Chester Notes
Morris County, New Jersey

Morris Co. Up


The following are some of my notes from the book Chester New Jersey A Scrapbook of History by Frances Greenidge, 1974, Chester Historical Society. In my opinion, a "must read" book if you are researching the Chester area. The notes that you find here do not even begin to touch on the amount of information that is contained in this book.

Seward's Hillnow Bell Laboratories
Daniel Dickersonb. 1809
had son - C.S. Dickerson
Mrs. William Young99 yr old grandmother of Reginald Rinehart & Verna (Rinehart) Allen
d. 1955
Philip Stonedaughters, Ida (Stone) Walker & Sarah Stone
RoxiticusIndian name for the Mendham, Ralston, Chester area
Tracts of Land in the Chester area--Bickley 1713
John Budd 1850acres 1714
Thomas Budd 312acres 1716
Francis Davenport 958acres 1713
Peter Fretwell 200acres 1714
Peter Fretwell & Jonathan Wright 1000acres 1713
Isaac Pearson 360acres 1713
Hannah Scot 833acres 1713
Jacob Shinn 343acres 1737
John Snowden 468acres 1713
John Wills 862acres 1713
All recorded at Burlington, West Jersey
Names of ChesterRoxberry
Roxbury
Black River, part of Lebanon
Black River, part of Roxbury Township
Black River in Hunterdon County
Black River
Chester Township in 1799
John Shinn, a Quakerhad sons - William, Caleb
Benjamin Luseof Southold, Long Island
brother to David Luse
built the first tavern where the post office now stands
children were: Abigail, Mary, Joseph, Benjamin, Matthias & Eleazer
David Lusea Freeholder from 1741
appointed Justice of the Peace in 1743
iron works known as Justus Luse's Iron Works
will probated in 1771 at Perth Amboy
wife - Mary Brown, sister of Walter & David Brown
children were: Benjamin, Shubal, Henry, Nathan, Israel, David, Walter, Jemima, Sarah, Mercy, Mary, Ezekiel, Bethia, & Zephaniah
Walter Brownremoved to "Union Brick" (a community near Mt. Hermon, Warren County, today just a cemetery)
kept his land in Black River
David Brownbrother to Walter Brown
children were: David Jr., Peter, Stephen & 3 daughters un-named in his will
came from Southold
John Sweazy (Swayze)cousin to Samuel Swayze
Samuel Swayzepurchased land from John Shinn
lived at Milltown
- There is still a "Swayze Cemetery" on the road between Hope and Bridgeville
1747 was Justice of the Peace
buried in the Congregational Cemetery
b. March 20 1689, Southold Long Island
d. May 11 1759, aged 70 yrs 1 mo 11 days
wife - Penelope Wines
b. Feb 14 1690 Southold Long Island
d. Dec 1 1746, aged 55 yrs 9 mo 17 days
-children were: Penelope, Samuel Jr., Barnabas, Richard, Israel, Caleb, Johanna, Mehetabel, Lydia, & Mary
-Samuel & Penelope Swayze were great-grandparents of President Lincoln's Secretary of State, William H. Seward, through their daughter Mary
Samuel Swayze Jr.son of Samuel Swayze of Milltown
1st pastor of "First Congregational Church of Roxbury"
installed in 1753 & served for about 20 years
14 miles south of Natchez Mississippi, there is a roadside marker commemorating the "Jersey Settlers" a group of families from Black River and nearby, mostly members of the Congregational Church, who journeyed there in 1772, led by their pastor Samuel Swayze Jr to establish a new settlement
Milltownalso called Milldale
Obadiah Sewardfrom Brookhaven, Long Island
Roxbury Twp. 1st Collector in 1741
later moved to Berkshire Valley
wife - Isabella
Letter of Administration granted June 3 1751
children were: John, Elicaum, Mehitable, Lydia, Isaac & probably the Daniel born in 1738.
Obadiah was a great-grandfather of William H. Seward. His son John married Mary, daughter of Samuel Swayze, and their son Samuel Swayzey Seward was William H.'s father.
John Buddof Rye, New York
great-great-grandson was Col. Enos G. Budd
his daughter Mary, wife of Caleb Horton
David Ogdenfrom between Rye and White Plains, NY about 1740
said to have had 5 wives & 13 children
children were: Gabriel, Garrabrant, Joseph, Justus Swayze, Stephen, Elizabeth, Amos, Mary, Reuben, Amy, Catharine, Benjamin & Peter
William Larasenson of William, constable of Hopewell Twp, & grandson of John
wife - Patience
children were: Thomas, Andrew, James, Elisabeth, Mary, Nancy & David
Caleb Hortonfrom Southold in 1748
b. Dec 22 1687 Southold Long Island
d. Aug 6 1772
wife - Phebe Terry
d. 1767 age 78 who lived 58 years as the wife of Caleb Horton
children were: Caleb, Hanna, Nathaniel, Nathan, Phebe, Elijah, Rhoda, Mary, Richard, Sarah, & David
Hiram Horton - great grandson of Caleb
Nathan Cooperfrom East Hampton, Long Island
married Mary Miller in 1717
2 children, Mary & Nathan, were baptized in East Hampton
uncle to Gen. Nathan A. Cooper and Beulah Ann Cooper
Beulah Ann Coopermarried Henry Seward from Goshen, NY
their son - William Henry Seward
John Bellwitnessd John Collver's will in 1732
went with the Collverites to Schooley's Mountain, then later returned to Black River
children were: Onesimus, Jabesh & John
Aaron StarkOverseer of the Poor in 1741
came with the Rogerenes
William GriffingRoxbury's 1st Township Clerk, 1741
Robert Robinson Jr.came in 1740
had son - Jonah
Samuel Coleman1st Accessor of Roxbury Twp 1741
Morris Craterprominent Chester family
children were: Jacob 9an imbecile), Morris, Philip & Esther
Constant Kingcame before 1753
1771, a Judge, refered to as Justice or Justus King
hatter by trade
wife - Phebe Horton
children were: Joseph, Frederick, Catherine, John, George, Justus, Caleb, Mary, Elizabeth, Constant Victor, Hannan, & 2 whose names are unknown
Mar 3 1761 home of Constant King burned
Eliab Bryam1st regular minister in 1744
German Valleyrenamed Long Valley during World War I
Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Churchoriginally called the Hill Church and later the Old Hill Church
Isiah Youngloveserving in 1760 as a county judge
had the gristmill at Milltown
Thomas Fairclocame from German Valley about 1760
Robert Carlile (Carlisle)came about 1760
built a tannery
native of Ireland who had 1st gone to Bridgehampton Long Island
wife - Mary Stark, dau. of John Stark
children were: Margaret, john, Robert, Reuben, Mary & Lydia
Nathan Howellcame from Southampton
purchased property in 1760 at Hacklebarney
Elias Howellfrom Southampton, died on way to Black River
his son, Elias purchased property at Milltown
Thomas Toppingcame from Southampton
d. 1777
William Toppingdistant relative of Thomas Topping
came from Long Island in 1768
father of 4 daughters & 3 sons, including James and William J.
James Heaton1760 operated a forge probably at Four Bridges
William Corwincame from Southold before 1767
his sons, William & Joshua Goldsmith Corwin
Trustum Hullb. 1720 in Piscataway
his father was an innkeeper there
his grandfather had come in 1679 from Piscataqua Maine
1760 purchased land in Black River
Rachael Hulldaughter of Trustum Hull
married David Brown Jr. (will dated Feb 2 1823)
children were: Aaron, David Jr., Arnold, Catherine, Adah, Trustrum Hull (d. 1829), Mahlon, Lewis, & Robert
Adah Browndaughter of David & Rachael Brown
married 1805 William Ming, from Philadelphia
had son - Charles
Caroline & Rebecca Mingdaughters of Charles Ming
Caroline married Stephen Budd
Rebecca never married
Isabella Mingmarried Charles Skellenger
William Woodhullarrived before 1771 with his wife and baby son, probably from Long Island
d. 1824
children were: Wiliam Jr., Jeremiah, John, Henry Hedges, Elizabeth Hedges (her husband Dr. Joseph Hedges), Temperance, Mary Sophia Hunt (her husband Richard Hunt) & Mehitable Woodhull.
his grandson was Caleb Gilbert (1816-1898) son of John & Mary (Larison) Woodhull
John Emmonsstill in his teens, served as a Minute Man from Somerset Co. during the Rev. War.
his granddaughter - Ruth (Emmons) Lamerson
Charles Wagermarried Hannah Sayer in 1778, she was 17 & he 10 or 11 years older
d. 6 Sep 1820 Chester
John Buddson of Capt. Daniel Budd
b. 1762 in Black River
married Julianor Dickerson
d. 1845
Nicholas Emans (Emmons)known as Squire Emmons
from Readington in Hunterdon Co. by 1777
Daniel Skellengergrandson of Long Island whaler Jacobus Schillinger
of Bridgehampton, Long Island
came to Black River in 1777
shoemaker by trade
James Hainescame from Bridgehampton in 1783
Dr. Joseph Hedgescame from East Hampton, Long Island
was a Justice of the Peace
wife - Elizabeth Woodhull, daughter of Rev. William Woodhull
Dr. Jeremiah Hedgesrecorded as having removed to Long Island by 1787
David Youngs27 years old, installed as Congregational Minister in June 1785
d. 1790
Lemuel Fordham32 years old Long Island born, minister of the Hill Church & the Succasunna Church, began in 1786
Daniel HortonDeacon of the Congregational Church
Overseer of the Poor
Justice of the Peace

Daniel Horton's Ledger

Family Record:
Daniel Horton b. August 23d 1752 (old style)
Martha Horton b. Oct 24th 1756 (new style)
Daniel & Martha married 29 June 1777
Son Stephen Horton b. May 10 1778
Dau. Eunice Horton b. Oct 17 1782
Dau. Lydia Horton b. May 18 1788
Dau. Esther Horton b. Sept 8 1793
Mother Mehitable Horton d. Dec 10 1801, aged 84 years 3 months 1 day

Perhaps slaves:
Dunmore b. Nov 7 1793 Simone b. 8 Jan 1817
Nathan b. Feb 12 1798    Nance b. 18 May 1819
Cuffe b. 30 May 1811      Jam Sobez b. 15 Jan 1822
Nick b. 11 Feb 1813         Harvey b. 12 May 1824
Dine b. 14 Apr 1815        Marget b. 11 Jun 1826

Nathan Cooperwill dated Dec 28 1797, left to his wife Mehitable ... and his son Nathan ...
Joseph Corwinapprenticed his son Nathaniel to James Larison, May 1798
Bryant Robinsonapprentice to Constant King, ran away in 1799
Alexander Greyapprenticed his son Jonathan (age 11) with Jared Haines, Sept 8 1806
Malcolm McCourrymarried Rachel Freeman in Morristown in 1766
served in the Revolutionary War
six children: 1 son 5 daughters
Benjamin McCourryson of Malcom McCourry
married 1799 Catherine Brown, dau. of David Brown Jr
Nathan A. Cooperknown as "General Cooper"
b. 1802
married at age 40
d. July 5 1879 age 77
son of Abram Cooper
children were: Abram W., Nathan Jr., & others
Daniel Buddson of Capt. Joseph Budd
great-grandson of Chester's earliest settlers
b. 1809
married at age 38
d. 1873, age 64
Mines of ChesterHacklebarney Mines - 1740/60
Rarick Farm Rxploration - 1873
Pitney Mine - 1873
Budd Mine
Gulick Mine
Gulick Farm Mine
Woodhull Mine - 1870
Quimby Mine
Tiger Mine
Harden (Hardin) Mine - 1869
Childs Mine
Wortman Mine - 1873
Budd (or Langdon) Mine
Peach Orchard (or Creager) Mine
Hedges Mine
Dickerson Farm Mine
Topping Mine
Blauvelt Mine
Skellenger Mine
Cromwell (or Chester Highland) Mine
Hotel Mine
Hedges Farm Exploration
Creamer (or Cramer) Mine
Collis Farm Exploration
Sweayze Mine
Cooper Mine
Kean Mine
Leake (Leek) Mine - 1866
Squier Mine - 1880
Beemer Mine - 1886
Skellenger Mine - originally part of Leake Mine
Chester Mine (or George Shaft)
Decamp Mine
Daniel Horton Mine
Barnes Mine
Thorpe Mine
Early ForgesWeldon
Luse
Swayze
New Britain
Two More
Heaton
Beekman
Hacklebarney
Chester Furnace

 

Black River Patriots

Officers:
Daniel Budd, Capt
John Budd, Capt
Caleb Horton, Capt
Nathaniel Horton, Capt
Nathan Luse, Capt
Walter Luse, serjeant & Capt
Obadiah Seward, Capt
Nathaniel Terry, Lieut. & Capt
Robert Young, Capt
Constant Victor King, Ensign, lieut, & adjutant
Eleazer Luse, Lieut
Israel Luse, Ensign & Lieut
William Corwin, Lieut

Privates:
Jabez Bell
John Emmons
Malcolm McCourry
Nicholas Emmons
Thomas Fairclo (son Isaiah was a Tory who went to Canada, returned after his father's death in 1794)
Nathan Howell
Amos Leek
Benjamin Ogden (ran away at 12, & again at 17, to join the army)
James Skinner
Timothy Southard
Charles Wager


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