear the uncouth
talk of the negro slaves, the broken
English of the wild Indians, and the
talk of the ignorant Englishman or
Frenchman who occasionally visited
their home. Thus they gradually fell
into a dialect which was impure Dutch,
mingled with many English words
wrongly pronounced and wrongly spell-
ed. Take the christian names of the
children born after 1700 as spelled in
their wills or private family records,
and you can see how far they had drift-
ed away from the correct Dutch spell-
ing of their own names. We can hardly
conceive today the many disadvantages
our pioneer settlers labored under.
Cornelius Couwenhoven by his wife.
Margaretta Schenck, had the following
children:
William, born July 20, 1700, married first
Jannetje, daughter of Peter Wyckoff, and
Williampe Schenck, his wife. Second Antje,
daughter of Daniel Hendriekson and Catharine
VanDyke, his wife, and widow of William, son
of Jacob Couwenhoven.
He died November 10, 1755, leaving a
will dated September 29, 1755, proved
December 22, 1755, and recorded in Book
F of Wills, page 305, etc., secretary of
state's office. He appoints his brother
Roliph. and his son-in-law. Matthias
"Cownover," as he spells the name, ex-
ecutors. He speaks in this will of his
father-in-law, Peter Wyckoff. He signs
the will "William C. Kouwenhoven" and
describes himself of Carroway, Middle-
town township. As stated before "Car-
roway" was the name of his sloop and
he called his place by the same name.
He only names one son, Cornelius, and
two daughters, Williamtie and Cathar-
ine, in this will.
Roeleff, born April 12, 1710, married Sarah,
daughter of Cornelius Voorhees, and Maritje
Ditmars, his wife, and died December 12, 1789.
[Error:- Date of Roeleff's birth should be Oct. 5, 1706,
and his death Aug. 20, 1786. The dates printed
were dates of his wife's birth and death.]
In Book G of Deeds, page 31, Mon-
mouth clerk's office, is a record of a
deed from Alexander Laing of Scotland,
Great Britain, to Hendrick VanVoorhies
of Flatlands, Kings county, Nassau Is-
land, for such was then the name of
Long Island. A tract of land at Topan-
emes. Freehold township, containing 250
acres is conveyed by this deed. I think
this Cornelius Voorhees was a brother
of the Hendrick VanVoorhies named in
the deed and who actually settled on
this land, but I am not certain.
Annetje.
Jannetje, married in 1731. Aris, son of John
Vanderbilt and Ida Suydam, his wife.
One of the earliest records we have of
the Suydams in Monmouth is in Book
G of Deeds, page 74; a deed dated April
1st, 1729, from Thomas Williams to
Hendrick Suydam of Flatbush on Long-
Island, for a tract of land in Freehold
township. Then in the same book of
deeds, pages 139-141, from Lewis Morris
of Manor of Morrisania, in Province of
New York, to Ryke Hendrickse, Domin-
icus Vanderveer, Daniel Polhemus,
Jacob Hendrickse, Auke Leffertse,
Stephen Coerten and Johannes Polhe-
mus, all of Kings county on Long Is-
land, lor a tract of land known as "Fif-
teen hundred acre tract," bounded on
one side by Swimming river, dated May
17, 1709. This Jacob Hendrickse and
Ryke Hendrickse were really Suydams,
26 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
but in accordance with the Dutch cus-
tom, they were given their christian
names and their father's christian name
with "se" or "son" annexed. This clear-
ly appears from a deed recorded in
Book H of Deeds, page 211, Monmouth
clerk's office, dated June 6, 1727, where-
in Ryk Hendrickson Suydam of Flat-
bush, Kings county, L. I., conveys to
John VanMeeteren (VanMater) of Mid-
dletown township, Monmouth county,
N. J., all that tract of land in Middle-
town township bounded west by Domin-
icus Vanderveer, east by Anken Leffert-
son, south by Swimming river and north
by heirs of Quryn (Kriin) VanMeeteran
(VanMater) and known as No. 4, con-
taining 152 acres. Daniel Polhemus of
Flatlands, L. I., by a separate deed con-
veyed his share to Johannes Polhemus.
Altje, married William, son of first Jacob
VanDorn and Marritje Bennett, his wife.
In Book H of Deeds, page 325 we find
record of a deed dated December 23,
1689, from John Reid of Hortencia,
Monmouth county, to Richard Salter of
same county for part of Hortencia. The
tract begins where west Branch comes
into Hop brook at a place called Pro-
montoria; on page 327 of same book we
find record of assignment of same deed
from Richard Salter to Adrian Bennett
and Jacob VanDorn of "Gawanus,"
Kings county, L. I. This is dated April
2, 1697.
Again on page 329 of Book H of
Deeds is record of a deed from Aria
Bennett and Barbary, his wife, of Free-
hold township, to Jacob VanDorn ol
same township, dated February 14, 1707,
and conveys the undivided one-half of
a 200 acre tract in Freehold township,
beginning at a corner of Albert Cow-
enhoven's land and being the prem-
ises conveyed to said Bennett and Van-
Dorn by John Bowne May 17, 1700.
Also another tract adjacent to this also
conveyed to them by John Bowne. I
am not sure whether this Aria Bennett
was the same person as Adrian Bennett
or another. The above deeds however,
show the time when the VanDorns and
Bennetts came into this county and the
place they came from on Long Island.
Leah.
Sarah.
Neeltje. married July 2, 1741 Benjamin, son
of Benjamin VanCleaf and Hank Sutphin, his wife.
In Book H of Deeds, page 222, is a
record of a deed dated May 4, 1725, from
John Job of Freehold township to Law-
rence VanCleve and Isaac VanCleve of
Gravesend, L. I. On our old records the
VanCleaf name is spelled many different
ways. VanCleaf, VanCleve, etc. This
deed, however, shows about what time
this family came into the county. In
Book G of Deeds, page 50, is record of a
deed dated December 6, 1718, from John
Johnston of New York City, to Jacob
Sutvan (for so the name is spelled)
yeoman, of Kings county, L. I., for a
tract of land containing 333 acres at a
place called "Wemcougak in Freehold
township." Topanemus Brook, Middle
Brook and John Craig line are called
for as boundaries in the description.
This "Sutvan" was no doubt a "Van
Sutphen." for so the name is spelled in
old records of Kings county. L. I.
Mary, baptized December 21, 1710.
The first Dutch church of Monmouth
had been regularly organized with a
stated pastor, one Joseph Morgan, in
1709, and so we have a record of the
children baptized from this time.
Rachel, baptized November 2, 1712.
Margaret, baptized De ember 5, 1714.
Jacometje, baptized November 23, 1717, mar-
ried November 26, 1741, Jan Roelefse Schenck.
The youngest child by this marriage
was named Geesie after her paternal
grandmother. She married May 9, 1765,
Aurie, son of second Jacob VanDorn and
Maria Schenck, his wife. Aurie Van-
Dorn was born September 14, 1744, died
July 14, 1830.
Caterina, baptized June, 1720, married Dec-
ember 22, 1741, Daniel Hendrickson.
[Error:- Catherine was married to
Daniel Hendrickson, Dec. 22, 1743.]
Cornelius Couwenhoven, the father of
these thirteen children, made his will
November 22, 1735, proved June 22, 1736,
recorded in office of secretary of state
at Trenton in Book C of Wills, page 107.
He mentions the names of all of the
above children, but the spelling differs
considerably from mine. For instance
he spells "Jacomintje" "Yacominsky."
and "Jannetje" "Yannikie."
He devises to his son William the
land sold to him by William Bowne by
deeds dated March 1, 1704, and January
20, 1705, one for 94-1/2 acres, and the
other 62 acres, and also 120 acres re-
leased to him by Daniel Hendrickson.
Garret Schenck, John Schenck and Peter
Wyckoff, dated July 10, 1716.
Cornelius Couwenhoven and his wife
are buried in the Schenck-Couwenhoven
burying ground. The inscription on his
tombstone shows that he died May 16,
1736 aged 64 years, 5 months and 17 days.
His wife, Margaretta Schenck, died
December 6, 1751, aged 73 years, 9 months
and 27 days.
27 ALBERT COUWENHOVEN AND HIS TWELVE
CHILDREN.
Albert Couwenhoven came from Flat-
lands, L. I., to Monmouth county, and
settled on lands in the township of
Freehold (now Marlboro) where Mr.
Selah Wells now resides. We find his
name and that of his wife, Neeltje or
Eleanor Schenck, daughter of Roelof
Martense Schenck, and his second wife,
Annetje Wyckoff, among the commun-
icants of the Brick church in 1709. His
Dutch Bible is still in existence with
dates of the births of all his sons and
daughters entered in his own hand-
writing. He had the following children:
William, b. March 7, 1702, married Libertje,
daughter of Benjamin VanCleaf and Hank
Sutphen, his wife. She was baptized May 19, 1705.
He settled in what is now Manalapan
township, and left a will recorded in
the office of the Secretary of our state.
Ruliff, b. September 8, 1703, married Antje,
daughter of Jan Strycker and Margaretta
Schenck, his wife. She was baptized Decem-
ber 20, 1708.
Antje, b. August 21, 1705, married Abraham
Polhemus. supposed to he of the Somerset
county or Loneg Island people.
Jannetje. b. September 30, 1707, married
Joseph Coernel.
Altie, b. January 20, 1709, married Hen-
drick, son of Hendrick Hendrickson. He was
born November 11, 1706, and died July 28, 1783.
In Book G of Deeds, page 59, Mon-
mouth county clerk's office, is record
of a deed from Tunis Covert of Free-
hold township, to Cornelius VanBrunt
and Hendrick Hendrickson of New
Utrecht of Long Island, for 203-1/2 acres
and 96-1/2 acres in Freehold township.
On pages 61-62 of same book is record
of a deed dated May 1, 1719, from Abra-
ham Emans of Freehold township, to
Hendrick Hendrickson and Jaques
Denys of New Utrecht, L. I., for a tract
of 96 acres in Freehold township. It
therefore appears that there were other
Hendricksons who purchased land in
Monmouth county, besides Daniel and
William who came here prior to 17iiu
and settled on lands at what is now
Holland in Holmdel township. The
early Dutch settlers were in the habit
of visiting once or twice a year their
old homes in Kings county, L. I. And
mariages [sic] likely occurred between the
young people here with the young
people in Long Island. The Dutch gen-
erally preferred to marry among their
own people, and it was not often that
any of them were caught by the
"daughters of Heth," or the sons of the
Philistines.
Margaret, b. February 15, 1711, married
December 8, 1731, Daniel, son of Johannes
Polhemus. He was born in 1706 and died
September 26, 1763. She died June 7, 1780.
Both are buried in the family bury-
ing ground of the Polhemus family at
Scobeyville, Atlantic township.
Sarah, born June 21st, 1714, married May 19th, 1737,
Johannes, son of Benjamin VanCleaf, and Hank Sutphin,
his wife. He was baptized June 3d, 1711.
[Error:- Date of Sarah's marriage to John
VanCleaf should be June 14, 1739.]
Peter, b. October 12, 1716, married May 19, 1740,
Wiliampe, daughter of Hendrick Voorhees and
Jannetje Jansen, his wife. She
was born January 25, 1722, died August 12, 1803.
He died October 1, 1771; interred in
yard of Marlboro Brick church.
Nellie, born February 7th, 1719, died unmarried
August 22, 1738. Buried in the Schenck and
Couwenhoven burying ground.
Garrett, b. June 16th, 1721, married
November 8th, 1742, Sarah, daughter of Hendrick
VanVoorhees and wife aforesaid.
Jan, b. February 18, 1723, married October
19, 1744, Catherine, daughter of Hendrick
VanVoorhees and wife.
Corneilus A., b. October 29, 1728, married in
1750 Antje. daughter of William Williamson
and Antje Couwenhoven, his wife. She was
born September 13, 1730, and died September
14, 1757, and was buried in Wyckoff I ill [sic]
grave yard, near Freehold. He married for
his second wife, July 12, 1770, Mary Logan,
who was born August 9, 1748, and died May 2, 1831.
The Logan family is now extinct in in
Monmouth county. Cornelius Couwen-
hoven died January 23, 1802, leaving a
last will proved before Caleb Lloyd,
Surrogate of Monmouth county, April 15, 1802,
and a true copy of same is given hereafter.
Cornelius and his second wife are buried in the
Schenck and Couwenhoven burying ground. He
28 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
had a son named Cornelius, born
May 18, 1771, who married Elizabeth, a
daughter of Harmon Conover and
Phoebe Bailey, his wife, died December
20, 1814. He was also buried in the
Sehenck Couwenhoven burying ground.
His oldest son was named John C. Conover,
born November 10, 1797, married
December 3, 1820, Elizabeth, a daughter
of John A. Vanderbilt and Mary MacKildoe.
She was born September 11, 1804,
and died January 30, 1860. He
was the last owner of the Albert Cou-
wenhoven homestead. He died
November 26, 1832, and this farm then
passed out of the family.
Albert Couwenhoven and his wife,
the parents of the above named twelve
children, were buried in the Sehenck
and Couwenhoven burying ground. He
left a last will which is herewith given.
Following it is the will of his son Cornelius.
WILL OF ALBERT COUWENHOVEN.
In the name of God Amen, I, Albert Coven-
hoven, of Freehold, in the county of Monmouth
and province of East New Jersey, yeoman, be-
ing, thro' the abundant mercy and goodness of
God, tho' very sick and weak in body, yet of
a sound and perfect understanding and mem-
ory, do constitute this my last will and testa-
ment, and desire it may be received as such.
Imprimis: I most humbly bequeath my soul
to God, my maker, beseeching his most grac-
ious acceptance of it thro' the all sufficient
merits and mediation of my most compassion-
ate Redeemer, Jesas Christ, who gave himself
to be an atonement for my sins, and is able
to save to the uttermost all that come unto
God by Him ; seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them, and who I trust, will
not reject me, a returning penitent Sinner,
when I come to Him for mercy. In this hope
and confidence I render up my soul with com-
fort, humbly beseeching the most blessed and
glorious Trinity, one God, most Holy, most
Merciful and Gracious, to prepare me for the
time of my dissolution, and then to take me
to himself into that peace and rest and incom-
parable felicity, which he has prepared for all
that love and fear his Holy name. Amen !
Blessed be God.
Imprimis: I give my body to the earth,
from where it was taken, in full assurance of
its resurrection from thence at the last day.
As for my burial, I desire it may be decent,
without pomp or state, at the discretion of my
executrix and executor hereinafter named,
who, I doubt not, will manage it with all
requisite prudence. As to my wordly estate,
it is my will, and I do hereby order, that in
the first place all my just debts and funeral
charges to be paid and satisfied out of my
movable estate.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Eleanor,
my dearly beloved wife, all my whole estate,
both real and personal, for her own proper
use, benefit and behoof, as long as she remains
my widow and no longer.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my eleven
well beloved children (viz: William, Ruluf,
Anna, Jane, Alice, Margot, Sarah, Peter, Jar-
ratt, John and Cornelius), after the death or
widowhood of my dearly beloved wife, all my
whole estate, both real and personal, as goods,
chattels, lands and tenements, to be equally
divided amongst them (my eleven dearly be-
loved children aforementioned) (viz: William,
Ruluf, Anna, Jane, Alice, Margot, Sarah,
Peter, Jarratt, John and Cornelius, to them
and each of them and their heirs and assigns
forever) so that each of them or each of their
heirs and assigns hath the eleventh part of
my whole estate as above mentioned.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my well
beloved son, Williamm the sum of three shil-
lings as a gift (acknowledging him to be my
oldest child) and to be paid to him in a con-
venient time after my decease. I likewise
constitute, make and ordain my dearly beloved
wife, Eleanor, and my well beloved kinsman,
William Covenhoven, son of Cornelius Coven-
hoven, my only and sole executrix and exec-
utor of this my last will and testament. And
I also hereby utterly disallow, revoke and dis-
annul all and every other former testaments,
wills, legacies and executors by me in any
way before this time, named, willed and be-
queathed, ratifying and confirming this, and
no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand
and seal this sixth day of September, in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hun-
dred and forty-eight (1748).
Signed, sealed, published and declared by
the said Albert Covenhoven, as his last will
and testament in the presence of us, the sub-
scribers (viz:)
"My will and desire is that my well beloved
son, Jarratt, have the use of one hundres
pounds for ten years, whenever he want it.
This was writ before signing and sealing it
being forgot to be mentioned."
ALBERT COVENHOVEN.
[L. S.]
Jan Covenhoven,
Matteys Piterson,
William Williamson.
Be it remembered that on the third day of
October, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and forty-eight, the within wit-
nesses, Jan Covenhoven, Matteys Piterson and
William Williamson, personally came before
me, Thomas Bartow, duly authorized to prove
wills and qualify executors in New Jersey, and
they being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist
did depose that they were present and saw
Albert Covenhoven, the testator within named,
sign and seal the within written testament and
heard him publish, pronounce and declare the
same to be his last will and testament and at
the day thereof the said testator was of sound
mind and memory to the best of their know-
ledge, and as they believed, and that they
each signed as a witness in the testator's
presence.
THOS. BARTOW.
Be it also remembered that at the same time
Eleanor Covenhoven, the executrix within
named, personally came before me and was
sworn to the due execution and performance
of the within will and testament according
to law.
THOS. BARTOW.
Probate granted by Governor Belcher in the
usual form. Dated Oct. 3rd, 1748.
THOS. BARTOW. Pr. Reg'sr.
29 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
The wife of Albert Covenhoven was Neeltje,
Dutch for Eleanor or Nelly, daughter of Roelof
Schenck of Flatlands, L. I., by his second
wife, Annetje Wyckoff.
WILL OF CORNELIUS A. COVENHOVEN.
In the name of God Amen This Eleventh
Day of September In the year of Our Lord
One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety-
three I Cornelius Covenhoven of The Town-
ship of Freehold in The County of Monmouth
& State of New Jersey Yeoman Being In
health of Body and of Perfect Sound & Dis-
poseing Mind and Memory Praised be Al-
mighty God for the Same, Considering the
frailty of Nature and Knowing it is appointed
for all men To Die Do Make & Ordain This
My Last Will and Testament In the following
Manner and form - First I Recomend My Soul
To God Who Gave it Trusting for Salvation
In & Through the alone Merits of My Ever
Blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ and as to my
Body I recomend it To the Earth To be In-
terred at the Discretion of My Executors here-
inafter named Nothing Doubting but at the
General Resurrection I Shall Receive the same
again by the Mighty Power of God And as
Touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it
Hath Pleased God To Bless me in This Life I
Do order. Give & Dispose of The Same in the
following Manner - Imprimis I Do order That
my Executors Do pay all my Just Debts &
Funeral Expenses Out of my Moveable Estate
which I may Leve at the time of My Decease
- Item I Give & Bequeath To my Loveing Wife
Mary Dureing her Widdowhood a Comfortable
Liveing as Usual With My Son Cornelius on
My said Farm and have the Use of one Room
with a Fire Place and Fire wood Brought to
her Door one Good Feather Bed & Furniture
and One Negro Woman Named Jane so Long
as She shall Remain My Widdow and in Case
my Said Wife Should Remarry my will is that
my said wife have the sum of fifty pounds
paid her by me Son Cornelius Current money
of the City of New York as all Moneys in this
my Will are to be Taken & Esteemed To be,
And one feather Bed & furniture In Lieu of
her Dower or Thirds - Item I Give and Be-
queath To my Daughter Sarah an Out Sett
Equal in Vallue To the Out Sett I Gave my
Daughter Nell To be Delivered to her by my
Executors out of my Moveable Estate at the
Time of My Decease. Item -I Give Devise &
Bequeath To my Son Cornelius Covenhoven all
Remainder of My Estate Both Heal &
Personal Wheresoever, To him his Heirs and
Assigns forever Provided he Performs & ful-
fills all the other Matters & Things herein In-
joined him in this My Will, (Excepting My
Covered Waggon & Horses & Harness & the
Remainder of My Horses & Cattle and Such
Moveables That I may have and Negroes at
the time of My Decece To be Equally Divided
amongst my Children. To wit: William, Nelly,
Allice, Cornelius & Sarah or their Children)
Item it is My will That my said Son Cornelius
Do pay the sum of Six Hundred pounds money
aforesaid In Manner foiling To Wit To allow
a Good & Sufficnt Support out of said sum
for my Son Albert And after the Decease of
my Self, my wife and my Son Albert, What-
ever Part of said Six Hundred pounds Shall
be Remaining Shall he Equally Divided Be-
tween my four Children William. Nelly, Allice
& Sarah or their Children And Lastly I Do
Hereby Nominate. Constitute & appoint My
brother in Law, Stoffel Logan & my friend
Tobias Polhemus, Executors of this my Last
will & Testament Utterly Revokeing & Dis-
annuling all other Wills by me heretofore
Made Rattifying & Confirming this & no
other to be my last Will & Testament. Note the
word (form) and the word (of) & the word
(Sarah) being Interlined Before Sealing &
Delivery hereof
CORNELIUS A. COVENHOVEN.
Signed Sealed pronoumed & Declared To be
his Last Will & Testament In the Presence of
Garret Covenhoven
Ruth Covenhoven
Joseph Throckmorton
==================================
JACOB COUWENHOVEN AND HIS ELEVEN
CHILDREN.
Jacob Couwenhoven married at Flat-
lands, L. I., November 12, 1705, Sarah
Schenck, who was baptized in the
Dutch church at Brooklyn, December
18, 1685. She too was a resident of
Flatlands. and the couple had doubt-
less known each other from earliest
childhood. Jacob Couwenhoven received
such education as the schools in Brook-
lyn at that time could give, and also
such as he could pick up from chance
associations with the traders, mer-
chants, sailors and emigrants who fre-
quented tin harbor of New York. Like
his brother Cornelius he is said to have
owned a sloop, which made trips from
Brooklyn across the bay to the Mon-
mouth shore. It is likely that this was
the same boat and owned jointly by
two or more of the six Conover broth-
ers. For one boat of this kind would
be amply sufficient to transport all
their families, goods, chattels and
stock, from the shore of the East river
over to Monmouth county, and also to
take back such peltries, venison and
other articles they had to sell and for
which a demand existed in the New
York markets.
Jacob Couwenhoven, by his wife.
Sarah Schenck. had the following chil-
dren, all of whom are supposed to have
been born in his dwelling house which
stood on the north side of the street
through Middletown village, somewhere
between the location of the present
Baptist church and the Hartshorne
burying ground.
30 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Jannetie, b. December 10, 1706.
Annetje, b. February, 1708, married John,
son of Daniel Hendrickson and Catherine Van-
Dyke, his wife.
Daniel Hendrickson, a son of this
couple, married Nelly or Eleanor Van-
Mater. She was born August 4, 1735,
and died February 12, 1828, and is bur-
ied in the Hendrickson burying ground
on the farm of the late George Craw-
ford Hendrickson in Middletowp vil-
lage. A son of this last couple, John,
born June 13, 1773, married Mary,
daughter of John Lloyd, and died in
January, 1807. He was the father of
the late Charles I. Hendrickson, of
John Lloyd Hendrickson and Daniel
Hendrickson. who owned the farm now
occupied by the Morfords at the east-
ern end of Middletown village and
opposite to the farm owned by his
brother, John Lloyd Hendrickson, in
his lifetime.
William, b. February, 1710, married Antje,
daughter of Daniel Hendrickson and Catherine
VanDyke, aforesaid.
She was baptized December 30, 1711.
The records in secretary of state's
office at Trenton, show that letters of
administration on his estate were
granted October 17, 1742, to his widow,
Ann, his brother Ruliph, and his broth-
er-in-law, William Hendrickson. The
Brick Church records show that he had
two children baptized, viz: Daniel,
March 30, 1737, and Jacob, October 14,
1739. His widow married March 17, 1744,
for her second husband William,
son of Cornelius Couwenhoven, of
Pleasant Valley, and who has been
heretofore mentioned as "William C.
Kouwenhoven of Carroway." By this
last marriage she had three children,
(1st) Cornelius, baptized April 7, 1746,
married Mary, daughter of Hendrick
Hendrickson and Neeltje Garretse
Schenck, his wife, and died October 10,
1806; (2nd) Catherine, baptized April
16, 1749; (3rd) Williampe, who married
Martin or Matthias Couwenhoven, a
brother of her mother's first husband
and hereinafter particularly described.
Ruliph, b. March 1, 1712, married August 12, 1741,
Jannetje, daughter of Daniel Hendrick-
son and Catherine VanDyke, his wife, aforesaid.
The church records show the follow-
ing children baptized: Sarah, baptized
February 21, 1742; Daniel, January 15, 1744,
and Catherine, February 16, 1746.
Letters of administration on his estate
were granted to Peter Couwenhoven,
(brother) William Hendrickson, (broth-
er-in-law) and Tunis Denyse, or Denise.
His widow married for her second hus-
band Peter Janse Schenck, as has been
already mentioned, together with the
names of her children by this last husband.
Jacob, b. February 1, 1714, married
December 21, 1742, Margaret, daughter of William
Couwenhoven and Arriantje Bennett, his wife.
The marriage license was granted November 16, 1742.
Garret, b. November 5, 1716, married
October 12, 1744, Neeltje, or Eleanor, daughter of
Roelof Schenck and Geesie Hendrickson, his
wife, died December 9, 1797.
He owned quite a large tract of land
in what is now Marlboro and Holmdel
townships. Part of this land is still
(1898) in the ownership and occupation
of his lineal male descendants. The two
farms near Taylor's Mills in Holmdel
township, where Daniel D. Conover
and Garret Rezo Conover lived about
40 years ago and where their sons now
live, is part of the tract. The family
burying ground is on the farm owned
by Daniel D. Conover and near the
dwelling house. It is especially notice-
able for the care, neatness and good
taste which it always shows. Here
Garret and his wife and many of his
descendants are buried.
Peter, b. December 14, 1718, died January 14, 1719.
Peter, baptized May 29, 1720, married Cath-
erine, daughter of Roelof Janse Schenck and
Geesie Hendrickson, his wife, and at that
time widow of Simon DeHart.
Garret and Peter Couwenhoven are
the two sons-in-law named as execu-
tors in Black Roelof Schenck's will.
Also see pages 317-18, Old Times in Old
Monmouth.
John, b. May 17, 1722, married Mary, daugh-
ter of Arie VanDorn and Antje Janse Schenck,
his wife.
Martin, as spelled in will but Matthias else-
where, b. 1725, married Williampe, daughter
of "William C. Kouwenhoven of Carroway,"
and Antje Hendrickson, his second wife, and
the widow of his oldest brother, William.
[Error:-For "Antje Hendrickson, his second wife,"
substitute "Jannetje Wyckoff, his first wife."]
This Matthias Couwenhoven lived on
a farm on the right side of the road
from Ogbourns Corner to Middletown,
just east of the Golden farm. There is
an old Conover burying ground on the
Golden farm near the line, which would
show that the Conovers owned all the
land around this burying ground at
one time.
The Matthias Conover interred in the
Baptist church yard at Middletown and
whose tombstone shows that he died
++++++++++++++++++
House of Daniel Polhemus Schank on his farm
in Pleasant Valley, N. J.
Photographed in summer of 1900.
Part of Schanck-Covenhoven Cemetery in Pleasant Valley, N. J.
Photographed by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover in the winter of 1900.
++++++++++++++++++
31 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
September 28, I842, aged 80 years, 2
months and 5 days, and the Ruliph
Conover, interred near him. who died
June 12, 1873, aged over 85 years, are
I believe descendants of the above
named Matthias Couwenhoven.
There was also another child named
Sarah but I can find no record of her
except in her father's will.
Jacob Couwenhoven made his will
July 5, 1743. He appoints his sons,
Ruliph, Garret and Jacob, executors,
and they all qualified. He mentions in
his will six sons, Martin, (Matthias)
Ruliph, Jacob, Garret, Peter and John,
one daughter, Sarah, three grandsons,
Daniel Hendrickson and Jacob Hen-
drickson and Daniel Couwenhoven, and
one granddaughter, Sarah Couwen-
hoven. This grandson, Daniel Hen-
drickson. 1 think became sheriff of
Monmouth county during the revolu-
tionary war. He was the grandfather
of the late Charles I. Hendrickson who
owned the farm on the north side of
Middletown street, between the lands
of the late Dr. Edward Taylor and the
Murray homestead, now owned by his
son, John S. Hendrickson.
Jacob Couwenhoven in his will des-
cribes himself as a yeoman and a resi-
dent of Middletown. I have not been
able to find out where he was buried.
He owned a large tract of land, and it
is likely he was buried somew here
upon that as was then the custom.
According to tradition current
among the descendants of his son, Gar-
ret, at Taylor's Mills, he provided all
of his seven sons with a farm. Of
course such traditions are verv uncer-
tain and unreliable, but they some-
times contain a few grains of truth. I
do not know whether there is any
truth in this tradition, but only repeat
what is said. And this is the story
handed down among the descendants
of his son Garret, who as everybody
knows, are among the most respectable
citizens of Monmouth county, and
whose everyday word is better than a
good many people's oath on the Bible.
They have been informed and so under-
stand from talk of their forefathers,
that Jacob Couwenhoven's seven sons
owned and occupied the following
farms:
William had the farm where Daniel
G. Conover lived, and now or lately
owned by Edward Hopping in Middle-
town township.
Ruliph owned lands where the late
Ezra Osborne lived and the farm adja-
cent on the west or north side of the
highway from Balm Hollow to the John
Golden farm.
Matthias owned the lands on the op-
posite side of this highway. The pri-
vate family burying ground of the Con-
overs on this land supports this claim.
Jacob owned the farm of the late
John Eastman.
Garret owned what was in after years
known as the farm of "Farmer Jacob
Conover" and the farms of Daniel D.
Conover and Garret Rezo Conover, near
Taylor's Mills in Holmdel township.
The last two are still (1898) in family
ownership.
John owned the farm known as the
Murray homestead in Middletown vil-
lage together with lands adjacent, now
part of the Morford farm and of John
S. Hendrickson's farm.
Peter owned the "Garret VanDorn
farm" on the south side of Middletown
street, now owned by the son of the
late Azariah Conover.
Jacob Couwenhoven is said to have
been a large, well proportioned man,
bluff and straightforward in manners
and hospitable and obliging to all who
sought shelter under his roof or aid at
his hands. It will be noticed that there
were several marriages between his
children and Daniel Hendrickson's
children. This man was quite a near
neighbor, living where his great grand-
son, Hon. William H. Hendrickson, now
lives at Holland or the Luyster neigh-
borhood, as sometimes called.
Garret, one of Jacob Couwenhoven's
sons, married Netty or Eleanor, daugh-
ter of Black Roelof Schenck, and had
the following children:
Jacob, b. June 19, 1746, married April 25,
1771, Mary, daughter of Hendrick Schenck and
Catherine Holmes, his wife.
He was known as "Farmer Jacob."
and the farm he lived on was consider-
ed the model farm of that day in Mon-
mouth county. He left two sons, Hen-
drick, who married Ann B. Crawford
and whose descendants are named in
"Old Times in old Monmouth." Garret,
who married Alice, daughter of Tobias
Hendrickson and Rebecca Coward, his
wife, of Upper Freehold township. A
daughter of this couple named Rebecca
H., born in 1805, married Thomas Meirs
and was the mother of Collin B. Meirs.
born September 7, 1833, on the old Meirs
homestead in Upper Freehold township,
and who was auditor of Monmouth
county for seven years, and now one
of the first citizens of Upper Freehold
township.
Ruleph. b. November 8, 1747, married
June 22, 1773, Anna, daughter of Garret Coertse
Schenck, and Nelly Voorhees, his wife.
32 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Sarah, b. January 3, 1749, married John
Lloyd and died September 8, 1773.
She is buried in the Conover family
burying ground on the Daniel D. Con-
over farm near Taylor's Mills. One of
her daughters, Mary, married John
Hendrickson, son of Daniel Hendrick-
son and Eleanor VanMater, his wife, be-
fore mentioned. She is buried in the
Hendrickson burying ground at Mid-
dletown village and the tombstone at
her grave states that she died July 11,
1865, aged 92 years, 8 months and 24
days. She was the mother of the late
Charles I. Hendrickson of Middletown
village.
Daniel G., b. January 20, 1750, married Feb-
ruary 9, 17S6, Margaret Reseau, (often spelled
Rezo). She was born February 23, 1763, and
died December 26, 1823.
Daniel G. Conover lived and died on
the homestead farm near Taylor's Mills
and is buried in the family burying
ground on this farm. After his death
the land was divided between his two
sons, Daniel D. Conover and Garret
Rezo Conover, whom many persons now
alive remember. Garret married as be-
fore stated, Mariah Schenck. Daniel
D. married May 26, 1825, Mary, daugh-
ter of Garret G. Vanderveer, and died
October 22, 1861. He was a genial,
hearty man and endeavored to make
everything pleasant to all with whom
he came in contact. His hospitality
was unlimited, if the roof of his house
was left. His widow, who was born
February 21, 1806, is still living on the
homestead with their son, Garret. She
is remarkably active and hale for one
so near the century mark. Hon. William
V. Conover, who occupied the farm
left him by his father, Tylee Conover,
on the north side of the Shrewsbury
river, opposite Red Bank, and who died
a few years ago, was a grandson of the
above named Daniel G. Conover and
Margaret Reseau, his wife
Gachey, b. February 5, 1753, married first
Hendrick P., son of Peter Albertse Couwen-
hoven and Williampe Voorhees, his wife.
Anne, b. May 21, 1754, married July 13,
1785, Isaac, son of second Jacob VanDorn, and
Maria Janse Schenck, his wife, and died June 11, 1843.
She and her husband are buried in
the Episcopal church yard at Middle-
town village. They were the parents
of Garret VanDorn, who was born May
31, 1789. He married Williampe, daugh-
ter of Hendrick P. Couwenhoven and
Gachey Couwenhoven. his wife, above
mentioned, his cousin. She was born
January 1st, 1793, and died on the Van-
Dorn homestead at Middletown village.
January 31, 1874. She and her husband
are buried in the Episcopal church yard
at Middletown aforesaid.
Garret VanDorn died childless and in-
testate. He was well known through-
out Monmouth county, being gentle
and placid in disposition, without an
enemy in the world, he was respected
and liked by all who knew him. He
left a large estate with no debts be-
yond funeral expenses and charges of
his last sickness. Yet this estate has
remained unsettled down to the pres-
ent day. It is the "Jarndyce vs. Jarn-
dyce" case of Monmouth county. It
shows how an estate involved in no law
suits and no debts, can be dragged
through the courts for years. A true
history of this estate would be of great
interest, not only to the relatives in-
terested but to the public at large, so
that we all might know "how not to
do it," while making great pretension
of doing, settling and distributing. A
more honest man never lived than Gar-
ret VanDorn and no man ever left
property freer from all claims and liti-
gation than he. Yet the estate became
entangled and has been left unsettled,
although more than forty years have
passed away since administration was
granted to Williampe, his widow. She,
of course, depended on and wholly
trusted others to do the business.
The seventh child of Garret Couwenhoven
and Neeltje Schenck, his wife, was Mary, born
April 5, 1756, died young.
Garret, b. September 15, 1758, died unmarried.
John, b. May 23, 1760, married August 22, 1778,
Jane, daughter of Garret Coertse Schenck
and Nelly Voorhees, his wife, died May 11, 1802.
He was buried in the yard of the Marl-
boro Brick church. His widow married
August 20, 1812, her second husband,
John H. Schenck, and died November 5, 1836.
John Conover and Jane Schenck, his
wife, were the parents of the following
children:
Elias, b. August 10, 1779, married July 1, 1798,
Mary, daughter of Ruliff H. Schenck
and Sarah Schenck, his wife.
They were the parents of John E.,
Ruliff E. and Hendrick E., already
mentioned in a former article.
Garret I., b. March 31, 1785, married
January 6, 1807, Sarah, daughter of Ruliff H.
Schenck and Sarah Schenck, his wife, died
May 12, 1829.
He owned and occupied the farm
where Gideon C. McDowell now lives
in Marlboro township.
33 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Jane, b. September 10, 1789, married
October 23, 1805, Jonathan R. Gordon, son of
Ezekiel Gordon, and died June 1, 1831. Her
husband was born March 16, 1785, died
May 13, 1830.
Sarah, b. ____ married March 14, 1803,
Albert VanDorn.
Nelly, b. ____ married December 7, 1796,
George Morris.
There were two other children who died young.
There were, of course, other descend-
ants of Garret Couwenhoven and Neeltje
Schenck, his wife, but I have not the
dates of their births, marriages and
deaths and therefore do not name them,
but the record I give will enable all
who can go back to their grandfathers,
to fix their family descent without any
mistake. Garret Couwenhoven, the
progenitor of this line of Conovers, is
said to have been a hearty, whole-
souled man. That he resembled in a
marked degree his father, and because
of his tall well proportioned form and
his handsome appearance, attracted
notice wherever he went. He is also
said to have taken great interest in
and care of his children; that he en-
deavored to train them to habits of
sobriety, economy and industry, and
judging by results after all these years
his descendants seem to have profited
by his efforts, for with very few ex-
ceptions they seem to have been among
our principal citizens down to the
present day. As his children grew up
and left the old homestead to make
their way in the world, he is said to
have advised them In plain words, but
in the spirit and intent expressed in
the following verses:
"You're going to leave the homestead, Jacob,
"You're twenty-one today.
And the old man will be sorry, Jacob,
To see you go away.
You've labored late and early, Jacob
And done the best you could;
I ain't a going to stop you, Jacob,
I wouldn't if I could.
The years, they come and go, my boy,
The years, they come and go ;
And raven locks, and tresses brown,
Grow white as driven snow.
My life has known its sorrows, Jacob,
Its trials and troubles sore;
Yet God, withal, has blessed me, Jacob,
'In basket and in store.'
But one thing let me tell you, Jacob,
Before you make your start,
There's more in being honest, Jacob,
Twice o'er than being smart.
Though rogues may seem to flourish, Jacob,
And sterling worth to fail,
Oh! keep in view the good and true ;
'Twill in the end prevail.
And don't be mean of stingy, Jacob,
But lay a little by
Of what you earn; you soon will learn
How fast 'twill multiply.
So when old age comes creeping on,
You'll have a goodly store
Of wealth to furnish all your needs.
And maybe something more.
There's shorter cuts to fortune, Jacob,
We see them every day,
But those who save their Self respect,
Climb up the good old way.
'All is not gold that glitters,' Jacob,
And makes the vulgar stare,
And those we deem the richest, Jacob,
Have oft the least to spare.
Don't meddle with your neighbors, Jacob,
Their sorrows or their cares;
You'll find enough to do, my boy,
To mind your own affairs.
The world is full of idle tongues,
You can afford to shirk ;
There's lots of people ready, Jacob,
To do such dirty work.
And if amid the race for fame
You win a shining prize.
The humble worth of honest men,
You never should despise.
For each one has his mission, Jacob,
In life's unchanging plan;
Though lowly be his station, Jacob,
He is no less a man."
34 THE YOUNGER OF THE SIX CONOVER BROTHERS
AND HIS CHILDREN.
This was the youngest of the six
Conover brothers, who removed from
Flatlands, L. I., to Monmouth county, N. J.
In Book G of Deeds, page 162, Mon-
mouth county clerk's office, is the rec-
ord of a deed dated October 3rd, 1705,
from John Bowne, merchant of Middle-
town township, to John Covenhoven.
yeoman of Flatlands, Kings county, L. I.,
for the consideration of £300 two
tracts of land, one containing 94 acres
and the other 215 acres, in the town-
ship of Freehold, (now Marlboro) and
conveyed. In the description it is
stated that these two tracts lie to-
gether and are bounded on the east by
lands of Jacob VanDorn and Aria
(Adrian) Bennett. On page 165 of the
same book of deeds is record of a deed
dated October 15, 1709, from Jacob
VanDorn of Freehold township to John
Covenhoven of the same place, for a
tract of 38-1/2 acres, adjacent to the two
tracts above mentioned and between
them and other lands of said VanDorn.
These two deeds show that John Coven-
hoven had removed from Long Island
and was actually settled in Monmouth
county some time between 1705 and
1709. The lands described in the above
deeds, or the greater part of them, have
been continuously in the possession of
the descendants of Jan Couwenhoven
from that date to the present year of
our Lord, 1898.
Peter G. Conover, the well known and
highly respected farmer of Marlboro
township, was born, lived and died on
this homestead. He was a grandson
of the said Jan Couwenhoven. John
Lyall Conover, who now owns and oc-
cupies these lands, and who is one of
the first farmers of Monmouth county,
is a son of the late Peter G. Conover.
Lafayette Conover and Stacy P. Con-
over, lately deceased, who owned and
occupied valuable farms in the same
vicinity, were also sons of Peter G.
Conover and great grandsons of the
original settler, Jan Couwenhoven.
Jan Couwenhoven made his will November 23,
it was proved December 29, 1756,
and is on record in the office of
the secretary of the state of New Jer-
sey, in Book F of Wills, pages 392, etc.
He names in this will seven sons, viz:
William, Garret, Cornelius, Peter, John,
Jacob and Dominicus. He appoints as
executors his son Garret, his cousin
Roelof Schenck, (Black Roelof) and his
cousin Garret, son of Koert Schenck;
only his son Garret qualifies. This will
is witnessed by David Williamson, Cor-
nelius Couwenhoven and Elbert Williamson.
All his sons except Garret removed
from Monmouth county to Penns Neck
and from there his sons, Cornelius,
Peter and Jacob, emigrated to the state
of Kentucky. Peter is said to have
removed from Kentucky to the state
of Illinois. It is also said that he had
a daughter Tryntje, who removed with
her three brothers to Kentucky. Dom-
inicus married Mary Updyke. His will,
dated January 23, 1778, at Princeton,
N. J., is on record in Book 20 of Wills,
page 194, etc., at Trenton, N. J. He
names in this will the following sons:
John, William, Garret, Levi and Peter.
He devised his farm at Penns Neck to
his sons, Levi and Peter.
The records of Marlboro Brick church
show only the following children of
Jan Couwenhoven baptized: - Trinke,
baptized, October 30, 1709; Cornelius,
baptized April 6, 1712; Peter, baptized
December 5, 1714; Jan, baptized
April 12, 1719; child un-named, baptized
June 7, 1724.
Garret, his youngest son as supposed,
was born on the old homestead in Marl-
boro township April 27, 1726, and re-
sided there until his death, November
1, 1812. He is buried in the yard of the
Marlboro Brick church, and his age,
inscribed on his tombstone, is 86 years
and 6 months. He married first Neeltje,
daughter of Benjamin VanMater and
Elizabeth Laen, his wife, and had by
her five children. He married second
Antje, daughter of Peter Janse Schenck
and Jannetje Hendrickson, his wife. She
died April 5, 1803, aged 49 years,
7 months and 2 days. By his second wife
he had the following children:
Eleanor, b. December 13, 1787 married Hon.
Lafeyette Schenck.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Ruins of the old grist mill of Cornelius Covenhoven at Carroway,
near Keyport, N. J.
Photographed July, 1898.
View of Cornelius Covenhoven's milldam and pond at Carroway,
near Keyport, N. J.
Photographed July, 1898.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
35 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Mr. Schenck at one time represented
Monmouth county in the New Jersey
Assembly. He lived and died on the
farm now (1898) owned and occupied
by his youngest son, Lafayette Schenck.
in the township of Atlantic. He was
also the father of the late Rev. Garret
Conover Schenck, the well known cler-
gyman of the Dutch church, and who
died only a few years ago. As Eleanor
Conover was, on her mother's side, a
descendant of Jan Schenck, and her
husband, Lafayette Schenck, was a
descendant of Garret Schenck, the
Dominic was a lineal descendant of
the two Schenck brothers who first
settled in this county.
Jane, b. November 9, 1789.
Ann, b. September 1790, married first Wil-
liam Schenck, second Theodore Rue.
John, b. December 17, 1791, married Ann Smock.
Peter G. b. January 2, 1797, married Nov-
ember 10, 1819, Charlotte, daughter of John
Lyall, and died May 21, 1886.
During his long life of nearly four
score and ten years he lived in peace
with all men and was respected by
everybody for his integrity. His name
is mentioned in a case decided by the
supreme court of New Jersey back in
the year 1825. This decision is found
in Third Halstead, New Jersey Reports,
pages 90 to 116. His name is brought
in through his marriage in the Lyall
family and in a brief account of this
family and some of their connections.
It seems to have been an important
case, for the decision fills thirty-six
solid pages of this book. Four of the
greatest lawyers of that day in New
Jersey appear for the parties. Robert
Stockton and George Wood for the
plaintiff, and Garret D. Wall and L. H.
Stockton for the defendant. George
Wood subsequently obtained a national
reputation as a lawyer.
This case turned upon the construc-
tion of the will of Eleanor Lyall, who
had bequeathed a farm of 108 acres at
Nut Swamp, Middletown township, to
Fenwick Lyall. Fenwick Lyall sold
and conveyed this farm to Richard
Crawford for the sum of $4,390. After
Fenwick's death it was claimed that
he only had a life right under his
mother's will. The Supreme court in
their long opinions sustained this con-
struction. Fenwick Lyall and John
Lyall are interred in the Lippitt bury-
ing ground at Middletown village.
Peter G. Conover, by his wife, Char-
lotte Lyall. had the following children:
John Lyall, who married Abbie M. Bishop
and now occupies the old homestead.
Lafayette, who married Elizabeth, daughter
of William Schenck and Abbey Polhemus, his wife.
William Schenck was a son of Roelof
P. Schenck, or Long Ruly, as called,
and a brother of Antje Schenck who
married Garret Conover above men-
tioned, the grandfather of Lafayette
Conover.
Stacy P., who married Ellen L., daughter of
Daniel P. Schenck.
Garret, married Mary L. Hulse, (formerly
Hulshart.)
Charles, died young.
Ann Eliza, married David Baird.
Eleanor, married Alfred Conover. They are
the parents of the well known lawyer, John
L. Conover of this county.
Emma, married Ferdinand Hyers.
Three other children. Amanda, Jane
and Eugene, died young
In this connection I might say that
Garret Conover by his first wife, Neel-
tje VanMater, had a son named Garret
who married Mary, daughter of the
third Garret Schenck. He owned and
lived on the farm where the late John
W. Herbert lived in Marlboro township,
adjacent. I think, to the farm of the
late Stacy P. Conover. He built the
brick house yet standing where Judge
Herbert lived until his death. Another
Garret H. Conover, son of Hendrick P.
and Ghacey Conover, his wife, owned
and occupied the adjacent farm where
Joshua Smith now lives, and a Garret I.
Conover owned and occupied the farm
where Gideon C. McDowell resides.
This Garret I. Conover was a son of
John G. Conover (a brother of farmer
Jacob Couwenhoven), born May 23, 1760,
and married August 22, 1778, Jane,
daughter of Garret Koertse Schenck
and Nelly Voorhees, his wife, and who
died May 10, 1802. Garret I., the son,
was born March 31, 1785, married a
daughter of Ruliff H. Schenck and died
May 12, 1829. His brother Elias, born
August 10, 1779, was the father of Hen-
drick E. Conover, so will known to
the people of Freehold, and who died
only a few years since and hereinbefore
mentioned with his brothers, John E.
and Ruliff E.
These three farmers all had the same
walnut tree for a beginning corner.
The people of this vicinity in speaking
of these three Garret Conovers, made
up a simple little rhyme which serves
to identify and distinguish them. It
ran thus:
The farms of the Garret Conovers, three:
Garret H., Garret I. and Garret G.,
All butted up to a walnut tree.
36 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
The walnut tree, I understand, was
cut down a few years ago and a slab
from it presented to all the descendants
of the three Garrets who could be
reached, as a relic.
Jacoba Vanderveer, the wife of Jan
Couwenhoven and ancestress of this
Conover line, was born at Flatbush, L.
I. She was baptized April 29, 1686, and
was a daughter of Cornelius Janse Van-
derveer and his wife, Trintje, daughter
of Gillis DeMandeville. Cornelius Janse
Vanderveer came from Holland to
America in the ship Otter, February.
1659. In 1677-8 he purchased a farm
at Flatlands, L. I., where he settled.
One of his daughters, Neeltje, married
Daniel Polhemus. He also had a son,
Dominicus, baptized November 16, 1679.
This Dominicus Vanderveer was
associated with Daniel and Johannes
Polhemus, Auke Lefferts or Leffertson,
Ryck Hendrickson Suydam, Jacob
Hendrickson Suydam and Stephen
Coerten in a purchase of a tract known
as the 1500 acre tract on Swimming
river from Lewis Morris in 1709. This
Auke, or Aukey Lefferts was the prog-
enitor of the Leffertson or Lefferts
family in Monmouth county. He was
born April 4, 1678, married May 29,
1703, Marytje TenEyck, a sister I think,
of Johnnes Polhemus' wife. He died
November 26, 1769, and is interred in
the Polhemus family burying ground
at Scobeyville. Of these purchasers
only Johannes Polhemus and Auke
Leffertson actually settled. The old
deeds for the purchase and subsequent
transfer from Daniel Polhemus to
Johannes Polhemus are still in the pos-
session of the Polhemus family at Pha-
lanx, Atlantic township. In Book I of
Deeds, pages 450, Monmouth county
clerk's office, is record of a deed from
Cornelius Vanderveer of Middletown
township to John Covenhoven of Free-
hold township, dated September 18,
1789. In this deed Cornelius Vander-
veer states that he is a son of Domin-
icus Vanderveer and for the consider-
ation of £1332 he conveys a tract of
330 acres In Shrewsbury township, ly-
ing on both sides of the public road
leading from Tinton Falls to Colts
Neck and between Swimming river and
Fall river or brook, being a part of the
Manor of Tinton, conveyed by Edward
Antill and Anne, his wife, to Cornelius
Vanderveer, March 27, 1741, the grand-
father of said Cornelius, the grantor
in this deed.
There is also record of a deed dated
June 2, 1712, in the Monmouth county
clerk's office from Stephen Warne of
Middlesex county to Tunis Vanderveer
and Cornelius Vanderveer of Flatbush,
Kings county. L. I., for a tract of 350
acres in Freehold township. The Mid-
dle brook of Topanemes, the South
brook of Topanemes and the line of
John Baird's lands are mentioned in
the description. The above named
Tunis and Cornelius Vanderveer were
sons of Dominicus Vanderveer. These
deeds show when and how the Vander-
veers first came into Monmouth county.
Tunis Vanderveer, above named
grantee, married about 1723, Aeltje,
daughter of Garret Schenck of Pleas-
ant Valley, and settled on part of the
above tract. It has been in this family
ever since. David Arthur Vanderveer,
who now owns and occupies it, is a
lineal descendant of Tunis VanDer-
veer and Altje Schenck, his wife. They
had a son Tunis, born April 19, 1739.
He had a son John, born April 4, 1763,
married February 18, 1789, Anna
Bowne. They were the parents of ten
children. Among them were Joseph I.,
born January 9, 1790, and married Jane
Smock; and David I., born April 19,
1806, married February 13, 1828, Mary,
daughter of William Covenhoven and
Janet Davis, his wife. Joseph I. Van-
derveer was a wellknown and a very
popular man through Monmouth coun-
ty, "Uncle Josey Vanderveer," as he
was generally addressed. He had two
or three horses stolen ene night from
his stable. Single handed and in his
everyday clothes he started out the
next morning to find them. His pur-
suit led him through the state of New
Jersey, city of Philadelphia, lower
counties of Pennsylvania into the state
of Maryland, where he found and cap-
tured the thieves and brought his
horses back home. His courage, per-
severance and determination shown in
this adventure was talked of and told
for many years afterwards. His broth-
er, David I. Vanderveer, lived and died
on the old homestead in Freehold town-
ship. His death occurred July 23, 1884.
He left four children surviving him: -
Hannah Matilda, married February 5, 1851,
David Clark Perrine, who was born at Clarks-
burg, Millstone township, October 20, 1816.
He was the well known merchant of
Freehold who made the "Big Red
Store" famous in this part of New Jer-
sey. Their only son, David Vanderveer
Perrine, the leading merchant of Free-
hold, has deepened and widened the
business his father established.
William Conover, b. July 22, 1831.
He removed to and settled in Ohio,
where he still lives.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Farmhouse now (1901) on the Jan Covenhoven farm,
near Wickatunk, N. J., and still owned and occupied
by the descendants of the pioneer family.
Photograph taken by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover
in the summer of 1900.
Old house on Murray homestead in village of Middletown, N. J.,
occupied and owned by Jacob Covenhoven during the latter
part of the eighteenth century.
Photographed in the summer of 1900 by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover
++++++++++++++++++++++++
37 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
John D., b. September 28, 1836, married
November 30, 1859, Jane Ann, daughter of
John Henry Vanderveer and Jane Smock, his wife.
David Arthur, b. June 23, 1844, married
November 2, 1865, Eleanor G., daughter of
Tunis Vanderveer Schenck.
He resides on the old homestead
where his forefathers settled nearly
two centuries ago. Thus both in the
history of Jan Couwenhoven and of the
Vanderveer family in which he married
we find they have held to the present
day the lands in Monmouth county on
which they first settled. This speaks
well for their stability, conservatism
and contentment with things as found.
No family in Monmouth can show a
better record in this respect. In this
connection I may add the late Col. Elias
Conover of Middletown, and Joseph
Conover, father of the late William W.
Conover of Red Bank, and of Sidney
Conover, are descendants of the above
named Jan Couwenhoven and Jacoba
Vanderveer, his wife.
[Error:- Col. Elias Conover and Joseph
Conover are said to be descendants of
William VanCouwenhoven, the
only brother who remained on Long Island,
and one or more of his sons settled at Penns
Neck or vicinity, and it is claimed was the
progenitor of the above named persons and
not John Couwenhoven as stated. I do
know which version is correct.]
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