Comments on: The Founding Families of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge)

By: Bud Conn

Bud Conn — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:07:43 +0000

Whom could we ask for permission to use the little illustration of the meeting house?
We’d like to use it in a family history book, which will probably have a very limited
sale potential.
Our ancestor, John Conn, owed ten pounds to the Brown estate, in 1750, probably for land he held on the E. Branch of Dead River.
Thanks, Bud Conn

By: Cindi Mc

Cindi Mc — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 22:55:34 +0000

Thank you for the very informative Basking Ridge essay. My 7th great grandfather was Alexander Kirkpatrick and you did a very nice spotlight on him and his family. His wife’s name was Elizabeth but we have not been able to find her maiden name…any ideas where to look? Does she have a tombstone in Basking Ridge Presbyterian Graveyard next to Alexander?

By: Peter Blood

Peter Blood — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 19:53:16 +0000

My 7th great grandfather, James McCoy (1688-1747), died near Bound Brook at age 59. He was the first elder of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church when it formed in 1738. His will says he resided “between the first and second mountains in Somerset Co.” Is that closest to Bernard? His will names wife Mary and daughters Margaret, Sarah, and Elizabeth McCoy, plus two slaves. Like him, his first wife Sarah (1693-1744) was buried in the Old Presbyterian Graveyard in Bound Brook. Her stone is the oldest there. I know little else about them. I do not know his parents or where he resided during his first 50 years of life. Can you tell me anything about him? Was he among the earliest settlers of the county? Might he have come from New Brunswick NJ since the Bound Brook church was formed from the New Brunswick Presbyterian church? Can you suggest any leads?

By: Janice Stenzel

Janice Stenzel — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 13:19:14 +0000

Any information on Daniel Hollingshead after he sold this land? Where he might be buried? I am a descendant of his.

By: Mr. Local History

Mr. Local History — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:01:31 +0000

In reply to Ken. Great catch! This statement had been handed down for so many years, it took the internet to call it out. We've made the correction. It was actually King James II. Thanks for writing.

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 22:16:54 +0000

There has never been a King James III of England. The King of England in 1717 was George I.

James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of the deposed James II, was a pretender to the throne. He styled himself as the King James III of England. He left England as an infant in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. He never set foot in England again; was never coronated; and never ruled England, Ireland or Scotland.

By: Stephen Breese

Stephen Breese — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 01:49:11 +0000

Re: Brees family buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard
John Brees Sr. 1713-1803 is almost certainly buried in the cemetery, But in his sixties at the beginning of the war, it is unlikely that he served on active duty.
John Brees Jr. 1738-1829, Did serve in the war, but he is not buried in the cemetery. He emigrated after the war to Horseheads, NY where he is buried.
Stephen 1755-1833. served in the war. He lived his entire life in Basking Ridge and is buried in the cemetery. The grave is marked.

By: Mr. Local History

Mr. Local History — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 12:24:53 +0000

In reply to Eileen Peppard Decker.

Yes we did – 4. Peppard, Mary, dau. of Francis & Clarrisa 1802
Peppard, Francis 1760
Peppard, Clarissa 1775
Peppard, Reuben C. 1806

By: Eileen Peppard Decker

Eileen Peppard Decker — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 21:51:02 +0000

Did you come across the name Rev. Francis Peppard? We believe him to be one of the first Pastors of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church? I am a descendant of his.