Biography of James B. Vredenburgh of Hudson County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

James B. Vredenburgh is of Holland descent, the respectability of which has been strengthened by intermarriage with the Coles, Schuremans, Van Dorns, Brinckerhoffs, and other of the most prominent Holland families. Isaac Van Vredenburgh (1), a well-to-do citizen, resident, and burgher of the City of Hague, in Holland, had a son who bore the somewhat elongated name of William Isaacsen Van Vredenburgh (2), who, while yet a very young man, enlisted as a soldier in the service of the Dutch West India Company and came to America in May, 1658, on board the good ship “Gilded Beaver.” He seems to … Read more

Genealogy of Cornelius Burnham Harvey of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The surname Harvey is corrupted from Hervey, and is from an ancient Norman name, Herve or Hervie. M. de Greville in his Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm.. 1644, observes: ” We sometimes call it Hervot le Hervurie. As a family designation it appears in the twelfth century.” Didot, however, in his Nouvelle Biog. Universale, shows the name to have been adopted much earlier, when he speaks of Hervie, Archbishop of Rheims, who, he says, died A.D. 922, and Polydore Virgil, in his Chronicle, says ” Harvey and Hervey ” was Hervicus. ” One of the family,” he adds, ” came over … Read more

Genealogy of Abraham Oothout Zabriskie of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

Abraham Oothout Zabriskie belonged to one of the most numerous and eminently conspicuous families of Bergen County. In Poland the name was “Sobieska,” and Albrecht Sobieska was the first of the family in America. It has been claimed by many of his descendants that royal blood coursed in Albrecht’s veins, because he was a brother of John III., the last king of Poland. The facts do not sustain such a claim. Albrecht Sobieska was not a brother of the last king of Poland. James Sobieska (the king’s father) and his wife, Theophila, had but three children: Mark, John (the king), … 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

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

Biography of David D. Blawvelt of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

After the Demarests and Harings, the Blawvelts are the most numerous of the families that settled the northern part of Bergen County. On the east bank of the River Yssel, in the Province of Overyssel, in Holland, nestles the by no means sleepy town of Deventer-the birthplace of the great Gronovios and the still greater Groote, a town of iron foundries and carpet manufactories, famous for its “honey cakes,” a species of gingerbread, tons of which are annually shipped to different parts of the kingdom. The Valley of the Yssel, traversed as it is by numerous tributaries to the river, … Read more