Bergen County

The Gautier Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Gautier Family, at one time numerous in Hudson County, was a French Huguenot family who came to America after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. By intermarriage a considerable landed estate in Bergen, N. J., came into possession of the family. This property, at what is now Greenville, is known as the “Gautier farm,” descended through one Captain Thomas Brown. Jacques Gautier, of Saint Blancard, in the Province of Languedoc, France, is said to have been the first American progenitor of the Gautiers. He settled in New Amsterdam, and left issue two sons, Daniel and … Read more

The Garrabrant Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Garrabrant Family, the inter members of which are numerous in the western part of Bergen and Hudson Counties, claim descent from Gerbrand Claesen, a Dutch emigrant, who, at one time, had much influence over the early affairs of Bergen. Claesen was from Amsterdam, and was at Bergen probably two or three years before he married Maritie, only daughter of Claes Pietersen Cos, which was August 25, 1674. He became a large property owner and held many official positions. In 1689 he obtained permission of Governor Leisler to purchase a tract of land now in Putnam County, N. Y., and, … Read more

The Flierboom Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Flierboom Family. The first American ancestor of the Flierboom and Vlierboom families was Mattys Flierboom, a Hollander, who emigrated to America somewhere about 1660 and settled at New Orange (Albany), where he became a man of note, rising to the dignities and honors of a judge of the courts at Albany. There he reared a family of five children: Caroline, Wellempie, Maritie, Servaes, and Jacob, and perhaps others. About 1692 the family removed to New Amsterdam, married Cornelius Jaus Haring. Maritie married in 1694 Rynier Reyserick. Servaes, in 1697, married Gertrude Lesting. Jacob married in 1699 Maritie Peters Haring. … Read more

Biography of Alexander Fisher of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

Alexander Fisher was born in Buffalo, N. Y., on the 14th of May, 1849, his parents being John Fisher and Margaret Cortelyou. His ancestors came to this country from England. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo and spent his early life as a traveling salesman. In this capacity he gained a wide practical experience. He is now private secretary to Henry Dalley, of New York City. In 1862 Mr. Fisher became a resident of Closter, Bergen County, N. J., where he has since remained. As a citizen he is thoroughly identified with public affairs, liberal in promoting … Read more

Biography of John Engel of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

John Engel, formerly Postmaster of Hackensack, and one of the most popular hotel proprietors in Bergen County, was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 16th of April, 1845. His parents, Charles Engel and Agustia Kuehn, ere both born and married in Prussia. Major Engel received his education at the military school at Schloss, Annaburg, Province of Saxony, and in 1860 came to this country, arriving in New York City on the 16th of October. His first business here was as a barber in New York. In 1868 he removed to Hackensack, N. J., where he has since resided, and where … Read more

The Edsall Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Edsall Family are still numerous in both Bergen and Hudson Counties. The founder of the family in America was Samuel Edsall, a native of Reading in Berkshire, England, where he was born about 1630. He was a hatter by trade, and came to America early in the spring of 1655 (as is said), settling first at New Amsterdam. There, on May 29, 1655, he married (1) Jannetie Wessels, then a belle of the city, whose mother kept a tavern in Pearl Street, celebrated for burgomasters’ dinners. In April, 1657, Edsall was made a small burgher. From New Amsterdam he … Read more

Biography of Garret I. Demarest of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

Garret I. Demarest is descended from the same common ancestor as is Elmer Wilson Demarest (see sketch on page 64). David des Marest, the first American emigrant of the name, had a great-grandson, Garret Jacobus des Marest (5), who married Jacomyntie Tunis Helms, and had fifteen children. One of these, John G. Demarest (6), was born at Schraalenburgh, January 23, 1771, and died there November 6, 1834. He married Catharine Blawvelt, who died May 4, 1849, aged seventy-one years eleven months. John G. was a farmer and had issue ten children, of whom John J. Demarest (7), born at Schraalenburgh, … Read more

Genealogy of Elmer Wilson Demarest of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

Elmer Wilson Demarest is a direct descendant of Jean des Marest (1), a prominent citizen and resident of Beauchamp in the Province of Picardy, France. There, about 1620, was born his son, David des Marest (2), who, upon reaching manhood, espoused the Protestant faith and fled to Holland to escape persecution, locating at Middleburgh on the Island of Walcheron in Zeeland. Here, on July 24, 1643, David married Maria, a daughter of François Sohier, of Nieppe, a town in Hainault. The couple resided at Middleburgh until 1651, when they removed to Manheim on the Rhine River, in the lower Palatinate, … Read more

Genealogy of David A. Demarest of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

David A. Demarest was without doubt in his day one of the most widely known and highly respected men in Bergen County. He was of the sixth generation from David des Marest, the French Huguenot emigrant, concerning whom we see page 64. The line of descent was as follows: David des Marest (1), the emigrant, and his wife, Maria Sohier, had four children, one of whom was David Demarest, Jr. (2), who married Rachel Cresson and had twelve children, one of whom was Jacobus (3), who married Lea de Groot and Margrietie Cozines Haring, and had fifteen children, one of … Read more

Biography of David Demarest of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

David Demarest is another of the lineal descendants of David des Marest and his wife, Maria Sohier, who came to American in 1662. The emigrant had a great-grandson, David Demarest, who resided at Schraalenburgh more than a hundred years ago. This last named David had several children, one of whom was James D. Demarest (6), born at Schraalenburgh March 2, 1763, died there April 28, 1830. His wife Rachel, born July 28, 1768, died April 26, 1828. James D. was a farmer residing at Schraalenburgh. One of his several children was Abraham J. Demarest (7), who married Rachel Blawvelt, daughter … Read more