Copyright 1999 Perry Streeter (Content updated 17 August 2006) (c) 1999 Perry Streeter mailto:perry@streeter.com http://www.perry.streeter.com This document is Copyright 1999 by Perry Streeter. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented below including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections within this scope, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. Edward Barber of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, NJ I am indebted to the late Eugene Murray Olmsted for making his research accessible to all via RootsWeb.com's WorldConnect Project. I am also grateful to others who have generously shared their research via the Internet or correspondence including Karen Alexander, Don Barber, Frank Blair Barber, Neta Jane Doris, Dorothy Koenig, Fred Meek, Rick Niles and the late John Stormont. The given names, Edward, Joseph, Samuel and William are found in the early Barber families of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Four sons of Francis-1 Barber of Elizabethtown, New Jersey and Smoking Point, Richmond County, Staten Island, New York also bore these names. Consequently, further research to determine whether or not any of the Hunterdon County Barbers descended from Francis-1 Barber is merited. Below, I have presented a highly speculative potential line of descent for Edward Barber of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey from Francis-1 Barber as a working theory to be confirmed or refuted. 1. Francis-1 Barber was born circa 1644 or earlier, based on ownership of land in Elizabethtown, New Jersey in 1665. He died, probably at Smoking Point, Richmond County, Staten Island, New York after 1686 when he served as "Commissioner of Excise" but probably before 1706 when he does not appear in the 1706 census of Staten Island with his son, "Franck Barber." The extend block quote below is extracted from a somewhat unreliable secondary source, First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge. Without evidence from primary sources to support the claim, it seems doubtful that Francis Barber of Virginia was identical with the Francis Barber of Elizabethtown and Smoking Point. Nor can we be certain that all of the events attributed to Francis-1 Barber versus a namesake son or other kinsman. BARBER FAMILY FRANCIS BARBER was a F.S. [First Settler] of Pisc. [Piscataway], and when he had his house lot in Elizabethtown (1665), as stated in one authority, it was on the Woodbridge line, and his meadow beyond the rather indefinable boundaries of that day. (CLAYTON, (1882), p. 590; and HATFIELD, (1868) p 68.) As to the origin of FRANCIS BARBER--"Passengers for Virginia--15th May, 1635. These underwritten names are to Virginea [sic]; imbarqued in the Plaine Joan, Richard Buckam Mr the pties having brought attestation of their conformitie to the orders & discipline of the Church of England. Francis Barber, yeares, 18." (N. E. HIST. GEN. REG., Vol. II, 1848, p. 212.) (HOTTEN, (1874), p. 79) Under the foregoing record, FRANCIS BARBER was 18 years old in 1635, hence born in 1617, making him eligible to be that same person who entered New Jersey say, 1663 (supra). "Francis Barber removed from Virginia to New Jersey (supra). He took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity at Elizabethtown 19th Feb. 1665, his name being the last in the list: and, when at a court proceeding dated March 8, 1671, Special Court at Elizabethtown involving some of the worthies of that settlement, Luke Watson and others got into trouble over "did intend, go about, practice and put into use, to overthrow, out breake, cast down or digg up, a considerable quantity of fence belonging to Richard Michell, with intent that the land lying at the rear of the house lot of Francis Barber and George Pack & others, then in the possession and occupation of the above named Richard Michell, should remain open, all which is contrary to the law, and a breach of the King's peace." (ARCH., 2st Ser., Vol. I, p.83) According to HATFIELD, (supra) the career of Francis Barber in New Jersey was short and uneventful. (p. 68.) "Francis Barber has left no memorial of his origin. He sold, Mar. 20, 1671-2, to Vincent Ronyon, carpenter, a houselot. In the following year, must have removed, soon after, to Staten Island, where on the W. side of the Island, on Smoking Point, Dec. 21. 1680, 88 acres of woodland and meadow were surveyed for him; and where, in 1686, he served as Commissioner of Excise." Francis Barber had a son, Francis Barber, listed in the census of 1706 of Staten Island, where he is listed as "Franck Barber," (STILLWELL, Vol. I, p. 164, 1903). Family of FRANCIS BARBER: (1) FRANCIS (supra); (2) EDWARD, wife MARY DAVIS, dau. of Samuel of W. [Woodbridge]; (3) Samuel; (4) John; (5) Sarah; (6) Elizabeth; (7) Joseph; (8) William, and perhaps others, all springing from the same general location and first settler origin. 1675, June 15. Nicholas Stillwell sworn Constable for Gravesend, and Francis Barber for Staten Island. (John Stillwell, M.D., The History of Captain Nicholas Stillwell Son Of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell And His Descendants) In the Calendar of Land Papers, New York Secretary of State (1864) (pp. 22 and 190 of Vol. 1) one notes that on 21 December 1680 Francis Barber received a grant of woodland and meadow (88 acres) on the west side of Staten Island (i.e. up against the Jersey Bounds). (Fred Q. Bowman, "Williamson and Barber Research Notes Submitted to Susan Roylance," [1970s]) It is interesting to note that Barber is a place name for a section within the City of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey; Perth Amboy lies just across the Arthur Kill from Staten Island. Children of Francis-1 Barber (supposed): i. Francis-2. ii. Edward, m. Mary Davis, dau. of Samuel Davis of Woodbridge. iii. Samuel. iv. John. v. Sarah. vi. Elizabeth. vii. Joseph. 2. viii. William. 2. William-2 Barber (Francis-1), born [say circa 1663 or earlier]. Children of William-2 Barber (speculative!): i. (possibly) Francis-3, named in honor of paternal grandfather. 3. ii. (possibly) Edward-, named in honor of paternal uncle; possibly identical with Edward Barber, b. ca. 1685, who named a son William and was m. in the New York RDC in the same year as [his brother?] Thomas Barber. iii. (possibly) Thomas; b. [ca. 1688]; m. (1) New York RDC 29 Dec 1714 "Thomas Barber, j.m. V.N. York met Helena Brouwer j.d. V. Goanes; Decemb. 29." [Thomas Barber, a single man from New York City, was married to Helene Brouwer, a single woman from Gowanus [now Brooklyn, Kings County, New York]; m. Madaleentje-3 Brouwer (Adam-2-1), bapt. Brooklyn 2 April 1692, dau. of Adam-2 Adamse Brouwer (Adam-1) and Maritje Hendricksen (Maitland Dirk Brower's "Descendants of George Harvey Brower," RootsWeb.com's WorldConnect Project). Thomas m. (2) 23 Oct 1730, "Thomas Barber, Wed'r Van Lena Brouwer v. Nieuw York & Mary Wolc, Wed. van William Salomonas van Boston, biede woonende alhier" (New York RDC). 3. Edward-[3] Barber ([William-2, Francis-1]), possibly the son of William-2 Barber; born circa 1685; died Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey circa 1743; married by license in the New York Dutch Church on 3 December 1714 to Marike-3 Tijs (Peter-2 Tyssen, Mattys-1 Jansen Lanen [Van Pelt]), daughter of Peter-2 Tyssen and Barbara Jans (New York Genealogical and Biographical Record [1890, 1940] as transcribed at ). Edward and Marike definitely followed Dutch practice when naming some of their children. If they followed this practice strictly when naming all of their children, and if William was their eldest son, it follows that Edward may have been the son of William-2 Barber (Francis-1). Obviously, much more research is required to confirm or refute this highly speculative theory. I am a direct descendant of Mattys-1 Jansen Lanen [Van Pelt]'s brother, Teunis-1, through Jacomyntje-2 Teunisse Van Pelt (Teunis- Jansen-1, Jan-A, Barthomeus-B, Jan-C), wife of Jochem-2 Gulick (Hendrick-1). In addition, I am also a descendant of Mattys by his first wife through Eleanor-5 "Nelly" Lane (Gizebert-4, Mathias-3, Gysbrecht-2 "Gilbert" Laenen, Matthys-1 Jansen) who was the wife of Roliph-5 Updike (John-4, Lawrence-3, Johannes-2, Louris-1 Jansen). On 23 November 1718, in the Freehold/Middletown RDC, "Edward Barber and wife" served as witnesses for the baptism of Peter, a child of Marike's brother, Matthias Pieerszen, and his wife, Geesie Hendricksen. Edward Barber is probably the unknown Barber who joined the Freehold Church in January 1724 (GMNJ, 23:94) because his wife joined at the same time: "Admitted to the congregation Jan 1724; Marike, wife of Ed. Barber, on confession" (GMNJ, 22:5). She is identified again in the membership list of the Freehold church in 1731, "Maria Berber, wife of Edwert Berber." (GMNJ, 23:94) On 19 September 1732, "Edwd. Barber" was one of many individuals named in an "Inventory or List of Book Debts outstanding, due to Heirs of Benj. Burt" of Somerset County, New Jersey. (New Jersey Colonial Documents--Calendar of Wills - 1730-1750, 78-79). At the very first meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, held at New Brunswick, N.J., Aug. 8. 1738, the following minute is found: "At a supplication made by Joshua Nichols on behalf of the people of Pepack and other parts adjacent, desiring some Supplies of Preaching agreed that Mr. [Eleazar] Wales preach at Jn-o Frazier's upon the 3d Sabbath of this Instant, upon the Monday following at Edward Barbers and upon the Tuesday at the Amwell Meeting House--That the Modr. [Rev John Cross] preach at Amwell on the 1st Sabbath of Sept-r, upon the Monday following at Edward Barbers, and the Tuesday at Jn-o Fraziers" ... Again on April 4, 1739: "The desire of the people of Pepack and Lebanon for Supplies was intimated to the Presb; in Compliance therewith they appointed Mr. Rowland to preach at Pepack the last Sab: in April and the 1st in May at Mr. Barber's in Lebanon." It would be interesting to know where Mr. John Frazier's and Mr. Edward Barber's houses were located, the former apparently somewhere in the Peapack district, and the latter in Lebanon Township, which then included Tewksbury. (Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 2, 260-1) On 2 Oct 1752 there were six road commissioners in Somerset County called upon to lay out a four-rod road. Two of the commissioners were James Todd and Edward Barbor (SCHQ, Volume 1, 101-102). Edward Barber reportedly died about 1743 so, if this date is correct, then Edward may have had a namesake son. Known, probable and possible children of Edward and Marike (Tys) Barber, birth order uncertain, bapt. in the Freehold/Middleton DRC, Monmouth County, New Jersey, where bapt. dates are given: i. "a child"-4 [William?-[4]], bapt. 24 April 1715 (GMNJ, 22:35); if a son, likely named in honor of paternal grandfather [William-2 Barber (Francis-1)?]; if a daughter, likely named in honor of maternal grandmother, Barbara Jans; possibly identical with William Barber, d. Lebanon Township, Hunterdon Co., NY before 16 Jan 1753 when an inventory of his estate was taken by Nathaniel Foster [who was probably the father- or brother-in-law of (his brother?) Matthias Barber] and Andrew Bray; the inventory included "four bushels of wheat from [his brother?] Matthias Barber." ii. Peter, bapt. 11 Dec 1715, named in honor of maternal grandfather; sponsors maternal grandparents, Peter Tiisen and [Barbara Jans] (GMNJ, 22:59); m. Anne _____; resided in Monmouth Co., NJ. Children, surname Barber: 1. Mary, m. ___ Hires. 2. Peter, named in honor of father. 3. Joseph. 4. Edward, [named in honor of paternal uncle?]; m. Effie ___ _. 5. John. iii. (probably) Edward, b. ca. 1716-1726, named in honor of his father; presumably identical with the "Edward Barbor" who was called upon to lay out a four-rod road in Somerset Co., NJ on 2 Oct 1752, long after the elder Edward reportedly died. (SCHQ, Volume 1, 101-102).] 2. iv. "a child" of Edward Barber's, bapt. 1 Oct 1727; probably identical with Matthias Barber; named in honor of mother's paternal grandfather and brother; m. Jane Foster. v. (possibly) Sarah, b. 1731; speculative placement per Don Barber (The Family of Edward Barber of Monmouth County, New Jersey). vi. Jannetje, bapt. 10 Sep 1732, sponsors Abraham Thyse and Jannetje Thyse (GMNJ, 23:69). 4. Matthias-[4] Barbar ([Edward-3 [William-2, Francis-1]]), probable son of Edward-[3] and Marike (Tys) Barber, probably identical with "a child" of theirs baptized at Freehold/Middleton DRC, Monmouth County, New Jersey on 1 October 1727 and named in honor of his mother's paternal grandfather and brother; he was certainly born circa 1731 or earlier, based on the birth of his eldest child in 1753. He resided in [(then Roxbury, now) Washington Township], Morris County, New Jersey prior to 1763. Matthias died in Hardwick Township, Sussex (since 1825 Warren) County, New Jersey after May 1764 when he appeared in Sussex County Court and before 21 August 1764 when an inventory of his estate was taken. Matthias was married, perhaps in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, on 5 March 1751 to Jane Foster (Van Buskirk Bible). Jane was also born circa 1733 or earlier; she died, probably in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, before 9 February 1805 when her third husband married his third wife. Jane may have been the daughter of Nathaniel Foster, a blacksmith of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Jane (Foster) Barbar was married second to Joseph Dawson (Van Buskirk Bible) after August 1765 when "Joseph Dawson and the administrator of Mathias Barbar" appeared together in Sussex County Court in a lawsuit against Victor Pottman (Brad and Carol Stark, The Minutes Book of Sussex County, New Jersey: Court Records 1764- 1766 [Heritage Books, Inc.]; hereinafter Minutes) and before... [1766 at the latest] when "Joseph Dawson and Jane his wife" appeared in Sussex County Court again in a lawsuit against John Holder (Minutes). Joseph Dawson died, perhaps in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, before 30 January 1772 when Jane married her third husband. Incidentally, another one of my direct ancestors, Peter Williamson of Greenwich Township, Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey served as a Court Constable during the May 1765 Sussex County court term. Jane (Barbar) (Foster) Dawson was married for a third time on 30 January 1772 to Daniel Van Buskirk (Van Buskirk Bible), as his second wife. Daniel was baptized at Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania on 20 June 1736; he died between 11 April 1818 when he made his will and 10 February 1820 when his estate in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey was inventoried (More Records of Old Hunterdon County, Vol. 2, p. 14)). Daniel was married first in 1762 to Anna Hankinson (Van Buskirk Bible), born Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey 1 July 1739, died Hunterdon County, New Jersey 1765, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Mattison) Hankinson of Hunterdon County, New Jersey (William C. Armstrong, Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey, p. 42-43). Daniel Van Buskirk was married third on 9 February 1805 to Martha Mahaffe. The Van Buskirk Bible now in the possession of Mrs. Charles (Olivine) Shaw is the first primary source consulted in researching this family. It would seem that the bible may have originated with Jane, the second wife of Daniel Van Buskirk, for the first names recorded in the family section are these; Mathias Barber and Jane Foster entered into the Holy Bonds of Matrimony on the fifth day of March Anno Christo 1751. Then listed below on the page, now brittle and brown with age, are the following entries: ... (Recorded History of the Van Buskirk Family) Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar's eldest child was born, probably in German Valley (now Long Valley), Roxbury (since 1798 Washington) Township, Morris County, New Jersey, on 29 January 1753. Perhaps Matthias Barbar and Jane Foster met and married there as well. Are you familiar with the book 'Early Germans of NJ' by Chambers? In the book, the author includes a listing of customers of storekeeper John Peter Nitzer. He had a store in the 'German Valley' (now Long Valley in Morris County) during the mid 18th century. Among his customers was a Matthias Barber and a Nathaniel Foster. I note that Matthias and Jane Foster Barber named a son Nathaniel. So I suspect that her father may have been this Nathaniel Foster. (Rick Niles, correspondence, 12 Feb 2002) In The Early Germans of New Jersey; Their History, Churches and Genealogies. (Dover, NJ: Dover Printing Co., 1895), Theodore F. Chambers also identified Peter and Elisabeth Barber as customers of John Peter Nitzer's store prior to 1763; this Peter was probably the brother of Matthias. ...As their number increased, German immigrants during the two or three decades after 1730 pushed on beyond the line of settlement to start new communities... Churches were established at Bunn Valley or German Valley (now Long Valley) and Reformed churches at Lebanon in the Rockaway area... and at German Valley... The Lebanon and Fox Hill Reformed Churches had close ties with that at Ringoes, and in 1747 all three were ministered by the same travelling minister from Philadelphia. In the 1760's we find German Valley sharing ministers with Lebanon and Fairmount. (Hubert G. Schmidt, "The Germans in Colonial New Jersey," The New Jersey Genesis [Short Hills, NJ; Harold A. Son, Editor & Publisher]; Vol. 4, No. 1, [October 1956]) In 1753, we find another association between Matthias Barbar and Nathaniel Foster in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The inventory of the estate of William Barber of Lebanon Township was taken on 16 January 1753 by Nathaniel Foster and Andrew Bray. On 18 January 1753, Jemima Barber declined her right to the administration of William's estate "in favour of her father, John Burroughs" (New Jersey Colonial Documents--Calendar of Wills 1751- 1760). On 6 March 2002, Fred Meek provided important further details that connected Matthias Barbar not only to William Barber but to Edward Barber as well. Only one other person is mentioned in the will. In the inventory it says William owned four bushels of wheat from Matthias Barber. Did Matthias owe him wheat because William had an interest in the land Matthias farmed? This mention of Matthias along with the mention [of] Nathaniel Foster (a [probable] brother [or possibly the father] of Jane Foster, wife of Matthias) makes William Barber of Trenton [sic, Lebanon Township] a probable brother of Matthias Barber of Sussex County. William's wife was Jemima Burroughs [disputed below], a daughter of John Burroughs, who was acquainted with Edward Barber. Indeed, "four Bushel of Whete of matthias Barber" are included in the Administration Bond & Inventory on the Estate of William Barber, Hunterdon County 1753 (File 328J). William Barber must have also been born circa 1732 or earlier. At first glance it would certainly seem that Jemima (Burroughs) Barber was the widow of William Barber. Certainly there was a connection between Jemima and William but it may not have been that of husband and wife. According to the on-line B-Be Surname Index of Colonial Families of Philadelphia, (edited by John W. Jordan, published by Lewis Publishers of New York in 1911 in 2 volumes) at , Jemima Burroughs, daughter of John Burroughs, married Joseph Barber rather than William Barber (page 1670). If there is no error in the original work or in the transcribed index, then the nature of the connection between Jemima (Burroughs) Barber and William Barber is unclear. By 1761, Matthias and Jane had moved across the Musconetcong River and settled in Hardwick Township, Sussex (since 1825 Warren) County, New Jersey: Next we find in the archives of New Jersey, Sussex County, Hardwick township the application for a tavern license in the years, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764 for Matthias Barber. The petition states Matthias should be granted a license as he was a suitable person. The application was signed by three references; Robert Bae_on (sic), John _odd (sic, doubtless John Todd), Michael _____. The application document was old and faded and very difficult to read. (Frank Blair Barber, "New Jersey Barbers," [typescript, 2003]) As noted above, a Nathaniel Foster shopped at the same store in German Valley, Morris County that Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar did prior to 1763. Also as noted above, Nathaniel Foster and Matthias Barbar were both associated with the estate of Wiliam Barber of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County in 1753. Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar named a son Nathaniel. For these reasons, it is not unreasonable to speculate that Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk was the daughter of a Nathaniel Foster. From the following record, it is clear that a father and son, both named Nathaniel Foster, had ties that crossed the border of Morris and Hunterdon Counties: 1763, June 6. Foster, Nathaniel, Jr., of Roxbury, Morris Co., blacksmith. Int. Adm't--Nathaniel Foster, of Lebanon, Hunterdon Co., blacksmith. Fellowbondsman- -Michael Welsh, of Roxbury, Morris Co., yeoman, and Thomas Silverthorn, of Mansfield Woodhouse, Sussex Co., yeoman. Witness--William Hyndman. 1763, June 6. Renunciation, by Mary Foster, in favor of her father-in-law, Nathaniel Foster. Witness--Aaron Doud. 1763, June 4. Inventory, L-46.12.5, made by John Likens and James Newman. 1765, May 23. Account by Adm'r. (Lib. 11, p. 457; File No. 1441N, as shown at ) As a widower in 1763, Nathaniel Foster Jr. was born circa 1742 or earlier and his father was born circa 1721 or earlier. Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk was born circa 1733 or earlier. Perhaps a connection to the elder Nathaniel Foster was a factor in Jane's migration from Sussex County to Hunterdon County following the death of her second husband, Joseph Dawson. If Jane was the daughter of the elder Nathaniel Foster, then he must have been born circa 1713 or earlier. From the following record, we have another reference to a Nathaniel Foster of Hunterdon County, New Jersey who must have been born circa 1712 or earlier: Tunis Johnson and Henry Lander of Hunterdon County... [bound to]... Jonathan Belcher, Governor... 500 pounds... 18 Aug 1752. ... Tunis Johnson... obtained license of marriage for himself and for Jemima Foster of Hunterdon County, spinster... [w] blank [consent] Tunis Johnston (Johnson) of Hunterdon County maketh oath that he obtained the consent of Nathaniel Foster to be married to his daughter Jemima Foster... Sworn the 18th day of Aug... before John Burnet Ald'n () Perhaps Jemima (Foster) Johnson was another daughter of Nathaniel Foster, the blacksmith of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Tunis and Jemima (Foster) Johnson settled in Fauquier County, Virginia by 15 December 1777 when he bought property there from Joseph and Lydia Dunchan (Fauqier County, Virginia Deeds, 6:455). Tunis Johnson's will was proved in Fauquier County on 23 May 1808 (Fauqier County, Virginia Wills, 4:470). Among their ten children, their eldest son born the distinctive name of Yellis and, as a possible clue the name of Jemima's mother, their eldest daughter was named Agnes. The Nathaniel Foster who died in Morris County, New Jersey in 1763 is erroneously identified by some researchers as Nathaniel-5 Foster (Nathaniel-4, Samuel-3, Nathaniel-2, Christopher-1) of Cape May County, New Jersey who married Mary Eldredge by license dated 19 March 1754. However, Nathaniel-5 died in Cape May County between 17 February 1769 when he made his will and 20 February 1769 when it was proved. The will identified his wife Mary and was filed by John and Aaron Eldredge (New Jersey Wills 14:180, as provided by John C. Stormont, correspondence [11 March 2002]). Clearly, Nathaniel Foster of Cape May County, New Jersey and Nathaniel Foster of Morris County were not the same man. I have found no evidence to link them as kinsmen. Another Nathaniel Foster was born in Morris County, New Jersey on 9 February 1760 and married Polly Watson. He is identified by some researchers as the son of Nathaniel-5 and Mary (Eldredge) Foster, which, as just demonstrated above, must be an error. However, he may have been the son of Nathaniel and Mary (_____) Foster of Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey. Nathaniel Barbar, son of Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar, married Ann Watson. If Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk was the daughter of Nathaniel Foster of Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey then Nathaniel Foster (b. 1760) and Nathaniel Barbar (b. 1759) may have been first cousins--were their Watson wives sisters or otherwise closely related? Andrew Bray (1713-1789) of Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, who inventoried the estate of William Barber, as noted above, was first married to Margaret Watson and second to Sarah Stout. Was Margaret (Watson) Bray a kinswoman to Polly (Watson) Foster, the wife of Nathaniel Foster, and/or Ann (Watson) Barbar, the wife of Nathaniel Barbar? In May 1764, Matthias Barber was identified in The Minute Book of Sussex County, New Jersey Court Record 1764-1766: The court of Quarter sessions settled the following rates to be taken by every licensed innkeeper for liquors and entertainment for men and provisions for horses... Henry Cooper of Hardwick petitioned and being well recommended to the court of general quarter sessions of the peace for license to keep a public house where he now lives. The court granted license upon him. Charles Pettit and Matthias Barbar his suretys being bound to our sovereign Lord the King in 20 pounds each and agreeable to the directions of the assembly in such case made and provided. Jacob Bartholomew of Hardwick the like. Mattias [sic] Barber and John Willson suretys... Mattias Barber of Hardwick the like. Thomas Helm and George Beatty suretys... George Beatty of Mansfield Woodhouse the like. James Martin and Mattias Barber suretys. Charles-5 Pettit (Nathaniel-4-3, Thomas-2, Henri-1), son of Nathaniel-4 and Elizabeth (Heath) Pettit, was born circa 1730 in or near Trenton, New Jersey; he died between 1805 and 1808. Some of Charles-5 and Mary (Smith) Pettit's children were born in Sussex County, New Jersey (Descendants of Henri Pettit at ). Matthias Barbar's namesake grandson married a great-granddaughter Nathaniel-4 Pettit as documented further below. Later in 1764, Matthias died: 1764, Sept. 5, Barbar, Matthias, of Hardwick, Sussex Co., innkeeper. Int. Adm'x--Jane Barbar, widow. Fellow bondsman--John Todd, yeoman; both of said Co. 1764 Aug 21, Inventory, L-150.4.0, made by Jeremiah Hendershot and John Todd. (New Jersey Calendar of Wills) Jeremiah Hendershot was of German ancestry; he was born in the Rockaway area of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1738; he was the son of Casper and Christina (Shipman) Hendershot. Jeremiah's four children were all born in Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey (Carl R. Beckett, Carl R Beckett Database, WorldConnect Project, RootsWeb.com). In the May 1765 term of the Sussex County Court, "Jane Barber Admnr of Matthias Barber deceased" appeared in a lawsuit against John Simpson (Minutes). In August 1765, "Joseph Dawson and the admnr of Mathias Barbar" appeared in a lawsuit against Victor Pottman. No later than 1766, "Joseph Dawson and Jane his wife" appeared in a separate lawsuit against John Holder (Minutes). Joseph Dawson also appeared independently in many other lawsuits against Thomas Baker, Thomas Barker, George Beatty (3), Peter Schmuck (2), Joseph Terrill, and Josiah Terrill (2) (Minutes). In a case against John Reed, the court minutes state that "the plaintiff in this case [Joseph Dawson] being non resident, the court orders that the plaintiff give security for costs before any further proceeding be had." John Read subsequently sued Joseph Dawson in return. On 22 August 1768, Susanna Dawson, the only known child of Joseph and Jane (Foster) (Barbar) Dawson, was born in Washington Township, (then Sussex, now) Warren County, New Jersey. Per the Sussex County court records cited above, Joseph Dawson was identified as a non-resident of Sussex County at least once between 1764 and 1766. Jane (Foster) (Barbar) Dawson, widow of innkeeper Matthias Barbar and Joseph Dawson, settled in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey by 30 January 1772 when she married another innkeeper, Daniel Van Buskirk. Daniel appears in records from the Court of Common Pleas for Hunterdon County, New Jersey over a 35-year period, dating from 1761, when he was charged with "fornication," no doubt jumping the gun a bit on his first marriage.... He ran a "Public House" at his home for several years (at least 1782-1796)... The children of his first marriage included: John (1762-1765), Aaron (1763-1825) who married in January of 1788 to Sarah Runkle [dau. of Adam-1 and Mary (Youngblood) Runkle], Sarah (1765-by 1783), Lydia (about 1767-after 1818) who married _____ Hound. (Roger E. Bissell, Our VanBoskirk and Van Horn Roots, ) ... As for the Van Buskirks, could anyone doubt their being Hollanders? Yet William Nelson, as an exercise [in] "the difficulties which beset the tracing of a New Netherland family," found that the first person using that name was a self-styled German, Laurens Andriessen from Holstein. He may have been a Dane, but he was certainly not a Dutchman. The Dutch authorities had tacked "van Buskirk" to his name to show his origin, and the name stuck. A perceptive minister at the Ramapo Settlement, in his church records wrote the name as "von Buskirk." The present writer, who as a historian is concerned with much with portraying the facts as he sees them, and is not concerned about the mixing of nationalities but he can see that it has caused in the past and will lead in future to many an excruciating genealogical headache. (Hubert G. Schmidt, "The Germans in Colonial New Jersey," The New Jersey Genesis [Short Hills, NJ; Harold A. Son, Editor & Publisher]; Vol. 4, No. 1, [October 1956]) Did Daniel Van Buskirk operate an inn or "Public House" prior to 1772 or did he become an innkeeper through Jane's influence? As evidenced by their marriage records presented further below, the children of Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar, probably went with their mother to the Van Buskirk household in Bethlehem Township. The Barbar children included Mary and Nathaniel. Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar's daughter, Mary, was born in November 1755. She is probably identical with the Mary Barbar of Bethlehem Township that married John Garrison Jr., also of Bethlehem, in 1780. On 1 March 1793, Nathaniel Barber was elected Lieutenant and John Garrison, Jr. was elected Ensign of the Second Company of the Bethlehem Militia (Hiram Deats, "The Hunterdon Militia, 1792," Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey (9:45). The close association of Nathaniel Barber and John Garrison Jr. as leaders of the local militia provides additional evidence that Nathaniel was John's brother-in-law. The "List of all militia enrolled in the different townships in the County of Hunterdon" was intended to include "every free and able bodied white male citizen between the ages of 18 and 45." In Bethlehem Township, were listed Nathaniel Barber; Thomas Foster; and George, James, John and William Garrison. Nathaniel Foster and John Garrit were residents of Amwell Township. It is also likely, but unproven, that John Jr. and Mary (Barbar) Garrison were the parents of Jane (Garrison) Krusen who was born in 1781. As the couple's eldest daughter, it would have been in keeping with the naming patterns of the era that Jane was named after her maternal grandmother, Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk. Derrick/Richard-6 (Francis-5, Derrick-4, Francis-3, Derrick-2, Garret-1) and Jane (Garrison) Krusen may have had multiple points of association with the family of the elder Jane, as shown further below. Perhaps not coincidentally, Derrick/Richard and Jane (Garrison) Krusen owned and operated the Krusen Inn in the Town of Greenwood, Steuben County, New York: Richard Krusen came from Dryden [Tompkins County, New York] in 1825, and opened the cross-roads, four miles west of [Levi] Davis' store, towards Andover [Allegany County, New York], where he kept a tavern until the country had become well settled, and railroads changed the routes of travel. Acting as a sub-agent for the land office at Bath [Steuben County, New York], he did much towards attracting a good class of settlers from his native country (W. Woodford Clayton, History of Steuben County, New York [hereinafter Clayton], [Philadelphia, PA: Lewis, Peck & Co., 1879]). There were no known innkeepers in Derrick/Richard Krusen's background. Was Jane (Garrison) Krusen familiar with innkeeping from the "Public House" operated by Daniel and Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey as late as 1796 and perhaps beyond? On 13 August 1803, John Garrison "Senor" and John Garrison "Junor" witnessed a deed in which "Derick Kruser of Mansfield and Jane his wife" sold land to John Johnson of Independence Township. On 20 May 1805, Derrick Kruser of Mansfield and Jane his wife sold two lots in Mansfield Township to John A. Johnson of Independence Township for $280 "Spanish Dollars." (Sussex County Deeds, K2). Was the Krusens' deed grantee, John A. Johnson, a descendant of Tunis and Jemima (Foster) Johnson and a thus a kinsman of Jane (Garrison) Krusen? On 2 November 1818, Derrick Krusen of New York State, late of Independence Township, Benejah Justin and Sarah of Independence Township and John Justin of Franklin Township, sold 45 acres in Independence Township to Andrus Rose of Newton for $120. John Garrison Jr. and William Little Jr. witnessed this transaction. This property bordered that of Thomas Fleming and Aaron Buskirk; it was the "same lot conveyed to John Linn Esq./Sheriff to Rose, executor of property of Benejah [Prinston] at the suit of Matthias Williamson." (Sussex County Deeds, K4). It is virtually certain that Aaron Buskirk was identical with Jane (Garrison) Krusen's probable half-maternal-uncle, Aaron Van Buskirk (1763-1825), son of Daniel and Ann (Hankinson) Van Buskirk. Aaron died in testate, and a Letter of Administration was granted to his son Daniel Van Buskirk of Warren County on 26 March 1825. William Runkle, doubtless identical with the husband of Jane (Garrison) Krusen's probable half-maternal-aunt, Susanna (Dawson) Runkle, served as a fellow bondsmen for Daniel. (Recorded History of the Van Buskirk Family) Derrick/Richard-6 Krusen was the son of Francis-5 Krusen and his unknown first wife. On 8 April 1820, John-6 and Jane (McIntire) Krusen of Mansfield sold 81.33 acres in Mansfield Township to Peter Hornbaker of Independence Township "excepting therefrom during the natural life of mary kruser widow and relick of Francis Kruser late of Mansfield dec-d a part of said lot that was laid off by Adam Runkle and Francis Nixon for part of her right of dower." This lot was also "a part of the farm of Francis Krusen." Joseph Coryell and Aaron Petty witnessed this transaction (Sussex County Deeds, P2:278). Adam Runkle was probably identical with Adam Dawson Runkle, grandson of Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk. Were any of these men related to Mary (____ ) Krusen? Notes on other Barbers of Warren and Hunterdon counties may be found at the end of this document. Children of Matthias-[4] and Jane (Foster) Barbar: i. Samuel-[5], b. [German Valley (now Long Valley)], (then Roxbury, since 1798) Washington Township, Morris Co., NJ 29 Jan 1753 (Van Buskirk Bible); d. 1801; m. ca. 1777 Abigail Cosad, b. Roxbury Township, Morris Co., NJ 11 July 1758, d. Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada 18 June 1804, dau. of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sutton) Cossart. Samuel was a successful New Jersey business man. They migrated to the Great El-Dorado in Upper Canada in 1800, taking 10 of their twelve children with them. The family walked the 500 miles over Indian trails and foot paths. They carried all of their belongings on their horses and oxen and their won backs. Samuel Barber was robbed and murdered a year later while returning from New Jersey after settling his business affairs there. Abigail carried on with the family and four years later she died. (Frank Blair Barber, "Biographical Sketches of the Ancestry of Frank Blair Barber," [typescript, ca. 2003]) Children, probably all born in Roxbury Township, Morris Co., NJ, surname Barber: 1. Elizabeth, b. 8 Feb 1778; d. ca. 1854; m. (1) 6 Feb 1798 Andrew Yeager. 2. Matthias, b. 14 Dec 1779; d. 12 Sep 1836; m. 1 Jan 1800 Mary-7 Pettit (John-6, Jonathan-5, Nathaniel-4-3, Thomas-2, Henri-1), b. 29 Oct 1780, d. 23 July 1832, dau. of John-6 and Sarah (Carpenter) Pettit of Grimsby Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, Canada (Descendants of Henri Pettit at ); resided Saltfleet, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. 3. John, b. 19 April 1781; d. 24 July 1860; m. 22 Jan 1805 Mary Slaght, b. 1788, d. 1852, descendant of wealthy German plantation owner Hendrick Slaght of NJ; resided Lot 5, Townsend, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada; both bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Waterford, Ontario, Canada; direct ancestors of Frank Blair Barber. 4. Daniel, b. 2 Dec 1782; prob. m. 28 July 1804 Elizabeth Voorhis; resided Mt. Olive, Morris Co., NJ. 5. Jane, b. 27 Sep 1784; d. Oct 1820; m. William C. Smith; resided Charlotteville, Ontario, Canada. 6. Mary, b. 16 Jan 1786; d. 26 March 1863; m. (1) William Pitt Gilbert; m (2) Stephen V.R. Olmsted. 7. Aaron, b. 9 Dec 1787; d. 2 Nov 1863; m. Elizabeth Slaght; resided Townsend, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada. 8. Moses, b. 29 Dec 1789; d. 27 March 1881; m. 7 July 1811 Nancy Nelles; resided Townsend, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada. 9. Miriam, b. 8 April 1792; d. 1875; m. 1809 Joseph Kitchen; resided Charlotteville, Ontario, Canada. 9. Elisha, b. 11 May 1794; d. 28 Dec 1856; m. Elizabeth Messacar; resided Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada. 10. Samuel, b. 26 May 1796; d. 1800-1803. 11. Jacob, b. 2 July 1797; d. 13 April 1826; m. Elizabeth Smith; resided Townsend, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada. ii. Mary, b. Nov 1755 (Van Buskirk Bible); [m. Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ shortly after 29 March 1780 John-3 Garrison Jr. (John-2-1), son of John-2 Sr. and Elizabeth (_____) Garrison of Bethlehem Township, NJ; probable parents of Jane (Garrison) Krusen, b. 1781, and thus my probable direct ancestors; please see my Garrison documents at www. perry.streeter.com for more information. #287; Jno & Jno Garison, Jr & Sen, both of the Township of Bethlehem, County of Hunterdon... [bound to]... Wm Livingston, Governor... 500 pounds... 29 March 1780. ... contract of marriage between John Garison... and Mary Barbar... [w] Robert McShane signatures of the bondsmen: John Garrison Jr, John Garrison ()] iii. Jesse, b. Dec 1756 (Van Buskirk Bible); d. 24 Dec 1756 (Van Buskirk Bible). iv. Thomas, b. 14 Dec 1757; "unfortunately shott at Camp of which wound he died on February Anno Christo 1777" (Van Buskirk Bible). v. Nathaniel, b. NJ 27 Dec 1759 (Van Buskirk Bible); d. 15 Dec 1784; m. Anne Watson; taxpayer in Bethlehem Township in 1785 and 1790; moved to Clermont Co., OH by 1810; direct ancestors of Karen Alexander. #818; Nathaniel Barbar and Daniel Buskerik (Van Buskirk), both of Bethlehem in the County of Hunterdon... [bound to]... William Livingston... Governor... 500 pounds... 15 Dec 1784. ... Certificate of Marriage between Nathaniel Barbar... and Anne Watson... [w] blank () Children, surname Barber: 1. Nathaniel, b. ca. 1785, m. Hannah Wilson or Hannah Ashburn; resided Clermont Co., OH. 2. Daniel, m. Patience Fox. 3. Aaron Watson, b. NY 1802/3; m. Anna Hill; resided in OH and Knox Co., IL. 4. Susannah, m. Michael J. Banghart; resided Clermont Co., OH. 5. Lucy, m. Ralph Mount. 6. Jane, m. Samuel Cox. 7. Rebecca, m. Thomas Paxton. 8. Mary, b. 1806; d. 1822. 9. Sarah, m. Thomas Gatch. 10. Emley, b. 1809; m. Rebecca Orr; resided Clermont Co., OH. Child of Joseph and Jane (Foster) (Barbar) Dawson: vi. Susanna, b. 22 Aug 1768 (Van Buskirk Bible); doubtless identical with the Susanna Dawson born Washington Township, Warren Co., NJ "about 1769"; d. Washington, NJ 2 Aug 1817; m. Hunts Mills, NJ 20 Nov 1785 William "Squire Billy" Runkle, b. Annandale, Hunterdon Co., NJ 1755, d. Washington, Warren Co., NJ 1839; bur. Mansfield Cemetery, Warren Co., NJ, son of Adam and Mary (Youngblood) Runkle; he is presumably the same William Runkle that witnessed the will of my direct ancestor, Peter Williamson of Greenwich Township, (then Sussex, now) Warren Co., NJ in 1791 with Samuel Large and Joanna Riddle. Susanna's step-brother, Aaron Van Buskirk married William Runkle's sister Sarah. (The Adam Runkle Family, web site of The Runkle Family Association, ) Children, surname Runkle: 1. Daniel, b. Mansfield, (then Sussex, now) Warren Co., NJ 31 Aug 1786; d. 17 Feb 1818; bur. Mansfield Cemetery, Washington Township, Warren Co., NJ. 2. Mary, b. Mansfield, NJ 9 March 1788; d. Hampton Junction, Hunterdon Co., NJ 26 Dec 1846; bur. Musconetcong Cemetery, Hampton Junction, NJ; m. Jonathan Welding Ingham, b. Solebury, Bucks Co., PA 20 June 1785, d. Mt. Etna, Huntingon Co., IN 25 April 1863, bur. Mt. Etna, IN, son of Dr. Jonathan and Anna (Welding) Ingham. 3. Adam Dawson, b. Mansfield, NJ 20 Dec 1789; d. 14 Feb [1873]; bur. Eastern Cemetery, Easton, Northampton Co., PA; m. 15 Feb 1821 Margaret Kennedy, b. 4 Jan 1800, d. Greenwich Township, Warren Co., NJ 24 March 1828. 4. Joseph, b. Mansfield, NJ 15 Feb 1792; d. 29 Feb 1836; bur. Mansfield Cemetery, Washington Township, Warren Co., NJ; m. 1820 Jane Stewart, b. Hackettstown, Warren Co., NJ 25 Dec 1803, d. 8 May 1879. Children of Daniel and Jane (Foster) (Barbar) (Dawson) Van Buskirk: vii. John, b. Nov 1773 (Van Buskirk Bible); d. July 1775 (Van Buskirk Bible). viii. Jane, b. July 1776 (Van Buskirk Bible); d. after 1818; m. ca 1795 Anthony M. Borduzat. Other Barbers of Warren County, New Jersey John Barber (1719-1777) and his wife, Margaret, resided in Phillipsburg, Greenwich Township, (then Sussex, now) Warren County, New Jersey. Will of John Barber: Wife, Margaret Barber, 1/3 of my personal estate. Daughter, Mary Ennis, 50. Sons, Phineas and Jesse, my land. Executors, friends, James Davison and Col. Matthias Shipman. Witnesses Ludlum Salmon, Joseph Treat, Matthias Shipman. Inventory made by John Hendershot and David Hays. Apparently, John's eldest son, Thomas Barber, born in 1736, predeceased his father (Don Barber). Note that John Barber and Matthias Barbar both named sons Jesse and Thomas and a daughter Mary. Both of their estates were inventoried by men named Hendershot. John and Matthias were of the same generation. Don Barber thinks that John may have been a son of Samuel and Alida (Johnson) Barber of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. However, Jean Likes thinks that John may have been the son of an Edward Barber. Were Matthias Barbar and John Barber brothers? Also, it should be noted that John Barber's daughter Mary (1757-1808) did not marry John Garrison Jr.; she married John Innes (1746-1825) (Karan J. Armstrong, WorldConnect Database). Jesse Barber (John, Jesse, John), born in 1798, married Elizabeth Buskirk and settled in Livingston County, New York (Don Barber, Joan Boothe). Other Barbers of Hunterdon County, New Jersey Matthias and Jane (Foster) Barbar named their eldest son Samuel so we note with some interest that a Samuel Barber died in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1750. By some accounts, Samuel was born as early as 1685 but it appears that his children were roughly of the same generation as Matthias Barbar's and from that I infer that Samuel and Matthias were more likely of the same generation. By some unsubstantiated accounts, Samuel was the son of Samuel and _____ (Heathcote) Barber. Note that Samuel's daughter Mary, born perhaps in 1749, did not marry John Garrison Jr.; this Mary Barber married Jacobus Williamson who baptized in the Harlingen, New Jersey DRC on 18 February 1743 as the son of Garrett and Marytie (_____) Williamson ("Harlingen RDC Records," Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 17; "Schagticoke DRC Records," New York Biographical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 61). From the name of his daughter, Elida, it is evident that Samuel Barber was first married to Alida Johnson. From the will of her father, we learn of the Johnson family's dual connection to Barber gentlemen. On 10 November 1756, Johannis Johnson, cooper of Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, made his will naming wife Maria, grandchildren Johannis, Sari, Susana, Cathrina (children of son Johannis deceased), daughters Alida, widow of Samuel Barber; Magdalene, wife of John Barber; and Geertrue, wife of Caleb Faarly. (New Jersey Colonial Documents--Calendar of Wills 1761-1770) A lengthy excerpt from "The Dead in Barbers Ground: A Discourse on Barber Cemetery, Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey" follows. This is an unsigned and undated document found at the Hunterdon County, New Jersey Historical Society (). There is an old burying place in the Township of Delaware near Mount Airy Station on the Flemington Railroad, running to Lambertville, where many older people of note were long since laid to rest. The grounds were well selected in an early day by the Barber family; and others; and from the former, bears its name; and shared the patronage of many of the largest land owners in the southern portion of that Township, and other places as well... For over 100 years Barbers Ground was continuously opened to this surrounding community and many families became extinct. The DeReamers, Severns, Leonards, Oliphants and others who once [owned] great tracts of lands adjoining have now disappeared [ ] of not a few of them rest here. Of those whose names survive them are the Andersons, Barbers, Bownes, Covenhoven (now Conover), Corles, Forsts, Farlees, Hagamans, Hoppocks, Johnsons, Lamberts, Larisons, Moores, Pralls, Runks, Romines, Woolseys, Wilsons and many others. Here too lies Caleb Farlee's bones, who celebrated his 21st birthday on that memorable hot 17th day of Jun, 1777 in the Battle of Monmouth. So worn and fatigued was he there in the conflict with comrades falling on every side that he gave up to the fates of war, to fall in battle as it seemed to him inevitable to escape [ ] day on which he was twenty-one years old. Samuel Barber who was young then lived long after his generation and told the present generation the story of the conflicts... of the old Revolution. Among the Barbers of the early settlement as yet we are not so well informed, but for the last one hundred years no one was more prominent here than John Barber, Esq., who was born about 1775. He was well educated and informed and lived on his farm adjoining these grounds, which in connection with farming, he carried on a large tannery and for a long time manufactured the leather from which the surrounding community was principally shod. Mr. Barber in his day shared well in the official gifts of the offices of then old Amwell Township which comprised the territory of Delaware, Raritan, East and West Amwell and the City of Lambertville. He was conversant with quite all the voters that cast their votes in the same box with himself when such a variety of the same name in a single family required a careful registry to save entanglements. To know the people living over near half the territory of our present county. John Barber knew them all. He could tell apart, as they came up to vote, the seven Daniel Larews of Amwell as they were commonly called by an augment only to the given name abbreviated, down to Dan. as follows: Dan.----, Dilish Dan, Long Dan, Short Dan, White Dan, Red Dan and Black Dan. Then the John Stouts, John Rittenhouses, John Smiths and John Moores to him were none the less familiar. John Barber done much public business outside of his official capacity. In the settling of estates and transferring property he was a man of ability and great usefulness to the community in which he lived. For long years John Barber, Esq., had charge of these grounds, keeping the gates and opening the graves till the frost of more than 80 winters brought his tall frame to be laid at rest with the fathers.