The territory comprising this township was taken up in 1681, and embraced in four different deeds given by the Indians before the title came to the proprietors, in February, 1682. The early settlements are here treated from these titles, and the lands taken up from the proprietors afterwards, with date of purchase and change of titles in an early day, as far as could be ascertained.

THE FIRST INDIAN TITLE.

The following is the substance of the first deed conveying the title of the aboriginal owners to the white settlers of lands in this county, and is quoted from the Elizabethtown bill of chancery, the proceedings of which were published in 1747, with a map of the original tracts and later subdivisions by the proprietors. The deed, which is on file in Perth Amboy (Liber 1, Folio 146), recites, "That Konockama and Queromak Indians, by their deed bearing date the fourth day of May, 1081, for the consideration of one hundred pound., paid them in the goods at the foot of the same deed acknowledged to be by them received of Capt. Philip Carteret, Governor of New Jersey, John palmer, of Staten Island, Gent., Gabrielle Minvielle, Thomas Codrington, John White, John Delevalle, Richard Hall, and John Royce, of the city of Now York, do sell to them and their heirs a tract of land on the north side of the Raritan River, beginning at the mouth of the rivulet called Bound Brook, and by the Indians, Secunk; and thence up along the river Raritan to a brook called Raweighweroe, and from thence northward to a certain stony hill; thence easterly to Metape'e wigwam, and thence southerly along the Bound Brook aforesaid to the beginning."

The proprietors took 1170 acres of this tract, embracing the site of the village of Bound Brook. It was surveyed by Philip Wells, and Sept. 25, 1683, it was patented to Thomas Rudyard, lawyer, of London, and one of the twenty-four proprietors of the province of East New Jersey. It is not known that he ever visited Bound Brook. The only one of the proprietors under the Indian grant who actually settled on any part of it was Thomas Codrington. A tract of 877 acres was apportioned to him Sept. 25, 1683, upon which he built a house, calling it Rackawackhana, where he lived until 1700, when he sold the place to Aaron Lazaider, a Jew. He also owned 1000 acres more, purchased April 20, 1688, lying in the rear of his farm, running up to the top of the mountain. He was appointed one of Governor Barclay's council Nov. 26, 1684, and to the same position by Lord Neill Campbell, Oct. 18,1686, and again by Governor Jeremiah Boss, May 6, 1698.

About 1700 the lands purchased by Rudyard, with 800 acres adjoining, belonging to John Royce, were purchased by a company consisting of George Cussart, Samuel Thompson, and Jacob De Groot. The Rudyard tract was divided equally between Thompson and De Groot, the Royce plot being held by the company. The road from Piscataway to Bound Brook and along the north bank of the Raritan River was laid out in 1686, and was called the Great Raritan road. Samuel Thompson built a house on the turnpike at the Middlebrook Mountain road, then known as the road that led to Basking Ridge, just east of I. J. Fisher's hotel. This property passed first to Thos. Clawson, then to William Wortman, to David McKinney, Kinney, to Michael Schooley, and, March 28, 1786, to Dr. Clarkson Freeman. Rev. David Barclay lived here from 1794 to 1806. It was demolished when the railroad was built, the company having purchased the property. George Cussart's house stood on the site now occupied by the Bound Brook Hotel. In 1720 he sold 300 acres to Ebenezer Trimbly, which descended to his son Peter, who died May 20, 1797, and left it to his two daughters, one of whom (Susan) married Tunis Ten Eyck and lived on the old homestead now owned by Rune and L. V. D. Shepherd, .and the other (Hannah) married Col. John Staats, who lived just north of the Presbyterian church property.

Aaron Lazaider, a merchant of New York City, retired from business in 1698 and moved to Bound Brook, where he built what was known as the "Jew House." He lived in this mansion until 1700, when he purchased Rackawackhana, the Codrington homestead. He died in November, 1744, leaving a son, Moses, and a daughter, Catharine, who married John R. Myers. Rackawackhana was inherited by Moses, and left by him to his son David. It was then sold to Michael Van Tuyle, then to Alexander Campbell, then to Dr. Samuel Swan, and is now owned by George Lamont. The Jew House was left to Catharine, wife of John R. Myers, and she lived there from that time until her death, in 1762. Her husband's death occurred in 1765, he being aged ninety-two. They left a son and a daughter; the latter, a widow, inherited the house. During the Revolution she sympathized with the British, and when Lord Cornwallis occupied the village, in the spring of 1777, the Jew House was made headquarters for himself and his staff; by invitation of the mistress. An acquaintance soon sprang up between the widow and one of the officers, which ripened into matrimony; upon the retirement of the army she accompanied him, and never afterwards returned to Bound Brook.

The estate was confiscated and in 1785 was sold to Tobias Van Norden, and it passed subsequently into the hands of Elias Campbell, and finally to Jeremiah Fisher, by whom it was torn down as early as 1826. It stood a little west of the present depot of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

The part of the tract taken by Jacob De Groot in the division of land in 1700 may be described as extending from Mountain Avenue to what is now the west line of the property of Israel Whitlock, and ran from the river back to the top of the mountain. He built his residence about fifty yards north of Main Street, on what is now known as the "Burnt District." There he lived and died, but at what age and time is not known. The alley which runs from Mountain Avenue to John Street, and between High and Front Streets, passes directly over the place of his burial. In the course of time the large property passed to his grandson, Jacob De Groot, still remembered by many of the older people. He and his wife (Rachel Castner) were well and widely known. He died July 22, 1843, aged ninety-four; his wife preceded him nine days. They were buried in the De Groot vault, in the old burying-ground back of the church. For sixty-eight years they had lived together, and were the third generation who had lived and died in the old house. Dr. Samuel Swan and George McDonald married daughters of this couple. The building was erected by the Jacob De Groot who settled about 1700; it was burned down in 1839. There is no evidence that any portion of this land was sold till about 1720, at which time the following persons became purchasers of parts of the original tract: Ebenezer Trimbly, Hendrick Harpending, Cornelius Prout, Hendrick Fisher, William Riddle, and John R.. Myers. Of these, Ebenezer Trimbly, as bas been shown, purchased the northern part of George Cussart tract. Hendrick Harpending was a shoemaker from Linzery, Holland; his son Peter, in the time of the Revolution, kept the "Frelinghuysen House," on the site of the present residence of B. B. Matthews, on Main Street. Dr. Ambrose Cook afterwards lived there. The sign was a large portrait of Maj: Gen. Frederick Frelinghuysen. Col. Simcoe halted here with his troops when on the way to Van Veghten's bridge in 1779. Peter Harpending, Tobias Van Norden, Hendrick Fisher, and Abraham Staats were excepted as "arch-traitors" when general amnesty was offered by the British in 1776. Hendrick Fisher lived across the river, and will be mentioned in the history of Franklin township. John R. Myers was a son-in-law of Aaron Lazaider, and resided in the Jew House. In 1746, Peter Williamson, James Hude, Anthony Blackford, Bartholomew Kelso, Charles MeEven, Thomas Irvine, Joseph Stansbury, David Cussart, Tobias Van Norden, Thomas Cooper, and John De Groot occupied home-lots belonging to the tract.

John, son of Lord Neill Campbell, came to Bound Brook about 1684 and built a residence on the north bank of the river, on the meadow directly south of the railroad depot. The house was afterwards owned by Peter Williamson, and is said to have been occupied by Gen. Benjamin Lincoln as his headquarters in 1777. The structure erected by Mr. Campbell has long since disappeared. He did not live here long, and the property probably passed to Aaron Lazaider, who built the Jew House. John Campbell owned lot 12, on South Branch, now in Branchburg, which he took up Nov. 9, 1685, and no more is known of him in Bound Brook. His granddaughter, Jannette, married Tobias Van Norden in 1742.

John Anderson lived on the Royce plot in 1720, and was still there in 1745. His residence was south of the lane leading to the old mansion of Thomas Codrington; the remains of it are still to be seen. During the Revolution it was owned by Matthew Harrison, now by the heirs of Isaac J. Fisher.
Joseph Bonney built on Main Street the structure known as the Rockafellow house; a part of the old homestead is still standing. He was doubtless the first blacksmith. Here lived Benjamin Bonney when the company of British cavalry made a raid from New Brunswick through Bound Brook, accompanied by a number of Tories. When they reached the house Benjamin Bonney took his son Peres, then about four years of age, and secreted himself in the cellar. The noted Tory Bill Stewart was one of the party, and in prowling around the house saw him sitting on the steps of the cellar with his son in his lap. Stewart fired upon him; the ball took effect in the left groin, from which wound he died the third day after. From Bonney's residence they went to De Groot's, where they broke open the cellar, taking all the provisions. They obliged Mr. De Groot, by threatening his life, to swear allegiance to the king. This troop of marauders were met below Bound Brook on their return by Col. John Statute with a party of men, by whom they were attacked so fiercely that they lost their plunder and their prisoners. Mrs. Elizabeth Bonney, widow of Benjamin Bonney, afterwards married Capt. John Powers. Peres, the son, lived to become an active and useful citizen of the township and member of the church, filling important offices in both. James Bonney, son of Peres, is now living in Bound Brook.

James Hude was the son of Adam Rude, who early located lands back on the mountains. He was deputy county clerk from 1765 to 1774, and filled other important offices.

Peter Williamson was one of the settlers as early as 1746, and is said to have lived in the John Campbell house, on the north bank of the river, in the time of the Revolution.

Israel Brown was a tailor, and built a house where Peter Brown now lives; Daniel Van Corts, where Alfred Common at present resides. William Harris built a house on the Codrington plot. He afterwards built the Middlebrook Hotel, now owned by the heirs of Isaac J. Fisher. This property was in possession of the family as late as 1815, as at that time Israel Harris, sheriff of Somerset County, was its landlord. Thomas McElworth lived also on the same plot, and his son Thomas after him. Both were elders in the church in their time. The house is described by some who are still living as being a long, low, one-and-a-half story structure, facing the south, with three rooms on the groundfloor, and with a front door to each room.

Tobias Van Norden was a native of New York City, and was fourth in descent from the emigrant of the same name who came from Holland in 1635. At the age of fourteen he entered the dry-goods store of Lazaider & Myers, merchants, in New York City, successors to Aaron Lazaider, who came to Bound Brook in 1698. He remained with them till 1738, when they all removed to Bound Brook. He opened a store in that year in the Jew House, where he continued till 1744. In 1749, Van Norden erected a house and store upon the site of that now occupied by Randolph Dunham and owned by John D. Voorhees. It was along, low, one-and-a-half story building, and stood broadside to the street, having two dormer-windows projecting from the roof. "In the two west rooms-front and rear-of that building he continued to supply the residents of Bound Brook and the honest yeomanry of the Raritan Valley with merchandise till the close of the Revolution. He also carried on the business of a baker. His bakery was situated in the rear of his residence, in a separate building. He was largely engaged, as his books fully attest, from 1742 to 1765, in baking ship-bread, which he sold in New York or exported direct to the West Indies, first having conveyed it in wagons or boats to New Brunswick, where it would be transferred to vessels which transported it to its destination."

Mr. Van Norden continued in this building till 1784, when he retired from business and was succeeded by George Heberton, who remained a merchant in Bound Brook till his death, Oct. 5, 1806. The building that had for so many years served the purpose of a store and dwelling was demolished in 1856.
In 1742, at the age of twenty-seven, Mr. Van Norden was married to Jannette, a daughter of Archibald Campbell (son of John, who settled in Bound Brook in 1684, and soon after moved to North Branch). They lived together fifty-five years, and had ten children, seven of whom survived them. The oldest child, Rachel, became the wife of. John Boudinot, M.D., brother of Elias and Elisha Boudinot, and a brother-in-law of William Bradford, attorney general under Washington. He was a surgeon in the army during the Revolution, and died in 1798; Rachel, his wife, died at Morristown in 1814. Peter, David, Michael, Tobias, and Archibald Van Norden, their sons, remained at Bound Brook. Peter built, in 1784, the first two-story house in Bound Brook, and painted it green. It was the wonder of the time, and was often called "Van Norden's Folly." It was occupied by Archibald Van Norden until his death, in 1827. Mrs. M. H. Close, a daughter of A. C. Mollison and granddaughter of Archibald Van Norden, now resides in the house ; she and her children comprise the fourth generation to reside under its roof. Mrs. Janet Mollison, daughter of Archibald Van Norden and mother of A. C. Mollison, is still living at the age of ninety-six. Mrs. Henry Van Nest, a daughter of David, is also living here. Michael and Tobias died leaving no descendants.

Tobias Van Norden the first was much respected for his strict integrity; his business career in Bound Brook extended from 1738 to 1784. Some of his daybooks are in the possession of. A. C. Mollison, a greatgrandson, now living in Bound Brook. He was chosen a justice of the peace soon after he became a resident, and held the position many years; he was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for some time before the Revolution till 1790, and represented the county in the colonial Legislature one year. His wife died July 26, 1797, aged eighty-eight; he died peacefully, seated in his arm-chair, March 28, 1800.

Joseph Mollison was a native of Piscataway township, adjoining Bound Brook, and came to the latter place about 1795 as a clerk for Daniel Blackford.
Anthony and Daniel Blackford were residents as early as 1747. Daniel lived on Main Street, where Benjamin Giles afterwards owned property.
A. C. Mollison, a great-grandson of Tobias Van Norden, is now a merchant in Bound Brook, having been in business about forty years. William H. Mollison, now of Budd's Lake, a grandson of Joseph Mollison and Tobias Van Norden, has written several articles on the early settlement of Bound Brook, from which much information has been obtained. Gilbert and George Mollison, grandsons, are living at Bound Brook.

Capt. John Powers, a native of North Carolina, commanded a company in a regiment of troops from that State during the Revolution. He was at the storming of Stony Point, July 15 and 16, 1779, and received thanks from Gen. Wayne for valuable service rendered. After the disbandment of the army he came to Bound Brook, and soon afterwards was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Bonney, widow of Benjamin Bonney; she died Sept. 10, 1795, aged forty-five. He afterwards married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Israel Read.

Capt. Creighton McCrea, son of the Rev. James McCrea, and brother of Jane McCrea, whose tragic fate is so well known, came to Bound Brook in 1796 and purchased of Jeremiah Fisher the house now owned by Isaac Brokaw. This property passed to his niece, Maria McCrea, afterwards the wife of William Van Duyn, who sold to Abraham Brokaw, father of the present owner. Creighton McCrea was buried in the old burying-ground. This house is one of the historical edifices of the county, and will be mentioned in another place. It is situated in the village of Bloomington. At that time Bound Brook was the centre of business.

Michael Field settled in Middlesex County about 1722 or 1723. Mention is made of him in connection with schools. Jeremiah and Benjamin Field were residents of Bound Brook till their death; they were officers in the Presbyterian Church, and also held official positions in the township. The old Field house is still standing; it was occupied by Richard D. Field, and now by Richard R. Field, his son. The following names are taken from the books of Tobias Van Norden, and show the occupations of some of the people of that time: Dr. Garret Van Wagoner, 1742; John Bride, "sculemaster," December, 1744; Isaac Brown, "taylor," May 5, 1745; William Moore, hatter, Feb. 10, 1745; John Wacker, school-master, February, 1745; John Ford, carpenter, February, 1745; John Campbell, " taylor," 1745; John Castner, shoemaker, 1745.

There are many other families who settled in this section early, but it is impossible to trace them all. The most of them, or their representatives, will be found mentioned in connection with the churches.

The lots in the limits of the first Indian deed, back of what were called the "Raritan lotts," were two in number. The west lot, containing 1000 acres, was surveyed April 20, 1688, to Thomas Codrington. It lay directly in the rear of his front lot. This tract extended back to the mountains, the famous Chimney Rock being situated on the west side of it, on the Middlebrook stream. An account of the scenes which occurred at and near this place in the time of the Revolution will be found in chapter vi (pages 60-80) of this work.

The tract east of the 1000-acre lot of Codrington was surveyed to David Cussart, May 23, 1729. This lot also extended to the mountain on the north, east to Green Brook, and south to the "proprietors' lott, r afterwards Rudyard's. The changes of the title to these tracts are too numerous to mention.

THE SECOND INDIAN TRACT AND THE EARLY SETTLERS UPON IT.

The following is from page 53 in the Elizabeth bill of chancery, and refers to the Indian deed recorded Liber 1, fol. 147, at Perth Amboy "That Machcote, alias Kenenkome, Awhips, Negacope, and Pamas-come, Indians, in consideration of one hundred and twenty pounds, to them paid by James Graham, Cornelius Corsen, and Samuel Winder, did sell to them and their heirs a tract on both sides of the Raritan River, and extending up the Raritan River from the brook called Raweigh weros aforesaid; as, by the said Indian deed bearing date the 12 Day of May, 1681.

It embraces lots 3, 6, 7, 50, 118, 98, 102, and 123, as by the map accompanying Elizabeth bill of chancery, an explanation of which is in schedule 3. This deed covered a large tract of land extending from Raweighweros (Middlebrook) along the Raritan River to Rackawackahacca, which was a low meadow-land along the north bank of the river, and reached up to near the Raritan Bridge at Raritan village, and thence running along what is now called the North Branch road leading out of Raritan village north nearly to Pluckamin; thence down along the foot of the mountains to Middlebrook, and down the brook to Raritan River.

In February, 1682, the territory of East New Jersey passed to the proprietors, and the land was divided into plots and sold. A tier of what were known as Raritan River lots were laid out, fronting on the river, and were first sold. The plots known as Nos. 3-6 first west of Middlebrook contained 877 acres, and were surveyed by Philip Wells, Sept. 25, 1683, for John Palmer and associates. These associates, as near as can be ascertained, were John White, Richard Hall, Michael Van Veghten, and perhaps others. These plots are mentioned separately as Nos. 3 and 6, but a deed reciting the boundaries of the James Graham & Co. tract, whose east line is definitely ascertained to be Peter's Brook, says the quarter assigned to Cornelins Corson " is to lie upon the easterly side of the tract next adjoining the purchase of John Palmer and associates." These two plots will be mentioned as one in the accounts of settlement.

The easterly tract contained 877 acres. Richard Hall was assigned the land that lay adjoining Middlebrook, and embraced that neck of land commonly known as the Island Farm. He was the owner of a large tract in New York City, near the present Beekman Street. It is not known that he lived here, though the name is common in the county. He kept tavern where the County Hotel now is, in Somerville, about 1810. Archibald, a son of Lord Neill Campbell, came into possession soon after; be died in 1702. The property belonged to Cornelius Van Horn in 1759, and was probably purchased long before Van Horn owned it, about 1800, when it was sold to George Smock. It is now owned by John Herbert. It was called Kells Hall by Alexander Campbell, and long retained the name. A bell now in possession of Archibald Mollison, of Bound Brook, has engraved upon it "Amsterdam, 1734. Kells Hall."

North, on the same tract on Middle Brook, Philip Van Horn, a New York merchant, lived during the Revolution. The place was known as Phil's Hill. The Marquis de Chastelleux on his travels, of which he gives an account in his journal, passed through West Point, Hackensack, Totowa, Pompton Plains, Morristown, Basking Ridge, over the mountains, and dined at Philip Van Horn's, at Middlebrook. The property passed into other hands soon after the Revelution. The place is now the site of Herbert's Mills. Henry Van Derveer, an officer in the Revolution, lived east of the Van Veghten tract.
The western portion of this tract was assigned to Michael Van Veghten. The precise time of his location is not known, but his son Derrick was born on the Raritan in 1699. He built a one-and-a-half story house that was torn down and replaced with a brick house by Derrick, a part of which is still standing on the old homestead. Michael had two children,-Derrick and Jane. He purchased, besides the west half of this tract, a large parcel in 1712 across the river, south and north of his homestead tract, to and on the mountain. He presented to the First Church of Raritan the ground on which the old church was built in 1721. The homestead was near the bridge known as the Van Veghten Bridge from 1750. Upon the death of Michael the tract on the north side of the river, consisting of one thousand acres, was left to Derrick, and the land on the south side to Jane, who married a Mr. Hageman, some of whose descendants now live at North Branch.'

Derrick married three times, as follows: Judith Brockholst, Deborah Ann Antonideus, and Sarah Middagh, the latter a sister of George and Cornelius Middagh. By the last he had three children,Michael, who married Elizabeth La Grange, of Elizabethtown, and lived on the old homestead; Margaret, who married Joseph Crane and lived on part of the estate; and Elizabeth, who married Dr. John Davis, of New Brunswick. Derrick Van Veghten was warmly attached to the cause of the colonies, and his hospitality was heartily extended to all who were interested in the same cause. Gen. Greene was quartered in his house during the winter and spring of 1779. An encampment of the army was upon his farm, on the slope to the northeast from Mount Pleasant,'* now occupied by Mr. Shaw. A building known for many years after as the Court-Martial building was erected here. After the destruction of the church, in October, 1779, this building was used for worship, and tradition says that it was moved to Somerville, enlarged, and remodeled into the court-house that stood where Dr. Wilson's house now stands, first east of the present court-house.

The church edifice of the First Church of Raritan remained fifty-eight years, and was burned down by Col. Simcoe at the time of his raid. The cemetery was the burial-place of many of the early settlers in this region, Derrick Van Veghten, who died Nov. 29, 1781, Rev. John Frelinghuysen, and Rev. Theodore F. Romeyn were buried there. Many were afterwards removed to the Raritan cemetery.

Michael Van Veghten, whom many of the older citizens remember, the only son of Derrick, married Elizabeth Lagrange, by whom he had nine children. Elizabeth, the eldest, married John Frelinghuysen, and later John I. Gaston; Maria married Peter Elmendorf, of North Branch ; Margaret married David Magee, of Elizabethtown ; Sophia married Maj. Thomas Talmage, and they resided north of Somerville, on the farm now occupied by G. H. Potts; Jane married William Wilson, of New York City, and lived on the Van Veghten estate till his death. Mrs. Wilson afterwards married James Taylor, who lived and died at Somerville. He was the father of John W. Taylor, of Somerville. Richard, the youngest child and only son, inherited the old homestead, which finally went into possession of strangers, and is now owned by C. T. Amen.

The plot adjoining, to the west of No. 3, known as No. 6, containing 877 acres, was purchased by John White, Sept. 25, 1683. This tract ran back to a line with' the other, and west to Peter's Brook. John White built near the river, and lived there for several years. Here it was that the difficulty occurred in 1686 that led to the laying out of the Great Raritan Road.* This John White was at Lynn, Mass., in 1630. In 1644 he was chosen a freeman of Southampton, L. I., and remained there as late as 1660. The records of the Governor and Council of East New Jersey show that John White, John Royce, and four others bad each, in 1683, a large tract of land ordered by the Governor mid Council to be laid out and patents issued, which tracts they had purchased of the proprietors on the Raritan River adjoining Piscataway. This tract of John White is evidently the one spoken of as lying east of Peter's Brook and west of the Van Veghten tract. It cannot be the James Graham & Co. tract, for John Royce had no connection with that and there were but four proprietors, while in this company there were six. John White was a resident of this county as late as 1693. In 1688 and 1693 he was elected deputy to the Assembly of East New Jersey from the out-plantations on the river. In the latter year he was also collector of Somerset County. No descendants are known to be living here, nor does his name occur after the dates given.

The first mention of the Ten Eyck family, who occupied these lands later, is of Albert Ten Eyck (son of Coenradt Ten Eyck, an influential man in New Amsterdam} in 1653). Albert came to the Raritan before 1708. He married Maria Van Veghten (probably a sister of Michael), and had two children, — Jenniken, a daughter, who was baptized in the Raritan church in October, 1708, and a son, Albert, in 1711. Albert the father was not living at this time. Part of the Ten Eyck family went to what is now Branchburg and settled. The name of Matthew Ten Eyck occurs in the township records in 1750 as one of the overseers of the poor, and Andrew Ten Eyck, Jr., as overseer of highways. Jacob's name also appears, but he settled in the western part of the township. Col. Matthew Ten Eyck who lived on this White tract before 1750 was the father of Sarah, Neeltje, and Jane. Sarah married Dr. Garret Tunison. They lived on the old homestead till their death and had three sons — Cornelius, Matthew Ten Eyck, and Garret — and three daughters, Jane, Nellie, and Maria Magdalen. Cornelius married Judith Ten Eyck, and their son Peter married Eliza Ten Eyck; Nellie married Matthew C. Williamson, who lived on part of the estate; Jane married Peter Davis, and also lived on the tract.

About 1800, Judge Andrew Howell purchased the western portion of the tract, where he lived many years. This large tract of land, so occupied for over a hundred years, has, like the Van Veghten tract, passed into the hands of strangers.

THE GRAHAM TRACT.

Feb. 3, 1683, letters patent were granted to James Graham, Samuel Winder, Cornelius Corsen, and John White for a tract of land said to contain "the just and full quantity of one thousand nine hundred and four acres of land, strict measure, but, allowance being made for swamp and highways, the same to remain for one thousand eight hundred English acres and no more.": It was surveyed Sept. 28, 1683. Its east line was Peter's Brook from the river until it bends to the west; south by Raritan River; west by the old patent line; north by the line of the other river lots. This tract was divided into four equal parts, each fronting on the river. It was agreed by the parties that the quarter of Cornelius Corsen was to lie on the easterly side of the tract; the second quarter was to John White, lying between Cornelius Corsen on the east and James Graham on the west; the third quarter was set off to James Graham, and was between John White on the east and Samuel Winder on the west; the fourth and last quarter was to Samuel Winder, and was west of James Graham, and to the west line of the old patent.

Cornelius Corsen was one of the proprietors of the tract spoken of as Indian Title No. 2. He was also interested in a company who took up land on Staten Island, known as Cornelius Corsen & Co. On page 103 of the record of the Governor and Council of East New Jersey, 1682-1703, reference is made to "the petition of James Graham, Samuel Winder, John White, and Cornelius Corsen to have a patent of the lands lately surveyed to them, lying on the Raritan River. Agreed that they have their said lands patented, they paying twopence an acre,-viz., purchasing at three halfpence an acre at twelve years purchase, and paying by pattent 1/2 d. p. acre." It is not probable that Cornelius Corsen ever lived here. He died in 1693. In Staten Island the surname Corson was retained; on the Raritan it seems to have been changed in some way to Vroom. Bergen, in the "History of the Bergen family," page 128, says "Hendrick Corsen (Vroom), baptized Nov. 20, 1653, marries Josina Pietersz, daughter of Pieter Van Nest, of Brooklyn, and Judith Rapalje, a granddaughter of Joris Janse Rapalie, and settled on the Raritan, near Somerville, about 1680, where his descendants are numerous, among whom is Governor Vroom, of New Jersey." Hendrick Corsen, as will be shown, purchased of Cornelius Corsen, in 1687, the half of the quarter of the section assigned to him. He also purchased a tract of 500 acres, which was surveyed to him June 10, 1688, "where South and North Branches meet,"--No. 37 on old map, now in Branchburg, north of Holland's Brook. June 6, 1687, Cornelius Corsen conveyed by deed the land he possessed on the Raritan to Peter Van Nostrand and Hendrick Corsen. The latter conveyed, Oct. 10, 1687, "the equal onehalf of one equal fourth part of the tract of land" (meaning the large tract) to Peter Van Nest, who, on June 22, 1724, conveyed a part of it to his son, Jeronimus Van Nest. June 16, 1771, Jeronimus conveyed a portion of this, in two tracts, to Jacob R. Hardenburgh. These two tracts were conveyed, Nov. 7, 1781, by Hardenburgh to William Paterson, Elias Boudinot, and Col. F. Frelinghuysen, in trust (350 acres), for the benefit of the children of John Hardenburgh and wife, to whom it was to descend after their death. The property was so conveyed, and, by act of Legislature, Jacob R. Hardenburgh and Andrew Howell were authorized to sell the land for their benefit. Joseph Annin sold it to Jacob R. Hardenburgh.

March 2, 1807, John Davenport purchased 109 acres of the north tract. This became the "Lottery Field," and in 1809 the land was divided into lots. It was also on this tract that the Somerset House Company purchased their land.

Peter Van Nest, who purchased of Hendrick Corsen, Oct. 10, 1687, was a son of Peter Van Nest, of Brooklyn, who came from the Netherlands in 1647. Peter, Jr., also lived in Brooklyn before he purchased this land. He married Margaretje Chrocheron, of Staten Island, April 13, 1684. His brother Jeronimus came soon after his settlement on the Raritan. Peter was a deputy for Somerset in the Assembly of East New Jersey in 1698, and was elected a deacon of the church of Raritan March 9, 1699, upon the organization of that church. The house of Peter Van Nest is said to have occupied the spot where now stands the residence of Mr. Dumont Frelinghuysen. Jerome is said to have lived where the old house now stands, formerly owned by Joseph Doty.

Van Nest's mill was well known among the early settlers. It is said to have 'been located near where the railroad bridge now crosses the river. The dam was about 160 yards above. A race from the mill led down the flat to near where the covered bridge now is. The bed of the river was different somewhat from its present course.

Peter's Brook was named after Peter Van Ne