chased the farm in 1841. It is a beautiful estate, con-
Biflting of one hundred and eight acres, and IB kept in
a fine state of cultivation, Mr. Holmes being a sys-
tematic and practical farmer of the thoroughgoing
English type.
Mr. Morris died in 1843, in the eighty-sixth year
of his age, Mrs. Morris having died in February,
1822.
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are among the substantial
and highly-respected people of the township, and
have been members of the Millington Baptist Church
since its organization, in is.".] . They have one son,
John Holmes, who lives on a portion of the home-
stead and carries on the farm. He married Julia,
daughter of William Allen, of Bedminster, and has
six children.
ISAIAH SMITH.
Isaiah Smith was born in Bernardsville, Somerset
Co., N. J., Sept. 80, 1886. He was rehired on the farm
of his father, Peter /.. Smith, till the age of eighteen,
when he entered the -tore of Benjamin Smith, at
Basking Ridge, as a clerk, where he remained about
eight months. During the four years following he
served as clerk in the store of Theodore Allen, at
Peapack, N. J., and after spending a year in the
West and remaining at home a short time, in 1863
he established himself in the grocery business at
Irvington, N. J., where he remained till May, 1866.
During the years 1866 and 1867 he did business in
copartnership with William Petty and Jonathan
Allen, having stores at Irvington, Milburn, and
Peapack. In 1868 the partnership was dissolved,
and Mr. Smith, while conducting the business at
Milburn, formed another partnership under which
he carried on an additional store at Wilkesbarrc, Pa.,
doing business there till 1872. Since then he has
devoted himself to his store in Milburn, and has
built up a successful trade.
Mr. Smith married, Dec. 26, 1862, Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Watson ( '. Allen, of Peapack, and has two
children, — viz., Minnie M., born May 26, 1868, and
Lizzie, born Dec. 10, 1872.
Since the organization of the "Smith Family and
Friends' Reunion" in 1876, he has been president of
that popular association, and has from time to time
held responsible offices in the township where he
resides.
HON. JOHN II. ANDERSON.
The late John Hill Anderson, judge of the Court
of Common Pleas, was born at Bernardsville, Somer-
set Co., N. J., on the estate of his ancestors, Dec. 28,
1813. He was of Scotch descent, and possessed the
sturdy moral characteristics of that race, coupled
with great geniality of temper and strong and abiding
attachment to friends. He was the second son and
fifth child of George and Mary (Hill) Anderson, and
was brought up on the home farm, receiving but a
limited education in the common schools. He pos-
sessed a mind, however, of no common order, and for
many years exerted an influence second to no other
citizen of the township in which he resided. The
Somerset J/cwnr/ir expressed the universal sentiment
of the community in the notice of his death, which
occurred May 7. 1*7", from which we take the follow-
ing extract:
" No one acquainted with Judge Anderson can help
feeling a pang of regret — and to many, very man] . of
our counts , sincere Borrow — at the death of this esti-
mable man. Judge Anderson was a native of the
c. unity, of Bernard township, always having lived at
Bernardsville, and held many important positions;
commencing with justice of the peace, member of the
lower branch of the Legislature two years, surrogate
of the county five yean, immediately following with
the judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas, contin-
uing two or three year,-, and before the expiration of
bis judicial term elected state senator, which posi-
tion be filled the three years following. During all
of the-, years, however, he was no( only devoting
756
SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
himself to his official duties, but at all times busily
engaged in assisting the people of his township in re-
lation to the management of their affairs, settling es-
tates, guardian for infants, etc., so that he was in
the full sense of the term a public man whose loss
will be keenly felt and deeply deplored.
" Through his instrumentality the West Line Rail-
road was built, and for a time he was director as well
as president of the road. His life was therefore a
busy one, and in the trusts confided to his care he
was always found faithful and true. The kindly and
good' advice given by him to his friends always had a
beneficial effect, and many there are who thank him
and will always hold his memory in the most pro-
found remembrance. . .
" By his thrift he had acquired quite an estate, and,
although he might not be considered a wealthy man,
was in a good financial condition.
"Politically, Judge Anderson was a thorough par-
tisan, but always candid and just, and known to every
one where he stood and what his opinions were upon
the different issues presented, always having respect
for and according the right to others to have their
opinions, yet maintaining his own in such a way as
to cause his opponents to admire him and give him
credit for being an honest man. . . .
" In his death the whole township of Bernard has
met with a severe loss which time alone can efface,
and the county one of its most respected and best citi-
zens."
Judge Anderson was a brother of ex-Sheriff Ander-
son, of Mendham, and of James Anderson, Esq., of
Morristown. He was honest and upright in all his
dealings, charitable towards all classes and conditions
of mankind, and constantly endeavoring to be useful
to those with whom his life of business or benevo-
lence brought him in contact.
Mrs. Anderson, who survives him, was a daughter
of James M. Lewis, of Bernard township, and a most
estimable lady. He left two sons and two daughters.
His eldest son, Lieut. George S. Anderson, is a grad-
uate of West Point Military Academy, and holds the
position in that institution of instructor in cavalry
tactics. He served six years in the army on the West-
ern frontier. The second son; John Lewis Anderson,
lives with his mother on the homestead.
BRANCHBURG.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
Branchburg township is located centrally on the
western border of the county of Somerset. It is
bounded on the west by the county of Hunterdon;
on the north by Bedminster township ; on the east
by Bridgewater and Hillsborough ; and on the south
by the township of Hillsborough. The principal
water-courses are the Lamington River on the north,
that divides the township from Bedminster ; the North
Branch of the Raritan on the east, from Bridgewater;
the South Branch on the east and south, from Hills-
borough. Three small streams, named respectively
Campbell's Run, Chambers' Brook, and Hollands
Brook, run their course southeasterly and join the
branches of the Raritan, Chambers' Brook uniting
with the North Branch of the Raritan at the North
Branch Depot, Hollands Brook uniting with the
South Branch a short distance south of its junction
with the Nortli Branch, and Campbell's or Pleasant
Run near whore the Easton and Amboy Railroad
crosses the South Branch.
The township has no marked features, its surface
being slightly undulating, and in many places com-
paratively level. It embraces an area of 19.74 square
: By Austin N. Hungerford.
miles, or 12,634 acres of land, and contains a popula-
tion of 1316 inhabitants and 154 farms.
INDIAN TITLES AND THEIR SETTLEMENTS.
FIRST TITLE.
The land along the Raritan below the junction had
been mostly sold before the " Proprietors" bought
the Indian titles to land west of the junction of the
branches of the Raritan. The following, from the
" Elizabeth town Bill of Chancery," is a synopsis of the
deed conveying the south part of the land now occu-
pied by Branchburg, and embraced what were after-
wards known as lots 22, 14, 15, 12, and 13, and which
will be described hereafter :
"That Pawarone and WerminoH, Indians, by their Deed bearing date
the ninth day of October, 1685, for the consideration of sundry Goods
thoroin mentioned, did sell unto the Lords Proprietors of East Jersey a
tract of land beginning upon Hollands Brook aforesaid, and running up
the South branch of the Raritan; as by the original Deed."
Just one month later (Nov. 9, 1685) the land em-
braced in this tract was divided into five tracts, each
bounded on the east by the South Branch and con-
veyed by the proprietors as follows : No. 13, being
the extreme south part and bounded on the south
and east by the South Branch of the Raritan, con-
taining 375 acres, was sold to John Dobic. Adjoining
this tract on the north, a plot of 1874 acres, known as
Qjcfa-a^Z'/o' '(/uA^&
The subject of this sketch is :i descendant in
the fourth generation from Samuel and Abigail
Vail, of "Westchester, X. Y. His great-grand-
father was John Vail, the oldest son of Samuel
and Abigail Vail, who was twice married, and
reared a large family. The children of John
Vail by his first wife (Margaret Laing) were
Samuel, John, Daniel, Isaac, David, Jacob,
Abraham, and Benjamin ; and those by Ids
second wife (Mary Laing) were Joseph and
Christiana, who died single. The children by
the first wife all married and had large families,
whose descendants arc numerous and widely
scattered.
John Vail, the son of John, and grandfather
of Edward Vail, married Catharine Fibs-Ran-
dolph, and had children : Margaret, Edward,
Isaac, Ani"-, I'hehc, Nathan, and .Joel. The
last named married Catharine K. Miller, and
had children: Alexander, Mary Ann, Edward
(the subject of our notice), ( 'liristophcr, Thomas,
Phebc, Margaret, Richard, Iicnijah, Catharine,
and John.
Joel Vail lived at Green Brook, and was a
hatter by occupation, and also a farmer and
merchant. Edward, the subject of this notice,
was born at Green Brook, Sept. 26, 1808, and
was brought up there at the hatter's trade
with his father. He followed that occupation,
together with farming, till about the time of his
marriage. He married, Dee. 2, 1845, Ann
Vail, a name which she has never changed,
being a daughter of James, son of Isaac Vail.
They have had no children. Mrs. Vail was
born and brought up at Long Hill, in the
vicinity of where she now resides.
Alter his marriage, in 1845, Mr. A'ail set-
tled on his present place, being the inheritance
of his wife, where he has ever since resided and
followed the pursuit of agriculture. He was
brought up in the doctrines of the Uicksite
Quakers, with which he still Btands identified,
1 1 1 « > 1 1 «_r 1 1 not a regular attendant at any meeting
of that order. He js noted for his Btrict in-
tegrity and moral worth, and is held in high
esteem as a man and a citizen.
BRANCH IM'KC.
757
No. 12, was conveyed to John Campbell (son of Lord
Neill Campbell). N.-\t above was No. 15, a tract of
750 acres, which was conveyed to Andrew Hamilton.
Adjoining on tin- north w : i - a large tracl known as
No. 14, containing 1' acres, sold to John Drumraond.
Lot 22, adjoining Drummond, and north butting on
Hollands Brook, contained 500 acres, which was sold
to Andrew Hamilton, April 25, 1687.
The lower or southern trai't in this lir-t Indian tit It-
is known on the old map as No. 18. It was purchased
by John Dohie on the 9th of October, 1680, anil con-
tained 875 acres. In 1719 the line between East and
West Jersey was readjusted, and the plot is called
" Dobie's plantation." It is no! known at what date
a transfer was made, bul about 1785 the propertj wa-
in possession of Christianas I. Van Doren, of Mill-
stone. The property at hi- death pa— ed to his sons,
John C. and Abraham ('., the former owning 100
acres in the northern part. The southern part, 245
acres, that descended to Abraham C, is now in the
possession of John S. Ammerman. John C. had
three sons, — Christianus [., John P., and Ahram I.,
all dead. Abram C. had three daughters, — Aletta and
Fhebo, unmarried, and Julia, who married Mr. Black-
well and lives in Mercer Co., N. J.
The tract north of the Dohie plantation embraced
|s;i aires, and was conveyed by the proprietors to
John Campbell, a son of Lord Neill Campbell. The
purchase was made Nov. 9, 1685; the deed, however,
bears date Oct. 6, 1G8G, nearly a year later. In 1G83
or lliS-I he had purchased a small plot of land at
Bound Brook, where he built a house and lived until
lie bought at South Branch, when lie moved upon the
land. He had two sons, Archibald and John, and
two daughters, one of whom, Jennette, married
Tobias Van Norden, of Bound Brook. The section
of the tract on which he lived is not known. He
died before 17i>X, as in that year Marion, his widow,
and John, his son. conveyed to Thomas Hull, for Cool I,
i icy of New York, I I ."mi ;h re- of i lie tract, ii being
the upper portion ; the remainder of the tract later
was sold to Peter Morrison and Henry Stevens, the
southwestern portion having heen -old to Morri-oii
and afterward- passed to one 1 lardcnbrook. It i-
now in possession of Gabriel ('arkhntf. The east* m
portion, owned by Henry Stevens, was purchased by
John Carpenter for his daughter, who married IVter
T. Beckninn and lived on the place for Several years.
It was finally sold to Calvin Corle, who is still in pos-
session. The property now belonging to Hon. John I '<.
Sehenck was in possession of Ahram C. Van Doren
about IS h i.
Thomas Hall, on the 20th of December, 1728, con-
veyed to Cornelius l.ow l'.'Jii acres of Ii is land, Lying
north from the present residence of Peter Nan Camp.
Which afterwards passed to the Stryker family, and is
dow iiui-tU in the possession of Frederick D.Brokaw,
On the 80th of December the same year Thomas
Hall made his will, in which he declares that he is
the possessor of 020 acres of land. This he devised
to his two sons, John and Richard, they to come into
possession after the death or marriage of his wife,
Gertie. On the 27th of May. 1784, Qertje, their
mother, released all her right, title, and interest in
the land to her sons, leading to the presumption that
-he married. Tiny remained in possession of all the
land they inherited for six years. On the Cth of Octo-
ber, 1740, John conveyed to Cornelius Van Kampen,
of Esopus, Ulster Co., N. Y., for the sum of £072,
240 acres and GO perches of laud in one place, and
6 acres and 20 perches of the meadow-land close to
the South Branch, and 92 acres and 32 perches not
tar from it. In the last-mentioned tract was situated
the hurying-ground in which some of the family had
been buried. This has always been kept as a burial-
place, and i- now in the limits of the farm of Peter
Van I 'amp, a short distance north of his bouse. On
the same date Richard, the brother of John, also con-
veyed to Cornelius Van Kampen 1 17 acres and 23
perches. This land. 4 So acre's, remained in the pos-
session of Cornelius Van Kampen until hi- death.
By his will, dated April 20, 1794, the land was be-
i|iieathcd to Thomas, his son, and Cornelius, a grand-
son, and son of John, deceased. On the 2d of Decem-
ber the same year each released title in the lands of
the other. On the 29th of December, 1804, Thomas
Van Kampen conveyed to Cornelius Van Kampen
253} acres and G acres of meadow-land. This, in ad-
dition to his inheritance, made the tract of 486 acres.
Cornelius had two sons, Thomas and John ; the latter
died and left a son (Thomas and two daughters, —
Catharine, who married a Mr.' knimons, and Eliza-
beth, who married a Mr. Ludlow.
Thomas, son of Cornelius, married Catharine Van
Middle-worth, and had two sons — Tunis and John —
(twins) and one daughter, — Jenny, — who married"
Abram Smock. Tunis went West and died. John
remained on the homestead, which hi- father conveyed
to him April 2". 1 S-J7. He married Jane Lane, and
had -i\ children, of whom two of the sons are living
in the township, — Tunis tit Ncshanic Station, and
Peter on the old homestead.
John and Richard Hull kept a part of the western
portion of the tract they inherited. William Hull, a
son of John, lived on the farm owned by Gilbert 8.
Lane and John Ammerman. John \Y., a son of
John, lived where \Y. N. Hoagland now lives. John
w. had (bur sons, — William, who went \\'c-t ; Dennis,
who removed to North Branch, on part of the Ten
Kvck tract, on the farm now owned by J. Pcrrinc
(his daughter, Mrs. Lever, lives on part of the (arm
purchased bj her father. Penni-i: l-aae lives on a
tract north of the original tract. Of the daughters,
Helena, Aletta Mr-, l-aae I. Strykcri, and Catha-
rine i Mrs. Leonard BuniH live in Somerville.
Lot No. 14, pureha-ed by John Drummond, con-
tained 1 acres, and lay SOUtfa Of No. 23, and im-
mediately north of lot No. !â– "'.
758
SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
The lot known as No. 15, purchased Nov. 9, 1685,
by Andrew Hamilton, containing 750 acres, was situ-
ated north of the John Campbell tract. In 1740 it
was in possession of Volkert Dowe. At a later date
the east end, on the river, was owned by Naylor,
and the remainder by Peter Van Nuys, John Smith,
Jacob Kershaw, his son-in-law, and Cornelius Van
Horn, to the county line.
Lot No. 22, purchased by Andrew Hamilton the
same date as lot No. 15, contained 500 acres. One
hundred years ago a large tract in this lot was owned
by Van Derveer. Isaac V. Huff owns a part of
this last-mentioned tract. The heirs of Lawrence V.
Studdiford now own a part of it. The Rev. Peter
Studdiford married a daughter of Mr. Van Derveer,
by whom the property was inherited. Lawrence Stud-
diford and the Rev. Peter Studdiford, of Lambertville,
Hunterdon Co., were sons. Peter I. Voorhees owns a
part of the west end of the original tract.
SECOND INDIAN TITLE.
The land embraced in this title reached from Hol-
land's Brook north to the junction of the North and
South Branches of the Raritan, and from thence di-
rectly north, on the west patent line of what is de-
scribed in the township of Bridgewater as the fourth
Indian title. The west line of the tract was the line
of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, at that time
straight and on a line with westerly line of its present
course. The lower or south lot (23), adjoining Hol-
lands Brook, and lot 61, in the north part, were en-
tirely in the land embraced in this second title. Lots
Nos. 37, 68, 67, 65, 66, and 55 extend from the North
Branch across the fourth Indian title mentioned,
and this second title, to the west line. Lots 53 and 61
are embraced entirely in the fourth title. Lots 69
and 63 are in an Indian title the date of which is not
known. The following is an extract from the deed,
taken from the Elizabethtown bill of chancery:
"That Paywassen, Indian, by Iub deed dated the 14th day of August,
1688, for the consideration therein mentioned, received of Capt. Andrew
Hamilton, Deputy Governor of New Jersey, did sell to the Proprietors of
East Jersey, a tract of land beginning at Holland's Brook ; and Irom
thence as the river runs to the meeting of the branches of the Raritan ;
and to run as far back as the said Paywassen and other Indians their
lands run as by the said deed, recorded in Liber B, p. 534."
In this tract were seven lots that were purchased as
follows : No. 23, the east half, seems to be located be-
fore the Indian deed, as it bears date Dec. 13, 1687,
and was taken up by Andrew Hamilton. It con-
tained 250 acres; the west half was unappropriated.
No. 37, containing 500 acres, commenced at the meet-
ing of the North and South Branches and ran back
northwest two miles. This was taken up by Hen-
drick Corson. Next adjoining was a tract known as
No. 68, containing 500 acres, sold to Thomas Gordon.
North of this tract were Nos. 67, 65, and 66, of 466 J
acres each. These were sold respectively to Miles
Foster, Michael Handin, and George Willocks.
North of the Willocks tract was No. 55, a plot of
1000 acres, which was conveyed to Lord Neill Camp-
bell, May 24, 1690. No. 61 (100 acres) was purchased
by John Johnston, and also No. 53, directly north of
it, containing 400 acres, May 20, 1690. Lot 64 was
purchased by Dr. Johnston in 1701 ; the precise date
and number of acres are not given. The south lot,
known as No. 23 in this second Indian title, lay on
the north of Holland's Brook, resting on the bank all
across the township. It contained 500 acres. The
east half, of 250 acres, was purchased by Andrew
Hamilton on the 13th of October, 1687, about nine
months prior to the purchase of the Indian title by
the proprietors, of whom he was agent. To whom he
sold is not known. In 1706 the north half of the
whole tract, containing about 275 acres, was in pos-
session of Solomon Davis. The west half of the tract
was not appropriated under the first division. In
1716, Davis sold the land in his possession to Andreas
Ten Eyck, and it now belongs to Nathan Terreberry,
Rev. Gilbert Lane, and others. The southwest quar-
ter of the lot was known early as the Jew farm, and
now belongs to Peter I. Voorhees. The southeast
now belongs to Abram Tunison, John Voorhees, and
Henry Van Fleet.
Lot No. 37 is a tract of land commencing at the
mouth of the North and South Branches, running
back 2 miles and 40 chains in width north, contain-
ing 500 acres. This tract was purchased by Hen-
drick Corson (Vroom).* He was a native of New
Amsterdam (New York). His father was " Cornelis
Petersen (Vroom)." His mother was Tryntje Hen-
dricks. She had at the time of her second marriage
with Frederick Lubbertsen three sons, — Cornelis Cor-
son (Vroom), aged twelve years; Peter (Vroom),
aged six years; and Hendrick (Vroom), aged three
years. Cornelis Corson (Vroom) was one of the
patentees of the Graham, Winder & Co.'s tract,
where the village of Somerville now stands. Hen-
drick Corson (Vroom) purchased of his brother a
part of the east quarter of the tract on the 6th day of
June, 1687, and soon after sold it, and on the 10th
June, 1688, purchased this tract. He was born in
November, 1653, and married Josina Pieterz, daugh-
ter of Pieter Van Nest, of Brooklyn. He lived to a
good old age. Hendrick Vroom, of Brooklyn, was a
son of Hendrick Corson and Josina Van Nest. He
married Jannetje Bergen in 1711. After her death he
married Dortie Dumont, in 1745. His children were
Sarah Vroom, born 1720, and Petrus Vroom, born
1722. In 1751 he sold the south part, containing 300
acres, to Peter Dumont. A narrow strip across the
west end, containing 40 acres, had previously been
sold to John Vroom. This last tract was divided
into wood lots and sold separately. Joseph Thomp-
son is now the possessor of the 40 acres, having
bought them from time to time. On the northeast
* Tho original name was Corssen. The name was retained by thoso of the
family who remained on Long Island, but was soon dropped by Cornelia
and Hendrick Corson, who came to the Raritan.
i;ka.\chi;i;k<;.
759
corner of this tract, in the centre of the road, near the
residence of Judge Thompson, stamls tlie < >1 â– 1 corner-
stone of the Corson (Vroom) tract.
The 800-acre tract of Peter Damont was inherited
liy Jolin Baptist Dumont, known by many aa John
Protest Dumont. By his will it was devised for their
lifetime to his sisters, Brachia and Phebe. The old
homestead occupied the spot where now lives John
Vosseller. The tract is now owned by John Vossel-
ler, Paul K. Hilts, Shafer, and Joseph Read.
The north half was owned in 1753 by John Van
Nest, a son of Peter, and was afterwards held by An-
dreas Ten Eyck and inherited by his sun Andrew,
who sold I'.io acres of the western part to Andrew
Fleming. Sylvester Robins purchased 100 acres of
this part. A strip on the north side of this tract is
owned by parties owning farms on the north.
The next tract is designated on the map accompa-
nying the Elizabethtown bill of chancery, date of
1747, as No. 68, containing 500 acres, and as having
been sold to "Thomas Gordon, at Peter Van Nest's."
A parchment deed in possession of Judge Thompson
recites that the property was conveyed to him by the
proprietors, April 1, 1703. On the 22d of Septembi r,
1710, he sol, I the property to Thomas Pureed, of .Mid-
dlesex County, who in 171'J conveyed the uppermost
one-half to Daniel Purcell, his son. On the 13th of
April, 1728, be conveyed it to Guishert Krom, who,
in consideration of £925, conveyed the land to Jo-
hannes Van Nest, April 25, 1755, Krom reserving
"the one-half of all minerals whatsoever that shall
from time to time be discovered, dug up, and got forth
on the same or ot ;m\ part or parci 1 of slid lands,"
Krom to pay an equal dividend of cost.
A parchment deed is in possession of Sheri II 'i