4TH GENERATION; WILLIAM UPDIKE. - 203

The will of Lawrence in 1745 mentions William Updike first of the three sons and first of the three executors. William Updike signed his name to the executors' oath on the will in 1748, again on his marriage bond in 1775, and again on his own will in 1780, continuing the Updike spelling which all of Lawrence's descendants have retained to this day. These three documents are on file in the vaults of the Secretary of State of New Jersey, and the signatures to all are so evidently the same that no further proof is needed that it was Lawrence's son William who settled in Windsor, married Ann Hutchinson, died in Windsor, bequeathed property to his widow Ann, and left the descendants that still possess the Windsor plantation.

Windsor township adjoined Maidenhead on the southeast, so that William moved less than ten miles from the home of his boyhood. He was already living on the 713 acre tract in Windsor when he bought it in 1747. Four years later he increased his ownership to 1,000 acres, and on this tract he resided forty years, until his death. The neighboring land was bought and settled by people of Dutch descent, and hence the place was called Dutch Neck and it still bears that name. The church graveyard is full of tombstones of Covenhoveus, (now called Conovers), Voorhees, Huffs, Slaybacks and Updikes. These families constantly intermarried, and this may have been the cause that the Windsor Updikes have not been so long-lived or prolific as other branches; or it may have been their continued residence in one spot, as change of place is shown by this genealogy to develop strength and prolong life as much in man as it is known to do in grains and vegetables.

William was a grandfather in 1759, and his son Levi had a married granddaughter in 1807. The name of William's first wife, the mother of his children, is not known. He appears to have followed the usual practice of giving land to some of his children before his death. There are many illegible old headstones in the church graveyard, but William and his sons probably lie buried under the crumbled moss-grown tombstones in the family burial-ground on the farm which has descended in a direct line, from William to Levi, to William, to Levi, to William, and finally to Levi now living at Dutch Neck, who can show the deed of his great-great-grandfather for the farm received by will and transmitted by conveyance.

The village of Dutch Neck now contains a church, store, shop and about 20 houses. It is five miles south of Princeton, and is surrounded by a level fertile country full of fine farms, many of which are owned by Updike descendants of William. One of these descendants, now living at Trenton, has heard his grand-aunt say that her grandfather Levi, and his father William, came from Staten Island in a cart, taking three days for the trip, turning the cart over for a shelter at night until a log cabin was built, and buying from the Indians eight miles of timbered land extending from Dutch Neck to Hightstown. This, like all family traditions, ascribes to the earliest remembered generation incidents which are partly true as to still

204 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

earlier ancestors. William was probably not born when his father Lawrence and grandfather Johannes moved from Long Island in 1696 to West Jersey. As has been said, they doubtless took the usual route in those days, across the Narrows to Staten Island, across Staten Island to Perth Amboy, and then by New Brunswick to Maidenhead over the Kings Highway,-the old Indian path which became the first and most traveled road of the Whites through the Jerseys. The Indians were numerous, but their title was extinguished by treaties and gifts from the Quaker "Proprietors," who had bought the province from Lord Berkeley and Lord Carteret and sold it to settlers. Johannes and his sons must have moved in several vehicles, with considerable stock and baggage, and probably some slaves.

Updike Tombstones in Dutch Neck Churchyard.

William Updike, " Soldier in the Revolution." Died 1847 aged 88.

William Updike. Died 1882 aged 70.

Sarah, wife of William Updike. Died 1851 aged 38.

Levi Updike. Died 1861 aged 77.

Mary Conover, wife of Levi Updike. Died 1830 aged 42.

Elias Updike. Died 1879 aged 72.

Lamattie S. Bergen, wife of Elias Updike. Died 1877 aged 65.

Mary Ann Updike, wife of John Wiley. Died 1841 aged 27.

Ann Updike. Died 1857 aged 26.

Garrett Updike. Died 1865 aged 33.

Joseph H. Updike. Died 1870 aged 25.

Anna L. Forman, wife of Joseph H. Updike. Died 1870 aged 23.

Lydia, wife of Levi Updike. Died 1859 aged 18.

Daniel D. Updike. Died 1852 aged 25.

George R. Updike, son of Daniel D. Updike and Alice Ann. Died 1867 aged 18.

Catherine A. Updike, wife of Fred. Shangle. Died 1870 aged 29

William L. Opdyck, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Opdyck. Died 1847 aged 24.

Records.

1704, Apr. 20. Wilhelmus baptized by Lourans op dijck.. . . (Raritan Dutch Ch. N. J. )

1747. "William Updike, yeoman of Windsor township, Middlesex Co..'' N. J.," buys 713 acres in Windsor on Assenpink Creek on corner of "Penn's Tract," being "that plantation where William Updike now dwells," for 200 Pounds from Rut Johnson.................... (T)

1748. Executor of the will of his father Lawrence. Inherits one-third of' his father's plantation...................................... (T)

1751. "Farmer of Windsor" buys 265 acres between Assenpink Brook & Millstone river for 400 Pounds from James Perrinot............ (T)

1754. Is mentioned on record of a Road run out by the Surveyors of the township of Piscataway, the Corporation of New Brunswick and, Township of Windsor, a four rod road, from Allentown (Middlese Co.) to Princeton. "Beginning at Indian Run (Allentown probably) where the road now crosses leading to Trenton * * * to Myrey Run Old Bridge * * * Hazel Bush Swamp * * * to Sandpink. Thence across Sanpink (now Edinburgh) at the old fording place, from thence across a Corner of Clement Hooper's Land to

4TH GENERATION; WILLIAM UPDIKE. - 205

White Oak Tree, thence along the line of said Hooper & William Updike to the Partition Line, thence along the s'd Partition Line till it strikes David Slaybach's Line, thence along the line of David Slaybach and Kort Voorhis * * * & John Huff near the Barren Land * * * to the east side of Buck Swamp * * * the Bow Brook to John Covenhoven's Line & William W. Covenhoven deceased, * * * to the road that leads from John Scudder's mill, to Prince Town.......................................... (N. B.)

1761, Nov. 10. Marriage Bond of William Updike of Middlesex County to Ann Hutchinson ....... (T)

1780. William Updike of Middlesex makes will...................... (T)

1781. William Updike of Windsor & "Hannah his wife" sell Joseph Story for 200 Pounds 50 acres, wherever he chooses, out of the 265 acres "where Story now dwells," between Millstone river & Assenpink Creek, bought of James Perrine .......................... (N. B.)

1783. Will recorded. Leaves his property to his: son Levi, farm of 250 acres, subject to paying 25 Pounds annually to the widow Ann; son William, dec'd.; to his children the farm of 240 acres "where they now live," subject to paying 20 Pounds annually to the widow Ann;

daughter Rebecca Hoagland 100 acres;

" Elizabeth "the rest of farm;"

" Mary Covenhoven 10 acres & 190 Pounds. (T)

1785. The widow Anna Updike of Windsor makes will. (T)

1792. Will of Anna probated. Leaves property to her son Levi,

daughter Rebecca Hoagland,

" Elizabeth Story,

" Mary Covenhoven. (T)

Children of William Updike.

Birth. Death. Married. Residence. Occupation.

William. 1725. (1775). Dutch Neck, N. J. Farmer.

Levi. 1730. 1807. Martha -. Dutch Neck, N. J. Farmer.

Rebecca. Martin Hoagland. Farmer.

Mary. John Covenhoven. N. J. & Kentucky. Farmer.

Elizabeth. Joseph Story. Farmer.

Mary Updike is said, in the Bergen Genealogy, to have marred Dominicus Conover who resided at Penn's Neck, N. J., and then removed to Kentucky. This Dominicus Covenhoven was the son of John Willemse of Monmouth Co., N. J., who was the son of Willem Gerretse a magistrate of Brooklyn in 1661, 2, 4, who was the son of Gerret Wolfertse who emigrated in 1631 with his father Wolfert Gerretse Cowenhoven from Amersfoort, Netherlands, to Manhattan and Long Island.

For sketches of other children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart 6.

206 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

JOHN UPDIKE.

(Son of Lawrence, p. 185; Son of Johannes, p. 1.54; Son of Louris, p. 136.)

Born about 1708; married 1738 Mary Bragaw of Newtown, Long Island; died 1790 ; was a farmer near Cherry Valley a few miles north of Princeton, N. J., in what was then called " the Western Precinct " or Hillsborough, later Montgomery township in Somerset County, and now Princeton township in Mercer County.

The records show : that he was the second son and executor of his father Lawrence (1748) but did not act as executor; that he brought a suit in Hunterdon in 1730 ; resided in Maidenhead township (where his father lived) in 1730, 2, 4; owned a large tract of land in Somerset Co., north of Princeton, in 1744, 1763, and 1764, through which three roads were laid out; was a landholder in Hillsborough township near Princeton in 1750, and in the same township in 1758 and 1763 ; his tract of land north of Princeton in 1765 was of sufficient importance to be a landmark in a map of the Middlesex and Somerset County Line, although not adjoining it ; he traded at Princeton in 1767-8 ; made his will in 1783 in Somerset Co., and there died in 1790.

The large tract of land, so often above mentioned, was evidently just south of Cherry Valley in Somerset Co., and near the eastern line of Maidenhead and Hopewell townships of Hunterdon Co. He therefore settled and remained almost 50 years only a few miles away from his father's home in Maidenhead, and his tract probably adjoined and possibly included the land , on Stony Brook in Maidenhead, owned by his grandfather Johannes Opdyck. In the List of Marriage Bonds issued by the Secretary of the State of N. Y., published officially, Vol. 1, 69, appears the marriage of John Updike and Mary Bragaw of Newtown, Long Island, May 11, 1738. In Riker's Annals of Newtown, L. I., we find that the Bragaw family of Newtown were descended from Bourgon Broudard, a French Huguenot exile who fled from persecution in France to Manheim and thence came with his wife Catherine Lefebre in 1675 to Bushwick, Long Island. He and his wife were among the earliest members of the French Church in New York; in 1688 they moved to Dutch gills near Newtown and purchased there a large tract of land. Their son Isaac Bragaw, born 1676, was taught the trade of a weaver,

4TH GENERATION; JOHN UPDIKE. - 207

acquired considerable property at Dutch gills, bought his father's farm in 1713, was a prominent supporter of the Dutch Church, and died 1757, aged 81. His will, on record in N. Y. City Surrogate's Office, mentions his daughter Mary as the wife of "Johannes Opdyke," almost the spelling of the old Johannes Opdykk, who had formerly been a close neighbor of the Broucard or Bragaw family in Newtown, instead of the spelling which the grandson John Updike always used. Isaac Bragaw had, beside Mary, children named Isaac, Peter, Ruloff, and Bergoon ; the last was a very tall and strong man and Captain of the Newtown Militia. John Updike may have came back to his grandfather's old home at Newtown to seek a wife for his great plantation in the Jersey wilderness; or he may have met Mary at the houses of her uncles who all moved to Somerset, N. J., where their descendants are now the well-known Brokaws. It should be a subject of pride for the descendants of John Updike that they have in their veins such excellent Huguenot blood. John named his first son Lawrence for his father according to the time-honored custom; and then named four sons for his wife's brothers mentioned above.

In many ways John Updike is an interesting figure. His descendants have been so numerous as to make him the ancestor of more than half the Updikes in America. He forms a midway mark in the emigration of his line to and from New Jersey. In 1697 his grandfather Johannes Opdykk came from Long Island with children and grandchildren in wagons to the richer land of the primeval forests of West Jersey, and there John was born, lived and died; almost precisely a century later, five of John's sons took up the march from New Jersey with their children and grandchildren in covered wagons back again to yet richer lands in New York State, but this time it was to the magnificent Lake Country, recently made safe for settlers by Gen. Sullivan's terrible punishment of the savages of the Five Nations during the Revolution.

Of John's nine sons there remained in New Jersey four, Lawrence, Isaac, William and Peter, and a son of his son Jacob. The descendants of these multiplied so rapidly that a road between Princeton and Hopewell, on which many of them lived, has been known for a century as the "Updike Road," and it became a byword there that twenty-four Updikes could be counted at every local gathering. About 1800, the other five sons of John moved together, or nearly so, to Tompkins County, the richest soil of New York State; and with them went one son of their brother Lawrence; there too in Tompkins County the descendants of these brothers multiplied so rapidly that their neighborhood was called the "Updike Settlement," and the graveyard of the old Log Church near Waterburg, N. Y., is filled with their tombstones. At about the time of this movement to New York State, two sons of Lawrence (the eldest of the nine brothers) moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and from there to Indiana where they left a host of

208 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

descendants. The later generations of the New Jersey, the New York, and the Indiana group, have continually sought wider fields and are now scattered over all of the Western and Pacific States. The descendants of one group occasionally meet those of another, but have no knowledge of their mutual relationship. But everywhere they have retained the same features and characteristics; they have been long lived, prolific, large, strong, honest, thrifty, and unassuming. The old records of Somerset Co., N. J., do not show a single tavern-license ever issued to an Updike, and scarcely a single Updike as ever appearing in Court proceedings.

The grave of John Updike is not known. It may be in the burial-ground on the old farm of his son William, on the "Updike Road," near Stony Brook and the boundary line of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, where unlettered headstones mark the old graves.

John Updike's will was not mentioned in the General Index of Wills at Trenton, although referred to by his son Burgoon in a deed in 1793. The author therefore concluded that the will was destroyed with the other old records of Somerset Co. when the British and Tory raiders burned the Millstone court house during the Revolution; and he proceeded to gather all of John's children from other sources. The descendants of William; Peter, and Jacob knew that these three brothers owned farms just where the Road Book showed John's lands to have been; the Somerset Co. records confirmed this and also gave Isaac and John Jr. as adjoining owners; Lawrence, Rolif, Brogan and William served together in the Somerset Militia in the Revolution; Rulif and Abraham testified after the Revolution that Burgoon's property had been taken by British and Continental soldiers, Isaac's will showed that he was brother to Ruliph, Lawrence, Peter and William. The unusual names, of Burgoon and Roliff at least, connected them with John Updike's wife's brothers. The descendants of almost all remembered their great-uncle Burgoon Updike, and Burgoon's deed showed that he was a son of John. Still it was a great satisfaction finally to discover the lost will of John Updike in the vaults of the Secretary of State, and to find that it mentioned by name the same nine sons whom the author had ascribed to John Updike, thus verifying the accuracy of the work.

To the descendants of John Updike the early history of Somerset County must be highly interesting. There, as everywhere else in our country, the rivers were fuller in the last century than now. The Raritan was navigable up to the junction of the North and South Branches, and much of the heavy produce of the farms and mills was carried to market by water. The farmers floated their grain down stream in flat-bottomed boats to New Brunswick, rowing or towing back the next day. All the smaller streams of Somerset and Hunterdon were thickly dotted with mills. Large wagons, often drawn by six horses, passed over the Amwell road to New Brunswick, -as many as 500 vehicles in a single day. In 1748 the

4TH GENERATION; JOHN UPDIKE. - 209

Raritan Landing was described as "being a market for the most plentiful wheat country for its bigness in America." New Brunswick hoped to rival New York in importance, and its lots rose to an enormous price.

New Jersey was the battle-field of the Revolution. Washington's army spent two winters at Morristown, one at Middlebrook (Bound Brook), and portions of two summers in Somerset County; the marks of its encampment at Chimney Rock are still visible, and the old houses used by him and his generals as their head-quarters during the winter of 1776-7 at Somerville and Bound Brook are yet standing, fine specimens of colonial architecture. The Jersey troops distinguished themselves on many occasions. The night after the Battle of Princeton, twenty Jersey militia drove off a British detachment of ten times their number, and captured at Kingston a valuable waggon train of woolen clothing, which was welcomed as a god-send by Washington's troops. They often captured boats on the Raritan coming with provisions for Cornwallis's forces at New Brunswick. Near Millstone, four hundred British foragers were badly routed by an equal number of Americans, largely raw Jersey militia. At Piscataway, 1,000 British troops were beaten back by 700 Americans, who were nearly all militia. At Spanktown (Rahway) the British were worsted by the Rebels in two encounters, in one of which the enemy were driven through the snow all the way back to Amboy, with a loss of one. hundred men, while we lost only fifteen. Similar encounters were of frequent occurrence during the Winter and spring of 1777. Washington wrote to Congress: "The Militia of New Jersey,-from this time forward, generally acquired high reputation, and throughout a long and tedious war conducted themselves with spirit and discipline, scarce surpassed by the regular troops." The New Jersey rolls show at least four of John Updike's sons to have been members of the militia thus so highly praised.

Records.

1730. May. John Obdyke brings suit for ten Pounds in Hunterdon Ct.. (F)

1730. Nov. 6. John Updike joins with (his father) Lawrence, and (uncle) Joshua Anderson, and other citizens of Maidenhead Township, in an agreement to sell the Town Lot. (John's autograph has been obtained from this. See the fuller quotation from the Town Records, under Lawrence Updikk.)

1732. Jan. 16. "John Updyck, Records a bright Sorrill Mair aged about two years and advantage, branded on ye Near Thigh with I R. A blays down ye face, a flaxson Main and tayl" . . (Lawrence Township Records, formerly Maidenhead.)

1744. Jan. 28. "The Commissioners of Somerset County, on ye Complaint and application of the Inhabitants for want of a Road, have Laid out and granted them a twoo Rod Road, Beginning at ye Mill of Michael Blaw ; thence running over ye Mill Dam * * * to N. W. cor. of Samuel Leonard * * * along line of Leonard and Rich'd Stockton Jr. * * * to the Gate of John Updike's * * * thence through his field as far as ye Oald path Now Runs to the other Gate

210 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

of his field, and from Thence Through his Wood Land * * * along an Oald Road * * * along E. side of Robert Hoedon's * * * to lane betw Hoedon and Jos. Stockton * * * to place of Samuel Stockton * * * to Main Road leading from Princeton to Trenton." (This was the eighth road laid out by Somerset County, according to the old Road Book.)

1748. John Updike is named as son and appointed one of the executors in the will of his father Lawrence of Maidenhead. Inherits one-third of his father's plantation. (T)

1750. Dec. 4. John Updike appears among those who gave notice of estray cattle or horses, the record reading "Came into the enclosure John Updike near Princeton........... (Hillsborough Town Book.)

1754. "Johannes Opdyke" is named in will of Isaac Bragaw of Newtown, L. I., as married to his daughter Mary.. (Rec. Surrogate N. Y. City.)

1758. "John Opdike" gave notice of estray. .. (Hillsborough Town Book.)

1763. "John Updike" gave notice of estray. .. (Hillsborough Town Book.)

1763. Commissioners lay out a road; "Beginning on Great Road leading from Rocky Hill to Pennington, running thence S. E. 1 deg. across a piece of meadow in possession of Nicholas Golder, 8 chains to John Updike's Land, thence through John Updike's Land S. E. 9 deg. 31 chains to land of John Stockton, son of Rob't Stockton deed * * * Thomas Stockton * * * Joseph Stockton * * * Robert Stockton * * * Richard Stockton * * * Thomas Leonard * * * to Great Road going through Princeton." Witnessed by John Updike......................... (Somerset Co. Road Book.)

1764. A road is laid out for Ichabod Leigh through land of Joseph Anderson, along land of "John Opdyke" * * * and Doughty Stockton * * * and Thomas Stockton * * * "to the road which leads from John Opdyke to Princeton." This is signed by "John Updike" as Road Commissioner ........ (Somerset Co. Road Book.)

1765. Commissioners were appointed by Middlesex and Somerset Counties to run the line of the old King's Highway which had been the division line between the two counties. Azariah Dunham, one of the Comissioners and a prominent surveyor, ran the line and made a complete map which is now on file at Middlesex County Court House. This old map is very interesting, as it contains the names of all the then settlers on that important highway, the oldest thoroughfare across the State and which followed the old Indian path between what are now New Brunswick and Princeton. On this map appears "John Obdike," as in or almost in Princeton, on the north slde of the main street and adjoining Richard Stockton Esq. The name "Obdike " on the map has been changed by a later hand to Ubdike. The survey notes are recorded at both New Brunswick and Somerville and reads as follows: "Then North forty-two degrees aud a half East Twenty-one chains and fifty Nine Links to the Road at the West End of Prince Town, the Road to John Obdike's Bears North Twenty one degrees and a half West, Richard Stockton Esqr's house bears South Seventy degrees West about Ten Chains, Then North Seventy four degrees and three quarters East fifteen Chains and Sixty three links. The North West Corner of the Meeting House bears due South Two Chains and Nine Links." (The spelling "Obdike" above signifies only the taste of the Surveyor; the name was then in a transitional state.)

1767-8. Enos Kelsey, store-keeper in Princeton, had among his customers, as appears from his ledger, John Updike, Burgeon Updike and Isaac Updike....................... ("Princeton and its Institutions. ")

4TH GENERATION; TUNIS UPDIKE. - 211

1783, Aug. 5. Will of John Updike, admitted to probate by Gov. Livingston Apr. 1, 1790. John Updike of Somerset Co., N. J., devises to his sons, Lawrence, Abraham, Jacob, Burgune, William, Peter, Rulef, John and Isaac, each a portion of "land laid down in map by Joseph Skelton; " also his wearing apparel to be divided equally among "my nine sons hereinbefore named." To (his eldest son) Lawrence. 5 pounds for his birthright. To John, 6 pounds (probably for his name). To his daughters, Mary Johnson and Sarah Wood, 50 pounds each, these amounts to be paid by the sons. Executors, his sons Lawrence and Burgune........... (Liber Wills, 31, p. 527, T.)

Children of John Updike.

Birth. Death. Married. Residence.

Lawrence. 1739. 1813. Alteye Lanning. Somerset & Hunterdon, N. J.

Isaac. 1742. 1809. m'd. Somerset & Hunterdon, N J.

Burgoon. 1744. 1820. Mary-. Somerset, N. J., & Tompkins, N. Y.

William. 1746. 1839. Naomi Johnson. Montgomery, Somerset, N. J.

Roliph. 1750. 1830. m'd. Somerset, N. J., & Tompkins, N. Y.

Abraham. 1752. 1827. Jane Vaudervort. Somerset, N. J., & Tompkins, N. Y.

Jacob. 1752. 1827. Anna Savage. Somerset; N. J., & Tompkins, N. Y.

Peter. 1756. 1818 Mary Van Camp. Montgomery, Somerset, N. J.

John Jr. 1758. 1815. Mary-. Somerset, N. J., & Seneca, N. Y.

Mary. 1749. 1807. David Johnson. Montgomery, Somerset, N. J.

Sarah. . . . .. . . . .. Jeremiah Wood. "Genessee country," N. Y.

Gysbert. ..... .....

Mary probably married her first cousin, a son of her father's sister Catherine Johnson mentioned in the will of Lawrence Updike. ' The Johnson graveyard, near Princeton, on Stony Brook near John Updike's land, contains Mary's grave. Mary's granddaughter, Miss Helen Johnson, is still living at Princeton and her recollections of her Updike ancestors have been more complete than those given to the author by any other descendant of John Updike.

Sarah married Jeremiah Wood May 29, 1778; their marriage bond is on file at Trenton, with the signature of her brother Peter Updike as bondsman.

Gysbert is recollected by William and Peter's grandson, now living near Princeton,-who writes that his mother, married to her Updike cousin, often said that she had an uncle Gysbert. No further particulars as to Gysbert are recalled, beyond his name; he must have died without children before the death of his father, as there is no mention of him in John's will.

For sketches of other children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart 6.

TUNIS UPDIKE.

(Son of Lawrence, p. 185; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p. 136.)

Tunis is mentioned in the will (written 1745 and probated 1748) by his father Lawrence as the third son. To Tunis was devised "one-third of the Plantation." Nothing more is known of him. His name appears on no

212 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

record. Some of the descendants of his brother John have a faint remembrance of the name of Tunis, but know neither his residence nor his descendants. An aged lady in Princeton, who has the best memory concerning the family of John Updike (brother of Tunis), has a dim recollection of hearing that Tunis moved to Sussex, N. J.; but this was probably Tunis (Anthony) Opdyke, grandson of William Opdycke (cousin of Tunis Updike).

There are a few unlocated Updikes on the old records of Somerset County whose descendants have not been found ; as future discoveries may possibly reveal their descendants, the names of these are given as they appear on the records. We give also some families whose ancestor is unknown but may have been Tunis.

Possible Descendants of Tunis Updike.

Samuel Updike "of Montgomery township, Somerset Co., N. J."

1806. Buys 80 acres in Montgomery of Jacob and Mary Stryker for $3,733; land "near Princeton," adjoining Richard Stockton. (S)

1820. He and Sarah his wife mortgage for $775 the 80 acres deeded to him by Jacob Stryker in 1806. (S)

1826. He mortgages for $300 eight acres in Montgomery township deeded to him by Jacob Stryker in 1806. (S);

1816. He buys 4 1/4 acres from Abr. D. Baird for $342. (S)

Jonathan S. Updike of Somerset Co.

1827. Buys 10 acres in Montgomery township for $400. (S)

Eliza Updyke, in 1800 marries Samuel Roberts in Hunterdon Co.

John Updike, remembered by four aged grandchildren of William Updike (son of John) to have lived at Cherry Valley in Somerset Co., N. J., but to have been of a different family from their grandfather.

He was called "Little John," to distinguish him from Peters son of John V. Updike who was called "Long John." This "Little John" had a wife Elizabeth, and children as follows:

Jonathan S. (Johnty), who also lived near Cherry Valley, and died there by suicide in 1848, aged 45. He is said to have married Sarah Wood, and to have left a son John and another child.

Rachel, married William Leonard, lived in Somerset, N. J.

Lydia, who was the second wife of Foster Walters of Somerset. N. J.

Eliza, married Vincent Nisbet; lived in Somerset, N. J.

Andrew, who moved away from the County and probably from the State.

Daniel Updike of New Jersey, whose name has not been found on the records, but who is said to have been the father of:

Smith G. Updike, b. 1790, d. 1845; of New Jersey and Mercer Co., Ohio.

Josiah Updike, of New Jersey and Crawford Co., Ill.

Isaac Updike, unmarried.

Smith G. Updike, (son of Daniel above mentioned), grew up in New Jersey and moved to Mercer Co., Ohio, where he had children:

Jacob V., b. 1822, d. 1849, m'd. Maria Lincoln, Celina, Mercer Co., Ohio.

4TH GENERATION; TUNIS UPDIKE. - 213

Caleb G., b. 1834, living, m'd. Barbara E. . . . . ; is a farmer near Shelbyville, Ind.

Isaac, b. ...., d. 1849. Unmarried.

Tibitha. b. ...., living, m'd. .... Allen, Shelbyville, Ind.

Catherine, b. . . . ., living, m'd. Amos Chapman, Albany, Ind.

Elizabeth, b. ...., living, m'd. Abraham Kimmell, of Browns Corners, Huntington Co., Ind.

Jacob V. Updike Jr. (son of the above Jacob V., who was son of Smith G.) was born 1850, married Annie E. Houtz, and is a clergyman at Bluffton, Ohio. His father and grandfather died before he was born, and he has had few opportunities of learning his ancestors. He is well known in Ohio as the " Boy Preacher," and the newspapers of Ohio frequently contain notices of his successful labors. The Toledo Blade in April, 1887, published his portrait, and a sketch of his life from which the following is gathered. He was born Jan. 23, 1850 near Celina, County Seat of Mercer Co., Ohio. His mother was Maria Lincoln of the family of Abraham Lincoln. He was an only child, born three months after his father's death. His mother married again, and when 12 years old he began life's battle for himself, attending school a part of the year and laboring to pay for his board and books. He graduated at the Celina school at the age of 16, and thought of studying medicine, but became converted, was appointed to lead meetings, and preached his first sermon, six months after conversion, to a large audience at Buck's school-house near Celina. Some of the leading citizens encouraged him to enter the ministry, his first sermon having produced a wonderful effect on his hearers. He has held oral discussions with strong opponents, when called upon by his people to defend some vital principle; and has immersed 6,000 people. In 1883 he established a monthly religious journal, the "Gospel Light," which has subscribers in nearly every State of the Union. He was appointed Ohio State Evangelist in 1866 by the Board of Missions of the Church of Christ. This body of believers is named the "Disciples of Christ," " Christians," or "Campbellites," and is the same to which ex-President Garfield be longed. Rev. J. V. Updike "is witty, an eloquent debater, a good orator, has a very retentive memory, great industry and an ardent thirst for the simple truth; is also remarkable for his gentle and elegant manners, integrity and scholarly accomplishments." His children are: Cora E., b. 1871; Emma B., b. 1873; Perry 0., b. 1875; Harry E., b. 1875; Farron M., b. 1884.

Josiah Updike (brother of Smith G. and son of Daniel) moved from Ohio a few years ago to Crawford Co., Illinois, and died there leaving children:

William, b...., living, in Robinson, Crawford Co., Illinois.

Isaac, b... , living, in Robinson, Crawford Co., Illinois.

This William and Isaac have not replied to inquiries for further particulars as to their grandfather.

Abraham Updike may have been a son of Tunis Updike. Manley W. Opdyke writes us from Florida that his great grandfather Abraham was born near Coxsackie, Greene Co., N. Y., in 1764, joined the

Continental Army, was with Washington in the latter part of the war, then went to live near Schenectady until after 1843, then lived

214 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

with Manley's parents in the western part of New York, died and was buried near Albany in 1855. Abraham married 1. Hannah Deline, 2. Hannah Chapman; was a carpenter by trade; enlisted under the name of Opdyke, but after the war the Mohawk Dutch called him Updike. He is said to have had sixteen sons and three daughters: William, Chauncey, Jacob, Benjamin, Isaac, Garet, Reuben, John, Jason, Abraham, David, Stephen, Samuel, Harriet, Nancy, Hannah, and three others. Nothing is known of any of these children except

William who married Delight Button, was a farmer of Montgomery Co., N. Y., and had children:

William, born 1822, died 1863, married Esther Davenport, was a, farmer of Madison, Conn., and had children

Mary D., 1844, living, m. Manley W. Opdyke, St Augustine, Fla.

Minerva, 1846, living, m. Ezra Bradley a farmer of Guilford, Conn.

Julia A., 1848, living, m. Carlton Field a farmer of Guilford, Conn.

Cassius W., 1851, 1875, a farmer of Madison, Conn.

Andrew C., 1858, living, m. Lottie Wingood, a fisherman of Madison, Conn.

Nellie A., 1860, living, m. Chas. Brainard, a farmer of Madison, Conn.

Galen J. Updike of Saratoga Co., N. Y., had children:

Manley W., 1843, living, m. Mary D. Updike, a builder of St Augustine, Fla.

George, 1851, living, m. May Ray, a carpenter of Charlotte Mich.

Emma, 1857, living, m. Dan. Butler, an engineer of St. Augustine, Fla.

Ida, 1867, living, m. Henry Whitman a carpenter of St. Augustine, Fla.

Abraham, m. Mary Davenport, had children: Peter, John, Hen Charles, Mary A., Alma, and Sarah J.

James, m. Rebecca Renor, had children: William, Albert, Mary Emma Jane and Eva.

David Henry, died recently, of Illinois.

Eliza, m. John Betoncuff.

Lovica, m. Thomas Humphrey.

Harriet, m. Samuel Corbut.

SAMUEL GREEN,

Father-in-law of John Opdycke and Joshua Opdyke.

He was probably a son of Richard Green who arrived in the ship Shield , from Hull in 1678,- the first ship to come up the Delaware river as far a

SAMUEL GREEN. - 215

Burlington. Samuel Green was a very prominent man in West Jersey. The Hunterdon County and township records show him as Freeholder and Assessor in Amwell in 1721 ; Assessor in Amwell in 1723, 26, 27, 28, 34, and 35; Collector in 1729 ; Township Clerk in 1734; and Justice of Peace in 1722 and 1734. An old survey of 1,250 acres upon a branch of the Delaware called "pequuss" (Pequest), part of "Col. Dan'1 Coxe's 30,000 acre Lot," is signed "Surveyed May 27, 1715, by order of Gen'l Surv'r. Sam'l Green." He is well known to have been Surveyor for the Province of West Jersey, and many old deeds for allotments from the Proprietors refer to his surveys.

Samuel Green and family were the first settlers in the region of Hope, Sussex Co., (Barber and Howe's Hist. Coll. N. J.). He appears on Oct. 9, 1738, as one of four electors representing Greenwich township in an election for Representatives to the General Assembly from Hunterdon Co. This was at a very early period and showed remarkable energy in the character of Samuel Green. He must have made this pioneer movement into the wilderness at about the time when his two daughters married John and Joshua Opdyke. In 1738 Morris County was set off from Hunterdon and included all of Sussex and Warren. In 1753 Sussex was formed from parts of Morris. Greenwich and Hardwick then comprised all, or nearly all, of what afterward became Sussex and Warren Counties.

The Presbytery of New Brunswick was set off from that of Philadelphia in 1738. Their early appointments for that locality were recorded first " To Mr. Green's; " then to " Greensridge ; " then " Green ridge," " Green age" and "Greenwich." It seems not improbable therefore that the township may have been named in honor of the Green family. (Dr. Henry Race.)

Snell's History of Sussex County, (pages 32, 151, 606, 658), says: "The task of the sturdy pioneer, was not an inviting one, although the road to future honors lay before him. Imagine for a moment Axford and Green, as they came from `down country' or from the sandy plains of Long Island, marching into the then wilderness of old Hunterdon County (for this was Huuterdon then), looking here and there for a place to locate, going a little further along to see if they could not -find a better spot. When far beyond civilization they came upon the hills overlooking the Pequest. Not entirely satisfied with a view of the country from the ground, where the dense woods obstructed their vision, they mounted a lofty tree, and from its topmost branches selected their future homes. Green selected what is now the southwest corner of Hope township, and Axford what is now the southeast part, of Oxford township. Here the old pioneers were far out in the wilderness away from home and friends; night was coming on, they built a circle of fires within which they made a bed of

a few boughs. * * * The pioneer settler of what is now the township of Hope is supposed to be Samuel Green; * * * he was the owner of a

216 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

large tract of land covering nearly or quite the whole of the present township. * * * His family were on friendly terms with the Indians who, being grateful for kindness received, warned them of coming danger at the near approach of hostilities, so that they temporarily removed until the war was over." (This was the French and Indian war of 1755.) Green "settled near the present village of Johnsonsburg, formerly called the Log Jail, where the small county-seat of Sussex Co. was first located and the first Jail built." "March 21, 1754, the Board of Justices and Freeholders met at the house , of Samuel Green and appointed a meeting of all the qualified voters of Sussex to be held at the house of the said Samuel Green on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of April 1754 to select a place to build a jail and court-house." The same authority says that the early settlers in Hardwick township (which contained Johnsonsburg) were compelled until 1783 to go to Kingwood in Hunterdon for their milling; the trip was usually made on horseback and occupied two or three days even when the weather was favorable and the intervening streams were not too much swollen. The Kingwood mill was that of Edward Rockhill at Pittstown; it stood on the site of Mr. Deat's machine-shop, and old men remember having seen its ruins.

Samuel Green must have been a man of property. Among the conveyances and titles in the Moravian archives at Bethlehem., Pa., are many deeds of large tracts purchased by him between 1740 and 1750 in West Jersey. Among them is one in 1745 to him for 3,333 acres from the Legatees of Daniel Coxe, a part of their 20,000 acre tract, conveyed to Green in fulfillment of an agreement by their father as an equivalent for ascertaining and fixing the boundaries of his lands ; another in 1747 from Thomas Kitchen for a fractional part of an allotment of the West Jersey Society's land; also a deed from Samuel Green to his son, Samuel Green Jr., for the residue of 500 acres, of which 202 acres were " devised by Samuel Green to his daughter Ann and 96 acres to Joshua Opdyke" as stated in the memorandum attached.

He died at Johnsonsburg, Hardwick township, Sussex Co., in 1760. His will, on file in the vaults of the State House at Trenton, mentions his "first children, Sarah Severns, Samuel Green, Margaret Opdike, Richard Green and Ann Opdike." To his wife Hannah he left his house, 100 acres, rent of mill, "all personal property and all unlocated proprieties." To his five younger sons, Adam, John, William, Daniel, and George, he left 300 acres each; to his young daughters, Rebecca, and Mary, he left " land at foot of Paqualung Mountain."

Samuel Green Jr., son of the above, built a log house near what is now Hope, Warren Co., N. J., before 1751. During the French and Indian War he and his family took refuge at Bethlehem, Pa., with the Moravians, the " poor, scripture-proof and peaceful" remnants of the followers of the first protestant martyr John Huss. In return he and, his wife Abigail often afterward in their hospitable home entertained the Moravian brethren and sisters journeying back and forth between Bethlehem and the Indian settlements in New York and New England. This gave rise to a warm friendship between

4TH GENERATION; ESQ. JOHN OPDYCKE. - 217

them, and the Brethren often preached in Mr. Green's house. In 1749 he and his wife were baptised at Bethlehem, and later placed their children there at school. Indeed so great was their attachment to the Brethren, that Mr. Green in 1768 offered all his land to them for the purpose of establishing a New Jersey settlement of the Brethren, simi lar to Bethlehem. Out of regard to the interests of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Green, the Brethren deemed it wrong to accept the land as a gift; accordingly it was purchased from Mr. Green and his wife for 1,000 Pounds cash; their house, garden, free firewood, and hay for two cows being reserved to them during their lifetime. The Moravian archives contain the deeds from Samuel Green Sr. to his son, and from the son to the Moravians. In 1769 the first settlers from Bethlehem, Peter Warbass and family, removed thither and were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Green until their first building had been erected. The first mill and the pioneer store in that country were at once established and the name Greenland was given to the settlement in honor of Mr. Green. Bishop Ettwein frequently visited and preached there. In 1775 a town was laid out by the Brethren and named Hope. They were a remarkably honest people and, trusting too much to the integrity of their neighbors, suffered financial loss; in 1806 they sold the property at Hope and returned to Bethlehem. The stone house in Hope, now occupied by George Scheiner, was built by the Moravians and still contains the old-fashioned large wooden lock, the oven protruding into the parlor, and the furniture brought by the Brethren from Germany before 1740.Their church was the most substantial religious edifice ever erected in that part of the State; it was 21 stories high and contained also the parsonage and school rooms; it was sold in 1828 and converted into a hotel, in which the first courts of Warren Co. were held; it still stands and is now the Union Hotel. Samuel Green Jr. died 1775, aged about 70; his wife, Anna Abigail Light, born 1720 at Springfield, N. J., died 1791, was of the Light or Lick family whose descendant has endowed the Lick Observatory in California. Samuel Green Jr. left at death three surviving children; a son Nicholas, and a daughter Anna who in 1791 was Co-laboress of the Single-Sisters of the Salem congregation in North Carolina.

ESQ. JOHN OPDYCKE,

(Son of Albert, p. 191; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p. 136.)

Born 1710; married Margaret Green; resided in old Amwell (now Delaware) Township, Hunterdon County, N. J.; was a farmer, miller, merchant and Justice of the Peace; died 1777.

Out of the dim light of early Hunterdon, one figure looms up in many directions. The county records mention him as a voter in 1738, Freeholder in 1750, Justice in 1755 and 1757 to 1768. The drawers of the County Clerk's office at Flemington contain two stately parchments under royal seals " to our trusty and well beloved John Opdycke," and his oaths of allegiance to George III and of his nonbelief in Papacy, on taking office. The vaults of the Province of West Jersey at Burlington, and of the Secretary of State at Trenton, describe his ownership of four farms; county records connect him with two more; and old trunks probably contain his deeds for others. He was the first son named in the will of his father Albert; and was named after his grandfather (Johannes), as was the custom with the first-born. That he was not his father's executor, and that he alone of all the children received no share of the estate, arose doubtless from his having

218 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

moved ten miles away, at least 14 years before, from Lawrenceville to Amwell where he was already established and prosperous. He was administrator of the estate of his mother Elizabeth nine years later. His will in 1777, signed with the same signature as his oaths of office, and probated by Governor Livingston, bequeathed slaves to his sons George, Samuel and Thomas, large sums of money to his children and grandchildren, and referred to previous gifts. The inventory shows a larger amount of personal property than almost any other will of its region and time. Thus much on the records.

At the outset of his labors, the writer had the pleasure of meeting an old lady, of New York City, whose knowledge of her ancestors surpassed that of any one else whom he has met, unaided by records. "I am," she said immediately, "the daughter of John Opdycke once Sheriff of Hunterdon County, who was the son of Samuel of Sergeantsville, who was the son of John of Headquarters, who was the son of Albert of near Princeton. I have always known of Albert" She knew also that her great-grandfather John was a merchant, very wealthy for the times; that he and all his family were loyal in the Revolution, and that Washington was believed to have occupied these Headquarters at one time; and she had been often told by the family of Chancellor Green of N. J. that they were related to the Opdyckes,-no doubt through the wives of John and Joshua Opdyke.

The author has an aged relative of wonderful memory. He called upon her, easily aroused her interest, and her recollections were as follows:

"My husband was a grandson of old John Opdycke's daughter Elizabeth, and I lived forty-nine years at 'Headquarters.' 1 think I have heard as much about John Opdycke as any one, having lived so long among his descendants. He married Margaret, daughter of Samuel Green the Sur veyor; she was sister to Ann the wife of Joshua Opdyke, the two brothers marrying two sisters. I am a great-granddaughter of Joshua Opdyke and therefore married my third cousin. John was very wealthy and was said by his neighbors to measure his dollars with a half-bushel. His family were proud. Each of his sons had a fine farm and mill. Old John built many. stone buildings that are still standing. He first built and lived in the stop stone house on his farm which now belongs to Mrs. Samuel Higgins, near Headquarters. He built `Whitehall,' also `Headquarters House' where he kept store, and a mill close by. He built, and gave to each of his three sons, a stone mill and house, each house having a basement kitchen. To his son George he gave the stone mill and house at Milltown; to his son Samuel the stone mill and house at Sergeantsville, now known as Green Sergeant's mill and to his son Thomas a stone mill and house near Locktown, now known as Rittenhouse's mill. All these stand just as he built them; they have never been altered. He laid out the Opdyke graveyard at Headquarters and he and his family lie buried there, but the tombstones are now probably; overgrown with brush. John kept store nearly all his life, and his daughter Elizabeth (my husband's grandmother) was sometimes his head clerk. He and his three sons were large men, Samuel weighing 250 pounds, and the other two sons and their father weighing 200 each. John was a tall, dignified and rather stern man.

4TH GENERATION; ESQ. JOHN OPDYCKE. - 219

"His house, in which he lived and kept store, was occupied by General Washington in the Revolution, and on that account the village is named 'Headquarters' and has borne that name over 100 years. I obtained much information from my husband's mother who was a daughter of John's daughter Elizabeth. She was a remarkable woman, truthful and reliable, and often visited our house for months; never forgot anything she had heard or seen, and was very fond of relating stories of old times. She died Feb. 13, 1864, aged 94 years and 14 days. She remembered seeing General Washington seated with her grandfather under a shed before a stone pork house in the yard of her grandfather's house. She was eight years old, and Washington gave her a penny to bring him a drink of water from the spring, and her father treated to spirits. As she and I walked together about Headquarters, she would point out spots where the Tories used to conceal flour, meat and ammunition. There were many Tories in that neighborhood and this attracted British troops and led to many troubles and trying times. John Opdycke was a strong supporter of the American cause and so were his sons and two of his sons-in-law. But the husbands of two of his daughters were hot headed Tories. One of them kept tavern at Sergeantsville and often sheltered Tories in his house, without the knowledge of John Opdyke. I myself have often heard a daughter of this inn-keeper tell how, when a child, she was sent to carry messages to British troops on her uncle's farm, and if asked her errand on the road she would say that she was going to her uncle's. The neighborhood was full of scouts and at one time British and American troops were within three miles of each other there. The miller, who leased John Opdycke's mill, carted flour and kegs of powder concealed in the flour-barrels to the British, driving six horses tandem. John suspected him, discovered him starting during the night, summoned the neighbors and had him arrested and court-martialled; the miller was imprisoned, heavily fined, and died a poor man, in universal contempt in his old age.

"All John's three sons were in the Jersey militia in the Revolution and two of them were in the battle of Princeton. The family at home heard the cannon roar from Princeton. The American cause had looked so gloomy and the Jerseymen were so despondent, that John Opdycke had. gone down to the army to learn the true state of affairs; the old man came galloping back on his grey horse, swinging his hat and shouting: `The enemies are running. Victory is ours. We shall gain our freedom. Cheer up.' On several occasions he and his sons armed themselves and their negroes, lay in wait for approaching small bodies of British scouts and drove them back."

The author has since confirmed nearly all these stories from many other sources. He has found no published account of Washington's presence at this "Headquarters," but a large map of old Hunterdon County, hanging on the writer's wall, says " Washington's and Greene's armies encamped in Hunterdon." This and many other maps show " Washington's Encampment," just south of "Headquarters," as they entitle the village. Snell's History of Hunterdon County says:

"Headquarters,- so named from the fact that Washington made the old stone house, still standing on the corner of the road, his headquarters for a few days during the Revolution. It is a two-story structure, built in 1758."

Howe and Barber's Hist. Col. of N. J. gives a notice of this Headquarters, but no dates. A former President of the Hunterdon County Historical Society states that the tradition is generally believed. Mr. John

220 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

Carroll, a great-grandson of John Opdycke, and now owning the village and surrounding property, says:

"I cannot gainsay any of these accounts which have been given you. John Opdycke must have been a very prominent and wealthy man. His buildings were altogether superior to any other buildings in the county at that day. The stone mansion (Headquarters) by the mill has been built 129 years and there is not a rent in it. This is remarkable.

I have frequently heard my grandmother tell that her father, John Opdycke, rode horseback, as was customary in those days, with leather saddle bags; and one day when he came home, his black man took his horse and was told to bring in the saddle bags but could not carry them in because they were full of specie."

Mr. John Cavanaugh Opdyke, of Kingwood, has made a careful investigation of these traditions in the neighborhood of Headquarters, at the request of the author. He reports:

"The sentiment seems to be universal that Washington was there for a short time. My sister lived with her grandfather (a nephew of John Opdycke), and since his death she has lived not far from Headquarters., She says her grandfather and others repeatedly told her that Washington was there and occupied an old stone pork-house as his office. I think this ought to settle the matter. It was the Opdycke house he occupied, the most commodious house in the place, built 1758. Gen. Washington is known to have been up Alexsocken Creek, which is close by Headquarters."`

It would be well if all history were as thoroughly established as this. This grand old building will probably stand several centuries longer, when many others of Washington's headquarters shall have crumbled.

Ringos is said to have been the first settlement in Amwell, John Ringo building there a log but where two Indian paths crossed, in 1720, when that country was frequented only by Indians and wild beasts. John Opdycke's settlement at Headquarters, before 1738, was some distance further in the wilderness. Ringos was the first place for public meetings and trades in Hunterdon County. As early as 1725 an Episcopal Church was in existence there, built of logs, under a charter from the Crown. As late as 1773 the same minister officiated at St. Andrew's church of Ringos and St. Thomas' church of Alexandria, and the two churches were doubtless supported jointly. John Opdycke probably attended that at Ringos of which his son Samuel was vestrvman in 1785. Its rector, Rev. Wm. Frazer, during the Revolution would not omit prayers for the royal family. One Sunday, when he entered his church, a rope was hanging over the pulpit. Public sentiment was so violent that he was compelled to suspend worship in his church; but "his character was so lovely" that, reopening his church after peace was declared, he resumed his ministry with general acceptance.

The author will long remember his interesting trip to view these old scenes. Starting from Flemington early one morning, with a pair of horses and a photographer, he found that his informants had not done justice to

4TH GENERATION; ESQ. JOHN OPDYCKE. - 221

the subjects. At every place the present possessors confirmed the accounts as to the original builder, and at Sergeantsville pointed out the initials of John Opdycke and his wife Margaret and the date 1754 over the door. The exteriors of the buildings were as sound as if new ; the interiors showed floors and ceiling-beams stained and sagging with age. Headquarters itself bore the date 1758 inscribed on a large stone in the gable end ; this building is a very large double two-story house, as square and solid as though just built. The old men of the neighborhood pointed it out as the house of John Opdycke and the headquarters of General Washington. The country roundabout is rolling and just such a region as Washington loved to choose while hanging on the skirts of an enemy, or awaiting his approach. He was probably there between Dec. 5, 1776, (when he retreated from New Brunswick to the Delaware river,) and Christmas following, (when he fought the battle of Trenton) ; at this date my old lady informant's mother-in-law would have been seven years old. Central New Jersey was the battlefield of the Revolution, and this spot lay close to the repeated marches of both armies and within five miles of the crossing at Lambertville.

I found John Opdycke's graveyard in far better state than had been told me. The ground was encumbered by no bushes; only tall grass waved over the graves, and the whole lay in the centre of a fine large field upon a hillside facing the sun,- a worthy resting-place for the old patriarch. It occupies about an acre of ground, is surrounded by a substantial stone wall, and contains well-preserved tombstones with legible inscriptions of John Opdycke, his sister Sarah, his wife, and several children and grandchildren, as follows

John Opdycke Sr. died Aug. 10, 1777 in his 68th. year.

Margaret, wife of John Opdycke, died March 16, 1775, aged 64.

Sarah Opdycke died 1804 aged 80 years.

John Opdycke died 1773 aged 20 years.

Thomas Opdycke died Nov. 18, 1805 aged 49 years.

Ann Opdycke, wife of Thomas, died Jan. 12, 1830, in her 73rd. year.

Margaret, wife of John Besson, died 1820, aged 68.

Margaret, wife of John Case, born 1761, died 1808.

Records.

1734. Dec. 2. "John Updick Jr. Records a Red heffer two years and advantage, with a wite leg and sume wite on ye Near hind futt"....... (Maidenbead Township Records.) (The above record of "Jr." shows the existence, after the death of Johannes Opdyck, of a John Updike Sr., who was undoubtedly the son of Lawrence.)

1735, 6: John Opdycke brings suits in Hunterdon County court. (F)

1737. Borrows 40 Pounds of the Commissioners of the Hunterdon County Loan Office and gives a mortgage-on 456 acres situated in Amwell near the branch of the Delaware river called Tokkokkonetkong. (T)

1738. Votes from Amwell. (F)

1741. John Opdyke enters the Ear Marks of his stock. (Amwell Town Book.)

1744. Buys 100 acres on Tohakkonotecong river, Morris Co. (B)

222 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

1747. John Opdyke one of the Commissioners to lay out Road, which runs through lands of Joshua Opdyke. (Amwell Town Book.)

1750 to 1753. On Board of Freeholders in Hunterdon. (F)

1752. The first named son in the will of Albert Opdykk of Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co., N. J. (T)

1755. Appointed Justice of the Peace in Hunterdon by George III, by royal commission on file at Flemington ; also on file, his oath of allegiance to the King; also his oath of non-belief in transubstantiation, mass and the saints. Autograph. (F)

1757 to 1768. Acts as Justice in Hunterdon County court. (F)

1758. Buys 140 acres in Sussex County.(B)

1761. Administrator of his mother Elizabeth Opdycke of Maidenhead. (T)

1761, Dec. 28. Administrator of John Rouse of Hopewell. (T)

1764. "Yeoman of Hunterdon," and Margaret his wife, sell 258 acres in Greenwich township, Sussex Co., with a "water, corn or grist-mill," for 1,172 Pounds proclamation money. (N)

1768. Again appointed Justice of the Peace; old parchment on file at Flemington, reading thus: "George III, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King and Defender of the Faith, to our trusty and well-beloved John Opdyke and * * * We have assigned you and every one of you jointly and severally our Justices to keep the Peace in our county of Hunterdon, our Province of New Jersey * * * Witness our trusty and well-beloved William Franklin Esq., Capt. General, Governor and Commander in Chief of Province of New Jersey, 1768. We attach our Great Seal of New Jersey * * * Reed." (F)

1770. Lends 236 Pounds on mortgage on land in Greenwich, Sussex Co. (N)

1773 to 1776. John Opdyke on Town Committee.. (Amwell Town Book.)

1775. Of Amwell, gives his son Thomas 267 acres in Amwell, "all that part his old farm, given to him by Samuel Green, which lieth on the south side of King's Road," for "5 shillings, love and tender regard." (T).

1777. Will, written April 11, probated Aug. 29, by Governor Livingston at Pittstown, N. J.

"In the Name of God Amen. This Eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven, I John Opdycke of the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon in the western Division of the State of new Jersey Being in Perfeet Health of Body and of a Sound and disposing mind and memory, thanks be Given to God, and Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die; Do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following, viz. Principally and first of all I Give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of almighty God that Gave it and as for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian-like and Decent manner at the Direction of my Exrs. nothing Doubting but at the General ressurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God through Jesus Christ my Lord and Dear Redeemer. AND as Touching Such wordly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life - I Give, Devise, bequeath and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form. viz.

First, my will is that all my lawful Debts and funeral Charges be paid by my Exrs. out of my personal Estate.

In primis, I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Son George Opdycke, whom I acknowledge to be my lawful son and heir, the Sum of ten pounds proc'l. Money and one Mulatto Slave James by Name for his Birth-right over and above what I have Given him before this time.

4TH GENERATION; ESQ. JOHN OPDYCKE. - 223

Item, I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Son Samuel Opdycke one Negro man Robbin by Name, one Cow, one wind mill to clean corn together also with all necessary tools and Utensils belonging to the Grist Mill.

Item 2d, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Thomas Opdycke one Horse and one Cow and a yoak of Oxen, one plow and one Harrow and all necessary Implements to gear the whole team fit for use such as he shall Choose of all the aforementioned, also one Horse and Cow which is now Called his and Harness for s'd Horse; one Negro boy toney by Name,; also one Hundred and flifty Pounds proc'l money to be Paid to him by my Ex'rs in one Year after my Decease.

Item 3d, I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Sarah the Sum of ten Pounds proc'l money to be Paid to her in Six months after my Decease-over and above what I have already Given her.

Item 4th, I Give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Elisabeth ten Pounds proc'1 money beside what I have already Given her - to be Paid in Six months after my Decease.

Item 5th, I Give and bequeath unto all and Every one of my Grand Children males and females the Sum of Twenty Pounds proc'l money for Each Survivor of them at my Decease-to be Paid by my Ex'rs (into the hands of trustees if to be found that will give Surety to Put S'd money to Interest for the Use of S'd legatees) in four years after my Decease.

Item 6th, I Give and bequeath all the remaining Part of my Personal Estate-to be Equally Divided Between my three Daughters liters (to it) Catherine Mary & Margaret to be Paid to them by my Ors. the one half thereof in two years and the other half thereof of three years after my Decease. Each legacy I Give and bequeath to the above Named legatees and to their Heirs and assigns forever.

Item 7th, I do will and Positively order that within the Space of three years after my Decease my Ex'rs hereinafter Named and appointed Shall Sell all my lands which I have not Conveyed by Deed myself before that time and I do hereby impower them to Execute lawfull tittles for the Same which shall be effectual to all intents and Purposes.

Lastly. I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved Son Samuel Opdycke and John Bohonnon both of the township of Amwell afore S'd my Ex'rs of this my last will and Testament in trust to the End and Purpose herein Contained and I do hereby Disallow utterly revoke and Disannul all and Every other will legacy and Ex'rs before this time by me made willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament.

Witnesses: John Sutton, John Opdycke."

Zedekiah Bonham, Uriah Bonham."

The inventory of personal property, filed with the will at the office of the Secretary of State, Trenton, amounts to 2,510 Pounds and includes three negroes.

1800. Samuel Opdycke and John Bohonon, Executors, are cited by Catherine wife of Abraham Larew, Mary wife of Agesilaus Gordon, and Margaret wife of John Pyson, Legatees of John Opdycke deceased. (F)

1801. Samuel Opdycke, Executor of John Opdycke, reported deceased, and John Buchannan ordered to answer the citation, as the surviving executor. (F)

224 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

Children o f John Opdycke.

Elizabeth (Arnwine) made her will at 94 years of age and died at 98. She had sons: John, Samuel, George and Jacob;-and daughters: Mary who married Elisha Warford, Margaret who married John Case, and Elizabeth who married Daniel Carroll and was mother of John Carroll who now owns Headquarters.

Margaret (Benson) had fourteen children. The name is spelled in the old records, Personne, Pyson and Pearson; her tombstone spells it Besson, and it is so spelled by Margaret and her husband as witnesses to the will of her uncle Joshua Opdycke.

For sketches of other children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in '' Chart 6.

JOSHUA OPDYKE.

(Son of Albert, p. 191; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p. 136.)

Born about 1713, died 1789; married Ann Green in 1738; was a farmer in Kingwood (formerly Amwell) township, Hunterdon Co., N. J,

Although the second son of Albert Opdyck, he inherited a double portion under his father's will in 1752, probably from paternal affection or unusual filial services, as he had long been married and settled, away from the old home at Maidenhead. With the energy of those pioneer days he plunged into the Amwell forest which later became Kingwood, ten miles north of his older brother John, and made his home on a ridge which divides the water-shed of the Delaware and Raritan rivers. There side-by-side start the rivulets which flow east and west. The land is high and pleasantly undulating, descending westward until it overhangs the Delaware river with perpendicular rocks and picturesque ledges. Yet by a freak of nature the soil is a strong clay, growing great hickory trees and producing heavy crops of grass and grain a region well fitted for energetic men, and vigorous progeny such as Joshua's proved to be.

4TH GENERATION; JOSHUA OPDYKE. - 225

Like the son of Nun, Joshua saw that the land was a pleasant land; and he resolved early in life to possess much more of it than his Kingwood farm. He purchased warrants for fractional parts of allotments from the Quaker "Proprietors," and under these there were surveyed and assigned to him, in Hunterdon, Morris and Sussex Counties, many other tracts, in the location of which he doubtless had the advice of his father-in-law Samuel Green the Surveyor. Joshua and his wife also received 298 acres from her father ; and moreover he purchased 320 acres in Sussex from Richard Green. The records do not show that Joshua ever sold more than one of these ten tracts, and it is known that he gave to each of his children a farm, during his life or at his death.

The author has in his possession the old parchment deed of 1756 from Jacob Reeder to Joshua Opdyke for 283 acres in Kingwood, which describes the tract as ` adjoining on the west the said Opdike's land 91 chains & 65 links," or over one mile; showing that Joshua must have already possessed there 200 acres or more. This tract of 500 acres was that which he made his homestead. He first built a log house and lived therein until he cleared off the heavy timber from some of his land, and then he erected a stone house which is still standing. This building was a story and a half high, but has been raised a half story by a later owner, John Rittenhouse; it now belongs to Pierson R. Wood.

The view from Joshua's old homestead is very fine, looking over a cultivated, gently rolling and descending country, to the Pennsylvania hills, with the Delaware river visible between and far below. On this tract four generations of the author's ancestors hewed away the giant trees, turned the furrows, reaped the golden grain, hunted in the Autumn woods, and gathered around the blazing hickory logs on the Winter hearths. But gone now are the present generations to newer States and more active fields. Hunterdon County, and in fact all New Jersey, has been a hive sending out swarms to people new territories, and the home population has not increased for many years except in towns.

Joshua adhered to the Baptist Church which his father had joined long before in Hopewell. He is said to have been the chief spirit in founding the old-school Baptist church of Baptisttown, near his farm. In 1741 a small meeting-house was raised, which was replaced in 1750 by a larger building. This building is still standing but has been converted into a barn, and a larger church building erected about 1850. Upon the old records of this church Joshua appears as Deacon, and he or his sons frequently presided at the church meetings; in 1789 he was a Delegate from Kingwood to the Baptist Convention at Philadelphia.

Baptisttown is a quiet quaint old village, lying on what was called the "King's Highway." One of its buildings is pointed out as having seen over 150 years,- originally a tavern, now a store with a new front, but the on

226 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

dark timbers of its low ceiling and its ancient windows show its age. The place contains in all two churches, a school-house, hotel, blacksmith-shop, two stores and thirty dwellings ; yet it is the largest village in Kingwood township.

In the graveyard of the old church now repose the early settlers, but.many of the tombstones have become illegible from age. Those of Joshua and of his sons Richard and Luther, cannot now be identified. The following are the only inscriptions on Opdycke tombstones that are clear:

Fanny, wife of Ambrose Baarcroft, late widow of John Hoagland, , died 1809, aged 52.

John Hoagland died 1784, aged 29.

Hannah, wife of John Britton, died 1821, aged 61. John Britton died 1822, aged 61.

Fanny, wife of Joseph Opdyke, died 1826, aged 42. George Opdyke died 1851, aged 77.

Mary, wife of George Opdyke, died 1834, aged 61. Daniel Opdycke died 1862, aged 95.

Richard Opdycke died 1856, aged 78.

Deborah Fox, wife of Richard Opdycke, died 1859, aged 73. David Opdycke died 1849, aged 45.

Joshua Opdyke was a tall well-proportioned man, of remarkably cheerful and even temper, but firm and resolute. A notable instance of his spirit in frequently told as having occurred during the Revolution. The British and their Hessian hirelings had committed outrages among the Jersey yoemanry, regardless of age, sex or peaceable employments. A report came that some of the hated troopers were approaching. Old Joshua loaded four guns and concealed himself in a swamp thicket near the crossing of the creek, intending to fire so rapidly as to give the impression of a squad of men; but a neighboring physician on horseback passed along the road and Joshua learned that the approaching troops were American.

Hunterdon County was noted for its patriotism during the Revolution and was especially praised by the Provincial Congress. Both of Joshua's sons served in the American army, as did at least six of his brothers' sons; indeed nearly every able-bodied yeoman of the county was under arms either in the militia or in the Continental Army. While the Jersey farmers were thus absent on military service, the women aided the old men at harvest time, going into the fields and gathering the crops,-the example being set by the ladies of first rank in each place. In many instances the women took upon themselves the whole work of carrying on the farms, so long as the liberties of the country required the presence in the army of their sons, husbands, and brothers.

We give a fac-simile of the signature made by Joshua in 1781 upon the marriage bond of his daughter Hannah filed with the archives of the Secretary of State at Trenton. In the same vaults there is another signature , made by him almost 40 years earlier, 28 Apr. 1743, upon the Mortgage Book .

4TH GENERATION; JOSHUA OPDYKE. - 227

of the Hunterdon Co. Loan Society. The two autographs are almost exactly alike, and show that his habitual handwriting was neat and uniform. The one on his will was affected by old age.

The will is on file in the vaults of the Secretary of State, Trenton, and appears to have been written by his own hand. Correct spelling was not fashionable in those times. The witnesses were his niece Margaret Besson, (daughter of his brother John and Margaret Green), and her husband. Joshua and his brother John married sisters. Joshua probably named his son Richard for his wife's brother Richard Green, his daughter Elizabeth for his mother, Hannah and Caty for his sisters, and Margaret for his wife's sister. The name Catherine was given to a daughter by almost every early descendant of Johannes, and was doubtless handed down in remembrance of Johannes' wife Catherine. Joshua himself was named after his aunt Engeltje Opdyck's husband Joshua Anderson of Newtown, L. I., and Maidenhead.

Records.

1738. Joshua Updike of Hunterdon married to Ann Green of Hunterdon, as appears on the Index of Marriage Bonds at the office of the Secretary of State, Trenton. The bond itself is not found, numbers of these bonds having been misplaced in the files. The spelling on the records depended upon the fancy of the recording clerk, and is of no importance, the spelling of the same name frequently varying on the same page, or in the same document.

1743. Joshua 0pdycke of old Amwell borrows 20 Pounds from the Commissioner of the Hunterdon County Loan Office, and gives a mortgage on three acres in Amwell. (T)

1747. Survey of 140 acres made to Joshua 0pdike, land in Morris Co. (B)

1750. Joshua Opdike of Amwell, Hunt. Co., buys for 29 Pounds, 73 acres "to be taken up and surveyed for him in any part unappropriated in the Eastern Division of N. J. except Romopock," from "Robert H. Morris Chief Justice of N. J." out of the latter's 500 acre allotment. P

1750. Survey to Joshua Opdike, of 73 acres in Morris Co. (P)

1752. Inherits under will of his father Albert Opdykk of Maidenhead. (T)

1756. Deed from Jacob Reeder to Joshua Opdike for 283 acres in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., adjoined on the west by the said Opdike's land 91 chains and 65 links " for 300 Pounds. This deed has never been recorded. (a frequent omission in early times), and having been handed down in the family, is now in the possession of the author. It is handsomely engrossed on a large parchment with indented top as was the custom, (whence the origin of the term "Indenture "). The receipt upon the back is in the old style of repetition; "Rec'd the day of the date hereof Three Hundred pounds being the full Consideration Money herein Mentioned, I say Rec'd by me 300 P. Jacob Reeder."

1757. Survey to Joshua Opdike, of 140 acres in Sussex Co., appears on the East side of the true Quintipartite line; and a new warrant granted to him to locate the same 140 acres elsewhere. (P. and T.)

1758. Survey made to Joshua Opdike of 140 acres in Sussex Co. (B)

1759. Survey made to Joshua Opdike of 53 acres on the division line, adjoining Richard Green. (P)

228 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

1760. Survey made to Joshua Opdike of 100 acres in Sussex Co. (B)

1763. Joshua Opdike is living on the Biles' tract, in Kingwood township as appears on the field notes of a Survey made by Dr. John Rockhill a short distance N. E. of Barbertown. (Snell's Hist. Hunterdon.)

1765. Survey made to Joshua Opdike of 110 acres in Amwell, Hunt. Co.(B)

1765. Joshua Opdike of Kingwood, Hunt. Co. sells for 115 Pounds, 115 acres on the Delaware river, 2 chains up the river from Col. Coxe's 30,000 acre tract. (T)

1774. Survey made to Joshua Opdike of 53 acres in Sussex County. (T)

1781, June 2. Marriage bond of John Britton and Hannah Opdike. Bond signed by Joshua Opdyke "of Kingwood." (T)

1789. Joshua Opdyke Delegate to Baptist Convention, Philadelphia.

Will.

1788. Dec. 1. Probated May 6, 1789. "In the name of God amain I Joshua Opdyke of the township of gingwood in the county of Hunterdon and province of New Jersey being throu mercy of God sound and perfect in my understanding I do hear by constitute this my Last will and testament. I most humbly bequeth my soul to God my maker beseaching his gratious acceptance of it through the merit of Jesus Christ my saviour and my Body to the dust. As to my worly Estate I will all my Just deptes and funeral Charge be paid by my Executors. I give my son Richard five shilings good and Lawful money to be his full share of my Estate Rail or persannal. I give to my son Luther five shiling. I give to my darter Sarah five shiling. I give to my darter Elizabeth five shiling. I give to my darter Margret five shiling. I give to my wife two cowse and all my plantation and household goods where I now live during her widdowhood and after widdowood to be sold with all my Landes by my Executours at publick vandue and the money divided in three parts one part I give to my daughter francesss four Childrenn, that is to her son Henry hoguland and Joshua boguland and John hoguland and Egnus hoguland to be Equily divided amongue the fore when they Come of Eage and if any of them shuld be Removed by death then to be divided Equily among the rest. I give one third to my daughter hannah and the other third I give to my daughter Caty. I constitute my son Richard Opdyke and of Kingwood, and Amos hoglaud of amwill mason my Excutours to my Last will and testement and in witness hearof I have hear unto set my hand and seal this first day of Dezember anno domini one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight, sined and sealed in the precence of

Jacob Kisler, John Besson, Margaret Besson.

(Signed) Joshua Opdyke.,

The inventory of personal property, filed with the will in the Trenton Vaults, amounted to 240 Pounds and included "1 servant or slave. Joshua had before his death given a farm to each of his eldest five children. Luther was given part of the large homestead farm in Kingwood when he married; Richard was given a fine farm near by; Sarah, Elizabeth and Margaret each received a large farm in Sussex County. Snell's History of Sussex County says that Johusa Opdyke of Hunterdon bought on Sept. 16, 1756, from Richard Green 320 acres of land, on which stood the ° 100 mile tree of the Lawrence line, and that he deeded 160 acres of this on May 1, 1772, for one dollar and love and affection," to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Samuel Hill, whose grandson Samuel H. Hunt now owns and lives on this farm; and that Joshua deeded the remaining

4TH GENERATION; JOSHUA OPDYKE. - 229

160 acres on like terms to his daughter Sarah and her husband Thomas Allen, the property now being owned by Joseph Hill, grandson of Samuel Hill.

Children of Joshua Opdyke.

Birth. Death. Married. Residence. Occupation.

Richard. 1740. 1825. 1. Grace Thatcher, Kingwood, Farmer &

2. Diana B. Sutton. Hunterdon, N. J. Justice.

Luther. 1750. 1838. 1. Gertrude Hall, Kingwood & Farmer,

2. Ruth Sinclair, Alexandria, Miller&

3. Mary Dalrymple. Hunterdon, N. J. Justice.

Sarah. ..... ..... Thomas Allen. Sussex Co., N. J. Farmer.

Elizabeth. ..... ..... Samuel Hill. Sussex Co., N. J. Farmer.

Margaret. . -------- Glover. Sussex Co., N. J. Farmer.

Frances. 1757. 1809. 1. John Hoagland, Kingwood, Farmer.

2. Ambrose Baarcroft. Hunterdon, N. J.

Hannah. 1760. 1821. John Britton, Kingwood, N. J. Farmer.

Catherine. ..... ..... Aaron Van Syckel. Hunterdon Co., N. J. Farmer.

Elizabeth married Samuel Hill, living on an adjoining farm near Baptisttown in Hunterdon, and moved with him to Sussex to the farm given them by Joshua, on which were the remains of Indian huts near a spring. Their children were: Joseph, married 1. Abbie, daughter of Ralph Hunt, and 2. Mary, daughter of Zachariah Price, grandfather of Governor Rodman M. Price; Sarah; Joshua; Anna, married John, son of Ralph Hunt, and was mother of Samuel H. Hunt, vice-president of Merchants' Nat. Bank of Newton, who has collected a large library of works on New Jersey History; Rhenhame, married Jehu Curtis, grandson of a Baptist clergyman near Baptisttown; Luther; Samuel, married Elsie Wilcox; Jonathan; married two daughters of Zachariah Price above named, and was father of Joseph Hill a merchant of Newton, and grandfather of Francis J. Swayze who graduated with the first honors at Harvard in 1879, the youngest in his class, and is now. practicing law in Newton; Catherine, married Noah P. Vail.

Frances had four children by her first husband John Hoagland; and ten by her second husband Ambrose Baarcroft, of whom one was Stacy B. Barcroft of Philadelphia.

Hannah married John Britton on June 2, 1781; their marriage license with the signature of Joshua Opdyke is on file in the vaults of the State House at Trenton. Her husband was always known as Colonel Britton; they lived in Joshua's old stone house after his death, and they there died; their sons kept a store in the east end of Esq. Richard's old stone house after his death.

Catherine was mother of Mrs. Charles Wilson of Somerville, N. J., who lived twelve years upon the celebrated old Van Veghten homestead on the Raritan, which her husband bought in 1843; the house, built about 1690, is of Holland brick, and was one of the oldest and finest in the Jerseys when occupied by General Greece as his head-quarters during the winter of 1778-9 and made the centre of a brilliant society by the presence of the

230 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

general's lovely wife. Catherine was grandmother of Bennet Van Syckel, now judge of Supr. Court of N. J. Catherine's husband, Aaron Van Syckel, had a brother David, who married Mary, the daughter of George, who was son of Esq. John Opdycke.

For sketches of other children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart 6.

WILLIAM OPDYCKE (OBDIKE).

(Son of Albert, p, 191; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p.136.)

Born about 1715, died after 1779; married Nancy Carpenter; resided near Maidenhead, (Lawrenceville), N. J. He spent a short time in Amwell township, Hunterdon, for we find him on a petition there in 1736, and voting there in 1738 with his brother John at an election for Member of the General Assembly of N. J. from Hunterdon. We also find "William Opdike of Amwell" buying 150 acres in Amwell in 1739, and selling the same again in a few weeks; as no wife joined him in the sale, he was then unmarried. He probably soon returned to his father's home at Maidenhead and took charge of the homestead farm, for we find him inheriting a double portion under his father's will in 1752. He married before 1750. The records show that he was living at Maidenhead (Lawrenceville) in 1756`, 1773 and 1779. Some of his descendants think that he lived for a time at place called "Shoemakers Mills," and was a miller there, but this place has not been found.

Records.

1736, Jan. 28. William Opdyke signs a petition.... (Amwell Town Book.)

1738. William Updyke votes from Amwell township at an election at Trenton for Member of Gen. Assembly........ (Snell's Hist. Hunt. Co.)

1739, Jan. 12. William Opdike, of Amwell township, Hunterdon C0., Province of West Jersey, buys from William Fowler 150 acres in Amwell on the south side of Neshaning brook.......... (T)

1739, Feb. 16. William Opdike of Amwell sells the above land to Tunis Hobboh for 220 Pounds .................................. (T)

1752. Inherits as son under the will of his father Albert Opdyck of Maidenhead ... .....(T)

1756. Williant Obdike records on Lawrence (Maidenhead) Town Book "a Redish Brown Bull about two years old, no ear mark nor any white about him; Joshua Anderson Clerk."

1773. William Updyke " records a white Ewe Lam * * * & a smaller pork, hapeney on the Near Ear,"- on same book.

1779, Dec. 10. Marriage bond of Jacob Mattison Jr. and Elizabeth Updyke Bond signed by "William Obdike of township of Maidenhe Hunterdon Co., N. J."....................... (T).

4TH GENERATION; WILLIAM OPDYCKE (OBDIKE.) - 231

William Opdykke having left no will on record, it has required much labor to trace his numerous descendants who have been scattered in different States for a century, some of them calling themselves Updikes like the descendants of Lawrence in Maidenhead, some Obdyke and some Updyke. The following list has finally been proved correct by abundant evidence from many sources, and has been submitted to all branches of his descendants and met with their approval.

Children of WilLiam Opdycke.

Birth. Death. Married. Residence. Occupation

Mary. ... . .. William Biles. Hunterdon Co., N. J.

John. 1740. 1819. Rebecca Wharton. Warren Co., N. J. Miller.

William. 1755. 1822. Sarah Palmer. New Germantown, N. J. Miller.

Elizabeth. ..... ..... Jacob Mattison Jr.

Robert. .... 1820. 1. Abigail Hunt. Maidenhead, N. J. Farmer.

2. Elizabeth Smith Ford.

Hope. 1762. 1834. Catharine Wilson. Trenton, N. J. Farmer.

Samuel ..... ..... Sarah Burtlas. Troy & Seneca Co. N. Y. Farmer & Miller. Daniel. ............ Trenton, N. J.

Sarah. ..... ..... William Nefus. Troy, N. Y. Miller.

For sketches of children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart 6.

The following description of the author's search for the descendants of William Opdycke may be interesting in showing the difficulties of genealogical investigation, when a will is missing from the records.

The records, the traditions, and the reports from all of the name in the United States who could be found on mercantile lists, directories &c., proved that all the Opdyckes (Opdykes, Obdykes) are descended from the four sons of Albert Opdvck mentioned in his will in 1752. Let us call these four branches, after the names of the four brothers, the John branch, Joshua branch, Benjamin branch, and William branch. The first three branches, living near each other in Hunterdon, had retained more or less knowledge of their relationship, and all doubts were easily settled by the recorded wills of their heads, John, Joshua and Benjamin. But these three branches had entirely lost trace of the fourth branch, and William left no will on record. Chance and the efforts of members of all the branches assisted the author in his searches.

A member of the John branch accidentally heard of some Opdykes, prosperous millers in Warren Co., N. J.; be reported them to the author who belongs to the Joshua branch, and who induced a member of the Benjamin branch to interview them. He learned that their father Samuel was a son of John who was a son of William Opdycke of Trenton; and that John had a brother William who was a Revolutionary soldier. Here was the lost William, the head of the William branch, with two sons. But the descendants even of John were incomplete because his Warren Co. grandchildren had lost trace of their three uncles (John, Isaac and William) who had gone as millers to Troy 80 years ago and had not been heard from in 75 years.

Next, newspapers and directories told of prominent merchants named Obdyke in Philadelphia. They replied to letters, saying that their grandfather was William Obdike, born in old Hunterdon, a Revolutionary soldier, and had a brother Hope in Trenton who had a son Abraham there in the shoe-trade; and that they had uncles somewhere in Bucks Co., Pa. These Bucks Co. relatives were found and interviewed by the author's Jersey kin-

232 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

dred who live opposite. them on the Delaware river. They were found to be respectable farmers, calling themselves Opdykes, and knowing that their grandfather William was born near Trenton and had a brother Hope who was once mayor of Trenton; and knowing also that all of their name were descended from four Opdyke brothers before the Revolution." Chance then discovered in Connecticut a railroad conductor who was found to be a cousin of the Philadelphia Obdykes and who gave to all his relatives the spelling of Opdyke. The records also showed the presence at Trenton of William and his brother Hope with their wives between 1787 and 1797, the service of William as Continental soldier, and the marriage of Hope. Here then were three sons of William, the head of the William branch.

The Sec. N. J. Hist. Society had referred the author to an Auditor at Washington, D. C., who had given the address of an Updike at Pennington, N. J., who kindly made thorough investigations near Trenton and discovered there an estimable lady who was granddanghter of a Hope Updike, father of an Abraham in the shoe-trade at Trenton. The difference in the spelling of the name was at first staggering. But a clergyman of the Joshua branch found an Opdyke postmaster in Cumberland Co., N. J., and brought church influence upon him through the local clergyman, eliciting full replies that he was a grandson of Hope Opdyke and showing the same descendants of Hope as had been given already for Hope Updike. Further correspondence with the Cumberland county Opdykes showed their knowledge of their father's cousins named Obdyke in Philadelphia, and also of his Opdyke (or Updike) uncle and cousins who went to Troy; and also reported that their family name was spelled eight different ways in their old family papers. This testimony confirmed Hope as a son of William; and enabled the author to inform an Updike grandson of Hope, living in Illinois, and married to an Opdyke of the John branch, that his wife was his third cousin and should after marriage have retained her maiden name as the more correct spelling.

Next, the author, having through his wife's cousin in Waterloo, N. Y., discovered his own third cousin of Joshua's branch, (an enterprising young lawyer,) learned from this source that there were Updikes in Syracuse. Letters to them brought replies that their grandfather Samuel came from Trenton, N. J., and referred to their aged uncle in Michigan for further information. The latter, being 84 years old, was at the author's request, interviewed by a sister of the Warren county Opdykes who fortunately chanced to be living in Michigan within four miles of his residence. She learned from him that his father Samuel was a son of William of Trenton, N. J., and that Samuel had a brother Hope; and furthermore this aged patriarch had lived as a child at Troy and remembered his cousin Isaac who was a miller there, and his aunt Sarah Nefus. The lady knew that this was her lost uncle Isaac and her grand-aunt Sarah Nefus. Here then was a fourth son, Samuel, of William's branch. On investigation, the records of Troy and Albany showed the presence there between 1809 and 1813 of Samuel and Isaac Updike and of Wm. Nefus, the latter two buying a mill, together.

Again, the Pennington correspondent discovered that there had been living close to him in New Jersey, for many years, a married daughter of a Robert Opdyke, a Revolutionary soldier. The author visited the old lady, and she identified her father as brother of Hope and as having also had a brother Daniel, and a sister Mary who married William Biles, all having lived in Maidenhead, near Trenton. The records of the Sec. of State of N. J., showed the marriage of Mary Opdike and William Biles of Hunterdon, November 25, 1768; and their Biles descendants in Trenton stated their knowledge that Mary Opdike (Biles) was a daughter of William Opdike. Here were three more children of William.

4TH GENERATION; BENJAMIN OPDYCKE. - 233

Finally a Nebraska Updike, by correspondence with all the County Clerks in Kansas to discover a lost uncle, brought to light an Updyke merchant in Kansas. The latter referred to his uncle in Iowa and aunt in Troy. These proved to be children of one of the lost Troy uncles of the Warren county Opdykes in New Jersey. They accounted for the other lost Troy uncles and their descendants, including a Sheriff in Michigan, a hotel keeper in Iowa, and others in Dakota and Nebraska; their recollections of their father's cousins in Troy confirmed the fourth son Samuel, and gave Nancy Carpenter as wife to their great grand-father William; they also recalled William Biles of Trenton

Thus the independent testimony of the widely scattered branches tied together the beads of each family as brothers and sisters, and connected them all as children of William Opdycke of Maidenhead near Trenton. That this William was the son of AlbertOpdyck, mentioned in his will, there cannot be the slightest doubt, because the place, the time, the name all agree; and there was no other family of that name there, as shown by the records of the Township, County, State, and Province. The author is rewarded for his labor by discovering his own distant relatives connected with him by the birth of William in 1717, and by having thus reunited to each other near relatives of William's branch who have been mutually unknown for nearly a century.

A curiously strong confirmation of the results can be found in the fact that each of the above sons of William gave to his children the names of the above mentioned brothers and sisters. Thus:

Robert named children John, William, and Mary.

William named children Robert, Samuel, and Mary.

John named children William, Samuel, Daniel, Mary, and Sarah.

Hope named children William, Mary and Sarah.

Samuel named children William, John, and Sarah.

BENJAMIN OPDYCKE.

(Son of Albert, p. 191; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p. 136.)

Born 1721, died 1807; married Joanna; was a farmer in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J.

He was the fourth and youngest son of Albert Opdyck; and was executor of his father's will in 17U, with his mother Elizabeth. He was married before 1750. In selecting his future home Benjamin went northward like his brothers John and Joshua, but settling later than they, he went ten miles beyond Joshua to find abundant land. He chose the crest of the first mountain of the Blue Ridge, in Bethlehem township on the northern edge of Hunterdon County. There he lived 50 years and there died in his 86th year; his tombstone is in the small family graveyard that stands on his old farm, enclosed by a stone wall. He owned 550 acres, and his hill homestead instill in the possession of his great-grandson George Opdyke, but Benjamin's old log house was torn down by his grandson and a new farmhouse built close by its site. The old parchment deed for the hill farm has been handed down in the family; and so has that for the 151 acres in the valley

234 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

north, which Benjamin bought in 1766. Side-by-side in the family graveyard above mentioned are the graves and tombstones of Benjamin and his sons Albert and Joshua. The highest point of the farm is said to be more than than 500 feet above the valleys on the north and south. The views in both directions are grand, in front looking over the rich Musconetcong Valley far into Warren County, and in the rear reaching from the Delaware river to the White House. The snow lies nearly all winter on the north side of the hill fields. Adjoining the old grave yard are numerous small head stones which are supposed to mark old Indian graves. The hill is now mined for iron ore by the West End Iron Co. Immediately under the farm, several hundred feet below, yawns the tunnel of the Lehigh Valley R.. R., and the trains from even that level can run by gravity all the way (50 miles) to tide-water at Amboy. Benjamin is the only one of the great-grandsons of the original Opdyck settler in America, whose home farm is still owned and occupied by one of his descendants bearing the family name.

Benjamin took an active part in local public matters, and during 23 years appears constantly in office as Freeholder, Overseer of the Poor, or Member of Town Committee of Bethlehem. His signature as executor of his father, and on the marriage bond of his son Joshua, is handsomely written. He lived to a much greater age than his brothers John and Joshua, and survived both his sons, leaving at his death eight Opdycke grandsons (of whom five were grown men), and two Opdycke great-grandsons. He named his first-born son after its grandfather, and the second after his own brother Joshua. This evidence of fraternal feeling between Benjamin and Joshua in 1756, is a pleasant fact to their two great-great-grandsons who labored together in 1857-9 upon this genealogy.

Bethlehem Township Records.

1763, 64, 80, 81, 82, 95. Benjamin Opdycke on Town Committee.

1763, 1781. Benjamin Opdycke on Board of Freeholders.

1765. "The Commissioners of Bethlehem and Alexandria met at the Hickory Tavern and settled the accounts depending before the division of Bethlehem." Benjamin Opdycke appears as Overseer of the Poor.

1766. Deed on parchment, in possession of his great-great-grandson, shows that Benjamin Opdycke paid 537 Pounds at a Sheriff's sale, for 151 1/4 acres in Bethlehem; witnesses John Farnsworth, Albort Opdyck and Adonijah Farnsworth.

1806, Oct. 22; Will; probated 1807,

On file in the vaults of the Sec. of State at Trenton, N. J. "In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Opdycke of the Township of Bethlehem County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being Somewhat weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for his mercies therefor I do make ordain publish and put in writing this my last will and Testament in the following Manner and first of all I order that all my Just debts be fully paid and funeral Charges satisfied and paid. I then Bequeath unto my beloved wife Joanna Opdycke all the property that she had or brought to me when we were married. I also will her the one Equal fifth part of all my

4TH GENERATION; BENJAMIN OPDYCKE. - 235

moveable Estate forever. I further bequeath her all my homestead plantation whereon I now Live During her widowhood and after her Death or marriage I Bequeath to my grandson George Opdycke son of Joshua Opdycke that part of the said plantation that Lies on the reat Road East & North of a certain Black oak my Corner in Imley's line thence Down the Line to a bickry Corner and still further to the s'd Great Road. I further will & Bequeath all the Remainder of my homestead plantation after the Decease or marriage of my wife-unto Benjamin Opdycke son of Albert Opdycke for ever. And after the grist mill has paid the Amount of money to Henry Dusenbury for Rebuilding the mill I bequeath it to my grandson John Opdycke son of Joshua Opdycke. I also will him seven acres three Quarters & twenty three perch whereon the mill store and spring house stand as Surveyed by William Runkle Esq'r on the fifteenth day of Sept. 1806. I also will him the Land twenty five feet from the mill up the Race to the mill dam, also the mill dam and as much Land as will contain all the water that can be Raised in it. I further will & Bequeath unto my grandson Benjamin Opdycke son of Joshua Opdycke all the Remainder of the plantation and premises whereon Ware and Waterfield Now Live. I Will and Bequeath To my Grandson William Opdycke son of Joshua Opdycke all that house and Lot said to Contain about 17 acres whereon. Thomas Vanhorn Now Lives. I further Direct that all my moveable Estate be sold to the best advantage and Divided into five Equal shares, one share of which is willed to my wife as above mentioned. I will one share and half share to my Daughter Margeret Farrow. I will one share and half share to my Daughter Jane Curtis and the Remaining one share I order and direct to be Divided into five shares one of which I will and Bequeath to Henry Opdycke son of Albert Opdycke, one share I will to Peter Opdycke son of Albert Opdycke, one share I will to Albert Opdycke son of Albert Opdycke, one share I will to my Daughter Sarah Calvin and the Remaining one share to Benjamin Campble son of Obediah Campble and I do hereby appoint my True and Trusty friends Samuel Large and Henry Dusenbury my Executors to fulfill this my Last will & Testament and I Do Disanull and make Void all Wills heretofore made. In Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Opdycke have to this my Last will and testament sett my hand and affixed my seal the twenty second of October in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and six-1806.

Signed Sealed and Del'd in the presents of us

Elias Smith, John Chamberlin, Benjamin Opdycke."

Samuel Chamberlin.

Children of Benjamin Opdycke.

Birth. Death. Married. Residence. Occupation.

Albert 1750 1790. Martha Hendrickson. Bethlehem, Hunt. Co., N. J. Merchant.

Joshua 1756 1801. Mary Dusenbury. Bethlehem, Hunt. Co., N. J. Farmer.

Margaret ..... ........ ------Farrow. Bethlehem, Hunt. Co., N. J.

Sarah ..... .......... ------Calvin. Bethlehem, Hunt. Co., N. J.

Jane ..... ..... ------Curtis.

.......... ..... ..... Obediah Campbell.

There now live in Bethlehem some descendants of Benjamin's daughter Margaret Farrow.

For sketches of other children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart 6.

236 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

JOHN UPDIKE (OF VIRGINIA).

(Son of ......... p. 202; Son of Johannes, p. 154; Son of Louris, p. 136)

Born 1718, died 1802: married 1st. in 1744 Sarah Farnsworth of Bordentown, N. J.; 2d. in 1751 Sarah Brown, or Carker, of Pennsylvania; resided in Burlington County, N. J., and in Loudoun County, Virginia.

In the office of the Secretary of State of N. J., is the record of the marriage of "John Opdike of Burlington and Sarah Farnsworth of Bordentown, Oct. 7, 1744." The marriage-bond with his autograph has been lost in the vaults. The Farnsworths were English Quakers of high standing and character. In 1665 Thomas Farnsworth was imprisoned in Tupton, Derbyshire, England, for attending meetings of Quakers. His brother Richard was tried and sent to prison in Yorkshire, England, for not taking off his hat to a Justice. In 1677 Thomas Farnsworth came in the ship Kent to Philadelphia, and in a boat up the river to Bordentown. The following year his wife Susannah came over, bringing her children and two servants, in the ship Shield, the first vessel that ascended the Delaware river to Burlington. Her coming was looked for with great interest, as she had been a Quakeress preacher of note in the old country. Thomas had been a shoemaker but was a man of considerable means, and in 1682 and later bought 548 acres, which proved to be in fact 800 acres and covered the whole site of the present city of Bordentown. He is supposed to have settled on his Bordentown tract at about 1683; his cabin was the first house in the place. He appears on the records as Constable in 1689; died in 1693, leaving sons, Samuel, Nathaniel, and others. His son Samuel Farnsworth filled at different times all the township offices of Bordentown. The place was called "Farnsworth's Landing," and was a place of importance as the tolls from there to Philadelphia were fixed by a special statute.

The records of the office of the Secretary of State, and those of Burlington County, show that Samuel Farnsworth of Bordentown devised land to his grandson and namesake Samuel, son of John Updike and Sarah Farnsworth; that John Updike's son Samuel died in Bordentown in 1796, leaving a daughter Mary who married a Hance, and a son John Updike who recorded deeds in Burlington County in 1810, 1816, and 1823; that Rachel Farnsworth (daughter of Samuel Farnsworth's brother Nathaniel) bequeathed property to her cousin Mary Updike, wife of David Hance. These records are very explicit. They are confirmed by the testimony of two elderly ladies now living in Bordentown, who report that their father John Updike, born 1789, died 1851, was the son of Samuel Updike who was the son of John Updike who "settled and died in Virginia and owned a great deal of land in that State; " they also say that their grandfather had a brother who settled in Boston, but this probably refers to a brother of their great-grandfather John Updike of this sketch.

4TH GENERATION; JOHN UPDIKE (OF VIRGINIA.) 237

John Updike's wife Sarah Farnsworth died after becoming the mother of his children Samuel, Edith and Amon. After her death, John moved to Virginia, leaving Samuel with the Farnsworths of Bordentown, and taking with him Edith and Amon; he married again And his second wife bore to him three sons and six daughters. From these three sons, Rufus, Daniel and John; and from Amon, are descended the "Virginia Updikes" who now comprise fifty families and amount to 300 persons of the name, including those who later have moved from Virginia over into Ohio. These Virginians have kept good family records, and all trace their ancestry to John Updike who married Sarah Farnsworth of New Jersey, and after her death, before the Revolution, moved to Loudoun Co., Va., leaving his son Samuel in Bordentown. These recollections are unusually trustworthy because a number of John's Virginia grandchildren are still living, from 70 to 80 years of age, who have retained in memory the traditions covering almost two centuries, as handed down to them by their parents. No further particulars concerning John Updike, his father, or children, having been found upon the records, it is important to preserve these interesting recollections, which can best be done by giving the following extracts from letters written to the author by descendants of each of John's four Virginia sons.

Front Nathaniel B., Descendant of John's son Amon.

"The children of Amon Updike have all been dead many years. The records have been much neglected and the traditional account seems to have become confused, but the following points are well remembered by the present generation. Anion was a son of John Updike the tailor, who came from near Philadelphia to Loudoun County, Va. We have always been told that he was a tailor by trade, but for a time drove a market-wagon to Philadelphia. Where he was born or what was his father's name, we have never heard. It is the opinion of all the Bedford County Updikes that Amon's mother, John Updike's first wife, was Sarah Farnsworth. The error of the Warren County Updikes, in thinking that she was Abigail Farnsworth, may have arisen from a confusion with an aunt Abigail. A granddaughter of Amon, who lived with his family many years, remembers having heard her aunts speak of their aunt Abigail; and I have frequently heard my grandfather Daniel speak of `Aunt Abigail,' who died about 1800 when he was a small child. At the time of Amon's settlement in Bedford, there were a goodly number of immigrants from Loudoun Co., all Quakers, who also came here. There were families from Northeastern Virginia, named Dobyns, Woodford, Sheppard, Bond and Wilks, all kindred to each other; and this `Aunt Abigail' was Mrs. Abigail Wilks, and I believe that she was the Abigail Farnsworth spoken of by our Bentonville relatives. It has always been a noticeable propensity with the Updikes of Bedford to name straight after their kindred, and nearly every Bedford family has bad a Sarah, while none have had an Abigail. The following is a correct copy of the births of the children of John Updike by his first wife, whom we believe to have been Sarah Farnsworth, taken from the Age Book of Amon Updike.

Samuel Updike was born Oct. 9th., 1745.

Edith Updike was born Nov. 2nd., 1747.

Amon Updike was born Feb. 25th., 1749.

I cannot find any further account of Edith. If she came to Bedford with

238 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

Amon, she evidently did not remain here long; none of the present generation has any remembrance of her, and she is not buried in the family burying ground."

From Capt. James G., Descendant of John's son Rufus.

"The history of the original stock of Updike families in this State is about as follows. Four brothers of this name emigrated with their families from New Jersey to Virginia soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. Their names were Rufus, John, Daniel and Amon. Rufus (my grandfather) settled in Loudoun County, Va.; John and Daniel in Culpepper (now Rappahannoc); and Amon in Bedford Co., on the south side of the James River. Their father's name and from what part of New Jersey they came are not known to me. These men at that day were young, strong and active, and each one lived to be over 80 years old; and during life, through honesty, industry and economy, managed to accumulate considerable estates beside raising large and respectable families, each one having 9 or 10 children. The descendants of this old stock are now scattered over several States of the Union. Many of the descendants of John and Daniel live in Page and Warren Counties in the Shenandoah Valley; Amon's in Bedford County; and the descendants of Rufus in Ohio and Indiana, except your humble servant, and one brother who lives in S. W. Virginia in Bland County. I will now give you some of the leading characteristics of the Updike families in this State, so that you may be able to compare them with their Northern brethren. In stature they are as a general rule rather above the medium height, of hale robust constitutions, and many of them have been remarkable for great muscular strength. I think they are commonly regarded as honest and industrious, and possess the rare faculty of attending to their own business and not meddling with other people's affairs. None of this stock have ever achieved much distinction in science, arts or politics. There are one or two divines, several lawyers and two or three third-rate politicians among them, and one or two became a little conspicuous as officers and soldiers during the late war. They generally confine themselves to agriculture and merchandise and have but little ambition for place or power, and are chiefly noted for longevity and progeny."

(Later.) " It appears from the charts and reports of some of my Virginia cousins, recently received by you and forwarded to me, that my great-grandfather John lived in Loudoun County. I was speaking from memory rather than record. I have always been under the impression that the four brothers came from New Jersey. If my cousins hold the records against me, I must submit. The name John appears to be well preserved throughout the past generations, and is probably correct. I was born and raised in Loudoun, and never lived anywhere else until I came to Rockbridge, when 33 years old. There has been little intercourse between my branch and the Rappahannoc families for the past 30 years or more; neither of my children has ever seen an Updike, except two, their uncle Albert and one from Rappahannoc. I hope your efforts may have the tendency to bring the families in closer communion."

From Daniel, Son of John's son Daniel.

"I am now 74 years old, and can yet handle the plow better than the , pen.I have three sisters living, older than myself; and one younger. I have taken some pains to learn what I can about our ancestors, and I give you the following notes of what I have gathered.

"My grandfather, John Updike the tailor, was said by my father and uncles to have been born in Rhode Island about 1717. His father was shot

4TH GENERATION; JOHN UPDIKE (OF VIRGINIA). - 239

by accident when young; I don't think I ever heard his name or that of his wife or of any sister of his. John and his brother were put to trades; John to the tailor's trade, and the brother to the shoemaker's. During his time of service, John went to Long Island, was moved almost every year, and got about Philadelphia and Bordentown, N. J. He never had any positive knowledge of his brother after they were parted; he heard of a man who called himself Opdike. or Obdike, whose age and description agreed with that of his brother. I have always thought that this brother's name was William. But I have just received a letter from my sister in Ohio saying that his name was Asa. This is probably so, as my grandfather John named a son Asa. We have always supposed that this brother, William or Asa, died unmarried, but we have no certain account.

"Our family belief that our grandfather, John Updike the tailor, was born in Rhode Island and resided in Long Island, may be a mistake. The various members of our family differ in their recollections in other points. It has been fifty years or more since the death of our uncles and aunts. My sister thinks that the name of our great-grandfather (father of John Updike) was Albert; but it is not certain that she is correct. The only name connected with my grandfather's family, that I recollect with any certainty, is Edith. I have heard my father and uncle say that a legacy was coming to the family, but that Edith had been dead so long that they would never make any effort to get it. I also recall that they mentioned a name something like Roderick, as one of the family, and as engaged in a naval action. But a boy of my age then had a very imperfect idea as to whom they meant. My conclusion is that our ancestor, my grandfather John, was born fifty years or more after the capture (of New York) by the English; that his father died young in Rhode Island, leaving only the two boys; that these boys went, with their mother or guardian, to Long Island, and probably were members of the family that settled there. If there was any record, it was destroyed by the burning of the Court House in the (Revolutionary) war, as it was in the same locality.

"My grandfather John grew to man's estate about 1740, married his first wife who was a Farnsworth, and resided in or about Bordentown, N. J. His first wife was mother of his three children,- Amon, Edith, and Samuel. After her death, 'John came to Loudoun Co., Virginia. His children Amon and Edith came with him, but Samuel remained in Bordentown, New Jersey. John married again; I have always thought that the name of his second wife was Sarah Brown, but my sister thinks it was Sarah Carker. (Her mother was married to both a Brown and a Carker and hence the confusion.) Her parents lived in Pennsylvania. The oldest child of this marriage, Rufus, was born in 1753. Amon settled in Bedford Co. and Edith with him.

"My grandfather had only a limited education; was a man of reserved habits; depended on labor for support; was fond of sport, horse-racing and cock-fighting: In his time the work of a tailor was much in buckskin, and the tailor went from house to house. After he came to Virginia, John was often from home at work or taking in work. He owned land in Loudoun, Campbell and Bedford Counties, but lived and died in Loudoun.

"Many of the family held membership in what they called the Church of England. Others were of the Quaker order, and on that account few of the name ever owned many slaves.

"In Virginia it is seldom that land or any other property remains in the same family through three generations. Changes of ownership and family cause sometimes even changes in churches. Almost all families have a burial-ground, but after changes of owners these family burial-grounds are neglected and go to waste. Village graveyards too suffer from neglect.

240 - AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOLLAND FAMILY.

I have seen few tombstones 100 years old. Families that owned large tracts of land are all gone, and so is their memory. Much land here was held under bond from what they called the British Lords, perhaps for 99 years; this makes titles uncertain.

"The occupation of the Updike family in Virginia has been agriculture. At present they are engaged in almost all occupations, as the younger members try to keep pace with the age.

"My father Daniel Updike married Ruth Heaton, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy Heaton. Nancy Heaton was by birth Nancy Jackson; her brother Richard Jackson married my father's sister, Phebe Updike; Nancy's sister Sarah married Elijah Houghton, and her sister Phebe married a Hart. The mother of these four Jacksons was Abigail Haskins; and Abigail Haskins' mother was mother also of Sarah, the second wife of John Updike the tailor. The name Abigail has in this way become frequent in our family bibles and has been mistaken for Sarah Farnsworth, the first wife of John Updike the tailor. The families above named all came from New Jersey and settled together in Virginia, and were connected by marriage.

"My eyes are growing weak. One of my age can have but a short time to remain before he goes to his ancestors."

"From James B., Grandson of John's son John.

"My great-grandfather was John Updike, a tailor by trade. I have been told that he came from Germany, and a sister came with him by the name of Edith. He lived on Long Island five years. His first wife was a Miss Farnsworth; she died and the Farnsworths took two of their children, named Samuel and William; I do not know what became of them. John brought two children of his first wife with him to Loudoun County, Virginia; their names were Amon and Edith. Amon married in Loudoun Co., and moved to Bedford Count where he died. Edith married Joseph Fagan who died in Washington City. John married, for his second wife, Sarah Carker; and had nine children, among whom were Rufus, Daniel and John. * * * I have just received a letter from old Daniel Updike of Bentonville, Va., stating that great-grandfather John Updike was born in Rhode Island about the year 1717, and that his father was shot by accident when John was young. The description of the Virginia Updikes, given by Capt. James G. Updike, agrees with my own knowledge of them; they are in general very large and strong men."

These facts and traditions are valuable, not only for preservation by the Virginia branch and their descendants, but also by reason of their intrinsic interest. The "name something like Roderick as one of their family" would seem to refer to Lodowick Updike of Rhode Island, and to strengthen the tradition that John Updike came originally from that State. It is true that Lodowick Updike's son Richard died young from an accident in 1734, and left sons who were directed by Lodowick's will to be put to trades. But Richard's son John is known to have lived and died in Providence, R. I., where he left numerous descendants, none of whom know anything of the Virginia branch; and the identity of this John as Richard's son is distinctly established by the recollections of the Rhode Island family and by his giving to a son the name of Eldred, the maiden name of Richard Updike's wife. We are therefore forced to conclude that the Virginia tradition has in the lapse of time altered Long Island into Rhode Island, and that John

5TH GENERATION; WILLIAM UPDIKE. - 241

Updike, the ancestor of the Virginians, was born on Long Island, and was in fact a nephew of the Albert Opdyck whom one of their traditions makes his father. For this reason we have placed the Virginia John as a son of the "Third Son of Johannes Opdyck."

It is especially noteworthy that the character and traits of the Virginia Updikes agree with those of the other branches of Updikes-Opdykes, received from many widely different sources.

The Virginians say that John knew nothing of his brother-William (or Asa) after they parted in youth. No record has been found of this brother in New Jersey, or of any probable descendant of his unless it be that he had a son Thomas, mentioned in the following record in the office of the Surrogate of Burlington Co.

1826. Thomas Updike of Nottingham, Burlington County, dies leaving will on record, bequeathing his property to a niece, and mentioning no wife or children.

Children of John Updike.

Children. Birth. Death. Married. Residence. Occupation.

By his first wife Sarah Farnsworth

Samuel. 1745. 1796. Sarah .... Bordentown, N. J.

Edith. 1747. d. Joseph Fagan. Washington City.

Amon. 1749. 1828. Hannah Harris. Bedford Co., Va. Inn & Farm.

By his second wife Sarah Carker

Rufus. 1753. 1838. Susan Elizabeth Ira. Loudoun Co., Va. Farmer.

Elizabeth. 1755. d. Matthew Orison. Loudoun Co., Va.

Phebe. 1760. d. Richard Jackson. Rappahannock Co., Va.

Jane. 1762. d. Edward Milener. Loudoun Co., Va.

Asa. 1763. died young.

Daniel. 1767. 1844. Ruth Heaton. Rappahannock Co., Va. Farmer.

David. 1769. died young.

Sarah. 1770. d. 1st. John McCabe; 2d. Govey Brown.

John. 1775. 1852. Elizabeth Pancoast. Rappahannock Co., Va. Miller.

For sketches of children, see 5th Generation,-pages indicated in Chart -6.