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Quinte Family Mini Pages Knowing the wonderful abilities and work of Loral and Mildred Wanamaker on early Quinte records, I have avoided researching the Wanamaker family. The document below was brought to light by Keith Brickman in response to a query about Frederick Fox and the brothers William and Henry Fox and may be of use to Quinte researchers. May 2014 |
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A SHORT NOTE Below is the full text from a mimeographed document on the Wanamaker Family of Ramapo Tract, NJ in the 1700's that was prepared by John Y. Dater from Bergen County, NJ. The document is not dated and the copyist states that it was found in the possession of John Y. Dater presumably after his death in 1985. The text of the original was cleaned up so that search engines could reliably find it. For comparison, the original mimeographed copy is available here on this site. The document relates that, "The estate of Derrick A. Wanemaker Peter Johnson, a past president of the UEL Assoc of Canada writes that:
See the biographical information about John Y. Dater at the bottom of this page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE WANAMAKER FAMILY The Wannermachers (fanning wheel
makers) came to America in 1710 as part of the Palatine emigration. Many of the
2500 who arrived were settled by the Gov. Hunter on land near Livingston Manor.
The state failed to provide funds and many went to the valley of the Mohawk
near Schoharie. They were persecuted by Louis XIV There were four Wanamaker’s who came
over from Germany: Johann Dietrich, Pieter, Titus, Ann 'Margaret, Johann
Dietrich remained in New York along with others of his countrymen o The titles for the Ramapock
Tract had just been obtained in 1709 by a company of New York merchants and politicians who were actively
seeking
settlers. No better pioneers for their purpose could be found than these newly
arrived German husbandmen, vine growers and mechanics from the Rhine valley.
Dietrich alone of the family had stayed in New
York
and apparently had the advantages of the Ramapogh Tract set before him. It was
probably through him that his kin joined him. The records of the Hackensack
Dutch Reformed Church and early land deeds
recorded in Hack. show that all 4 of them were soon living at
"Remmipog" on the Ramapock Tract at a place called and commonly known
by the name of the "Island". The name Ramapo at that time indicated a
general locality, the country near the river and the mountains of
that name. As early as Feb 1713 Pieter and
his young wife Anne Clara Smidt were both living in Bergen Co. as their
marriage record says. Peter had 3 sons bp at Hack.: Henarick, 1/27/1717; Willem
4/26/ 1719; Christian 2/18/1722. Hendrick the 1st son, was married l2/20
1745 to Elizabeth Frederick. Christiaen Stryt
and Orseltie his wife were godparents of Christian. Jan Adam and Eva, twins, were both to Titus Wannermacher and Anne Horman
(Korman?) and bp 11/20/1719. Titus does not appear again.
Peter's wife Clara and Titus both died at this time. About 1720 or 21, Peter married
Titus' widow, Annette Korman and by whom he had the child Christian, adding
also to his family the infant twins Adam and Eve. Adam's name appears in a deed
33 yrs later. Annette Pieterse Koorman as the name implies, was a daughter of
Pieter Koorman. The whole name is probably of French extraction. Anna Margrieta Adamse Wannemaker
marrried Cornraet Muysinger. The lands of the Muysingers and Wanamakers adjoined,
their first recorded son was Han Hendrick, bp 2/18/1722. A 2nd son Johan Dederick
was bp 1727, named after the first Dietrich. The
latter, and his wife Anna Kimnie Wannamaker
standing as godparents. On 2/18/1722 both Christian and Han Hendrick were bp Hack.
Anna Margariete Adamse Wanamaker was the dau of Adam, her German father in the
Old World. Johann Dietrich Wanamaker
had his name corrupted by Jersey Dutch into Diderick, Derrick, Dirk, all meaning
Richard or Dick. He was affectionalely called. by his sons, “Father
Derrick" None of his children were bp at Hack. He had 3 sons whose name
are found in land deeds, Conrad, Christian and Peter. He had a dau Margaret whose
marriage is recorded in Hachensack. The following extract
from an early deed mentions his 3 sons, (Hackensack deeds Liber D pg 120) dated 1/17/1767 .
Indenture between Coenrad Wannamaker and Peter Wannemaker. Consideration £225 and was for land "lying at
Ramapough betwixt my brother Christians and Peters
land the land which we have of our father, Father Derrrick Wannemaker” etc ••• “free of all encumbrance except the quit rent
of one ear of corn to be paid yearly and every year to John Barbere or to his heirs'
if demanded .. " Page 2 Ovn. Ma. dc 30. This must be Conrads. It
can't be Christian, his brother's, because on 5/20/1783, the date of a conveyance
from Adolph C. to Dirck C. Christian is spoken of as already
deceased. Conrad Wanamaker therefore d 5/30/1783. Pieter Wannemaker, his brother,
married Maria Schoert 8/15/1748. The name of Father Derrick's son
Christian, does not appear in the Hackensack or Schraalenburgh
church
records. His dau's name Margriet is found in Hackensack Church as married 10/29/1741
to Jacob DeHoogduytscher (?) She is probably Father Derrick's oldest child as
she was apparently married before Conrad. Her husband Jacob's name appears twice
elsewhere in the Hackensack church records, one of them in 1715.
DeHoogduytscher means the High German. Perhaps this was the
the origin of Houvenkopy which was
originally De Hoogkop - The High Head. The Dutch word hoog is the same as
English "hugh" and German "hoch". From Deeds, Liber d p 122;
2/26/1753 bet. Conrad Wannamaker of the Ilan in Bergen Co in the Province of E.
Jersy, yoeman, and Peter Wannemaker of the same place, " ...... all title
interest and Demand whatsoever as I the sd
Conrad had or ought to have in or to all of one certain tract of land situate in
the Island ••••• bounded as folleweth: Beginning at a point on N.E. side of Adam
Wannemaker running W. 60 chs then N 12 chs. and 65 lks, E 60 chs S 12 chs and
65 lks to place of beginning.” Recorded 1767. The Adam herein mentioned is the
son of Titus and step-son of Peter Wannemaker, at this time, 32 yrs old. Deeds, liber D/195 dated
1/8/1767: Peter & Maritie, his wf to Christian, a lot containing 35.64
acres •••• " all that certain lot of land situate and lying at Ramapough betwixt
the sd Wannemaker's houses" etc •• These
are Father Derrick's sons, Peter who mar Maria Schoert (Shuart) and Christian. Deeds, liber D/l98 dated
5/20/1783, bet. Adulph Wannemaker and Dirck C. Wannamaker ••••• " all that
certain messauge house, barn, and tract
of
land lying and being in the sd County of Bergen and at a place called and
commonly known by the name of the Island whereon the sd Dirck C. Wanamaker now
dwells, formerly the residence and property of Christian Wannamaker, Dec’d and is
butted and bounded as follows: viz: North by the lands of the heirs of Coenrad.
Maysinger, rec'd. South by the line of the lands of Peter Wanameker and East
and West by the lands of the General Proprietors of N. J. containing in the whole 113 acres" The Adulph ad and Dirck
C.(Christian) were sons of Christian and grandsons of
Father Derrick. Dirk Wanamaker married Antje Banta,
dau of Cornelius and Rachel Banta on 4/19/1765 in
the Schraal church and had 3 children: Ragel, bp 1/24/1768; Cornelius b 1l/2/l772;
Cornelia bp 9/6/ 1778. Ragel mar John Hicks
9/24/1789. There were two contemporary Dirck Wannemakers,
Dirck C., and Derrick A. The Schraal church record does not give the middle initial
of the Dirck who mar -ntje Banta , but he was the son of Christian, Derrick A1,
being the son of Adam. According to a headstone in the Mahwah cemetery,
Adolphus died 12/28/1807 aged 56 yrs. His wf Margaret Frederick d 6/25/1837 ae
78 yrs. These were the grandparents of James D.
Wanamaker of
Suffern, N.Y.
Deeds, liber E page 4 .. dated
5/1/1787: Benjamin Shotwell of Woodbridge to Henry Wanamaker,
for £196.17 .. - "all that certain messauge, tenemant,
piece, parcel, lot or tract of land
situate lying and being in the Twsp of Franklin
and in sd Co. of Bergen being part of that tract of land
commonly known by Barberies, 600 acre tract
in the Patent of Ramapo beginning at the corner
of
Nicho Muysinger's south tract running S 87o W 60 ch; N 5o
W The Henry in the above deed was
Hendrick, first son of the first Peter. The early settlers of the Ramapo
Tract experienced much trouble and uncertainty as to the validity of their
titles. The first difficulty was that this tract of
and straddled the undetermined The settlers did not know within
which provincial jurisdiction they dwelt or should hold title. When called on
for military duty in either province they sometimes turned this situation to their
advantage by claiming residence in the other province. Worst of all the
original titles in the Ramapock ,Tract proved to be fraudulent. the history of
this tract is given in "Early Days The boundaries of the Ramapock
Tract were as follwws: "Beginning at a spring called Assemnaykepahaka;
being the Northeaster most head spring of a River
called
in Indian Peramsepus and by the Christians, Saddle River; thence running
southerly down the east side of sd river
including the same to a place where a small creek or river coming from the
Northward called Raighkamack (HoHoKus River) falls into sd Saddle River, about
16 mi1es distant Page 4 This was all then thought to be
in the Province of NJ and consisted of 42,500 acres, lying as it turned out in
both provinces. The reputed owners with their proportionate shares of In deeds to settlers recorded a Hackensack,
they, themselves described their acquisition
of the titles to this tract as follows: ...... “by an Indian purchased dated at Ramapock in
the County of Bergen, in the Eastern Division of N.J. aforesaid, the 18th day
of November, 1709 and for the Conveniency of conveying by
the River the goods that were to be delivered to ye Indians
acknowledged by them at Tappan at the time. They were paid
before Cornelius Haring, one of the Justices of the Peace there
on the 3rd day of Dec following and 'by a grant from ye Prorprietors of
the Eastern Division aforesaid under the hand and
seal
of Peter Sonmans, Esq. their sole General and Lawful Agent and
one of the se, Proprietors in his own right, dated, at N.Y. 12/9/1709"
The above is from a deed dated 5/1/1712
to Gerrit Ackerman who bought land on the Saddle River. In an deed dated 3/18/1712 to
Johannea Van Blerkum., alias Captain of Bergen Co they claim title that •••••
" a certain piece of land, part of a large tract lying in
Bergen Co a d Eastern Division of N. J. between Ramapoh, alias Pumpton, alias
Pequanic River and Saddle River, lawfully purchased of the Indians, natural
owners thereof ye 18 day of Nov 1709 and granted unto them the sd John Barberie
(et al) by the Props of the Eastern Div. of NJ aforesd:
as
per the sd Indian deed and of Props grants thereof under the hand and seal of
Peter Sonmans, Esq authentically allowed to be their sole General and Lawful Agent,
Intendant and attorney and one of the Props himself." The quit rents reserved in these
two deeds deserve notice. Ackerman was to pay "on every 1st day of May
hereafter ensuing the yearly rent of 8 good large fat fowls" and Capt. Van Blarkum "the hereby reserved
annual rent of two good young but yet full grown fat fowls on every 29th day of
Sept yearly forever" But all these chickens came home
to roost. It turned out that Peter Sonmans had never been authorized by the
other East Jersey Props to make such grants and
they had been kept in ignorance of the whole transaction. The other props going
to "this very remote region" as they called it, to layout divisions
were interrupted and threatened by the settlers. "We found,"they said,"that
on pretense of such deeds ( ie. the Ramapock Tract grant) about 20 persons had
been imposed upon to buy". The settlers therefore found themselves with
disputed titles to their lands with a likely prospect of dispossession and of
losing all the money and labor they had expended. Page 5 In the beginning of the year 1775
of the Ramapock Tract purchased there were only 3 titles on the N.Y. side of
the line recognized as valid by the Crown. One of these was John Sobrisco's Peter Sonmans, the chief promoter
of the Ramapock Tract land schemes was quite a noted adventurer of his day and generation
Concerning him, Gov. Hunter wrote to the Lords of Trade 8/13/1715 .... “as to
Mr. Sonmans I have formerly informed your Lordships that he fled from
prosecution for having carried out of the Province of Jersey and embezzeled all
the public records ...... he is indeed one of the most infamous men of these
parts, and his life and conduct are too fowl to be the subject of any letter On the N.Y. side of the line
grants were made by George III on 1/18/1775 and patents
issued to several "reduced officers” known by the following with their
proportionate shares: Robert According to Tompkins Hist. of
Rock. Co, these parties sold to Hendrick Wanamaker 211 acres for £l06.17.5 “Spanish
milled dollars at the rate of half a dollar for every pound thereof" William Wanamker still has the
bond given by Hendrick to Delancy and Morris in the sum of £500 to
secure this payment dated 8/24/1786. To Derrick Wanamaker they sold 144.2 acres
and to Adolphus Wanamaker 50 acres; James D. Wanamaker
of Suffern still
had the In 1739 Charles Clinton made a
survey of the territory east of the Ramapo Mountains in the inteest of the
props of the Cheesepcocks Patent upon whose lands he was supposed
to be working. As a matter of fact he was
several miles astray to the south. The
notes he made in his field book of the early settlers are of much interest. He
plotted the territory into numbered lots Page
6 Of lott no 75 he notes:
"Isaac Bramer cleared field • •• Here a house belonging to Johan Slutt ••••
the greatest part of the tillable land in this lott; is cleared by High Germans
settled along the Lott no 88 •••• " at 63 ch
crossed a road and entered into a cleared field about 1 ch south of a little
meeting house belonging to one of the Germans" Lott no 90, “Ramerpo River runs
thru this lot. Luke Kierstede and one Larne live on this lott and some other
man. I have heard that Kiersted and Larne are partners with Mr. Fauconnier and have
the same title for this place that he has for the other lotts he has settled
the Germans on. They have two stone houses and orchards." (note by
copyist: this was not Larne, bur Laroe) Lott no 76 "This lott takes
in Isaac Bromer's house and another little house that lies SW of it •••• There
is a bearing orchard”. On lott 57 he notes a hill which
he writes down as Spitzbaragh. This was Spitzberg, the old and better name for
Union Hill (the stonequarry) He spelled it as he heard some
German or Dutchman broadly pronounce it. The following notes from the
field notes of a survey of the N.J. & N.Y. line made in 1774 is of
interest. N 54o 15' W at 39 ch northward 16 ch 20 lks Philip Vors (
Dutch Fos or Fox) house; at 43 ch 5 ft southward of the N end of Philip Vor’s
barn; at 55 ch in Haverstraw River (Mahwah River) at 76 ch the Post Road; · at
80 ch in Derrick Onemaker's orchard being 17 lks in a course N 68o E
from the SW corner of apple tree at Stake No XV (15th mile stone) This was
Derrick C., son of Christian, The head stone of Philip Fox mentioned above still
stands in the old burying ground at Mahwah. He was b Aug 1709 and died 3/5/1790 An attempt was made to run the
N.Y. &.N.J. provincial line in 1719 by Allane Jarrett, Surveyor General of
N.Y. and James Alexander representing N.J. The record say they took with them, "a
The opposition to the census
taking was due to a biblical superstition that the "numbering of the people"
would surely bring a pestilence upon them. Gov. Hunter wrote to the home
government: "The superstition of this
people is so insurmountable that I believe I shall never be able to obtain a
complete list of the numbers of inhabitants of this province (N.Y.) A census of
the Province of NJ was obtained by Gov. Burnet
in 1726 in which Bergen Bounty returned the
following number of inhabitants:
Beginning at West corner on Lot
no 73 at S 43-53 1/2o E 16 ch then S 46-6 1/2o W at 53 ch passed by the south corner of
wheat field (it lies in the next lot ) ••• previously recorded. The Wanamakers and Maysingers occupied
the lands known after 1752 as Barberies 600 acre
tract. The
early deeds recorded at Hack. describe Father Derrick's
original lands as lying
in the Island . The relation is shown by the map. Father Derrick's tract was
60 ch E & W by nearly 40 ch N & S. and the 1st Peter's tract to the
south probably the same making in all a tract 3/4 mile wide and ;about 1 mile N
& S. The house in which Dirck C. lived before he moved into his fathers house
was located by the surveyor of the provincial line in 1774 as being near the
15th mile stone; he was then on Conrad's 105 acre tract. The house of the 1st
Peter in the southern original half of the Wanamaker
Tract was located by Clinton as being nor far
from the "little German meeting house near the old German burying ground,
now long neglected. Here doubtless Peter was buried with other members of the
early generation, his stone house seems to be gone . Peter' s south tract like Father Derrick's was
divided into 3 sections . His step-son, Adam , had the north piece, Adam's son Derrick
A. had that to the south and Peter reserved
for
himself and
From the Records of the
Proprietors:
In 1773, Apr 6th, report
made by Henry Cuyler said they were experiencing difficulties selling lots due
to rocky land, poorly timbered and much "wore out." Farmers could
raise very Sample of lease found in Parker
papers to Henry Barkhoff, lease for 1 year of 218 ac. for £3. The
lessor is required to defend the premises against other claimants. Leesee is to
pay rent, cut no green timber for for use on
premises. Cut no green Page 9 1790, Sept 18th. The Board
acquired full possession of the land. (Min. Council B
pg 345) and divided the tract into Parcels. Warrents were issued to each one
for the amounts due to
Other intervening numbers all
belonged to various members of the Board of Props. They were located in this
part of Bergen Co. (note by copyist: LHB: This paper was in the possession of Mr. Dater Sr., of the Ramsey Journal. The early records of these Ramapo Lutherans may be found in the Lutheran Church of N.Y.C. beginning ca 1704. ) Source note: The above Wanamaker document is referenced in the Notes (bibliography) of the book Pioneer Settlement to Suburb - A history of Mahwah, New Jersey, 1700-1976 by Henry Bischoff & Mitchell Kahn, p. 107, 15. “The Wanamaker Family” (mimeographed), John Y. Dater, MSS, Ramsey. Email Keith Brickman, may 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JOHN Y. DATER (abt 1897 - 1985) John Y. Dater was born into one of Ramsey County, NJ's first families who contributed much to the development of what it is today. The Dater family settled in the area that became Ramsey in the late 1700's. They were originally millers who had purchased land that eventually became the town's center. John Y. Dater was an influential and important man in the town of Ramsey. In 1906, Mr. Dater became president of the Ramsey Board of Education. He continued to serve on the board for 33 years. In 1939, he retired from the Board of Education. Many changes and developments occured when Mr. Dater served as president. For example, the Ramsey High School grew from a two year to a four year school in 1909. He also served in the New Jersey State Legislature in 1920 to 1923 and also in 1926 to 1927. One of his greatest and noteable achievements included being awarded a grant to build the current high school during the difficult depression years. The school was offically named the John Y. Dater School in 1968. It was decided that the school would be named after Mr. Dater just 17 years after his death. During that time, the Board of Education selected John Y. Dater because he contributed so much of his life to Ramsey and the town's educational life. His love for education and also his town never went unnoticed by his remarkable achievements throughout his career. John Y. Dater was also the owner and editor of the Ramsey Journal. See his obituary in the New York Times. Source: Keith Brickman supplied this bio in an email, May 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||