The Vredenburgh Family of Somerset, New Jersey
from notes by La Rue Vredenburgh, Somerville, N. J.
SOURCE: Vredenburgh, La Rue, 1918, The Vredenburgh Family of Somerset, Somerset County [New Jersey] Historical Quarterly, Vol. VII, No. 1, p. 69-76.
The names and dates concerning the above family, as relating chiefly to Somerset, are taken, mostly from a manuscript genealogy of the Somerset Vredenburgh family made by the above-named writer. A few other acts have been communicated by ex-Judge William H. Vredenburgh, of Freehold. Biographical items, aside from the dates beginning with the "Sixth Generations," and some few dates and facts are added by the Editor of the Quarterly.
First American Generation
1. Willem van Vredenburgh, son of Isaac, of The Hague, Netherlands, was a soldier in the service of the Dutch West India Company, and arrived in New Amsterdam in May, 1658, in the ship "Gilded Beaver." He is found later at Fort Wiliam Hendrick in the "City of New Orange" (on Manhattan Island), Kingston, and, finally, New York City. In New Orange he is mentioned as having a house and lot in 1673, which was ordered to be pulled down because too near the "walls ad bulwarks" of the fort. In 1674 he is plaintiff in the New Amsterdam Court in a suit ("Records of New Amsterdam," Vol. 7, pp. 13, 43). He married, in New York City, Oct. 19, 1664, Appollonia Barents, daughter of Jacob Barentsen and Marritie Leenderts, of Amsterdam, Holland. She was baptized in New Amsterdam Jan. 29, 1645. They had ten children; sons Isaac, Johannis, Willem, Abraham, and daus., Cornelia, Maria, Annatje, Ariaentje, Jannetje and Rachel, some baptized in Kingston and some in New York City.
Second Generation
2. Isaac Van Vredenburgh, eldest child, was bapt. In New Amsterda Oct. 4, 1665; m., Mar. 7, 1694, Janneken Joosten (dau. of Joost Carelszen and Styntie Jans, but, at time of her marriage, he widow of John Pell), who was bapt. Nov. 16, 1664, in New Amsterdam. They had six children: William, William (second); Joseph, Johannes, Isaac and Kritina. These children, as a rule, dropped the "Van" from the surname, so that, later, it became simply "Vredenburgh." A large line of Vredenburghs descending from Joseph still reside in Westchester county, New York.
Third Generation
3. William Vredenburgh, second son of Isaac, was bapt. Oct. 4, 1696, at New York City; d. Feb. 4, 1773; m., Apr. 22, 1717, at New York City, Catrina Scott (dau. of Patrick Scott and Margery Wilding), who was bapt. Sept. 1, 1695, at Kingston, N. Y., and d. Aug. 2, 1754. They had seven children, the third son and fourth child being Petrus.
Forth Generation; Settler in New Brunswick
4. Peturus Vredenburgh was b. July 30, 1721; d. July 26, 1810; m., Oct. 13, 1743, at New Brunswick, N. J., Margrita Schureman (dau. of Jacobus Schureman, the schoolmaster who came to New Jersey with Rev. Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen and settled at Three-Mile Run, Somerset county, and his wife Antje Terhune), who was b. Sept. 27, 1726, and d. Aug. 4, 1745. He became a resident of New Bruswick the year of his marriage, 1743. After the death of Margrita, in her nineteenth year, Petrus m. Elizabeth Fisher, and, it is said, had by her eleven children. By Margrita Schureman there was one child, Petrus.
Fifth Generation
5. Petrus Vredenburgh, last named, was b. July 14, 1745; d. Aug. 24, 1823; m., Dec. 17, 1772, at new Brunswick, Margrita Schureman (dau. of John Schureman, an active man in the Revolution, and Antje De Riemer), his mother's cousin, who was b. Jan. 20, 1752, and d. July 30, 1786. This Petrus was a merchant of New Brunswick, and in 1782 became a trustee of Queen's (Rutgers) College. In 1772 he was made treasure of Middlesex county and served as such for forty-two consecutive years. He m., as a second wife, Ann Van Voorhees, but by her were no children.
[As from this point forward the family is more fully carried out, we note the particulars more in detail, in the usual form adopted by the Quarterly].
Sixth Generation
Children of Petrus (5) and Margrita Schureman:
6. Peter, b. Oct. 26, 1773, at New Brunswick; d. there Jan. 7, 1774.
7. John Schureman, clergyman, b. Mar. 20, 1776, at New Brunswick; d. Oct. 4, 1821, at Somerville; m. Apr. 23, 1800, at New York City, Sarah Caldwell (dau. Of Rev. James Caldwell and Hannah Ogden), who was b. June 12 1778, and d. Aug. 24, 1826. His first and only charge was at the First Reformed Raritan (Somerville) church, of which he was pastor from 1800-'21, or until his death. In 1800 he was made a trustee of Queen's (Rutgers) College. The parsonage was then in the present town of Raritan in the ancient Coejeman house.
8. Peter (2 nd ), physician, b. Oct. 5, 1778, at New Brunswick; d. Sept. 15, 1848, at Somerville; m., Dec. 20, 1804, Maria Van Doren (Dau. of Joseph Van Doren, of South Branch, and Sarah Vanderbilt), who was b. Apr. 7, 1783, and d. Sept. 2, 1855. He began practice at Reading to in 1800; then removed to Milestone then to Parsippany, Morris Co., and, in 1810, to Somerville. From 1833-'42 he was surrogate of Somerset. A well-known and honorable physician always in high repute.
Children of Rev. John Schureman Vredenburgh, D. D., (7) and Sarah Caldwell:
9. Hannah Smith, b. Jan. 24, 1801, at Somerville; d. Dec. 4, 1833, at McCunesville, Lycoming co., Pa.; m., Nov. 24, 1824, 1824, Rev. Dr. Joseph Atkinson Painter (son of Jacob Painter and Deborah Atkinson), who was b. May 21, 1799, in Northumberland co., Pa., and d. June 1, 1873, at Kittanning, Pa., where he was pastor of the Presbyterian church for forty-three years. Their ch. were: Henry Martyn, John Vredenburgh, and Hannah Smith Vredenburgh.
10. Margaret Schureman, b. Sept. 21, 1802, at Somerville; d. Jan. 14, 1849, at Elizabeth; m., Sept. 25, 1827, Reuben Van Pelt (son of Reuben Van Pelt and Alche Sutphen), an merchant of New York, who was b. June 20, 1803, and d. Dec. 19, 1879. He m. (second wife) Catherine Veghte Vredenburgh (19). Ch. were: Sharah Maria, James Caldwell, Margaret Adeline, John Vredenburgh, Gilbert Sutphem, William Montgomery, Reuben Henry.
11. Maria Caldwell, b. June 21, 1804, at Somerville; d. Mar. 19, 1829, at New Brunswick; unm. She, with her sister Anne (14) and her maternal aunt (Esther, a widow of Rev Dr. Robert Finlay), had established a school in New Brunswick for girls.
12. Peter, b. Dec. 12, 1805, at Somerville; d. there Jan. 3, 1817.
13. Harriet Van Wyck, b. Aug. 14, 1807, at Somerville; d. July 21, 1876, at Elizabeth; m., May, 1838, at New York City, Matthew W. Woodward, who d. Feb. 7, 1883, at Elizabeth. No ch. After his wife's death, Mr. Woodward m. Mary E. Vredenburgh (29).
14. Anne, b. Mar. 26, 1809, at Somerville; d. Apr. 25, 1829, at New Brunswick; unm.
15. Elizabeth Nevius, b. Dec. 22, 1810, at Somerville; m., June 3, 1851, at Elizabeth, Rev John Edgar Freeman, who was b. 1809. No ch. Both were sent out at Presbyterian missionaries to India, and after about seven years of joint service, were martyred, June 13, 1857, during the Sepoy Rebellion at Fetteghur, India, being taken prisoners and shot. Rev. Mr. Freeman had previously been a missionary at Allahabad, India, where a former wife, Mary Anne Beach, had labored with him, and where she died, Aug. 8, 1849.
16. Helen Wyckoff, b. July 6, 1812, at Somerville; d. Dec. 29, 1844, at Elizabeth; unm.
17. Sarah Van Nest, b. May 13, 1815, at Somerville; d. Mar. 15, 1849, at Danville, Pa.; m. 1835, at Kitanning, Pa., Daniel Strawbridge Montgomery (son of Daniel Montgomery and Christianna Strawbridge), who was b. July 2, 1811, and d. Mar. 26, 1839. One ch., Margaret Strawbridge. The widow m. later, at Elizabeth, N. J., John L. Watson.
18. John Finley, b. Nov. 12, 1817, at Somerville; d. July 19, 1844 (or '45), at Batavia, Java, where he had gone for his health, after graduating from the University of the City of New York; unm.
19. Catherine Veghte, b. Sept. 1, 1891, at Somerville; d. Oct. 3, 1866, at Boston, Mass.; m., at Elizabeth, N. J., Rev. Jonathan Pennington Alward (son of Jonathan Alward and Deborah Burrows), who was b. July 21, 1812, and d. April, 1841, in Western Africa, of which country he had been sent as a Presbyterian missionary. No ch. The widow returned to America and m. (2 nd ) Sept. 9, 1851, Reuben Van Pelt (see under 10), and had ch.: Helen Woodward, Gertrude Wyckoff and Elizabeth Vredenburgh.
Seventh Generation
Children of Dr. Peter Vredenburgh (8) and Maria Van Doren:
20. Peter, best known as Judge Peter Vredenburgh, b. Oct 31, 1805, at Readington; d. Mar. 24, 1873, at St Augustine, Fla.; m., Apr. 19, 1836, at Freehold, Eleanor Brinckerhoff (dau. Of Abraham Brinckerhoff and Cathearine Remsen), who was b. July 1, 1815, at New York City, and d. Mar. 20, 1884, at Freehold.
Judge Vredenburgh was graduated from Rutgers College in 1828. He was licensed to practice as an attorney in February, 1829, and three years later became a counselor, when he began his practice at Eatontown, Monmouth co. After one year there he removed to Freehold, where he continued to reside for the remainder of his life. In 1837, he was appointed Prosecutor of the Pleas for Monmouth, and held the office for fifteen years. In 1840 he was elected Member of Council (equivalent to State Senator) for Monmouth, and served one term. In 1849 he became a trustee of Rutgers College, and continued in that position until his death. In 1855 he was appointed one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court by Governor Price, and held the position for two terms, or fourteen years, discharging the duties of his office with eminent ability. At the close of the second term he resumed the practice of law, but is health soon began to fail. He never recovered, in fact, from the heavy blow sustained in the death of his eldest son, Major Peter Vredenburgh, Jr. He fruitlessly sought to recuperate his failing energies in Florida, but died there, as stated, when in his 69 th year. In the days of his practice at the Bar he and William L. Dayton were the best known and ablest lawyers in Monmouth county. As a Judge his decisions were clear and cogent, and in charging juries he was mostly and convincing.
21. Joseph Van Doren, b. Apr. 5, 1807, at Readington; d,. May 12, 1809, at Parsippany.
22. John Schureman, b. Mar. 11, 1809, at Parsippany; d. Mar. 9, 1879, at Springfield, Ill.; m., Sept. 18, 1832, at New York City, Anna Eliza Doremus (dau. of Francis Doremus and Phebe Smith), who was b. Oct. 12, 1810, at New York City, and d. Nov. 23, 1880, at Springfield, Ill., where he was a wholesale and retail lumber dealer and for two terms Mayor of the city. His ch., the first two being b. at Somerville, the others near Springfield, Ill., were: Maria Van Doren, Frank Doremus, Peter Vredenburgh, John Doremus, Thomas Doremus, John Schureman, La Rue Vredenburgh, Ann Eliza, Margaret Schureman, La Rue Vredenburgh (2 nd ).
23. Sarah Van Doren, b. Apr. 15, 1811, at Millstone; d. Aug. 16, 1888, At Somerville; unm.
24. Joseph Van Doren (second), physician by education, b. May 16, 1813, at Millstone; d. Nov. 19, 1870, near Raritan; m., Jan. 24, 1837, Elizabeth Beekman (dau. of Benjamin and Cornelia Beekman), who was b. at Raritan. Jan. 9, 1813. He was sheriff of Somerset county 1847-'49. It is said that early in his practice he received some poison in his eye which affected his sight for life so that he probably practiced little, if any. He resided on the road between Raritan and South Branch, on the west side of "Beekman Lane."
25. Margaret Schureman, b. Mar. 7, 1816, at Millstone; d. Mar 19, 1870, at Somerville; unm.
26. La Rue Perrine, b. Nov. 6, 1818, at Somerville; d. there June 1, 1892, m., Apr. 17, 1844, Blandia Bruyn Elmendorf (dau. of William C. Elmendorf and Maria Dumont), who was b. Mar. 16, 1820, at Griggstown, and d. Nov. 9, 1906, at Somerville. He was long a druggist in Somerville, but was latterly best known as the efficient cashier of the Somerset County Bank at Somerville (from 1880 until his death) and was always active in the affairs of that place.
27. Alletta Sutphen, b. May 27, 1821, at Somerville; d. Apr. 10, 1903; m. Oct 23, 1844, Isaac Philip Lindsley (son of Ebenezer C. Lindsley and Phebe Byram), who was b. Oct. 12, 1817, and d. Aug. 15, 1866, at Raritan. Ch.: Peter Vredenburgh, Julia Byram (who m. the late James Dodd, of Somerville), Peter Vredenburgh (second), Maria Vredenburgh, Margaret Vredenburgh, Joanna Condict, Ellen Brinckerhoff and Philip ( the latter a member of the New Jersey Bar, residing at Raritan).
28. Ann Matilda, b. Jan. 13, 1823, at Somerville; d. 1902; unm.
29. Mary Elizabeth, b. May 24, 1826, at Somerville; d. Jan. 17, 1900; m., Apr. 11, 1878, Dr. Matthew W. Woodward, who d. Feb. 7, 1883, and who had previously m. Harriet Van Wyck Vredenburgh (13). Dr. Woodward once resided at Fishkill, N. Y., but latterly at Elizabeth, N. J., where he died.
EIGHT GENERATION
Children of Judge Peter Vredenburgh (20) and Eleanor Brinckerhoff:
30. Peter, b. Feb. 12, 1837, at Freehold; killed Sept.. 19, 1864, at Winchester, Va.; unm. This Major Vredenburgh, who is well known in the history of the Civil War, studied law and was admitted to the Bar at the February Term, 1859, and as counselor three years later. He had only fairly begun his practice and been admitted as counselor when he joined the 14 th Regiment N. J. Volunteers in August, 1862, at which time he was commissioned Major of that Regiment. His command passed most of the first years at Frederick City, Md., and for six months of this period Major Vredenburgh acted as Povos Marshal of the city. In September, 1863, he was appointed Inspector General of a division, and later of the Third Corps. He went through the campaign of the Wilderness and the battle of Cold Harbor, winning highest praise for his gallantry, but finally was killed near Winchester while leading his men to a charge, his last words being "Forward, men! Forward, and guide on me!"
31. William Henry, b. Aug. 19, 1840, at Freehold; living; m., Feb. 25, 1868, Elizabeth Hartshorne Williams (dau. of E. Hartshorne Williams and Amelia Lippincott), who was b. May 3, 1845, at New York City. This second Judge Vredenburgh was graduated at Rutgers College in 1859, studied law with the late Governor Joseph D. Bedle, and was admitted to practice as an attorney in June, 1862, and as counselor three years later. He has always practiced his profession at Freehold. In November, 1897, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals by Governor Griggs, and on the succeeding January he was nominated for a full term. In 1904 he was reappointed by Governor Murphy. His term expired in 1910, when he was appointed for a third full term by Governor Fort, the term ending 1916. In 1894 Judge Vredenburgh was elected President of the First national Bank of Freehold. He is a trustee of Rutgers College, which has conferred upon him the degree of LL. D., and he has held many other public and semi-public positions, all of which testify to his high character and standing. Ch.: Peter, Amelia Lippincott, Agnes Remsen, Elizabeth, Lawrence and William Henry.
32. James Brinckerhoff, b. Oct. 1, 1844, at Freehold; d. June 21, 1915, at Freehold; m., Apr. 23, 1878, at Jersey City Emily [Harramond] Van Vorst (dau of John Van Vorst and [Emily Harramond Bacon]), who was b. Dec. 1, 1857. He graduated from Princeton College in 1863; was admitted to the N. J. Bar as attorney in June, 1866, and as counselor three years later. He began the practice of law in Jersey City, and continued it practice there until his death. He was long the counsel of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co., at times counsel for the New York Central R. R. Co., and was director in numerous corporations. A the Bar he was considered one of the most thorough-going practitioners, with a very large practice before the Supreme Court. Ch.: Peter, James B., John Van Vorst, William Henry, Eugene H. Eleanor.
Children of Joseph Van Doren Vredenburgh (24) and Elizabeth Beekman:
33. Cornelia Beekman, b. Jan. 9, 1838, near Raritan, n. J.
34. Annie Bloomfield, b. Aug. 22, 1839, near Raritan, N. J.; d. Jan 29, 1812 (sic).
35. Peter, b. July 30, 1841; d. 24, 1843.
36. Maria Van Doren, b. Dec. 15, 1843; m., Jan. 2, 1888, Samuel Vanderbilt (son of Peter Vanderbilt and Sarah Hutchinson). No ch.
37. Elizabeth, b. May 11, 1846; d. July 4, 1852.
38. Peter Samuel, b. Mar. 10, 1850; d. Feb. 18, 1858.
Children of La Rue Perrine Vredenburgh (26) and Blandina B. Elmendorf:
39. Mary Elmendorf, b. at Somerville; d. there Feb. 17, 1846.
40. Peter, b. at Somerville; d. there June 24, 1849.
41. William Elmendorf, b. at Somerville; d. there Nov. 30, 1851.
42. Maria, b. at Somerville; d. there August 1854.
43. LaRue, b. at Somerville; living; unm. He graduated from Rutgers College; studied law with Judge John D. Bartine, of Somerville, and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar November, 1879, and, after practicing about four years, went into service in the old Somerset County Bank, and then in the First National Bank, and with this training he became a bank examiner for New Jersey (in 1899). And is still engaged with the State Banking Department.
44. Blandia Elmendorf, b. at Somerville; living there; unm.
[Note by Editor. - Various dates and names of other descendants not living in New Jersey, or in the female lines, are carried out in the MSS. From which most of the foregoing are taken. See also the work, "Shuremans, of New Jersey," by Richard Wynkoop, 1902, and for early New York State Van Vredenburghs the "N. Y. Gen. & Biog. Record," Vol. 9, p. 62, and Vol. 21, p. 164. That the Van Vredenburgh family is an ancient one in Holland is proven by the description of the coat-of-arms of the family (described in "Kiestap's Armorial," p. 1027). It consists of a shield parted in the middle. The upper half of the shield is gold with a red rose, having buds and leaves of gold. There is a red background with a silver herring swimming, its head surmounted by a golden crown].