AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT |
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Freehold and Middletown Records
Jan Baptised Jan 17, 1724 to
Barnardus Verbriik and
Janneke Schenk
1st to Mary
2nd to Charity, the widow of Arie Molenaar LeGrange
Posted on internet : 07 Aug 2007, by debbiall
FATHER
MOTHER
WIFE
Marie
Charity
Step Son
Peter Legrange
b. 1777
d. 27 Sep 1836 Hopewell, IN
Peter married Lemma Covert in Mercer Co., KY
John Verbryck was baptised in 1724 in Freehold, Monmouth, NJ. He moved with the family in 1752 to the Neshanic Church, in Hillsborough, Somerset Co. and became active in that church. He was recognized as one of the early "Ministers, Elders and Deacons" of that church in 1775. (2) He was also active in civic affairs, being Overseer of the Poor in 1773, Town constable in 1778 and Commissioner of Appeal in 1785, etc. (3)
In the 1784 "Census" of Hillsborough, Somerset, NJ, John Ver Bryck is listed with 3 whites, 2 slaves, 28 acres; 2 horses; 2 cattle. and in the 1790 census he is once again listed with 28 acres. He last pay taxes in Hillsborough in September, 1796.
John Verbryck must have married Mary sometime before the 1784 census and perhaps even had a child with her since there are three people in that tax record. On September 14, 1789 he and his wife Mary are selling a mortage on "all that certain lot or Parcels of Land near New Shannuk containing 12 acres bounded by Peter Clover, Richard McDonald, Dirk Low, the land formerly belonging to Adrian Schamp" to Abraham Duryee of Millstone for 64 pounds hard money gold and silver. (4) Adrian Schomp had died by 1780 and his large estate took years to settle. Peter Hoff, Minna Voorhees and John Ver Brike were paying monies owed to that estate in 1789. The estate also recorded a "cost of arbitration between John Ver Brike and the Executors" in 1789. (5) Also in 1789 he and his brother William Verbryck are fighting repaying a debt of 400 pounds to William Neilsen of New York City. (6)
Mary must have died between 1789 and 1799 because on 30 Jan 1799 he is marrying Charity, the widow of Arie Molenaar LeGrange, in Mercer County, KY .
"Dutch emigrants began to locate at Salt River, KY in 1781. They came chiefly from Conewago, York Co., PA, and from Hanover, Adams Co., PA. A few came directly from Bergen and Somerset Cos. N.J." This company consisted of men with names like Banta, Duryee and Cozart. "There were, however, later companies of Dutch emigrants to Kentucky. A large body left Conewago, Pa., in 1793, for the 'cane land of Kaintuckee.' The journey took many weeks in large, heavy wagons. They camped out at night in the wilderness, but always rested on the Sabbath day, and held religous services. After crossing the mountains they reached the upper water of the Ohio. They descended the river in flat toats, the shores being infected with hostile savages. They landed at Limestone, now Maysville, Ky., and again started with their wagons for Upper Salt River, near the present town of Harrodsburg. They drove cows before them all the way, and some of their milk was churned daily, by the motion of the heavy, springless wagons, and furnished them butter on their journey. The records of Mercer Co., Ky., show the purchase of 44 tracts of land between 1789 and 1802 by these Dutch emigrants. Among the names are those of Banta, Cozine, Nourse, Demaree, (Demarest), Stagg, Lite, (Leydt), DeMott, Smock, Terhune, Vories, (Vorhees), Van Nuys, Bice, (Boice or Beys), Verbrycke, Huff, and others." (1)
It is most likely that Lawrence Verbryck who married Styntie Banta was with this group. The brothers John and Bernardus Verbryck (uncles to Larence Verbryck) may have also come with this group. However, John Verbryck does not show up on the tax records of Mercer County, KY until 1799 living on Salt River with 40 acres of land and two horses. Two years later he is one of the three men instrumental is building their new church on Salt Creek, The Old Mud Meeting House.
| On Dec 22, 1800 David Adams and Elizabeth, his wife, sold three acres of land on the dry fork of Salt River, Mercer Co., KY., to John Verbrycke, Isaac Vanice, (Van Nuys), and Peter Conine, for four pounds ten shillings for said church. As soon as the 'sleepers' were put in place, a dedicatory prayer was offered. Its walls were filled in with mud, and it yet stands, after a century, and is now known (1901) as 'the Old Mud Meeting House.' " (1) |  |
John Verbryck was about 76 at this time, yet he and Charity are building a life in this new wilderness. He seems to be farming 40 acres of land on Salt Creek in Mercer County, KY as seen from the tax records beginning in 1799. On Nov 28, 1809 he and his wife Charity sold this land "on the west side of Salt River" to Peter Banta for 120 pounds. (7) John or his nephew John are on the tax rolls through 1811 but with no land being listed.
On June 20, 1814 he wrote his will giving 15 pounds to the heirs of Garrett Wikoff of New Jersey. This Garret Wikoff had married Aeltie Gerritsen, the sister of John's father, Bernardus Verbryck,and was therefore his uncle by marriage. I am speculating that he may have borrowed money from this uncle back in 1789 when John and his brother William Verbryck were experiencing so many financial difficulties.
John also willed that his two nephews be repaid for work they had done on his house. Only five people named Verbryck had come to Mercer County, KY by 1814. John's newphew Lawrence Verbryck came first around 1792 but had been struck by lighting in 1803 and was therefore deceased at the time this will was written. John's brother Bernardus Verbryck had died in 1809 and his only son was named Bernardus.. However, William's two sons, William and John had come to KY by this time. John's nephew William first appears on the tax records in 1812. His brother John does not appear on the tax records until 1816 but he may have been living with his brother William. At any rate these two brothers must be the nephews referred to in the will of John Verbryck.
Will of John Verbryck
The twenty sixth day of June one thousand eight hundred and fourteen I John Verbryck of Mercer County and State of Kentucky Being Weak in body But of sound mind Memory and understanding Thanks be to God therefore but Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all man once to die Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first I desire to Recommand my Soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth From whence it was taken And as to my worldy things in the first place it is my will and I do order that all my Just Debts and funeral charges Be paid and Satisfied; Item: it is my will also that at the death of my wife Charity her funeral Charges shall be paid out of my Estate. Item: it is my will and I do order that at a suitable Time after my death my will be opened and Fifteen pounds out of my estate be paid to the Heirs of Garret Wikoff in New Jersey if the(y) shall call for it and if it is not called for I give and bequeath the above fifteen pounds to the low dutch Reformed Church in the State. I do order that the Executors appointed by me immediately after this my last will be opened Do let the above Wicoff Heirs Know What I have left them. Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephew John Verbryck one pound and three pence for work he has done for me and did in no pay. Item it is my will that my Nephew William Verbryck be paid for his work he has done to my house if he brings an account forward. Item. I give and Bequeath the Remainder of my Estate alltogether to my loving wife Charity if she Should Survive after my departure. During her life. Item: after the death of my wife I give and bequeath the remainder of my Estate to my Step son Peter Legrange, except the bed with curtains and all the furniture Belonging thereto. I give and bequeath to Lama Legrang the wife of Peter Legrang. Lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my worthy friend Cornelius A Vanarsdale of Mercer Couonty and Aron Legrang of Nelson County to be the Executors of this my last will an Testament and I do hereby revoke Disannull and make void all former Wills and testaments by me at any Time heretofore made Declaring this only and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof I the Said John Verbrick have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and year above Written. John Verbryck
| Signed Sealed and Delivered By the above name John Ver bryke as his last will and Tes tament in the presence of |
Cornelius VanarsDalen Peter Legrange & Simon Covert |
| Mercer County Set May County Cort 1815 |
 Will of John Verbryck Mercer County Will BK 5 pg 197 |
 Mercer County Will BK 5 pg 198 |
| The inventory for John Verbryck was filed May 7, 1815. Among the items listed are several bonds against Peter Banta Junior. The total value of the estate was $397.20 The appraiser were Josia Wilson, Cornelius Demson (sp?) and Abraham Brocaw |
 Inventory of John Verbryck Will Bk 5 pg 317 and 318 |
 Inventory of John Verbryck Will BK 5 pg 318 and 319 |
(1) Source: A Manual of the Reformed Church in America by Edward Tanjore Corwin, pg 1027
(2) Source: Church records in New Jersey: notices of the charater, extent, etc by William Nelson, 1904 pg 22
(3) Hillsborough Township The First Years, 1746-1825 Earmarks and Town Meetings by Robert Moevs
| (4) Somerset County, NJ Deed BK Vol B pg 415 |
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(5) Somerset County historical quarterly volume 8
(6) NJ Supreme Court Case # 28215 and #43168
| (7) Mercer County KY Deed BK 7 pg 280 and 281 |
 Mercer Co KY Deed BK 7 pg 280 |
 Mercer Co KY Deed BK 7 pg 281 |