Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
Misc. Notes
1. MICHAL HENRY58, of Readington twsp., Hunterdon co., b. about 1683, probably in Scotland. His parents, at least, were born in Scotland, going from there to Newry, a seaport town in counties Down and Armagh, Ireland. From Newry Michael migrated to America, along with other Scotchmen who came hither in large numbers about the same period. He brought with him his wife, Jean (???), also perhaps b. in Scotland, but certainly of Scotch parentage, she being eleven years his junior. While no date of their coming to America has been found, it was probably in 1716, or earlier, as, on Oct. 19 of that year, he purchased of John Harrison a lot in the town of Perth Amboy for œ20, the ot being 80x100 feet, on the west side of High street, adjoining David Gallaties (or Gallatin). (Trenton Deeds, Book A-2, p. 109).4 This lot was sold by Michael and Jean on Dec. 29, 1729, to Evan Drummond, of Middlesex county, for œ70, although the deed was not recorded until July 16, 1759. (Trenton Deeds I-2, p. 161). It is probable Michael lived upon this lot until his removal to Hunterdon county.
While at Perth Amboy, in 1718, he was, according to Whitehead, an Assistant Alderman of that city, so named in the charter then granted by Governor Robert Hunter. (Whitehead's "East Jersey," p. 53. Another authority reads the name as "Michael Kearny"), Michael may have gone to Hunterdon county from Perth Amboy in 1732, or earlier. In an inventory of Benjamin Burt, of Somerset, he is noted as one of Burt's debtors (in 1732; Trenton Wills, Somerset, 30R), and it is not likely he then resided at Perth Amboy. On Dec. 24, 1733, Michael purchased a farm of 137 acres of Nicholas Emons, in then Amwell, later Readington township, Hunterdon county, which became the Henry homestead, and is where Michael lived until his death. It is near Three Bridges on the northeasterly side of the South Branch of the Raritan. The house in which he resided is said to be still standing. This farm descended to his son Nathaniel by Michael's will (see under Nathaniel, 8). Subsequently he purchased lands, probably adjoining, first of Abraham Delamater and "the widow Bogart," and, second, of John Rubert. (Deeds unrecorded, but ascertained from subsequent deeds). He also purchased, Dec. 13, 1743, 166 2/3 acres of Ananias Allen, near Bloomsbury, which he sold in April, 1752, to his son Michael, Jr. (See deed at Newton, Book A, p. 45). These deeds show his thrift and business success.
When he purchased the Emons farm Michael was about fifty years of age, and, as he had been married since about 1714, or earlier (judging from his wife's date of birth), various of his children must have been born at Perth Amboy, and perhaps the earliest, William, in Ireland. Only the younger of his eight children were, probably, born in Hunterdon county.
It seems to have been the custom of members of the general Henry family, in Scotland and elsewhere, to write the surname Henarie, Henere, Henery, Hendry, and perhaps in other ways, and outside scriveners used the same liberty. In 1733 and '34, on the early Readington township records, Michael's name was spelled "Michael Hendry," but never so by himself. (See Snell's "Hunterdon and Somerset," p. 494).
That Michael was a man of influence and high character is shown not only by the fact of his being elected chosen freeholder of the new township at and after its formation, (1733 and '34) and then an overseer of the poor (1735), but from the further fact that, about the time of the organization of the First Presbyterian church of Amwell (near Reaville, Hunterdon co.), a meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was held at his house. The date was October 11, 1739. At this meeting, among the members of the Presbytery were the two celebrated Tennent preachers, the brothers William and Gilbert. At that same time Michael was a church elder of the Amwell church, his name appearing second on the roll of elders of that church. (Kugler's "First Pres. Ch. of Amwell," p. 30). He probably remained an elder for life, as the custom then was, as, in 1756, his name again appears as one of the elders in the church who attended a meeting of the Presbytery (Ibid, p. 80).
In 1749 Michael was one of the managers of a lottery to raise funds to "finish the Presbyterian meeting house and to purchase a parsonage" at Amwell ("N. J. Archives," Vol. 12, p. 484); in 1753 he made a subscription to such parsonage.
Miss Steen notes that Mrs. W. A. Obdyke, of Rodney, Pa., her niece, has in her possession various books once the property of Michael Henry, one of which, containing his autograph, was printed in Boston in 1729, and is entitled "The Safety of Appearing at the Day of Judgment in the Righteousness of Christ," by Solomon Stoddard. Another, in which is the statement that it "devolved to David Henarie," is entitled "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: A Faithful Account of the Life and Death of John Bunyan."
Michael Henry died in December, 1760, aged 77 years. He was buried, as was his wife later, in a burial plot near Three Bridges, in Hunterdon county, on what we believe to have been the farm on which he was living at the time of his decease. The plot lies between the New Jersey Central Railroad track and the South Branch river, and two elms still overshadow their graves. Other interments there are of persons belonging to a Rowe family. A relationship between the Henry and the Rowe families has not been established; it is probable a Rowe was a subsequent owner. The inscription on Michael's tombstone is as follows:
"Here lie the precious
remains of Michael Henry
who died December, 1760,
aged 77 years.
The truly pious, faithful, loving friend
Who persevered in every Christian virtue to the end.
To all his virtues neighbors and relatives dear,
Still loving them and serving God in fear.
But now he's gone to praise his God above
Where sorrows cease and nothing dwells but love."
Michael's will of Jan. 17, 1760, was probated Jan. 7, 1761 (Trenton Wills, Book 10, p. 540). This will, which states he is "of Reading Township," names his wife Jean, and, so far as known, all his children, viz., William, Easter, Michael, Daniel, David, John, Nathaniel ("now gone to sea"), Margaret and Sarah; his grandson John, son of his son Michael; his grandson Arthur, eldest son of his eldest son William, and his son-in-law William Bishop. By this will he devises to his wife Jean the "northeast upper room in the house where I now dwell," (a not unusual bequest in those days), with choice of furniture for it, and with provision that his son John shall pay her œ15 yearly and sufficient meat, drink and firewood, and with other provisions for her sustenance. To his son John he devises the tract purchased of Abraham Delemater and the "Widow Bogart;" to his son Nathaniel the tract he purchased of Nicholas Emons; to his daughters Margaret and Sarah the tract he purchased of John Rubert; and his library books, which must have been numerous for that period, to his children, the Rev. James McCrea, of Lamington, to make the division of such books. The executors were his sons David and John, and Jacob Mattison, but John became the acting one. An inventory of his personal estate, filed Jan. 5, 1761, amounted to œ712.8.0, and included 22 horses and colts, 34 cattle and 37 sheep, weave house and smoke house, spinning wheels, 2 guns, etc. On Nov. 19, 1766, a final account was rendered by the son, John Henry.
The will of Jean (signed by mark), of March 5, 1761, three months before her death, was not probated until Nov. 26, 1763 (Trenton Wills, Book 11, p. 445). In it she mentions only her grandson Arthur Henry, son-in-law William Bishop and son John, the two latter being her executors. Her small estate was settled Jan. 22, 1768.
A family tradition is that Michael Henry brought with him to America a fine large apple, or apple tree, which became known as the "Michael Henry apple," some descendants of which were long known in various parts of this State and are said yet to be found in some sections.
There being no Bible or other record discovered giving births or particulars of Michael Henry's children (except of David), it has been found difficult to give dates of birth or the full names of the wives of many of his nine children. The birth dates given below are, therefore, for most part, conjectural, and the order of the nine children not quite certain.
While at Perth Amboy, in 1718, he was, according to Whitehead, an Assistant Alderman of that city, so named in the charter then granted by Governor Robert Hunter. (Whitehead's "East Jersey," p. 53. Another authority reads the name as "Michael Kearny"), Michael may have gone to Hunterdon county from Perth Amboy in 1732, or earlier. In an inventory of Benjamin Burt, of Somerset, he is noted as one of Burt's debtors (in 1732; Trenton Wills, Somerset, 30R), and it is not likely he then resided at Perth Amboy. On Dec. 24, 1733, Michael purchased a farm of 137 acres of Nicholas Emons, in then Amwell, later Readington township, Hunterdon county, which became the Henry homestead, and is where Michael lived until his death. It is near Three Bridges on the northeasterly side of the South Branch of the Raritan. The house in which he resided is said to be still standing. This farm descended to his son Nathaniel by Michael's will (see under Nathaniel, 8). Subsequently he purchased lands, probably adjoining, first of Abraham Delamater and "the widow Bogart," and, second, of John Rubert. (Deeds unrecorded, but ascertained from subsequent deeds). He also purchased, Dec. 13, 1743, 166 2/3 acres of Ananias Allen, near Bloomsbury, which he sold in April, 1752, to his son Michael, Jr. (See deed at Newton, Book A, p. 45). These deeds show his thrift and business success.
When he purchased the Emons farm Michael was about fifty years of age, and, as he had been married since about 1714, or earlier (judging from his wife's date of birth), various of his children must have been born at Perth Amboy, and perhaps the earliest, William, in Ireland. Only the younger of his eight children were, probably, born in Hunterdon county.
It seems to have been the custom of members of the general Henry family, in Scotland and elsewhere, to write the surname Henarie, Henere, Henery, Hendry, and perhaps in other ways, and outside scriveners used the same liberty. In 1733 and '34, on the early Readington township records, Michael's name was spelled "Michael Hendry," but never so by himself. (See Snell's "Hunterdon and Somerset," p. 494).
That Michael was a man of influence and high character is shown not only by the fact of his being elected chosen freeholder of the new township at and after its formation, (1733 and '34) and then an overseer of the poor (1735), but from the further fact that, about the time of the organization of the First Presbyterian church of Amwell (near Reaville, Hunterdon co.), a meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was held at his house. The date was October 11, 1739. At this meeting, among the members of the Presbytery were the two celebrated Tennent preachers, the brothers William and Gilbert. At that same time Michael was a church elder of the Amwell church, his name appearing second on the roll of elders of that church. (Kugler's "First Pres. Ch. of Amwell," p. 30). He probably remained an elder for life, as the custom then was, as, in 1756, his name again appears as one of the elders in the church who attended a meeting of the Presbytery (Ibid, p. 80).
In 1749 Michael was one of the managers of a lottery to raise funds to "finish the Presbyterian meeting house and to purchase a parsonage" at Amwell ("N. J. Archives," Vol. 12, p. 484); in 1753 he made a subscription to such parsonage.
Miss Steen notes that Mrs. W. A. Obdyke, of Rodney, Pa., her niece, has in her possession various books once the property of Michael Henry, one of which, containing his autograph, was printed in Boston in 1729, and is entitled "The Safety of Appearing at the Day of Judgment in the Righteousness of Christ," by Solomon Stoddard. Another, in which is the statement that it "devolved to David Henarie," is entitled "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: A Faithful Account of the Life and Death of John Bunyan."
Michael Henry died in December, 1760, aged 77 years. He was buried, as was his wife later, in a burial plot near Three Bridges, in Hunterdon county, on what we believe to have been the farm on which he was living at the time of his decease. The plot lies between the New Jersey Central Railroad track and the South Branch river, and two elms still overshadow their graves. Other interments there are of persons belonging to a Rowe family. A relationship between the Henry and the Rowe families has not been established; it is probable a Rowe was a subsequent owner. The inscription on Michael's tombstone is as follows:
"Here lie the precious
remains of Michael Henry
who died December, 1760,
aged 77 years.
The truly pious, faithful, loving friend
Who persevered in every Christian virtue to the end.
To all his virtues neighbors and relatives dear,
Still loving them and serving God in fear.
But now he's gone to praise his God above
Where sorrows cease and nothing dwells but love."
Michael's will of Jan. 17, 1760, was probated Jan. 7, 1761 (Trenton Wills, Book 10, p. 540). This will, which states he is "of Reading Township," names his wife Jean, and, so far as known, all his children, viz., William, Easter, Michael, Daniel, David, John, Nathaniel ("now gone to sea"), Margaret and Sarah; his grandson John, son of his son Michael; his grandson Arthur, eldest son of his eldest son William, and his son-in-law William Bishop. By this will he devises to his wife Jean the "northeast upper room in the house where I now dwell," (a not unusual bequest in those days), with choice of furniture for it, and with provision that his son John shall pay her œ15 yearly and sufficient meat, drink and firewood, and with other provisions for her sustenance. To his son John he devises the tract purchased of Abraham Delemater and the "Widow Bogart;" to his son Nathaniel the tract he purchased of Nicholas Emons; to his daughters Margaret and Sarah the tract he purchased of John Rubert; and his library books, which must have been numerous for that period, to his children, the Rev. James McCrea, of Lamington, to make the division of such books. The executors were his sons David and John, and Jacob Mattison, but John became the acting one. An inventory of his personal estate, filed Jan. 5, 1761, amounted to œ712.8.0, and included 22 horses and colts, 34 cattle and 37 sheep, weave house and smoke house, spinning wheels, 2 guns, etc. On Nov. 19, 1766, a final account was rendered by the son, John Henry.
The will of Jean (signed by mark), of March 5, 1761, three months before her death, was not probated until Nov. 26, 1763 (Trenton Wills, Book 11, p. 445). In it she mentions only her grandson Arthur Henry, son-in-law William Bishop and son John, the two latter being her executors. Her small estate was settled Jan. 22, 1768.
A family tradition is that Michael Henry brought with him to America a fine large apple, or apple tree, which became known as the "Michael Henry apple," some descendants of which were long known in various parts of this State and are said yet to be found in some sections.
There being no Bible or other record discovered giving births or particulars of Michael Henry's children (except of David), it has been found difficult to give dates of birth or the full names of the wives of many of his nine children. The birth dates given below are, therefore, for most part, conjectural, and the order of the nine children not quite certain.