The Trip to Aten's Ferry and Cemetery in Upper Mount Bethel PA

by Jerry Auten, Sylvia Barrett, Karen Aten Hillman, and Phyllis Nash

On Sunday morning, August 4, Sylvia Barrett, Jerry Auten, Phyllis Nash and Karen Hillman visited the site of the Aten Ferry and Aten Cemetery along the Delaware River. The following description is a combined effort of these four, plus input from Mamie and Richard Eaton. Using various sources, we have tried to describe the area in such a way to match what we saw with what has previously been documented. Sylvia Barrett wrote a beautiful, flowing description of the trip, so we apologize for disturbing its contents.

Karen left early Sunday to meet her husband Bruce and children Erin and Andrew who had been camping at the Driftstone Campground, and to visit the Baptist Church. Jerry, Sylvia and Phyllis came along later, with Phyllis driving the 1 1/2 hour trip to Upper Mount Bethel, PA. Along the way we drove near Pluckemin, Lamington and Clinton, through Washington, Oxford and Buttzville. All along the drive, Sylvia recognized the names of towns from her research. We drove from flat to rolling farm country, through hilly passes that had a New England flavor, back to farmland near the Delaware on the PA side. We crossed the Delaware River at Belvidere and went north, keeping to the roads closest to the river. After several miles, we rounded a sharp corner and saw the Driftwood Campground on the right with the Aten Cemetery just ahead on the next corner. We met Karen at the Aten Cemetery and started our tour there.

Here is a bit of the history of the Aten land along the Delaware, to help better understand the whole picture:

In 1744, Adrian Aten (married to Jacobje Middagh) purchased 300 acres of land on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River in Mount Bethel Township in Bucks County (now Northampton County). While Adrian apparently remained in New Jersey, two of his sons, Dirck (the Dutch name for Richard) and Hendrick moved to Mount Bethel sometime after 1744. (Note: Since there were 3 generations of Hendricks, we will refer to the first as Hendrick, the second as Henry Sr., and the third as Henry Jr. Hendrick is the Dutch version of Henry, and both versions were apparently used.) Dirck's farm was on the northern 150 acres, while Hendrick's was on the southern part. Near the river and on the boundary between the two farms, Dirck marked out a cemetery. The area is also of special interest because Dirck operated a ferry across the Delaware, and there is an island known as Attine's Island.

Today, the Driftstone Campground occupies part of what was Hendrick's farm. The Campground is operated by Earl Ackerman, who is knowledgeable about the history of the Aten farms and Aten's Ferry, and generously spent time answering our questions. He pointed out a row of shrubs in front of his new home, and said the shrubs were where the front of the foundation of the old homestead had been. He said that the original farmhouse had 3 sections (which probably reflected various additions to the house over the years). This would have been the home of Hendrick Aten, Henry Aten, Sr. and their descendants. The property line between Hendrick's and Dirck's farms actually went right through the middle of the cemetery.

We have estate records, orphan court records and wills to prove ownership and other facts about the land, ferry, cemetery and island. Henry Aten Sr.(born May 1757 and son of the first Hendrick) was a nephew of Dirck Aten who started the Aten Ferry. Henry Sr. wasn't quite 16 when his father Hendrick died, and so he chose his Uncle Dirck as his guardian. He stayed there and on June 8, 1791 his Uncle Dirck deeded him 96 acres of land (his share of his father's land). Also in 1791 he bought land adjoining his property from the Commonwealth of PA. On May 17, 1804, he bought 48 acres from John Smith that also adjoined his property. The land purchased from John Smith included two islands in the Delaware River near the PA shore, directly across from his property (Attin's Island, and the much larger Dildine's Island). Henry Sr. had a daughter named Eleanor, who received 50 acres plus two islands from her father's estate. Her husband Cornelius Albertson also bought land from his father-in-law's estate. Henry's son Robert also received a parcel of land from the estate; Robert married Catherine Smith, who was the daughter of John and Barbara Smith, (most likely the John Smith who sold the land to his father in the first place). Henry Sr.'s daughter Abigail received parcel 2 of her father's land; she was married to Edward Albertson, brother of Cornelius Albertson, and so sisters married brothers. The 1898 Aten Reunion notes referred to that fact that there were three Atens who married Albertsons. The third was Japie Aten who married Nicholas Albertson. The site of the 1898 reunion was on their farm across the river in Delaware, NJ, overlooking the Pennsylvania land "where Japie Aten grew to womanhood."

John M. Aten was the only one of Dirck Aten's children to stay on the farm. John M Aten ran the ferry for 50 years from about 1799 until his death in 1849. John M.'s wife, Susan Bellis Aten, died August 29, 1854. The land and chattle, and all personal property were sold at public auction two years later in 1856. Property #1, containing a 74+ acre farm, was sold to James Tunison. Property #2, containing a 64+ acre farm, was sold to Morris Mann. Property #3 consisting of 8+ acres of timberland, was sold to Ludwig Smith. The estate records show that David Mann had been paying Ferry rent for some time, so we can assume that he or his family was running/renting the ferry after John M. Aten's death. We are not sure with which farm the ferry was sold.

An Aten descendent last occupied Dirck's adjoining land, when Aten D. Smith lived there with his wife Sophia. Aten D. Smith was the son of John A Smith, the grandson of Elizabeth Aten Smith and Henry Smith, and great-grandson of John M. Aten.

Now to continue with our story...

The four of us wandered through the Aten Cemetery, and after reading the list from the Cemetery Association, and a lot of speculation, we talked about our ancestors and snapped pictures of the gravesites. Knowing the history of the land will help you to identify many of the graves, and having a copy of this Cemetery document is a must while touring the cemetery. One note of interest is a row of Dildine family graves facing the opposite direction from the other graves. Richard and Mamie believe this may have something to do with them not being Masons. The Masonic Emblem decorates the grave of Derrick Aten, son of John M Aten. The original brothers Dirck and Hendrick have simple tombstones, with just their initials scratched on the stones. There are then 2 new stones for each that were placed there by the DAR, for their service in the Revolutionary War. This can be confusing because the date for Hendrick is incorrect on the DAR stone. There is a third stone for Hendrick's son Henry Sr. who also fought in this war.

Next we decided to tour Attin's Island. This is the spelling used on the Delaware River Basin Map, but different spellings have been used on various other maps. The island is about 20-23 acres (depending on the water level in the river) and is directly out from the Driftstone property. The main channel is on the New Jersey side, and the island is only about 30 feet from the PA shore. When the water level is low, one could easily wade out to the island. Because of the rich soil, it was farmed until the flood of 1903 washed away much of the topsoil.

Karen said her husband Bruce had rented a kayak for the day and would ferry Jerry over to Attin's Island if he would like to go. We all decided "no-way" were we going to be left out. One by one we were ferried across in this modern-day "Attin's Ferry." We walked across the island saying, "Can you really believe we are walking on Attin's Island?" We snapped many pictures as we went. There were beautiful elm trees, and a wooded path wound through them. Along the way we came across a rare endangered species: the Aten-Auten toad. He wasn't too thrilled with us, but we recorded him with our cameras. This rare toad is found only on this island (hmmm). We took more pictures and then started back to the other side. Between the island and the campground, rocks have been placed in the water to make a channel for tubing in the current. The children at the campground were having a great time cooling off and we were tempted to accidentally fall in. Our faces were red; we were drenched in sweat, but having the time of our lives. We were with "cousins" on Attin's Island even if it was 94 degrees! Bruce ferried us back to the main land and we headed to purchase a much-needed drink of water in the campground store.

The old Attin Ferry site was up the road "just a bit" and so on we went! We had been told the ferry landing was in front of the Tuscarora Resort. This is a mile or two north of Aten's Cemetery along River Road. We parked in the 15-minute parking at the resort, crossed the street, and walked down the gravel drive to the river and looked across to the landing on the other side. The steep path, wide enough for a car or wagon, goes down the river to the site of the original ferry. There are some large stones at the edge of the river that one might imagine could have been part of a landing. That this was the correct location was confirmed for us by the daughter of Mrs. Dolson, who still lives in the house on River Road across from the resort. Across the river, one can see another path about 10 feet wide leading up from the river, which marks the other end of the ferry. (Note: There is a boat launch about 50 yards upstream on the New Jersey side, but this is not the ferry landing). We took photos, and tried to imagine the traffic coming down over this hill and down to the water to be ferried across.

Attine's Ferry was started by Dirck Aten between 1760 and 1764, and was continued by his son John M. Aten. The Ferry operated for about 120 years. In John M. Aten's will he states, "It is my desire, and I order that the child who falls heir to my ferry, should be required to ferry free of expense all the persons going to and returning from the Baptist Church in Ramseyburg in New Jersey, providing said persons are members of the congregation and attend said Church to hear the preaching of the Gospel". We started thinking about getting across the river to find the church, but since the ferry was long gone, we would have to go the long way around.

The documentation Karen has seen suggests that the ferry names along the Delaware generally changed with their owners, but not always. This leads to a lot of confusion in trying to determine the locations of each ferry. The Easton Library has a copy of the Upper Mount Bethel Bicentennial Book, which seems to have the most accurate description of the ferries, and matches with the location we found for Attine's Ferry. According to this book, Attine's Ferry later became Hartzell's Ferry and then Albertson's Ferry. The Hartzells also owned a second ferry that operated south of Driftstone Campground. Off River Road south of Driftstone, there is a Hartzell's Ferry Road that is the location of this second Hartzell's Ferry. Further upstream on the New Jersey side of the river, there is a Ferry Street. This sometimes gets confused as the location of Attine's Ferry, but it was actually the location of Myer's Ferry. Ferry Street is in the town of Delaware near the brick Delaware school building. Across the street, on Clarence Court, are two churches. The Delaware Presbyterian Church is still open today. St James Episcopal Church is closed, but at one time several Atens attended this church.

After seeing the main sites on the Pennsylvania side, we set out to find the Ramseyburg Baptist Church in New Jersey. We crossed the river at the bridge between Riverton and Belvidere and drove north on Route 46 along the river. Tourist note: There is a very nice bed and breakfast in Riverton right at the bridge. About 5-6 miles north of Belvidere, is Ramseyburg, which no longer seems to exist as a town (it is south of Delaware). We passed the Ramseyburg Cemetery on the left (some Atens are buried here), and came to Marshall's Farm Market. While Sylvia was taking pictures of eight-foot high sunflowers and beautiful zinnias on the side of the road, the rest of us were getting directions to the ferry landing on this side of the river. Mr. Marshall offered to give us a ride to the landing in the back of his pick-up truck. North of the fruit stand is a field, and a narrow road along the north end of the field leads down to the river. Jerry, Karen and Phyllis climbed in the back bed of the truck and left the front seat for Sylvia. Away we went down the bumpy dirt lane to the river, ducking to avoid some low branches on the trees. Mr. Marshall showed us the spot where he and his wife were married on the bank overlooking the Delaware near the landing. After thanking him for the ride, we walked down the path to the river, and here was the old wooden (squared off logs, similar to railroad ties) very worn landing. We took more pictures as that hot orange sun was starting to set behind the hills on the Pennsylvania side.

After walking back up the lane and along the highway to the market, we crossed Route 46 looking for the Baptist Church. Just across from the Farm Market, Knowlton Road (also called Warren County Road 605) comes down a hill to meet Route 46. We crossed over Route 46 onto Knowlton, then walked down the first road, almost an immediate left about 50 feet in from Route 46. The Ramseyburg Baptist Church is on the left, just beyond a little creek and down in a hollow. It is a 2-story red brick building about 25 by 40 feet. A neighbor confirmed that the run-down old brick building in the gully is now the home of an elderly gentleman by the name of Earl Hartzell (Hartzell's Ferry!). After looking for a few minutes, we photographed the home from every angle and discussed the possibility of talking to him. We carefully picked our way through his "yard" and Jerry knocked and knocked. At one point we thought we heard an answer, but we were unsure. Now if you had looked out and seen four "wilted souls", grimy, sweating strangers with cameras in their hands, would you have opened your door or told them to go away? We climbed back to the street through the little woodpile traps (Phyllis was nearly taken by one around the ankles). The abandoned church, the cemetery, the fruit stand, a Ramseyburg Road, and a few houses seem to be all that remains of Ramseyburg.

We walked back to our cars and said good-bye to Karen. Phyllis, Sylvia and Jerry drove back to the Marriott and said their good-byes there. We had such a wonderful time, and hope that we have documented the directions and a description well enough for future Aten/Auten family members to enjoy this tour.

Additional note from Sylvia Barrett (an orphan Auten):

After breakfast on Sunday, I returned to my room and tried to reflect on all that we had done during the reunion and thought maybe this would be a great day to hang out and re-read my research. As I re-read my copy of the Somerset area map of 1850, shared with us by Jerry Auten, I traced where we actually were beside the Fisher House. The Autens were neighbors of the Fishers and on the other side, the name of the neighbors was Craven. Joseph Craven was the name of my Aaron Aten's neighbor in Ovid, Senecca County, New York in the 1850 Census. Was this an omen? (We hope so, Syliva. The Ortonville, Michigan Autens, among others, have noted that several families seem to have migrated from New Jersey to the Ortonville area at about the same time.)

Atens in the Aten Cemetery (from the Cemetery List Plus Additional Notes)

Dirck Aten (Rev) b. Aug 21, 1721 d. Sept 8, 1809 (DDA on tombstone) Richard Aten on DAR stone. One of the original brothers to come to Mt. Bethel.

Hendrick Aten (Rev) b. Sept 3, 1723 d. May 16, 1773 (H.A. on tombstone, sometimes called

Henry, DAR stone has incorrect date of death of 1780) The other original brother. (Wife: MaryBellas)

Henry Aten (Rev) b. May 1757 d. Mar 29, 1812 (Henry Sr., son of Hendrick. Wife: Jane)

John M. Aten (son of Dirck) b. Apr 9, 1777. d. Dec 1, 1849.

Susan Bellas Aten (wife of John M.) b. Sept 14, 1781 d. Aug 29, 1854

Joanna Aten (dau. of John M.) b. Oct 5, 1815 d. Jun 25, 1876 Age 60 yrs 7 mos 24 days

Derrick Aten (son of John M.) b. Nov 27, 1806. d. Apr 19, 1856 age 49 yrs 4 mo 25 days.

Sarah Ribble Aten (wife of Derrick) b. Apr 22, 1812 d. May 3, 1858

John Aten d. May 14, 1837 (J.A. on tombstone, other information not known, thought to be infant son of Derrick & Sarah Aten)

George Warner Aten (son of Derrick and Sarah Aten) b. Sept 5, 1836 d.Aug 16, 1853. Age 16 yrs 11 mo 25 days

Gurn Aten (son of Derrick and Sarah Aten) b. Jan 8, 1846 d. Jun 20, 1861.

Robert Aten (son of Henry Sr. and Jane) b. Feb 12, 1789 d. Dec 11, 1842

Catherine Smith Aten (wife of Robert) b. Jun 15, 1792 d. Feb. 16, 1850

John R. Aten (son of Robert and Catherine) b. Mar 18, 1812 d. Sept 26, 1895

Mary B. Ribble Aten (wife of John R) b. Jun 11, 1817 d. Mar 27, 1888

John S. Aten (son of John R.) b. May 1, 1845 d. Dec 31, 1847

James R. Aten (son of John R.) b. 1839 d. Aug 18, 1897 Age 59 yrs 11 mos 20 days

Simon Aten (son of Henry Jr.and Nancy Bellas) b. Oct 2, 1810 d. Apr 2, 1895 Age 84 yrs 6 mos 0 days

Lavina Kutzler (wife of Simon) b. April 1813 d. Jan. 15, 1901. Age 88 yrs 3 mos 0 days

Jesse Aten (son of Simon) b. Dec 21, 1842 d. May 22, 1898

The Reunion and Other Information on the Internet

There are two places where there is some information about the reunion on the internet. Prior to the reunion, Colleen Pustola put the reunion announcement, some family photos, and some information about some early Atens/Autens on this website: http://www10.brinkster.com/auten. After the reunion, the Relative Genetics people set up a website for our family reunion at http://www.myfamily.com This site is private. If you would like to be included in this site, email Mamie McKinney at<miss_mamie@hotmail.com> [NO LONGER] or any of the reunion committee, They will put your name and email address on the site and you will be sent a password.

Jerry wants to mention the New Netherland Project in Albany, New York. There are many early New York documents from the Dutch period that have never been translated or were translated with errors in the 1800s. For 30 years, this project has been translating and publishing these records, which from time to time has new material on the early Atens. Each September they sponsor a conference on early Dutch New York history (usually in Albany). The Friends of New Netherlands is a non-profit support group. You can find information on the internet at nnp.org.

At the reunion, some of us enjoyed some very good Dusinberre Wine shipped special delivery from the Napa Valley winery of a distant cousin. Jeff Smith, is a grandson of a Duesenberry, and a descendent of Hendrick Hendrickse van Doesburg. Hendrick Hendrickse is probably related to Adrian Hendrickse Aten in some way (father, brother or cousin). You can check out the wine and some information about Hendrick Hendrickse at their website: winecal.com. Aten/Auten family members get a 20% discount.