کیر دراز
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YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT
Congress in matters of research. A legislative counsel's office is
available for assistance in drafting. Doubtless both these ad-
mirable services could be expanded.
The real problem of the legislator in Washington, so far as it
relates to the lobby, is to save adequate time for thought, orig-
inal research, consultation with impartial specialists, and for
other official obligations. If these primary objectives are to be
realized, useless lobbying interruptions must be subject to rea-
sonable limitations of time and number, and they must cause
the least possible interference with essential governmental serv-
ice. The proper place for the appearance of lobbyists who seek
to use government for private profit is not in secret but before
committees where connections, purposes, and claims can be
brought under open scrutiny and controlled by the general wel-
fare.
MR. POLLOCK: Dr. Logan, does your experience with state
legislatures lead you to the same conclusion?
MR. LOGAN: Yes, decidedly so. Many state legislators
serve only one term, which means that they take part in only
one legislative session. The contribution they can make during
that one session obviously is small. And with legislators who
stay longer there are so many subjects with which they have to
deal that securing the necessary detailed information is a great
problem. The lobbyist who remains year after year and is con-
centrating upon one special phase of legislation becomes an ex-
pert and has a great advantage in being able to furnish special-
ized knowledge. Less reliance will be placed on lobbyists if
other facilities are developed to furnish necessary information
to legislators.
C
MR. POLLOCK: If the lobby is no longer a mere parasitic ap-
pendage to government, and is a means, however crude and
rudimentary, of group expression, it would seem logical that it
should be brought more into the public view. The measures
taken in other countries such as Germany, France, and Czecho-
slovakia to set up a National Economic Council for the purpose
of directly representing economic interests have not been not-
ably successful, and if proposed in this country would probably
[12].
26.9
THE HUGUENOTS
On the Hackensack.
By D. D. DEMAREST.

THE HUGUENOTS
ON THE HACKENSACK.
21
A PAPER READ BEFORE THE HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF AMERICA IN THE
FRENCH CHURCH DU SAINT-ESPRIT, NEW YORK, APRIL 13, 1885;
BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AT TRENTON,
JANUARY 26, 1886; BEFORE THE NEW BRUNSWICK HIS-
TORICAL CLUB, FEBRUARY 18, 1886, AND IN THE
NORTH REFORMED CHURCH, OF SCHRAALEN-
BERG, N. J., FEBRUARY 19, 1886.
-BY-
REV. DAVID D. DEMAREST, D. D.,
PROFESSOR IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. :
THE DAILY FREDONIAN STEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
1886.
··

THE HUGUENOTS
ON THE HACKENSACK.
THE paper which I propose to read to you this evening will
chiefly comprise matters so purely local, that I can scarcely hope to
secure the interest of this national society. The actors were men
who were not great in either Church or State. Much will neces-
arily be said about my own ancestor whose name I bear, and per-
Taps some may consider my narrative more appropriate to a family
ceunion, than to an annual meeting of the "Huguenot Society of
America."
But having been assured that the members of this Society will be
glad to hear about the fortunes of any one, even of the smallest and
cast of the Huguenot colonies in America, I am here to tell you
what I know about the Huguenots on the Hackensack, in the
Province of New Jersey.
The fact that there ever was a colony of Huguenots on the Hack-
Cusack is probably known by very few people, and these few are
doubtless indebted for most of their knowledge about it to the ad-
mirable history of Harlem, by Mr. James Riker. I gratefully ac-
kaowledge my obligations to Mr. Riker for a knowledge of many
facts which he has, by his faithful and patient investigations, brought
to light. On page 392, of his book, is a very valuable foot note on
this colony, containing statements which I have verified by original
ocuments, and to which I have been enabled to add somewhat.*
This little settlement was, so far as I know, the only one looking
to organization and permanency that was made by Huguenots in
the province of New Jersey, though individual families did locate
here and there, and a little cluster of them settled in the neighbor-
hood of Princeton. The colony was composed of very few fami-
lies at the beginning, and the number was never increased to any
great extent by accessions from without. Very little is to-day
known about its origin and history, even in the immediate vicinity
of the original settlement, so thoroughly have all traditions about
it died out. The French element was so speedily absorbed by the
surrounding Dutch, that not a few of the numerous descendants of
the Huguenot pioneers, from whom the farms they occupy have
Harlem, its origin and early annals by James Riker, New York, 1881. In the note referred
e two mistakes; first, for Essa we should read Essex, (County of Essex); and for
Peiret, we should read Daille.
i
4
come down in unbroken descent through seven or eight genera
tions, verily believe that they are of pure Holland stock, and
the story of their French origin is to them a new revelation.
To gather up what may be found of the true and almost romantic
history of this little company of 200 years ago, has been with me a
labor of love, and a work of absorbing interest. But little would
I have found if the men of that day had not kept public records in
Church and State, with some measure of care, and if my only re--
source had been the materials preserved by a pious reverence for
ancestry.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
It is even necessary that I should define the geographical posi
tion of this colony. Where was it situated? You may have oc-
casion at some time to travel on the New Jersey and New York.
railway which connects Jersey City and Stony Point on the Hud-
son, running through the valley of the Hackensack, in Northern
New Jersey, and in Rockland county, New York. Twelve miles
from Jersey City, on the line of this road, is the ancient and
beautiful village of Hackensack. About two miles North of this
village is the Cherry Hill station, near to which is a bridge cross--
ing the Hackensack known as the New Bridge, [t] to distinguish
it from the Old Bridge which crosses the stream a little more than
a mile to the north, at River Edge station. If after leaving Cherry-
Hill station you look out of your car window, eastward across the
river, you will soon see on an eminence, a few rods from the shore,.
the white marble head-stones that indicate a burial place of the
dead. This is what is known in the neighborhood as the old
French burial ground, confessedly, one of the oldest cemeteries,
if not the oldest in that region of country.
How often have I passed this spot in my boyhood, my home be
ing about three miles to the north of it, and it being quite near to
the highway leading to Hackensack, the county seat. And yet, to
my shame be it said, I did not know until long after I had reached
manhood, why this was called the French burial ground. No one
told me the reason, and I had not curiosity enough to enquire. I
had a vague notion that either some Frenchman of note had a
long time ago been buried there, or that such an one had lived in
the neighborhood and given or sold the land for this place of
burial. I am, furthermore, ashamed to say that I never entered it
until about two years ago. And yet there lies the dust of the
principal pioneer Huguenot settlers of that vicinity, and among
them of my own ancestors. Not a few of the descendants of the
men and women who have been there buried, doubtless pass every
day in sight of this cemetery, ignorant of the fact that their
French ancestors lie there, ignorant even of the fact that they had
French ancestors.
Our surprise at this will, however, be diminished when we
consider that these people brought a knowledge of the Dutch lan-
guage as well as of their native French with them from Europe
20 year before
*There was no bridge at this spot until about the time of the Revolutionary War.
^
Pw
Kat
5
hat being thrown among the Dutch they were compelled to use
their language everywhere, except in their own families; that in
the early generations already the Dutch superseded the French in
the Huguenot families also, and kept its place from generation to
generation until it was in turn pushed out by the English, though
to this day retaining a slight foothold in some households in Ber-
gen and adjacent counties. It is, therefore, not so strange after
all, that the descendants of the Huguenots should be reckoned by
others, and believed by themselves to be Dutch, and should even
take pride in their Dutch descent.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
Now it was in the neighborhood of this cemetery that David
des Marest with his wife, his two sons, Jean and David, with their
vives and children, a third unmarried son Samuel, and Jaques
La Rou settled in the Spring of 1678, and where they were soon
after joined by Nicholas de Veaux, Jean du Rij, (Durie,) Daniel du
Voor, Andries Tiebout, Daniel Ribou and others. Who then was
this David des Marest, [*] the leader and chief spirit of this
colony, and how did he happen to locate in this spot? He was a
native of Beauchamp, a little village of Picardy, in France, about
22 miles West of the City of Amiens. He was born about the
year 1620. The family of des Marest was very numerous in that
art of France, and highly respectable. David des Marest, Sieur
le Feret, whose seat was at Oisemont, held many high offices in the
State, and he was moreover an influential Elder in the French Prot-
estant Church. His son, Samuel, known in the theological world
as Maresius, his name being Latinized after the custom of the times,
was Professor of Theology, at Groningen, and a voluminous, con-
troversial writer. His sons, Daniel and Henri, were preachers, and
with the aid of their father, prepared what has been pronounced
the finest edition of the French Bible that has ever been published.
How closely the David des Marest, who came to this country, was
allied to them is not known. His father's name was Jean, a Prot-
estant Christian, who, with his family, had left his dear native
France, like many others, on account of the troubles of the present
and the uncertainties of the future, to find peace, and freedom of
worship among their Dutch neighbors who gave to all such a
hearty welcome and secure home. He settled at Middleburg, on
the Island of Walcheren Zeeland, at what time we are unable to
say. The marriage of his son David and Marie Sohier, daughter
of Francois Sohier, from Nieppe, a town of Hainault, 13 miles
East from Hazebrook, took place, as the records of the Walloon
Church at Middleburg inform us, July 24th, 1643. The des Marest
and Sohier families had probably resided in that City for some
time when the young people formed this matrimonial connection.
Two sons were born to them in Middleburg-Jean, who was bap-
tized April 14th, 1645, and David, who was baptized June 22nd,
1649. The latter must have died in childhood, for the name David
was given to a third son who was born after the removal of the
family from this City.
*His descendants write the name variously as Demarest, Demorest, Demaree, Demaray, &c.
6
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
In the year 1651, David des Marest had removed with his fam-
ily to Mannheim, on the Rhine, the chief City of the Lower Pala-
tinate. The French Protestants were at this time going from
various parts in great numbers to this City, invited and encouraged
by the Elector, Charles Lewis, who offered great inducements for
them to settle in his dominions. A French Protestant Church was
there formed, the Elector himself providing the building. It was
called the "Temple of Concord," because Lutherans as well as
Calvinists were allowed to use it for public worship. Some of the
Huguenots, who afterward came to New Paltz, were connected
with this Church. At Mannheim two sons were born to David des
Marest, David in 1652 and Samuel in 1656. It is probable that
another child was born in the same city, who died in infancy short-
ly after the arrival of the family in America, for there were four
children when the family landed in this country, the youngest of
whom was one year old, and we know that of these, only the three
eldest, Jean, David and Samuel reached maturity. Another son,
Daniel was born in Harlem, N. Y., and baptized in the Dutch
Church of New York, July 7th, 1666, who died as the result of an
accident when 5 years of age.
W
G
But Mannheim was not to be the permanent home of this fam-
ily. The Catholic Princes were threatening the Palatinate with
hostilities, and many of the Protestant refugees, well knowing the
woes that would come upon them if the country should fall into
the hands of the deadly enemies of their faith, resolved to leave it.
Des Marest and some others determined to emigrate to America. He
was in the prime of life, being little more than forty years of age.
He felt that at least rest from persecution would be found in the
new world, which also gave a better promise than the old for the
temporal future of his children and children's children in all their
generations.
Several of these families passed down the Rhine to Amsterdam,
and sailed thence in the "Bontekoe," spotted or brindled cow, for
New Amsterdam, which they reached April 16th, 1663.
Immediately on his arrival, David des Marest with his family
joined the Huguenot Colony on Staten Island, a little South of the
Narrows. The high esteem in which he was held by the people of
the island is evident from the fact that in the following year, 1664,
he was chosen as one of the two delegates from Staten Island to
the Provincial Assembly of New Netherland, which met to con
sider the state of the Province just before its surrender to the
British.
After a residence of two years on Staten Island, he bought
property at New Harlem, and removed thither in the Autumn of
1665. He afterwards added several lots of land to his original pur-
chase, and Harlem was his home during 12 years.
Mr. Riker has related many of the incidents of his life during
those years. He was one of the most prominent citizens of that
place, and was deemed worthy of the highest positions which that
little community could give him, and seems to have been faithful
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
7
to every trust. He sometimes had difficulties with his neighbors,
and we strongly suspect that he was a man of hasty temper, not
disposed to submit meekly to injustice, one who knew his rights and
was prepared to maintain them. But the grievance which he seems
to have taken most deeply to heart, which was "the last straw on
the camel's back," and which confirmed him in the purpose already
entertained to leave Harlem, was the outrageous act of assessing
him for the payment of his share toward the salary of Henry Jan-
sen Vander Vin, the Dutch Voorleser, and for attempting to collect
the money by process of law. On the 6th of March, 1677, the
Mayor's Court of New York ordered that the Clerk should have
his pay for his past services, and that he should be continued in
office and be paid for his future services, and that if any of the
inhabitants "should refuse to pay what is due from them for the
time past and for the time to come, then the Constable is hereby
ordered to levy the same by distress and sale of the goods for satis-
faction of what is or shall hereafter become due to said Clerk."
Claude Delamater and David des Marest, Sr., were the delin-
quents in this matter,.and they were summoned before the Town
Court. Delamater stubbornly refused to pay, defying the athorities,
and his goods were levied on, but for some reason the matter was
not prosecuted any further. Des Marest gave them to understand
that he too would hold out, if he were to remain in the place, but
since he intended to remove he would pay what was demanded,
which he accordingly did.
But why should not Delamater and des Marest have been as-
sessed for the salary of Hendrick Jansen Vander Vin, the Voorleser,
and why should they not have paid their shares as well as their
neighbors? The plea was (and you will mark the words,)" that they
of the French congregation in the time of Gov. Francis Lovelace, hav-
ing received a preacher, the aforesaid Governor had said that the
French of the town of New Harlem should be free as to contribut-
ing to the Dutch Voorleser." In the Autumn of 1676, des Marest
was two years in arrears on this salary account. And thus we
learn that there was a French congregation and a French preacher
as early as 1674, or nine years before the Rev. Pierre Daille came to
minister to the French in New Amsterdam. It also shows the
attachment of these people to their mother Church and native
tongue. The Dutch language was as familiar to them as the
French, but not so dear, and they were ever ready to slip away
from it.*
This brings us to the purchase of a tract of land on the Hack-
ensack river in Bergen County, New Jersey, and which was known
as the French patent. Des Marest proposed to establish on it a
number of families of his countrymen and co-religionists from
France, so that they might live in the secure enjoyment of their
religious liberty, and at the same time promote their temporal wel-
fare. Having disposed of his property in Harlem, he bought from
the Tappan Indians a large tract of land lying between the Hack-
*Riker's Harlem.
8
ensack and Hudson rivers. The deed of conveyance bears date.
June 8, 1677. It was given by Mendawasey, Sachem of Tappan,
Jan Claus, Seriockham, Haharios and Kassamen who signed it
for themselves, and for other Indians to the number of twenty-six,
who are named in the instrument, to Sir George Carteret, Lord
Proprietor of the Province of New Jersey on behalf of David des
Marest, Sr., and his children on payment of the following articles :
100 fathem of black wampen, 100 bars of lead, 100 fathem of
white wampen, 100 knives, 15 fire lock guns, 1 barrel of powder,
15 kettles, 4 barrels of beere, 20 blankets, one saw, 20 match coates,
one acker of rum, 20 hatchets, one pistoll, 20 hows, one plaine, 30
pairs of stockings, one great knife, 20 shirts, one carpenter's ax.
This land was conveyed "together with all the woods, under-
woods, trees, marshes, meadows, pastures, vynes, minerals, creeks,
rivers or rivulets, hawkings, huntings, fishing, and all other the
commodities, benefits or improvements that are or shall [be] there-
unto belonging and appertaining."*
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
It is difficult to follow in every particular the description of
this tract as given in the deed. The Western and Eastern boun-
daries cannot be mistaken. The Western was the Hackensack
river, the Eastern "a great mountain standing between a great
swamp and Hudson's river," which must mean the Palisade range,
there being no other mountain or hill of any size between these
two rivers. The tract was bounded on the South by lands of
Laurence Andriessen or Van Buskirk, and the dividing line was a
brook called by the Indians Kessawakey, a little stream running
into the Hackensack at New Bridge, and which in documents of a
later date is called French Creek. This line running Eastward
must have passed not far from Tenafly, and struck another stream
running Northward called the Gessawacken [Tenakill] and which
turning to the West emptied into the Hackensack, "which two
creeks," says the deed, "doe encompass the aforesaid tract of
land." A few years later in 1683, when David des Marest
petitioned the Governor's Council for the privilege of cutting tim-
ber on the part of his Indian purchase which had not been
patented to him by the proprietors, he represented the tract as two
miles in breadth, coming to a point, and six miles in length, which
must mean six miles following the river Northward from the mouth
of the creek at New Bridge.f On Ratzer's map of New Jersey,
made at the time of the final settlement of the boundary line
between New York and New Jersey, this part of the Hackensack
is called Des Marest's Kill. The number of acres in the tract is
not stated, but there must have been several thousand.
About one-half of this tract must have fallen within the pro-
vince of New York, when, shortly after, the boundary line was run
between New York and New Jersey. The boundary between these
*For copies of this deed and some other papers I am indebted to the courtesy of C. B. Har-
vey, Esq., of Jersey City.
Journal of proceedings of Governor and Council of E. New Jersey, Jersey City, 1872.
Smith's History of New Jersey.
◄
7
·
9
two provinces was not permanently fixed until the year 1769, but
various lines were run at different times, causing considerable con-
fusion in the way of collecting taxes and administering justice.*
Jean des Marest and his brother Samuel and nephew David, in
1704, petitioned Lord Cornbury for an order for a survey of that
Northern portion of the Indian purchase which had fallen to New
York by the boundary, which, they said, had been recently made,
so that it might be secured to them by patent, and they claimed
that it embraced about three thousand acres. Against the grant-
ing of this petition Capt. John Berry presented a remonstrance,
claiming that he had a right to two thousand acres of that Indian
purchase, that he had waived his claim on condition that des
Marest should bring thirty or forty families from Europe to occupy
the lands, that the condition had not been fulfilled, and that he was
therefore entitled to two thousand acres of the tract which was
claimed by the petitioners.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
The petition and remonstrance were both laid on the table,
and whether subsequent action was taken by the Council, I have
have not been able to learn.†
The Indian deed only extinguished the Indian title. For a
good and permanent title, a quit claim deed from the Lords pro-
prietors, successors of Sir George Carteret, became necessary. This
does not appear to have been clearly understood at the time, for the
des Marests took possession of their lands at once, cleared a tract
at Old Bridge, built their log houses aud barns, and mill-dam and
mills, and removed their families in the Spring of 1678, before
they had any title except that which was conveyed by the Indian
deed to Sir George Carteret in their behalf. It is certain that a
mill-dam and at least one mill on the Western side of the river
existed in 1681, for in that year the Surveyor General, Robert
Vauquellen, made a survey for David des Marest, Sr., of sixteen.
acres lying on the Western side of the river, the Eastern boundary
of which is described as the "mill and mill-dam and river." This
little tract had been bought, probably near the time of the purchase
of the large tract East of the Hackensack, of an Indian Sachem
named Mumshaw, whose right to dispose of it was afterward (1684)
disputed by another Indian named Korough. How the matter
was settled we are not told, but certainly des Marest remained in
possession.
At the same time (1681) Vauquellen surveyed various tracts of
land for David des Marest, Sr., and his three sons, and Nicholas
de Vaux, on the Eastern side of the Hackensack, extending from
New Bridge northward considerably beyond Oradell, and East-
ward one hundred chains or one mile and a quarter. Probably
this survey was not made earlier because of the unsettled condition
of the province. Sir George Carteret died in 1679 and by will
*Report of Prof. Geo. H. Cook, State Geologist, N. J., on survey of boundary line, 1874.
+Papers in office of Sec. of State, at Albany.
Piles belonging to these mills or to the dam have quite recently been sawed off because
they obstructed navigation.
}
*5*
10
directed his property to be sold for the benefit of his creditors
Governor Andros of New York then claimed jurisdiction and
seized and imprisoned Governor Philip Carteret. In 1681 Gov-
ernor Andros relinquished his claims and Governor Philip Carteret
was restored to his position. In 1682 the Duke of York confirmed
the sale of the province to the twenty-four proprietors. On the
23d of March, 1682, David des Marest, Sr., petitioned the Council
for permission to cut timber for the supply of his saw mill, in the
parts of the land he had purchased from the Indians which had
not yet been patented. The Council denied his request, but at the
same time ordered that patents should be given for the lands that
had been surveyed for him and his sons, manifestly referring to the
surveys made the year before. The Southernmost portion of this
tract beginning at New Bridge and extending Northward was
patented to Jean, the eldest son, the Northernmost portion was
patented to David, Jr., the second son.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
A patent was furthermore granted in 1686 to David des
Marest, Sr., for a tract of land embracing two thousand and ten
acres, lying between the lands just named and Chesche [Tenakill]
Brook, and bounded on the North by lands of the proprietors, and
South partly by lands of the proprietors and partly by lands of
Laurence Van Buskirk. The Western boundary of this tract was
not, as is commonly supposed, the Hackensack River, but a line
running North and South a little to the West of the two Schraal-
enberg Churches, and which was the Eastern boundary of the
lands previously patented. Various claims were afterwards made
to various portions of these lands, which the heirs of David des
Marest, Sr., were obliged to satisfy. Besides the Berry claim
already referred to, were those of William Nicolls and James Bol-
len. All these lands on the Eastern side of the Hackensack River
were embraced in the Indian purchase, but they by no means
included all of that purchase.
In 1686, the same year in which the patent for 2010 acres,
East of the Hackensack was granted, David des Marest, Sr., his
son Jean, Jaques La Rou, Anthony Hendricks, Andries Tiebout,
John Du Rij (Durie), Daniel Ribou (Rivers), Albert Saborisco,
David Ackerman, Albert Stevense (Voorhees), patented lands on the
Western side of the river, extending from the vicinity of New
Bridge Northward to Kinderkamack in the neighborhood of the
school house, and Westward two miles to Winocksack (Sprout)
Brook and below its mouth to the Saddle River.
The first house in which David des Marest resided after his
removal to New Jersey was on the East side of the Hackensack
and doubtless very near to his mills at the Old Bridge. He lived
on that side of the river until 1686 at least. In that year, the land
on the West side adjacent to the mill was patented to him, and the
probability is that he at once began to build a house for himself on
the rising ground a few rods from the river. He must have
removed into it before 1689, for in that year he made his will in
which he is described as belonging to Essex County. At that time:
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
11
the Hackensack River was the dividing line between Bergen and
Essex Counties. His death took place in Essex County in 1693.
The subject of the Ecclesiastical relations and history of these
people is an exceedingly interesting one. They were a religious peo-
ple, adherents of the Calvinistic faith and ritual and of the Genevan
Presbyterial form of Government. They believed in the visible
church, and a deprivation of the ordinances of public worship was
with them a very serious matter. We have seen that David des
Marest was at the time of his marriage in fellowship with the
Walloon Church of Middleburg, that he was afterwards active in
the formation of a Church of French Refugees at Mannheim, where
he was associated with Nicholas De Veaux and others who subse-
quently came to America, that he connected himself with the
Huguenot Church on Staten Island in 1663, and afterwards when
he had become a resident of Harlem, with the Dutch Church of
New York, though attending French services when they were
introduced, in preference to the Dutch. The names of the various.
members of his family are found on the Baptismal and Marriage
Records, and on the Register of Communicants of the ancient Col-
legiate Dutch Church of New York City. And so we are not
surprised to learn that when the family had removed to New Jer-
sey, one of their first concerns was to find if possible an ecclesias-
tical home. But there was no church in the whole province nearer
to them than the Dutch Church of New York, to which they
already belonged. This was nearly twenty miles distant, and the
Hudson River was between them and the house of God, and that
river was a serious barrier, for there was no steam ferry-boat to
carry them over, nor had the horse-boat as yet appeared. No
church had as yet been formed at Hackensack nor to the North,
at Tappan. At Newark, which was about as far from them as
New York, the settlers from New England had the Rev. Abram
Pierson for their preacher and conductor of worship according to
the Presbyterian order, but as he used the English language he was
not competent to edify these Hollandized Frenchmen. Either
French or Dutch would have answered, but not English by any
means.
About the same distance from them as the church of New
York, but without the Hudson river intervening, was that of Ber-
gen, the first Dutch Church established in the province of New
Jersey, and at that time the only one. This church had been
organized at least as early as 1664, for its registers of baptisms,
marriages, admissions of members, and burials have been kept
from that date to the present with little interruption. The first
house of worship was built in 1680, and was an octagonal stone.
building situated in the old grave yard West of Bergen avenue,
and South of Vroom street. But eighteen years before that time,
in December, 1662, the Schout and Schepens of the village had
petitioned the Governor-General and Council of New Netherland
for a minister, and in connection with their petition they gave the
names of twenty-five persons who had subscribed for his support
1
12
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
For
the sum of four hundred and seventeen guilders in scawant.
some reason a minister was not settled among them for the long
period of ninety-one years, when, in 1753, Rev. William Jackson
was ordained the first pastor.
During the eighteen years that preceded the erection of the
first church building the people worshipped in a log school-house
which was on the site of the present school house fronting the
square. This was the gathering place for worship for all the people
in that region at the time that our Huguenots settled on the IIack-
ensack. The church during its entire pastorless period was sup-
plied at first occasionally by ministers from New York and other
parts, but quite early a regular arrangement was made with the
ministers of New York to go over at stated times to conduct the
worship, preach and administer the Sacraments, and for these ser-
vices they were paid by the Bergen Church. Rev. Gualterus
DuBois went over three times a year for fifty-one years to perform
these services. Sometimes a week day was taken for them instead
of the Sabbath.*
S
Very promptly after their removal into New Jersey the seven
adult members of the des Marest family and also Jacques La Rou
on the 7th day of October, 1678, united by certificate with this
pastorless Bergen Church worshipping in the log building. Dom.
Wm. Nieuenhuysen, of New York, presided in the meeting of
Consistory at the time, and received their certificates of church
membership, two of which, those of Jacques La Rou, and Samuel
des Marest, no doubt came from the French Church in New
York.†
I would that I were able to give an authentic account of the
church life and church-going habits of these people during their
connection with the church of Bergen. Doubtless they were all in
attendance on every Communion Day, whether it were the Lord's
day or Monday. They would make all their preparations on Sat-
urday, so that they might start early in the morning, for the dis-
tance was nearly twenty miles, and the roads were not macada-
mized, and the wagons were springless, and the farm horses not
very fleet. Besides, it was desirable to have, after so long a jour-
ney, a half-hour's rest before service for the good of body, mind
and soul. The proximity of the inn to the church customary in
those days, was not an unmingled evil. Perhaps, after the servi-
ces some Van Horn or Van Winkle, or Van Riper, or Van Wage-
nen or Vreeland, would insist on taking the company home with
him to dinner, for nothing pleased the Dutchman of that day so
well as to have his table crowded on a Sunday by people whom he
respected. Sometimes very little of the day, especially in the
Winter, would be left after the close of public worship, for the
Communion service occupied hours, and then they would tarry till
morning, and on the Monday wend their way homeward. They
*Winfield's History of Hudson County, page 378.
†Their names are on the record of the Dutch Church of New York, with the note "overge-
schreeven aen de Franschekke," meaning transferred to the French Church.
13
were not so driven and hurried in their worldly business as men
now are. Perhaps, they often brought their lunch with them, and
having been refreshed by it, started on their tedious journey for
home, which they would not reach until after nightfall. We may
well believe, too, that the forests through which they passed in
going to and returning from the house of God were made to ring
with the Psalms of Marot and Beza.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
Are we to suppose that they made this long journey every
Lord's day for the purpose of hearing the Voorleser read the
Decalogue, and Creed, and a chapter from the Bible and the prayers
in the Liturgy, and a sermon from the pen of some famous Hol-
land divine, and to join in the singing of the Psalms in Dutch?
It pleases me to think that they did not do this habitually, but that
the Senior David was like a patriarch of old, priest in his own
household, and that on the Lord's day morning he was wont to call
together his children and grand-children and neighbors into his
own house, and opening his precious French Bible to read from it
in the tongue his mother had taught him at Beauchamp. Then
announcing a Psalm from Marot and Beza's version, the men,
women and children would unite in its singing with uplifted voices
and with all their powers. And then the Creed and prayers would
be read from the Liturgy of the French Protestant Church, and
perhaps also an instructive and edifying selection from the writings
of some Huguenot pastor, who had, with his life in his hand, min-
istered to some distressed flock of Christ. Nor was the Catechism
forgotten or slighted, but its questions would be duly propounded
and answered. What emotions must such simple services have
awakened in the breasts of the Elders, and what a powerful and
healthful influence must they have exerted on the young people and
children! I say again, I would that I knew how it was with them,
in those times, for my picture is a purely fancy sketch.
Their connection with the church of Bergen continued about
four years, during which they must have helped the Bergen people
in building their first church. The last entry of a baptism is dated
April 18th, 1682. But during those four years several other entries
were made, one of the marriage of Samuel, the youngest son, and
Maria Dreuyn, sister of the wife of Jean, the eldest son, and also of
the baptisms of two children of Jean, and two of David, Jr. Also,
over against the names of Marie Sohier, wife of David, Sr., and
Jacomyntie Dreuyn, wife of Jean, is the word Overleden, or died,
showing that their deaths occurred during that period. And then
over against the name of David, Sr., is written the word Vertrocken,
or removed.
What did that entry mean? Not that he had changed his
place of residence, for he never did that after he had fixed it in
New Jersey. It meant that he had left, or withdrawn from that
particular church. And what did that mean in his case? Could
it mean that he had turned back into the world, and away from the
visible church altogether? No one knowing his character and his-
tory could suppose that for a moment. It could only mean that he
14
had left the Church of Bergen in order to become connected with
some other. The word Vertrocken was doubtless placed by his
name only, because he was the patriarch and representative of the
company, and it was not worth while to repeat that word on the
record.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
But the question arises, what new Ecclesiastical connection.
could these Huguenots form in New Jersey? That they did not.
go back to the Dutch Church in New York is conclusively shown
by the records of that church, on which their names do not reap-
pear, nor did they unite with the French Church of that City. It
was true in 1682, as it was in 1678, that there was no church in the
entire province to which they could go and hear a language famil-
iar to them, except the Dutch Church of Bergen. We can come
to only one conclusion, and that is, that they withdrew from the
Church of Bergen, to establish an Ecclesiastical home for them-
selves on their own property on the banks of the Hackensack, in
which the French language should be used in the services which
were to be conducted in accordance with the ritual of the French
Reformed churches. This is confirmed by the concurrent testi-
mony of many facts and circumstances.
It is true, and we must start with the candid admission, that
we have no document whatever giving an account of the formation
of this church, no book of minutes, no register complete or par-
tial of baptisms, marriages, or admissions to the Lord's Supper.
There is a period of fourteen years from 1682 to 1696, during
which the Ecclesiastical history of these intensely church-loving
people is a perfect blank so far as church records known to us are
concerned. Some names of persons on the Bergen record, who
were living in 1682, and who then removed, it is not said whither,
re-appear in 1696 on the record of the Dutch Church of Hacken-
sack, which had been formed in 1686.
Now what shall we, in the absence of church records say about
their Ecclesiastical history during these fourteen years? There
were, during these years. some marriages among the young people;
four at least we are certain of among the des Marests alone, aud
births of at least fourteen children of the same name, and we may
be sure that every one of these marriages was solemnized by a
Christian minister, and that every child born was baptized. Now,
who performed these marriage ceremonies, and who administered
these baptisms, and where were they recorded? Not a church
record in New York or New Jersey, containing them, can be
found. Can we doubt that a French Huguenot minister performed
these ceremonies right there on the banks of the Hackensack?
It is not supposed by any one that this little church ever had a
pastor of its own, but that it was occasionally visited by the French
ministers from New York, and especially by the Rev. Pierre Daille,
whose special mission seems to have been to look after the various
French settlements in the province, for the promotion of their
spiritual welfare. It is a very significant fact that the withdrawal
of the Huguenots from the Church of Bergen took place probably
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
15
in the same year in which Daille came to minister to the French in
New York City, and in which he began to search out, and to care
for the scattered flocks of his countrymen and co-religionists.
What is more likely than that these IIuguenots on the Hackensack
should have asked for, and received a share of these ministrations?
An interesting fact connects Mr. Daille with these people. Some
days after the death of David des Marest, Sr., which occurred in
the Summer of 1693, the two surviving sons, Jean and Samuel,
and John Durie, who had married the widow of David, Jr., came
together to examine his papers, and to make distribution of the
property in accordance with the terms of the will. They came
"lovingly and kindly" to an agreement which was put in writing,
and the name of the only subscribing witness was that of P.
Daille. As the beloved friend and pastor of their father, and
theirs also, he had been invited to be with them on this occasion.
He was doubtless on familiar ground, and in a house whose hospi-
tality he had often enjoyed in his visits to the little flock on the
Hackensack, who revered him as their spiritual father and guide.
It is moreover quite certain that they had a house of worship
close by the cemetery to which we have referred. Those who in
former years had charge of this cemetery have affirmed that in dig-
ging graves they have come to stones which had evidently belonged
to the foundations of a building. Now what building could have
been standing there in the midst of the graves but a house of wor-
ship? Tradition also says that they had a French school, a
parochial school for the children, in accordance with the usage of
the times.
That a building for public worship should have been provided
as soon as the occasional visits of a preacher could be had, is cer-
tainly not a strange thing. It was almost necessary, certainly
desirable, so that his visits might be made more frequently than
they would be if the services were held in a private house. And
since it was contemplated to obtain a number of families from
France to occupy the lands bought from the Indians, it was impor-
tant to be able to offer them the powerful inducement of a house of
God prepared to receive them, and in which worship was per-
formed in their own tongue.
}
The absence of church records is to be deeply regretted, but it
is not surprising. What is more easily lost than are documents of
this sort, and especially such as pertained to a church which never
had a settled pastor, and which existed only fourteen years? Per-
haps no record book was ever opened, and the visiting ministers
made on loose paper, memoranda of the official acts performed by
them. Who can tell what may yet come to light some day in the
way of memoranda made by Daille or Peiret? When the church
was finally disbanded and they who were members at the time
joined the Dutch Church at Hackensack, all official papers should
properly have been deposited with the Consistory of the latter
church. But, it may not have been done, at any rate, no such pa-
ers-are in possession of that body at the present time.
16
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
Strongly as all these considerations point to the conclusion:
that these Huguenots had an organized church and a house of
worship on the Hackensack, there are facts still to be stated which
put the matter beyond all question.
This French Church was established, if at all, about the year
1682 and when as yet, as we have seen, there was no church in the
whole region nearer than the one at Bergen. But just four years
after this, in 1686, a Dutch Church was formed at Hackensack only
three miles distant.* Now if these Huguenots had not had a
church of their own and services in their own language, would they
not at once have joined this new church which was placed by their
door? For four years they had been accustomed to ride nearly
twenty miles to attend a Dutch service. Why then did they not
connect themselves with this Hackensack Dutch Church, planted:
close by them, and to which their neighbors belonged? Because,
we doubt not, they had provided themselves with a church edifice,
and services in their own tongue which they preferred, and prob-
ably they had a preacher quite as frequently as the Dutch who had
no church edifice, and who were visited at long intervals by the
ministers of the word. The records of the Hackensack Church
show that for ten years, from 1686 to 1696, only one person bear-
ing a Huguenot name, Abram DeVouw, had united with it. Doubt-
less the French were accustomed during all those years to meet on
every Lord's Day in their own house of worship, and when a min-
ister was present, it was a day of gladness indeed.
But the breaking up and end of this little congregation were
at hand. It was obliged to yield to the stern logic of circumstances.
The end came in 1696. The patriarch of the colony had died in
1693. His second son, David, Jr., had died before that time. The
colony was not increased by accessions of French families, for such
accessions were balanced by removals. Rev. Mr. Daille removed
in 1696 to Boston. The Dutch people were coming in rapidly and
occupying land on every side. Their young men married the
Huguenot maidens, and their young women the Huguenot young
men. All the young people married, and married early. The
Dutch element greatly predominated and the French preachers
could not fail to see what must soon take place, and must have felt
little encouragement to continue their visits which had been so
welcome and precious. Cheerfully, no doubt, did they advise them
to cast in their lot with a church so like their own in doctrine, order
and ritual, and whose language was not strange to them, but in
which they had often worshipped in New York and Bergen.
The brave little church was obliged to succumb, and it was
swept by the irresistible tide of circumstances into the Dutch
Church of Hackensack. The organization perished, but the mem-
bers joined themselves and became elements of strength to the
church then newly-formed, but which has been a noble witness for
God through the succeeding generations for 200 years. They
*For an account of the organization and history of this church and a record of its members-
from the first, see Historical Discourse by Rev. Theodore B. Romeyn, D.D., New York, 1870.
17
joined themselves to these Dutch people, not after they had erected
and paid for their church building, that thus without cost to them-
selves they might enjoy the fruit of the work and self-denial of
their neighbors. No, they cast in their lot with them just when
they were arising to build, so that they might have the privilege of
sharing in the work and the sacrifice. In the walls of that first
church building of IIackensack were placed hewn stones, in
which were cut the initials of a number of those who were promi-
nent in the work. These stones have been carefully preserved and
placed in the walls of every church building subsequently erected
by that congregation. They may be seen to-day in the Eastern
wall of the "Church on the Green." On one of these stones is
engraven the outline of a heart, enclosing the letters D. M. R. (Des
Ma Rest) and the date 1696, on another J. D. R. (Jan Du Rij).
Another has an inscription which, by a little aid of the imagina-
tion, may be pronounced the initials of Jacques La Rou. These
inscriptions show how fully these French families had identified
themselves at that time with the Dutch Church, and their recog-
nition at once as important members of it.
And to establish our position in regard to the existence of a
French Church beyond all doubt, we turn to the record of commu-
nicants of the Church of Hackensack, which has been carefully
kept from the time of its organization in 1686. We find on it the
following entries:
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
1696. Op den 5 April met attestatie van de Fransche Gemeente tot ons over-
gekomden, dese navolgende:
Jacques Larou.
David des Marest, soon van Jan, met zijn vrouw
Antie Slot.
Marritije (Jacobse) Van Winckell, huysvrouw van Jan De Marest.
Mary de Maree, huysvrouw van Jacobus Slot.
1696, den 10 July zijn met attestatie van de Franscheke tot dese ghemeente
overgekomden:
Jan de Marest.
Jan DuRij met zijn huysvrouw Rachel Cresson.
David des Marest filius David, ook van)weduwe Junior.
Jacob De Groot met zijn huysvrouw, & Nieuwe York
Margrietie Jans.†
•
nine
In these two detachments deen members
from the French Church to the Dutch in 1696.
comprised the entire membership at the time. Indeed the peculiar
phraseology of the record indicates that there was a coming over of
David des Marest, son of John, with his wife
Antie Slot.
*For cuts of these inscriptions see Romeyn's discourse.
+TRANSLATION.-On the 5th of April, 1696, by certificate from the French Church which
has come over to us, the following:
Jacques La Rou.
came by certificate
These, doubtless,
John De Marest.
John DuRij (Durie) with his wife Rachel Cresson.
David des Marest, son of David, also of the widow of Juntor.
Jacob DeGroot with his wife
New York
Margrietie Jans.
Marritije (Jaeobse) Van Winckell, wife of John De Marest.
Mary de Maree, wife of Jacobus Slot.
On the 10th of July, 1696, by certificate from the French Church which has come over
to us:
18
THE HUGUENOTS ON TIIE HACKENSACK.
the whole church.
Henceforth for a little while the French Bible
was read and the French Psalms were sung in a few families chiefly
by the old people. French speedily became a strange tongue to
the rising generations.
Did this French Church have a distinctive name or title? We
doubt not that it was known in the neighborhood as the French
Church simply, for there was no other. It was so designated, we
have seen on the record of the Dutch Church of Hackensack. Mr.
Riker speaks of it several times as the Church of Kinkachemeck.
The authority for this is found in an entry on the marriage record
of the church of Bergen. The marriage of Daniel Du Voor and
Engeltie Cornelis was recorded at Bergen, February 28, 1692-3, and
it is noted that they had come with testimonials from the French
Church at Kinkachemeck, in the County of Bergen. But Kinkach-
emeck, or Kinderkamack, as the documents of the time usually
have it, was then as now the name of the tract lying on the West
side of the Hackensack River, and extending two or three miles.
Northward from Old Bridge. Du Voor went to Bergen from his
home at Kinderkamack, and he belonged to the French Church.
It was natural that the name of the neighborhood should on the
record be joined to the church. It is certain that the church build-
ing was on the Eastern side of the river and that Kinderkamack
was then as now on the Western side.
W
Perhaps, in my opening remarks, I spoke too disparagingly of
my theme, as being of family rather than general interest. Per-
haps the influence of this little colony was far more extensive and
permanent than would be thought from a hasty glance at its short
history.
Our historians tell us that Northern New Jersey was settled.
chiefly by the Dutch, and they know nothing of a Huguenot ele-
ment as a factor of any importance in the population of that part of
the State. But suppose that you were to-day to remove from the
Northern part of Bergen County, from Passaic County, from parts
of Essex, from Rockland and Orange Counties, New York, all who
bear the names of the original Huguenot settlers on the Hacken-
sack, and of those who soon after located in their neighborhood as
Terheuns, Loziers, De Motts, Debauns, Ferdons, etc., you would
vacate a very large proportion of the houses and farms in that
extensive district. And if, in addition you were to remove all,
who though bearing Dutch names, have quite as much of French
as of Dutch blood in their veins, you would create a wilderness
almost without inhabitants, for you would carry away the Voor-
heeses, Bantas, Brinkerhoffs, Blauvelts, Van Wagenens, Bogerts,
Van Buskirks, Ackermans, Hoppers, about all of them.
This little colony was a permanent one. The French language
passed away and the French Church was absorbed by the Dutch.
The plans of David des Marest in regard to the enlargement of the
colony failed, but he and his three sons came to stay, and they
planned for homes for their children and children's children. Their
work was never destroyed, nor were their plans interfered with by
↓
19
hostile savages. They held what they had obtained at the begin-
ning and constantly added to their possessions. The three brothers,
Jean, David and Samuel, had an aggregate of thirty-four children,
thirty of whom, twelve sons and eighteen daughters, married and
became fathers and mothers of families which were for the most
part entitled to the Old Testament benediction. The two thousand
acres of the patent of 1686, as well as the lands previously secured,
were speedily occupied, and to these were added tract after tract to
the North and West, extending into Rockland and Orange Coun
ties, New York, and what is now Passaic in New Jersey. Before
the Revolutionary War some of the family emigrated to Adams
County, Pennsylvania, joining the Conewago settlement near
Gettysburg. One of these emigrants, Samuel, moved thence to
Harrod's Station, Kentucky, and a considerable number of his
descendants are to be found in that State. Some went from Cone-
wago to Western New York, where many of their descendants
still have their homes. One, Guillaume, who was a Loyalist, went
to Canada after the Revolutionary War, and on lands granted him
by the Crown, founded the town of Demorestville, on the Bay of
Quinte, Prince Edwards District.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
The first movement from the original home at Old Bridge was
of course Eastward toward the Hudson, and so lands were cleared
and farms occupied at Schraalenberg, Tenafly and Closter, and
Northward toward Tappan, and as early as 1724 it was found
necessary to establish a church at Schraalenberg for the convenience
of the people of that neighborhood who had been accustomed to
worship at Hackensack. The names of the original members of
this church were to a large extent Huguenot names, and the same
thing is true of the second church which was established there in
1756. And if you were to examine the. records of those two
churches from the dates of their organization down to the present
day, you would find in every generation, including the present, a
very large proportion of Huguenot names among the baptized, the
married and the communicants. And the same is to a great extent
true of all the churches in that region.
The religious, moral and social influence of this Huguenot ele-
ment cannot well be estimated. The descendants of these pioneers,
numbering not a few thousands, have as a body been zealous sup-
porters of the church, pure and temperate in their lives, of integrity
unimpeached and honor untarnished, true in all their worldly rela-
tions, and patterns of the virtues that adorn the ordinary walks of
life, and in a word, good members of the Commonwealth. It has
often been remarked by strangers visiting the part of the country
occupied by them, that it would be difficult to find a district of the
same extent exhibiting more decided proofs of thrift, of general
comfort and of contentment, and in which poverty seemed to be
unknown.
Surely the province of New Jersey was not damaged by the
entrance and settlement within her borders of the HUGUENOTS OF
THE HACKENSACK.
APPENDIX.
I
Chronological Table.
1620. David des Marest (son of Jean), born at Beauchamp, in Picardy, about this
year.
1643. David des Marest and Marie Sohier, were married at Middleburg, Zeeland,
(French Church).
1645. Jean, son of David, born at Middleburg.
1653. David, son of David, born at Mannheim.
1656. Samuel, son of David, born at Mannheim.
1663. David des Marest, wife and four children, arrived at New Amsterdam, in the
Bontekoe, and settled on Staten Island.
1665. The family removed to New Harlem.
1677. June 8th. Tappan Indians convey lands on the Hackensack to David des
Marest.
1678. The des Marest families remove to their lands in New Jersey, and unite with
the Dutch Church of Bergen. In the same year probably, sixteen acres
lying west of the Hackensack, were purchased from the Indians.
1679. Sir George Carteret died. His property was to be sold for the benefit of his
creditors.
1680. Gov. Andros, of New York, claimed jurisdiction over New Jersey, and
seized and imprisoned Gov. Philip Carteret.
1681. Gov. P. Carteret restored; surveys of lands made for David des Marest, of 16
acres W. of Hackensack river, and of various tracts on the Eastern side
for himself, his sons and Nicholas De Veaux.
1682. March 14th. The Duke of York confirms the sale of the Province to the 24
Proprietors.. Probably in this year the Hackensack Huguenots with-
drew from the Dutch Church of Bergen, and built a church for them-
selves, and held services in French, enjoying occasionally the visits of
Huguenot preachers from New York City.
1686. The lands on the West of the Hackensack from New Bridge to Kinderka-
mack, surveyed for various parties. Also on the East of the River, 2010
acres patented to David des Marest, Sr., extending eastward to the
Tenakill.
1689. David des Marest, Sr., makes his Will, in which he declares himself of the
County of Essex, showing that he must have removed across the river
after the year 1686, for the deed given him that year represents him as a
citizen of Bergen County.
1693. David des Marest, Sr., died. Oct. 16th the heirs made a division of the
property.
1696. The members of the French Church joined the Dutch Church of Hacken-
sack. In this year the Dutch congregation built its house of worship.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
21
1704. The petition of the sons of David, Sr., to Lord Cornbury, for a survey of
lands. Capt. John Berry's remonstrance and claim.
Jean des Marest died.
ها
1719.
1724. A Dutch Church organized at Schraalenberg.
1728. Samuel des Marest died.
1756. Second Church of Schraalenberg (North) formed.
1
II
The First. Three Generations of the des Marest
Family in this Country.
FIRST GENERATION.
David, son of Jean des Marest, was born at Beauchamp, in Picardy, about
the year 1620.
Marie, daughter of Francois Sohier, was born in Nieppe, a town of Hainault.
They were married at Middleburg, on the island of Zeeland, July 24th,
1643. Their children were:
SECOND GENERATION.
1. Jean, baptized at Middleburg, in the French Church, April 14th, 1645. He
married, 1st, Jacomina, a daughter of Simon Dreuns, Sept. 9, 1668. 2d.
Marritje Van Winckell, widow of Peter Slot, March 23d, 1692. 3d. Mag-
dalen Laurens, widow of Jean Tullier, December 20th, 1702. He died
in 1719.
2. David, baptized at Middleburg, in the French Church, June 22, 1649. He
died in infancy.
5.
3. David, born at Mannheim, in the Palatinate, in 1652. He married Rachel
Cresson, daughter of Pierre Cresson, April 4th, 1675. He died about
1691.
4. Samuel, born at Mannheim, in
1653, married Maria, daughter of Simon
He died in 1728.
Dreuns, August 11th, 1678.
a child is supposed to have been born at Mannheim, in 1662, and
>
to have died in infancy, after the family had arrived in America.
6. Daniel, born at Harlem, baptized in New York, July 7th, 1666, died January
8, 1672.
THIRD GENERATION.
Children of Jean des Marest and Jacomina Dreuns (de Ruine).
1. David, baptized in New York, Aug. 18, 1669, married Antie, daughter of Jan
Slot, died before 1706. His widow married Jonathan Hart, of Southold,
L. I., Sept. 7, 1706.
2. John, baptized in New York, June 18, 1671, married Debora
removed to Apoughquiminy, Chester Co., Pa.
He
3. Mary, married, 1.
Ely. 2. Jacobus Slot, eldest son of Peter Slot.
4. Sarah, baptized in New York, Oct. 12, 1675, married Abram Canon.
5. Simon, baptized in New York, Nov. 22, 1677. He probably died in infancy.
6. Rachel, mar. Thomas Hyer of Apoughquiminy, May 9, 1702.
7. Jacomina, bap. N. York, April 21, 1680, mar. John Stewart of Stirling, Scot.
land, March 29, 1700. Removed to Chester Co., Pa.
22
8. Lea, bap. at Bergen, N. J., April 18, 1682, mar. Abram Brower, eldest son
of Peter Brower, March 29th, 1700.
Magdalena, mar. James Christie of Iverden, [Aberdeen?] Scotland, Sept.
8th, 1703.
9.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
10. Samuel, bap. at N. York, Nov. 13, 1687.
11. Peter, mar., 1, Marritye Mect, May 14th, 1709.
2, Maria Batton, Oct. 15, 1721.
He had seventeen children.
Probably died in infancy.
Children of David des Marest, Jr., and Rachel Cresson.
1. David, bap. N. York, Feb. 19, 1666, mar. Sara, daughter of Rev. Guillaume
Bertholf, April 24, 1697. He died in 1768.
2. Peter, bap. N. York, April 21, 1677. Probably died in infancy.
3.
Susanna, bap. at Bergen, April 7, 1679; mar., 1, Peter Lubbertse Westervelt,
April 22, 1704; 2, William Teller.
4. Rachel, bap. at Bergen, June 4th, 1680, mar. Andries Janse Van Norden, Aug.
31, 1700. She died before 1710.
5. Jacobus, bap. at Flatbush, L. I., Oct. 30, 1681; mar., 1, Lea, daughter of Peter
De Groot, March 8, 1707; 2, Margrietie Cozine Herring, Sept. 26, 1719.
6. Samuel, mar. Sitsche Siberse Banta, April 21, 1705.
7.
Mary, mar. Wiert Banta, April 27, 1706.
8. Daniel, born in 1685; mar. Rebecca, daughter of Peter De Groot, Aug. 2,
1707.
9. Benjamin, mar. Elizabeth, daughter of Peter De Groot, Nov. 7th, 1713.
Jacomina, mar. Andries Louwrens Van Boskerk, Nov. 7, 1713.
10.
11. Lea, mar. Rynier Van Houten, Jan. 26th, 1718.
12. Lydia, mar. Stephen Albertse Terheun, Oct. 18th, 1707.
Children of Samuel des Marest and Maria Dreuns (De Ruine).
1. Magdalena, bap. N. York, April 21, 1680, mar. Cornelius Epke Banta, Nov. 1,
1699. She died before 1719.
2. David, bap. at Bergen Oct. 3d, 1681, mar. Matie de Baune, daughter of Joost
de Baune, Nov. 10, 1705.
3. Samuel, mar. Annatie Van IIoorn, Aug. 1, 1713.
4.
Peter, mar. Margrietic Cornelise Herring, Sept. 14, 1717.
5. Jacomina, mar., 1, Samuel Helling (Helm), Nov. 10, 1705; 2, Cornelius Van
Hoorn, Jr., July 19, 1710.
6. Judith, mar., 1, Christian de Baune, Jan. 29, 1709; 2, Peter Du Rij (Durie),
July 21. 1711.
7. Sarah, bap. at Hackensack, March 7th, 1697, mar. John Westervelt in 1718.
S. Simon, bap. Hackensack, May 21, 1699, mar. Vrouwtie Cornelise Herring,
Dec. 1, 1721.
10.
9. Rachel, bap. Hackensack, Jan. 12, 1701, mar. Jacobus Peck, Oct. 14th, 1726.
Susanna, bap. Hackensack, April 18, 1703, mar. Benjamin Van Boskerk, March
21, 1725.
11. Daniel, bap. IIackensack, March 25, 1706.
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
III.
From the Marriage and Baptismal Records of
the French Church at Middleburg.
4 JULLET.
Assistes de Jean de Marets et Fran-
cois Sohier, margue de Serville, et
Maguerite Sohier.
14 AVRIL 1645
Jean des Marets flls de David,
tern: Jean Le Long et francoise Sohier
22 JUIN 1649
David des Marets fils de David, tern: Guintin
de Castro, Matthieu Hone... en Ester Carton
1643.
David de Marets fils de Jean natif de
beauchamp et Marie Sohier fille de
francois native de Nieppe
ft. le 19 Juill
Mariee le 24 Jull.
IV.
Entry in Emigrant's Account Book.
(N. YORK COL. Mss. XIV. 116.)
for his wife
& 4 Children of 18, 11, 6 and 1 years
David de Maire from Picardie
for passage and board when he came here on board the Bontekoe, the
16th of April 1663
23
Debet
{.
f. 39
39
97.10
fl. 175.10
V.
Last Will and Testament of David des Marest, Sr.
In the name of God Amen. Know all men by these presents, That I David
Desmarest in the Countie of Essex in New Jersey, Yeoman & Miller considering
Mortality of all men, certaintee of death, and the uncertain time, have concluded to
make my last will and testament out of the free will and well premeditated. In
manner following:
IMPRIMIS I Recomend my Imortal Soule, when Departed out of my body unto
the Merciful hands of God Almighty and my Corps to a Decent & christian burial.
SECONDLY, I make my three sones John, David & Samuell to bee my sole &
only Heirs of my whole Estate Reall and personally, moveable and unmoveable.
credits and actions none excepted, which I shall leave by decease (except the
under mentioned Legacies) for to be Equally Inherited & divided between them
without any distinction or prerogative of the one above the other & after my de
cease to make use of any person or persons whatsoever they paying my Debts first.
THIRDLY, I bequeathe to my maide Anna Counk one hundred acres of land, to
be delivered to her by my sayd three sones, to such place as they shall agree
Amongst themselves to be delivered to her free and cleare, after my decease, out of
my lands.
→
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2
24
THE HUGUENOTS ON THE HACKENSACK.
LASTLY. I make my sayd sones to bee executors of this my Last will & testa-
ment that the premises after my deccase may be mutually observed and performed
Althrough all formalities required by Law, when not herein Expressed.
In Testimonie of the truth I have hereunto sett my hand & fixed my Scale
1689 the 26th of August In the City of New Yorke
David des Marest.
Paull Richard
Giles Gaudineau
Peter Le Grand
Peter D Lattoy
July 30th 1697. There appeared before mee Paulus Richard and Peter Le
Grand & made oathe on the Holy Evangelist of Almightie God that they did see
David Desmarest signe & seale the within written Testament and that he did also
in theire presence publish and declare the same to bee his last will & Testament
Will: Pinhorne
L.S.
The same day, appeared before me Giles Gaudineau another witness to the
within written Testament and on his Corporall oath did declare that David Des-
marest did signe, Seale publish & declare the same to bee his last will & testament.
Will: Pinhorne
To all Christian People, to whome these presents shall come or whome these
present Letters testimonial shall or may concerne The Governour & Proprietors
of the Province of East New Jersey Send Greeting:
Know ye that the last will and Testament of David Desmarest late of the
Countie of Essex Yeouman & Miller deceased and hereunto annexed was tendered
proved, and approved, and the said David Desmarest having whilst hee lived,
diverse goods and chattels to be administered off within the said Province, and the
right of Disposing and granting the administration thereof belonging to us Now
Further Know Ye that (Whereas the sayd David Desmarest deccased left his three
sons (viz., John, David & Samuel Desmarest, Executors In his last will and Testa-
ment and secing one of them (to wit) David is since deceased, Wee have & by
these presents do admit the administration of all and singular the goods chattels
& credits of the said David Desmarest deceased unto John and Samuell Desmarest,
two of the Executors in the above Last will & testament therein named truly &
faithfully to administer of the same, and a full true & perfect Inventory & ap-
praisement of all and singular the Goods chattels & credits into our Secretaries
Office of the sayd Province on or before the Eighteenth day of January next ensu.
ing and also administer thereof according to law and further do make or cause to
be made a true and just account of the said administration on or before the thir
teenth day of August which shall bee in the yeare of our Lord 1698.
Given under the seale of sayd Province this Eighteenth day of August Anno
Dom 1697 in the ninth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord William the Third
over England &c.
•
And. Hamilton
Seal
of
E. Jersey

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