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Full text of "The Vought family; being an account of the descendants of Simon and Christina Vought"

CS 71

.V972

1907

Copy 2

THE

VOUGHT FAMILY

By William Gordon Ver Planck

t«ll»ction ff^Uectir

THE

VOUGHT FAMILY

Being

An Account of the Descendants

of

Simon and Christina Vought

By William Gordon Ver Planck

< t

Edition of One Hundred Copies

New York

Press of Tobias A. Wright

1907

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CS7I

'2J

OONGHES:

£ivea

Copyright, 1907, by

WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK

)

Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

On the 28th day of April, 1708, a small band of Lutherans

with the Rev. Joshua Kockerthal at their head, having left the

lower Palatinate in Germany, journeyed to England and pre-

sented to Queen Anne a petition showing that they had lost

all their property at the time of the ravages committed by the

French, and that they were in absolute want, and requesting

that they might be transferred to her Majesty's colonies in

America. They presented to the Queen testimonials which

they brought, duly authenticated by the magistrates of the

several towns in which they resided, showing that they were

of good character; and they made such a favorable impression

that Queen Anne granted their request and they were accord-

ingly sent to America in the year 1708.

On June 13, 17 10, a second immigration of Palatines arrived

at New York in the ship Lyon, which brought also General

Robert Hunter, the new governor of New York and New Jersey.

A large number of the immigrants died on the way over, and

many were sick and disabled when they arrived here, owing to

the poor food furnished them and the crowded condition of

the ships. The authorities of the City of New York, fearing

danger from infection if they were landed in the city, ordered

that the immigrants should be landed on Governors Island,

and directed that three doctors from the city should visit

them, and that huts should be built for their accommodation.

Among these German immigrants were Simon Vought and

Christina, his wife, from whom the members of the Vought

family in America are descended. In the official list of the

Palatines who came in this second immigration, appears the

name "Simon Vogdt," and it was stated that he was then

thirty years of age, and his wife twenty-six.

In 1 7 10, a large tract of land on the Hudson River, near

Newburgh, was bought by Governor Hunter from Robert

Livingston and there in October of that year most of the

Palatines were settled. A few of them remained behind at

New York City, and afterwards settled in New Jersey and

elsewhere.

Simon Vought and his wife were among those that re-

mained behind in New York. It is probable that he stayed in

New York City until the spring of 171 1, when most of the

remaining Palatines left the city.

Simon Vought settled in Western New Jersey in either

Middlesex or HunterdonCounty.

I. Simon' Vought was b. in Germany in the year 1680; he

m. there previous to 17 10 his wife Christina, who was b. in

4 Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

1684. When he and his wife arrived in this country in 17 10

they were unaccompanied by any children; probably their

only children were those whose baptisms are recorded below.

Simon Vought was alive as late as 1749. In that year he

joined with seventy-seven other members of the Lutheran

Church in Western New Jersey in a call to the Rev. John Albert

Weygand. The names signed to the call are mostly German,

and the signatures are written as a rule in German, though

some are written partly in German and partly in English,

while a few are entirely in English. Among the latter is

Simon Vought's who wrote his name "Simon Vogt." In the

baptismal record of his children, made by the Rev. Justus

Falkner, Lutheran minister at New York, his name always

appears as " Vocht."

Children of Simon' and Christina Vought:

2 i. Johannes Christoffle,' b. Feb. 24, 17 14; bap. by Rev.

Justus Falkner, Aug. i, 17 14, "at the house of Ari

de Guinee on the Raritans, at our Christian Luth-

eran gathering." Sponsor: Johannes Wimmer.

ii. Margareta, b. Feb. 3, 1716; bap. "at Raritans," June

17, 1 7 16, by Rev. Justus Falkner. Sponsors:

"Johannes Wimmer, but in his place stood Ulrich

Simthinger and Margareta Langmansen."

iii. Johannes, b. at Middlebush, Feb. 17, 17 18; bap. "On

the Raritans Middlebosch," Aug. 17, 17 18, by Rev.

Justus Falkner. Sponsors: Johannes Wimmer

and Catharina Messnerin.

iv. Abraham, b. Jan. 22, 1720; bap. Aug. 7, 1720, "On

the Raritans," by Rev. Justus Falkner. Sponsors:

Hannes Wimmer and Catharina Messnerin.

SECOND GENERATION

2. John Christopher" Vought (Simon'), was b. in New Jer-

sey, Feb. 24, 1 7 14. He m. Cornelia Putnam (the widow of

Ralph Traphagen and daughter of David Putnam or Pootman.)

John Christopher Vought resided in 1735 on the West Jersey

Society's land in HunterdonCounty. Among his neighbors

at that time was Roeliff Traphagen, whose widow John Chris-

topher Vought afterwards married. Cornelia Putnam was b.

March 23, 1 7 1 1, and bap. in the DutchChurch at Freehold, April

29, 171 1. After the death of her first husband and before 1750,

Cornelia m. John Christopher Vought. Although bap. "John

Christopher" he was known as "Christopher," and the name

John does not appear to have been generally used by him. It

seems to have been a custom with these German families to

give to several of their children the same first Christian name,

the middle name only being different, and the child was then

known by the middle name only. This is no doubt the ex-

planation of the fact why John Christopher Vought was called

sometimes "John Christopher" and sometimes "Christopher."

Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought 5

In 1759 Christopher Vought bought from the executor of

James Alexander a farm of 285 acres in LebanonTownship,

Hunterdon Co., N. J., for;^7i2, io.f. Here he built a large

stone house, barn and other buildings. His son bought a farm

adjoining this in 1773.

At the breaking out of the Revolution, he with his son

John took the side of the British, becoming staunch loyalists.

He and his son John were at one time put in gaol and fined for

their loyalist activities, and in December, 1776, they joined the

British troops as the army under Sir William Howe marched

to Trenton. Christopher lived on Staten Island during the

war. After the surrender of Cornwallis he and his family were

forced to go to Nova Scotia, where in 1783, they settled at a

place called Parrsborough. He lived there with his son John

until the year 1792, when they all returned to New York and

settled at Duanesburgh, N. Y., on a part of a large tract of land

containing 2,000 acres, which he bought of John Leake, May

19, 1770.

Family tradition says that he received a grant of a large

tract of land in Canada, the present site of the City of Toronto,

and his son a pension of 365 crowns a year from the British

government.

Family tradition does not always agree with the facts as

reference to the record in regard to this matter discloses.

A Commission of Enquiry into the Losses and Services of the

American Loyalists, held under the Acts of Parliament of 23,

25, 26, 28 & 29, of George III., preserved amongst the Audit

Office Records in the Public Record Office of England, shows

that Christopher Vought and his son John made a claim for

their losses and services during the American Revolution

which was passed upon and partially allowed.

In a volume entitled American Loyalists, Audit Office

Transcripts, Volume 28, Determinations in Nova Scotia, etc.

On Claims for Various Provinces, at page 203, is to be found the

following:

"Jst Report Chris'. & John Vought, late of New Jersey.

Claim

Amount of Property, ^337i, 10, '•

Determination, ist April 1786.

Loyalty Christopher Vought is a Loyalist.

Losses

Real Estate 285 Acres with house and improvements ) jQ

in LebanonTownship, N. Jersey, \ 850

2000 Acres in Albany County, New York, 375 1225.

Confiscation & sale of property in N. Jersey proved.

Proof of Confiscation & sale of property in New

York required.

6 Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

JOHN VOUGHT

°^f ^ The claimant is a Loyalist & Bore Arms,

services •'

Real Estate 203 Acres in LebanonTownship, ^£^1°

Persl. Estate Various Articles of Persl. Property, 226

Claims Disallowed

^496

The claim for crop in the ground under the

General Resolution.

Observation

The claimant enjoys half pay as Captain.

Confiscation proved.

The claimants reside at Parsborough.

The claim of Christopher and John Vought appears in

Volume 15, Examinations in Nova Scotia etc. and New Jersey,

Book /., Claimants, at page 283, and is as follows:

To THE Honorable the Commissioners appointed by Act

of Parliament for enquiring into the Losses and Services of

the American Loyalists.

The Memorial of Christopher Vought, late of Hunter-

don County, New Jersey, and of John Vought, his son,

Captain in the 2d Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers,

also late of the same County, but both now of the Province

of Nova Scotia, by their attorney Daniel Cox, being there-

to specially authorized,

Sheweth:

That your Memorialists in the Fall of 1776, as faithful sub-

jects, joined his Majesty's Army, under the command of Sir

William Howe on his advance in the Jersies to Trenton, and

by every active service in their power, endeavored to assist in

crushing the Rebellion then existing in that province.

That your Memorialist John Vought took up arms, raised a

Company, and was appointed a Captain in the 2nd Battalion of

the New Jersey Volunteers, and in that capacity has acted and

done Military Duty in various and severe services to the

Northward and Southward during the whole course of the War

in America.

That in consequence of the active loyalty, services and

attachment of your Memoralists to the British Government,

their Estate, Real and Personal, both in the late Provinces of

New Jersey and New York, have been confiscated, and sold by

the authority of the said States to the amount as in the

vSchedule thereto annexed and to which they beg leave to refer

for the amount of their joint losses.

Your Memoralists therefore pray that you will take this

case into your consideration in order that your Memor-

ialists may be enabled under your report to receive such

Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

aid or relief as their losses and services may be found to

deserve.

(signed) Christopher Vought,

John Vought, by their attorney,

Daniel Cox.

Schedule and Valuation of the Real and Personal Estate

of Christopher Vought, Esqr., late of Hunterdon, New Jersey

and his son John Vought, Captain in the Second Battalion of

New Jersey Volunteers, late of the same place, but now both

of the Province of Nova Scotia, as confiscated and sold in the

States of New Jersey and New York on account of their

loyalty, services and attachment to the British Government, viz. :

Voucher A '

To a Plantation or Farm consisting

of 2 Tracts, one of 285 acres of

land, the other of 203 acres of

land, laying in the County of

Hunterdon, in the Township of

Ringwood near the Union Iron

Works, on the North Branch of

RarityRiver, containing in the

whole and forming one plan-

tation of 485 acres of land valued

at ;£s.io p. acre Proclamation

money or Dollars at 7/6 amounts

to

Voucher B

To the amount of the Personal

Effects and Property of John

Vought as sold by the Commis-

sioners of Forfeited Estates in

Jersey agreeable to the Inven-

tory thereof No. i in the above

voucher.

To ditto of No. 2 in the same Voucher,

Voucher C

To a plantation in the County of

Albany and Province of New

York, containing 2,000 acres of

land with three houses and im-

provements thereon belonging

to the said Christopher Vought

and purchased by him of Cap-

tain John Leake of New York,

valued at ;^2,ooo. New York

money at 8/- the dollar is in

New Jersey currency, /

£ Currency £ Sterling

2,684

1,610. 8

838.17. 6 503. 6. 6

223.16. 4

134- 5- 7

1,872.10

1,123.10.

;^4,6i9. 3.10 ;^3,37iio- I

8 Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

Halifax, 31st March, 1786.

Evidence on the claim of Christopher and John

Vought, late of HunterdonCounty in the Province of

New Jersey.

Christopher Vought, the father, sworn:

Memorial read.

Says he is a native of America and at the commencement

of the troubles he lived in LebanonTownship, Hunterdon

County, on his own property.

He never took part with the Americans, but was imprisoned

by them for opposing them, and three more of his family were

likewise put in gaol and kept there for five days. They gave

_^2oo security to appear. They were afterwards tried for and

fined £100 for which they gave bond. Soon after they joined

the British Troops, and he has resided on Staten Island all the

War, and came here at the Evacuation. He now resides at

Parsborough.

His son John joined the army with him and was soon after

appointed a captain in Colonel Lawrence's Battalion, New

Jersey Volunteers.

Property 285 Acres with a large stone house, barn and

No. J outhouses in HunterdonCounty. Deed produced

dated in 1759 from Mary Alexander, Executrix to

the will of James Alexander to claimant, conveys

285 acres as above in consideration of ;^7i2.io

currency.

After he bought it he improved it and built the

house, thinks the house was worth ^500. The land

and house he thinks were worth ^2,000 currency.

He had paid for it and there was no incumbrance

on it.

No. 2 203 Acres adjoining the last, both No. i and 2 in

possession of his son. The claimant was old and

unable to cultivate them. Deed produced ist

August, 1775, from John Stevens and James Parker,

conveys 203 acres Society Lands in consideration of

^^407, Proclamation money, which sum he paid.

His son was in possession of it some time before

the War. He was offered ^100 for his bargain.

He had made considerable improvements on it.

Thinks it was worth ;£,!, p. acre.

Property 2,000 Acres in Albany County, New York

No, 3 Province. Deed produced from John Leake to

Claimant dated 19th May, 1770, in consideration of

^600, New York currency. Conveys 2,000 acres as

above and a receipt for ^55.8.4, New York currency

Quit Rent.

This wild uncultivated land he bought as a pro-

vision for his children and grandchildren. He

Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought 9

settled two tenants on it, 20 years free. They had

cleared some little. He values it at ^^2,000 New

York Currency.

All the stock, furniture, &c. were lost when they

joined the army.

John Vought, sworn:

He is son to Christopher Vought. He is the only son and

the only child; he had a sister who died in child bed leaving

one son George Young. The father George Young resides in

the States.

His father and he joined the British Troops in 1776 at New

Brunswick.

Before that he had signed an Association and attended the

training of the Militia, and says he durst not declare his senti-

ments.

The Company he belonged to were turned out to be drafted

to serve in the Militia, when to a man, they refused to turn out.

After this he was ill used, as they blamed him and Captain

Lee for the Company not serving.

He resisted and raised men, and returned the ill usage.

He was obliged to fly, but in consequence of the oppression

his father met with, he delivered himself up when he was ptit

in gaol for some days, was tried and fined ^100 currency.

In December following he joined the British Army with

85 inhabitants of HunterdonCounty. He soon after had a

Company given to him in the New Jersey Brigade and was En

Second in 1778. He now enjoys half pay and resides at Pars-

borough.

Produces Commission of Lieutenant from Sir William

Howe, December, 1776, and of Captain from Sir Henry Clinton,

July, 1778.

No. J There was a good house on it, the land was under

good cultivation, 165 acres were in tillage, 25 acres of

meadow, and the rest timber.

He thinks that the 285 acres with the houses and

buildings would have sold for ^7 currency p. acre.

No. 2 203 Acres adjoining was his property. He pur-

chased in the fall of 1773, he did not get his title

until the ist August 1775. Says he had paid the

whole price many months before he got his title.

He had cleared about ten acres, thinks it was

worth ;^4 p. acre in 1776. There were several acres

cleared besides the ten improved.

No. 3 He was on it with his father in 1770. He settled

three tenants on it. They were to sit free 10 years

and to pay ^10 p. annum afterwards.

Produced a lease to that purpose. He values

this at ;^2,ooo currency. Thinks he could have sold

it for _;^2,ooo.

lo Descendants of Simon and Christina Vought

Christopher Vought, the father, in consequence

of his old age, made over all his personal property to

the witness John Vought, his only son, which he

now claims:

Stock as p.

, account,

i^47o-

Furniture,

96.

Farming utensils.

10.

Grain and

Hay,

165.

Wheat gro

wing,

Curren

so-

icy;^79i.

His wife came to him on Staten Island in 1777 and told him

that the rebels carried off everything they had.

Produces a valuation of No. i and 2.

On oath sworn 14th October 1784, at New York City, by

William Rutherford and Philip Gradin (Grandin?), at ;2^s, losh.,

proclamation money p. acre.

And an Inventory of Effects the Property of John Vought

with a certificate to this being sold for ^1,062, Signed by John

Forster who signs himself Clerk to the Commissioners for the

sale of Confiscated Money.

Produces certificate of sale sworn to before Henry Trap-

hagen made by Peter Brunner, one of the Commissioners to

dispose of the Real and Personal Estate of Refugees.

By this certificate it appears that he sold No. i and No. 2