The Founding Families of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge)

NOTE: Remember that Far Hills and Bernardsville were part of Bernards Township until the 1920 so these names do cover those areas as well

History showcases some of the greatest reminders of where we came from. Many people new to the area don’t know the deep history in the area ties back to some of the originating families that chose this area back in the early 1700s.

In 1701, East and West Jersey’s 4th Governor, Col. Andrew Hamilton, and the Proprietors wanted to settle the East Jersey province and appointed John Harrison for that purpose. Harrison made large purchases from the Lenni Lenape Indian tribe. As many have read, John Harrison, agent of King James II, purchased the area from Chief Nowenoik of the Lenapes, a real estate package of 3,000 acres for the equivalent of $50.

Note: A map of Harrison’s purchase is said to be at the New Jersey Historical Society. At the time of the signing, John Harrison had been living in Rocky Hill, New Jersey.

The 3,000 acres were known then as the Passaic Valley bounded by the Passaic River on the east, Green Brook (Raritan River) on the west, the Dead River on the south., and Penn’s Brook on the north. The deed was dated June 24, 1717. After John’s death, his son Benjamin Alexander sold his dad’s entire purchase to Daniel Hollingshead and George Risarick, who then sold to Co. John Parker of Amboy and James Alexander from New York. Parker opened the Tavern in Bernardsville and Alexander kept his land and willed it to his son William, Lord Stirling.

Seven Early Settlers

1720 – James Alexander – Scotland

James Alexander, father of William Alexander (Lord Stirling), was a large landowner who had to deal with “squatters” on his land. James Pitney was noted as being on James’ land when he first arrived in the area. Research shows Cornelius Brees, from Staten Island, bought land in 1720 from James Alexander on the East side of the Dead River, which had been occupied by James Pitney. John Ayres’s son Obadiah also bought land from Alexander.

Harrison must have died, and the property passed through Hollingshead and Eisarick to John Parker (who owned the John Parker tavern in Vealtown) and Alexander as early as 1720, for in that year Parker and Alexander sold a portion of the southeast corner of their purchase to Cornelius Brees, of Staten Island. The four proprietors had the lands regularly surveyed in 1727, and laid out into farms of one hundred fifty to two hundred acres each. These were drawn by ballot by the four joint owners at the spring term of the Supreme Court for 1728, held at Perth Amboy. The respective proprietors were then left to dispose of their lots on their own terms.

James Alexander, father of William Alexander (Lord Stirling), seems to have drawn what has since been known as the ” Stirling Property.” He was also associated with John Budd, of Philadelphia, in lands that extended north into Morris County. The land was listed as No. 121, James Alexander, Sept. 17, 1741, 786 acres in six tracts In Harrison’s Neck. The second piece was No. 99, to James Alexander, March 28, 1728, 272 acres on the east side of the North Branch of Dead River. A third plot, No. 142, was bought by James on July 10, 1744, containing 65 acres at Basking Ridge where son William built his Stirling Manor in 1761.

William Alexander, son of James Alexander, was born in New York City in 1726. Stirling led a brilliant military career and received praise from his colleagues and enemies. After his death on Jan. 15, 1783, his wife, Lady Stirling, received a letter of esteem from General Washington. The New Jersey Historical Society has a series of boxes of documented transactions.

• The Mr. Local History Project has written additional research about William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling:
  • Lord Stirling-Is William Alexander Basking Ridge’s Most Famous Resident?
  • Lord Stirling’s Rev War Beacon Signal Towers
  • Proprietary House in Perth Amboy or Stirling Manor in Basking Ridge – Which was First

1720 – Cornelius Brees (Breese) – Staten Island, NY

About 1720, Cornelius Brees, of Staten Island, bought land from James Alexander, ” on the east side of the north branch of Dead River, at the southwest corner of the Parker and Alexander’s area. It appears that James Pitney remained in this vicinity and became a freeholder, notwithstanding his first home was sold from under him to Brees since he was one of the trustees to whom the church lot was deeded in 1731. So Pitney was actually a squatter on the land Brees purchased.

Three members of the Brees family gave the ultimate sacrifice during the war. John Brees Sr., John Brees Jr.( b. 8 Nov 1738 ) and Stephen Brees all fought for the new nation and are buried in the Presbyterian cemetery. Cornelius served as a Sergeant in the NJ Frontier Militia in 1757 and 1758. John’s son Timothy (b.1758) Brees married Elizabeth Doty.

1722 – James Pitney – New Brunswick, NJ

James Pitney lived in New Brunswick, NJ before 1722, then moved to Basking Ridge, NJ. He was a member of the First Company Militia Regiment in 1715. His will was dated April 13, 1750, and lists his wife, Susannah, and son Jonathan. Records indicate the Pitneys settled in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township. James and his wife Susannah had three children: James Pitney,   b. 1722, Liberty Corner, Somerset Co. and Benjamin Pitney,   b. 1726, Liberty Corner. A third, Shubael Pitney,   b. approximately 1731.

1727 (possibly 1717) – John Ayres (Ayers, Eyers) – Newbury, MA

John Ayres came from Woodbridge, New Jersey, and was born on March 02, 1663, in Newbury, MA. Son of Obadiah Ayres and Hannah Ayres (Pike), husband of Mary Ayers and Ruth Ayres He had seven sons; John, Thomas, Obadiah, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Moses, and Aaron.  He moved to Basking Ridge the same year Harrison bought the land from the Indian Chief Nowenwalk. 

John Ayres, who settled on the Millstone, in 1717, is mentioned as having lands in the east part of the township in 1727. John Ayres is noted for donating 1 ½ acres, including the land on which a log meeting house stood in 1730 but it was said that the meeting house had probably been there since at least 1725 (the BRPC states 1717).

A document was found dated February 8, 1731, formally recognizing the donation of a “meeting house.” Basking Ridge was the first religious center in the area. It’s been noted that in addition to being a house of prayer, education was key, and there’s mention of schooling there as early as 1720-1725. John died Oct. 4, 1732, at 69, yet no one knows where he’s buried. His son John Ayers is buried in the BRPC graveyard.

John’s son Obadiah Ayres purchased 153 acres from John Alexander. It’s stated he later left for Warren County in Hacketstown sometime before 1753.

1736 – Alexander Kirkpatrick – Scotland

Another family worthy of particular mention was that of Alexander Kirkpatrick (b.1697), who settled at Mine Brook in 1736, on the farm lately owned by Henry Baird. The Kirkpatricks belonged to a noble family in Scotland. Alexander, the family’s ancestor in this country, was born at Watties Neach, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He moved with his family to Belfast, Ireland, after the birth of his son David, about the year 1725. In the spring of 1736, he embarked at Belfast for America. After a stormy voyage of thirteen weeks, they landed at New Castle, Del. Passing through Philadelphia, they wandered up through the State of New Jersey (which was then partially settled, till they reached Bound Brook, and thence went over the mountains to the place which they selected for a habitation. Without roads in the country, they followed an Indian path through the wilderness.

When they came to a spring of water at the side of what has since been called ” Mine Brook,” they settled down, built a log house, and went to work. The spot was well chosen, about two miles west of the present site of Basking Ridge. It embraced the southern slope of Round Mountain, in a well-timbered region, with unfailing springs of pure water, the rich meadowland through which Mine Brook runs. Alexander Kirkpatrick died on June 3, 1758. He is buried at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery

Henry Alward III – Woodbridge, NJ (First Generation American)

Henry Alward III was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey on March 29, 1697. His father Henry was from Scotland and settled in Woodbridge. Henry III settled between Liberty Corner and Basking Ridge, near a saw and grist mill once owned by Matthias Woodward (not Woodard as others quote). While historical documents mention Bullion’s Tavern (William Annin Hotel, Liberty Corner Hotel, Post Office, and currently an Exxon) we’ve narrowed it down that Woodward’s Mill was near Grist Mill Park and Road in Basking Ridge along Harrison’s Brook. So, the plot thickens up as to where Henry 3rd actually resides.

He was first married to Sara (Compton) Alward in 1715. After her death, he later married Anne Ford in 1721. We’re still looking for his original homestead area.

It gets confusing but this is the first of many Henry’s in the lineage, so it’s often confusing to follow. The Henry in Liberty Corner had eight children: David, John, Henry IV, Samuel, Benjamin, Sarah, Mary, Mercy, and Henry V. and William.

Henry Alward IV married Mary Cox and had eight children. Henry’s fourth son, Samuel, married Caty King, sister of John King, of Liberty Corner. Benjamin, the third son, married Sarah Ayers (Ayres), daughter of Elisha Ayers, and sister of Maj. John Ayers (Ayres), of Basking Ridge. William married Elizabeth, daughter of William Cross, and moved to New York. Henry III died in Basking Ridge in 1732 and is buried in the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Cemetery. there are twelve Alward’s buried in the churchyard.

1720 – John Johnston aka John Annan – Annin’s Corner – Scotland

John’s birth year, 1688, figures prominently in Scottish history. It marked the end of the 50 Years’ Rebellion, a bloody religious conflict. The rebels were the Covenanters, who were persecuted for challenging the King’s belief that he, not God, was the spiritual head of the Scottish church. “

Rather than give his son John up to be killed by King Charles I, John’s father James Johnston sent him and his family to America. John landed in the colonies in 1722 with his wife Elizabeth Van Dorn and three children, John Jr, William, and a daughter. The family was seeking religious freedom as they had married outside the church and did not want to be found in the New World, so they adopted an alias in the name of Annan. It later morphed into “Annin” and never changed after. The area over time became known as “Annin’s Corner.

John (Johnston) Annan initially purchased 270 acres of land from William Penn where the family settled. It is rumored that John Johnston knew fellow Scotsman James Alexander, who’s son later was referred to as Lord Stirling. Lord Stirling’s father Alexander had purchased large chunks of property in the Basking Ridge area. The homestead started with 270 acres but grew to over 2,700 acres covering present-day Lyons Road encompassing the entire community of Liberty Corner all the way north past where the William Annin Middle School stands today.

The Mr. Local History Project has written additional research about the Annins of Liberty Corner

• The Annin’s of Liberty Corner: Patriots, Flag Company and a Middle School
• The American Flag Means More in Liberty Corner

1717 – The Meeting House That Became a Church

In Baskingridge, some Scotch Presbyterian families who had settled there were worshipping in a log meeting house which they had erected a year or two previously.” The church can make a case for having been founded in 1716 but settled in 1717. The Basking Ridge congregation was recognized by the first Presbytery in the U.S. located in Philadelphia in 1729.

The Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation included James Pitney, Henry Rolfe (Newbury, MA) Mordecai McKeene, George Pack, Samuel Rolfe (Henry’s son), Daniel Morris, Thomas Riggs, and Obadiah Ayres (John’s son). That log cabin structure lasted until 1747 when a better structure was built. The Ayres lived in the area for over 100 years. The deed was not recorded until 1763.

Building on John Ayrer’s donation, in 1728, John Budd of Philadelphia (he was from Phia) donated 100 acres to the Basking Ridge congregation for the continued use of the”meeting house.”

The Presbyterian congregation of New Brunswick was later founded in 1738, and Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church became a part of it. John Cross was the first Moderator. The congregation believes John Cross is buried adjacent to the church, but his grave has not been found. There are 35 of Cross’s descendants buried here. He had one son, Robert (who had 11 children: 8 sons and 3 daughters) and two daughters.

In 1750, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, fourth pastor of the Presbyterian Church, established a classical school in Basking Ridge to prepare young men for college. His successor, Dr. Robert Finley, later ran the school.

1732 The Secret is Out

In 1732, the area started to take hold. The names are honored, as many have street names across the town. The Conkling, Alward, McCollum, Dayton, Doty, Boylan, Heath, Hall, Lindsey, Rickey, Lewis, Anderson, Whitaker, and Hand families landed in Basking Ridge. William Annin landed in Annin’s Corner (Liberty Corner) and built his stone home in about 1760.

Abraham Southard migrated to Basking Ridge in 1735, with his eight children from Hempstead, Long Island. His son Henry Southard was born in 1747 in Basking Ridge and lived 95 years. He had thirteen children. His son Samuel became a United States Senator.

83 Streets Were Named After Basking Ridge Residents

Based on our analysis and categorization, 83 street names in Bernards Township are named after local residents (Rev War, Locals, Reverends). So is the street you live on named after a former Bernards Township resident? Now you know where to look.

Street Name	Origin
ACKEN RD	Named for the Acken family of Liberty Corner, landowners and shopkeepers
ALEXANDRIA WAY	Named for William Alexander, Lord Stirling (1726-1783)
ALLEN RD, CR (652)	Named for Josiah Allen of Liberty Corner, descendent of Ethan Allen, American soldier and patriot, 18th Century
ALLEN ST	Named for original estate of the Chapin-Earhart family
AMBAR PL	Named for settlers in the area, early 20th Century
ANNIN RD	Named for the John Annin family (Johnstons of Annandale, Scotland). Their 1,000 acres in 1722 were called Annin’s Corner and later renamed Liberty Corner
BALDWIN CT	Named for an old family of Liberty Corner, 19th Century
BERNARD DR	Named for Sir Francis Bernards, provincial Governor of New Jersey 1758-1760
BROWNLEE PL	Named for the Rev. William Brownlee, sixth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Street originally called Back Street (1783-1860)
CARSWELL CT	Named for the Carswell family, active in township community affairs since the 20th Century
CHAPIN LN	Named for John Collyer family, large landowners on south maple Avenue, 19th Century
CHILDS RD	Named for William Childs, who moved the barn to the Old Mill Inn site and Samuel Childs, benefactor to the Bernards Township Library in the 1900’s
CODDINGTON CT	Named for early settlers in the West Millington area of the township
COLLYER LN	Named for the Rev. John Cross, the first pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church
CONKLING ST	Named for the Conkling family, 19th Century settlers in Bernards
COOPER CT	Named for early settlers in the township
CROSS RD	The Bernards Plateau is named for early settlers in the township. In 1939, Carl G. Decker sold this tract to Wheeler Corporation, making it known as the Bernards Plateau.
CULBERSON RD	Named for the Culberson family, landowners for more than 150 years. The street runs through their property
DAYTON ST	Named for William L. Dayton (1807-1864), U.S. Senator, Vice Presidential candidate and Ambassador to France
DECKER ST	Named for W. J. Allen who owned much land in Basking Ridge Village in the mid-19th Century
DOGGETT CT	Named after the President of the High Meadow Hunt Club
DOUGLAS RD	Named for the Douglas family who settled this area in 1765
DRYDEN RD	Named for John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist and critic
DYCKMAN PL	Named for the Rev. W. H. Dyckman, who preached in both the Basking Ridge and Methodist Churches, 19th Century
E ALLEN ST	Named for the Edward Lewis family who arrived in the 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s
E CRAIG ST	Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century
E LEWIS ST	Named for the Rev. James English (1810-1873), the first pastor of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church
ELLIS DR	Named for Monroe F. Ellis, for whom Monroe Place was also named in 1900’s
ENGLISH PL	Named for original family on the property before development in late 1900’s
EVERSON PL	Named for the original family on the property before development in the late 1900s
FORBES CT	Named for James P. Goltra (1792-1871), farmer, judge, and builder of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church
GOLTRA DR	Named for James P. Goltra (1792-1871), farmer, judge and builder of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church
GOVERNOR DR	Named for Sir Francis Bernards (1712-1779), NJ Provincial Governor, 1758-1760
GRANVILLE WAY	Named for John Carteret, The Earl of Granville, (1690-1763) British statesman and orator
HAAS RD	Named for Isaac L. Irving’s family of Liberty Corner—former mortician, wheelwright and blacksmith, 19th Century
HADLEY CT	Named for Henry K. Hadley (1871-1937) U.S. composer and conductor
HARRISON BROOK DR	Named for John Harrison, agent of the King of England, who bought 3000 acres of land for $50 from the Lenai Lenape Indians in 1717
HARTLEY LN	Named for David Hartley (1705-1757), English physician and philosopher
HENRY ST	Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century
IRVING PL	Named for the Johnston family who left Annandale, Scotland, and arrived in 1722 in an area known today as Liberty Corner
JOHNSTON CIR	Named for Mary Lewis Kinnan (1764-1848) captive of the Indians, rescued and returned to Basking Ridge, in 1794
KINNAN WAY	Named for estate of Walter Reynolds, most of property is now occupied by U.S. Veterans Medical Center, Lyons
KNOLLCROFT RD	Named for Peter Layton of Liberty Corner, former mortician, wheelwright, and blacksmith, 19th Century
LAYTON RD	Named for the Edward Lewis family who arrived in the 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s
LEWIS ST	Named for Lord Stirling, William Alexander (1726-1783), major general in the Continental Army whose estate “Stirling Manor” was built here in 1762
LORD STIRLING RD	Named for David Lyons’s family here in lat 18tuh Century. Family owner land where Lyons Railroad Station is located and had encouraged Bernards to bring first railroad to area in 1872.
LURLINE DR	Named for Lurline Eberkardt, accidentally shot while hunting
LYONS PL	Lyons Railroad Station was named for the David Lyons family, who lived here in the late 18th Century. The Lyons family owned the land where Lyons Railroad Station is located and encouraged Bernards to bring the first railroad to the area in 1872.
LYONS RD	Named for a thoroughfare in the Township which terminates in Martinsville (Bridgewater). Named for the prominent Martin family
MARTINSVILLE RD, CR (525)	Named for the Meeker family which had large land holdings since the mid-19th Century
MEEKER RD	Named for the Milito family who occupied land and have lived there since the late 1800s
MILITO WAY	Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, a country doctor in the mid-19th Century
MONROE PL	Named for Monroe F. Ellis for whom Ellis Drive was also named in 1900’s
MORRISON ST	Named for early settlers in the Township
N ALWARD AVE	Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732
N FINLEY AVE, CR (613)	Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy
N VOORHEES DR	Named for an early family that settled in the area
OAKLEY ST	Named for James Pitney, the first recorded settler in this area, early 18th Century
OSBORNE PL	Named for J.H. Osborne’s sawmill and pond
PENNINGTON ST	Named for Dr. William Pennington, country physician
PITNEY CT	Named for Austin P. Spencer, lost at sea in the North Atlantic while piloting a bomber on submarine duty, in 1943
RADEL PL	Named for a 19th Century farming family
RICKEY LN	Named for Col. Israel Rickey (1744-1821), a valuable officer in the Revolutionary War
RIGGS CT	The Riggs family settled in the area in the early 1800’s
RUNYON DR	Named for early settlers in the West Millington area
S ALWARD AVE	Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732
S FINLEY AVE, CR (613)	Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy
SCOTSMANS WAY	Named in honor of the Annin family, known as Johnston in Scotland. Settled Liberty Corner area in 1722
SOUTHARD PL	Named for the Southards, Father Henry (1747-1842), US Representative; Sen. Samuel L. (1787-1842), US Senator, NJ Governor, Secretary of the Navy
SPENCER RD	Named for the Sutro family which owned property on South Finley Avenue. Son Frederick (1879-1964) was executive director of the NJ Park Commission
SUTRO PL	Named for Harold Thomson, former mayor and township committee member from 1948 -1956
THOMPSON WAY	Named for Daniel Vail (1735-1793), large land owner & distant cousin of Alfred Vail, who with Samuel F. B. Morse invented the telegraph @Speedwell, Morristown, 1844
TURNER ST	Named for Kenneth A. Turner Sr., Bernards Township Engineer, 1932-1957
TYSLEY ST	Named for early settlers in the Township. Tysley Avenue is in Bernardsville
VAIL TERR	Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, a country doctor in the mid-19th Century
VAN DORN RD	Named for Ferdinand Van Dorn (1807-1902), who owned and operated the flour/grist mill in Franklin Corners
VANDERVEER DR	Named for Dr. James Vanderveer (1838-1913), country doctor
VOORHEES DR	Named for the Woodward family which supplied grain and material to the Revolutionary War troops at Jockey Hollow
W CRAIG ST	Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century
W HENRY ST	Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century
WHITENACK RD	Named for the Whitenack family which settled here in the mid-18th Century and were large landowners
WOLF LN	Named for Lyla Wolf Florio’s maiden name, property owner
WOODWARD LN	Named for Woodward family which supplied grain and material to the Revolutionary War troops at Jockey Hollow

Additional Information

The History of Worship in Basking Ridge

Basking Ridge’s Oldest Cemetery

The History of Street Names in Bernards Township

Nettie Allen, Genealogist and Historian, Gets Digitized

Walking Tour of Basking Ridge Village

Timeline Highlights Bernards Township History

• Did you know that Morristown was originally named West Hanover? True
• Did you know Tewksbury was originally New Germantown? True
• Basking Ridge became a local hamlet after King George II’s 1760 Charter officially recognized Governor Sir Francis Bernard’s township.
• Need help researching your family?
• 1912 catalog of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Churchyard by Antoinette Quinby, founder and first President of the Woman’s Branch of the New Jersey Historical Society. It was later performed by resident Nettie Allen, who captured the stones’ epitaphs.
• Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge – a historical disclosure.