AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

 

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

Peter Huff    
Bapt.4 Apr 1756 Readington, Hunterdon, NJ
  http://raub-and-more.com/readingtonbap/01.html
Readington Baptisms
Hoff, Isaac & Catharina Van Neste   Pieter  bpt. Apr 4, 1756
Married: Abt.1779    
Died: 11 Nov 1840 Mercer Co., KY
Buried: Mud Meeting House, Harrodsburg, KY
Mercer Co., KY Court Order Book P pg 618 and 624
John Hightowner and Abram Huff proved that Peter Huff, late US pensioner, died November 11, 1840.  Mary Huff, wife of Peter, died 10 or 15 years ago.  Surviving children are Peter B. Huff, Rebecca Vanfleet, and Ann Hamilton.

FATHER

Isaac Huff

MOTHER

Catharina Van Neste

WIFE

Mary  Brokaw

CHILDREN

1. Abraham Huff    bap. 11 Mar 1781 Readington, Hunterdon, NJ  parents  "Huff, Peter & Marya"

2. Catherine Huff    bap. 28 Sep 1783 Readington, Hunterdon, NJ   parents "Huff, Peter & Maria        Cete Bpt Sep 28, 1783"

3. Elizabeth Brokaw Huff    bap. 18 Nov 1787 Readington, Hunterdon, NJ      parents "Huff, Peter & Mary Brokaw       Elizabeth Bpt Nov 18, 1787"

4. Ann Huff   born   01 Apr 1792 Readington, Hunterdon, NJ      parents "Huff, Peter & Mary Brocaw       Anne  b. Apr 1, 1792   bapt  June 15, 1792"

5. Peter Brokaw Huff   b. abt 1794

6. Rebeccah Huff    b. abt 1798

The Huff, Brokaw, Covert, VanArsdale and Verbryck families seemed to be intertwined with each other. 

Peter Huff had known the Verbryck family since they were all young. When Rebecca Low Verbryck, widow of Bernardus' brother, Wiliam Verbryck, applied for a pension in April of 1837, Peter Huff was one of her witnesses. He said he was then in his 82nd year and a resident of Mercer County. He was "intimately acquainted with Mrs. Rebecca Verbryck for upwards of 70 years." He was born in "Huntingdon" County, NJ and Mrs. Verbryck in Somerset Co., but "their residences were only two miles apart. They were school mates for many years commencing when both were quite young." (1)

In his own application for a Revolutionary War Pension in Sept 1832 he states that he is aged 76 years.  In both cases this makes him born about 1756 which confirms he is the Peter Huff baptized to Isaac Huff and Catherine Van Neste on April 4, 1756. (3)

 
Peter Huff was born in 1756 and Rebecca Low in 1757, so they were about the same age. Rebecca Low married William Verbryck in 1777.   Peter Huff was paid by Capt William Verbryck for service in the Revolution in 1784. (2)


Siblings, John Coovert and Patsy Coovert married their spouses on the same day, March 10, 1804. John married Caty Verbryck, daughter of Bernardus and Catherine Verbryck with the bondsman Abraham Huff and the witness Barna Verbryck.   Patsy married Abraham Huff with Barna Verbryck as the witness.


When Barna Verbryck (son of Bernardus and Catherine) married Catharine Low on April 8, 1809 his witness was John Huff.

The book, "Our Brokaw-Bragaw Heritage" by Elise E. Foster, 2005 states that Peter Huff was married to Mary Brokaw, daughter of Abraham Brokaw and Elizabeth Huff.  However, the baptismal date that was stated is actually the baptismal date for Catalyna Brokaw. (see her page).  I can find no baptism for Mary Brokaw to this family.  However, the baptismal records for two of their children, Elizabeth and Ann, clearly show that Mary's maiden name was Brokaw.

Our Brokaw - Bragaw Heritage by Elise E. Foster 2005

"Peter Huff was a son of Isaac and Catrina (Van Nest) Huff. and was bp at Readington, New Jersey;. He was a brother of Rebecca Huff who married Mary Brokaw's brother, Peter Brokaw. Peter Huff was a Revolutionary Soldier and after the war resided in Readington Twp., until 1795. Children, shown as bp., were baptized in the Dutch church there. Peter and family may have gone to Pennsylvania before going on to Kentucky, after 1795. There they lived near Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Ky. when in 1832, Peter applied for a pension, at age 76 yrs. In his application he stated that he was born in Leyden (prob. misconstrued for Readington) Twp., Hunterdon co., N.J. and that he resided there until 1795.
In Mercer co., Ky. records, at court House, in Harrodsburg, Will BK 5 pg 313, shows that in the year 1816, in the settlement of the estate of Barnard Vanbryke, executors were Peter Huff, Peter Brokaw and Barnard Vanbryke, Jr.. In will BK 1, 1815, shows the Admr. settlement of estate of Abraham Huff (No. 552-1, in Gen.) where admrs. were Peter Huff and Isaac Covert. In Peter Huff's will, dated May 17, 1826 - recorded, Mercer co., Court, 1840, - thus, "I, Peter Huff of the Co. of Mercer and State of Kentucky, being far advanced in age,"..."do make this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other wills," He requested to be bur. in a descent Christian  manner, etc. and that all debts be paid. "To my son Peter B. Huff, one hundred and fifty acres land where I now live, including house, barn and orchard to be his forever." To his son-in-law Cornelius C. C. Vanarsdale and to the heirs of his daughter Catherine, "nothing of my property as I have actually given to them a full part, have previous given him 35 acres land and $240." To daughter, Ann Hamilton, 35 acres of woodland lying on the N. W. corner of my home tract, adjoining Thomas Kyles land, and to have use and benefit as long as she lived and at her death to go to her heirs.
Land was not to be sold for debts of hers or her husband's, Simian Hamilton, etc. to daughter, Rebeckah Vanarsdale, 50 acres land - gives full description of it. And, also to her $100.00 to be paid out of personal estate. to his granddaughter in-law, Rachel Huff, now Rachel McGinnis, $50.00 to be paid by executors (She must have been the widow of his son Abraham). Divided remainder between daughter's Ann Hamilton and Rebeckah VanArsdale. From this we take it that his wife, Mary, was deceased as well as daughter, Elizabeth. And his son, Abraham and his wife, and their only son, also deceased. Others that went to Kentucky from the Conewago Colony of Pa., were Cornelius Vanarsdale, pg there, Feb. 8, 1778, son of Simon and Aletta (Cosine) Vanarsdale, and Simon Vanarsdale, as his estate was administrated, there, by Daniel Brewer, 1822; and Cornelius Cosine married Mary Brewer and his will was probated in Mercer co., Kentucky.
(Ref. - Edwin Huff, Jr., Neshanic Station, N.J. bp. Rec. ; wills, etc. and the NYB&B Recs v. 88, p. 224.)" (4)

SOURCES

(1) Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900     W8799

Rebecca Low Verbryck applying for a pension as widow of William Verbryck.

Deposition of Peter Huff    pg 1

Deposition of Peter Huff    pg 2

 

(2) William Verbryck was paymaster in 1784 when Peter Huff was being paid.
Peter Huff receiving pay for service in the Revolution.
 
 
(3) Peter Huff's application for a pension on Sept. 8, 1832
He says he was born in Leydon Township, Huntington Co, NJ where "I resided on the South branch of the Raritan, and where I also resided until the year 1794 when I removed to Kentucky, to Mercer Co."
"In the month of July 1776 I volunteered in the Militia in what was called the flying Camp Service."  First Captain was Captain Nicholas Stillwell of Col. John Taylor Regiment.  # S 10896

Pg 1 of application

Pg 2 of application

Pg 3 of application
 

 

(4) Will of Peter Huff
Mercer Co Wills
Vol II pg 273-4

pg 1 of will

pg 2 of will

 

Settlement of Estate of Bernard Verbryck  1816 Mercer Co. KY

Note that Peter Huff is referred to as "DR. Peter Huff"
Here are pages 1 and 2 of the Estate Settlement of Bernardus Verbryck naming Garrett Brewer as legatee
Mercer Co., KY Will BK 5 pg 313 and 314
April 3, 1816
"Dr. Peter Huff & Peter Brokaw and Barnard Vanbrycke Jr Executors to the Estate of Barnard Vanbrycke."

 

 

 

 

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