Extracted from:

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON AND MERCER COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY
WITH  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR PIONEERS 
             AND PROMINENT MEN

    by Major E.M. Woodward & John F. Hageman

              EVERTS & PECK
                  1883

   PRESS OF J.B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA
======================================================

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

Situation and Boundaries. — If any township in Mercer County, may be 
called the centre township of the county it is Lawrence. In a north 
and south direction it extends about nine miles, from Millham to 
Princeton, nearly across the county. From its eastern extremity to 
the eastern border of the county it is about as far as from its 
western extremity to the county's most western point. 

The soil is rich and fertile and abundantly productive. Grass grows 
luxuriantly, and the fruits and cereals are cultivated in large 
quantities.

The Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the southeast corner, with a 
stopping-place at Lawrence Station.

Settlement.— It appears from deeds still in existence that Ralph 
Hunt, who was one of the two who paid the consideration for the 
original deed of the "church property," thus owning the farms 
adjoining the ground upon which the Presbyterian Church at 
Lawrenceville stands, repurchased them from Daniel Coxe in 1723, 
including grounds now occupied by the church. 

Some idea of the extent to which settlement had advanced in the 
township and vicinity in 1698 may be obtained from a glance at the 
large number of names of persons to whom the church property was 
deeded that year, and who were referred to as "inhabitants of 
Maidenhead and parts adjacent." It is not at all improbable that 
there were many men living in the township at the time who took 
no active part in the establishment of the church. It is likely 
a few of the persons named below lived in Hopewell, but that a 
majority of them resided within the present borders of Lawrence 
cannot be doubted: 

Ralph Hunt, John Bainbridge, Johannes Lawrenson, William Hixon, John 
Brearley, Samuel Hunt, Theophilus Phillips, Jonathan Davis, Thomas 
Smith, Jasper Smith, Thomas Coleman, Benjamin Hardin, William Akers, 
Robert Lanning, Philip Phillips, Joshua Andris, Samuel Davis, 
Elnathan Davis, Enoch Andris, Cornelius Andris, James Price, John 
Runyan, Thomas Runyan, Hezekiah Bonham, Benjamin Maple, Lawrence 
Updike, Joseph Sackett, and Edward Hunt. 

Reference to some of these persons will, be found in succeeding 
pages. Of some of them no resident of the township has any knowlege. 
Data concerning the pioneers of Lawrence is at the best incomplete. 
Such as diligent inquiry and research has brought to light are here 
presented. 

THE HUNT FAMILY.— From records to which the historian has had access, 
as well as from tradition, it appears that Ralph Hunt was one of the 
earliest settlers in New Jersey. He came from Newtown, L.I., some 
time before the, beginning of the last century, and purchased a 
large tract of land lying on both sides of the king's road in 
Maidenhead, and extending northward to Stony Brook. He also owned 
an extensive tract in Hopewell, and another about Newton, in Sussex 
County. The sons of Ralph Hunt and his wife Elizabeth were named 
(I.) John, (II.) Edward, (III.) Nathaniel, (IV.) William, and,
(V.) Daniel.

(I.) John, known. As Capt. Hunt, was of unusual stature. He married 
     Martha Horsful, and had daughters named Ruth amid Betsey. The 
     former married Stephen Hunt, the latter Jesse Hunt, of Kentucky.

(II.) Edward married Charity, daughter of William Cornwell, or 
      Cornell, and had children named Ralph, John, Abigail, and 
      Elizabeth. John was the father of Asa, Ralph, Edward, Nathaniel 
      R., Mary (the wife of Henry Drake), Martha (wife of John 
      Lanning), and Elizabeth (wife of Christopher Vankirk). Abigail 
      married Robert Updike. Elizabeth married a Northrup. 

(III.) Nathaniel, born July 27, 1733, lived in Lawrence, opposite 
       Capt. Inman's, on the king's road, northeast from Lawrenceville, 
       and by his wife, Mary Phillips, had Joseph, born July 1, 1764; 
       Ralph, born Oct. 14, 1765; Mary, born March 15, 1766; Philip, 
       born July 1; 1769; Mary (the second of the name), born Jan. 
       23, 1771; and Samuel, born Nov. 12, 1780. From this branch of 
       the family are descended Samuel, the son of Ralph Hunt, and 
       others well known in the township. 

(IV.) William's children were Ralph and Anne.

(V.) Daniel had Maj. Ralph, Dr. Benjamin (of Lebanon), and Elizabeth, 
     wife of Jacob Anderson.

It appears that Ralph, Hunt was the progenitor of all of the name of 
Hunt in this section. His descendants are widely distributed over 
the counties of Hunterdon, Sussex, and Mercer, with one branch in 
Hopewell. They are very numerous, and some of them may be found at 
Cincinnati and Urbana, Ohio, and at Lexington, Ky. The present 
residence of Samuel Hunt, son of the late Ralph Hunt, is supposed 
to have been his dwelling-place in this township. He is thought to 
have lived at one time, but not permanently, on his property in 
Hopewell. How long or how continuously he lived in Maidenhead is 
not known. He was known as "London" Ralph Hunt, to distinguish 
him from another of the name living on Stony Brook, in Hopewell, 
and known in consequence as "Stony Brook" Ralph Hunt. One of his 
daughters married Philip Phillips, a son of Theophilus Phillips, 
and the probable progenitor of the Phillips family of Lawrence. 

In the old town record book of Maidenhead appears this entry:
     "Samuel Hunt was born April ye 5th day in the year of our 
      Lord 1724." 

Later the following was written:
     "Samuel Hunt records his children's age that was born in 
      Maidenhead March 14th, 1755.
     "His daughter, Elizabeth Hunt, born April 27, 1742.
     "His son, William Hunt, born January 7, 1744. 
     "His daughter, Mary Hunt, born May 31, 1746.
     "His daughter, Penelopy Hunt, born December 2, 1748." 

The old town record book contains a record of the births of the 
children of a Ralph Hunt who seems to have been contemporary with 
the Samuel Hunt first mentioned. Of what branch of the family he was 
does not appear. The following is the entry: 

"March 15, 1755, P'r me Abner Phillips, ck.; Ralph Hunt records his
children's age, born in Maidenhead.
     "Ralph, born April 27, 1742. 
     "Philip, born June 1, 1744.
     "Elias, born May 14, 1746.
     "Sarah, born October 15, 1748.
     "Jemima, born May 17, 1751.
     "Keziah, born January 26, 1754.
     "Elizabeth, born June 21, 1756.
     "Abigail, born July 26, 1758.
     "Mary, born December 18, 1760."

The last three names were added after those preceding them had been 
recorded by the clerk.

By his will dated June 15, 1717, and proved Oct. 12, 1720, witnessed 
by Ralph Hunt, Theophilus Phillips, and John Davis, one Samuel S. 
Hunt left his farm, lying on both sides of the king's road, in 
Maidenhead, to his son, Samuel Hunt; lands lying on both sides of 
Stony Brook, in Hopewell and Maidenhead townships, to his sons John 
and Ralph. For his other sons, John and Ralph, and his daughters 
Mary, Anna, and Elizabeth, he provided with other property and by 
payment of legacies. 

Samuel Hunt, son of Samuel S. Hunt, above mentioned, devised his 
property as follows: By a will dated Aug. 22, 1752, proved in the 
following November, and witnessed by George Pettit, Isaac Pettit, 
and Samuel Green, all living in the county of Sussex, to Samuel Hunt 
his farm lying in Maidenhead, to Richard, John, and Thomas Hunt 
about eleven hundred acres in Sussex County; to Ralph Hunt an 
education and money; to his wife a dower in Samuel Hunt's farm 
during her life; his horses and negroes to be divided among all his 
children. 

PHILLIPS FAMILY.— It appears that Philip Phillips, born Dec. 27, 
1678, was the patriarch of the Phillips family of Lawrence and 
vicinity. He was a son of Theophilus Phillips, and a grandson of 
a certain Ralph Hunt, of Newtown, L.I., and married Elizabeth, a 
daughter of the pioneer, "London" Ralph Hunt,

The births of his children are thus recorded in the old town records 
of Maidenhead:
     "His daughter Hannah was born February 11th, 1702. 
     "His son Philip was born October 6th, 1704.
     "His son Richard was born December Pt, 1705. 
     "His daughter Abigail was born October 9th, 1708.
     "His daughter Elizabeth was born the 14th March, 1711. 
     "His daughter Mary was born July ye 13th, 1713.
     "His son Abner was born February ye 12th, 1716—1718.
     "His daughter Esther was born December 21st, 1719.
     "His son Samuel was born February ye 12th, 1722.
     "His daughter Ruth was born May ye 1st, 1724.
     "His son John was born July 29th, 1726.
     "Deceased March 16th, 1792, aged 65 years and 9 months.
     "His son Elias was born October ye 23, 1723."

The will of Philip Phillips was dated Aug. 22, 1740. It was witnessed 
by Samuel Hunt, John Van Cleve, and Lewis Charles Faroniel. It was 
proved November, 1740. His devisees were his children— Philip, Abner, 
Samuel, John, Esther, and Ruth— and his wife Elizabeth. His executors 
were his son Philip and his wife Elizabeth. 

The following entries concerning Abner Phillips, son of Philip 
Phillips, and his family appear in the time-worn records of 
Maidenhead:
     "Abner Phillips marryage, December ye 3, 1740.
     "The age of Abner Phillips' children being born in Maidenhead.
     "His daughter, Jemima Phillips, was born November 4th, 1741.
     "Ruth Phillips was born October ye 26th, 1742.
     "Jemima Phillips was born November 10th, 1744.
     "Keziah Phillips was born March 13th, 1745.
     "His son, Elias Phillips, was born December ye 23d, 1747.
     "His daughter, Dermelia Phillips, was born February 14th, 1750.
     "Elizabeth Phillips was born Jany 10th, 1753.
     "His son, Samuel Phillips, was born February 8th, 1754.
     "Abner Phillips was born April 4th, 1757.
     "His daughter Sarah was born March 31st, 1759."

Two other children, whose names are illegible, were born, one in 1761,
the other later. The condition of the record is such that no further 
information is obtainable from it. 

The will of Joseph Phillips was made April 23, 1748. It was witnessed 
by William Phillips, John Phillips, and Benjamin Stuart. It directed 
that his real estate and personal property should be gold, and the 
proceeds divided among his heirs. The executors were his wife, his 
brother, Theophilus Phillips, and his brother-in-law, Abner Phillips. 

Theophilus Phillips' will was dated May 29,1761, and was witnessed by 
Ralph Hunt, John Bainbridge, and Abner Phillips. It gave to Abigail, 
his wife, his house and household goods, the use of a negro man, and 
a dower in money, payable annually during her widowhood; his property 
"to his, children, John, William, and Francis Bainbridge, and to his 
grandchildren, and to his grandchildren of his son Joseph, deceased, — 
Elizabeth, Hezekiah, Mary, Joseph, and Theophilus." His executors 
were his sons, John and William Phillips. 

Joseph Phillips' will, dated 1768, directed that his property be 
divided between his wife and youngest son, Joseph, and his daughter, 
Mary Philpat, his son Samuel to be placed to learn a trade at the 
age of sixteen. 

John Phillips, a descendant of the settler, Philip Phillips, had a 
son Joseph, whose children were (1) Joseph, (2) William, (3) Frances, 
(4) Abigail, and (5) Martha. Joseph, the son of John, was the 
historical Col. Joseph Phillips, mentioned by Stryker * as Maj. 
Joseph' Phillips, of the New Jersey Battalion. This was the first 
military organization of New Jersey, and was formed of five companies 
from Somerset County and three from Hunterdon County. It was 
commanded at first by Col. Philip Johnson, who was killed at the 
battle of Long Island, after which Maj. Joseph Phillips was promoted 
to be a lieutenant-colonel and later a colonel. Subsequently he was 
colonel of the first regiment of Hunterdon County, forming a part of 
the brigade of Gen. Philemon Dickinson. This regiment participated 
in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Assanpink, Princeton, 
Germantown, Springfield, and Monmouth. In the regiment of Col. 
Phillips were his two sons-in-law from Lawrence, John Phillips, 
previously in the Continental army, and Elias Phillips, who was a 
very brave partisan officer, and performed a number of daring and 
successful exploits against the enemy. The family of the latter is 
extinct. Joseph Brearley, Benjamin Van Cleve, and Henry Phillips, 
all from this township, also served in this regiment. Some time after 
the Revolution Col. Phillips died in a stone house which stood on the 
site of the present residence of his grandson, James Gould Phillips, 
in Lawrenceville, opposite the churchyard, in an unmarked grave in 
which the remains of the old patriot are supposed to have found a 
resting-place. The following particulars have been obtained concerning 
his family: (1) Joseph, his oldest son and child, read medicine with 
Dr. Nicholas Belleville, a surgeon of the French-American army, who 
remained in the country after the Revolution, and spent the balance 
of his life in Trenton. Later he was appointed surgeon of a battalion 
raised in New Jersey, which was attached to the first army organized 
under the Federal government. He subsequently saw much service, which 
continued until the reduction of the army. Returning to Lawrenceville, 
he passed a quiet life, which closed July 29, 1847. Dr. Phillips was 
then eighty-two. He had married, late in life, Mary C. Moore, who 
died at fifty-five, Dec. 16, 1849. Their children were named James 
Gould, Joseph, and Juliet. James Gould is living in Lawrenceville, 
unmarried. Joseph married a Miss Griskey, of Philadelphia, and became 
a business man in New York, whence he went to participate in the late 
civil war, serving with such credit as to obtain promotion to a 
captaincy. He has sons, Joseph, Lewis, Augustus, and Edward, all in 
business in New York, and two daughters. Juliet married Elisha Gordon, 
and lives in Delaware. 

(2) William removed to Kentucky, where he spent his life and reared a 
family.

(3) Francis married William Phillips, of Lawrence, and had one 
daughter, who is dead.

(4) Abigail married Capt. Edward Madison Yard, now of Trenton (an 
officer in the United States navy during the late war), and bore him children.

(5) Martha never married.

One Ralph Phillips, from this township, also served in the 
Revolutionary war. In the Continental army were Capt. Jonathan 
Phillips and his brother, John Phillips, of Lawrence. The former 
served until the close of the war, and was a member of the Society 
of the Cincinnati for New Jersey. The latter resigned, and became 
a captain in the First Regiment of Hunterdon County. Capt. Jonathan 
Phillips died, leaving two sons, Horatio Gates and Churchill 
Phillips. Horatio Gates Phillips moved to Ohio in 1804, and settled 
in the valley of the Miami, on the site of the city of Dayton. At a 
later date Churchill Phillips also went to Dayton, Ohio. Capt. John 
Phillips had three sons, all of whom became officers in the United 
States army. The eldest was in the war of 1812—14, and was taken 
prisoner at Detroit. The descendants of Capt. Jonathan are in Ohio, 
those of Capt. John at Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Another family of Phillipses in Lawrence is descended from John 
Phillips, who emigrated from Wales, and settled in Maidenhead in 
1740. Soon after his arrival he married Abbie Tindall, and had four 
sons named Thomas, Joseph, Theophilus, and William. Theophilus, the 
grandfather of John F. Phillips, was, perhaps, one of the most 
prominent members of the family in "the olden time." He married 
Margaret Disborrough, and had sons, John and Henry. The former 
removed to Bristol, Pa., where he practiced medicine with much 
success about forty years, and died there at the age of seventy. 
Henry remained on the old homestead of his ancestors, and married 
Jennie Feaster in 1827, and had a family of seven sons and three 
daughters, of whom one was John F. Phillips, who owns considerable 
property on the Princeton turnpike in the eastern part of the 
township. He is a graduate of Princeton College, and is the largest 
and best farmer in the township, if not in the county. 

BAKER FAMILY.— The name of Baker has long been prominent in this 
township. Three brothers of the name, whose Christian names are 
unknown, came to America from England at an early date. One of these 
located at Eighteen-Mile Run, one in Pennsylvania, and one in 
Maidenhead, on the road between Lawrenceville and Trenton. The latter 
had one son named Joseph and several daughters. 

Joseph Baker married, and located on the New Brunswick turnpike, 
about a mile from Baker's Basin. His children were named 
(I.) Martha, (II.) Matilda, (III.) Sarah, and (IV.) Benjamin. 

I. Martha married Jonathan Brearley, and located at Franklin Corners.

II. Matilda married John Brearley, and located near Princessville, 
and had four children, named Joseph B., Randall, Susan, and Mary. 
Joseph A. married Gertrude A. Hart, and remained on the homestead. 
Randall went West. Susan died unmarried. Mary, unmarried, lives with 
her brother. 

III. Sarah married Lott Howell, and located near Trenton, in Ewing 
township, and had a large family.

IV. Benjamin married Elizabeth Conover, and settied at Baker's Basin. 
His children were Maria, Ann, Joseph, Garret, Lamattie, Eliza, 
Matilda, Theodore, Benjamin, Jr., Margaret, and Isaac B. 

Maria married Churchill Phillips, and, after living at Lawrenceville 
many years, removed to Ohio. Ann died unmarried. Joseph removed West. 
Garret died young. Lamattie married Bergen Van Nest, and located in 
West Windsor, and had one son, Edward, who died unmarried. Eliza 
married William Conover, and went West. Matilda married John Mahon, 
and located at Trenton, and had two daughters, named Elizabeth and 
Mary Ann. Theodore went West. Benjamin, Jr., married Margaret B. 
Stryker, and lived at Baker's Basin. Margaret died unmarried. 
Isaac B. married Mary Baird, and located on the old homestead of his 
father at Baker's Basin. He had two children,— Charles H., who 
married Joanna Cook, and lives with his father, and Ellen B., who 
married Clark Flock, and lives near Baker's Basin. 

LANNING FAMILY.— John Lanning settled in what is now Lawrence township 
prior to the Revolution, purchasing a large tract of land on the 
king's road, about two miles from Lawrenceville to the northeast. He 
was twice married. His first wife was Martha Hunt. His second was 
Rachel Hawkins. His children were (I.) Mary, (II.) Elizabeth, 
(III.) Abigail, (IV.) Sarah, (V.) Martha, (VI.) Susan, (VII.) Charity, 
and (VIII.) Edward. 

I. Mary married John Lawrence, and located on a portion of the old 
homestead, and had two sons, Andrew and Edward.

Andrew married Eliza Slack, and settled adjacent to his father's 
homestead.

Edward married Jane Slack, and located on the same tract, and reared 
a large family.

These brothers were both shoemakers.

II. Elizabeth married Elijah Hart, and located in the township. 
Nathaniel, Martha, John, Edward, Benjamin, and Elijah Hart were her 
children. Of these only Edward survives. 

III. Abigail married Thomas Hooper, and settled at Hamilton Square, 
and had children named John L., Moses, Thomas, Lanning, Stephen, 
Mary, Sarah Ann, and Martha.

IV. Sarah and (V.) Martha died unmarried.

VI. Susan married John Fisher, and settled near Hightstown. Among her 
children may be named John, Robert, and Samuel Fisher.

VII. Charity married Moses Allen, and located in Warren County, and 
reared a large family.

VIII. Edward married Ann Bryant, and located on a portion of the 
homestead tract, and engaged in farming. His children were John, 
Benjamin, Margaret, Eliza, Sarah, Martha, Absalom, Price, and Mary. 

John, Benjamin, Margaret, and Mary all died young.

Eliza married Cornelius Van Dyke, and located in Hopewell, and had 
eight children, among whom were Edward L., Margaret J., Mary,; 
Charity, Adelaide, and Juliet Van Dyke.

Sarah married Horace D. Varian. Their children were William, Price, 
Miles, and Maria. None of them live in the township.

Martha married Jacob Gordon, and located in the northeast part of the 
township, and had seven children.

Absalom Price married Henrietta Drake, and settled on the old 
homestead of the family. His children were John E., Mercer B., and 
Thomas C. John E. married Mary Scudder, and is a lawyer, living at 
Long Branch. Mercer B. married Emma B. Gordon, and is living with 
his father. Thomas C. is unmarried. 

MERSHON FAMILY.— It is not known who was the first Mershon to settle 
in the township. The first there of the name of whom his descendants 
have any knowledge was Benjamin Mershon, who had two sons, William 
and Asher, the latter of whom died young. 

William Mershon, son of Benjamin, was born March 1, 1769, and married 
Prudence, daughter of Jasper Smith, and had two children, one of whom 
was a daughter, who died unmarried. The other was Samuel P. Mershon, 
a venerable citizen of Lawrence, who lives where his father, and 
presumably his grandfather, lived before him. He married Mary S., 
daughter of Caleb Shreve. His children were William, Francis, Joseph, 
Jasper, Louisa, Caleb S., and Joseph (the second of the name). 

William lives in Rahway. Francis, Joseph, and Jasper are dead. Louisa 
married Edward P. Brearley. Caleb S. married Mary Berrien, and lives 
near his father. Joseph (the second of the name) married Ida A. Drake, 
of Hopewell, and lives with his father. 

SMITH FAMILY.— The Smith family were among the pioneers in Maidenhead. 
Jasper Smith, one of the best known of the name, was born there, but 
passed much of his years elsewhere. Late in life he returned and 
lived on the king's road between Lawrenceville and Trenton, near 
Lawrenceville. He had children named Daniel, Enoch, Prudence, Betsy, 
and Sarah. Daniel and Enoch removed to Sunbury, Pa., when young, and 
both became prominent lawyers there. Betsy married E. Richard Hill, 
of Ewing, four miles above Trenton, and had sons named Jonathan, 
Jasper, Samuel, Enoch, and Wallace, all of whom except the latter,
a resident of Trenton, are dead. Sally married Elias Scudder, of 
Ewing, and had sons named Jasper, Abner, Daniel, and John. 

In his will Jasper Smith conveyed the parsonage farm to the trustees 
of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. Of him Rev. A. Gosman, 
the present pastor, spoke as follows:
     "There are other evidences that Mr. Smith's heart was deeply 
      interested In the welfare of the church. We find him prominent 
      among the founders of the church at Flemington, where he 
      resided for a time. His noble gift to this church did not 
      spring from any ostentation, but was due to his love for 
      Christ and the souls of men. The property which he bequeathed 
      was the fruit of his early toil in his profession, and coming 
      to his native place to spend the evening of his life, he saw 
      how the church was struggling to sustain the ministry, and 
      how inadequately it was sustained, and from the purest 
      motives and the greatest wisdom he set apart his own estate 
      that it might be the source of perpetual blessings to this 
      whole community." 

HARDIN, HART, AND COOK FAMILIES.— The Hardins lived in Maidenhead 
prior to 1700, and were prominent citizens at a later date. The 
following record concerning one branch of this family appears in 
the town records: 

"The age of Benjamin Hardin's children is as followeth:
     "His son Benjamin was born March 6, 1700.
     "Sarah was born Jan. 19, 1702.
     "Joseph was born Jan. 31, 1704.
     "Mary was born March 25, 1706.
     "Samuel was born Jan. 21, 1710.
     "Elizabeth was born May 31, 1712."

Ralph Hart was an early settler in Lawrence, and left his real estate 
there to his sons Samuel and Benjamin. Two of his sons, Ralph and 
Josiah, settled in Hopewell. His daughter Mary married Jemima, 
daughter of George Woolsey, Sr., and had a son, Dr. Noah Hart, and 
daughters Jerusha, Hannah, and Elizabeth. By a second wife, a Widow 
Merrill, he had a daughter Mary, wife of George Smith. Josiah married 
Mary Titus, daughter of John Titus, Sr., and had Elijah, Nathaniel, 
Andrew, Titus, Rebecca (wife of Thomas Wilson), Sarah (wife of Andrew 
Smith), Elizabeth (wife of Jacob Ege), and Mary (wife of Ishi Van 
Cleve). 

It is not possible at this date to ascertain who was the first of the 
Cook family to locate in Maidenhead. The name early became prominent 
in the township. The following extract from the township records will 
be of interest in connection with the name: 

"The ages of William Cook's children:
     "Honor Cook was born July 11, 1723.
     "Henry Cook was born Dcc. 17, 1724.
     "Winseak Cook was born Nov. 13, 1726.
     "Abigail Cook was born Oct. 26, 1728. 
     "Phillips Cook was born Sept. 8, 1730.
     "William Cook was born Sept. 7, 1732.
     "Jobe Cook was born Oct. 3, 1733.
     "Mary Cook was born Feb. 1, 1735.
     "Sary Cook was born Aug. 17, 1739. 
     "Antoney Cook was born May 30, 1740.
     "Elijah Cook was born March 3, 1741.
     "Abigail Cook was born March 25, 1743.
     "Penelopy Cook was born May 8, 1744."

The name of Garret Cook, often appears in minutes of early 
transactions in the township. 

BREARLEY FAMILY.— Two brothers named Brylerley, from York, England, 
came to America about 1680. One of them went to Virginia with Lord 
Fairfax, the other came to New Jersey with Lord Jersey. The first of 
the family known to have lived in Mercer County as now bounded was 
John Brylerley, who located in Maidenhead, on the "Spring Grove" farm 
on the Trenton and Princeton turnpike. By this time the name had been 
changed to Brearley, as it is spelled now. This John Brearley married 
and had children, among whom were two sons, David and Benjamin. 

David Brearley married Mary Clark, and succeeded his father on the 
farm. He had children named (l) Joseph, (2) David, (3) Abishai, 
(4) Esther, and (5) Zerujah. (1) Joseph Brearley married Rachel 
McClair, and settled on the old homestead. He served through the 
Revolution. Commissioned captain, he went to Canada with the forces 
under Maxwell, and soon was promoted to be major. After a time he 
resigned the latter commission, and later served as aide-de-camp to 
Washington. He was again commissioned as major, and so served to the 
end of the struggle, about which time Governor Howell, of New Jersey, 
commissioned him as general, which title was his until his death, in 
1805. The period 1783—1805 he passed on, his farm in Lawrence. The 
children of Gen. Joseph Brearley were Charles, David, Joseph, 
Benjamin, Pearson, Ann, Elizabeth, Harriet, and Maria. 

Charles died unmarried at Dayton, Ohio.

David married Hannah Jones, and remained on the old homestead until 
the outbreak of the war of 1812—14, when he received a colonel's 
commission, and entering the army, served until peace was declared. 
He was then appointed Indian agent by President Monroe, and held the 
position many years. He subsequently took up a large tract of land in 
Arkansas, whither he removed, spending the balance of his life there.

Joseph married Johanna Hendrickson, and, living in Lawrence, had three 
daughters,- Caroline, Henrietta, and Charity. Caroline married Simon 
Sill, and removed to St. Louis. Henrietta and Charity died young. 

Benjamin married Susan Ryall, of Trenton, and lived on a part of the 
homestead farm till 1812, when he was commissioned first lieutenant 
in Capt. Ogden's company of artillery, serving through the war. Later 
he removed to Michigan, where he died in 1842. He had two daughters, 
— Rebecca, now Mrs. Imlah Moore, of Trenton, and Louisa, unmarried, 
a resident of Trenton. 

Pierson went to Arkansas with David, and after his return died in 
Princeton, unmarried.

Ann died in Princeton, unmarried.

Elizabeth married Ezekiel Smith, a farmer near Princeton.

Harriet died in Trenton, unmarried.

Maria died unmarried at Princeton.

(2) David Brearley read law at Princeton, and settled at Allentown. 
In 1776 he was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, for 
which he was outlawed by the British government, and a reward of one 
hundred pounds offered for his apprehension. He was later commissioned 
colonel, and on his way to join the army of the West was recalled to 
take the chief justiceship of New Jersey, an office which he held 
until his death, Aug. 15, 1790, aged forty-four. He was twice married,
— first to Elizabeth Mullen, second to Elizabeth Higbee, of Trenton. 
His children were William, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Harriet, and 
David. 

Of William all traces are lost.

Elizabeth married John Potts, and died leaving two sons, John and 
Edward, who died in Louisiana.

Joseph died unmarried.

Mary married Ebenezer Hopkins, and died leaving sons, David and 
Edward. The former died young. The latter married, and had a son 
Charles.

Harriet and David died unmarried.

(3) Abishai and (4) Esther died unmarried. 

(5) Benjamin married a Miss Ringgold, and settled in Lawrence. He was 
killed by a fall from a wagon, leaving no children.

A John Brearley, who was a descendant from John Brearley, the pioneer 
and great-grandfather of J. Baker Brearley, built the house now 
occupied by the latter, south of the Princeton turnpike, in the 
southeastern part of the township, in 1760. It has been kept in good 
repair, and is substantial and homelike, but preserves some of the 
characteristics distinguishing houses of its age. John Brearley 
married Esther Jones, and had children,— Samuel, George, James, Isaac, 
John, Stephen, Sarah, and Jonathan, concerning some of whom the 
following information has been obtained: 

Samuel married Frances Baker, and had a family. One of his sons was 
named Samuel.

George married, and had Stephen, James, and other children.

James never married.

John married Matilda Baker, and had children named Susan, Randall, 
Mary, and J. Baker Brearley. Susan and Mary never married. The latter 
is living at an advanced age with her brother, J. Baker, who married 
Gertrude A. Hart. Randall went to Indiana, and there married Ophelia 
Hughes.