Barnabas VanZandt signature, 1833
According
to his own admission, Barnabus VanZandt was born on 15 November 1755 at Long
Island, New York (1833 pension application).
Note: Various other sources corroborate
the BV birth – the 1840 census reports 1750 to 1760, his age on the 1833
pension application suggests 1754 to 1755, and the 1850 US mortality schedule points
to 1752 to 1753. There are no
sources, primary or secondary, that reveal the names of his parents. However, BV’s parents are believed to have
been Garret Van Zandt and Magdelena Duryea.
As this is my own hypothesis (and many others out there), a brief
explanation of my rationale is presented below.
If you have other beliefs or possibilities, I would certainly appreciate
communication as I am always open for different interpretations of existing resources,
known or unknown to me.
Question – Since BV was born on Long Island, what VanZandt families were on Long
Island in 1755? There were two Van
Zandt/Van Sandt families who settled on Long Island in the 1600s. First, the family of immigrant Gerret Van
Sandt of Long Island all moved to Pennsylvania and Maryland prior to 1700. And second, Dutch immigrant Johannes VanZandt
arrived at Long Island in the 1600s but moved to Albany, New York. He later moved to New York City about 1693 and
then back to Long Island, New York (unknown when he arrived there, he died in
1724 at Newtown, Long Island). Some of his
sons were known to have raised their families in and around Newtown, Long
Island, New York. These sons were born
between 1683 and 1703 and would fit as potential BV grandfathers: Wynant (born 1683), Adam (born c1687),
Johannes (born c1690), Isaac (born c1695), Bernardus (born c1700), and
Cornelius (born c1702). The list below
reveals the Johannes Van Zandt sons from the previously stated list who passed
the VanZandt surname on:
· Wynant VanZandt
had Johannes (1706-1768, of Manhattan), Peter Praa (1708-1776, of NJ and Manhattan),
Tobias (1718-1719), Wynant (1731-1814, of Manhattan), and Jacob (1726-1786, of
Manhattan). Wynant’s sons were all in
Manhattan and none were found on Long Island.
· Isaac VanZandt
married on Long Island, had Nicholas (1718-1805, of Somerset, NJ) and Garret
(c1720-?), and lived at Long Island until he moved to Somerset County, NJ 1720
to 1730. Only two children are known,
there may have been others. Isaac Van
Zandt’s sons had left Long Island long before BV’s birth in 1755.
· Bernardus VanZandt had Garret (c1725-?, of NY and Somerset, NJ), Bernardus (1730-1821, of
NY, York Co, PA, and Somerset, NJ, married 1757), Johannes (1731-1785, of NY
and Somerset, NJ), Wynant (1734-1775, of Somerset, NJ), Nicholas (1738-1805, of
Somerset, NJ), and Isaac (1740-1827, of Somerset, NJ and Ohio). Bernardus was
well connected to Long Island and New Jersey.
Of
these VanZandt children, the only one that produced offspring and fully settled
at Long Island appears to have been Bernardus VanZandt (1700-1778). Of Bernardus VanZandt’s sons, only two were
married by 1755 – Johannes and Garret. Johannes
VanZandt (1731-1785) married Catherine Wortman about 1749 and named his first
son, born circa 1750 (baptized 13 June 1750) – Bernardus VanZandt. The Johannes VanZandt family was at Long
Island until at least 1760 (children’s births between 1750 and 1760 all
recorded at Oyster Bay, Long Island). Father
Bernardus VanZandt was also found in Oyster Bay records during that time. By 1785, this family was in Somerset County,
New Jersey. This Bernardus VanZandt,
born circa 1750 Long Island, has a fairly well documented history and he and BV
are not the same man.
Garret
VanZandt (c1725-?) married Magdelena Duryea 31 December 1743 in Flatbush, Long
Island, Kings County, New York (http://www.ancestralcurios.com/flatbush_marriages.htm). Their
marriage was recorded at the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church. Flatbush was one of six villages to have
originally comprised the borough of Brooklyn, Long Island, New York (also
included was the village of Bushwick) just south of Newtown which is a part of
Queens. Only five children are
attributed to Garret VanZandt – Cornelia, Bernardus, Maritje, Magdelena, and
Johannes (this list is often disputed). There
may have been more. Cornelia VanZandt
was baptized at Flatbush, Long Island 24 November 1751 (the record from the
Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church reads “Cornelia Van Sant baptized 1751 Nov 24
daughter of Garret Van Sant and Mag Durie”).
Maritje VanZandt’s baptism was recorded 6 June 1756 at Readington
Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (uncle “Barnardus” VanZandt was named on
the record). From this information, the
Garret VanZandt family likely relocated from Long Island to New Jersey between
1751 and 1756, which would account for this family’s irregularly recorded
baptism records (few baptism records exist from Flatbush in the early 1750s and
do not exist after 1754). Note: Some VanZandt genealogies recognize a Bernardus
VanZandt as a son of Garret VanZandt, born 1754, and dead in 1817 (no primary
sources, believe the date of death incorrect as these same genealogies state he
had a son Peter, which was a completely different Bernardus).
The
name Bernardus was a VanZandt family name and BV was given the name in honor of
his grandfather. So he had a
grandfather, an uncle, and at least two first cousins named Bernardus. Bernardus was the Latinized version of the
German name Bernard. Dutch families
began using Bernardus in the 17th century.
Those who held the name normally were known by shortened forms – such as
Berend, Bert, Ben, and sometimes Barnabus.
BV’s uncle Bernardus was known to have spent some time in York County,
Pennsylvania between 1785 and 1795 (he was found in records there 1785 to 1793
with his son Peter). York County records
demonstrate the varied use of the name Bernardus – Barnabis, Brandas, Branadis,
Bernard, Barnabas, and Barnibas – but never Bernardus. Records identifying BV throughout his
lifetime varied between Barnadus, Barnabus, Barnabas, Barnabass, Barnadas,
Barabas, Bannabus, Barnabos, Barney, Barnard, Barna, Berry, and Benj. BV reportedly used another name later in his
life – Felix/Phelix. This is incorrect –
more information about the name “Felix” will follow toward the end of the BV
biography.
Very
little is known of BV during his youth.
His father Garret VanZandt appears to have moved the family west to New
Jersey when BV was just an infant (sister Maritje was baptized in Readington Township,
Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1756). Note: Readington Township was only 40 miles
west of Long Island, New York. There was
a Dutch Reformed Church in Readington.
The congregation at that location attended a framed church building that
was erected in 1738. BV’s
grandfather Bernardus VanZandt also migrated west from New York at an unknown
time. Legend reports Bernardus VanZandt
purchased a 226 acre estate adjoining a Voorhees in Montgomery Township,
Somerset County, New Jersey (History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New
Jersey).
Early
Dutch settlers from Manhattan and Long Island sought larger tracts of land that
was tillable. Some sources called west
New Jersey a prosperous agricultural heartland during the colonial period. However, equally important for Dutch fathers
was the potential to purchase land so they had something to leave their
sons. Available land also ensured sons
would remain living close by when they started their own families. Central and west New Jersey offered
opportunities that were not available in New York – all due to rich farmland. The Dutch found Somerset County’s Raritan River water basin
attractive for many reasons. Its rich, virgin soil yielded an assortment of
wild nuts and berries, an abundance of pumpkins, squash, and other garden
vegetables, and nurtured mulberry, pear, and apple trees. Its fields yielded
fat ears of corn and fields of barley, flax, and hemp. Its floodplain meadows
and marshes were prime grazing grounds. Its woodlands teemed with deer, elk,
and plover, partridges, pigeons, geese, quail, ducks, pheasants, and wild
turkeys. Since
so many Dutch families relocated to this area – namely Somerset and Hunterdon
Counties – Dutch Reformed Churches were formed and log cabin buildings erected for
church services to follow population growth and demand.
The
Garret Van Zandt children looked something like this:
· Cornelia VanZandt, born circa 1751, baptized 24 November 1751, Flatbush, Long Island,
Kings County, New York
· Bernardus VanZandt, born 15 November 1755 Long Island, New York
· Maritje VanZandt, born circa 1756, baptized 6 June 1756 Readington Church, Readington
Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey / also reported at New Millstone, North
Branch, & Six Mile Run Church, North Branch, Branchburg Township, Somerset
County, New Jersey (adjoined Readington Township, Hunterdon County) Wonder if Maritje was born before BV since she was baptized only seven months after BV's reported birth. Or, could BV have reported his birth year incorrectly? Possibly 1753 or 1754?
· Magdelena VanZandt, born circa 1758, baptized 29 October 1758 New Millstone North Branch
& Six Mile Run Church, North Branch, Branchburg Township, Somerset County,
New Jersey (adjoined Readington Township, Hunterdon County)
· Johannes VanZandt, (possibly born circa 1762 North Branch, Branchburg Township, New
Jersey – have not seen the church record, if it exists)
Because few Somerset and
Hunterdon County Dutch newcomers were trained as builders or architects, their
homes were erected with the help of their sons and neighbors. They built with
materials that were available like wood or rubble, bound by clay. The clay mixture was often reinforced with
hogs hair or straw. Many used stones and
still others built with bricks. In 1750, for example, a settler built a
one and a half story brick home on a rise along the Raritan River, amid
hundreds of acres of farmland. The home faced south to capture the warmth
of the winter sun and featuring a packed-dirt cellar, rough rafters overhead,
broad wooden floorboards, and 18 inch-thick walls using stone and clay.
The
dark red line to the right is the boundary between Hunterdon and Somerset
Counties. Readington
From baptism dates and
locations, the Garret VanZandt family appears to have initially lived in the
vicinity of the Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey – Branchburg
Township, Somerset County, New Jersey area in 1756 and 1758 (baptism records for
two Garret VanZandt children recorded at both the Readington Church and North
Branch Church). These townships
represent the border between Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. The main road west from New York also goes
right through this same area on the path between Bound Brook, Somerset County
and Sidney, Hunterdon County. Since this
area was very rural at the time, the BV family could have lived anywhere within
5 to 10 miles of these churches. They
would have allegiances to a church based on proximity but when new churches
formed to serve growing communities, church affiliations might change. Note:
one of the baptism records is reported in a database that holds baptisms from
three churches – New Millstone, North Branch, and Six Mile Run. Since New
Millstone and Six Mile Run Churches are in southeast Somerset County, North
Branch seems the more likely location of the actual baptism since it is in
closer proximity to Readington.
Interestingly, the Readington Dutch Reformed Church was known commonly
known as the Dutch Reformed Church at North Branch prior to the Revolutionary
War.
According to the US Census
Reconstructed Records that come from the New Jersey Governor’s Records in the
New Jersey State Archives, Garret Van Zandt was at Bridgewater Township,
Somerset County, New Jersey in 1760. Note: BV grandfather Bernardus Van Zandt was
known to have purchased land and lived in Montgomery Township, Somerset County near
Blawenburg about 15 miles to the south of the Readington, North Branch, and
Rariton area. There were no other
Garret VanZandt men in this family that were alive (there were other Garret
VanZandts but they came from a different line that was in Pennsylvania) and
therefore this was Garret VanZandt, father of BV. Bridgewater Township was in Somerset County
and adjoined the Branchburg Township to the east. As seen in the above map, the western part of
Bridgewater Township, Somerset County was very close to the north parts of
Branchburg Township, Somerset County and the northeast portion of Readington
Township, Hunterdon County. An early
Dutch Reformed Church was formed in the early 1700s by Theodorus Frelinghuysen
at Raritan along the Raritan River. This
church served New York Dutch who immigrated west to farm and live in more private
and Christian surroundings. Raritan is
in Bridgewater Township and is in very close proximity to Branchburg and
Readington Townships. In addition to the
church at Raritan, Frelinghuysen was also the minister at Six Mile Run Church
and North Branch (Readington) Church (he was dead by 1748). Frelinghuysen’s son John Frelinghuysen became
the minister for the Readington Dutch Reformed Church, aka the Dutch Reformed
Church at North Branch. Note: the North Branch community did not
have its own church prior to the Revolutionary War and Dutch from that area
generally were members of the congregation at Readington, hence the name.
In
1760, BV was just 5 years old. He lived
in a Dutch family, in a Dutch Community, and attended a Dutch church. The family spoke and wrote Dutch but were
bilingual (considered normal for Dutch families living in Dutch communities at
this time). He was a British subject
living in a British Colony and therefore learned to speak and write English to
survive and thrive in a predominantly English speaking country.
Note: The time between Cornelia’s
baptism at Flatbush in 1751, the lack of baptismal records after 1754 at
Flatbush, the baptism of Maritje at Somerset County in 1756, the baptism of
Magdelena at Somerset County in 1758, the record of father Garret in Somerset
County in 1760, and the statement from BV himself that he was at Hunterdon
County in 1776 help researchers validate the family information and their
movements.
The American Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Uncle
Wynant VanZandt lived in Hillsborough Township (his 1775 will states
Hillsborough was his home), the township in Somerset County between Branchburg
Township, Bridgewater Township, and Montgomery Township. In 1775 he was about 40 years old and was
married to Ann Lane at Somerset County (her family was in Somerset
County). Between 1765 and 1775, five
children were baptized in Somerville (Bridgewater Township) and Harlingen
(Montgomery Township). In late 1775
(before 20 November), Uncle Wynant died leaving a 35 year old wife and 5
children under 10. He left no will (died
intestate) and his wife Ann “Vanzant” served as administrator of his estate on
20 November 1775 (New Jersey Abstracts of Wills).
By
1776, BV was 20 years old and living in Hunterdon County, New Jersey (1833 BV
Revolutionary War pension application), the county immediately west of Somerset
County. Specifically, BV made his home
in Readington Township about 40 miles due west of Long Island, New York. Note:
1778 tax record reports Bernardes Vansant in Reading, Hunterdon County. This was not uncle Bernardus, he was in
Hillsborough Township, Somerset County at that time.
Most
Dutch living in the American colonies were supporters of independence from
England and formed the backbone of the patriotic cause. These patriotic Dutch were members of the
Dutch Reformed Church, who as Protestants, shared a belief system with
Presbyterians. Reformed and Presbyterian
churches had a long history in the American Colonies and the British considered
the patrons deep-rooted colonists.
During the early 1770s, New Jersey Dutch were quick to transition away
from a Royal English government – which
did not sit well with England. Early
English aggression in 1775 focused on raiding assumed rebels in and around New
York and the Dutch Reformed Church members received their share of hostilities.
Jersey Dutchmen were too prosperous and
well-settled to become professional soldiers and therefore took to serving as
militiamen. They were set on defending
colonists’ rights and hoped that the issues between the American colonists and
England would be worked out in due time.
Serving as militiamen, who could be called on only in time of need,
allowed the Jersey Dutchmen to support the colonies on their own terms.
BV
volunteered as a Hunterdon County militiaman early in the American Colony’s
fight for independence from England (Barnabas VanZandt 1833 pension
application). During his service, BV
served eight militia tours, primarily in New Jersey but possibly in parts of
New York and Pennsylvania (Barnabas VanZandt 1833 pension application). According to the “New Jersey Register of
Officers and Men,” “Barnabas” was not the only VanZandt from New Jersey serving
in the Revolutionary War. The Register
also listed John, Peter, and Jacob Vanzandt (all were indexed and reported). Note: the
information in this source, according to the book description, came from
various New Jersey records such as original manuscripts, Continental company
rolls, officer diaries, paymaster memoranda, quartermaster reports, treasury
receipts, and soldier pay rolls.
Another resource listed more detail about each of these soldiers. The information from all compiled sources is
as follows:
· Barnabas Vanzandt
(son of Garret, from Hunterdon County)
· John Vanzandt (son of Uncle Johannes) – Captain Simon
Duryea’s company, First Battalion, Somerset County militia
· John Van Sant (son of Uncle Johannes) – Captain Conrad
Ten Eyck’s Company, Second Battalion, Somerset County militia
· Peter Vanzandt (son of Uncle Bernardus) – Somerset
County (there was another Peter from
Middlesex County – same??)
· Jacob Vanzandt (not sure who this is or where he was from)
Note: Captain Simon Duryea was from
Blawenburg, Montgomery Township, Somerset County, New Jersey and is believed to
have been a cousin of BV (his mother was Magdelena Duryea). Conrad Ten Eyck was from a Montgomery
Township, Somerset County family that was connected to grandfather Bernardus
VanZandt of Montgomery Township.
In
the following descriptions of BV’s tour activities, I took the liberty of
trying to fit his description into occurrences that actually happened. Pension applications were filled out 50 to 60
years after the fact and are notorious for being “accurate-ish.” Dates, when given are usually incorrect and
other descriptions lack dates because they just could not remember. Some tour activities were mixed up,
considering the order they remembered, because these men served so many tours. And hence, the order in which they were
presented in the pension does not denote the order in which they occurred. So, read BV’s tours and take note of the
“maybes,” “possiblies,” and “probablies.”
The
Revolutionary War officially began in 1775 but did not become real for New
Jersey citizens until 1776. In late June
1776, British and Hessian soldiers arrived by boat in New York harbor. By the end of the summer, Staten Island,
Manhattan Island, and Long Island were firmly in the hands of the British after
significant battle victories over the American Continental Army. Food and other supplies were not unlimited in
New York and the British targeted nearby New Jersey as the beneficiary of heavy
raids to support themselves. New Jersey
men became active in the war, partly as pro-patriots but mostly as pro-New
Jersey and anti-British.
New
Jersey men readily volunteered to protect their homes from British
raiders. Throughout the summer and into
the fall 1776, the New Jersey militia was in continuous operation. Supposedly, an estimated half the eligible
men in the state were active each month (at least when there was imminent
danger). In about July 1776, BV
volunteered for the standards New Jersey militia term of one month (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour One,
estimate of date based on application and war activities, his application lists
that the service took place in spring 1776 but description matches a July date). He was placed in a company under Lieutenant
Peter Howell and marched east toward New York (unknown captain of the company,
they were certainly in the second or third Regiment of the New Jersey Militia,
both recruiting volunteers from Hunterdon County). His militia company arrived at Perth Amboy,
the southern crossing point from Staten Island, New York into New Jersey. There the company joined other militia units
to build breastworks to improve New Jersey’s defensive position. Starting in June, British were camping on
Staten Island across from Perth Amboy and breastworks allowed the Americans to return
enemy fire from safe positions. Once
BV’s one month term was complete, he was discharged and returned to Hunterdon
County. The summer was a critical time
for farmers as they worked to provide for their families and could not be gone
for extended time. However, BV would
know that the distressing and dangerous situation would call for him to
volunteer again. The pay, 45 shillings
for 30 days service, helped ease the stress of lost time on the farm. Pay for service was issued with Continental
currency.
Actual BV description: 1. Some time in
the spring of the year 1776 he volunteered for one month, under the command of Lieutenant Peter Howell, was marched to
Perth Amboy, was thus employed in building breast works, served one month, was
thus discharged, and returned home.
Continental
currency was the primary form of payment for war service since the American
Colonial government was severely lacking in funds. Colonial states did not have their own form
of money (since they were technically part of the England) and therefore had no
money reserve. The Pound, Shilling, and
Pence money format used in England was popular in New Jersey and so the state
issued colonial bills of credit, or paper money, in those denominations to
recruit volunteers for service. In most
states, concern grew about the acceptance of the currency as a form of payment
and the value dropped severely, almost to a point of worthlessness. However, New Jersey honored currency. The Pound, Shilling, and Pence notes
maintained a value equal to coin. New
Jersey residents all understood the sacrifice soldiers made on their behalf and
citizens accepted cash for the same coin value throughout the war and even for
years beyond.
In
the fall of 1776, probably in November or December, BV again volunteered for
service as a minute man (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour Three). About this time, New Jersey residents were
becoming discouraged with how little effect General George Washington’s Army
was having on the British-Hessian Army alliance. Washington’s army was then retreating away
from New York toward Trenton, New Jersey, followed closely by a large British
army. British sights were set on ending
the short Colonist’s Revolution. During
the retreat, the British raids from their posts on Staten Island into New Jersey
continued and New Jersey men kept volunteering.
BV served in Captain Carhart’s company of the 2nd Regiment of the New
Jersey Militia, a regiment formed solely of Hunterdon County men (Cornelius and
Jacob were both captains of Hunterdon, Jacob was consistently active as captain
in the 2nd Regiment of the New Jersey Militia).
The 2nd Regiment of the New Jersey Militia was led by Colonel Joseph
Beavers of Hunterdon County. The
regiment marched east toward New York and arrived at Bergen Island where they
guarded the New Jersey towns of Jersey City, Elizabethtown, and Newark from
British raiding from Staten Island. While
there, BV’s tour ended, he was discharged, and journeyed back to Hunterdon
County.
Actual BV description: 3rd tour of duty
some time in the fall of the year 1776, he volunteered as a minute man as for
one month as was those days customary, under the command of Captain Jacob Gearheart and Colonel Joseph Beavers, was marched to
Bergen Island as a guard to the town, served one month, was there discharged
and returned home.
General
Washington’s army scored two stunning victories in West New Jersey over the
British and Hessian force before the 1776/1777 winter quarters were established
(Battles of Trenton and Princeton). The
British marched back toward Staten Island and New York City during January and
February 1777 where they would wait the winter out. The retreat of the British and Hessians
landed them at New Brunswick and other New Jersey locations where they thought
food and supplies could be taken. Supporting
a very large army forced the British to continue raiding throughout New Jersey,
even though they were often turned away by small, successful, guerilla-type
skirmishes set up by New Jersey militia.
Somerset County Courthouse at Millstone, a few miles east of Hunterdon
County, was hit several times by invading British parties during winter
1777. A battle later known as the Battle
of Millstone (the location of the Somerset County courthouse) took place on 20
January 1777 when New Jersey militia resisted British plundering. This was the
start of the aptly named Forage Wars that would last throughout the winter
1777.
Possibly
between January and February 1777, BV volunteered again for service to protect
New Jersey (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour Four, date only an estimate). As a minute man, he was placed in Lieutenant
Palmer’s company, marched to Elizabethtown Point, and assumed guard duty (Lieutenant Palmer is unknown but there was
definitely a Lieutenant Palmer Roberts in the 2nd Regiment of New Jersey
Militia – Hunterdon, however, there was a Palmer family in Hunterdon in 1780 –
unknown first names). After one
month, he was paid 45 shillings and returned home. By stating “guard duty,” BV must having been
helping guard New Jersey in some way from plundering British soldiers.
Actual BV description: 4th tour of duty,
he entered the service as a volunteer as a minute man for one month under the
command of Lieutenant Palmer,
marched to Elizabethtown Point forts state of New Jersey, was stationed as a
guard then served his one month, was there discharged and returned home.
For
a chance to again protect his homeland and make 45 shillings, BV volunteered
for another month-long tour, likely between April and July 1777 toward the end
of the Forage Wars (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour Five, date an estimate). He joined the company of Captain Henry Hewitt
(BV states “Hewlitt”) in the Second Regiment of New Jersey Militia of Hunterdon
and marched to the Mile Run, a tributary of the Raritan River at New Brunswick
about 35 miles ESE of Hunterdon County. The
British occupied New Brunswick with a large force from December 1776 until June
1777 because Washington’s army was only 10 miles to the north in Middlebrook. In June, the British force left New Brunswick
and moved all the way to Somerset County Courthouse in Millstone. The movement was only a trap to lure
Washington’s much smaller army from their defensive position. The ploy did not work and they retreated all
the way back to New York. General John Sullivan
reported in June 1777 that he was concerned a British force was still encamped
at Mile Run and was in that area with an army force to find out. Hewitt’s company, according to BV’s
recollection, joined Sullivan’s Army at Flemingtown, Amwell Township, Hunterdon
County. After a short time there, Hewitt’s
company marched to Somerset County at Peter S?’s Mill (name unreadable in BV
Pension Application 1833). There, BV was
discharge and returned to Hunterdon County with 45 shillings continental cash. Note: A
small battle occurred in April 1777 at Bound Brook, just east of the Somerset
County Courthouse. The New Jersey
militia engaged the British but were dispersed after being overwhelmed by the
minimal foraging party.
Actual BV description: 5. Tour of duty,
he entered the service as a volunteer under the command of Captain Henry Hewitt marched to the Mile Run near New Brunswick,
joined General John Sullivan’s
Regiment at Flemingtown state of New Jersey and then returned to Somerset to
Peter S?ks Mill, served one month, was there discharged and returned home.
BV
volunteered for another militia term about August 1777. The British soldiers had departed for the
conquest of Philadelphia only within the previous month. About 1600 British and Hessian soldiers were
left to defend New York, along with about 1000 Loyalists. These enemies continued harassing, killing,
and stealing from New Jersey families.
BV was attached as a minute man to a company under Captain Jacob
Gearhart of the 2nd Regiment of the New Jersey Militia of Hunterdon County (BV
Pension Application 1833, Tour Two). Note: Captain Jacob Gearhart had helped
secure boats for General Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in
December 1776. Captain Gearhart
marched his company to Elizabethtown, the northern entry point from Staten
Island to New Jersey. General John
Sullivan concocted a plan to surprise the enemy by invading Staten Island. The New Jersey militia present were all
attached to Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen, commander of the 1st Battalion of
the New Jersey Militia of Somerset County. Note: BV stated that his company was attached
to Colonel Frelinghuysen during this tour and entered Staten Island. Under General John Sullivan,
Frelinghuysen’s New Jersey Militia and a select group from Sullivan’s
Continental force snuck to Staten Island in darkness by boat. Their guides misled the group, which alerted
the British who subsequently attacked.
The American force retreated after scoring many kills and collecting
about 140 prisoners. However, a
battalion was left and taken prisoner by the British. The force returned to Elizabethtown where BV
guarded the town from Hessian retaliation (BV stated he guarded Elizabethtown
from the Hessians). At the end of the
month tour, BV was discharged, collected 45 shillings, and returned home. Note:
Captain Jacob Gearhart took a company to Millstone for a one month tour in
February 1777. He took a company to
areas around Newark in June 1777.
Note: Though BV listed this tour second
on his tour list, his description matches the action and circumstances of the Battle
of Staten Island in August 1777 perfectly.
At no other time in 1776 and 1777 was Staten Island entered by New
Jersey militia with Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen. Therefore, the order of BV’s tour
recollection was likely incorrect. Not
surprising considering he was attempting to remember events that had occurred
over 55 years in the past.
BV Tour description: 2nd. Second tour of
duty, he enlisted as a minute man for one month under the command of Captain Jacob Gearheart, marched to
Elizabethtown state of New Jersey, thence to Staten Island, gained the regiment
of Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen,
at Elizabethtown as guard to the town of Elizabeth from the Hessians, served
one month, was there discharged and returned home.
Though
Revolutionary War militias were often tagged as untrustworthy and unreliable,
the New Jersey militia performed admirably on many occasions. They were not
drilled to function perfectly under pressure.
Instead, the New Jersey militia scared the British and Hessians due to
their nontraditional method of fighting, such as from behind trees in surprise
attacks. Large British forces were
usually kept at bay, unsure of how to act, by small bands of militia. General George Washington gave the New Jersey
militia credit for defending themselves valiantly when he wrote in 1777, “The
exertions of the New Jersey Militia have kept the enemy out of her limits (away
from New Jersey), except now and then a hasty descent (retreats were quite
normal for militia units), without a Continental Regiment (they were often on
their own to protect against foraging British and Hessian soldiers).” John Hancock also noted that the New Jersey
Militia distinguished themselves in a “manner that does them great honor.”
BV
re-entered militia service, possibly about May or June 1778, as a volunteer
with Lieutenant Palmer (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour Seven, date
estimated). BV’s company marched to
Trenton and then to Bordentown on the Delaware River just below Trenton. In June 1778, the British abandoned their
occupation of Philadelphia and were marching overland back to defend New York
as the French had recently become allies with the American rebellion
leaders. As the movement began,
Washington’s army shadowed them from the north and issued an alarm to all New
Jersey for militia men to volunteer.
George Washington was planning a movement on the British flank. BV’s service appears to have occurred around
Trenton as Palmer’s company marched back to Trenton from Bordentown where BV
was discharged and returned home. His
regiment participated in the Battle of Monmouth at the end of June 1778. Note: In June 1778, Captain Jacob Gearhart
had a militia company from Hunterdon that marched to Flemingtown, Trenton, and
then to Battle of Monmouth.
Actual BV description: 7th tour of duty,
he entered the service for one month as a volunteer under the command of Lieutenant Palmer. Was marched to the
town of Trenton state of New Jersey then to Bordentown on the Delaware River
thence back to Trenton, served his one month, was there discharged and returned
home.
Maybe
in September or October 1778, BV entered service as a volunteer under Captain
Henry Hewitt (BV Pension Application 1833, Tour Eight, date estimated). This company was under command of Colonel
Joseph Beavers, leader of the Second Regiment of the New Jersey Militia of
Hunterdon. Colonel Beavers had been at
the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778 with his and the three other Hunterdon
militia regiments. July 1778 saw the British
retreat from Monmouth northward and pass through Acquackanonk (today known as
Passaic). Washington attacked them again
from the rear but the British escaped toward Manhattan Island. In September 1778, the British had launched a
large foraging excursion into the Acquackanonk region and Washington had sent a
large army to successfully repel the British.
BV’s service was probably requested based on this intel. BV stated his company “…was marched to
Acquackanonk…we were informed General Washington had dispersed the enemy from
that quarter.” Acquackanonk was about 60
miles northeast of Hunterdon County (BV noted the distance as 150 miles and
wonder if he meant that he marched 150 miles total). Washington would pass the region in late
November on the way to winter quarters at Middlebrook. BV served 25 days during this tour, collected
nearly 38 shillings paper currency (just over three pounds), was discharged,
and traveled back to Hunterdon County.
Actual BV description: 8th tour of duty,
he entered the service as a volunteer for one month under the command of Captain Henry Hewitt and Colonel Joseph Beavers, was marched to
Acquackanonk state of New Jersey about one hundred and fifty miles, we were
informed General Washington had
dispersed the enemy from that quarter, I had served 25 days, was then
discharged and returned home.
The
approximate path from Rariton to Readington (Riddenton) to Alexandria. The approximate location of North Branch a
few miles north is marked as well
The
location of BV’s home during this time was difficult to determine since he had
an adult uncle and cousin of the same name.
A tax record in 1778 noted that “Bernardes Vansant” paid taxes at
Reading, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Hunterdon County NJ Taxpayers 1778-1797). There were no other Vanzandts (or variations)
in Hunterdon County in the year 1778.
Since BV noted later that he was living in Hunterdon County at this time
(1833 pension), this must have been BV. Note: During the mid and late 1780s, Uncle
Bernardus VanZandt removed to York County, Pennsylvania and cousin Bernardus
VanZandt was taxed consistently in Hillsborough County, New Jersey. The Bernardus VanZandt that was in Hunterdon
County in 1778 and then continued to be taxed in Hunterdon County throughout
the 1780s must have been BV.
Grandfather
Bernardus VanZandt died 27 March 1778 in Somerset County, New Jersey (History
of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey). As his estate was known to have been situated
in Montgomery Township, Somerset County (History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties,
New Jersey) – it is not surprising to find that he stated he was from
Blawenburg, a town in Montgomery Township.
His probable location, at the time he wrote his will, was at the estate
he purchased when he arrived in New Jersey.
Legend reports his estate passed to second son Nicholas VanZandt
(History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey) though Bernardus’ will
appeared to have left his 226 acre estate to his youngest son Isaac. Since the other sons were likely well
established elsewhere, this seems probable.
Records demonstrate his other sons lived outside Montgomery Township –
deceased son Wynant had lived in Hillsborough Township (before his death in
1775), sons Johannes, Bernardus, Nicholas, and Isaac lived in Hillsborough
Township, son Garret lived in Hunterdon County.
Will dated 19
March 1778 – Banardus Van Zandt of Blawenburgh, Somerset County, yeoman – son
Johannes, 5 pounds, Wife Bealetye, the interest of 400 pounds. Son Nicholas,
200 pounds. Son Isaac, plantation where he lives, for 2 years. Daughters
Morretye and Margrietye, 150 pounds. To my son Wynant’s (deceased) 3 children
Isaac, 50 pounds, Neeltye, 25 pounds, and Bealetye, 25 pounds. To all my children Johannes, Garret,
Bernardus, Nicholas, Isaac, Morretye and Margretye, my moveable estate.
Executors – sons Johannes, Garret, Bernardus, Nicholas, and Issac. Witnesses –
Jacob Tenbrook, Leah Nevius, Isaac Voorhees. Proved 16 October 1778. Inventory
1 May 1778 – 673.0.2 pounds made by Sarter and Tenbrook.
In
early June 1780, BV responded to an alarm broadcast throughout north New Jersey
calling for the militia to help protect General Washington’s main encampment at
Morristown. BV entered service as a
militia volunteer and was placed in a company under the leadership of Ensign
Abraham Covert of Hunterdon County (this was who BV identified, BV Pension
Application 1833, Tour Six). Covert was
known to have been the ensign, a fourth level officer, in the company of
Captain John Schenck of Hunterdon (captain in the Third Regiment of the New
Jersey Militia). About 6,000 British and
Hessian soldiers took Elizabethtown in early June and attempted an advance toward
Morristown. The movement was resisted by
New Jersey militia, retreated back to Elizabethtown and reloaded for another push
to Springfield about three weeks later. The
British movement was resisted by the American army under General Nathaniel
Greene. His force included 1,000
Continental troops, supported by about 500 New Jersey militiamen under General
Philemon Dickinson. Among the
Continental troops was the New Jersey Regulars led by General William
Maxwell. BV noted that his company was
marched to Springfield after a state-level “alarm” to gather and “gain” with
General Maxwell’s regiment. At
Springfield, the New Jersey militia gathered in the woods among the trees and
incurred substantial casualties, helping force a British retreat. The fight became known as the Battle of
Springfield. General Washington praised
the performance of the New Jersey militia and wrote “”they flew to arms
universally and acted with a spirit equal to anything I have seen in the course
of the way.” The length of BV’s service at the time, according to his own words,
was about two weeks when he was discharged and returned home.
Note: The actual BV pension tour
description did not denote a time and the service BV performed is only
hypothesized as it seems to have matched the Battle of Springfield. Another pension application (John Clifford of
Hunterdon) describes this action similarly – joined under Captain Gearhart, to
Springfield to meet Dickinson and Maxwell, the British left Elizabethtown for
Springfield, NJ militia fought the British near Springfield, the British
retreated, NJ militia returned to Springfield and were discharged after two
weeks. Another option to fit the BV tour
- In May 1778, General Washington sent General William Maxwell of the New
Jersey Regulars to harass the British as they abandoned their extended campaign
in Philadelphia. The British were
crossing New Jersey for New York. Many
New Jersey militia companies joined Maxwell and throughout May stalked the
enemy.
Actual BV description: 6th tour of duty,
he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under the command of
Ensign Covert, was marched to
Springfield, state of New Jersey on an alarm to gain General William Maxwell’s Regiment, served two weeks, was there
discharged and returned home.
The
Revolutionary War ended in 1783 and life began to settle down a bit. BV is estimated to have married sometime between 1775 and 1780 to an unknown wife. Note: Many
genealogies report his wife’s name was Sarah.
No sources have been found for this information. One pedigree lists his wife’s name was Sarah
Barron from New Jersey, no source listed.
The 1800 census lists 3 individuals 16 to 25 in BV’s household (these
children born 1774 to 1784). If these
were his children, and they were about 16, 18, and 20 years old, and no early
children had died, he likely married 1775 to 1780. Since BV lived among many Jersey Dutchmen and
their families, we can surmise that he married a Dutch woman. Note:
other VanZandts around this time married outside the Dutch community. His family would begin in west New Jersey at Hunterdon
County. BV appeared to have been at
Readington Township in 1778 but by 1785, he was living in Alexandria Township near
the Delaware River, the extreme west Jersey area (Hunterdon County tax records).
Note: The BV marriage date does not match the traditionally surmised birth date of proposed first son Garret VanZandt - 1775. If that birth date is to be firmly believed, then BV may have married before 1775. This biographer believes that Garret VanZandt was more likely born after 1775. For example, in 1800 BV had three children 16 to 25 and it is believed that those three children were his first three children and were in the lower part of that range - probably in the 16 to 20 range.
As
residents of Hunterdon County, BV would be aware of county governing affairs
through the county courthouse. Hunterdon
County did not have a courthouse and court met only once a year in May at a
special courthouse in Trenton, New Jersey.
This location was 30 to 40 miles southeast of BV’s home. Starting in 1780, New Jersey allowed
Hunterdon County court to take place at the John Ringoes Tavern in Amwell, 15
to 20 miles southeast of BV in Alexandria.
And so, Hunterdon County court was held throughout the 1780s at a tavern
in Amwell.
Note: Beginning in 1779, Somerset County
tax records identify BV uncles and cousins – Bernardus, Isaac, Nicholas, and
John (Somerset County, NJ Tax Records). The
brother of grandfather Bernardus VanZandt – Isaac Van Zandt – also came to
Somerset County. He had several male
offspring that were similarly named and probably were mixed into the Somerset
County tax records during this time. These
VanZandts were specifically found at Hillsborough Township. There were multiple men of each of these
names there – Bernardus, Isaac, Nicholas, and John. These records appear to recognize Somerset
County as the unofficial VanZandt New Jersey headquarters. No Montgomery Township VanZandt tax records
were found during this time (not sure if there were any tax records and if
there were, did no VanZandts live there?).
These Somerset County VanZandts were consistently located at
Hillsborough Township, Somerset County until after 1797.
Uncle
Johannes Van Zandt died circa 1785 in Somerset County (New Jersey Abstract of
Wills Probate Record). His probate
record listed his home as Hillsborough Township, Somerset County. Since Johannes Van Zandt was only about 55
years of age, he had not prepared a will and hence likely died abruptly. Without a will his estate was probated as
intestate and Bernardus Van Zandt (brother or son, likely son), of Somerset
County, served as the administrator of his estate. The inventory was reported 7
June 1785 for a total of 149.6.8 pounds in the presence of Johannes’ wife
Catherine Van Zandt and all their children. His wife was a widow at about 53 and all of
his children were adults.
BV’s
father Garret VanZandt was at Alexandria Township by 1785 (they were both found
in the 1785 Alexandria Township tax records).
Depending on their exact location, BV and Garret probably lived within
ten miles of Phillipsburg, shown on early maps as a possible crossing location
from New Jersey to Philadelphia (most roads in the area during late 1700s led to
Phillipsburg, at the time still an unincorporated town, crossing Delaware
occurred by boat or ferry). During the
formative years of the United States of America, BV and his father remained in
Alexandria Township (1785, 1786, 1789, and 1790 Hunterdon County, NJ taxpayers
1778-1797 - Alexandria Township). BV was
noted on these the tax records as “Barnet.”
Note: In Hunterdon County Tax Record
1778-1797, Reading Township tax records exist for 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1785,
1789, and 1790. The only VanZandt was BV
in 1778. Alexandria Township tax records
exist for 1785, 1786, and 1789. BV and
father Garret VanZandt were listed in all of these. Therefore, BV moved from Reading Township to
Alexandria Township between 1778 and 1785.
During
their time living in Alexandria Township, some important historical events
occurred. They would have heard the new US Constitution read at the Hunterdon
County Courthouse in 1787 and then were informed that New Jersey became the
third state to ratify that Constitution in December 1787. They later learned that General George
Washington had become their first US president in 1789. BV was 35 by 1790 and his father Garret Van
Zandt was about 65. BV’s family probably
looked like this (from his family data in the 1800 census) – Female 28-34
(wife), Male 6-15 (son Garret), Female 6-15 (daughter unknown), Male 6-15 (son
unknown), Male 0-5 (son John), and Female 0-5 (daughter Catherine?). Note:
There may have been others as this information was taken from the 1800 census -
some children may have died and/or stayed in New Jersey when BV left (because
they were old enough to stay or marry).
On
9 February 1790, BV’s sister Magdelena VanZandt married Abraham DeGraff (Dutch
surname DeGraav) in Somerset County, New Jersey. Magdelena was about 32 years of age at the
time (since 32 was a very late age to marry at the time, wonder if this may
have been a different Magdelena or maybe a Magdelena left widowed after a
VanZandt death). BV’s two other sisters
– Cornelia and Morritje – have not been located and either married with no
record or died. Younger brother Johannes
VanZandt was also not able to be followed and therefore what became of him is
also a mystery at this time.
BV
and his father are assumed to have remained in Hunterdon County throughout the
early 1790s (not sure if tax records for Hunterdon County exist after 1790, the
1790 New Jersey census is lost, they were not in Somerset County according to
their 1790s tax records). In October
1790, Hunterdon County established Flemington as the location for a courthouse
and a jail. Flemington innkeeper George
Alexander contributed land and in the summer 1791, the Hunterdon courthouse and
jail were completed. Flemington was
about 10 to 15 miles east southeast of the BV home in Alexandria.
The
Hunterdon County, New Jersey militia had been maintained beyond the end of the
Revolutionary War. Fear still resonated
throughout the new nation, especially for those in New England and close to New
York. In November 1792, Hunterdon County
called for an official reorganization of their county militia (Hunterdon
County, New Jersey Militia, 1792). All
free and able-bodied males citizens between 18 and 45 were required to be
enrolled with their county township jurisdictions. Those qualifying could claim an exemption
through physical disability, restricting occupation, existing official
position, or paying a $3 special tax per year.
By March 1793 in the Alexandria Township, 216 men were registered for militia
duty and 28 men were listed as exempt. BV
(Barnet Vanzint) was included in the exempt list, as was possible kinsman
Cornelius Voorhees (Cornelius Vorhise).
BV father Garret VanZandt would not have been listed since he was over
60 years old.
Note: Uncle Bernardus VanZandt and his
son Peter appeared to have moved to York County, Pennsylvania about 1785. There are assorted records from York County
that confirm this notion. However, they
only seemed to have been there for about ten years as by 1795, they disappeared
and may have returned to Somerset County, New Jersey.
In
1794, a Nicholas Van Zandt died. According
to New Jersey probate records, Nicholas Van Zandt died intestate. He was at Sourland, Hillsborough Township at
the time. The estate was proven by John Van Zandt and Nicholas Van Brunt, both
of Somerset County. This may have been the uncle of BV but could have been a
cousin. Whoever it was, this Nicholas
had an extensive estate that included notes that were owed to him from Garret
Van Zandt, three from Barnadus (sic) Van Zandt, two from Isaac Van Zandt, Simon
Duryea, and Theodorus Frelinghuysen. According to the History of Hunterdon and
Somerset Counties, New Jersey, BV’s Uncle Nicholas Van Zandt was died in 1795 at
his father’s estate in Montgomery Township. However, most Van Zandt genealogies state
uncle Nicholas died in 1805. Who died in
1794 and who died in 1805, I am not sure.
After
1790, there are no records known that pinpoint the location of BV in New
Jersey. BV stated he moved from New
Jersey and arrived at Surry County, North Carolina in 1797 (1833 BV Pension
Application). However, BV was there
before that time. Surry County, North
Carolina resident John Barr wrote his will on 25 July 1796 and referred to BV
as friend. Their friendship was such
that he wished to leave his friend BV a horse named Roebuck. Additionally, John Barr wanted BV to serve as
the executor of his will, along with William Richards, after his death. Witnesses,
and possibly neighbors, in Surry County, were William Cook, Leonard Snow, and
Abraham Downey. On 9 August 1796, John
Barr’s will was proven in Surry County (Surry County NC will 1771-1827 3:20A). The will was proven by Abraham Downey and
ordered to be recorded. William Richards
and BV, the two executors named by John Barr, qualified according to law (Surry
Co Court Minute abstracts 1796-1800, page 19).
Note: Anita Lustenberger reports that she has seen the 1796 and 1797 Surry County NC tax lists (1796 film 07519400, image 550 and 1797 film 07519400, image 578). BV is listed on these tax lists in Captain Williams' District - no land and 1 white poll. Since Garret VanZandt, his proposed son, was not listed in either, he is assumed to have been under 21 in both and therefore born after 1775 (his most commonly reported birth year). All white men 21 and over should have been taxed. In 1797, BV had one stud horse worth 10 shillings. Since he had no land, he was almost certainly renting land, and likely on John and/or William Barr's land.
Note: According to ancestry.com, there
were many men and families who left Hunterdon County, New Jersey for Surry
County, North Carolina. Most of those
migrated before BV’s move and he may have followed these men or moved based on
hearing about the opportunity northwest North Carolina offered. A major treaty was signed in late 1794
between the US government and the Cherokee Indian Nation that ended all Native
American issues in North Carolina. Could
this have been motivation for BV’s move south to North Carolina? With a large
young family, he may have been hesitant to put his family in a dangerous
situation.
Note: Many Surry County tax records exists
for years 1789 to 1814. I
only have seen the tax records beginning in 1812 so investigating earlier tax
records may clear up the early BV move and location. Abraham Downey, a man later known to be
associated with BV and live nearby was in these early tax records, as was
Daniel DeJarnette, another man associated closely with BV.
Where
did BV live in his first years at Surry County, North Carolina? A search of Surry County deeds during the
mid- to late-1790s did not identify any deed for VanZandt (or any variation),
nor do deed abstracts identify any VanZandt or variations. Why did BV move to Surry County? Could someone have moved their
previously? Possibly a family member
from his line or his wife’s? Would he
have moved so far from his home in New Jersey without a plan? Without land or a way to make money? Probably not and therefore, he must have
known someone here.
According
to John Barr’s will, he owned land in Surry County on Cobb Creek and Beaverdam
Creek. This was likely the 150 acre
tract Barr had purchased in 1792 from Zena Baldwin along Cobb Creek, Beaverdam
Creek, and a tract of Gilbert Han. The
John Barr land at Cobb Creek and Beaverdam Creek was passed through the will to
his nephew William Barr. Note: Loose estate papers of John Barr are
located at the North Carolina Archives.
These papers may shed more light on BV and his relationship with John
Barr. This area was on the south
side of the Yadkin River near the town called Allen’s Settlement (later called Martinsborough
and Jonesville). These creeks were also
known to be in the same area as Fall Creek.
Note: Was this John Barr an acquaintance
of BV after his arrival in Surry County or were they friends from farther back,
possibly in New Jersey? This friendship
could have been more. For example, John
Barr could have been a family member, possibly the family of his unknown wife. It is a pretty interesting coincidence that,
as mentioned previously, a researcher names Sarah “Barron” (which is incredibly
close to Barr) as BV’s wife…unknown source of course. Little is known of John Barr and he left his
estate mainly to his nephew William Barr which means he had no children and was
probably a single man.
Allen’s
Settlement was a very early town in west North Carolina, especially in the
Surry County region. The small
“settlement” prior to 1800 was the location of an iron forge operated by a man
named Allen. The iron forge was situated
on a bluff overlooking the Yadkin River from the south bank. Around the iron forge, a few ambitious
American Revolution-era settlers erected a trading post, a tannery, grist
mills, lumber mills, a cotton mill, and eventually structures that accommodated
a school and a doctor. There was also a
small garrison where militia met during the Revolution and in other times of
need. By 1800, Allan’s Settlement was
known as Martinsborough. This was likely
in honor of brothers Salethiel and Obediah Martin, who were living in the
area. Legend states that Salethiel stood
over seven feet tall and assumed the rank of captain in the North Carolina
militia. He was a staunch patriot and
his aggressive actions against Tories earned him the nickname “Terror of the
Tories.”
A Surry
County, North Carolina court record from circa 1799 may further triangulate BV’s
whereabouts in his first years at Surry County.
BV, called “Barney Vanzaunt” in the record, was appointed a jury member
with 20 other men to view a road leading from the Island Ford (or Trading Ford
at Big Island) on the Yadkin River to the road between Big Mitchel’s River (now
just Mitchells River) and Rockford (at White Rock Ford on the Yadkin River). These men were to determine the best course
for the road and if they began to make improvements for the road, they were to
report back to the court (Surry Co Court Minute abstracts 1796-1800, p108). Note: Considering the locations, this road could
have gone approximately south to north, probably bisecting present-day Yadkin
County, North Carolina. Normally, men
were recruited for road work by considering their proximity to the road.
As
previously stated, very little is known about BV’s wife and children. The 1800 census gives the first glimpse at what
this family may have looked like. At
nearly 45 years of age (listed as Male, age 45 and above) at the time of the
census, BV had a family whose growth was only recently slowing. His wife, unknown name, was listed as a
female between the age of 26 and 44 (she was probably between 40 and 44, based
on future census reports). All eight of
the additional members of the BV household were younger – male 16-25 (son Garret
VanZandt), female 16-25 (unknown), male 16-25 (son William VanZandt), male 10-15 (son John
VanZandt), female 10-15 (daughter Catherine VanZandt), male 0-9 (unknown), female
0-9 (unknown), and male 0-9 (son Felix VanZandt) (1800 NC Census, p697). BV was listed as “Barnabas Varzant” and there
were no other VanZandts, or other spelling variations, in Surry County during
1800.
William Vinesett (sic) witnessed a
deed in Surry County dated 11 March 1801. There were no Vincents or Williams
with a surname that started with V in the 1800 census. Was this BV's son, one of
those from the 1800 census who were 16 to 25? This is certainly possible, he could have been – born about 1780 to 1783 (unknown
male 16 to 25 in BV’s 1800 household), then age 18 to 21 by 1801, and then left NC between 1801 to
1810...there were no William VanZandts (or variations) in 1810 NC. This actually fits into a family letter passed down regarding the BV family (Permilia
VanZandt, granddaughter of BV, memories of her father John VanZandt to her family which were later written in a 1903 letter, from Anita Lustenberger). This letter stated that her father (son of BV) had a brother named William VanZandt who lived in Georgia.
BV's son John VanZandt repotedly ran away to Rockbridge County, Virginia in about 1800.
Note: The source mentioned above from Anita Lustenberger was a 6 October 1903 letter from Sallie Tarrant (later Bradley, 1889-1984) to her brother William Theodore Tarrant (1878-1972). "John VanZandt was born in North Carolina in 1785, moved to New Jersey. When he was fifteen he ran away from his father and came to Rockbridge Co, VA. There he was employed by Stephen Hall who married Grandpa Elias DeJarnette's sister and who was the owner of flour and grist mills. He afterwards moved with Stephen Hall to GA where he married Sophia DeJarnette in 1818 and two weeks later moved to Elyton, AL with Stephen Hall and Col. Dupuy, who married Stephen Hall's only daughter, Elizabeth Dupuy. His father married a second time, after he was eighty and the last time he heard from him, he was over 100."
Anita Lustenberger further states that additional information was added to the letter at some time after 6 October 1903. "Ma (who was Permilia VanZandt-Tarrant, born 1821 an daughter of John VanZandt) remembers hearing of only two of grandpa's brothers, one named William who lived in Georgia and another - she forgets his name - who lived in KY. Grandpa had a married sister in GA but Ma can't remember her name."
Garret
VanZandt appeared in Surry County, North Carolina in 1802 but was definitely
there before that time. This Garret is
assumed to be the son of BV. Since he
was not a head of household in 1800, he must have lived with his father
BV. Between 1800 and 1802, this Garret
must have married, begun a family, and set out on his own. Some family histories report Garret VanZandt
to have married 24 July 1802 in Surry County to Polley Shores (North Carolina Marriage
Records). Note: Others report the wife name as Colley Snow (there was definitely
a Leonard Snow in the VanZandt neighborhood, he was named on a deed Garret VanZandt was
involved with in 1802). All of those
family histories state that at some time, he married Mary “Polly” Mosely
(unknown primary source). Note: Most family histories estimate Garret VanZandt's birth year at 1775 but I think it more likely he was born circa 1780.
Surry
County included both Surry County and Yadkin County from 1790 to 1850. The Yadkin River crossed Surry County east to
west.
On
3 January 1802, Garret VanZandt (“Garrett Vanzant”) received a 200 acre tract
on Fall Creek in Surry County, North Carolina from Thomas Lawrence, who lived
at that time in Wilkes County, North Carolina (Surry Co NC Deeds Bk 1, page
297). Garret VanZandt was already living
in Surry County (stated in the deed) and he purchased the tract for 25
pounds. Witnesses were Felix Richards
and Leonard Snow. In February at the
Surry County Courthouse in Rockford, Garret VanZandt received the deed proven
by the oath of Felix Richards (page 49, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts
1800-1804). Note: Interesting that there was a man in the Fall Creek neighborhood
named Felix. Wonder if this man was the
namesake of BV’s last son Felix VanZandt, born about 1799? Also interesting to note is that both these
witnesses were between 20 and 26 years of age.
If witnesses were associated with the purchaser, then this supports the probability
that this Garret was the son of BV. And,
the oath in February seemed to imply that Garret and Felix were acquaintances
and probably connected. Also interesting
to note is that BV was a will executor in 1796 with a William Richards, probable
kinsman of Felix Richards.
The
Rockford Masonic Lodge built in 1797
As
Surry County became more developed, the county legal system became more active
in dealing with citizen’s disagreements.
Court proceedings were well-attended as they served as social
gatherings. Though many citizens elected
to come to watch, other men were required to make the trip on the monthly court
dates. Rockford, located in a low area
on the Yadkin River, was not a bustling town as major roads and towns tended to
remain on higher ground. The Yadkin
River was prone to flooding and larger businesses chose safer locations. Even so, Rockford had a few taverns, hotels,
retail stores, physicians, craft stores, gristmills, a blacksmith, a furnace
forge, a tinsmith, a Mason lodge, and a tannery. Surry County residents living nearby came to
town for necessary goods and services that could not be found within many miles. More than one ferry was operated at the
Yadkin River to provide citizens in south Surry County, like BV, with access to
Rockford for a small fee. A spring was
located in town for fresh water and washing clothes. The permanent Rockford population was 47 in
1800.
Up
to this point in time, BV is assumed to have lived in the vicinity of Fall
Creek (based on later tax records, men he was associated with, and his son’s
land purchase of 1802). In 1802, Garret
VanZandt had purchased 200 acres from Thomas Lawrence on Fall Creek for 25
pounds. On 1 September 1802, he sold a
tract (deed did not identify acres) on Fall Creek to James Morrison of Surry
County (Surry County NC Deeds Bk S page 77).
The sale agreement was for 20 pounds and the land was noted as part of
an original purchase from Thomas Lawrence.
This deed further identified the land as adjoining James Morrison (who
is later identified as a probable close BV neighbor), adjoining Nathaniel
Morrison, and at the mouth of Hicks Branch and at Molasses Branch, both assumed
to be small branches of Fall Creek.
There is another deed from Garret VanZandt at almost the same time (Bk
3, page 83). This deed was to Major
Austill Sr., has not been seen, and is presumed to be more of the Thomas
Lawrence tract he received earlier in 1802.
Note: the deed location as Book 2
page 202 was searched but the number was incorrect. The deed was obviously mis-numbered in the
index. I believe the correct
identification is Book 3 page 83 and that has not been seen.
Fall
Creek was the home to many of the men BV had associations with. Abraham Downey had land on Fall Creek and
Beaverdam Creek, adjoining John Weisner (from court records), Daniel DeJarnett
(the uncle of BV’s son’s wife), Moses Austill (who would be involved in a 1824
deed with BV), and Thomas Spence.
On
a court date in 1803, Samuel Cheeks was defending himself at Rockford
courthouse in a case brought on by Abraham Downey (these were both later found
to be neighbors of BV). Cheeks asked the
court to require BV and Garret VanZandt to appear at the courthouse in Rockford
as witnesses. Apparently the support of
the VanZandts statements was not enough and Cheeks was left the responsible
party in the case. As was normal, the
men called to the courthouse to provide statements were paid for their time and
travel. BV proved to the court that he
spent one day traveling a total of 30 miles (page 133-134, Surry Co Court
Minute abstracts 1800-1804). An actual
travel estimate of the distance between BV’s home at Fall Creek and the
Rockford courthouse is between 14 and 17 miles.
So the court seems to have acknowledged BV traveled 15 miles one way to
court.
Between
1804 and 1805, BV and Garret VanZandt were called again to court as witnesses
for defendant Samuel Cheeks in a court case brought on by John Weisner. In two court reports, BV and Garret VanZandt
received compensation for more travel than the distance of one round trip. This would imply that they had to make
several trips to Rockford. The first
report stated that BV proved he traveled two days and 60 miles (two trips) and
Garret VanZandt traveled two days and 90 miles (three trips) (page 178, Surry
Co Court Minute abstracts 1800-1804). On
another occasion in the same case, BV received compensation for traveling two
days and 60 miles (two trips) and Garret VanZandt for three days and 60 miles
(two trips) (page 14, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts 1805-1809). Garret VanZandt also served as a jury member
in the case that was eventually won on 14 May 1805 by the defendant Samuel
Cheeks. On the same day the
Weisner-Cheeks verdict was reported, BV was noted as having also been a jury
member for a different trial between plaintiff Littleberry Bray and defendant
and winner Nicholas Norton (page 16, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts
1805-1809). Note: VanZandt neighbor Felix Richards also served as a Cheeks witness.
BV
continued to contribute time and service at the Surry County courthouse in
Rockford. In 1805 he was the member of a
jury in a case between Isaac Southard and David Bray Jr. (page 29, Surry Co
Court Minute abstracts 1805-1809). In
1806, BV served as a witness for defendants Samuel and Abraham Downey in a case
again John Weisner. He was awarded
credit for 8 days but only 15 miles (page 64, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts
1805-1809). And in 1808 or 1809, BV was
a witness for the state of North Carolina (as plaintiff) against Abram
Shores. In this case, BV received pay
for two days and 60 miles (page 177, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts
1805-1809). Note: BV had been involved several times with Bray family members. The Bray family was popular in Hunterdon
County, New Jersey during the Revolutionary War and may have been connected to
these Brays.
While
possibly meaningless, a Surry County deed was recorded in March 1807. A witness on the deed was a “Lany Vanzandt”
(Surry Co NC Deeds Bk L page 358). All
VanZandt (and variations) up to this time (except the William Vinesett notation
in 1801) were either connected to BV or Garret.
This Lany could have been a misspelling of BV’s name, the wife of either
BV or his son Garret VanZandt, or a BV daughter. Note: I
suspect this is BV and the name was a transcription error when reading the
witness signature on the original document.
Over
time in Surry County, the BV surname was spelled various ways. In his first years, his surname was spelled
mainly as Vanzandt and Vanzant (with some variation). By 1810, the last name was more consistently
spelled Vanzant and Vinzant (with some variation). This may be why many current descendants of
this family spell their surname Vinzant (particularly in the Felix VanZandt line).
In
1810 or just before, BV’s daughter Catherine Vanzant married James Calhoun
(they lived in Surry County as a young married couple with no children in the
1810 census). This marriage presumably
took place in Surry County but there is no record to substantiate this
hypothesis (some researchers place the marriage in Ashe County but I have not
seen an actual record). No information
has been found for James Calhoun prior to their marriage. Note: They
had a son in 1816 and named him Barnabas Calhoun. And, the name is quite often found spelled as
Cahoon or Cahoun.
The
1810 North Carolina Census allows researchers to make some observances about
the BV family, when compared to the information in the 1800 census. In 1800, the BV family included 10 members
and just ten years later, the family was merely a small group of three.
Note: Son Garret VanZandt later moved to
Georgia and I wonder if another daughter could have married and moved with Garret,
or even before? Would be interested in
knowing who Garret lived near and if they were from Surry County. Son John
VanZandt also made him way to Georgia and also wonder if there may have been a
Surry County connection there, other than brother Garret. Maybe a search would reveal something…since
son John VanZandt reported that he had a brother AND sister living in Georgia
in a written reminiscence left with his daughter Permelia sometime around 1860
to 1873 (from Anita Lustenberger).
Sometime
in the first half of the 1810s, Garret VanZandt left Surry County. Back in May 1805, Garret VanZandt was on a
Surry County jury. This county service
would be his last according to the Surry County court records. His second known daughter, born in 1808, was reportedly
born in Georgia. However, Garret
VanZandt was enumerated in the 1810 Surry County, North Carolina census and
received an item from William Barr in 1813 Surry County court (though this deed
could have been earlier). For sure,
Garret VanZandt had left Surry County and was in Putnam County, Georgia by 1813
(Putnam County, GA tax records). BV’s
son John VanZandt left Virginia and had been in Putnam County, Georgia by 1812
(Putnam County, GA tax records). He had
arrived with Stephen Hall and his wife Nancy DeJarnett-Hall from Rockbridge
County, Virginia (Putnam County, GA tax records). Note:
The entire 1810 Georgia Census and part of the 1820 Georgia Census (Putnam
County specifically) does not exist. John VanZandt (and probably Garret
VanZandt) remained in contact with BV (according to what John VanZandt told his
daughter Permilia VanZandt, Anita Lustenberger)
Note: The VanZandts and the DeJarnett
families appeared to somehow retain a connection. BV was neighbors with Daniel DeJarnett in
Surry County. Then BV’s son John
VanZandt ran away from home in 1800 to work with Stephen Hall, husband of Nancy
DeJarnett (cousin of Daniel DeJarnett).
BV son John VanZandt moved to Putnam County, Georgia with Nancy
DeJarnett-Hall by 1812. In 1813, BV son
Garret VanZandt was at Putnam County living in a district adjoining John
VanZandt. Garret VanZandt lived next to
Reuben DeJarnett (brother of Nancy).
Also living nearby was Elias DeJarnett (brother of Nancy).
Surry
County has tax records that date back to before 1790. In 1812, Captain Obediah Martin was the
leader of a tax district in 1812 that was certainly the location of
Martinsborough or, beginning in 1811, the town of Jonesville. Martinsborough is currently known as the
former name of Jonesville at the Fall Creek area south of Yadkin River. Neither BV nor son Garret VanZandt are
present in this 1812 tax record where they almost definitely lived. This does not mean they were not there but
they may have not owned land and therefore did not pay taxes. Instead, BV may have rented land on which to
farm. In 1812, Captain Obediah Martin’s
District included the following men who were known associations and neighbors of
BV – Major Austill, Wiley Craft, James Calhoon (BV’s son-in-law), Daniel DeJarnett,
Francis Jenkins, James Morrison, Nathaniel Morrison, Obediah Martin, William
Sparks, Isaac Southard, and John Weisner.
According to a search I conducted some time ago, neither BV nor his son
Garret VanZandt were listed as tax payers in Surry County in 1814 (don’t
believe an 1813 tax record exists). Note: Garret VanZandt had bought and sold
200 acres on Fall Creek – the location of the VanZandts – in 1802).
There was also a District of Captain
Joshua Speers in the 1812 Surry County tax records. The district included the Howell family (BV’s
future daughter-in-law family) and the Haines family (BV known acquaintance
Harbert Haines).
BV
had been an acquaintance of John Barr when he first moved to Surry County about
1795 or 1796. When BV served as Barr’s
executor, he likely was involved with William Barr, John Barr’s nephew, who
received his uncle John Barr’s land.
According to the Surry County court minutes, BV and his son Garret
received an item (could have been land, record does not state what) from
William Barr about 1813 (page 95, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts
1810-1814). I suspect that the VanZandts
lived on William Barr’s land after his uncle’s death in 1796. William Barr likely paid taxes where he lived
(Wilkes County) on the Surry County land and the VanZandts had some agreement
to use the tract. Deeds were often
reported to court years after they were actually personally enacted. For example, the deed of land Garret VanZandt
sold to Daniel DeJarnett in 1802 was noted again in 1823. So, BV may have held some ownership of land at
Fall Creek, though it had not been legally filed in court.
Note: This William Barr deed is supposed
to be located in Book M page 415 but was missing or mis-identified in the deed
files.
Note: A Berry Vinzant was called to
court as a witness for plaintiff Obadiah Martin in his case against the
defendant Richard Cunningham in 1815.
Berry Vinzant proved 30 miles and 2 days. Another witness Daniel DeJarnett (BV’s
neighbor, BV’s son John married a DeJarnett in Georgia, 1819) was a witness for
the defendant and proved 90 miles and 6 days (page 3, Surry Co Court Minute
abstracts 1815-1819). At first thought,
Berry must have been Barney Vinzant, a variation of Barnabus. However, several Berry Vinzants appeared around
North Carolina…and also Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Could this have been a son of BV? There was not another VanZandt in the 1810
census nor in the BV household. He could
have lived in another Surry County citizen’s household, possibly as a boarder,
farm hand, or apprentice.
In
1815, BV was taxed in Surry County for the first time (from tax records I have
seen). According to the record, he owned
80 acres on Fall Creek, adjoining James Parks (who himself owned 87.5 acres on
Fall Creek, with a mill, adjoining Francis Jenkins on Peach Bottom Creek). James Parks also owned four other tracts in
this district at Peach Bottom Creek, all containing over 200 acres. BV’s tax was based on owning 80 acres at a
value of one dollar per acre, or 80 total pounds (dropped to 70 pounds in 1816,
then rose to 100 pounds in 1817, 200 pounds in 1818, 150 pounds in 1819). For 1815, BV lived in Captain Moses Swim’s
District. This area was also called the
district of Captain Obediah Martin (1816), Captain Joshua Speers (1817 and
1818), and of Jonesville (1819). There
were no other VanZandt’s taxed in this district or county. Note: I wonder if this was the
land they received from William Barr or if this was the land BV purchased with
an entry in 1817. The amount of land did
not change.
BV
paid taxes on an 80 acres Fall Creek tract but was he the actual owner (no deed
was found prior to 1815)? On 21 January
1817, BV entered a land description for 120 acres on Fall Creek in Surry County. The entry was made at James Callaway’s Entry
Office of Claims in Surry County, presumably in Rockford. This land would later be surveyed to include
82 acres (and according to later tax records, BV was often taxed on 82 acres at
the same location on Fall Creek).
BV’s
survey was organized by BV himself after he received the order to conduct the
survey on 1 April 1818. He recruited
Thomas A Ward, a deputy surveyor for Surry County. On 5 November 1818, Surveyor Ward was
accompanied by chainmen Benjamin Grey and 19 year old Felix VanZandt. Almost certainly along for the survey, but in
an unofficial capacity, was BV. According
to the written survey, the 120 acre tract, once laid off and calculated based
on BV’s description and landmarks, only included a total of 82 acres. The survey perimeter was specifically
described as follows:
o Beginning at
a stake in James Parks corner
o South on
James Parks line 14 chains to a post oak at Harberd Haines (Harbert Hanes) corner
o East on
Harbor Haines line 53 chains/50 links to a post oak at Francis Jenkins corner
o North 50
degrees East on Francis Jenkins line 5 chains/50 links to a hickory on Francis
Jenkins corner
o North on
Francis Jenkins line 11 chains to a black jack on James Parks corner
o West on James
Parks line to the beginning.
BV
made his land entry (21 January 1817) at a time when several of his neighbors
were doing the same. Over the week
before BV’s entry, several men also made entries in the area (there were likely
more, these are the ones I could find). On
13 January 1817, Francis Jenkins (married a Morrison, bondsman was BV) entered
50 acres on Salisbury Road and a corner of BV (Vinsant), along BV’s line,
Haines line, and along the Salisbury Road.
On 16 April, Francis Jenkins again entered 150 acres which appeared to
be nearby. His land was described as
adjoining his own 50 acre tract, Harbert Hanes, down a small creek, along
Morrison’s line, and along the Salisbury Road.
On 16 January 1817, five days before BV, Wiley Craft (who married a
Sparks and was a bondsman for a Sparks) entered 50 acres in a similar location
adjoining James Parks, Harbert Hanes, and meandering down the Beaverdam
Creek. The same day, William Sparks
entered a 150 acre tract adjoining Wiley Craft, Beaverdam Creek, Jonathan
Sparks, Benjamin Sparks, and Sebastian (?).
The
land BV received was for 82 acres. Since
he had been previously taxed on 80 acres, logically BV would have owned
approximiatley 162 acres. However, the
amount of land BV paid taxed for did not change. BV must have started paying taxes on this parcel
of land in 1815. However, if he entered
120 acres in 1817, and the entry was determined to include only 82 acres in
1818, how was that possible? Why did he
enter 120 acres instead of 80?
BV
served as the bondsman for Susannah Morrison when her future husband and BV
neighbor Francis Jenkins made his trip to the courthouse at Rockford on 31
March 1819 (Surry Co, NC marriage records).
Jenkins and Morrison would have been married within a month
afterwards. According to later census
records, she was born about 1796, making her about 23 years of age. Susannah Morrison was reportedly the daughter
of Surry County resident and Fall Creek area resident James Morrison. A marriage bond was an intention to marry,
known today as an engagement. The future
groom filed this bond at the courthouse and usually was accompanied by a
bondsman. The bondsman was normally an
advocate of the bride, and normally her father or brother. Note: Since
James Morrison was known to have been alive at the time, one might speculate
that Susannah Morrison could have been BV’s daughter Susannah VanZandt who had
previously married (1814 to 1818) a Morrison and then was widowed by the death
of this Morrison. However, this is
speculation and no proof is to be found.
In
1820, the North Carolina census reported BV as a resident of Captain Chappell’s
District in Surry County, North Carolina (NC Census p 666). He was, of course, a male greater than 45, as
was his wife (unknown if this is the mother of all his children). By name, the census enumerated BV as
“Bannabas Vinzant.” BV was nearing the
age of 65. One other person lived in BV
home, a male 18 to 26. This was
certainly Felix VanZandt, BV’s youngest son born about 1799 (Felix was not
listed in the census as the head of a household). The census reports only one person farming in
the household. Was this the elder or
younger VanZandt (I think it more likely Felix VanZandt)? BV did not pay taxes in 1820. Instead, his son Felix VanZandt (Feliz
Venzent in the tax record) paid taxes on the 82 acres (value 88 pounds) BV
recently received in the form of a land grant (was this the 80 acres paid for
earlier or was the 80 acres sold and this 82 acres the land that came from the
recent grant?, no records of deed sale).
The land was in Captain Chappell’s District, the same district which BV
was enumerated in the 1820 census. BV
was not listed in the tax record and therefore his son Felix is assumed to have
been given a leadership role at the family home once he had turned age 21. The next year, the 1821 taxes are paid again
by Felix VanZandt (80 acres worth 200 pounds), this time noted as Jonesville
District (the 80/82 acre issue is a bit perplexing, I think it was the same
tract of land from the start). This
year, BV (Barnabos Venzant) was listed beside his son but did not pay taxes. Within this district, James Parks Sr. paid
taxes on 87.5 acres adjoining Barnabas “Vanzant.”
Note: Starting in 1817, North Carolina did not require men over 45 to pay taxes so BV did not get taxed in 1820 and 1821 or any year afterwards.
Daniel
DeJarnett of Surry County presents an interesting story. He arrived in Surry County sometime around
1795 and married Keziah Cook. There was
a Cook family in the Fall Creek area and so it would seem that he came to Surry
County as a single young man and married into a Surry County family. Daniel DeJarnett was about the same age as
BV’s oldest son Garret VanZandt. BV’s
son John VanZandt left Surry County and moved to Virginia about 1800 at age
15. From Virginia, he went to Georgia
and settled near a DeJarnett family and later married two DeJarnett
daughters.
About
1824, BV and his son Garret (who was in Georgia but appears to have made a trip
back to Surry County) signed a deed for the sale of some item (possibly land
but does not state what) to Moses Austill.
The signed deed was proven in court by the oath of Daniel DeJarnett (page
24, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts 1824-1828).
At probably the same time (court record transcripts do not state a
date), Garret (Vinzent) signed a deed for the sale of an item to James Morrison
(page 23, Surry Co Court Minute abstracts 1824-1828). Recall that James Morrison was father of
Susannah Morrison (BV was the bondsman for her husband when he filed a bond for
marriage at the Surry County courthouse in 1818). Garret VanZandt must have returned from
Georgia to Surry County to visit his father and take care of these deeds.
During
the 1820s (date unknown, not revealed in court transcriptions), a new road was
opened leading from Jonesville to Flat Rock Meeting House (present day
Hamptonville). The road was about 10 to
12 miles in distance and may have followed the route laid out in the map above
(a current direct route is not evident).
Flat Rock Meeting House was on the Wilkes Road that ran east to west
toward Wilkesboro, about 25 miles away.
The Jonesville-Flat Rock road began at Jonesville and went to a branch
opposite of BV’s (called Barabas Vinzent) cabin. At this location, the road passed through
enclosures that were not to be opened until the present crop was gathered. Beyond this point, the road then went to a
branch of Moses Austill’s land (Surry Co NC Overseers of Roads 1807-1833, no
1271 and 1272, page 107). Note: A road known as the Salisbury Road was
referred to in surveys prior to this time.
This road likely left Jonesville and followed a southeast direction
toward Salisbury. The road probably
follows a more contemporary road that goes first east of Jonesville and then
south through Hamptonville. The new road
described here was surely to more conveniently connect the Flat Rock Meeting
House with the Jonesville residents.
BV’s
son Felix married into a Jonesville District, Surry County clan – the Howell
family. Felix and Rebecca Howell
(parents unknown but likely Robert, Moses, or David Howell) were married about
1825 (no record, first child born circa 1826, 1830 census four children under 5). From tax records, Felix VanZandt must have
assumed responsibility for the VanZandt farm from his father (he consistently paid
the taxes on BV’s land in 1820 after he turned 21).
Between
1821 and 1830, BV may have moved to Ashe County, North Carolina. Since Felix VanZandt was married circa 1825
to a Surry County Howell, BV may have left Surry County between 1825 and 1830
so Felix could begin his family on his own.
The Felix VanZandt family certainly lived at the BV home (Felix assumed
tax responsibilities). Note: the last tax record I have for Surry
County is 1821 tax and I am not sure if there are more tax records there. Have not seen tax records for Ashe County. In 1830, BV was enumerated in the 1830 Ashe
County census. BV (enumerated Barnabass
Vinsant) was noted as a white male between 70 and 80 (he was approximately 74
years old) living with his unknown wife, who was a white female between 70 and
80. They were by themselves in a
household, odd for an elder couple at this time. Note:
There is a possibility that BV was only visiting his child(ren) and
grandchildren in Ashe County. After
having given his farm and farming responsibilities to the charge of his son
Felix, he may have spent time traveling to visit and be taken care of by his
family. In this scenario, he would still
have been a permanent resident of Surry County.
No records between 1831 and 1840 have been found to substantiate a move
or not.
Note: No Surry County tax records exist for 1822 to
1825
Note: In 1830 Surry County, Felix
VanZandt was a white male 20 to 30 (he was approximately 31 years old) and he
had four children under 5 years old (two males and two females).
BV’s
daughter Catherine VanZandt-Calhoun had moved with her husband from Surry
County to Ashe County, North Carolina between 1812 (husband James Calhoun taxed
in 1812 Surry County, Captain Obadiah Martin District) and 1820 (Calhouns in
Ashe County, North Carolina). The move
was initiated for unknown reasons but could have been to follow a relative –
such as a married sister (there was one older and one younger, unknown
names). Catherine VanZandt-Calhoun and
her husband James Calhoun were living in Ashe County, North Carolina by 1820
(1820 NC Census James Kehoon) and were also there in 1830 (1830 NC Census James
Cohoon). In the 1830 census at Ashe
County, enumerated just a few families away was BV and his wife. Son Felix VanZandt had remained in Surry
County. BV either moved to Ashe County
to live near his daughter Catherine VanZandt-Calhoun or another unknown
daughter. According to the Ashe County
deeds, BV did not purchase land but likely was living at the North Fork of the
New River on the Rich Hill Creek (Calhoun land located there and BV was buried
at that location in 1850), the location of daughter Catherine and her family.
Note: Felix VanZandt’s daughter-in-law
Patsy Calhoun-VanZandt (spelled Vinzent) received a 100 acre tract in an 1866
deed from her brother John C. Calhoun (Ashe County NC Book W page 244). The land was on the North Fork of the New
River at a branch called Rich Hill Creek.
The land bordered families with surnames Roark, Maxwell, Robinson,
Roten, Andrew Morrison, and Larkin Roton.
Some of BV’s grandchildren married into these families. BV’s tombstone is also found in the trees
bordering the Rich Hill Creek.
By
1833, BV was back living in Surry County as a resident (according to his 1833
pension). On 16 May 1833, BV (as spelled
Barnabus Vinzant) “…personally appeared in open court before Thomas Hampton,
Edmond Parker, Elia Marshall, of the court of Surry County…a resident of Surry
County NC aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress (Revolutionary War pension) passed June 7 1832…” Also noted in his pension application was
that he “…he was a citizen of West Jersey when he entered the service of the
United States.” He went on to describe
eight war tours with vague descriptions and a few named officers. Furthermore, he was required to answer a few
specific questions about his past:
The
United States Commission of Pensions agreed to BV’s 1833 application and
awarded him a yearly pension of $24.33. The
total was to be paid bi-yearly (or semi-annually) at $16.16 ½ every March and
September. His pension was listed under
the name “Barnabas Vinzant” starting in 1834 (the pension file name was changed
in 1904 to VanZantt). However, from
pension record payment history, BV received five payments from September 1831
to September 1833. This was issued in
arrears for a total of $60.82. A
certificate of notice regarding the pension acceptance decision was sent in
November 1833 to Surry County, BV’s home at the time. BV’s pension files and payments were routed
through Honorable Lewis Williams of Panther Creek, Surry County, North
Carolina. Williams, a United States
Congressman from Surry County, was not at home in November 1833 when the notice
was scheduled to arrive. BV inquired to
Honorable Williams after three months, and Williams resubmitted to the
Commission of Pensions for the certificate to be sent again (February
1834).
As
previously noted several times, almost no information is known of BV’s spouse. He appears to have had a spouse within each
census from 1800 to 1830. And, all censuses
seem to present a wife that was born between 1755 and 1760 (when looking at all
reported census age ranges combined). This
is believed to have been the same woman and the mother of all BV’s children
(memoirs of BV’s granddaughter Permelia VanZandt stated he married secondly
after age 80, so only one wife before he was 80 years old, Anita Lustenberger). Between 1830 and 1834 and either in Ashe
County or Surry County, BV’s wife died.
On 25 September 1834, BV, Major Austill Jr., and Elizabeth Buckhannan
applied for a marriage license at the Surry County court house. A marriage was to occur between BV and
Elizabeth Buckhannan. Major Austill Jr.
was the security and the application was signed by BV and Buckhannan, both
signatures signed with an “X.” The
security Major Austill Jr. was a 29 year old bachelor who lived in the
Jonesville area near the VanZandts.
Elizabeth
Buckhannan is a bit of an anomaly. Two
Buckhannans were in Surry County and both lived close to the BV and Felix
VanZandt home in the Jonesville-Fall Creek area. David Buckhannan, born 1780 to 1790 was there
in Surry County in 1830 and Cornelius Buckhannan, born 1790 to 1800 was there
in 1840. These men were from Person
County, North Carolina, the home of a large Buckhannan family just a few
counties east. Their uncle James Buchannan
died between 1827 and 1829, leaving a widow Elizabeth, born Weathers or Bowey. She was apparently living with her son James
Buckhannan Jr. in 1830 Person County (born between 1750 and 1760). This widow Elizabeth Buckhannan is the
closest fit for the woman who married BV in 1834.
Surry
County tax records have not been searched for the 1826 to 1834 years (no tax
records exist for 1822 to 1825). In 1835,
Felix VanZandt paid Surry County taxes in the Jonesville District, the location
of the VanZandt family since before 1796.
BV was not taxed since his 36 year old son ran the farm, handled the
expenses, and probably tended to the elderly BV and BV’s new wife
Elizabeth. Taxes were paid in the amount
of $150 on 250 acres on Beaverdam Creek, adjoining J. T. Rose. When did the VanZandt tract increase from 82
acres (1814 to 1821 taxes) on Fall Creek to 250 acres on Beaverdam Creek? I have
no information on this change. A search of deeds between 1821 and 1835 may help
identify the reason for this modification.
Beaverdam Creek is also known to be either connected to or very close by
Fall Creek.
Note: Felix VanZandt claimed one
titheable white male over 21. Why
wouldn’t he claim two if BV was there?
Therefore, BV may have been more self-sufficient than we imagine for an
80 year old man at this time. If that is
so, he may have lived in his own home on the VanZandt land. We know BV was surely there since he applied
for a pension in 1833, married in 1834, and was enumerated in the 1840 census,
all in Surry County. Also note: the
VanZandts did not appear to use slave labor.
Over
the next six years (1835 to 1841), Felix continued to live on 250 acres at
Beaverdam Creek in the Jonesville District.
The value of the land dropped to $100 in 1838. Also, the land description pointed to several
different neighbors, possibly accounted for by land sales. Others whose land adjoined the VanZandts at
Beaverdam Creek were R. Purdue, Meredith (Meredy) Martin, and Benjamin Naylor. BV continued to be absent from tax
records. His new wife Elizabeth,
probably near or at 80 years of age, died between 1834 and 1840 (she was not
with BV in his 1840 census household).
The
1840 Surry County census enumeration for BV seems to have misled some
descendants to believe Felix (or Phelix) must be BV’s first or middle
name. Regarding the census recording in
1840, census takers did not go to every home and sometimes requested
information about citizens that had not been seen. Men and their families were often reported by
others and many scenarios could have resulted in BV being listed as his son’s
name. BV, as “Felix Vanzant,” was listed
as a male 80 to 90 and living alone (page 70).
The 1840 census required a notation of Revolutionary War pensioners with
age and he was listed as “Felix VanZant” and 85 year old. He was not enumerated near anyone known to be
from the Jonesville-Fall Creek area. In
fact, he was enumerated beside a bachelor named Columbus Bernard Franklin, the
son of Meshack Franklin, a US Representative, state Senator, and North Carolina
Congressman (died 1839) and nephew of North Carolina Governor Jesse
Franklin. Columbus Franklin married in
1842 and started a family. The Franklins
were from Franklin Township in northwest Surry County, quite far from the
Jonesville-Fall Creek area. Note: I have no explanation for this, other
than he could have been living with/near a friend or son-in-law who was helping
take care of him. Interesting to note - Lewis
Williams handled BV’s pension in 1833 and then BV was living by the son of the
man who held the political office after Williams. BV’s son Felix VanZandt was enumerated at
Jonesville-Fall Creek (page 120), quite a distance from BV, and was surrounded
by the normal community of names known for that area.
Between
1841 and 1842, Felix VanZandt’s wife Rebecca Howell-VanZandt passed away. The most probable location of her death was
the Jonesville-Fall Creek area where she had lived as a wife and mother for
about 16 years (Felix was there in 1840 and 1850 census). With six children, including two under five,
Felix required a wife. Irene (possibly
Arene or Arrenia) Jane Money, only about 20 years old, from the Jonesville-Fall
Creek Money clan became Felix’s new wife about 1842.
On
31 July 1843, a county official in Ashe County (name and place unreadable, Ashe
County only assumed) made a request to the US Commission of Pensions that BV’s
yearly pension payment of $24.33 be sent to a new location. This new location is assumed to have been
Ashe County (the next known record of BV was his 1850 death in Ashe
County). His daughter Catherine
VanZandt-Calhoun should have still been a resident of Ashe County in the Rich
Hill Creek community (she was there in 1840 and 1860 census but no record of
her anywhere in 1850 census).
According
to inflation rates, a $24.33 pension would hold the value of about $725 in 2016. Understanding what this amount meant to BV
could be more meaningful by observing wages for this time. The average monthly salary across jobs in
North Carolina was $6 per month and obviously depended on the size of the farm. And for farmers specifically, the average
daily wage was between $.25 and $.50; that is in cents! Items for purchase also demonstrate how this
pension might have allowed BV to live.
Most food products were very inexpensive and $24.33 could feed a single
person for quite some time. Other items
for purchase were a different story.
Transportation was considered critical and hence horses could cost far
more than wages for a year. A horse
might run anywhere between $50 and $100, depending on the condition of the
horse. A wagon, also depending on the
size and condition may cost from $25 to over $50.
On
14 April 1850, BV died at Rich Hill Creek in Ashe County, North Carolina (assumed
from the location of his gravesite). BV
had lived for more than 94 years, an amazing feat since life expectancy during
this time was about 37 years (son John VanZandt told his daughter Permilia
VanZandt that he last heard from his father when he was over 100 years old). Though in the end known simply as a small
farmer, BV had been a walking time capsule with first-hand experiences from the
most important era in American history.
He grew up in a Dutch family, crossed the Hudson River on a ferry, and saw,
shot at and was probably nearly shot by British redcoats during a major war. All the early United States milestones would
have been remembered by BV – the declaration of independence, the constitution,
the presidential elections of Washington and Jefferson, and the formation of
the nation’s capital at the District of Columbia. BV moved a young family on a 600 mile trek
and saw a major portion of the early United States. He visited many of the largest cities in
North America – New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Richmond. And for quite some time, he had helped develop
an extreme western North Carolina during its early statehood. BV was alive during the admittance of 30
states to the Union. I am sure that along
the way, while literally walking the line between civilization and the
dangerous west, he encountered his share of Native Americans – both peaceful
and hostile.
Note:
BV’s daughter Catherine VanZandt-Calhoun and her husband James Calhoun
were not present for the 1850 US Census.
Their youngest children (four between 20 and 15) were living in a
household without their parents. Nearby
were older, married sibling’s houses. The
census took place in November 1850. Catherine
and her husband were back in Ashe County soon afterwards and were enumerated in
the 1860 census. I believe they were likely
visiting another location for a bit of time, possibly Alabama or Georgia to see
one of Catherine’s brothers? This could
have been the result of her father’s death – to inform her siblings that lived
elsewhere. Travel in this time was
different than it is now. People were
gone for weeks and sometimes months when they traveled since movement was a
hassle and time-consuming.
The
1850 US Mortality Schedule, fortunately, noted his death as April 1850 at Ashe
County, North Carolina (page 25, spelled “Barnabas Vinzant”). The information provided in this census-type
document claimed he was 97 and born in North Carolina (we know these facts were
both incorrect – he was 94 and born in New York). Note:
all those who were in the Mortality Schedule were recorded as born in North
Carolina. The recorder noted that BV
had died of old age and without an illness that resulted in his death. BV was known to have been a widower and a
farmer. In the remembrances of Permilia
VanZandt of Mississippi, granddaughter of BV through son John VanZandt, she
stated her father informed her that BV had lived to 100 (estimate time of this
recollection was from the 1860 to 1870s, her father John VanZandt lived with
her until his death at nearly 90, from Anita Lustenberger).
The
red marker shows the BV gravestone location of the Longitude-Latitude coordinates
and the red circle shows the location by written description
BV
was buried on land in the vicinity of his death, likely near the home of his
daughter Catherine VanZandt-Calhoun (unless there was another unknown daughter
here). Luckily, a stone was found in
the dense woods at Rich Hill Creek along Arnold-Jones Road. The location is noted in two ways. One states that the stone is just south of
Arnold-Jones Road (SR-1318) about a half mile from Rich Road (SR-1317). Longitude-Latitude coordinates are also
listed as 36.47829 and -81.62086. These
descriptions place the BV grave at two slightly different locations. There were no other grave markers noted at
the site yet a photo of the site shows two stones. Whether these were both markers of BV’s grave
site or if one stone was unmarked is unknown.
Note
the stone laying imbedded in the ground and the standing stone behind. The stone lying on the ground presents the
notes of BV’s birth and death. Below left is the stone at the time of the
picture above. Below right is the stone
cleaned. Notice that this stone appears
to be slate carved simply and unprofessionally with a sharp implement. Some words are misspelled and letter are
backwards.
Permilia VanZandt, son of John VanZandt and grandson of BV, informed her family that BV was said to have had a son (William) and daughter (?) living in GA and another son living in Kentucky (?). Note: This information was actually explained in the context of...her father John had a brother and sister in Georgia and another brother in Kentucky (this was given to me by Anita Lustenberger). The information says that the family only heard of two of John VanZandt's brothers (BV's sons) so there were certainly more. Assumed older brother Garret was indeed living in Georgia. Younger sister Catherine and younger brother Felix were alive when John VanZandt died. Catherine was thought to have remained in North Carolina and Felix had moved to Virginia. No other sisters or brothers are known but they had existed. According to the 1800 and 1810 census analysis, there must have been an unknown brother and sister born around 1778 and 1780 and then another brother and sister born about 1791 and 1793. One or more of these could have died young. A sister, without marriage records, would be nearly impossible to trace. An analysis of VanZandt (and variations) men through the 1800 to 1850 Kentucky census was completed below to potentially locate the son in Kentucky (results inconclusive).
KENTUCKY ANALYSIS OF VANZANDTS
This analysis completed in the interest of determining the BV son who was said to have lived in Kentucky (from the 1903 letter) - this may have been an errant assumption by John VanZandt, son of BV, due to communication issues. Wonder if the BV son supposed to be in Kentucky was actually Felix VanZandt who ended up in Virginia after 1850. From the information below, the only match that could possibly fit would be the C Vanzant of Jefferson County, Kentucky 1830. Nothing is known of this man.
1820 KY
Garrett Vinzant Barren
M>45 (b1745, d1831, of Rutherford NC)
Jacob Vinzant Barren M26-44
(b1791, son of Garrett of Rutherford NC)
Aron Vinzant Fleming M26-44
(b1772, d1827, of Bucks Co, PA?)
William Vinzant Fleming
M26-44 (b1793, son of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
Elisha Vinzant Fleming
M>45 (b1763, d1829, of Bucks Co PA)
Isaiah Vanzant Scott M16-25
(b1793, son of John of Bucks Co PA)
John Vanzant Scott M>45
(b1765, d1825, pension app, of Bucks Co PA)
1830 KY
Elijah Vanzandt Fleming
M20-29 (b1800, son of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
Margaret Vanzandt Fleming
F50-59 (wife of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
William Vanzant Fleming
M30-39 (b1793, son of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
C Vanzant Jefferson M40-49 (unknown origins?)
Garrett Vinzant Jr Barren
M30-39 (b1798, son of Garrett of Rutherford Co NC)
Garrett Vinzant Barren M80-89
(b1745, d1831, of Rutherford Co,NC)
Isaiah Vinzant Scott M30-39
(b1793, son of John of Scott Co KY)
1840 KY
G C Vanzant Henderson M20-29 (unknown origins?)
G C Vanzant Henderson M20-29 (unknown origins?)
Garret Vanzant Barren M40-49 (b1798,
son of Garrett of Rutherford Co NC)
Hugh Vanzant Barren M40-49
(b1796, son of Garret of Rutherford Co)
Isaiah Vansandt Fleming
M30-39 (b1815, son of Aaron of Bucks Co PA?)
James VanSandt Fleming M30-39
(b1802, son of Aaron of Bucks Co PA?)
William Vansant Fleming
M40-49 (b1793, son of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
Lavina Vansant Jefferson
F40-49 (must be wife of C
Vanzant from 1830 Jefferson Co KY)
W B Vansant Jefferson M20-29 (must be son of C Vanzant from
1830 Jefferson Co KY)
James VanSandt Green M20-29 (unknown origins?)
1850 KY (search for those born
1778-1798)
Lavina Vansant Jefferson 56 (must be wife of C Vanzant from
1830 Jefferson Co KY)
William Vinsant Fleming 56 (b1793, son of Elisha of Bucks Co PA)
Margarett Vinsant Fleming 54 (unknown widow of a Fleming Co KY VanZandt)
Hugh Vanzant Barren 54 (b1796, son of Garret of Rutherford Co)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)