Monmouth County NJ Archives History....More Hendrickson family: 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.
============================
138 CHILDREN OF DANIEL HENDRICKSON AND
CATHARINE VANDYKE, HIS WIFE.
Annetje, (Ann) the eighth child of
above named parents, was baptized
December 30, 1711, married 1732, Wil-
liam, son of Jacob Couwenhoven and
Saartje Schenck, his wife. Their names
appear as communicants on records of
the Dutch church in 1741 as follows:
"Wilm Couwenhoven and Antje Hen-
drikze, his wife."
They had three children, viz:
Saartje (Sarah) born in 1733, married
Jacob, (born 1730) son of William Wyckoff
and Agnes VanDorn, his wife. Their license
was granted January 7, 1754. She died August
25, 1796, and her husband March 5, 1812, ac-
cording to their headstones in Tennent church
yard.
Daniel, baptized March 30, 1737, married
August 23, 1757, Helena, daughter of George
Taylor, and died December 26, 1808, according
to inscription on his tombstone in Lippet and
Taylor burying ground on the old Daniel J.
Hendrickson farm, now owned by the Morfords
at east end of Middletown village. An old
Bible with name of "Rebecca Covenhoven"
written on front leaf, as owner, contains the
following family record:
"Daniel Covenhoven, born January 27, 1737,
Helena Covenhoven, his wife, was born Feb-
ruary 10, 1737, married August 23, 1757.
Anne Covenhoven, their daughter, was born
July 9, 1758, about nine o'clock in the forenoon.
Rebecka Covenhoven, born March 27, 1761,
about five o'clock in the afternoon.
William Covenhoven, born April 7, 1763,
about five o'clock in the morning.
George Covenhoven, born December 13, 1767,
about three o'clock in the afternoon.
Daniel G. Conover and Sarah Ann Cooper
were married December 16, 1818."
Jacob, third child, was baptized October 14,
1739; no other record.
William Conover, as name is now
spelled, the father of above three chil-
dren, died intestate in 1742, 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
widow, however, did not remain long in
mourning for she married March 17,
1744, William Couwenhoven, (born July
20, 1700; died November 10, 1755) son of
Cornelius Couwenhoven and Margaret
Schenck, his wife, of Pleasant Valley.
He, too, had lost his first wife, Jannetje
Wyckoff and buried her by his father
in the Schenck-Couwenhoven cemetery.
By this second marriage there were
two children, a son and daughter, viz:
Cornelius, born February 11, baptized
April 7, 1746; married January 13, 1767,
Mary (born December 6, 1740, died Jan-
uary 3, 1860), daughter of Hendrick
Hendrickson and Neeltje Schenck, his
wife and heretofore mentioned. He
died October 10, 1806, aged 60 years, 7
months, 27 days, according to his head-
stone in Schenck-Couwenhoven yard.
His will is recorded in Book A of Wills
at Freehold.
By Mary Hendrickson he had follow-
ing four children:
Anne, baptized December 6, 1767 ; married
October 13, 1785, Abram VanHorne.
Nelly, baptized February 24, 1771 ; married
December 14, 1790, Cornelius VanHorne.
Lydia, baptized December 20, 1778 ; married
January 22, 1807, Daniel Polhemus of Middle
sex county, N. J.
William Hendrick, baptized June 2, 1782,
died unmarried September 26, 1805, and is
buried by his father, grandfather, and great-
grandfather in Schenck-Couwenhoven yard.
Catharine, the only daughter, was
baptized April 16, 1749; married Jan-
uary 15, 1767, Nicholas VanBrunt, son
of Nicholas VanBrunt and Geesye Hen-
drickson, his wife, whose names appear
as communicants in records of the
Dutch church in 1731. This Geesye
Hendrickson was a sister of Daniel and
William Hendrickson, the pioneer
settlers. Nicholas VanBrunt was Sher-
iff of Monmouth county in 1778. He
removed all the prisoners in our county
jail to Morris county before the British
army reached Freehold in June, 1778.
He and Colonel Daniel Hendrickson
were deputies to the Provincial Con-
gress of New Jersey from Shrewsbury
township in 1775. He was an active
and zealous patriot during the Revolu-
tion and a Captain in the militia.
By Catharine Couwenhoven, his wife,
he had following children:
Cornelius, baptized July 23, 1769.
Nicholas, baptized August 4, 1771.
Antje, baptized May 8, 1774.
Mary, baptized June 25, 1775.
Hendrick, baptized April 5, 1778.
Daniel Covenhoven, baptized April 30, 1780;
died young.
Sarah Wyckoff, baptized September 28, 1781.
Daniel Conover, baptized November 18, 1787.
Sheriff Nicholas VanBrunt, a few
139 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
years after the close of the Revolution-
ary War, sold his farm near Tinton
Falls to Col. Daniel Hendrickson and
removed with his family to Cherry
Valley, New York, where he lived the
rest of his life.
Francyntje, (Frances) the ninth child
of Daniel Hendrickson and Catharine
VanDyke, his wife, married 1731, Teunis
(born June 15, 1704, died June 10, 1797),
son of Denyse Denyse and Helen Cor-
telyou, his wife, of New Utrecht, L. I.
She was his second wife, as he first
married Catharine, a daughter of Hen-
drick VanDyke, by whom he had one
daughter named Helena, born March 14,
1728; married April 17, 1759, Samuel
Forman (born November 13, 1713; bap-
tized February 13, 1714; died January
18, 1792), a son of Jonathan Forman
and Margaret Wyckoff, his wife. She
died January 20, 1789, and is buried by
her husband in old burying ground at
Mt. Pleasant or Freneau station.
Teunis Denyse married for his third
wife, December 2, 1779, Rachel, daugh-
ter of Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voor-
hees, his wife, and the widow of Geis-
bert Longstreet and Jacob VanDorn. It
was the third venture of both in the
lottery of matrimony. History not only
repeats itself with nations, but with
individuals, for we have today in Mon-
mouth county a lineal descendant of
Teunis Denise, who not only bears the
same name, but has been married three
times and whose second wife was also
a Hendrickson.
Tunis Denyse made his will April 2,
1792, proved January 16, 1798, and rec-
orded in Book 37 of Wills, page 350 at
Trenton. N. J. His son Daniel and son-
in-law, John Forman, are named as ex-
ecutors. His sons-in-law were among
the most influential and prominent of
the patriots during the revolution.
Francyntje Hendrickson and Tunis
Denyse, her husband, had the following
children:
Tryntje, (Catharine) born May 8, 1732: died
September 8, 1771, married Garret Hendrick-
son, (born January 22, 1734 ; died December 2,
1801) who has already been mentioned in a
former article.
Eleanor, baptized May 26, 1734 ; married
John Forman, (born 1731, died 1811) son of
Samuel Forman and Mary, his wife. Their
license was granted May 2, 1752. John Forman
served as one of our county judges. She died
in 1796.
[Error:- Substitute "grandson" for "son"
of Samuel Forman.]
Anna, born June 16, 1736 ; married June 16,
1757, David Forman, (born October 1, 1733;
died March 30, 1812) son of Jonathan Forman
and Margaret Wyckoff, his wife. Their license
was granted June 9, 1757, according to records
in secretary of state's office. She died Septem-
ber 9, 1798, and is buried in Tennent church
yard. David Forman was Brigadier General
of our Monmouth militia during the Revolution
and one of the most energetic and active of
the patriotic leaders. On account of his
swarthy complexion he was called Black David
Forman.
[Error:-strike out "Brigadier General of our
Monmouth Militia" and substitute
"Sheriff of Monmouth county." ]
Nuis or Denyse baptized January 4, 1738,
died young.
Jannetje (Jane) born August 19, baptized
October 2, 1740, married Cornelius R., (born
July 29, baptized September 11, 1740, died July
12, 1796) son of Roelof Cornelius Couwenhoven
and Sarah Voorhees, his wife. Their license
was granted December 5, 1758. She died
March 26, 1799, and is buried by her husband
in Schenck-Couwenhoven yard. This couple
had ten children, three boys and seven daugh-
ters, who all married well. *
Fammetje (Phoebe) born August 11, bap-
tized September 4, 1743: married October 19,
1765, Rev. Benjamin DuBois, the famous pas-
tor for over 50 years of the Monmouth Dutch
church. He was born March 30, 1739, and
died August 12, 1727. [sic 1827?] She died
January 7, 1839, and is buried by her husband in
yard of Marlboro Dutch church.
Denyse, baptized December 22, 1745 ; mar-
ried April 17, 1768, Margaret, daughter of
Richard and Sara Francis, who died April 18,
1770, aged 22 years, 10 months, 24 days, ac-
cording to her headstone in Topanemus bury-
ing ground where she is interred by her par-
ents. He married for his second wife Cath-
arine, daughter of Garret Garretse Schenck
and Jannetze Williamse Couwenhoven, his
wife. She was baptized September 5, 1756.
Denyse Denyse was a major of our militia and
also a judge in our county courts during and
subsequent to the Revolution.
Daniel, baptized May 15, 1748, married first
April 18, 1771, Jane Schenck, who was born
in 1754; married second, Mary Stillwell. Bur-
___________
* Marriages of the ten children of Cornelius
R. Couwenhoven and Jane Denise, his wife,
from records of the Dutch church.
Francinke, to Hendrick Hendrickson, May 13, 1781.
Teunis to Hannah VanBrockle, March 19, 1783.
Sarah, to Robert Ashton, June 21, 1783.
Mary, to Samuel Forman, March 12, 1789.
Rulif, to Sarah Vanderveer, January 12, 1789.
Catherine, to John Vanderveer, April 7, 1791.
Margaret, to Teunis Hobburt (Hubbard)
January 5, 1797.
Eleanor, to Caleb Stillwell, December 10, 1797.
Jane, to Matthias or Martin Covenhoven,
March 10, 1804. She was his first wife and
died December 12, 1820, aged 40 years,
9 month, 6 days.
Cornelius R. to Mary Stoutenburg, March 9, 1807.
Cornelius R. Covenhoven died April 11, 1817,
aged 33 years, 11 months, 8 days. Mary Stout-
enburg, his wife, died April 29, 1861, aged 74
years, 24 days. They were the parents of
Holmes Conover, who married Caroline,
daughter of James G. Crawford, and died May
22, 1860, aged 52 years, 4 months, 13 days. He
was sheriff of Monmouth county. His wife
died August 28, 1843, aged 24 years. Buried
in Schenck-Couwenhoven cemetery, but after-
ward removed to Holmel cemetery.
140 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
ied in old yard near East Freehold.
Mary, born July 9, 1750; married July 31,
1767, John Schenck, the famous leader of our
militia during the Revolution. He was born
August 28, 1745, and died August 28, 1834, on
the farm in Pleasant Valley where his grand-
son, David Schenck, now resides. She died
July 15, 1829. Both were first buried in
Schenck and Couwenhoven yard, but with
many others have been since removed, or
rather what little was left of their bodies has
been removed and their tombstones set up in
the Holmdel cemetery.
John Schenck, who married this
youngest daughter, was next to Gen.
David Forman, his brother-in-law, one
of the most active and daring of the
officers of our county militia. So troub-
lesome was he that the enemy offered
a reward of fifty guineas for his cap-
ture or death.
[Error:- Strike out "Gen." and substitute
"Sheriff" before "David Forman."]
An attempt to capture the notorious
tory, mayor of New York city, David
Matthews, by some Monmouth men led
by John Schenck and William Marriner,
was perhaps the primary cause of this
offer. This was a very bold move and
failed of success through the absence
of Mayor Matthews from home that
night. He had been accidentally de-
tained in New York city.
The kidnapping of prominent patriots
in Monmouth by raiding bands of refu-
gees was of frequent occurrence, and
their treatment as prisoners of the
harshest kind. It is said that Cunning-
ham often boasted when in liquor, that
he had used up more rebels by starva-
tion and neglect than the whole British
army had killed by their bullets and
bayonets. At all events reprisals or
retaliations of some kind were the only-
means left to compel decent treatment
and exchange of prisoners. According-
ly it was resolved to capture David
Matthews and two or three other prom-
inent loyalists w^ho resided at Flatbush,
L. I., and within the lines of the British
army. John Schenck had a number of
relatives living in the vicinity of Flat-
bush, and when a boy had often visited
them and so became well acquainted
with the country and roads. Marriner
presented this plan to the council of
safety who sanctioned it.
Nearly every neighborhood through
which a large stream or creek flowed
into Raritan river, and from Cheese-
quake creek to Compton's creek along
the Bayshore had its association of
men to own and man what was called
a whaleboat. Raritan Bay was wholly
commanded by the guns of the British
men of war so our people were obliged
to hide thier boats up in some swamp
or ravine. The large barges or gun
boats were kept well up Raritan river.
The usual crew of a whaleboat on the
patriot side was fifteen men, of whom
one steered and gave commands while
the others rowed. Picked men of great
physical strength and endurance were
selected. The least sign of cowardice
on part of a man led to his instant dis-
missal from the crew. They were
trained to row without noise and could
propel the boat at the rate of twelve
miles an hour. Each man was armed
with a cutlass and pistols, and the boat
supplied with a few pikes and hooks
on long poles, a few grappling irons,
lanterns and heavy blankets.
These boats were about thirty feet
in length with flat bottoms to float in
shoal water, wide in the centre with
high sides to carry big loads, and point-
ed on both ends. They were called
whaleboats, but altogether different
from the small boats used in the whale
fishery. They were built of cedar or
some other light wood so that they
could be lifted from the water and car-
ried over land by the crew and conceal-
ed in some swamp or ravine up in the
woods. These boats were originally
built to carry on a secret traffic with
the enemy and smuggle goods back and
forth. A whale boat loaded with butter,
eggs, poultry and other farm truck, in
summer, and hay, grain, firewood, etc.,
in winter, slipping out of the inlets, or
rivers on our coast were safe from cap-
ture on the ocean or bay unless inter-
cepted by the whale-boats of the pa-
triots. Coming back with the specie or
other valuable goods after trading with
the enemy, they were valuable prizes
to our people when captured. Trans-
ports loaded with munitions of war and
other supplies for the British army in
occupation of New York were constant-
ly coming and going out of Raritan
Bay. A constant demand existed for
fresh provisions on part of the people
within the British lines and there was
a constant traffic to supply this demand.
An association of men existed through
this region back of Middletown Point,
as Matawan was then called, who had
two whale-boats hid in the ravines
southeast of the village. These men
were seen by John Schenck and agreed
to help him and Marriner in their raid.
The first cloudy or dark night was
agreed on. This happened the second
Saturday in June, 1778. Eleven of the
regular crew met Marriner and Schenck
at Brown's Point late in the afternoon.
The boat was taken from its hiding
place and launched in the Creek a little
after sunset. The sky was overcast
with clouds and there was every indi-
141 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
cation of an easterly storm. They rowed
directly across to Staten Island, and
guided by the lights which shone out
from the houses on land skirted the
shore until they reached the Narrows.
Here they rowed across and landed
some distance above what is now Fort
Hamilton. Leaving two men in charge
of the boat and guided by John Schenck
they went over to Flatbush. They
reached here about midnight and effect-
ed a noiseless entrance into the dwell-
ing of Mayor Matthews. The women
were placed in one room under guard,
but the mayor was not at home. They
took however, four of his negro slaves.
At the next house they captured a
Major Monerieff and a Mr. Bache. With
these two white men and four negroes
they got back to their boat without ex-
citing the least alarm. They rowed
back and reached the mouth of Mat-
awan creek with their six prisoners by
daylight next morning. A newspaper
of that day in speaking of this raid
says they traveled over fifty miles be-
tween six o'clock Saturday night and
six o'clock next morning and behaved
with the greatest prudence and bravery.
This spiriting away of prominent men
at night from their homes within the
British lines naturally aroused great
alarm. No one felt safe or secure
against capture and same treatment as
they gave the American prisoners.
Their fears made them more humane.
Following is the British account of
the Flatbush raid from the journal of
Lieut. Col. Stephen Kemble, published
in N. Y. Hist. Collection for year 1883,
Vol. 1, pages 151-2.
"Sunday, June 14, 1778. About 2
o'clock this morning, a party, said to
be about 20 men, some armed, others
not, with faces blacked, took off Major
Moncreiffe and Mr. Bache. Attempted
the Mayor. Mr. Matthews' house, but it
being well fastened, and a shot being
fired, which they apprehended might
give the alarm, induced them to go off,
with the two first mentioned gentle-
men, supposed into Jersey, but at this
time no certain account can be given.
All else is quiet."
In this account the Mayor is left out
as though he was home and his house
fastened, but the truth is he was not
at home, and if a shot had been fired
it would have created an alarm as the
British sentinels were posted all around
for Flatbush was within their lines.
Jannetje, (Jane) the tenth child and
youngest of the seven daughters of
Daniel Hendrickson. was born and
brought up on the homestead at Holm-
del. She married Ruliph, (born March
1, 1712) a son of Jacob Couwenhoven
and Saartje Schenck, his wife, their
nearest neighbors. She had known him
from her earliest recollections. They
had played and romped together, sung
Dutch nursery songs and followed the
customs and usages which prevailed at
that time among their own people. The
same characteristics, manners and us-
ages marked them as those described
by Miss Gertrude Lefferts Vanderbilt in
her book called "The Social History of
Flatbush and the Manners and Customs
of the Dutch in Kings County, L. I."
They were the children of these Long
Island people and were like them in all
respects, for the "Dutch were not given
to change but were stable in all their
ways." It was not until the Revolu-
tionary war tore up the foundations of
society and government, that there was
any great change in families and class-
es. Up to this time the Dutch language
was generally used in family inter-
course or the home life. Theree are a
few persons now living, born and
brought up in Pleasant Valley, Holmdel
township, who can remember when
children, of hearing and singing the
words of the following Dutch nursery
song which Miss Vanderbilt has pub-
lished in her book:
Trip, a trop, a tronjes,
De Varkens in de boonjes,
De Koejes in de Klaver.
De paarden in de haver,
De eenjes in de waterplass.
So groot myn Kleine Claus-was."
These lullabies and a few words like
"stoep," "Mickey," "paas," "skipper"
and "baas" (boss) are the last linger-
ing echoes of the mother tongue once
spoken by those old settlers in Mon-
mouth who came from Kings county on
Long Island.
There is a wide difference in the
spirit and sentiment expressed in these
lullabies of the Dutch, from those of
the English, or Mother Goose melodies'
as called.
The former represented people and
animals comfortable and contented,
pleasant associations and memories,
and cheerful and sunny prospects. Or
they inculcated some lesson of indus-
try, economy, faithfulness or other
everyday virtue. Their saint Santa
Claus was jolly and benevolent, always
doing generous and kindly acts. But
childhood and youthful days soon pass.
On the 12th of August A. D. 1741, Jan-
netje Hendrickson married Ruliph Cou-
wenhoven. Their marriage license is
published in full on page 34 of Wells'
Memorial Address at Brick Church. It
142 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
was signed by Lewis Morris so prom-
inent in the early history of Monmouth
county, but at that time Governor of
New Jersey. These licenses are all
recorded in secretary of state's office at
Trenton and in annexed note is a list
from the records of all licenses issued
to the Hendricksons and Hendricks in
Monmouth county, between 1748 and
1772. Jannetje and Ruliph Couwen-
hoven her husband, had three children,
viz:
Sarah, bapt. August 12, 1742, married in
1763 Benjamin (baptized October 10, 1742)
son of Benjamin VanCleaf and Helina or
Neeltje Couwenhoven, his wife.
Daniel, baptized January 15, 1744. No other
knowledge.
Catrina, baptized Feb. 16, 1746, married
February 28, 1765, David (baptized September
25, 1748) son of Tunis Vanderveer and Aeltje
Garretse Schenek, his wife. This couple had
a son Tunis, who married December 12, 1792,
Margaret, a daughter of Rev. Benjamin DuBois.
Ruliph Couwenhoven died intestate
in 1746. Letters of administration on
his estate were granted same year to
his brother, Peter Couvenhoven, and
his brothers-in-law, William Hendrick-
son and Tunis Denise.
Jannetje, however, did not remain a
widow long, for the next year, 1747, she
married Peter, a son of Jan Schanck
and Saartje Couwenhoven of Pleasant
Valley. He had lost his first wife, Jan-
netje VanNostrand or Ostrandt and was
ready for another. By Peter Schenck
she had following children:
Roelef P., known as "Long Ruly" born Dec-
ember 27, 1748, baptized January 22, 1749,
married Elizabeth Gordon (born December 8,
1757, died August 15, 1837) and died November
26, 1814. Both buried in Tennent church yard.
Jannetje, born June 1, bapt. July 28, 1751 ;
married December 5, 1769, John Walter (born
June 11, 1730, died October 11, 1775, according
to his headstone in Schenck-Couwenhoven cem-
etery) and died January 5, 1774. A son of
this couple named John Walter, is buried by
them in above yard and his headstone gives
date of his death October 13, 1837, aged 66
years and 11 months.
Antje, baptized September 30, 1753, mar-
ried Garret Janse Couwenhoven. She was his
second wife and died April 5, 1803, according
to her headstone in yard of Marlboro Brick
Church. Her children have been already
named in Conover genealogy.
Leah, baptized November 9, 1755, married
November 30, 1775, John, (baptized August 26,
1750) son of Benjamin VanCleaf and Neeltje
or Helena Couwenhoven, his wife.
Francyntje, baptized March 7, 1762, married
February 5, 1803, William Nicolas.
Neeltje, baptized June 17, 1759. No other
record
Hendrickson marriage licenses as
recorded at Trenton, in office of the Sec-
retary of State between 1748 and 1772.
Elizabeth, Monmouth, John Vanderbilt,
Staaten Island, 20 May 1754.
Catharine, Monmouth, Jacob Remsen. Sr.,
New York, 11 Aug, 1749.
Mary, Monmouth, Corn's Conover, Mon-
mouth, 12 July 1767.
Neeltje, (widow) Monmouth, Elias Golden,
Monmouth, 30 July 1761.
Abram, Kings Co., Anna van Kirk, Mon-
mouth, 23 May 1759.
Albert, Monmouth, Johanna Mills, Mon-
mouth, 3 Jan. 1755.
Coonradt, Monmouth, Mary English, Mon-
mouth, 18 June 1759.
Cornelius, Monmouth, Mary Thorn, 28 Jan. 1767.
DAniel, Middlesex, Eleanor van Mater, Mon-
mouth, 14 Nov. 1758.
Daniel, jr., Monmouth, Mary Schenck, Mon-
mouth, 2 Sept. 1767.
Garret, Monmouth, Catharine Denice, Mon-
mouth, 8 Dec. 1755.
Hendrick, Middletown, Sara Thomson, Mid-
dletown, 3 April 1751.
Hendrick, Monmouth, Ledy Conover, Mon-
mouth, 7 March 1757.
Jacob, Monmouth, Elizabeth Mount, Mon-
mouth, 2 May 1771.
Tobias, Rebecca Coward, 21 March 1762.
William, Charity Robinson, Monmouth,
21 Dec. 1756.
William, Monmouth, Mary Douglas, 22 Apr 1762.
William, Monmouth, Rachel Longstreet, 22 Feb. 1768.
Hendricks, Abraham, Monmouth, Mary
Wykoff, Monmouth, 17 Dec. 1754.
Hendricks, Coonradt, Monmouth, Mercy
Knott, 17 June 1763.
Hendricks, John, Monmouth, Phoebe Smith,
31 Oct. 1759.
Hendrickson marriages from records of
Dutch church, prior to 1825:
Jannetje, to Roelof Covenhoven, Aug. 12, 1741.
Daniel, to Catherine Covenhoven, Dec. 22, 1743.
Ann, to William Covenhoven, March 17, 1744.
Mary, to Cornelius Covenhoven, Jan. 13, 1767.
Williampe, to Aaron Longstreet, Nov. 9, 1778.
Hendrick, to Francinke Covenhoven, May 13, 1781.
Cornelius, to Lydia Vanderbilt, March 24, 1785.
Catharine, to Cornelius VanDerHove, Nov. 29, 1785.
Denise, to Anne Schenck, March 24, 1786.
Hendrick, to Phoebe VanMater, Jan. 20, 1791.
John, to Mary Lloyd, Nov. 27, 1793.
Ida, to Joseph Kearney VanMater, Sept. 10, 1794.
Catharine, to Peter Brewer, Sept. 18, 1794.
William, to Elizabeth Vanderrype, Nov. 26, 1797.
Mary, to William VanMater, Dec. 24, 1797.
Catherine, to Jacobus Hubbert (Hubbard)
May 2, 1798.
Anne, to Garret Terhune, Oct. 3, 1799.
Lydia, to Hendrick Brewer, March 16, 1802.
143 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Gerret D., to Jane Hendrickson, March 23, 1808.
William H., to Eleanor DuBois, Jan. 2, 1812.
Pierson, to Sarah VanDorn, Aug. 7, 1823.
Cyrenius, to Ida VanMater, Sept. 18, 1823.
HENDRICKSON marriages from Book A
of marriages in Monmouth clerk's office:
Pace 8 William, to Hannah Middleton, Feb. 7, 1796.
Page 35 Daniel, to Sarah Covenhoven, Dec. 21, 1797.
Page 40 Cornelius, to Catherine Reynolds,
both of Freehold township. Sept. 26, 1799.
Page 45 William, to Eleanor Emmons, both
of Freehold township, April 4, 1800.
Page 59 Cornelius, to Anne Smith (widow)
April 11, 1802.
Page 59 Hendricks, John, to Christianna
VanDeventer, Aug. 15, 1802.
Page 69 Hendrickson, Joseph, to Catherine
Anderson, both of Freehold township, Nov. 20, 1803.
Page 96 Peter, to Catherine Cox, both of
Upper Freehold township, Dec. 19, 1807.
Page 85 Hendrick, of Middletown, to
Helenah Longstreet of Shrewsbury township,
Oct, 18, 1806.
Page 88 Samuel, to Deborah Combs Dec. 6, 1803.
Page 89 William, to Ruth Horsefull, June 3, 1804.
Page 148 Jacob, to Sarah Vanderveer, Feb. 18, 1810.
Page 148 Tobias, to Idah Conover, Feb. 10, 1813.
Page 160 James G., to Hannah Morris, March 3, 1813.
Page 161 Daniel, to Deborah Tilton, Jan. 12, 1813.
Page 209 William, to Sarah Luyster May 8, 1816.
Page 215 Joseph, to Elizabeth Hendrickson, June 1, 1816.
Daniel, the eleventh and youngest
child of the first Daniel, was born,
lived, died and was buried on the home-
stead at Holland in the present town-
ship of Holmdel, which was devised to
him by his father. He was born Jan-
uary 5, baptized May 5, 1723, married
December 22, 1743, Catherine (born
June 2, 1720, died May 5, 1810,) the
youngest child of Cornelius Couwen-
hoven and Margaretta Schenck his wife,
and died intestate June 24, 1788. The
records in our secretary of state's office
show that letters of administration on
his estate were granted to his widow,
July 31, 1788.
The headstones at their graves in the
family burying ground on the old
homestead, give their names, dates of
death and respective ages. Their son
Hendrick, grandson William H. and
great-grandson, the late Hon. William
Henry Hendrickson, who all lived and
died on this farm, are interred in this
same burying ground.
Daniel Hendrickson and his wife
Catherine, with his eldest sister Geesye,
and youngest sister Jannetje, joined
the Dutch church of Monmouth to-
gether in 1747. From this time to his
death Daniel Hendrickson was very
zealous and active in church work. In
his own home he conducted regularly
family worship by reading the Scrip-
tures and prayer, and when requested,
at the houses of his neighbors. Some-
times when the regular minister was
absent or sick he would conduct the
services on Sunday from the pulpit. It
is said that he could preach almost as
good a sermon as the pastor himself.
A sermon written by him and printed
in the Dutch language was in the pos-
session of the late Rev. Garret C.
Schenck, whose first wife was his great-
granddaughter. The Dutch settlers of
Monmouth while not demonstrative,
theatrical, or noisy in their religion or
worship were nevertheless firm and
practical believers in an everyday Prov-
idence.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart, and lean not unto thine own
understanding," was a real conviction
in their minds. Daniel Hendrickson
voiced these convictions and sentiments
so often, that he became known as
"Dominie Dan'll Hendrickson" and was
called "Dominie" to the day of his
death. Those of his numerous des-
cendants who have followed in his foot-
steps and who have lived and died on
this fertile farm with its healthful sur-
roundings, and beautiful scenery, and
enjoyed the good will of their neigh-
bors have good reason to say as "Dom-
inie Daniel" did in his day:
"Except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build it; except
the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain."
"They that trust in the Lord, shall be
as Mount Zion, which cannot be re-
moved but abideth forever."
"The sun shall not smite thee by
day, nor the moon by night."
"The Lord shall preserve thee from
all evil. He shall preserve thy soul."
"The Lord shall preserve thy going
out, and thy coming in from this time
forth and even forever more."
Daniel Hendrickson by Catherine
Couwenhoven his wife, had following
children:
Daniel D., born October 29, baptized
December 9, 1744: married Elizabeth
(born June 21, 1763, died July 30, 1836,)
a daughter of Daniel Stephenson or
Stevenson, who owned the farm which
lay adjacent to the Hendrickson home-
stead at Holland on the north, and
144 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
being the same farm the late Hon.
William B. Hendrickson lived and died
on. Through this marriage he acquired
the Stevenson farm for in the division
of the real estate of his father no share
was allotted to him. He probably had
all the land he wanted and took his
share in the personal property of his
father. During the Revolutionary war
he commanded a troop of light horse-
men and rendered good service to the
patriotic side. He has sometimes been
confounded with his cousin, Colonel
Daniel Hendrickson, who commanded
the 3rd Regiment of Monmouth militia
and resided at Tinton Falls. Like other
officers of our militia he suffered great
pecuniary loss through the neglect of
his private business and devoting his
time and means during the seven years'
war to the American cause. He died
November 23, 1836, and was over ninety-
two years of age. He and his wife are
buried on the farm where he lived.
There are only four graves in this
family burying ground which is near
the residence of the late Hon. William
B. Hendrickson. viz: these two and
their son, Daniel D. and his wife, Cath-
erine Bedle.
Daniel D. Hendrickson and Elizabeth
Stevenson, his wife, had two sons, viz:
Daniel D. and William D. The latter
married May 8, 1816, Sarah, (born July
12, 1795, died October 15, 1821,) daugh-
ter of John P. Luyster and Anne Cou-
wenhoven, his wife. He died January
14, 1823, aged 30 years, 2 months, 15
days, according to his tombstone in the
Luyster family burying ground at Hol-
land. His will is recorded at Freehold
in B of Wills, p. 316, etc. He left sur-
viving two children, both daughters:
one of them named Anne Luyster, mar-
ried James Madison Burrows, the other
Elizabeth Stephenson, married Joel
Stout. Daniel D., the other son, was
born April 22, 1786, married Catherine,
(born September 28, 1787, died January
12, 1859) daughter of Thomas Bedle,
and died May 15, 1858, and was buried
on the farm where he was born, lived
and died. He was a Captain of a com-
pany of militia of Monmouth county,
which during the war of 1812 was sta-
tioned at Sandy Hook, and was gener-
ally known or called by the people
"Captain Daniel Hendrickson." He was
also active in the erection of the Dutch
church at Middletown village in 1836.
At the first meeting of those friendly
to the erection of a Dutch church in
Middletown village, held at the tavern
of William Wilson in this village, Feb-
ruary 25, 1836, he was appointed chair-
man of the committee to select and
purchase a location for the church
edifice. He was also on the committee
to oversee the work. His will was
made August 18, 1851, proved June 24,
1858, and recorded at Freehold in G of
Wills, p. 133, etc. He gave the use of
all his property to his widow for life
and at her death he devised all his
lands together with his personal prop-
erty and "cider house and distillery" on
the farm to his son, William B. Hen-
drickson. This devise is subject to
payments of certain sums to his eight
living daughters and the children of
his daughter, Martha Winters, deceased,
and children of his son, Daniel B. Hen-
drickson, deceased.
Captain Daniel D. Hendrickson by
Catherine Bedle, his wife, had three
sons and ten daughters. One of the sons
and one daughter died young, the others
grew up and married. Only one of this
large family is now living, viz: Hen-
rietta, who married Daniel, son of
James Wilson, who now (1901) owns
and occupies the Wilson homestead.
Mrs. Henrietta Wilson is still living on
this farm adjacent to the one where she
was born and raised.
Daniel B., one of Captain Daniel's
sons, was married and settled on a farm
at Nut Swamp where he died when a
young man, leaving one son, Joseph A.
Hendrickson, who now (1901) owns
and resides on this farm, and is one of
the prominent and respected farmers of
Middletown township.
[Omission:- After word township, add
"and another son named Edgar who served
with credit during the great rebellion
as a soldier of the Union."]
William B., to whom the homestead
was devised, was born February 10,
1830, married November 24, 1852, Cath-
erine, daughter of Joseph S. Applegate.
Esq. He represented Monmouth county
in the Assembly in 1872-3 and was one
of the influential citizens of Middletown
township. A sketch of his life and a
fair likeness can be seen in Ellis' His-
tory of Monmouth county. He died on
the farm where he was born and al-
ways lived, a few years ago, leaving
two children, a son and daughter. Cor-
nelius, second son of Daniel Hendrick-
son and Catherine Couwenhoven, his
wife, was born August 28, baptized Oct-
ober 11, 1747, married March 24, 1784,
Lydia (baptized November 22, 1761, died
October 22, 1822) daughter of Cornelius
VanDerbilt and Margaretta Lamberson.
his wife.* and died October 10, 1802. He
and his wife are buried in family yard
on the old Hendrickson homestead at
Holland. He served during the Revolu-
tion in his brother's, Captain Daniel
Hendrickson's troop of light horsemen
and also under Colonel Asher Holmes.
After his father's death in 1788, his
share in real estate was arranged by
______
* Cornelius VanDerbilt was a son of Aris
VanDerbilt and Jannetje Cornelise Couwen-
hoven, his wife. He died August 18, 1800,
aired 69 years, 3 months, 7 days, according to
inscription on his tombstone in yard of Middle-
town Dutch church.
___________
145 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
deeds, from his sister Catherine and
brothers Daniel D. and Hendrick. The
principal tract deeded to him lay north
of the present Daniel Wilson farm and
east of Mahoras brook and extended
well down toward Harmony school
house.
His son, Daniel C, was born January
11, 1785, married January 12, 1813, to
Deborah Tilton, by Rev. Benjamin Ben-
nett, and died September 7, 1863. He is
buried on the homestead farm at Hol-
land. Cornelius also had two daugh-
ters, who were both baptized June 15,
1788, viz: first Margaret, who married.
May 31, 1809, Daniel Herbert, died April
5, 1883. Daniel Herbert died October
6, 1836, aged 57 years, 3 months, 2 days.
Both are buried in yard of Middletown
Dutch church. Second Catherine, born
January 8, 1788, married Murphy Tilton,
died September 24, 1881, and is buried
in family yard on homestead.
Daniel C. Hendrickson and Deborah
Tilton had a son Cornelius, born April
17, 1814, married Mary, daughter of
John G. Taylor and Elizabeth Couwen-
hoven, his wife. Also a son, Daniel T.,
born in 1822, married Deborah Ann
Morris, and died March 26, 1857, aged
35 years, 1 month. 28 days, according
to inscriptions on his headstone in yard
of Middletown Dutch church.
The third child and only daughter of
Daniel Hendrickson and Catherine Cou-
wenhoven, his wife, was Catherine,
born August 8, baptized September 30,
1753, and died unmarried on the home-
stead where she always lived, March
1st, 1835, aged 81 years, 6 months, 23
days, according to inscription on the
headstone at her grave in the home-
stead burying ground. Her will record-
ed at Freehold in C of Wills, page 4 59,
etc., is very voluminous for she remem-
bers with some kind of gift nearly all
her nephews and nieces.
The fourth child of the second Daniel
Hendrickson was Hendrick, born May 2, baptized
June 12, 1758, married May 13, 1781.
Francinke, (b. Nov. 18, 1763, d. March
26, 1845,) daughter of Cornelius R.
Covenhoven and Jane Denise, his wife,
who have been mentioned in a former
article. Hendrick died December 1,
1840, aged 82 years, 6 months, 29 days,
and is buried on the homestead where
he always lived. William, the fifth and
youngest child of the second Daniel
Hendrickson, was baptized November
22, 1761, and died young and unmarried.
As the father of these children died
intestate June 24, 1788, the three sur-
viving sons and daughter by amicable
arrangement among themselves divided
the real estate.
As the father of these children died
intestate June 24, 1788, the three sur-
viving sons and daughter by amicable
arrangement among themselves divided
the real estate.
In Book K of Deeds, page 56, etc.,
Monmouth Clerk's office, we find record
of a deed executed August 6, 1789, from
Daniel, Cornelius, and Hendrick Hen-
drickson, the three sons to their sister
Catherine Hendrickson. It is recited
therein that the grantors and grantee
are the only children and heirs-at-law
of Daniel Hendrickson of Middletown
township, who lately died intestate.
That they have agreed among them-
selves as to shares of each in the real
estate of their father and by this deed
the three sons convey and quitclaim to
their sister Catherine, her heirs and
assigns forever, the following described
lands and premises, situate in said
township of Middletown. The tract first
described begins at an apple tree stand-
ing at the southeast corner and begin-
ning of a line settled by releases be-
tween Johannes Luyster and Daniel
Hendrickson, dated April 11, 1745. Then
follows a particular description by
chains and links, and that it is the
westermost part of the home tract
"whereon said Daniel Hendrickson did
live."
Then comes a general dedescription of
a tract containing 122 87-100 acres,
bounded southerly in part by Luyster's
land and in part by a branch of Mahor-
as brook and Colonel Daniel Hendrick-
son's land; westerly, in part by land
formerly John Bowne's* esquire, de-
____
* John Bowne was the eldest son of Obadiah
Bowne and had one son Andrew, and two
daughters, Lydia and Catherine. His daugh-
ter Catherine, married William, son of George
Crawford. His son Andrew, died unmarried.
His will was proved January 13, 1776, and
recorded in Book M of Wills, page 10, etc., at
Trenton, N. J. He devised all his real estate
to John and William Crawford, sons of his
sister Catherine, subject to payment of £250
to their sister, Esther Crawford. Residue of
his estate is left to John, William, and Esther
Crawford, the three children of his sister,
Catherine Crawford. William Crawford, Rob-
ert Hartshorne, and Garret Wall of Mount
Pleasant, were appointed executors ; will is
witnessed by William Hendrickson, Richard
Crawford and Safety Bowne. John and Wil-
liam Crawford divided the real estate so left,
and John Crawford became owner of the part
next to the Hendrickson homestead and which
John Bowne had owned in his life time. John
Crawford was the father of the late James G.
Crawford of Crawford's Corner, Holmdel township.
146 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
ceased, now John Crawford's and in
part by Colonel Daniel Hendrickson's
land; northerly, by a brook coming
from the hills and Humphrey Wall and
John Stillwell's lands, and easterly by
the east-most line named in this par-
ticular description first given. It is
then stated that part of the said land
was purchased of John Whitlock by-
Daniel Hendrickson, the elder, by deed
dated May 16, 1698, and the other part
by deed from Garret Wall, dated Dec-
ember 29, 1709. Four and one half acres
of fresh meadow lying on the north
side of a neck of woodland and convey-
ed by John Wall to Daniel Hendrickson
the elder, by deed dated May 8, 1711,
and two and two-fifths acres of salt
meadow at Shoal Harbour, are also
conveyed to Catherine Hendrickson by
this deed.
Catherine Hendrickson, however, did
not retain this land long, for on April
1st, 1800, by deed of that date and for
the consideration of $2,000, she con-
veyed all the above premises to her
brother, Hendrick Hendrickson. This
deed is recorded at Freehold in L of
deeds, p. 571, etc., and gave Hendrick
the ownership of all the original home-
stead owned by the first Daniel and
devised by him to his youngest son,
Daniel. Hendrick Hendrickson by his
will left all these lands to his grandson,
the late Hon. William Henry Hendrick-
son, so well known to the present gen-
eration of our people in Monmouth
county.
By deed dated August 26, 1789, rec-
orded in same book K of deeds, page
67, etc., Daniel, Cornelius and Catherine
Hendrickson convey and quitclaim to
Hendrick Hendrickson the eastermost
part of the homestead on which their
deceased father lived. In particular
description first given the "Southwest
corner of a mill dam" and "the middle
of the floodgate" are called for as mon-
uments. Then follows a general des-
cription as 154 acres bounded southerly
and easterly by Luyster's land and in
part easterly by Mahoras brook; north-
erly in part by John Stillwell's line and
a small brook coming from the hills,
and in part by the lower edge of the
upland bank on south side of the mead-
ow on said brook; westerly, by the
westermost line named in the particular
description.
Six and four-fifths acres of salt
meadow at Shoal Harbour was also
conveyed, and then reference to chain
of title same as in above deeds to Cath-
erine. These two deeds were witnessed
by William Crawford, John Covenhoven
and Colonel Asher Holmes and were
proved by affidavits of Colonel Asher
Holmes before Hendrick Hendrickson,
one of the judges of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas of Monmouth county on Feb-
ruary 10, 1792.
In this same book K of deeds, page
71, etc, is a record of the deed from
Daniel, Hendrick, and Catherine Hen-
drickson to Cornelius Hendrickson,
dated August 26, 1789, with same wit-
nesses and proof of execution before
Judge Hendrick Hendrickson. Several
tracts are conveyed by this deed. First
a tract of 119 acres and in the particu-
lar description given, the "southwest
corner of the milldam where it joins the
uplands" and "middle of floodgates"
were called for as monuments. Then
follows a general description as 119
acres more or less, bounded easterly by
lands of John Taylor. Esq., northerly by
Aumack's now Edward Taylor, deceas-
ed, land, westerly in part and in part
northerly, by lands formerly Daniel
Stevenson's now in possession of Daniel
Hendrickson, Junior, and in part by
Mahoras brook as it now runs, which
tract of land was deeded by John Tay-
lor. Esq.,* to Daniel Hendrickson, de-
ceased, by deed dated August 10, 1763,
together, with half part of grist mill
built by said Daniel Hendrickson, and
the right and privilege of digging and
carting off earth for use in making,
mending and repairing the mill dam
from southwest of said milldam forever.
Also a tract of 157 acres near "Whak-
ake" and four and one-half acres of
salt meadow on east side of "Whakake
Creek." Half of 36 acres situate a mile
south of "Sandy Hook" (Raritan) "Bay"
and one and one-half miles southwest
of Point Comfort: 50 acres on north side
of public road from Middletown to
Perth Amboy. and six and one-half
acres of salt meadow at Shoal Harbour,
are likewise conveyed to Cornelius
Hendrickson by this deed. No share
in his father's land is conveyed to Dan-
iel who at this time owned and occupied
the Stevenson farm. The father may
have advanced money to him to pur-
chase this land or he may have taken
his share in personal property or in
money.
______
* John Taylor. Esq. was appointed sheriff, first
in 1751, and held office to 1754, when Robert
Cummings succeeded him. He was again ap-
pointed sheriff of Monmouth county in 1757 for
three years. At the breaking out of the Revo-
lutionary war he was one of the judges of our
county courts. He was also one of the Peace
Commissioners appointed by Admiral Howe on
the part of the British government. In 1792 he
sold his farm at Middletown Village to George
Crawford and a few years after removed to
Perth Amboy where he died.
147 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Hendrick Hendrickson by Francinke
Couwenhoven, his wife, had the follow-
ing children:
Catherine, baptized March 14, 1782,
married May 23, 1803, Garret Lane, and
resided with her husband at Piscata-
way, Middlesex county, N. J. She had
the following children:
Hendrick Hendrickson, bap. June 3, 1807.
Eliza Jane, born Sept. 22, 1809.
William Hendrickson, twins born Sept. 24, 1811.
Garret Smock
John, born April 21, 1814.
William H., born January 28, 1787,
married January 12, 1812, Eleanor (b.
Aug. 19, 1792, d. Sept. 25, 1879,) daugh-
ter of Charles DuBois and Anne Hen-
drickson, and already mentioned among
the descendants of Daniel Hendrickson
and Eleanor VanMater, his wife. Wil-
liam H. Hendrickson died February 9,
1831, and was buried on the homestead.
He left a will proved before Peter C.
Vanderhoef, Surrogate, April 2, 1831,
and recorded in C of Wills, page 194,
etc. As his father was living at this
time he left no real estate, only per-
sonal property. He mentions in this
will the gold watch which once be-
longed to his brother-in-law, Peter
DuBois.
Jane, born March 6, 1792, married
March 23, 1808, Garret D. Hendrickson.
(b. July 7, 1787, d. Oct. 12, 1861) and
died August 5, 1875. Both buried in
family yard on homestead farm at Hol-
land. Their children have been named
in a former article.
Hendrick Hendrickson made his will
December 9, 1834, proved December 21,
1840, and recorded at Freehold in D of
Wills, page 310, etc. He provides for
his widow, Francinke, and mentions his
daughters, Catherine Lane, and Jane,
wife of Garret D. Hendrickson. "The
farm of 296 acres where I now live"
with all stock, etc., on same, he devises
in fee to his grandson, William Henry
Hendrickson. The following clause also
appears in his will: "I do hereby re-
serve one acre of land on the farm
where I now live to be used as a bury-
ing ground for the Hendrickson family
and their connections, which said
graveyard is to include the present
graveyard and as much land on each
side of it as shall make said acre." A
codicil is added August 1, 1836, in
which he directs that the widow and
children of his deceased son William,
shall reside with him and no charge be
made against them for maintenance.
In his will he orders his grandson, Wil-
liam Henry to pay to his sisters, Sarah
Ann, Francinke, and Mary, $2,000 each.
William Henry, son of Hendrick Hen-
drickson, married January 12, 1812.
Eleanor DuBois, and had the following
children:
William Henry, born June 3, 1813,
married first, February 28, 1839, Eliza-
beth Woodward: married second, Mrs.
Rebecca P. Fields, widow of Thomas
Fields. He twice represented Mon-
mouth county in New Jersey Senate and
was one of the leading and respected
citizens of Monmouth county. A very
good likeness and full history of his
life appears in Ellis' history of Mon-
mouth county.
Sarah Ann, born April 14, 1816, mar-
ried, October 21, 1834, Rev. Garret C.
Schanck (b. September 14, 1806, d. Sept-
ember 17, 1888,) and died February 20,
1843. Both buried in yard of Marlboro
Brick church.
Charles DuBois, born April 21, 1818,
died October 31 1834.
Francinke, born August 18, 1822, mar-
ried March 4, 1840, George W. Cox, and
died April 29, 1854. Buried by her hus-
band in yard of Yellow Meeting House,
Upper Freehold.
Mary, born October 1, 1825, married
December 25, 1856, Henry Corlies, (born
October 20, 1821, and son of Benjamin
W. Corlies.) She died in August, 1898.
148 WILLIAM HENDRICKSON, OR WILM HENDRICKS,
AS WRITTEN, BROTHER OF DANIEL.
Wilm Hendricks, as he wrote his
name, was a brother of Daniel Hen-
drickson, the first settler at Holland,
in the present township of Holmdel. I
think Hendrick Hendricks, the father
of Daniel and William, lived in Mon-
mouth between 1694 and 1706. Our
court minutes for this period show that
one Hendrick Hendricks served on the
grand jury and also on a coroner's
jury, called to view a corpse thrown up
by the sea on Sandy Hook beach. After
above dates no Hendrick Hendricks is
named on our public records as resident
of this county until Daniel's eldest son
arrived at age. Hendrick Hendricks
was a widower and married again about
1706, Helen Cortelyou, the widow of
Nicholas VanBrunt and of Dionyse
Denyse. After this marriage it is said
that he lived with his wife on lands at
New Utrecht, L. I., which her father,
Jacques Cortelyou, had devised to her.
William Hendricks is first mentioned
in our county records as one of the
persons who broke up Governor Hamil-
ton's and Lewis Morris' court at Mid-
dletown village, March 25, 1701, as has
been already related. In Book I of
Deeds, page 219, Secretary of State's
office, is record of an agreement be-
tween William Hendricks and Jarret
Wall of Middletown, Monmouth county,
dated June 17, 1703, fixing division line
between their lands. The beginning of
the line is fixed at mouth of William
Hendricks' ditch on west side of Ma-
horas brook and to run due west from
this point to west side of Hendrickson
land. On page 152 of court minutes of
Monmouth under date of December 6,
1709, William Hendrickson with others
appears before the court as a committee
from Dutch church to present Joseph
Morgan as their pastor. He is also
mentioned in these same minutes in
record of two public highways laid out
by the commissioners. The first under
date of September 27, 1705, of a highway
from Middletown to the county line
towards Amboy. "William Hendricks
mill" is named as on line of this road.
In the return of another road laid out
April 2, 1706, the beginning is at "Wil-
liam Hendricks' mill" and running
thence "direct to Cocowders' brook,
where Walter Wall's path went over,
and then to Ruckman's path which goes
to Waykake." This road return is pub-
lished in full on page 266-7, Old Times
in Old Monmouth.
Some forty years ago the remains of
an old dam, extending about half across
the meadow, could be seen a few hun-
dred feet south of the dwelling house
where Joseph Dorsett lived until his
death, and where George Dorsett, his
father, had lived before him. The
track of the New York and Long Branch
railroad run a little distance north of
this place. The banks on both sides of
the Mahoras meadow south of this old
dam are quite high. The east bank
curves around to the west so as to
make a natural dam half the width of
the meadow. The Mahoras brook which
flows north along the west bank of the
meadow makes a turn opposite the re-
mains of this old dam and for a short
distance flows westerly and then turns
northerly along the farm of the late
Hon. William B. Hendrickson. It only
needs a short dam across this narrow
neck of the meadow to unite the east
and west banks, and so dam up the
waters of Mahoras brook. In the divis-
ion deeds, between the children of the
second Daniel Hendrickson executed in
1789 and heretofore mentioned, this
dam and floodgates are referred to as
monuments in the description.
The fact that the deceased father had
erected a mill and conveyance of half
of same to the son Cornelius, is men-
tioned in the deed to him. I think that
here is the site of the first grist mill
erected in Monmouth county. The old
Town Book of Middletown township
contains records of the contract be-
tween the first settlers in 1668 and one
Robert Jones, of New York, to put up
and operate a grist mill. It was to be
built at a place called by the Indians
"Choncis Sepus." The early settlers
had oxen and a few horses, and were
obliged to select a place on some stream
with sufficient water to run a mill.
Mahoras brook is the only stream near
the village of Middletown with sufficient
water for this purpose. The banks on
each side at this place favored the con-
struction of a short dam. The hills
were then covered with dense forests
and beneath were vines and under-
brush, so that the storm water was
held from running off rapidly. All the
++++++++++++++++
Photo:
Charles E. Hendrickson
Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court,
appointed in 1901.
+++++++++++++++
149 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
streams carried a greater volume of
water and the meadow or lowlands had
not been filled up or raised by the
washings from the banks and hillsides
after they were cleared and plowed.
The Mahoras brook drains an exten-
sive region and during heavy storms an
immense amount of water flows down
from the hills. Robert Jones erected a
mill at this place in 1669, for on May
24, 1670, town lot No. 33 is transferred
to him, which indicates that he must
have completed his part of the contract.
He did not, however, operate it long,
for soon after we find James Grover in
possession of the mill and running it.
I think Daniel Hendricks purchased the
property of Whitlock and Wall on ac-
count of the close proximity of this
mill. He was a man of more than ordi-
nary intelligence and energy for we
find him a constable and then sheriff in
less than fifteen years after he settled.
This, too, among strange people of a
different race and language. It was
doubtless his ownership of the adjacent
lands which enabled him to secure this
mill site for his brother William. At
all events this same family held it from
1705 until the close of the century, as
the deeds of 1789 inform us. A miller
and blacksmith were two of the most
important men in a new settlement. A
great demand existed in early times, as
the settlements were pushed to west
and south, for men understanding these
trades.
William Hendricks married Willimp-
tje, (baptized at Flatbush, L. I., Sept-
ember 16, 1677,) a daughter of Guisbert
Thys Laen VanPelt and Jannetje
Adrianse Lambersen, his wife, who are
named among the organizing members
of the Monmouth Dutch church in 1709.
His name, however, on church records
is entered "Gisbert Laen" for the Van-
Pelt was dropped. At a later date the
name was spelled "Lane," which sur-
name has been retained by his descend-
ants to this day. One of his daughters,
"Moika" (Micha) married Stoffel Dirck-
sen Longstraat of Flatlands, L. I., who
also removed to Monmouth county, and
were the parents of Stoffel Longstreet
(baptized December 25, 1713, died 1784)
who was the first settler of this name
in Upper Freehold township and lived
there until his death. William Hen-
dricks died in April or May of 1711, be-
fore any of his children had arrived at
age. His will is dated April 2 and
proved June 14 of the year 1711, and
recorded at Trenton. N. J., in Book I
of Wills, page 326, etc. Cornelius Doorn
(VanDorn), William Brudenseck and
Barnes Lambersen are the subscribing
witnesses: His brother Daniel Hen-
drickson, and friends. Peter Wyckoff
and Stoffle Longstreet are named as ex-
ecutors. He does not mention his wife,
Willimpe, and I therefore infer that she
had died prior to this time (1711). He
mentions Guisbert (Gilbert) as his eld-
est son and gives him four shillings
extra on this account. He gives his
youngest son Daniel, £20 more than the
others. This is the nephew Daniel Hen-
drickson also mentions in his will, giv-
ing him a small lot of land at Perth
Amboy which he purchased of Stephen
Warne.
William Hendricks also speaks in his
will of his daughters, but does not
name them or any other sons except
Gilbert and Daniel. He states, how-
ever, that all his children are minors.
Gilbert Lane, his father-in-law. in his
will dated Nov. 7, 1720, proved May 17,
1727, and recorded at Trenton in Book
B of wills, p. 66, etc., speaks of his
grand-children "born of my daughter
Williamea Hendrickson, late deceased,
formerly the wife of William Hen-
drickson, likewise deceased, and gives
them their mother's share in his estate.
These orphan children of William Hen-
dricks and Williamptji Lane, his wife,
who were all under age in 1711 were:
Guisbert, Geesye, Hans (John), Jannetje
(Jane), Hendrick and Daniel. As their
father ran a grist mill on Mahoras
brook, it is likely that these boys all
learned the business of a miller, for we
find some of them or their children fol-
lowing this business at a later date in
other parts of New Jersey. I do not
now know of any descendents of these
four sons residing in the old township
of Middletown. They all removed to
other parts of this county or state and
to Bucks and Lancaster counties in
Pennsylvania. Some retained the name
of "Hendricks" and others the "Hen-
drickson" surname.
Guisbert, the eldest son, married about
1728, Elizabeth (bapt. Aug. 13, 1710,)
daughter of Johannes Polhemus and
Annetje TenEyck, his wife, who have
been heretofore mentioned. She was a
sister of Tobias and Johannes Polhemus.
who also settled in Upper Freehold
township probably soon after Guisbert
Hendrickson settled in that vicinity.
This part of Monmouth together with
adjacent territory in what was then Bur-
lington and Middlesex counties, went
under the general name of Crosswicks, now
confined in one small village.
Nottingham township was then in
Burlington county. Part of this town-
ship was taken off of Burlington and
called Hamilton township when Mercer
150 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
county was formed in 1838. I think
Gilbert Hendrickson settled in this
part of Burlington, but now Mercer
county, somewheres near Yardville.
He devised this plantation or farm to
his youngest son, David Hendrickson,
who I believe lived and died on it.
I should not be surprised to learn that
Gilbert Hendrickson operated a grist
mill in the vicinity of his farm. This
however is a conjecture. As his father
helped organize the Dutch church in
1709; so Gilbert helped the first Pres-
byterian church at Allentown. As will
be seen from his will he remembers
this church with the gift of £10 or fifty
dollars, which was a considerable sum
in those days. Gilbert Hendrickson,
like his father, read his Dutch Bible and
accepted its teachings when he read
therein.
"Who is among you that feareth the
Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ser-
vant, that walketh in darkness and hath
no light? Let him trust in the name of
the Lord, and stay upon his God."
"I, even I am he that comforteth you;
who art thou, that thou shouldst be
afraid of a man that shall die, and the
son of man which shall be made as grass?"
"And forgettest the Lord, thy maker,
that hath stretched forth the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth?"
"Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be
not dismayed; for I am thy God. I
will strengthen thee; yea I will help
thee; yea I will uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness."
He believed in the word of God and
trusting in the "righteousness" of God,
and not his own goodness, he passed
away from this earth in March or April
of 1777, leaving his wife surviving and
seven stalwart sons. He mentions no
daughter in his will, but a granddaugh-
ter, Margaret Emley. He therefore may
have had a daughter who married an
Emley and died prior to date of this
will. His descendants are numerous
and will be interested in his will where
he speaks for himself.
The will and inventory of Guisbert
Hendrickson: -- In the name of God,
amen, I Gisebert Hendrickson of the
township in the county of Burlington
in the Western Division of the Province
of New Jersey, being weak in body but
of Sound Mind and Memory Blessed be
God, do this Eleventh day of Novem-
ber, in the year of Our Lord one thous-
and seven hundred and Seventy-Six I
do make and publish this my last Will
and Testament in manner and as fol-
loweth that is to say FIRST I give and
Bequeath unto my beloved Wife Eliza-
beth the sum of fifteen pounds Yearly
during her natural Life and to have any
one of the rooms in the house where
I now live that she shall Choose with
every necessary thereunto belonging
with the use of one Negro Wench with
all other necessaries of life found her
as long as she shall remain my Widow,
and it is my will that all the Estate
that my Wife shall have at her death
shall be equally divided between my
six sons hereafter mentioned or the
Survivors of them.
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my
Son William the sum of One hundred
pounds Besides his Equal part with the
Rest of my Sons that is to say with
himself & John & Daniel & Tobias and
Cornelius & Jacob and it is" my desire
that he may be Contented with the pro-
portion of my Estate with what he al-
ready had.
ITEM I give and Bequeath unto my
son David all the Plantation whereon I
now dwell which I purchased by Sun-
dry Surveays now adjoining together to
him his Heirs and Assigns for ever
together with four horses three cows
twelve sheep Waggon plows Harrows
Gears He paying to my Six Sons above
named three hundred pounds in three
Years after my Decease and fifteen
pounds Yearly unto my Widow as above
said during her Natural Life and make
such provisions for her as is Bequeath-
ed her in this Will.
ITEM it is my will and do Bequeath
to Margaret Emley my Granddaughter
one hundred pounds four years after
my decease to be paid by my Son David.
ITEM It is my Will and I do Order
that that Lot of Land lying at the
North East Corner of the Plantation
formerly Abraham Tilton's lying upon
Doctor's Creek to be sold by my Exec-
utors And the Money arising from the
sale thereof to be Equally Divided
amongst my Six Sons above mentioned
to them their heirs and Assigns for ever.
ITEM it is my will & I do Order that
if either of my said sons should die
without issue that his part and portion
herein bequeathed him shall be equally
divided amongst the Survivors that
have Issue to them their heirs and
Assigns for ever.
ITEM it is my Will and I do order
that all my Moveable Estate be sold
Except what is already Bequeathed in
this Will and after all my just debts
and funeral Charges are paid that then
the Overplush be Equally Divided
amongst my Six Sons above mentioned
that is William, John, Daniel, Tobias,
Cornelius, & Jacob all as aforesaid to
them their Heirs and Assigns for ever.
And I do hereby ordain and appoint my
151 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
two Sons William Hendrickson and
Tobias Hendrickson to be my true &
lawful Executors to this my last Will
& Testament. Item it is my Will and
I do Order that my Executors first of
all do pay to the Elder of the Pres-
byterian Church of Allentown ten
pounds for the use of said church I do
hereby revoke all other Wills by me
heretofore made. IN WITNESS Where-
of the said Guisbert Hendrickson have
to this my last Will and Testament set
my Hand and Seal the day and year
above written.
Guisbert Hendrickson (SEAL.)
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the
said Guisbert Hendrickson as and for
his last Will and Testament in the
presents of us who were present at the
signing & Sealing thereof.
Tobias Polhemus
Margaret Magaliard (w) her mark
William Reynolds.
Tobias Polhemus. one of the witness-
es* to the within will being first sworn
____________
* The old wills now on record in Secretary
of State's office at Trenton, N. J., were origin-
ally recorded at Burlington, for West Jersey
and numbered. While in East Jersey they were
recorded at Perth Amboy and books lettered.
Thus there are two sets of books covering the
same period of time. Some of the Monmouth
county wills, although in East Jersey, are re-
corded at Burlington, as is shown in this
article.
_____________
on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty
God doth declare and say that he was
present and saw Guisbert Hendrickson
the Testator in the within will named
Sign and Seal the same & heard him
Publish pronounce and declare the
within Writing to be his last Will &
Testament And at the doing thereof he
was of sound and disposing mind and
Memory as far as he knows and as he
Verily believes and that Margaret Ma-
galiard and William Reynolds were also
present at the same time and Signed
their Names as Witnesses to the Will
together with this Deponent in the
presence of each, other and-in the pres-
ence of the Testator.
Sworn the 28th day of April 1777 at
Burlington before Robt Burcham.
The foregoing Will being prov'd pro-
bate was Granted by his Excellency
Govr. Livingston unto William Hen-
drickson and Tobias Hendrickson Ex-
ecutors in the sd. Will named being first
sworn truly to perform the same ex-
hibit a true Inventory and render a
true Accot. when thereto lawfully re-
quired Given under the Prerogative Seal
the day and Year aforesaid.
Cha. Pettit Regrr.
=========================
WILLIAM HENDRICKS AND WILLIAMPTJE LAEN
HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.
1. William, eldest son of Guisbert,
married according to license granted
February 22, 1768, Rachel Longstreet.
In Book I of deeds, page 496, Mon-
mouth Clerk's office, is record of a deed
dated February 2, 1778, from William
Hendrickson and Rachel, his wife, of
Upper Freehold, to Gilbert Longstreet
of the same township. The grantors
convey for £4,000 a tract of land in that
township which Stoffel Longstreet had
deeded to William Hendrickson, and
"Peter Wecoff's" land, Albert Couwen-
hoven's lands, and Doctor's Creek are
called for as monuments.
2. John, second son, married Novem-
ber 14, 1763, Anna Cox, and resided in
what is now Ewing township, Mercer
county.
3 Daniel, third son, was born about
1737; married Ann Stewart, and settled
somewhere near what is now Hamilton
Square. He was a zealous patriot and
soldier of the Revolution.
4. Tobias, fourth son, married accor-
ding to license dated March 21, 1762,
Rebecca Coward, and died May 23, 1811,
aged 70 years, 10 months, and 2 days,
according to his headstone in Old Yel-
low Meeting House cemetery. His will
is recorded at Freehold as heretofore
mentioned with some of his descendants
in Barkalow genealogy.
5. Cornelius, fifth son, is supposed to
be the same person named in marriage
license granted January 28, 1767, to
Cornelius Hendrickson and Mary Thorn
of Monmouth county. No other knowledge.
6. Jacob, the sixth son, married ac-
cording to license dated May 2, 1771,
Elizabeth Mount, and died July 24, 1831,
aged 72 years, 6 months, 12 days, ac-
cording to his headstone in the Old
Yellow Meeting House cemetery. His
wife is buried by him.
152 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
7. David, the seventh and youngest
son, to whom his father left the home-
stead, which lay, I think, in what was
then Nottingham township, Burlington
county, but now part of Mercer county,
lived and died on this farm, but I have
no dates of his marriage or death.
One of the maternal uncles of these
seven sons was John Polhemus, who
lived in Upper Freehold township and
died there without children. His will
is dated June 7, 1788, proved 1793, and
recorded at Trenton, N. J., in Liber, 33
of Wills, p. 234. This John Polhemus
married Alice, daughter of Joseph
Holmes and Elizabeth Ashton* his wife,
of Upper Freehold. She died April,
1788, according to her headstone in
Yellow Meeting House cemetery, aged
61 years, 10 months. Her husband died
September 15, 1793, aged 72 years, and
is buried by her. In his will he names
his wife's cousins. Elizabeth and Sarah,
daughters of Jonathan Holmes, and
Elizabeth, daughter of John Holmes,
and Elizabeth Wyckoff, daughter of
Peter Imlay. He also mentions his own
sister, Catherine, who married Matthias
Laen (Lane). (They are named as
members of Dutch church in 1750). If
she is dead he orders legacy paid to
her children. He mentions children of
his brothers, Daniel Polhemus, Tobias
Polhemus and Cornelius Polhemus, and
children of his sisters, Nelly Couwen-
hoven and of Elizabeth Hendrickson.
"My brothers' and sisters' children."
________________
* Joseph Holmes was the second son of
Obadiah Holmes and Alice Ashton, his wife,
and their son named in his will to whom he
devised his lands at Crosswicks (Upper Free-
hold vicinity). Joseph Holmes was born in
1699 ; married Elizabeth, daughter of John Ash-
ton, and lived on his farm in Upper Freehold,
and died in July, 1777. He is buried in Ash-
ton graveyard. His will is recorded in Liber,
19, page 7. He had the following seven child-
ren: Allis (Alice) born June 10, 1726, married
John Polhemus, died without issue April 1,
1788, buried by her husband in Yellow Meeting
house cemetery; Obadiah, born October 13,
1728 ; James, born March 6, 1732, died young ;
Mary, born September 17, 1733, married Peter
Imlay: Joseph, born December 3, 1736, married
Phoebe Wardell, died August 31, 1809, leaving
only one child, a daughter, (his will was proved
September 16, 1809, and recorded at Free-
hold in A of Wills, page 317. He leaves
£300 to Baptist church of Upper Freehold) ;
Jonathan, born December 4, 1738, married
Lydia Throckmorton, died August 4, 1777, from
exposure and hardships in American army
during the war (he was a captain or lieuten-
ant), buried in Yellow Meeting House cem-
etery by his wife: John, born March 29, 1744,
married Deborah Leonard, died August 10,
1783. (his wife died May 6, 1811, also buried
in Yellow Meeting House cemetery.)
________________
are his words. His nephew, Jacob Hen-
drickson of Upper Freehold, and his
brother, John Polhemus of Middletown.
are appointed executors. The will is
witnessed by Garret Wyckoff, Robert
Imlay, and Samuel Imlay. It thus ap-
pears that the Polhemuses, Hendrick-
sons. Longstreets, and Wyckoffs, set-
tlers in Upper Freehold, were closely
connected by blood or marriage.
Jonathan Holmes, the soldier of the
Revolution, by his wife, Lydia Throck-
morton, had a son Joseph, born 1772,
married Mary Bruere, and died July 16,
1815. His youngest son, Joseph, born
November 24, 1810, married Martha Ann
Miers, and died August, 1897. They
were the parents of Joseph Holmes, our
present Chosen Freeholder from Upper
Freehold township, and who still (1901)
owns and resides on old Holmes home-
stead in that township. The Joseph
Holmes who died July, 1777, and the
progenitor of the Upper Freehold
Holmes family, was a delegate to the
Provincial Congress of New Jersey and
a member of the Council of Safety in
1775-76. He was one of the most en-
ergetic and trusted of the patriot lead-
ers of Monmouth county and his death
at the very beginning of the war was a
great loss. Col. Elisha Lawrence, who
raised a battalion of Jerseymen to serve
in the English army and who was very
active on the royal side, was a near
neighbor to Joseph Holmes. There were
other very bitter and malignant Tories
among his near neighbors. His dwell-
ing on one occasion was attacked by
the Refugees and plundered.
William Hendricks and Williamptje
Laen, his wife, and their children:
Geesye, or Gezina, as spelled on page
87 of Wells' address at Brick church,
where she and her husband are put
down as members of the Dutch church
in 1743, married Matthias Peterzon, or
Pietersen and was the second child of
William Hendricks. In the record of
the baptism of his children, her name is
sometimes entered as "Geesye William-
se," meaning Geesye, the daughter of
William.
Matthias Pieterson, her husband, was
a son of Peter Thys Laen VanPelt, and
Barbara Houlton, his wife. He was
known as Matthias, son of Peter, and
so Pieterson became his surname. Some
of his descendants, it is said, removed
to Hunterdon and Somerset counties in
this state, and others over into Bucks
and Chester counties, Pa.
Matthias Pieterson and Geesye Hen-
dricks had the following children:
Barbara, baptized May 26, 1717.
Peter, baptized November 23, 1718.
153 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
William, baptized January 13, 1723.
Mary, baptized January 10, 1733.
Daniel, baptized June 17, 1738.
Hans (John) the third child of Wil-
liam Hendricks, married Sarah Mosier,
and died March 25, 1789, aged 89 years,
according to his headstone in yard of
Marlboro Brick church. His wife is
interred by him and date of her death
given as March 31, 1782, aged 80 years,
24 days. On page 86 of Wells' address
her name is spelled "Sarah Meser" and
she became a communicant in 1731.
John Hendricks, as he wrote his name,
made his will May 18, 1785, proved April
15, 1789, and is on record in Trenton in
Book 30 of Wills, page 178, etc. He or-
ders his executors to sell his land at
Imlaystown, Upper Freehold township,
and one half of his mill where his son,
Abraham Hendricks, now lives in that
township, and all other lands owned by
him. He gives his old Dutch Bible and
£10 to his son Abraham. He mentions
his granddaughter Charlotte, and four
children of his deceased son William.
He also mentions his grandsons, Jacob
and John Vanderbilt, children of his
deceased daughter Elizabeth. He speaks
of two children of his son Conradt, ap-
points his son Abraham Hendricks, and
his two grandsons, Jacob and John
Vanderbilt, executors. The will is wit-
nessed by Mary Vanderbilt and Lewis
Forman. Seven of the children of John
Hendricks and Sarah Mosier, his wife,
are buried in the yard of the old Brick
church at Marlboro. All have the Hen-
dricks surname. Some of his descend-
ants removed to Easton, Pa., and to
Rockingham and other counties in Vir-
ginia.
By Sarah Mosier he had the following
children:
Johannes, baptized April 8, 1733, mar-
ried, according to the license granted
October 31, 1759, Phoebe Smith, and
died, according to his headstone, July
13, 1760, aged 28 years, 5 months, 1 day.
His will is dated July 2, 1760, proved
July 26, 1760, and recorded at Trenton
in Book 9 of wills, page 258, etc. He
described himself as a resident of Mid-
dlesex county, New Jersey. I think it
was in that part of Middlesex county
taken off in 1838 to form Mercer county.
He mentions his wife Phoebe, but had
no children. He gives his brother Wil-
liam, six shirts and two beaver hats,
and to his brother Guisbert (Gilbert)
the remainder of his wearing apparel.
He also mentions his brother-in-law,
John Vanderbilt. The will is witnessed
by John Hendricks, Andrew Forman
and Lewis Forman. This John Hen-
dricks, the witness, I think was a son
of Gilbert Hendrickson and Elizabeth
Polhemus, his wife, already mentioned,
and residing in what was Nottingham
township, Burlington county, but now
Ewing township, Mercer county.
Elizabeth, baptized August 25, 1734,
married according to license dated May
20, 1754, and recorded in office of Sec-
retary of State at Trenton, N. J., John
Vanderbilt of Staten Island, N. Y., and
died August 13, 1760, aged 26 years, 1
month, 13 days, according to her head-
stone in Brick church cemetery. She
left two sons, who are the executors
named in her father's will made 25
years later, or in 1785. Under this will
they sold and conveyed away his real
estate, as appears from deeds recorded
in Monmouth Clerk's office.
William, baptized December 25, 1736,
married, according to license granted
December 21, 1756, Charity Robinson of
Monmouth county and died before his
father, leaving four children surviving.
One child named Charity, died Decem-
ber 23, 1761, and is buried in Brick
church cemetery with a headstone giv-
ing her name and age. He also had a
son John, baptized November 19, 1757,
who was his firstborn. As no others
are buried in Brick church yard it is
likely that they removed to some other
place or colony.
Conradt, baptized August 27, 1738,
married first, according to license dated
June 18, 1759, Mary English. She died
October 26, 1762, aged 27 years, leaving
one daughter, Elizabeth, baptized at
Tennent church November 22, 1761. He
married for his second wife Mary
Knott. This license is dated June 17,
1763. During the Revolution he sided
with the King and enlisted in the com-
pany raised by Capt. Thomas Crowell
which served in the battalion under
Col. Elisha Lawrence, the ex-sheriff or
last of the Kings' Sheriffs in Monmouth
county. This battalion was in Skinner's
Brigade and was stationed much of the
time on Staten Island. On page 12 of
Book A of Executions in the Monmouth
Clerk's office is record of an execution
issued May 1, 1779, against Thomas
Crowell of Middletown township who
had been found guilty under an inquis-
ition of joining the King's army. On
the next page, No. 13, is record of an
execution against Conradt Hendricks,
who had also joined the King's army.
The real estate of these men was sold
under these executions. They, how-
ever, never returned to this county, so
far as I can learn. They may have
removed to Nova Scotia.
Guisbert (Gilbert), baptized May 24,
1741, died single March 25, 1785, aged
154 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
44 years, 1 month, 2 days, according to
his headstone in Brick church cemetery
at Marlboro.
Mary, baptized April 7, 1744, married
Thomas Hendricks, who, I think, resid-
ed somewhere near Hopewell, N. J. She
died November 5, 1768, aged 24 years,
according: to her headstone in Brick
church cemetery. Her husband is not
buried in this yard and I do not know
what became of him or whether she
left any children.
Sarah, baptized June 28, 1747, died
single February 28, 1772.
Abraham, born ____, married, accord-
ing to license dated December 17, 1754,
Mary, daughter of William Wyckoff
and Agnes VanDoren, his wife. She was
born October 1, 1733, and died February
12, 1796, and is buried in Brick church
cemetery. Abraham Hendricks may
have been the oldest of the eight chil-
dren of John Hendricks, but there is
no record of his birth or baptism unless
the "Old Dutch Bible," which his father
mentions in his will, be found. Neither
do I know where Abraham died or
where he was buried. He seems to have
resided in Upper Freehold and run a
grist mill at or near Imlaystown or
Allentown. During the Revolution he
was an earnest and energetic patriot
and a soldier.
I have no information or knowledge
of his children, if any. His father's
selection of him as executor and gift of
family Bible to him leads me to think
he was the oldest son. Jannetje, the
fourth child of William Hendricks and
Willaimpe Laen, his wife, married
Christopher Warmsley, and moved to
some other part of New Jersey or some
other colony. She had, however, three
of her children baptized in our Dutch
church while visiting her parents, viz:
William, baptized May 3, 1719, and two
others unnamed, one October 25, 1724,
and the other April 16, 1732.
Hendrick, the fifth child of William
Hendricks, was born November 11, 1706,
married about 1728, Altje, daughter of
Albert Couwenhoven and Neiltje
Schanck, his wife, and died July 28,
1783, aged 76 years, 8 months, 6 days.
His wife was born January 20, 1709.
Her father and mother are both buried
in Schanck-Couwenhoven yard, and
dates of their deaths from headstone
inscriptions show that the printed state-
ments heretofore given are incorrect.
Albert Couwenhoven died September
13, 1748, aged 72 years, 9 months, and 6
days. Neiltje Schanck. his wife, died
July 27, 1751, aged 70 years, 6 months,
and 4 days. Hendrick Hendrickson and
Aeltje Couwenhoven, his wife, had two
sons baptized in the Dutch church, viz:
Hendrick, June 20, 1730, and Albert,
July 16, 1732. There may have been
other children born and not baptized.
Hendrick, according to license granted
April, 1751, married Sarah Tomson or
Thompson. Both are put down as res-
idents of Middletown township. They
had the following children baptized:
Hendrick, May 3, 1752; William, Feb-
ruary 26, 1757; Albert, July 8, 1759;
Arrinthia, September 6, 1761. Albert,
the second son of Hendrick, married,
according to license dated January 3,
1755, Johanna Mills. Both are named
as residents of Monmouth. This couple
had the following children:
Hendrick, born June 27, 1756; Altje,
born July 12, 1758, Elaxander Clark, as
his christian name is spelled on church
records, and had seven children bap-
tized between 1776 and 1794. viz: Re-
becca, November 29, 1761; Catherine,
September 21, 1766; Mary, August 25,
1768; Nelly, February 3, 1777; John.
February 3, 1777; William, February 3,
1777; Sarah, April 22, 1778. I do not
know of any of the male descendants
of Hendrick Hendrickson and Altje
Couwenhoven, his wife, now residing in
Monmouth county. I think some of
them settled in Gloucester and Salem
counties and others removed to New
York and Pennsylvania. Daniel, the
youngest son of William Hendrickson
and Willaimpe Laen, his wife, is so
named in his will and is also named in
the will of his uncle, Daniel Hendricks,
published heretofore in full. He re-
moved from this county.
[Omission:- After date "July 12, 1758"
insert word "married."]
I find Daniel Hendrickson running a
grist mill on the Millstone river, in
Somerset county. N. J., in the year 1741.
This may be the same person. His
grandfather, Hendricks Hendrickson,
with Peter Cortelyou, Stoffel Probasco,
Thepdon Polhemus, Hendrick Lott,
Jacques Cortelyou, Dionje Denyse, and
Cornelius Wyckoff, purchased in 1701,
of John Harrison ten thousand acres of
land in Franklin township, Somerset
county, N. J. This land extended from
Millstone river over to the old Indian
path which ran from the tails of the
Delaware River across New Jersey to
a point about three miles from the
mouth of the Raritan river. Here the
river was crossed and the path ran
over to Mount Pleasant and from there
to Crawford's Corner, and from there
over the hills by the residence of Daniel
Hendricks, the pioneer settler to Ruck-
man's Hills at Middletown village, and
here intersected the old Indian path
from Freehold to the bay shore and to
Sandy Hook.
The eight purchasers divided this
trad into eight parts. Now Daniel
155 EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Hendrickson, the youngest son of Wil-
liam, had an opportunity to learn the
miller's business in his father's mill on
Mahoras brook, heretofore mentioned.
His uncle Daniel, left him by will a
small lot of land at Perth Amboy. This
would indicate that Daniel had removed
to this town or vicinity at the mouth of
the Raritan river. His grandfather,
Hendrick, owned lands on the Millstone
River which afforded a good site for
grist mills, a business which he under-
stood. Neither is Daniel Hendricks, the
youngrest son of William, named in any
of our county records after the probate
of his uncle Daniel's will. There is a
probability from these considerations
that the miller of this name on the Mill-
stone river in 1741 may have been this man.
This concludes the family records of
some of the Dutch settlers of Monmouth
county. I have not written these arti-
cles to gratify any foolish family pride
or vanity, or to instill notions of super-
iority; for "birth is an accident," and
transmits neither brains nor virtues of
parents to children. The plodding, in-
dustrious, and economical habits of our
Low Dutch ancestors are worthy of re-
membrance and imitation. Their ardent
love of liberty, independence, and truth
was a mighty factor in the establish-
ment of this great Republic. Their des-
cendants are bound by every principle
of right and duty to carry forward their
beneficent work, until mankind is freed
from caste kings, priests and all other
forms of hereditary bondage or oppres-
sion. The following lines by Lowell
express the truth:
"Let those who will, claim gentle birth,
And take their pride in Norman blood,
The purest ancestry on earth,
Must find its spring in Adam's mud.
And all, though noble now or base,
From the same level took their rise,
And side by side with loving grace,
Leaped crystal clear from Paradise.
"Among our sires no high born chief,
Freckled his hands with peasants' gore;
No spurred or coronetted thief,
Set his mailed heel upon the poor.
No! We are come of a purer line,
With nobler hearts within the breast;
Large hearts, by suffering made divine
We draw our lineage from the oppressed.
"There's not a great soul gone before,
That is not mentioned in our clan,
Who, when the world took side with power,
Stood boldly on the side of man.
All hero spirits plain and grand,
Who for ages ope the door,
All labor's dusky monarchs stand
Among the children of the poor.
"Let others boast of ancestors,
Who handed down some legal right,
To stand behind their tyrant's horse,
Or buckle his spurs before the fight.
We, too, have our ancestral claims
Of marching in the van;
Of giving ourselves to steel and flame,
When aught is to be achived for man.
"And is not this a family tree,
Worth keeping up from age to age;
Was ever such ancestry
Gold-blazoned on the herald's page?
In old Monmouth let us still,
Maintain our race and title pure,
The men and women of heart and will,
The people who endure."
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