Before I begin this post, I must say that this topic was one of my favorites, along with June Kennedy, our Basking Ridge Town historian who passed away in November 2018. We often challenged each other to dig into the true meaning of naming all the 463 streets. I think I remember hearing that June was named somewhere around 40 of the 463 street names, so finding the truth was sometimes a challenge. But we did the analysis nonetheless. See what our research has found out since our sessions with June.
The entire Bernards Township street name list is at the end of this story.
The streets covered include the hamlets of Basking Ridge, Lyons, Liberty Corner, and West Millington, which make up Bernards Township. June Kennedy became involved with history when she moved to town from Little Silver, New Jersey. During the “boom boom” build years in Bernards Township starting in the 1960s, she became increasingly frustrated at developers building in the township and naming streets after their sons, daughters, golf clubs, and others. So, she got involved.
Based on discussions with June, she named over 40 streets as a historian and was an advisor to David Schley and the Bernards Township Engineering Department until five years ago.
Street Names by the Numbers
In business, nothing drives us more than metrics. Knowing the numbers drives the discussions. So, let’s give you a few metrics:
- Fifty-two street names start with the letter C – the most by any other letter
- Seventy-five streets were named after residents. 83 if you include the “Reverends” category.
- Thirty-one streets were named after Revolutionary War events in the area.
- Twenty-nine streets were named after a developer’s relative
- Twenty-three street names need your help to determine their proper category! (Post in Comments below)
Let’s Analyze a Bit More
Street Name Categories
Our next metric focuses on a critical set of categories that June and I agreed on. It’s great that the town ties back to its roots, with Area Features, Local Residents, and England taking the top three categories.
83 Streets Were Named After Basking Ridge Residents
(Residents are 75 plus 8 Reverends)
| Street Name | Origin | Category |
| ACKEN RD | Named for the Acken family of Liberty Corner, landowners and shopkeepers | Local Resident |
| ALEXANDRIA WAY | Named for William Alexander, Lord Stirling (1726-1783) | Local Resident |
| ALLEN RD, C.R. (652) | Named for Josiah Allen of Liberty Corner, descendent of Ethan Allen, American soldier and patriot, 18th Century | Local Resident |
| ALLEN ST | Named for W. J. Allen, who owned much land in Basking Ridge Village in the mid-19th Century | Local Resident |
| AMBAR PL | Named for settlers in the area, early 20th Century | Local Resident |
| ANNIN RD | They were 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. | Local Resident |
| BALDWIN CT | Named for an old family of Liberty Corner, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| BERNARD DR | Named for Sir Francis Bernards, provincial Governor of New Jersey 1758-1760 | Local Resident |
| BROWNLEE PL | Named for the Rev. William Brownlee, sixth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Street originally called Back Street (1783-1860) | Reverend |
| CALDWELL CT | Named for the Rev. James Caldwell (1734-1781) “fighting person” of the American Revolution | Reverend |
| CARSWELL CT | Named for the Carswell family, active in township community affairs since the 20th Century | Local Resident |
| CHAPIN LN | Named for the original estate of the Chapin-Earhart family | Local Resident |
| 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 | Local Resident |
| CODDINGTON CT | Named for early settlers in the West Millington area of the Township | Local Resident |
| COLLYER LN | Named for the John Collyer family, large landowners on South Maple Avenue, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| CONKLING ST | Named for the Conkling family, 19th Century settlers in Bernards | Local Resident |
| COOPER CT | Named for early settlers in the Township | Local Resident |
| CROSS RD | Named for the Rev. John Cross, the first pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church | Reverend |
| CULBERSON RD | Named for the Culberson family, landowners for more than 150 years. The street runs through their property. | Local Resident |
| DAYTON ST | Named for William L. Dayton (1807-1864), U.S. Senator, Vice Presidential candidate and Ambassador to France | Local Resident |
| DECKER ST | The Bernards Plateau is named for early settlers in the Township. Carl G. Decker sold this tract to Wheeler Corporation in 1939. | Local Resident |
| DOGGETT CT | Named after the President of the High Meadow Hunt Club | Local Resident |
| DOUGLAS RD | Named for the Douglas family who settled this area in 1765 | Local Resident |
| DRYDEN RD | Named for John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist and critic | Local Resident |
| DYCKMAN PL | Named for the Rev. W. H. Dyckman, who preached in both the Basking Ridge and Methodist Churches, 19th Century | Reverend |
| E ALLEN ST | Named for W. J. Allen, who owned much land in Basking Ridge Village in the mid-19th Century | Local Resident |
| E CRAIG ST | Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| E LEWIS ST | Named for the Edward Lewis family, who arrived in the 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s | Local Resident |
| ELLIS DR | Named for Monroe F. Ellis, for whom Monroe Place was also named in the 1900s | Local Resident |
| ENGLISH PL | Named for the Rev. James English (1810-1873), first pastor of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church | Reverend |
| EVERSON PL | Named for the original family on the property before development in the late 1900’s | Local Resident |
| FORBES CT | Named for Dr. John Forbes, a local physician, the | Local Resident |
| GOLTRA DR | Named for James P. Goltra (1792-1871), farmer, judge, and builder of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church | Local Resident |
| GOVERNOR DR | Named for Sir Francis Bernards (1712-1779), N.J. Provincial Governor, 1758-1760 | Local Resident |
| HAAS RD | Named for John V. Haas, farmer and owner of Sunnyside Farm in the West Millington area | Local Resident |
| HADLEY CT | Named for Henry K. Hadley (1871-1937), U.S. composer and conductor | Local Resident |
| 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 | Local Resident |
| HARTLEY LN | Named for David Hartley (1705-1757), English physician and philosopher | Local Resident |
| HENRY ST | Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| IRVING PL | Named for Isaac L. Irving’s family of Liberty Corner—former mortician, wheelwright, and blacksmith, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| JOHNSTON CIR | Named for the Johnston family who left Annandale, Scotland, and arrived in 1722 in an area known today as Liberty Corner | Local Resident |
| KINNAN WAY | Named for Mary Lewis Kinnan (1764-1848), captive of the Indians, rescued and returned to Basking Ridge in 1794 | Local Resident |
| KNOLLCROFT RD | Named for Walter Reynolds’s estate, most of the property is now occupied by U.S. Veterans Medical Center, Lyons. | Local Resident |
| LAYTON RD | Named for Peter Layton of Liberty Corner, former mortician, wheelwright, and blacksmith, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| LEWIS ST | Named for the Edward Lewis family, who arrived in the 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s | Local Resident |
| LORD STIRLING RD | Named for Lord Stirling, William Alexander (1726-1783), a major general in the Continental Army whose estate “Stirling Manor” was built here in 1762 | Local Resident |
| LURLINE DR | Named for Lurline Eberkardt, accidentally shot while hunting | Local Resident |
| LYONS PL | Lyons Railroad Station was named for David Lyons’s family in the late 18th Century. The family-owned the land where Lyons Railroad Station is located. | Local Resident |
| LYONS RD | Lyons Railroad Station was named for David Lyons’s family in the late 18th Century. Family-owned land where Lyons Railroad Station is located encouraged Bernards to bring the first railroad to the area in 1872. | Local Resident |
| MARTINSVILLE RD, CR (525) | Named for a thoroughfare in the Township, which terminates in Martinsville (Bridgewater). Named for the prominent Martin family | Local Resident |
| MEEKER RD | Named for the Meeker family, which had extensive land holdings since the mid-19th Century | Local Resident |
| MILITO WAY | Named for the Milito family who occupied land and have lived there since the late 1800s | Local Resident |
| MONROE PL | Named for Monroe F. Ellis, for whom Ellis Drive was named in the 1900s. | Local Resident |
| MORRISON ST | Named for early settlers in the Township | Local Resident |
| N ALWARD AVE | Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732 | Local Resident |
| N FINLEY AVE, C.R. (613) | Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy | Reverend |
| N VOORHEES DR | Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, a country doctor in the mid-19th Century | Local Resident |
| OAKLEY ST | Named for an early family that settled in the area | Local Resident |
| OSBORNE PL | Named for J.H. Osborne’s sawmill and pond | Local Resident |
| PENNINGTON ST | Named for Dr. William Pennington, country physician | Local Resident |
| PITNEY CT | It was named for James Pitney, the first recorded settler in this area, in the early 18th Century. | Local Resident |
| RADEL PL | Named for a 19th Century farming family | Local Resident |
| RANKIN AVE | Named for the Rev. John C. Rankin, tenth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church | Reverend |
| RIGGS CT | The Riggs family settled in the area in the early 1800’s | Local Resident |
| RUNYON DR | Named for early settlers in the West Millington area | Local Resident |
| S ALWARD AVE | Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732 | Local Resident |
| S FINLEY AVE, C.R. (613) | Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy | Reverend |
| SCOTSMAN WAY | Named in honor of the Annin family, known as Johnston in Scotland. Settled Liberty Corner area in 1722 | Local Resident |
| SOUTHARD PL | Named for the Southards, Father Henry (1747-1842), U.S. Representative; Sen. Samuel L. (1787-1842), U.S. Senator, NJ Governor, Secretary of the Navy | Local Resident |
| SPENCER RD | Named for Austin P. Spencer, lost at sea in the North Atlantic while piloting a bomber on submarine duty in 1943 | Local Resident |
| SUTRO PL | It was named for the Sutro family, which owned property on South Finley Avenue. Son Frederick (1879-1964) was executive director of the NJ Park Commission. | Local Resident |
| THOMPSON WAY | Named for Harold Thomson, former mayor and Township committee member from 1948 -1956 | Local Resident |
| TURNER ST | Named for Kenneth A. Turner Sr., Bernards Township Engineer, 1932-1957 | Local Resident |
| TYSLEY ST | Named for early settlers in the Township. Tysley Avenue is in Bernardsville | Local Resident |
| VAIL TERR | 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 | Local Resident |
| VAN DORN RD | Named for Ferdinand Van Dorn (1807-1902), who owned and operated the flour/grist mill in Franklin Corners | Local Resident |
| VANDERVEER DR | Named for Dr. James Vanderveer (1838-1913), country doctor | Local Resident |
| VOORHEES DR | Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, a country doctor in the mid-19th Century | Local Resident |
| W CRAIG ST | Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| W HENRY ST | Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century | Local Resident |
| WHITENACK RD | Named for the Whitenack family, which settled here in the mid-18th Century and were large landowners | Local Resident |
| WOLF LN | Named for Lyla Wolf Florio’s maiden name, property owner | Local Resident |
| WOODWARD LN | Named for the Woodward family, which supplied grain and material to the Revolutionary War troops at Jockey Hollow | Local Resident |
32 Streets Named Honor the Revolutionary War Terms
| Street Name | Origin |
| BEACON CREST DR | Named for the mounted gun used in the Revolutionary War |
| BULLION DR | Named for the location of Revolutionary Ware beacon, designed by Lord Stirling |
| CANNON CT | Named for the Green Mountain Boys, soldiers from Vermont, organized by Ethan Allen in 1775 |
| COLONIAL DR | Named for a person who supported America’s fight during the Revolutionary War |
| CONCORD LN | Named for the second battle of the American Revolution, Concord, MA, April 19, 1775 |
| FIFE LN | Named for a type of flute used in military musical groups |
| FLINTLOCK CT | Named for a firearm used in the American Revolution |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN DR | Named for Nathan Hale (1755-1776), an American soldier hanged as a spy by the British during the American Revolution |
| HALE CT | Named for John Honeyman (1727-1822), who was a spy for George Washington prior to the Battle of Trenton, 1776 |
| HANCOCK CT | Named for John Hancock (1737-1793) first signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 |
| HARCOURT LN | Named for Col. William Harcourt, arresting British officer of General Charles Lee at the Widow White’s Tavern, Basking Ridge, 12/13/76 |
| HESSIAN DR | Named for a mercenary used by England during the American Revolution |
| HONEYMAN RD | Named for Marquis de Lafayette, friend of General George Washington (1757-1834) French general and statesman |
| HUNTINGTON RD | Named for Samuel Huntington (1731-1797) American Revolution political leader |
| KNOX CT | Named for General Henry Knox (1750-1806) of Washington’s staff in the American Revolution |
| LAFAYETTE LN | Named for the first battle of the American Revolution at Lexington in 1775 |
| LEE PL | Named for General Charles Lee (1731-1782) arrested by the British in Basking Ridge on December 13, 1776 |
| LEXINGTON RD | Named for William Prescott (1726-1795), a U.S. soldier who played a vital part in the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. “Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes” – famous order given in Battle |
| MINUTEMAN CT | Named for an American militia man just before and after the Revolutionary War, who was ready for instant military service |
| MT PROSPECT RD | Named for the very old geographic area from Revolutionary War times |
| MUSKET DR | Named for a large heavy-caliber handgun used in the Revolutionary War |
| PAINE CT | Named for Thomas Paine (1737-1809), patriot and writer, the “Conscience of the American Revolution.” |
| PRESCOTT CT | Named William Prescott (1726-1795), a U.S. soldier who played a vital part in the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. “Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes” – famous order given in Battle |
| PRINCETON CT | Named for the Battle of Princeton, American Revolutionary War, 1777 |
| QUINCY RD | Named for Eliza Susan Morton Quincy (1764-1850), who wrote her recollections of Basking Ridge during and after the American Revolution |
| REVERE DR | Named for Paul Revere (1735-1818), American patriot and silversmith, famous for his night horseback ride, April 18, 1775 |
| RICKEY LN | Named for Col. Israel Rickey (1744-1821), a valuable officer in the Revolutionary War |
| SENTINEL DR | Named for a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack |
| STIRLING LN | Named for Lord Stirling, William Alexander (1726-1783), American Revolutionary War major general |
| SULLIVAN DR | Named for General John Sullivan (1740-1795), Revolutionary War leader |
| WAYNE TERR | Named for General “Mad Anthony” Wayne (1745-1796), American Revolutionary War leader |
Developers Ran the Roost for Street Names for a Period
This was the category where June Kennedy finally put her foot down. For several years, starting in the 1960s, development increased rapidly. Without June, the developers were permitted to name the street. So what did they do? They typically named the street after a family member, spouse, or child. So, is your street named after a developer’s relative?
New Street Name Recommendations
Based on historical research, here’s a list of five street names we recommended to the Bernards Township Township Committee:
John Morton – 1779 Hospital – The Rebel Banker & Basking Ridge Resident (1776)
As a wealthy merchant, Morton became known as the “Rebel Banker” for loaning large sums of money to the rebel cause. 1775, Morton liquidated most of his capital to loan the Revolutionary War effort. After the capture of New York City by the British, John, and Maria Sophia Morton were forced to flee with their large family (six kids) to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where they remained for several weeks in a house in Springfield with five other families, who were also fugitives. Not feeling safe, they decided to go beyond the “Long Hill” and settled on Basking Ridge in 1776, where they called for their belongings from New York City.
Elias Boudinot – President of Continental Congress – Basking Ridge Resident
Boudinot was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress and President of the Continental Congress in 1783. He purchased over 100 acres of land in Basking Ridge in 1771 and 1772 from Edward Lewis but would remain in Elizabeth longer. Boudinot served on New Jersey’s first Committee on Correspondence, formed in 1774, tasked with contacting the legislatures of each colony so that they could join Virginia and offer concerted opposition toward British encroachments. In August 1775, Boudinot secretly rounded up and sent to General George Washington desperately needed supplies of gunpowder. A year later, he served as an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General William Livingston, who became the state’s first governor elected under the new state constitution. In 1777, Boudinot was commissioned Commissary General of Prisoners by the Continental Congress. He lived in Basking Ridge while serving as president of the Continental Congress from 1782-83. He sold the house in 1785.
Alexander Kirkpatrick – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1736)
Alexander Kirkpatrick (b.1697) 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 in about 1725.
John Ayers – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1727)
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 landed in the east part of the Basking Ridge in 1727. John Ayres is noted for donating 1 ½ acres, which included 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).
James Alexander – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1720)
James Alexander, the 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 James Pitney had occupied. John Ayres’s son Obadiah also bought land from Alexander.
Thanks for taking a look at our street names presentation. I shared it at the local historical society back in 2017. I hope to present the presentation and topic again in the future. Below is the list of every street name we knew as of 2016. Enjoy the list.
Still Researching
MLH is still looking to determine the 13 streets where we don’t have definitive proof of naming.
Post in the Comments section if you have an idea or opinion.
| Street Name | Origin | Category |
| BEAVER CREEK CT | Unknown | |
| BELMONT CT | Unknown | |
| EMERALD VALLEY LN | Unknown | |
| FAIRVIEW DR E | Unknown | |
| FAIRVIEW DR S | Unknown | |
| KENWORTHY CT | Unknown | |
| KEYSTONE CT | Unknown | |
| LAUREL CT | Unknown | |
| MOUNT HOREB RD, CR (525) | Unknown | |
| TRACEY CT | Unknown | |
| WALDEN PL | Unknown | |
| WAVERLY PL | Unknown | |
| WHISPERING WOODS LN | Unknown |
Entire List of Bernards Township Street Names
Want to do your own research? Here’s our list.
As we gather additional information, we’ll add it to the sheet.
More Local History Research
