Roger PARKE Jr. (1683- 1745) was Alex’s 8th Great Grandfather; one of 512 in this generation in the Miller line.

Roger Parke Jr. was born in 1683 Burlington County NJ. His parents were  Roger PARKE Sr. and Ann PATTISON.  He did NOT marry Susannah ROBINSON about 1698  in Crosswicks Creek New Jersey.. The name of his wife is unknown. Some mistaken information having to do with a will of a Thomas Robinson got this started but it has no basis in truth, having been researched extensively by many Parke family researchers.  It has also been speculated that his wife was Jane Stout or a woman named Hannah before 1704, but this also is just speculation – so his wife’s name is unknown.  Roger died in 1755 in Hunterdon County, NJ.

In the late 1600’s two families came into New Jersey, with names so nearly alike, that some researchers have combined them as one family. One is Roger Parke, of Hexham,  Northumberland, England. The second , Roger Parkes with an “S”.  Interestingly, Roger grandson Jonathan Parks had gained an “s” and lost an “e”.

The other Roger Parkes was Appointed Justice on June 5, 1705. The Justices were members of the Quarter Sessions: Special, Common Pleas and General Courts, Court of Errors, and at a later date, The Supreme Court. (Combury establishment, 1704). Proof Roger Parkes was a very prominent citizen: He was made Judge of the Supreme Bourt, he married into a prominent family (the Strout family), he was a good friend of Dr. Daniel Cox. His property was NOT included in the Cox Property suit.

Tradition reports that in the early settlement of the colony of New Jersey, two men of the name of Stout immigrated into this part of the province, one settled on the south side of the rocky ridge, lying between this and Princeton. The other, on the north side, in what is now a part of the Amwell Valley. They often met each other as friends. The uniform salutation was, ‘I hope you’re well,’ and the response was as uniform and oft times repeated, ‘I am well – I am well.’ In the process of time one became designated as ‘Hopewell Stout’, and the other as ‘Amwell Stout.’ Hence the names of the two townships formally of Hunterdon County

Susannah Robinson was born 1668 in Hexam, Northumberland, England.  Her parents were Thomas ROBINSON and [___?___] Susannah died in 1731 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, NJ.

Children of Roger and [__?__]  Baptism dates are not a good proxy for birth in the Parke family.  The Parkes were Quakers and they baptized their children in the Anglican Church due to political necessity

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	Anne Parke	1700 Hopewell Township, Hunterdon, NJ	Joseph Merrill ca. 1720 Hunterdon	1768 Bethlehem, Hunterdon, NJ
2.	Roger Parke III	8 Sep 1704 Burlington, Burlington, NJ		1745 – Hunterdon, New Jersey, or 1754 Hampshire, Virginia
3.	John Parke	1705 Hunterdon	[__?__] . Mary Heath 1735 Burlington, NJ	1761 Burlington, NJ
4.	Thomas Parke	1707 Hunterdon	Sarah [__?__]	1767 Cumberland, NJ
5.	Joseph Parke	1710 Hunterdon	Sarah Margaret Woodbridge	1754 Warren County NJ or 1753 Greenwich Township, Morris, NJ
6.	William Parke	17 May 1711 Hopewell, Mercer Co, NJ	Sarah Jewell 1738	1764 Hopewell, NJ
7.	Keziah Parke	1713 Hunterdon, NJ	James Larison 1734 Mercer, New Jersey	1788 Hunterdon, NJ
8.	Jonah PARKE	1716 Hunterdon, NJ	Elizabeth PARLEE c. 1738	1778/79 Kingwood Township,  Hunterdon, New Jeresey
9.	Nathan Parke	1717/18 Hunterdon, NJ	Mary Walton	2 Feb 1785 Rowan County, NC
10.	Robert Parke	1719 Hunterdon
11.	Grace Parke	1721 Amwell, Hunterdon NJ	Jacob Stout ca. 1745 Stoutsburg, Mercer County, NJ	1783 Stoutsburg Cemetery Hopewell, Mercer, New Jersey

Due to a scandal known as “the Coxe Affair”  ownership of the Parke’s homestead and many other pioneer families was invalidated.  Many of Roger’s relatives including their son, Roger Parke, migrated from Hopewell, NJ to Frederick Co., VA  later Hampshire Co., WV and to the Jersey Settlement in Rowan County, North Carolina.

In 1691, Dr. Daniel Coxe, , purportedly sold a vast 30,000-acre  tract in western New Jersey to a new group of Proprietors called the West Jersey Society, who heavily promoted it to settlers in Long Island and New England.  Although Dr. Coxe never left England, he served nominally as Governor of New Jersey by purchase of land, and bought other large tracts of land throughout America.

But in 1731, Dr. Coxe’s son Col. Daniel Coxe suddenly showed up, claiming that he possessed superior title via a superseding deed that his father had recorded years earlier. To the dismay of the settlers, the courts agreed with Col. Coxe’s claim. Hundreds of families were forced to repurchase their own property from Col. Coxe or be forcibly evicted. The ensuing scandal was one of many injustices that inflamed American anger against the British during the years leading up the Revolutionary War. There were lawsuits; there were riots; Col. Coxe was burned in efigy; but to no avail.

As a result, many Hopewell residents left New Jersey, either unable to pay Col. Coxe or disgusted with the colony’s rampant political corruption. One group of Hopewell expatriates settled on the Yadkin River in what was then Rowan County, NC. This community, the Jersey Settlement, continued to attract new settlers from the Hopewell area for several decades.

1707 – Hopewell was set off from Burlington. Govenor Cox’s 30,000 acre Patent, Hopewell.

1708 – Old Amwell Township formed by Royal Charter, June 1708.

1728 Previous to setting off Bethleham Township, Amwell formed ‘the northernmost and uttermost’ bounds of Hunterdon Co. It included what later became Kingwood, Alexander and Union. We believe the Parkes family moved up to Amwell, the Stout family lived there.

1733 – Roger signed the Fifty Men’s Compact protesting Daniel Coxe’s land grab.  See his grandfather Roger PARKE Sr’s page for details..

1749 – Yet further up the Delaware River adventures settlers pressed, selecting tracts in Kingwood, Franklin and Alexander Townships, check only by the frowning hills of the Scholery Mountain Range.

Kingwood Township formed, exact date is uncertain.

The Coxe Trials, 1733, Fifty Men’s Compact Including:

Andrew Parke
John Parke, Jr.
Joseph Parke
Roger PARKE, Sr.
Roger PARKE, Jr.
John Parks

The most violent reaction came in Hopewell where citizens actively resented the political maneuverings behind Col. Coxe’s claims to ownership. After a long and tedious trail at Burlington by Judge Hooper and a panel of twelve Quaker jurors, the verdict was against the West Jersey Society and the Fifty Mens Compact. Mr. Kinsey then appealed to New Jersey’s leading judicial officer, Chancellor William Cosby, who in Dec 1734 issued a judgment upholding the decision against the Society and Compact.  Unfortunately, Mr. Cosby’s ruling was based less on the legal strength of Col. Coxe’s claim than on personal hatred of his arch-enemy, Lewis Morris, who after the death of Thomas Revel became primary Agent of the West Jersey Society. No higher appeal was possible because Col. Coxe was Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, a post he held till his death five years later. The settlers had three choices: pay, remove, or resist. Historian Ralph Ege (born in Hopewell in 1837) wrote about the great dilemma:

This verdict caused the most distressing state of affairs in this township that was ever experienced in any community. Some moved away immediately, but the majority stayed, at least initially, and assumed the financial burden. Cattle and personal possessions were sold, and a great struggle began which impoverished many families for years to come. Then came the great excitement incident to ejecting the settlers from the farms which they, or their fathers had purchased, and on which they had built dwellings, barns and fences. Their lands had cost them only fifty cents per acre, it is true, but they had purchased them in good faith and spent the best years of their lives in clearing them. Many had mortgaged them to pay for the expense of improvement consequently not being able to incur the additional expense, they were compelled to leave their homes and seek new homes elsewhere, risking for the second, and for some of them the third time, the perils of the wilderness.

Many, including most of the Parke family, refused to pay for the same lands twice and left the area in the early stages of a great out-migration, generally moving westward where new lands were being opened on the Virginia frontier. Some who were unable or unwilling to repurchase, stubbornly refused to vacate their homes — and were charged rent as “Tenants” — rent they could or would not pay, and rent defaults created still more debts. The various resistance efforts would fill the colony’s court dockets for years to come.  Two of the dispossessed, Thomas Smith and John Parke, were brothers-in-law and community leaders, aged 58 and 60, perhaps able to repurchase had they wished, but they (and others) were so angry they no longer wished to live where the government was so corrupt that its Assembly and Supreme Court had aided and abetted Col. Coxe in what they considered to be a monstrous land swindle against honest citizens whose families were the earliest settlers of the Township.

Not only did Smith and Parke refuse to pay for their land a second time, they refused to vacate until forcibly evicted by Sheriff Bennett Bard — who then rented their homesteads to two yeoman named O’Guillon and Collier. This so enraged Smith and Parke that in July 1735 they took their revenge, in the traditional manner of the citizens of Old England who over the centuries had developed ways to express contempt whenever there was no legal recourse: a dishonest official was “Hanged in Effigy,” and a man whose actions the community considered despicable was “Tarred and Feathered.”

Since the perpetrators of this “land grab,” Col. Daniel Coxe, Judge Hooper, Sheriff Bard, Gov. William Cosby and lawyer Murray, were out of their victims reach, Thomas Smith and John Parke made a different plan — but before taking action, sent their families to safety, probably across the river to Bucks County, Pa. In the dead of a July night, Smith and Parke and ten or more friends, slipped into the woods behind the homes where they had grown up, prepared a vat of melted tar and a barrel of chicken and turkey feathers, then broke into their former homes and took a “Tar and Feather” revenge on the interlopers who occupied them! These acts were considerably more than mere personal revenge: “Tar and Feathers” showed utter contempt for Coxe’s dishonest officials. Tar was almost impossible to remove, so it publicly shamed the two who sought to gain from injustice, while burning their former homes and barns reduced profits to Col. Coxe.  Their rebellion finished, Smith and Parke escaped across the Delaware, and their “ten or more friends” went back to their Hopewell homes, perhaps to toast the night’s lively events in good English ale. Public sympathy was surely with these rebels because, in spite of great desperation in the community for money and common knowledge of the identities of the dozen or more perpetrators, nobody ever came forward to claim the large reward. These rebellious acts generated the expected response from the royal officials they had very deliberately insulted. At the August 1735 term of Hunterdon County’s Superior Court, Mr. Murray, Attorney for the Coxe heirs, reported:

Several persons of Hopewell had, in a riotous and outrageous and violent manner, and by night assaulted ye persons who by virtue of his Majesties’ writ, were by the Sheriff of Hunterdon County put into possession of the several houses and plantations of the persons named in the complaint.

Children

1. Anne Parke

Anne’s husband Joseph Merrill was born 1695 or 1704 in Hopewell, New Jersey. Joseph’s older brother William married Anne’s aunt Anne in 1697 (See Roger PARKE Sr’s page). Their parents were William Merrill (1650 – 1723) and Grace Stout. Joseph died 1768 in Kingwood, New Jersey.

2. Roger Parke III

Roger may have been one of those who immigrated to Hampshire County Virginia after the Coxe Affair invalidated title to his homestead.

1733 – Roger signed the Fifty Men’s Compact protesting Daniel Coxe’s land grab.  See his grandfather Roger PARKE Sr’s page for details.

3. John Parke

John’s first wife died before 1735.

John’s second wife Mary Heath was born about 1705. Mary died 1746 – Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey.

1733 – John  signed the Fifty Men’s Compact protesting Daniel Coxe’s land grab.  See his grandfather Roger PARKE Sr’s page for details.

Child of John and Mary

i. John Parke b. 1739 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 12 Mar 1798 in Warren County, New Jersey; m. 1767 Freehold, Monmouth, New Jersey to Mary Gordon (b. 9 Sep 1750 in Freehold, Monmouth, New Jersey – d. 1800 in Warren, Warren, New Jersey) Mary’s parents were Peter Gordon (1703 – 1770) and Mary Craig (1706 – 1770)

4. Thomas Parke

Thomas’ wife Sarah [__?__] was born about 1711.

Child of Thomas and Sarah:

i. Martha Parke b. 1736 in Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey; d. 1771 in Northampton, Burlington, New Jersey; m. 1752 to William Woolston (b. 18 Apr 1721 in Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey – d. 30 Aug 1788 in Northampton, Burlington, New Jersey) William’s parents were Samuel Woolston (1684 – 1727) and Susannah Budd (1685 – 1715).

Martha and William had nine children born between 1753 and 1769. After Martha died, William married Hannah Eayre, on 11 Feb 1771 in Burlington Co., NJ.

5. Joseph Parke

Joseph’s wife Sarah Margaret Woodbridge was born 11 Aug 1698. Her parents were Joseph Woodbridge (1663 – ) and Martha Rogers (Robarts) (1667 – )

Alternative, Joseph’s wife was Margaret Davidson (1715 – 1754) One more idea is that Joseph’s wife was Margaret Merrill (b. 1712 in New Jersey – d. 1754 in Warren, Warren, New Jersey)

1733 – Joseph signed the Fifty Men’s Compact protesting Daniel Coxe’s land grab.  See his grandfather Roger PARKE Sr’s page for details

Jonah PARKE has been established as the brother of Joseph Parke (Will 1752, Greenwich Township, Morris Co., NJ) who died in 1754, Sussex Co., NJ. Jonah was named executor of the Will. The Will was witnessed by two of Joseph’s friends, the Lanning brothers formerly from Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., NJ.

Joseph had lived in the Amwell, Hunterdon County area until he purchased land in Greenwich Township, Morries County, NJ, some time after 1739.This area became a part of Mansfield Woodhouse Township, Sussex Countyin 1735 and later became Warren County… so while Joseph might have owned land in Morris County, his property actually was located in two counties… Morris and Sussex. The land was divided up between his two sons as they were the oldest. However, since Jonah Parke, a brother to Joseph, was named as the executor of his estate, Jonah most likely kept control of the property until the other children were of age.

Joseph evidently left 30 acres of land, a house, to his son JosephJr. Joseph Jr., then aquired other acreage, eventually owning several parcels of land, including land with a large house which became a tavern with eating and sleeping accommodations.

Children of Joseph and Sarah Margaret:

i. David Parke b. ~1733 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. ~1774 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; m. Sarah [__?__] David and Sarah had seven children born between 1756 and 1769.

ii. Joseph Parke ~1734 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. ~1815 in Harrison County, West Virginia; m1. 1759 to Sarah Crawford (b. 1738 in Pennsylvania – d. bef. Oct 1777 in New Germantown, Hunterdon, New Jersey) Joseph and Sarah had eight children born between 1760 and 1774.

m2. 5 Oct 1777 to Mercy Beemer (b. 1736 in New Jersey – d. 4 May 1811 in Asbury, Sussex, New Jersey) Joseph and Mercy had one child Elijiah (b. 1778)

iii. Mary Parke b. ~1738 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. 1814?

iv. Timothy Parke b. 18 Apr 1740  Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. 21 Sep 1832  Madison County, Kentucky; m. 19 Feb 1773 Rowan County, North Carolina to Esther Shipton (b. 5 Apr 1753 – d. 6 Jan 1843 in Richmond, Madison, Kentucky) Timonthy and Esther had twelve children born between 1773 and 1802.

In the 1790 census, Timothy had a household of 10 in Rowan, North Carolina.

In the 1810 census, Timothy had a household of nine including one slave in Madison, Kentucky

v. Elizabeth Parke b. ~1742 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey;

vi. Ann Parke b. ~1744 Hunterdon County, New Jersey;

vii. Sarah Parke b. ~1746 Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. 1822 Fayette County, Pennsylvania; m. Joshua Hunt (b. 1745 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey – d. Dec 1810 in Dunkard, Greene, Pennsylvania) Joshua’s parents were John Hunt (1688 – 1740) and Sarah Ely (1697 – ) Sarah and Joshua had five children born between 1765 and 1785.

Likeness of Joshua Hunt printed when he was 74 years of age.

Joshua and Sarah removed from Alexandria Twp., Hunterdon, NJ in 1795 for Fayette and Greene Co. Pennsylvania where they farmed till death.

Sarah’s father Roger appears in the Revolutionary War Census for Alexandria Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ(c1779) living near her & husband, Joshua Hunt. Also nearby are other Park relatives: Jonas (Sr & Jr), David, & William.

Sarah’s brother David appears as a witness in Joshua s 1810 Green Co., PA Will and was probably the same David Park(s) who was living in Franklin Twp., Fayette Co., PA in 1800-20.

viii. Abner Parke b. ~1747 Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. Aug 1837 Warren County, New Jersey; m. Patience [__?__] Abner and Patience had five children.

ix. Jacob Parke b. ~1748 Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. 9 Feb 1826 i Deptford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey; m. Rosannah [__?__] (b ~1751 New Jersey) Jacob and Rosannah had seven children born between 1769 and 1793.

x. William Parke b. ~1750 Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. 8 May 1803 in Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey; m. 1778 Hunterdon to Mary Bolby (b. 1762 in Warren, New Jersey – d. 24 Jan 1834 Washington, Warren, New Jersey) Her parents were Richard Bowlby (1719 – 1818) and Mary Drake (1718 – 1784) William and Mary had six children born between 1779 and 1801.

William served in the Revolutionary War.

William’s son John B Parke was murdered May 1 1843 in the “Changewater Murders”, a “crime of the century” of a different time and place. Apparently the wrong people were caught and hung for the crime and by the time authorities figured out who really committed the murders, they were long gone. The NJ town where it all happened is listed on all Ghost hunting sites as (reportedly documented) haunted as a result of these murders. The story has been published in the Changewater Murders by by Robert and Sharon Meeker. 1998.

Joseph Carter (ca. 1813- 22 Aug 1845 and Peter Weller Parke (1813- 22 Aug 1845), were hanged for murder in Belvidere, NJ. They are buried side by side at the Murderers’ Crossroads Burial Site Changewater, Warren, New Jersey. It remains doubtful if either he or Peter W. Parke committed the bloody acts.

Four individuals were murdered the evening of May 1 1843:

John B. Parke (b. 1782) : …the brother of Mary Castner. He owned the home where the murders occurred.
John Castner (b. 1807?): …was lured from the house and murdered about 100 yards from the residence.
Mary (Parke) Castner: … the wife of John Castner
Maria Castner: …their daughter
All four victims are buried side by side in the Mansfield Cemetery located a few miles west of the murder site. It is formally known as the Mansfield-Woodhouse Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
They all have memorials on the Find-A-Grave site.

Thousands attended the execution which was staged in front of the Warren County Courthouse in Belvidere, NJ. Reporters from New York City traveled daily by way of stagecoach line to cover the trial. It was the first “Trial of the Century” in the State of New Jersey.

In those days, anyone convicted of and executed for murder was generally not permitted burial in a cemetery. A crossroads burial site close to the murder scene was usually chosen for supernatural reasons. The murders occurred about 1 mile south of the crossroads.

A book entitled: “The Protest of Peter W. Parke, who was Executed on Friday, Aug. 22d, 1845, in which He Declares His Innocence to the Last Moment of His Life, Also His Opinion Concerning the Changewater Murder, with a Brief Examination of the Character and Testimony of Some of the Principal Witnesses for the State,” was written during the time of of Peter W. Parke’s incarceration and was published for “the Benefit of His Widow and Three Orphan Children” in 1845.

Peter W. Parke was the nephew of murder victim John B. Parke.
Peter W. Parke also was the nephew of Rebekkah Parke Hulshizer, the husband of William Hulshizer, who was a person of interest during the murder investigations.
John B. Parke wrote that William Hulshizer, his brother-in-law, was his “…mortal enemy.”

Ironically, William and Rebekkah Parke Hulshizer are buried just a few feet from the Changewater Massacre victims in the Mansfield-Woodhouse Cemetery along the same row of graves.
Peter W. Parke had a blacksmith shop on Washington Ave. in Washington, NJ. Benjamin B. Hutchings; Find-A-Grave #4217989, who worked at the shop, testified during the Changewater Murder Trials.

6. William Parke

William’s wife Sarah Jewell was born 20 May 1720. Her parents were William Jewell (1694 – ) and Penelope Stout (1702 – 1776). Her maternal grandparents were James Stout (1648-1741) and Eizabeth Traux (1675-1770).  Sarah died in 1764 in Baptistown, Hunterdon Co. NJ.

William was the only one of the name who made a permanent settlement at Hopewell. The records show that in 1755 he owned the farm where Mr. Robert Brophy now [1905]lives, north of the Borough. Mr. Parke died in 1764, aged 52, and his widow, Sarah Parke, was granted letters of administration on his personal estate on March 2, 1764. The rough stone in the old Parke-Larison family plot on the farm of Mr. C. E. Voorhees with inscription “W. P. 1764. A. 52.” without doubt marks his grave, as it is in the Parke row.

The old family bible of his son Benjamin is now in possession of his great grandson William W. Kirkendall, who is the only descendant of Dr. Parke now living on the original tract on Stony Brook. This bible contains the following entry in the bold, plain hand of Benjamin Parke. “This book I give to my wife Anna, during her life, and at her decease to belong to my daughter, Anna Kirkendall.” Signed, Benjamin Parke.

Children of  William and Sarah

i. Penelope Elizabeth Parke (twin) b. 28 Oct 1738 in Hopewell, Mercer, New Jersey; d. 1780 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; m. 1764 Hopewell to Richard Stout (b. 1734 in Hopewell – d. 22 Dec 1796 in Hopewell) Richard’s parents were John Stout (1706 – 1761) and Catherine Stout (1705 – 1749) Penelople and Richard of near Stoutsburg, had six sons and three daughters, viz :John, William, Jehu, Richard, Elhahan, Nathan, Rachel, Penelope, and Sarah. John, the eldest son, was a very prominent citizen of the adjoining County of Somerset, living near Skillman Station. He was known as “Esq. John,” and was a justice from 1810-25, and one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, 1820-25.

ii. Elizabeth Parke (twin) b. 28 Oct 1738 New Jersey; d. ~1814 Somerset, New Jersey; m. Thomas Roberts ( b. ~1735 New Jersey – d. ~1783) Thomas’ father Thomas came from Long Island to Hopewell in 1727 or earlier. Elizabeth and Thomas had six children.

iii. Rachael Parke b. 30 Nov 1740 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 4 Sep 1825 in Pennsylvania; m. George Nixon (b. 25 Feb 1730 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – d. 1793 in Hampshire County, West Virginia) Rachel and George had three children born between 1789 and 1791.

Rachel, married John Sexton, and had four children, William Parke, born January 7, 1800 ; Joseph Rue, born 1806 ; Ruth, who married John L. Phillips, son of Thomas, of Hopewell, and Catharine, who became the second wife of Mr. Phillips.

iv. Benjamin Parke b. 8 Jan 1743 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1778 in Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1778 – Hunterdon; m1. Lucy [__?__] (b. 20 May 1736) m2. 1788 to his cousin Anne Larison (b. 11 Feb 1743 – d. Feb 1836) Anne’s parents were James Larison and Kesiah Parke. Anne first married Judge Jared Sexton (1737 Hunterdon, NJ – 28 May 1785 – Hunterdon, NJ)

“Pioneers of Old Hopewell” by Ralph Ege (page 203-204) 1905 – The old family bible of his son Benjamin is now in possession of his great grandson William W. Kirkendall, who is the only descendant of Dr. Parke (Roger Parke) now living on the original tract on Stony Brook. This bible contains the following entry in the bold, plain hand of Benjamin Parke. “This book I give to my wife Anna, during her life, and at her decease to belong to my daughter, Anna Kirkendall.” Signed, Benjamin Parke.

It has been a popular belief, shared in at one time by the writer, that Benjamin Parke had children by both marriages, but the family record in the hand writing of Mr. Parke explodes this theory, as he mentions but two children, Rachel, born March 17, 1767, and Anna, born August 3, 1778.

v. William Parke b. 25 Sep 1746 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 24 Sep 1794 in Hunterdon, New Jersey; m, Rachel Rowland (b. 1742 – d. 15 Aug 1794) Rachel’s father was Rev. John Rowland a noted Presbyterian minister who was a native of Wales, and came to this country in early life with his parents who settled in Pennsylvania near the line between Bucks and Montgomery Counties, north of Philadelphia. He received his education at the famous Log College at Hartsville, Pa., which was the foundation of the College of New Jersey at Princeton. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, September 7, 1738, and the same day application was made for his services by the churches of Maidenhead (now Lawrence) and Hopewell (now Pennington.) He accepted the invitation and a great revival of religion attended his labors.

On the organization of Captain Houghton’s Company in 1776, Ralph Guild, son of Rev. John Guild, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Pennington, was chosen First, and William Parke, Second Lieutenant. On May 3, 1777, when Capt. Houghton was promoted to Lieut. Col. of the First Regiment, Hunterdon County, Lieut. Guild was made Captain and Lieut. Parke First Lieutenant.

In 1784, the year following the close of the revolution, Lieut. Parke was one of the trustees of the Baptist Church in Hopewell

vi. Sarah Lee Parke b. 25 Jan 1749 in Hopewell, Mercer, New Jersey; d. 1805 in Lexington, Mason, Kentucky; m. David Stout (b. 25 Jan 1748 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 27 Dec 1827 in Taylors Mill, Mason, Kentucky) David’s parents were Jonathan Stout and Mary Leigh, of Hopewell. Sarah and David had eleven children born between 1769 and 1793.

Sarah and David settled at Lexington, Kentucky, and reared a large family. After the death of his first wife David Stout married the widow of Nathan Drake of Hopewell. Mrs. Drake’s first husband was Sarah’s cousin David Larison of Hopewell (see below).

vii. Naomi Parke b. 20 May 1751 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1797 in Wythe, Grayson, Virginia; m. 1767 Grayson, Virginia to Joseph Bonham (b. 1751 in Chester, Pennsylvania – d. 1804 in Wythe, Virginia) Joseph’s parents were Jacob Bonham (1726 – 1798) and Polly Warford (1730 – 1795)

viii. Anna Parke b. 20 May 1754 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 12 Nov 1779 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey m 6 Mar 1771 to Col. William Chamberlin (b. 23 Sep 1736 in Ringoes, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 21 Aug 1817 in Buffalo Valley, Union County, Pennsylvania) William’s parents were Judge Lewis Chamberlain (1710 – 1772) and Lucretia Woolsey (1709 – 1812)

Anna became the second wife of Col. William Chamberlin of revolutionary fame. At the time of the revolution he owned the farm and mills on the Neshanic Creek, near Wertsville, since known as Nevius* Mills. A few years ago the writer made some extracts from a sketch of the remarkable family of Col. Chamberlin which he found in the Pennsylvania State Library at Harrisburg.

Col. Chamberlin was married four times, was the father of twenty-three children, the youngest of which, Moses, born Nov 8, 1812, was still living in 1900. The period of time over which his life and that of his father extended was one hundred and sixty-four years. Col. Chamberlin was 76 years old when Moses was born and in 1900 his descendants numbered about one thousand souls scattered in every part of the United States.

His first wife was Elizabeth Tenbrook, born August 23, 1740, and died April 29, 1770.

The Four Wives of Col. William Chamberlin

1. Elizabeth TenBroeck Chamberlain (b. 23 Aug 1740 in Harlingen, Somerset, New Jersey – d. 29 Apr 1770 in Hopewell Twp, Hunterdon, New Jersey) William and Elizabeth had six children born between 1759 to 1770.
2. Anna Parke Anna and William had five children born between 1772 and 1779.
3. Margaret Parke Anna’s sister (See below) (b. 17 Dec 1762 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 29 Apr 1791 in Hopewell, Sussex, New Jersey) Margaret and William had four children born between 1783 and 1789
4. Ann Mary Kimble (b. 28 Nov 1769 in New York – d. 4 Mar 1859 in Shamokin, Union, Pennsylvania) William and Ann Mary had nine children born between 1795 to 1812.

Ann Mary Kimble

Col. Chamberlin rendered valuable service to the country during the revolutionary struggle, being Lieut. Col. of the Second Regiment, Hunterdon County, was in a number of battles and skirmishes, and at the battle of Germantown on October 3-4, 1777, he had a most distressing experience. His oldest son Lewis, then 18 years of age, had occasion to visit his father on some business or family affair, and learning that a battle was pending decided to remain with his father, and although a civilian took a position in his father’s regiment and went into the action with it. During the engagement he was struck on the knee by a spent cannon ball and for the want of prompt surgical attention he died on the field.

The next month after the battle, when a brave man was needed for the hazardous undertaking of escorting the notorious Tories Ex-Gov. John Penn and Ex-Chief Justice Benjamin Chew of Pennsylvania from Union, now High Bridge, where they had been confined, to Worcester, Massachusetts, for greater safety, the Governor and Council of safety detailed Col. Chamberlin for that service.

The following is a copy of their official action :

Princeton, N. J., Monday, November 24, 1777.
“The Council met at Princeton. Agreed that the officer who is to conduct John Penn and Benjamin Chew to Worcester be directed to purchase 20,000 flints in some of the New England states for use in this state.”

“Wednesday, 26 of November, 1777.
“The Council met at Princeton . Agreed that there be advanced to Col. Chamberlin for purchasing 20,000 flints in New England and for defraying his expenses to Worcester in the Massachusetts Bay, whither he is to conduct Messrs. Penn and Chew, the sum of 200 pounds.”

That Col. Chamberlin made the purchase of the flints as directed is shown by the following extracts from the minutes of the Council.

March 17, 1778.
“The Council met at Trenton. Agreed that Col. Hathaway receive from Mr. Ogden at Boontown the 20,000 flints, sent or to be sent into this state by Mr. Archibald Mercer from Boston (first paying Ogden at Boontown for the cartage) and to be accountable for them when properly called upon.”

Col. Chamberlin’s mill near Clover Hill was burned by a foraging party of the British in 1776, and they pressed his colored man and a team into the service to drive a wagon loaded with ammunition. The man pretended that he could not manage his team and told the officers that the horses were not accustomed to being driven behind other teams, but if they were put in the lead they would be more manageable. The officers then placed him in front and coming to a long hill soon after he whipped his horses into a run and succeeded in taking the load into the American lines which were not far distant, although the bullets fell thick and fast around him as long as he was within range.

In 1791, Col. Chamberlin removed from New Jersey to the Shamokin settlements in Buffalo valley, Union County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased 600 acres of land. He died August 21,

1817, aged 81. A marble shaft marks his resting place in the cemetery at Lewisburg, Pa., overlooking the Susquehanna.

ix. Zebulon Parke b. 25 Jan 1757 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 4 Jul 1845 or 7 Apr 1846 in Lignier, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania; m. Jane Burriss (b. 10 Apr 1759 in Elizabethtown, Union, New Jersey – d. 18 Oct 1826 in Fort Ligonier, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania). Jane’s parents were Edward Burroughs (Burrows) (1708 – 1799) and Jane Muirhead (1710 – ). Zebulon and Jane had eleven children born between 1779 and 1805.

Zebulon Parke enlisted in the Revolutionary War October 26, 1776 and re-enlisted February 4, 1777, for the war. He was discharged February 1780 with the rank of Sergeant. He had been a member of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment.. He engaged in the battles of Short Hills, Brandywine, Germantown, Crosswicks Bridge and Monmouth. He was at Chemung against the Six Nations in 1779 and at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778.

He was allowed a pension on his application for Veteran’s Benefit application executed on August 24, 1832, at which time he resided in Donegal Twp., Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Zebulon Parke had moved there from Hopewell Township three or four years after the Revolutionary War.  A pension certificate No. 4206 was issued to him the 14th of January 1833 at the rate of $102.41 per annum commencing the 4th of March 1831, Pittsburgh Agency.

Zebulon Parke died in Donegal Twp., Westmoreland County, Pennsylvanai July 4, 1845 being the owner of some property.  His administrators disposed of his property, filed an account and distribution was made in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Orphan’s Court at No. 63, August term 1865.  He named seven children and the children of four deceased children.  Among those living were: William Parke, Margaret (Parke) Grove, John Parke, Ann Simpson, Benjamin Parke and Elizabeth Horton.  His deceased children were: Mary (Parke) Moore, Rachel (Parke) Curry, Sarah (Parke) Cairns and Ellen (Parke) Kooser. His daughter, Ellen (Parke) Kooser is buried about 30 feet from her father.

His military record on file in the State of New Jersey, Office of Adjutant General, Trenton, New Jersey indicates he was on the muster roll at Camp Ticonderoga from October 26, 1776 to December 1776. He was promoted to Corporal, November 1, 1776. He re-enlisted February 4, 1777 and was promoted to Sergeant. He was discharged May 27, 1780 at the age of 23.

Having marched through western Pennsylvania on the army’s way to the Chemung River area of New York where they would be engaged in the Six Nations Battle, Zebulon may have been attracted to the bounty and fertility of the countryside. One can imagine General Washington regaling his troops with stories about his experiences building the Forbes Road and describing what the Pittsburgh area had to offer. Washington himself had several claims in the area of Ligonier and Pittsburgh. Because money was in short supply during the war years in the burgeoning new republic soldiers often received donation grants instead of salary. Some chose to sell their grants for cash at the end of the war while others, like Zebulon, chose to prove their claims and moved into the new lands to start anew.

The 3rd New Jersey Regiment was raised on January 1, 1776 at Elizabethtown, New Jersey for service with the Continental Army. One of the captains of this regiment was Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer of the Constitution. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Valcour Island, New York Campaign, Battle of Brandywine,  Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth,  Sullivan Expedition, and the Battle of Springfield. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781 at Pompton, New Jersey.

x. John Parke b. 31 Dec 1759 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. Apr 1801 in New York; m. Charity Stout (b. 5 May 1766 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 13 Jan 1848)  Charity’s parents were John Stout (1730 – 1798) and Mabel Sexton (1730 – 1830). John and Charity had four children born between 1787 to 1796.

John and Charity removed about 1792 with his wife’s father, her uncle Charles Sexton, his brother-in-law Col. William Chamberlin, and a number of Hopewell families to Shimoken, Pa., at the time of the great migration to that region.

xi. Margaret Parke b. 17 Dec 1762 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 29 Apr 1791 in Hopewell; m. 8 Apr 1782 Hunterdon, NJ to Col. William Chamberlain (1736 – 1817) Margaret and William had four children born between 1783 and 1789 (William had four wives and 23 children including Margaret’s older sister Anna, – See above)

7. Keziah Parke

Keziah’s husband James Larison was born 1695 in Middlesex, New Jersey. His parents were William Larison (1672 – 1749) and Anna Pashuns Radolff (1673 – 1749) . James died in 1792 in Hunterdon, New Jersey.

James, the oldest son of William and grandson of John the Dane, was born in 1695, doubtless on Long Island and died at Hopewell in 1792, aged 97 years. He was buried in the Parke- Larison family plot on the farm where the writer spent sixty years of his life, and his grave, marked by a rough unlettered sand stone, was often pointed out to him by his grandfather, and was carefully protected for 60 years.

There is a tradition in the family that Kesia’s father Roger Parke found a nugget of silver on the farm while digging a post hole, had it examined and pronounced genuine silver ore. He was very desirous that James Larison should purchase the farm and would not reveal his secret to any one else, and as Mr. Larison did not secure his title of the heirs of Dr. Coxe until after the death of Roger Parke, his secret died with him.

The old fence was taken up and a trench some six feet in width and several hundred feet in length was dug in order to discover the treasure, and this trench is well remembered by the writer. Along this trench a shaft was sunk and when a depth of ninety feet was reached caved in while the men were at dinner, burying all their tools. They were so discouraged at what they were pleased to consider this ill omen that it was never reopened. Several other shafts were sunk on different portions of the farm, some of them to a considerable depth, but were abandoned on account of the vast accumulation of water which had to be kept out by hand power and necessitated working day and night. James Larison sunk a comfortable fortune in his mining enterprises without realizing any profit whatever on the investment.

There is a tradition in the family that the old log schoolhouse that stood on a part of James Larison’s north tract, and at the cross roads near Wm. F. Golden’s, was built by James Larison, and that he was the first teacher. It is quite probable that he taught there when a young man, but it doubtless stood there many years before he purchased the Parke tract, and was no doubt built by Doctor Roger Parke, or his son John, who resided on that part of the tract.

James Larison, the father of this large family, was the executor of his own will, which he made in the form of a deed to his two youngest sons, Elijah and David. The old patriarch was then 94 years of age, and his four eldest sons were well advanced in life. He had doubtless given them their portion many years before, and they were well established in business. It only remained for him to deed the homestead farm of 243 acres to the two youngest, and make some provision for the three remaining daughters who had doubtless been given a start in life at the time of their marriage many years before.

This deed is dated February 14, 1791, and is a very lengthy document. It states that in consideration of his natural love and affection for his two sons, Elijah and David, and also for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and thirteen pounds to be paid by the said Elijah and David Larison unto his daughters and their children, and names them in their order as given above, not forgetting the young grandson, John Humphrey, Jr., son of his deceased daughter Achsah. The boundaries of the tract are then given in detail, commencing in the middle of Stony Brook, and bounded by lands of Charles Sexton, deceased, on the west and north, James Hunt on the east, and lands of Ralph Hunt and the several courses of Stony Brook on the southeast and south.

After the death of James Larison, Elijah and David divided the tract as equally as possible and each gave to the other a quit claim deed. All these deeds and also a map of the tract as divided, made by Wilson Stout December 7, 1796, are in possession of the writer.

After the death of James’ youngest son David Larison the administrators sold their tract to Samuel Ege, who divided it between two of his sons, John and George.

Children of Kesiah and James:

i. John Larison b. 1737 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 8 May 1805 Monmouth, New Jersey; m. Mary Pelton (b. 1724 in Huntington, Suffolk, New York – d. 1780 in Hopewell, Cumberland, New Jersey) Mary’s parents were Benjamin Pelton (1698 – 1775) and Keziah Hopewell (1700 – 1780). Benjamin Pelton of Long Island about 1740 purchased the farm now [1905] owned by John L. Burroughs, between Woodsville and Marshall’s Corner. John Larison settled there and kept a hotel for many years. They had no children.

Benjamin Pelton bequeathed the farm to Mary Larison, and in the event of her death without heirs to descend to her nephew, John Pelton, son of her brother Samuel. John inherited the farm and sold it soon after to Moses Quick and joined the great migration to New York State about 1792.

John Larison’s will, dated May 8, 1805, proved Nov 13, 1805, bequeaths his property, including a tract of land in Cayuga County, New York, to his namesake, John Sexton, son of his sister Catharine, who married Benjamin Sexton and resided at Belvidere; to John and Nellie McGee and to Elizabeth Larison, daughter of Catharine Manley of Somerset County. He appointed “Miller” Peter Snook and Jacob Stout his executors and the witnesses are his neighbors, Andrew, George and Anna Smith.

ii. Andrew Larison b. 2 Feb 1739 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1800 Hunterdon, New Jersey; m1. A Miss Green who died soon after, and he married second Lavina Severns (b. 17 Feb 1741 – d. 1821) of a very wealthy, educated and prominent family, who resided near Sandy Ridge, Hunterdon County. Lavina’s parents were
Benjamin Severns (1710 – 1792) and Sarah Green (1714 – 1780).

His wife inherited a large farm and upon this they settled. Both being well educated they opened a school near their dwelling and taught the higher branches and several young men were here prepared for college and entered the professions, others receiving a good education fitting them for business pursuits. Andrew and Lavina had five children born between 1761 and 1778.

iii. William Larison b. 24 Jan 1741 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 21 Oct 1816 m. 1777 to Francina Anderson (b. 06 Apr 1743 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, NJ – d. 30 Nov 1811 in Stony Brook, Mercer County NJ aged 64). Francina’s parents were Cornelius Anderson (1696 – 1768) and Catherine Runyon (1700 – 1768)

William settled on the farm on the opposite side of the brook from his father and spent his whole life there. William Larison was also a soldier of the revolution in Capt. Henry Phillips’ Company, Hunterdon County. William and Francina had two children: Cornelius (b. 1767) and Pamelia

iv. Anne Larison b. 11 Feb 1743 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1835; m1. 28 Mar 1768 to Judge Jared Sexton (b. 1737 Long Island, New York – d. 28 May 1785 – Hunterdon, NJ) who resided on an adjoining farm. Jared’s parents were Charles Sexton (1680 – 1752) and Sarah Jamison/Whitman (1688 – 1751). Anna and Jared had seven children: (1) John, (2) Sarah, (3) Achsah, (4) Margaret, (5) William, (6) Elijah, and (7) Anna.

m2. 1788 to her cousin Benjamin Parke (b. 8 Jan 1743 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1778 in Hunterdon) His parents were William Parke and Sarah Jewell (See above) He first married Lucy [__?__] (b. 20 May 1736)

Anne lived to the age of 92, and retained her faculties of mind and memory to a remarkable degree. She was eminently social, an entertaining conversationalist and as she was on terms of intimacy with the wives of many of the leading men of the revolutionary period she was considered authority on reminiscences of the war for fifty years after its close.

Judge Sexton was one of the most conspicious public men in this part of Old Hunterdon County. He was soon after elected a Justice of the Peace, and in 1777, or earlier, was elected Surrogate of Hunterdon County.

The first member of the Legislature from this part of Hunterdon County, 1776 to 1779, was Hon. John Hart, and a few days after his death, which occurred on May 11, 1779, a notice was given in the Trenton Gazette of a special election for the purpose of filling the vacancy.

The following is the notice in full:

“May 27, 1779.
“To the Electors of Hunterdon County.

“Being duly authorized I do appoint the twenty-first day of June next for the election of a fit and qualified person to represent said county in the room and place of John Hart, deceased.
“Election to be held at Henry Mershon’s in Amwell. Ringo’s Old Tavern.
“Signed, Josbph Insusb, Sheriff.”

At this election Jared Sexton was elected as the successor of of Hon. John Hart and at the expiration of the term was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which he continued to fill until his death in 1785.*

In 1777 Jared Sexton, Esq., and Joseph Chamberlin were appointed to procure clothing for the revolutionary soldiers of Hunterdon County, and also served as one of the committee appointed to report to the committee of safety all persons in the County who were disaffected toward the government or disloyal to the patriot cause. He also served as one of the commissioners appointed by the Governor to sell the confiscated lands of the Tories. On August 8, 1778, a meeting was held by the committee, consisting of Jared Sexton, chairman, Nathaniel Hunt and Peter Bruere, and notice was given that Inquisitions be found against a large number of the citizens of Hunterdon County.

A very large number of those whose names are given in the list were members of the Society of Friends who were conscientiously opposed to the shedding of human blood, many of them living in the vicinity of Quaker Churches at Princeton and Quakertown. Not all were Quakers, however, as some had “gone over and joined the army of the King of Great Britain.” It may be added that many of the sons of these old Quakers were not so conscientious on the war question as their fathers and were fighting as privates in Washington’s Army, and while not accepting commissions, were among the most ardent patriots.

In the Trenton Gazette of November, 1778, is also found the following notice:

“On Thursday, November 12, 1778, a Court of Appeal, consisting of two magistrates and one field officer, viz.: Rensalear Williams and Jared Sexton, Esq’s., and Col. Joab Houghton will set at the house of Thomas Bullman in Pennington to determine the appeals for excessive fines for delinquents belonging to the First New Jersey Regiment.”

When the American Army lay at Morristown in the winter of 1779-80, and when the Continental Currency had so depreciated that the pay of the soldiers was insufficient to supply them with the barest necessities, the ladies of New Jersey came to the rescue and organized a committee, “for the purpose of promoting subscriptions for the relief of the brave men in the Continental Army who, stimulated by example, and regardless of danger have so repeatedly suffered, fought and bled in the cause of virtue and their oppressed Country.” Among the prominent ladies from this portion of the State who were appointed to solicit subscriptions is found Mrs. Vice President Stevens, wife of the Vice President of the Legislative Council, Mrs. Attorney General Paterson, Mrs. Robert Stockton, Mrs. Jared Sexton and Mrs. Benj. Van Cleve.

v. Roger Larison b. 1745; d. 4 May 1812 – Bethlehem, New Jersey,; m. Lenah (Lenor) [__?__]) ( – 1819) Roger and Lenah had eight children who married and settled in Hunterdon and Warren Counties in New Jersey and the Lake Country of New York State.

Roger was a revolutionary soldier in Capt. Henry Phillips’ Co., 1777, and married and settled near Perryville, Hunterdon County.

vi. Elizabeth Larison b. 1747 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. Rush, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; m. Aaron Runyan (b. 1742 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, NJ – d. ~1806 Northumberland, Pennsylvania) Aaron’s parents were Aaron Runyon (1709 – 1791) and Sarah Stout (1716 – ). Elizabeth and Aaron had four children, born between 1770 and 1776: Andrew, John, Aaron and Achsah, and as nothing is known of this family it is presumed that they went west with others of the family.

vii. Catharine Larison b. 1750 Hunterdon, New Jersey; m. 24 Nov 1779 to Benjamin Sexton (b. 03 Jan 1755 in Long Island, NY – d. 12 May 1806 in Belevidere, Warren, NY) Benjamin’s parents were Joseph Sexton (1730 – 1804) and Phoebe Campbell (1734 – 1830)

Benjaminwas a carpenter. They removed to Belvidere, N. J., and had at least two children mentioned in the division of the property of James Larison. Benjamin Sexton died while his children were small, and in his will proved May 14, 1806, directs his wife, to whom he leaves all his property, to put his children to trades when they arrive at a suitable age.

viii. Achsah Larison b. 1752 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 11 Apr 1777; m. John Humphrey as his second wife

John’s father Stephen Humphrey came to the vicinity of Woodsville about 1740 with Benjamin Pelton, Charles Sexton, and other Long Island families. He settled on the farm now [1905] owned by Peter Titus and known as his back farm. This family of Humphrey was high spirited, aristocratic, and like other Long Island families of that period bred and trained race horses, and attended the races near their old homes on Long Island, which was at that time the most popular resort for the sporting fraternity between New England and Virginia. The Humphrey family lived on a farm adjoining that where the writer’s grandfather was born and reared, and the varied experiences of the Humphreys in that line were frequently rehearsed in his presence.

John Humphrey had three wives, his first being Pamelia, daughter of Rev. Isaac Eaton, pastor of the Hopewell church, and his last Rachel, daughter of Nicholas Stilwell Esq., of Woodsville. They are buried on the farm of Mr. A. L. Holcombe near the Borough.

John Humphrey and Achsah Larison had one son, born about April 10, 1777, who was named John Humphrey, Jr. Achsah Humphrey died within a few hours after the birth of her son, and is buried in the Larison plot on the farm of C. E. Voorhees. Tradition says that the stone which marks her grave was taken from the Humphrey farm and the inscription engraved by James Larison when about 80 years of age. The inscription is quite lengthy, giving the date of her death as April 11, 1777, and her age 24 years, to which is added the familiar verse, “Hark! from the tombs the doleful sound,” etc.

ix. Elijah Larison b. 1754 Stony Brook, Mercer, New Jersey; d. 26 Oct 1827 in Stony Brook; m. Eleanor Stout (b. 1749 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 30 Dec 1828 in Stony Brook) Eleanor’s parents were James Stout (1715 – 1754) and Jemima Reeder (1719 – ) of Amwell. Her grandfather was James Stout the pioneer of the name in Amwell.

Elijah Larison settled on the homestead of his father on Stony Brook, and tradition says that while engaged in the mining operations referred to in previous articles he received an injury which incapacitated him from managing his farm. His young wife proved herself equal to the emergency with industry and good management. With her own hands she planted and grafted with the best varieties one of the largest orchards in the county, which was the pride and admiration of the horticulturists of the whole region. This orchard was planted about 1780 or earlier, and some of the varieties grew to be immense trees attaining a diameter of thirty to thirty-six inches, and rounded out a century of usefulness, a few still bearing fruit in 1900.

x. David Larison b. 8 Mar 1757 Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 25 Nov 1800 Hunterdon, New Jersey aged 43; m. 15 Sep 1780 Hopewell, Hunterdon, NJ to Jerusah Smith (b. 1760 Huntedon) . Jerusha’s parents were Ethan Smith and [__?__]. Her sister Temperance married Hart Olden, and became the mother of Charles Smith Olden, afterward governor of New Jersey (1860 – 1863). She also had a brother Dr. Charles Smith, a wealthy and prominent citizen of New Brunswick. David and Jerusha had four children borrn between 1781 and 1796. After David died, Jerusha married second, Nathan Drake and removed to Lexington, Ky., where he died, and Jerusha married third, David Stout, son of Jonathan Stout and Mary Leigh, of Hopewell. David Stout’s first wife was David’s cousin Sarah, daughter of William Parke and Sarah Jewell (See above).

David Larison settled on the farm adjoining the James Larison tract on the north, now [1905] the property of Mr. E. S. Titus of the Borough.

In the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. IX, 1933-1934, page 57, David’s name appears on a list of Militia enrolled in Hopewell Township as of Nov 1792.

The will of David Larison, dated Nov 19, 1800, bequeaths the homestead farm to his widow and four sons, directing that his son Jonathan work the farm, and the children, all of whom are under age, be kept together. One item reads as follows : “At the expiration of my wife’s widowhood the farm is to be sold, and the proceeds divided between my four sons, Jonathan, Amos, Charles and Enoch/ ‘ He appoints his wife Jerusha, and his neighbor John Sexton, executors.

After the death of David Larison the family continued to reside on the old farm described in our last, until the marriage of Mrs. Larison with Nathan Drake, when the farm was sold to Mr. Drake, the deed bearing date May 15, 1807. The same spring Jonathan, the oldest son of David, removed to Ohio, settling in Hamilton County, twelve miles north of Cincinnati, which was then about the present size of the Borough of Hopewell. Here Mr. Larison cleared and improved a fine farm on which he resided for a period of fifty years, and being within a few hours drive of the most rapidly growing town in the country at that time, he found a ready market for his products and became very prosperous.

In 1814 Nathan Drake sold the undivided tract of the David Larison farm to Benjamin Blackwell of Hopewell for the sum of six hundred and fifty pounds, the deed stating explicitly that it was “equal to one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents. ‘

8. Jonah PARKE (See his page)

9. Nathan Parke

Nathan’s wife Mary Walton was born in 1720 in Roxbury, Morris, New Jersey. Mary died 14 Oct 1808 in Bethlehem, Hunterdon, New Jersey

Nathan followed his sons Joseph and Richard to Rowan County, NC

Children of Nathan and Mary:

i. Charles Parke b. 1741 in Bethlehem, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 20 Oct 1820 in Madison, Kentucky; m. 1768 Hunterdon, NJ to Catherine E Pew (b. 1749 in Roxbury, Morris, New Jersey – d. May 1831 in Otter Creek, Madison, Kentucky) Catherine’s parents were William Pew (1728 – 1769) and Margaret [__?__] (1727 – 1761) Charles and Catherine had seven children born between 1768 and 1780.

Charles and his family moved to North Carolina between 1773 when Martha was born in Huntingdon and 1776 when Charles was born in Rowan.

ii. Sarah Parke b. 1742; d. Aft her father’s 1784 will; m. [__?__] Smith

iii. Richard Parke b. 1744 Hunterdon. NJ; d. Aft her father’s 1784 will

iv. Joseph Parke b. 1747 in Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 6 Jan 1824 Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Murdered by James Lowe, Jr.; m. 4 Apr 1789 Rowan Co, North Carolina Age: 42 to Rachel Wilson (b. 1773 – ) Joseph and Rachel had three children born between 1789 and 1810.

James Lowe Jr was committed to jail in Salisbury Rowan Co NC per Carolina Watchman Newspaper, Jan 6 1824 for an alleged murder perpetrated on Joseph Parks an industrious and respectable citizen of that county.

11. Grace Parke

Grace’s husband Jacob Stout was born 1721 in Hopewell, Mercer County, New Jersey. His parents were  James Stout (1694 – 1727) and   Catherine Simpson (1692 – 1749) . His grandparents were David Stout (1667-1732); and Rebecca Ashton (1672 – 1725) .   Jacob died 20 Sep 1785 in Hopewell, Mercer County, New Jersey.

Mr. Stout had a neighbor who, as far as known, had been in robust health until he received notice that his country needed his services, and that he had been drafted. On receiving this intelligence, he went to bed at once, and was so ill that the family had to take his meals to his room. Mr. Stout and one or two of his neighbors called on him, and after satisfying themselves that he was feigning illness, decided to try the cold water cure, and took him out to a corner of the house where there was a large cask filled with rain water. It was frozen over, but to break the ice and plunge him in was but the work of a moment, and the helpless man was completely cured of his infirmity and suddenly made as active and agile as a boy. It is needless to add that he climbed out of that cask without help and lost no time in getting back in the house, not even stopping to thank his kind neighbors for performing such a miraculous cure. Tradition does not state that after his ducking he obeyed the call of his country, but it doubtless caused him at least to have a more wholesome respect for his patriotic neighbors.

Children of Grace and Jacob:

i. Aaron Stout b. 1752 Stoutsberg, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 1811 – Somerset, Somerset, Pennsylvania; m. 1775 – Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ to Mary Drake (b. 8 Aug 1745 in Hopewell, Hunterdon County, NJ – d. 1827 in Somerset, Pennsylvania) Mary’s brother Enoch married Aaron’s sister Catharine. Their parents were Their parents were Thomas Drake (1714 – 1792) and Dorothy Van Kirk (1734 – 1791) Aaron and Mary had children, Andrew (b. 1777) and Daniel (b. 1776) , who owned the farms south of Hopewell, afterward owned by Deacon Benjamin Drake, and Charles and Noah Stout, distillers.

ii.   Samuel Stout b. 1755 – 1831); m.  Hannah Drake (1749 – 1830) Samuel and Hannah had children, Nathan, John, Elizabeth and Sarah.

iii. William Stout b. 1757 Hunterdon, NJ; d. 31 Aug. 1833; m. 27 Dec 1780 – Hunterdon, New Jersey to Hannah Hutchinson (b. 9 Aug 1759 New Jersey) Hannah’s parents were William Hutchinson (1724 – 1818) Mary Catherine Vohn Garrison (1731 – 1823) William and Hannah had two children. Hannah married secon [__?__] Holmes. Hannah was living in 1809 as she was mentioned in her father’s will.

iv. John Stout b. 1759 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. Oct 1816 in St. Clair, Illinois; m. 7 Dec 1782 Hunterdon NJ to Kesiah Brush (b. 1762). Kesiah’s parents were Timothy Brush and [__?__] John and Kesiah had one child, Sarah, who married Amos Hoagland, the father of John Stout Hoagland and grandfather of our townsman, Simpson Hoagland, Esq.

v. Elizabeth Stout b. ~1761 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; m. John Van Kirk (b. 20 Apr 1751 in Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 18 Sep 1834), and had three children, Jacob, Henry and Sarah.

vi. Annie Stout b. ~1763 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; m?. her father’s cousin, Benjamin Stout, and had three children, Abner, Aaron and Grace.

vii. Sarah Stout b. 1760 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey; d. 21 Apr 1828 New Jersey; m. 20 Jun 1779 – Hunterdon, New Jersey to Azariah Higgins (b. 27 May 1728 in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 28 Apr 1794 in Fayetteville, Kentucky). Azarah’s parents were Joseph Higgins (1702 – 1781) and Sarah [__?__] (1700 – 1777) He was 32 years older than Sarah. Sarah and Azariah had nine children born between 1780 and 1794.

viii. Catharine Stout b. 1761 Hunderdon, New Jersey; d. 25 Aug 1841 – Mercer, New Jersey; Burial: First Baptist Church Cemetery, Hopewell, Mercer County, New Jersey, m. Enoch Drake (b. 15 Feb 1761 in Hopewell, Mercer, New Jersey – d. 19 Oct 1822 in Hopewell, Hunterdon, New Jersey), Enoch’s sister Mary married Catharine’s eldest brother Aaron. Their parents were Thomas Drake (1714 – 1792) and Dorothy Van Kirk (1734 – 1791) Catharine and Enoch had five children born between 1787 and 1797: John, Benjamin, William, Anna, wife of Jeremiah Van Dyke, Esq., of Hopewell, and Peter V., who married Rachel Savidge, and had Benjamin, Robert and Alfred.

Sources:

http://www.barney.org/family/wga44.html#I7898

http://www.angelfire.com/ny/chickened/stoutfamily.html

http://thomaspaulmerrill.com/Benweb/Hopewell.htm

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/a/r/David-P-Parker/ODT3-0001.html

http://www.parke.org/

http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/NJHUNTER/2005-02/1109137909

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njhunter/Registry/regP.htm

Pioneers of old Hopewell; with sketches of her revolutionary heroes (1908) By Ralph Ege 1837-1905 Ralph Ege, was born November 23, 1837, in a house erected about 17 15, by Dr. Roger Parke, “on the north side of Stony Brook at Wissamenson.” A part of the 400 acre tract was purchased by Samuel Ege, Ralph’s great grandfather

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=donevanell&id=I53259