1st GENERATION FAMILY
1A
1. John BLAW (bp.1677-1757), m. Margaret (Marytje/Grietje) _____. John
Blaw was baptized at the Brooklyn Dutch Reformed Church in Kings Co. NY. He
later became a yeoman farmer in Somerset Co., NJ. The term yeoman, by which he
is described in his will, implies that he was a land owner and worked his own
land. His will, however, did not mention land, only personal property, since he
had distributed his real property to his children before his death in
1757. Judging from the inventory of his estate, John Blaw was a fairly wealthy
man; his personal estate was valued at almost £1000. Included in this estate
were "a negroe man & woman" valued at £30.
Prior to 1742, John Blaw purchased 400 acres of farmland from
Abraham Van Horn, a merchant of New York City and a large New Jersey landholder,
and 95 acres adjacent to this tract from Nicholas Lake of New Brunswick,
NJ. This land is located about one-half mile south of Blawenburg, Montgomery
Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, on the Great Road leading to what is now Mercer Co. On
10 January 1741/2, John Blaw sold the east half of this plantation (247.5 acres)
to his son, Michael Blaw. This gave Michael the part of the tract that lay east
of the Great Road and John kept the land to the west of the road. Michael ran a
mill at the point where the Great Road crosses Beden's Brook, and it is believed
that Blaw's Mill was the origin of the name Blawenburg. On the same day, John
sold the west half of his plantation to his son Frederick. This fact was
discovered from a record of a mortgage deed signed by Frederick in 1768.
It is through John Blaw's will that the identity of his son, John, is
established. He named John co-executor of his will, and in accepting the
duties, son John signed the paper using a distinctive mark. A similar mark is
found on the will of John Blew (1.1, below). Furthermore, John Blaw willed to
his son,John, a silver "drink beker". This later appears as a "Silver Cup" in
the 1790 will of his grandson, John Blue (1.1.1, below), see photograph on title
page. An additional connection is established by the mentioning of silver
spoons in the wills of John Blaw (1.) and John Blew (1.1). John (1.1.1) was the
only one of four sons of John (1.1) who did not receive a silver spoon. This
was probably because he, as the eldest son, had already been given the most
important family heirloom, the Silver Cup.
The earliest records of John Blaw (other than his baptismal
record) are found at the 1st Dutch Reformed Church at Jamaica, Queens Co. NY (on
Long Island), where the baptisms of his last three children are recorded. The
records of the Town of Jamaica contain a deed of land between Jacamiah Denton
and Nathan Smith, in which the land is described as being bounded on the north
by John Blue. Also, in 1717, John Blue's earmark for his cattle was registered
as "a slitt in each ear and a happeny on the fore side of the near ear". Thus,
it is clear that John Blaw (Blue) was a farmer in Jamaica NY before moving to
Somerset Co. NJ.
Records of this family have been found in several other Dutch
Reformed Churches. Michael was baptized at the Brooklyn Church, and some of the
children of Michael and Frederick appear in the baptismal records of the
Harlingen Dutch Church, several miles northeast of Blawenburg. No records for
son John, or his family, have been found in Somerset Co. During this time
period, the Dutch Church at Harlingen was split by the Frelinghuysen
controversy, and the records of both congregations are incomplete. Cousins
Hendrick and Altie Blauw were put out of the church and it's possible that some
of this family joined them. Alternatively, it may be that they were Baptists,
even at this early date. They were not members of nearby Hopewell Baptist
Church, however, they may have attended without becoming official
members. Later generations in Virginia and Ohio were members of the Primitive
Baptist Church.
The Silver Cup, which was made by Jurian Blanck, Jr., of
Brooklyn, NY, provides a vital link between the Blaws of New Jersey and their
New York ancestors. The cup has the initials I*F inscribed on its base. In
1676, Jurian Blanck was a near neighbor of Jan Frederickse in Brooklyn, who
later adopted the surname Blaw or Blaau (see Extended Family A at the rear of
this book). This Jan Frederickse had a son Jan baptized on 9 December 1677 at
the Brooklyn Dutch Reformed Church. It is believed that the I*F on the cup
stands for Jan Frederickse, and that his son Jan was John Blaw (1.),
herein. New York records indicate that Jan Frederickse came to America in the
year 1652.
The surname of Margaret, John Blaw's wife, has not been
discovered to date. She has been erroneously called a Van Leeuwe based on a
Jamaica baptism in 1704 when "Jan Blauw and Maria Van Leeuwe were sponsors at
the baptism of Aeltie, daughter of Frederick Hendricks and Dina
Hendricks". There is no indication that Jan and Maria were man and wife.
John BLAW died in Somerset Co. NJ and his will is on file at the
NJ Archives in Trenton.
1.1* John BLEW, (1691?-1770), m. Cattron VAN METER?. Lived in
Somerset Co. NJ and Hampshire Co. VA.
1.2* Antje BLAW, m. Abraham OUKE.
1.3* Michael BLAW, (1704-1786), m1. Helen/Elinor VAN BARKELOO (d.1768),
m2. Nellie HOLLINSETT.
1.4* Janetje/Jean/Jane BLAW, m.1735 John DOXEY/DOXEE.
1.5* Frederick BLAW (d.1793), m1. Mary _____ (d.1751), m2.1751 Jane NEVIUS (1722-1783)
(widow of Jeromus KOSHOW), m3.Elizabeth McNEAL.
1.6 Peter BLAW (bap.1710). baptized at 1st Dutch Reformed Church at
Jamaica, Queens Co. NY. Not in father's will.
1.7 Aeltie BLAW (bap.1715). baptized at 1st Dutch Reformed Church at
Jamaica, Queens Co. NY. Not in father's will.
1.8* Dina BLAW (1717-ca1754), m.1738 Hendrick/Henry SORTORE/SALTER (d.1794).
References: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A229, A315, B1727, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C12, C38,
C157.
NOTE: Many
of the family relationships in the Dutch Blue families of New Jersey are
uncertain at best. Where source data are not available, the family groupings
are based on deductions made by the compilers. Additions and corrections are
most welcome, especially when accompanied by references and/or the deductive
reasoning used.
2nd GENERATION FAMILIES
2A
1.1 John BLEW, (1691?-1770), m. Cattron VAN METER?. Family
legends claim that John Blew was one of the earliest settlers in the valley of
the South Branch of the Potomac River, in what is now Hampshire County, WV. He
supposedly brought his wife and children from New Jersey in 1725, settled on the
river about five miles north of the present site of Romney, and built his cabin
near Hanging Rock (sometimes called Blue's Rock). This tradition conflicts with
the following evidence and deductions.
1. John Blew (1.1) was in Somerset Co., NJ, on 14 Nov 1757, to be
sworn in as coexecutor of his father's will. Although this was about two months
after the death of John Blaw (1.), it is highly unlikely that John (1.1) came
all the way back from Hampshire Co. to discharge this duty. This, alone, is not
conclusive, however, since many settlers fled Hampshire Co. during the years
1754-1758 due to the Indian raids of the French and Indian War. John (1.1) and
his family might have retreated to the coast to escape the war, and returned to
New Jersey when he received word of his father's death.
2. At his death in 1770, John (1.1) did not own land. No land was
mentioned in his will, and no Hampshire Co. deeds (known to the compiler) record
his ownership of land.
3. In Maxwell and Swisher's "History of Hampshire Co., WV" (page
701), it is stated that "The date at which John Blue came to Hampshire Co. is
fixed partly by tradition and partly by family record. His son John
(grandfather of the present John Blue) was twelve years old when he came with
his father to Hampshire. He died in 1791, aged 78 years. That would prove that
he came to Hampshire in 1725. If such was the case, he was about eight or ten
years earlier than the usually accepted earliest settlement of the South Branch
Valley". A careful examination of this statement shows an inconsistency. The
present (1897) John Blue (b. 1834) was a son of Garret I. Blue and his wife
Sarah. Garret I. Blue was a son of Capt. John Blue (b. 1740). Therefore, if
the grandfather of the 1897 John Blue was twelve years old when he came to
Hampshire Co., this dates the arrival of the Blues at 1752, and establishes the
pioneer as John Blue (1.1.1).
4. The John Blew who received the Fairfax land grant for Lot 27 on
the South Branch was John (1.1.1). Although dated 17 Aug 1749, this grant was
really executed subsequent to 1 May 1754, the date that Hampshire County was
formed. This fact is established by the identification of the grantee as "John
Blew of Hampshire Co.". This also indicates that John Blew was living in
Hampshire Co., or what was to be Hampshire Co., before the grant was executed,
probably having arrived in 1752, as indicated in (3), above.
5. Most deeds for Fairfax Lots, subsequent to the original grants,
mention the original grantee, as well as later owners. The earliest deed on
record for Lot 27 was executed in 1816 between Uriah Blue's heirs and Uriah and
Garret Blue. The deed states that the deceased Uriah received the land through
the will of his father, John Blue (John 1.1.1). No mention is made of an
earlier John Blue as the original grantee.
6. The Maxwell and Swisher account, referenced in (3), above, also
states that "There were three brothers, John, Uriah and Michael, the latter two
making their homes near Shepardstown, while John settled about five miles north
of Romney, ----." John (1.1) did not have a brother named Uriah, and the
Michael, who was possibly his brother, died in New Jersey. John (1.1.1),
however, did have brothers Uriah and Michael, who did settle in the area near
Shepardstown.
Therefore, this John Blew (1.1) followed his sons to Virginia
after the death of his father in 1757. The actual date of his arrival in
Hampshire Co. is unknown. John and Cattron probably lived on land owned by
their children, since there is no record which identifies him as a grantee or
grantor of land. John (1.1) died in 1770, and his will, dated 20 July of that
year, left personal effects to his family, including clothing, three silver
spoons, two riding horses and saddles, plow irons, a wagon, a hoe, an axe and an
iron wedge. Most of these he probably brought with him on his journey from New
Jersey.
His wife, Cattron, outlived him and she was named executor of her
husband's will, a duty she declined in favor of her son, Abraham. She is said
to be a Van Meter by some researchers, but I have found no evidence to that
effect. By the spelling of her name, it is probable that she too was of Dutch
ancestry.
1.1.1* John BLUE, (1713-1791), m1.ca1739 Mary MARSHALL?,
m2.Margaret KEYSER?.
1.1.2* Michael BLUE (ca1720-1819), m1. Martha BLACKFORD?, m2.
Sarah _____.
1.1.3* Uriah BLUE, (1726-1806), m.1747 Mary JORDAN.
1.1.4* Abraham BLUE (d.1818), m. Elizabeth QUICK? (ca1748-1826).
1.1.5* Mary BLUE, m.1747 Jacobus HEINS (b.1724).
References: A6, A7, A8, C6, C7, C8, C9, C12.
1.2 Antje(Annetje) BLAW, m. Abraham OUKE (d.1750). Lived New
Brunswick, Middlesex Co. NJ. In 1745 he owned a store located on the north side
of Albany Street. His will is on file at the New Jersey Archives in
Trenton. There were several OUKE families in New Brunswick and they were
probably descended from the Dutch AUKE family of Kings Co. NY.
1.2.1 Abraham OUKE (bp.1725). He was baptized at the 1st Reforned
Church at Raritan (Somerville) and probably died before his father's will was
written ca1750.
1.2.2 Maria OUKE (bp.1727).
1.2.3 Annatje OUKE
1.2.4 Sarah OUKE
1.2.5 Lea OUKE
References: A1, A9, A322, B109.
2B
1.3 Michael BLAW, (1704-1786), m.1 Helen/Elinor VAN BARKELOO (d.1768),
m2. Nellie HOLLINSETT. He was baptized in the Brooklyn Dutch Reformed
Church on 18 Apr 1704. His parents were listed as Jan and Marytje BLAAUW. Witnesses
were Mathijs de MAT and Greitje BLAAUW(who appears to be
[A.4]). Helen was a daughter of Willem Willemse VAN BARKELOO. They
moved to New Jersey, likely with Michael's parents. On 10 Jan 1740/1 John BLAW [1.]
split his plantation in Montgomery Twp. of Somerset Co. and sold the east half
to Michael. Michael had previously (20 Feb 1738/9) purchased 100 acres from
Nicholas LAKE, which was adjacent to the 247.5 acres he received from his
father. Beden's Brook runs easterly through the middle of this property and
Michael built a mill on that stream near the west boundary of his
property. Later, the "Great Road" was built to provide access to the mill and
the town of Blawenburg is believed by local historians to have been named for
Michael BLAW and/or his mill. Michael and Helen are buried in the Blue-Nevius
Cemetery, which is located in the west half of John BLAW's plantation,
the part he sold to his son, Frederick. Michael's will was written 2 Sep 1782
and proved 26 Jan 1786 in Somerset Co.
First marriage:
1.3.1* William BLEW (b.ca1724), m. Margaret BLEW (b.1733),
daughter of Frederick BLAW (1.5).
1.3.2* John BLAW, (ca1728-1778), m. Maria _____, yeoman of Somerset Co.
NJ.
1.3.3* Cornelius BLAW?, (ca1732-1772), m. Margaret LAKE. Not in
father's will.
1.3.4* Mary BLAW, m. ____ GOLDER.
1.3.5 Neltye BLAW (bp. 1741) at Harlingen Dutch Church, Montgomery Twp.,
Somerset Co. NJ.
Second marriage:
1.3.6* Michael BLAW (bp.1770-1846), m1. _____ _____, m2.1822 Sybil HAYES.
1.3.7* Daniel BLAW (bp.1772-1850+), m. Mary _____.
References: A4, A12, A19, A20, A22, A636, B1, C1, C10, C157, C593, C594.
1.4 Janetje/Jean/Jane BLAW, m.1735 John DOXEY/DOXEE. They lived
in Hempstead, Nassau Co. NY (on Long Island). They were married at St. Georges
Protestant Episcopal Church in Hempstead and their children were baptized there.
1.4.1 Sarah DOXEY (bp.1736), m.1760(prob) Peter BOND of
Hempstead.
1.4.2 John DOXEY (bp.1738).
1.4.3 Mary DOXEY (bp.1743).
1.4.4 Margaret DOXEY (bp.1745).
1.4.5 Letitia DOXEY (bp.1754).
References: A1, A740.
2C
1.5 Frederick BLAW (d.1793), m1. Mary _____ (d.1751), m2.1751 Jane NEVIUS (1722-1783),
widow of Jeromus KOSHOW, m3.1784 Elizabeth McNEAL. Frederick's
will was written in 1790 and proved in 1793. He and his first two wives are
buried in the Nevius Burying Ground, Blawenburg, Somerset Co. NJ. Jane was a
daughter of Peter NEVIUS of Blawenburg who d.1768. She and her husband
Frederick BLAW are mentioned in his will.
First marriage:
1.5.1* Margaret BLEW (b.1733), m. William BLEW (b.ca1724) (1.3.1).
1.5.2* Frederick BLAW (1735-1779), m. Marya _____.
1.5.3 Prudence(Providence?) BLAW (b.1737), m. Cornelius BARKELOO (d.1802).
1.5.4 Abraham BLAW (b.1739).
1.5.5* John BLAW (1740-1781), m. Catherine/Cattron SORTORE (1744-1800)
[1.8.3].
1.5.6* Mary BLAW, (b.1742), m. Okey VOORHEES (ca1741-1799).
1.5.7* Ezekiel BLUE, (1745-1811), m.1770 Martha VOORHEES (d.1813).
1.5.8* Richard BLAW, (1747-1781), m. Martha _____.
1.5.9 Sarah BLAW, (b.1750), m. Joseph McHEAL.
Second marriage:
1.5.10* Peter (Peterris) BLAW/BLUE (1752-1826), m. Mary MONTGOMERY?
(1759-1838).
1.5.11* Isaac BLUE, (1758-1833), m.1780 Amelia Ann (Amy) SORTOR (1763-1844).
Revolutionary War veteran.
1.5.12* Elizabeth(Elisabet) BLAW/BLUE, (1759-ca1789), m.1778
James VOORHEES (1754-1844).
1.5.13* David BLUE, (b.1761), m. _____ _____. Baptismal records (A11)
name this child Yohannis.
References: A10, A11, A12, A13, A25, B2, C10, C11, C12, C157, C249, C250, C465.
2D
1.8 Dinah BLAW (1717-ca1754), m.1738 Hendrick/Henry SORTORE/SALTER (d.1794). She
was born at Jamaica, LI, NY and he was born in Germany. They lived in Somerset
Co. NJ. Henry was a son of Jacob and Catherine SORTORE, whose family
came to America prior to 8 Jul 1730, when Jacob and his two sons, Johannes and
Hendrick were naturalized as citizens in colonial New Jersey. Henry m2.
Rebecca STOUT (b.1731) and had seven more children, Henry, Mary (who m.
Jonathan HUNT), George (probably died young), Amelia (who married Isaac BLUE [1.5
11]), George (again), Jesse and Elisha. Henry died in Somerset Co.
1.8.1 Jacob SORTORE (b.1740).
1.8.2* John SORTORE (b.1742), m. _____ _____.
1.8.3 Catherine SORTORE (1744-1800), m. John BLAW/BLUE (1740-1781)
[1.5.5]. Their children are listed under his number in the 3rd generation
section.
1.8.4* Margaret SORTORE (1746-bef1793), m.1771 John HEPBURN.
1.8.5 Daniel SORTORE (b.1748).
1.8.6* Peter SORTORE (b.1751), m. Esther STOUT.
1.8.7* Dinah SORTORE (bp.1754-ca1793), m.ca1775 John TILLIER (1746-1794).
References: A1, A223, A229, A883, B1170, B1727, C3, C12, C157, C747, C833, C985.