Wm & Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson

WILLIAM AND ANN (SIMPSON) HUTCHINSON

OF WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

William And Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson lived in both Middlesex County and Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the early 1700s. They had 13 children. We know this fact because of the inscription on Ann's gravestone in the family burial plot on their homestead land. The inscription reads: "Sacred to the Memory of Ann Hutchinson, Relict of Wm Hutchinson Esqr. departed this Life Jany. 4th 1801. Aged 101 years 9 Months and seven days. She was mother of 13 children, and Grand Mother and great grand mother, & great great Grand Mother of 375 Persons." Their first born child was a Robert Hutchinson, born 11 December 1720. Therefore, one can assume that they were married in, or about, 1720.

I had always wondered why Ann Hutchinson, Wm's widow, was living with Robert Willson when she died in 1801, when other family members were still living in the area. I thought that it was possibly due to her son, Robert of VA & GA, having taken all of "her" land as the heir according to English law, selling it, and leaving her without a dowry, which forced her to sue him and her other children, who bought some of the land.

So, I decided to work on finding out why she died at Robert Willson's home. And, here is what I found: Robert Willson, Sr. - He was in the Revolution, was a Whig, and a Lieut. of the Militia. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Allentown, NJ and was a deacon in 1784, trustee in 1793, and an elder in 1809. Charles Robbins Hutchinson's work indicates that Robert was the first Judge of election in East Windsor Twp. in 1797. He lived in East Windsor Twp, NJ at the time of his will, dated Sep 11, 1816. The will was proved on Mar 7, 1820. His obituary was found in the Trenton Federalist, dated 6 Mar 1820, and indicated "Died- East Windsor, lately, Robert Wilson, esq., aged 82 years." Robert's gravestone in the Allentown Presbyterian Church Cemetery spells his name as "Willson" as was the way he wrote his signature on many documents including his Middlesex Co Will. However, his children all used the "Wilson" spelling.

Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson, William's wife, died at the home of Robert Willson and her obituary was found in the family Bible of Samuel Johnes of East Windsor Township. [The Johnes and Hutchinson family in the area inter-married later.] The obit of Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson, dec'd, is in the 1 April 1801, Wed. edition of the Freeman's Journal, in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, which said that she died at the “home of Robt. Willis (sic) of East Windford (sic) township.” [I have found her "obit' or death notice published in the larger papers in states where she had children and other descendants; such as in Atlanta, Georgia papers.] In all newspaper accounts of Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson's death in 1801, at the age of 101.9.7, it states that she died at the home of Robert Wilson, Esq of East Windsor Twp, Middlesex Co, NJ. So, who was this Robert Wilson and what was Ann doing there.

In Robert Willson's Inventory, there is an item which states "Ballance due the Estate of Robert Wilson deceased from Ann Wilson for Boarding her Mother - doubtfull $42.22." And, this was the clue that led to the answer to my question as to why she died at Robert Willson's home.

I know that William & Ann Hutchinson's daughter, Anne, married (1) James Brooks, the High Sheriff of Middlesex County, and that her father, William Hutchinson, a Justice of the Court in Middlesex County, put up a "performance" Bond for Brooks as Sheriff. I found unauthored notes that indicated that James Brooks died before his wife and his widow, Ann (Hutchinson) Brooks married (2) a Wilson; no other name known. From this clue, it was my belief that the “Wilson” that Ann (Hutchinson) Brooks married was none other than Robert Willson. What I found was that Robert Willson was a widower of Rachel (Hutchinson) Willson, and she was the daughter of my Jonathan Hutchinson, who is the supposed brother of William Hutchinson, deceased, husband of Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson. If I was correct, this marriage theory would also account for Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson, mother of Ann (Hutchinson) Brooks, dying at Robert Willson’s home per newspaper accounts (the obit of her death being pasted into Samuel Johnes Bible) AND would explain the above language found in the Inventory of Robert Willson’s Estate.

To prove this assumption, I had to find that James Brooks' widow, Anne (Hutchinson) Brooks, did marry (2) Robert Willson, and that he was the widower of Rachel (Hutchinson) Wilson. This belief was proved by the will of Robert Willson, dated 11 September 1816, and proved on 7 March 1820. In it, he directs his executors that he is to be buried at the “Allentown Church near my first wife” and in it he calls his second wife, “beloved wife Anna.” I then also knew by this will that Robert Willson’s first wife had died before 1816. A search of the Allentown Presbyterian Church Cemetery found Robert Willson buried next to his first wife, “Rachel, Wife of Robert Willson, Esq.,” who died in 1797. Robert’s stone indicates that he died 28 February 1820, aged 84 years.

I then searched for the will of an Ann Wilson, after 1816, and found it filed in Middlesex County, dated 17 March 1819, in which she is described as being from East Windsor Township. It was also witnessed by Jacob Fisher, the same person (by handwriting analysis) who witnessed the will of her late husband, Robert Willson in 1816. The executors of Ann Wilson’s will were identified as Rescarrick Moore and Sarah Moore. [Rescarrick Moore married Sarah Brooks, a daughter of Ann (Hutchinson) (Brooks), 2nd wife of Robert Willson.] Ann (Hutchinson) (Brooks) Willson died 9 May 1820 and her will was proved 29 June 1820 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

This explains the tangled marriages of Willson/Hutchinson and also explains how Sarah Brooks Moore had the Hutchinson family Bible records in her possession in 1837. Other Wills and Inventories showed that Sarah's wedding ring was in the possession of Sarah B. Smith, the daughter of John Mount Smith, of Hightstown, NJ. And, this connection also explains how the family Bible records of William and Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson found their way to, and were in the possession of, the Smith family of Hightstown, NJ and were last known to be in their possession prior to the death of John Mount Smith in 1921.

Sarah (Brooks) Moore, wife of Rescarrick Moore, also appeared before Judge Joseph Mc Chesney, of Hightstown, then Middlesex County, on 24 March 1837 and gave an affidavit listing the dates of birth of William and Ann Simpson Hutchinson and their children. Judge McChesney wrote in the affidavit, "Personally appeared before me, Sarah Moore, who upon her oath, saith the above is the original record of family events made in the family Bible not long after the event recorded occurred."

In the Will of Dorothy Newberry, widow of Richard Newberry, carpenter, of the City of Philadelphia, PA, dated 7 April 1731/2, proved 1 June 1731, Book E-Page 163, comes the following abstracted material - "sisters - Catherine Stout, Anne Hutchinson; brothers - William and Peter Simpson; cousins - John and Haskar Newberry; friends - Jenkin Jones, Jane Pearce; nurse - Alice Haig; brother-in-law: William Hutchinson; executrix-Anne Hutchinson; trustee- Jenkin Jones; witnesses- John Kearsley, Jno. Cadwalder." [PA Wills - 1682-1834]

In September 24, 1737, William and Jonathan bought land on the southern side of the Assanpink and on both sides of the Province line as run by George Keith from the heirs of David Lyell, deceased. Charles Robbins Hutchinson states that the tract of land was lying on the southerly side of the Assanpink Creek and on both side of the province line as run by George Keith, containing 756 acres, and upon which they settled. This land was in what is today the southern part of West Windsor Township, Mercer County. He also states that the Lyells were Perth Amboy people and it is likely that both Jonathan and William also came from that locality and that they were brothers. [It is also known that the John Hutchinson, who married Elizabeth Pearson in 1730, was also from Perth Amboy, New Jersey.]

In August 28, 1740, James Alexander and Daniel Donaldson Dunstar conveyed to William Hutchinson, for 488.11.5 pounds, a tract of land in what was then in Windsor Township, Middlesex County and is today East Windsor Township, Mercer County, bounded east and north by Rocky Brook, including the present village of Etra, then called Milford, extending southward to about where is now the Monmouth County line and westwardly about one and a half miles; containing 1,037 acres. Its southwesterly corner appears to have been about where Lawrence's Line between East and West Jersey crosses said county line. To this tract William Hutchinson removed, and some portion of it still remains in the possession of his descendants.

East Jersey Deed - Book K-2, Pg 346. 12 Aug 1748. Catherine Lyell, of Perth Amboy, spinster, sells to Daniel Robins, of Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, for £325, for a tr. of land in Middlesex Co., beg. at upper most corner of a tr. form. belonging to David Lyell, Esqr. ,ate of Monmouth Co., dec’d, being in Middlesex Co., betw. Millstone River and Assanpink and several courses to beg., being 630 a., wch. tr. sd. Lyell claims right by the will of her father, David Lyell, dec’d, wherein he devised the absd. tr. to his six children, of wch. sd. Catherine Lyell is one, to be divided amonst them, and wch tr. was so devised and divided betw. the children by a release from the other five children. Wits.: John Smyth, Willm. Hutchinson. Signed: Catherine Lyell. Ackn.: 13 Aug 1748, John Smyth appeared bef. Andrew Johnston, Esqr., Majesty’s Council. Rec’d, John Smyth, Reg.

East Jersey Deed - Book G-3,Pg 411. 12 Dec 1748. Jacob Robins, of Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., East NJ, yeoman, quit claims unto Henry Chamberlin, of New Windsor Twp., Middlesex Co., East NJ, yeoman, for £10, for a tr. of meadow which was conveyed to him by Christopher Nation by a conveyance, dated 10 Dec instant, from which sd. Nation had Right to the land from his father, John Nation, by a Power of Attorney, beg. at the n. corner of a tr. of land William Hutchinson, Esqr., bot. of Daniel Robbins, at a ditch in Thomas Clayton’s line and then along sd. Hutchinson’s line several courses to or opposite the ditch that drains the Clayton meadow, called Jacob Robbins’ Ditch, and then up the ditch to the beg., being 4 a.. Wits.: Joseph Robins, john Chamberlin, Joseph Everinham, made his mark. Signed: Jacob Robins. Ackn. Middlesex Co. - 19 Mar 1774, John Chamberlin, Esqr. appeared bef. Joseph Skelton, Judge, Middlesex Co. Bowes Reed, Sec.

New Jersey Archives, First Series, Vol. XVI, page 89 - "At a council held at Burlington on the 28th day of March, 1749. His Excellency by and with the advice of this Board appointed the following officers in the several counties, viz: For the county of Middlesex , William Hutchinson, one of the Justices of the Quorum. And, again, found in New Jersey Archives, First Series, Vol. XVII, page 503 - William Hutchinson, Justice of the Quorum, Middlesex County.

NJ Supreme Court Case #15937 - Hutchinson vs. Evilman

August 1751[?] - Middlesex Co. Sheriff is Commanded to take John Evilman if he may be found within his Bailiwick and him safely kept so that he have his body before our Lord King at the City of Perth Amboy on the third Tuesday in August next to answer William Hutchinson, Esqr., of a plea of Trespass and also to a bill of sd. William against the sd. John for £200 proclamation by and or according to the custom of the land of afsd. Lord the King, before the King himself to be exhibited and have you then & there. Written on the document by Samuel Nevill, “Let the Defendant be held to Bail in the Same afsd. Two Hundred Pounds Proclamation money.”

[Nothing further known about the case - other than the above Sheriff was James Brooks, who was William’s son-in-law, who married dau. Ann. And, I personally know from research that John Evilman was of Middlesex Co.]

Deed Book H2:Pg 255. 1 Aug 1754. Andrew Johnston, Lewis Johnston, William Skinner & James Alexander, the surviving Exec. of Dr. John Johnston, dec’d, with power to sell of the 1st; Andrew Johnston & James Alexander the Exec. of Daniel Donaldson Dunstar, dec’d, with power to sell of the 2nd part; James Alexander of the 3rd part; & James Parker of the 4th part. Whereas, Alexander Mackdowel, surveyor, in 1726 ran lines of the Earl of Perth’s Patent on Rocky Brook. And, whereas by several surveys made there is reason to believe that sd. Mackdowel running the fourth line of that Patent did interfere with the Patent of James Johnston, belonging to sd. Dr. John Johnston and before that discovery, the sd. Daniel Donaldson Dunstar owning 3/8ths & sd. Alexander owning 5/8ths of the sd. Earl of Perth’s Patent, by deed dated 28 Aug 1740, conveyed to William Hutchison a tr. of land being part of the Earl of Perth’s Patent, by Dr. Johnston’s line and along it to Rocky Brook. And, whereas, the surveys made by John Lawrence & John Anderson nearly agreeing, there is reason to believe there is an error and to prevent future problems, the parties of the 1st part with sd. Hutchison have come to an agreement where they will convey 73.5 a. to the use of sd. William Hutcheson and the parties of the 2nd & 3rd parts are to release to the parties of the first part, the rest of the land lying betw. the sd. Mackdowel line and the Perth’s Patent line, being 27 a. Now, by this Indenture, the parties of the 1st part for £43 & 17 shillings & 3 pence by sd. Alexander and £26 & 6 shillings & 4 pence paid by 2nd part, and £62 & 4 shillings & 4 pence paid by Hutchison and also for the release of the 27 acres, and 6 pence paid to them by sd. Parker have confirmed unto sd. Parker, all 73.5 a. lying n.of Mackdowel line and included in the deed to William Hutchison. And, parties of 2nd & 3rd part have quit claimed to sd. Parker, all the 27 acres in Mackdowell’s line at William Hutchison’s present s.w. corner to Freegift Stout’s corner and along Stout’s line (as run by John Lawrence in 1746) to Sd. Stouts’s s.w. corner. Signed: Andw. Johnston, Lewis Johnston, Jas. Alexander, Wm. Hutchinson. Wits.: Jno. Stevens, John Johnston. Ackn.: 21 Aug 1754, the within grantors & grantees executing the deed appreared bef. David Ogden, Majesty’s Council. Recr’d & Exam.: Tho. Bartow, Sec.

East NJ Deed - Book K-2,Pg 76. 25 Aug 1758. William Hutchason, [Hutchinson] Esqr., of Windsor Twp, Middlesex Co., East NJ, sells to John Tindal [Tindall], of afsd. place, yeoman, for £150, for two lots, being part of a tr. conveyed by deed from Mary Lyall [Lyell], Andrew Johnson [Johnston], John Stevens, Catherine Lyall [Lyell], and Jane Lyall [Lyell] to the sd. William Hutchinson and to Jonathan Hutchinson, whereof the sd. Jonathan Hutchinson by virtue of a Quit Claim conveyed all his rights and title of sd. lots of land in Windsor Twp., beg. on Thomas Tindal’s line and being a corner of Jonathan Hutchinson and then along sd. Jonathan’s line to Thomas Tindal’s land and along sd. Tindall’s line to beg., being 123.5 a. Also, a tr. in sd. twp., beg. at lower corner of land on the Assanpink belonging to John Roger’s Junr. And along sd. Roger’s line to Jonathan Hutchinson’s corner, then along sd. Jonathan’s line to s.e. corner of Jonathan’s 38.5 a. and along his line to the south edge of the Assanpink Brook, and near the head of a small island made by Dead Creek, then up sd. Assanpink to beg., being 38.5 a. Wits.: James English, Junior, Thomas Tindall, George Danser. Signed: William Hutchinson. Ackn.: 10 Aug 1760, George Danser appeared bef. Samuel Nevill, Esqr., Judge, Supreme Court. Rec’d, John Smyth, Reg.

East Jersey Deed - Book G-3,Pg 412. 1 Jun 1762. Henry Chamberlin, of Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ, yeoman, quit claims unto Robert Hutchinson, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ, yeoman, for £7,10 shillings, for a tr. of meadow conveyed to Jacob Robins by Christopher Nation on 10 Dec 1748, which sd. Nation received from his father, John Nation by a Power of Attorney, beg. at the n. corner of a tr. of land William Hutchinson, Esqr., bot. of Daniel Robbins, at a ditch in Thomas Clayton’s line and then along sd. Hutchinson’s line several courses to or opposite the ditch that drains the Clayton meadow, called Jacob Robbins’ Ditch, and then up the ditch to the beg., being 4 a. Wits.: Benjamin Ward, John Chamberlin. Middlesex - 19 Mar 1774, John Chamberlin appeared bef. Joseph Skelton, Judge, Middlesex Co. Bowes Reed, Sec.

In Vol 69, Page 2, Jan 1994 issue of the "Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey", is the following document found in the Drake Family Collection at Rutgers, dealing with an affidavit of illegitimacy - "Margaret Gravat - Decembr 11th, 1762: Came before me, John Chamberlin on of his Majesties Justices for keeping the Peace for the County of Middlesex, Margaret Gravat, and being sworn as the law in such cases directs, saith that sometime about the latter part of last Fall was a year, or the Beginning of the Winter that John Hutchinson, son of William Hutchinson had Carnal Knowledge of her body when his wife was at Allin's Town taking care of her son that was under doctor Newels hands, came and sundry times since and at one of them times she verely Believes he has got her with child which child when born will be a bastard. Sworn before me, John Chamberlin." After William's death, his son Robert, sold William's land claiming it as "eldest son and Heir". He made no consideration for Ann's Dower rights. Therefore, Ann sued Robert and those he sold the land to, which included some of her other children, in the NJ Supreme Court. A Writ of Dower against Robert Hutchinson was issued to the Monmouth County Sheriff to bring him before the court and without delay "he render unto Anne Hutchinson who was the Wife of William Hutchinson her reasonable Dower of the Lands & Tenements in Monmouth County afd which were the sd William Hutchinson formerly her Husband...", dated Oct 12, 1772. Supreme Court action against Robert Hutchinson's actions was being taken as early as the May 1771 term where in Cortland Skinner, Atty General, filed suit against "Robert Hutchinson, Admr. Wm Hutchinson". Ann was still filing suits against her children regarding her Dower rights in 1773 in the Supreme Court.

William also co-signed a bond appointing James Brooks, Sheriff of Middlesex Co in Jan 1763 Term of the Middlesex County Court. [James Brooks married William & Ann's daughter, Anne Hutchinson.]

In the Oct Term 1763 of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, both William Hutchinson and Jonathan Hutchinson were one of several of Middlesex County residents called as members of the Grand Jury. William was present in the morning but Jonathan and several others were not. The court recessed until 2:00PM, at which time Jonathan and others appeared, after paying their fines of 20 shillings. Both Jonathan and William were present for the afternoon session.

East Jersey Deeds - Book B3-Pg 58. 28 Dec 1764. William Hutchinson, of Windsor Co., Middlesex Co., NJ, Esqr., sells to John Hutchinson, of the afsd, place, yeoman, for £430, a tr. of land in Windsor, beg. at a corner on the s.w. side of Rocky Brook and then to a corner marked “IH” and then several courses to Rocky Brook and then up the sd. stream to the beg., being 407 a.; which was conveyed to him by James Alexander, Esqr., and Daniel Donaldson Dunstar by a deed, dated 28 Aug 1740. Wits,: Joseph Hutchinson, Robert Hutchinson, W. Hutchinson, Junr. Signed: Wm. Hutchinson. Ackn.: 3 Apr 1765, Robert Hutchinson appeared bef. John Nevill, Esqr., Judge, Middlesex Co. Examined & rec’d - Smyth, Reg.

On 8 September 1767, William signed a petition, as one of 13 others, for Thomas Height to maintain a "Publick house & Tavern Situate on the high road in the Said Windsor ..." (Signing with him were two other Hutchinsons; sons John and Joseph.)

On Mar 11, 1769, William, being of New Windsor, conveyed to his son, William, the last recorded land transfer in a Middlesex County deed. This is the last date I know of prior to his death which occurred between the date 1769 of this deed and a January 1771 date, found in the minutes of the Middlesex County Court of Common Pleas (1764-1771), for the January Term of 1771.

The NJ Supreme Court case of Robert Hutchinson, son of William, Esqr., versus Adam Shaw [Case #17875] allows me to put William, Esqr.'s death date between 1770-1771. Prior to this case, I only had the last recorded deed mentioned above, dated 1769, in which William Hutchinson, Esqr. sold land AND a document dated 1771 in the court case mentioned above against the estate of William Hutchinson. Therefore, I bracketed his death as occurring betw. 1769-1771. However, now, by the Adam Shaw case, assuming the Court papers are accurate, William Hutchinson, Esqr., was alive in 1770 when he had the conversation that is contested but is attested to by Adam Shaw per his Attorney.

There is the docket of "John Martin", who charged the "Adn [Adminstrator ?] of Wm. Hutchison" a debt of 93 pounds, 15 schillings, and 8 pence. This docket and other writs in the Common Pleas Court of Middlesex Co shows that William Hutchinson, Esquire, died prior to January 1771.

Therefore, we can now put William's death date betw. 1770-1771.

In a Monmouth County deed, dated June 25, 1772, his oldest son, Robert [born 11 December 1720 mentions William is deceased, when he sells his land to John Ely, Junior, which Robert had received from his father. One branch of family in Iowa doing Hutchinson research says William died 6/25/1772, but this is not correct. It is simply the deed date, wherein he was described as deceased.

East Jersey Deed, Book G-3, Pg 415. 10 Mar 1774. Robert Hutchinson, and Elizabeth, his wife, and Benjamin Hutchinson, Eldest son and heir at law to the sd. Robert & Elizabeth, of Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., NJ, sell to Abraham Pain, of Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., NJ, for 5 shillings, a tr. of land in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co. afsd., as surveyed by John Lawrence, and known as Lot number 1 (except 8 a. of meadow devised by Benjamin Lawrence to his dau. Mary), beg. at the n. side of Cattail Brook at Robert Lawrence’s lower corner and then down the sd. brook to the head of a ditch on the s. side of the swamp and then several courses back to the beg., and then several courses to Horse Brook and then up same to the lower corner of land late of Daniel Robin’s, and then and then along sd. Robin’s and Lawrence’s line tot eh beg., being 292 a. after the 8 a. of meadow absd. is taken off. ALSO, a small lot of land marked No. 3 in the draught being in Freehold, Monmouth Co., beg. at the s.w. side of Assanpink Bridge and then along the Post Road and then numerous courses to the Horse Brook and then down same, to the afsd. bridge where it beg; bnd. n.w. by the n.w. side of the road, being 14.5 a., and sold to sd. Pain on the day after this date for one year and then to be a Release of the premises sold to him and his heirs for the natural lives of the sd. Robert Hutchinson and Elizabeth, his wife, and the afsd. Benjamin Hutchinson. Wits.: Colin Campbell, Jas. Bloomfield. Signed: Robert Hutchinson, Elizabeth Hutchinson, made her mark, Benjamin Hutchinson. Ackn.: 12 Mar 1774, Robert Hutchinson, and Elizabeth, his wife, & Benjamin Hutchinson appeared bef. Frederick Smyth, Chief Justice. Bowes Reed, Sec.

East Jersey Deed, Book G-3, Pg 413. 11 Mar 1774. William Robins, of Essex Co., NJ, the eldest son of Nathaniel Robins, late of Monmouth Co., NJ, dec’d, and Hannah, his wife, have quit claimed unto Robert Hutchinson, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ, for £6, for a body of meadow called Horse Meadow in Upper Freehold Twp., which lot was Released and intended to be hereby Released; bnd. s. by land which Robert Hutchinson lately granted to Isaac Ivens, n. by land now possessed and occupied by John Lawrence, of Burlington, Esqr., and contains 4 a. Wits.: Cornelius [LNU], Elias V. Court. Signed: Wm. Robins, Hannah Robins. Ackn.: ___ Mar 1774, William Robins, and Hannah, his wife, appeared bef. Reune Runyon, Judge, Middlesex Co. Bowes Reed, Sec.

Sarah Moore appeared before the Middlesex County Court on 29 March 1837 before Judge Joseph McChesney, and gave the family record in an affidavit as it appeared in the family Bible which was handed down thru the family to her. It said that William was born 12 June 1697\8. The notes of Charles Robbins Hutchinson state that William was born in England and came to this country early in life. A great-grandson also states this but adds, in a letter to a newspaper, that William was accompanied by a brother. William was a Justice of the Peace for the King of England in Middlesex County. [It is my opinion was loyal to the Crown in the years prior to the American Revolution.]

The following story appeared in the Village Record, of Hightstown, New Jersey, dated 20 Nov 1857:

Mr. Editor: On the farm now owned by Isaac Goldy, near Milford, about 2 ½ miles from Hightstown, there is an ancient burial ground, wherein several of the old owners of the soil thereabout found the last resting place of their earthly remains. From a tombstone in that place I copy the following, verbatim et literatu: "Sacred to the Memory of Ann Hutchinson, Relict of Wm Hutchinson Esqr. departed this Life Jany. 4th 1801. Aged 101 years 9 Months and seven days. She was mother of 13 children, and Grand Mother and great grand mother, & great great Grand Mother of 375 Persons." I give also the punctuation and Capital letters.

By applying the rule of compound subtraction, or more properly subtraction of denominate numbers, and making allowance for the difference between Old and New Style, we perceive that she was born on the 17th day of March 1699, and consequently lived in three different centuries, i.e. she was born on the 17th, lived through the whole 18th, and died in the 19th century. A very lengthy article might be written upon the times, the scenes, and changes through which she passed, and which she witnessed; but those conversant with history can fill up the great space of her life with general incidents to suit themselves. I will only mention a few facts in connection with her history, and that of her family. She was the wife of Wm. Hutchinson, Esq, a Justice of the Peace under the crown and government of England. This William Hutchinson took up from the government all the land bounded easterly by or near the Earl of Perth's Patent, (at the corner of the farm now owned by Mr. Wesley Sill,) and bounded northerly by Rocky Brook, and extending westerly to at or about the farm now owned by Thomas Mount, (son of Hiram Mount, dec'd); and extending southerly also to the Ely tract, (a tract of 1500 acres taken up by John Ely, my great grandfather,) at or about the property now owned by Abijah J. Chamberlin. You will perceive then, Mr. Editor, that your office, and all of Hightstown south of Rocky Brook, stands on the tract of this old lady's husband. Her first residence was a dwelling made of pallisadoes, a few yards from where Mr. Goldy now lives. My uncle, the late Rev. Robert Hutchinson, dec'd, and Mrs. Phebe Hutchinson, widow of Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson, gave me several particulars in reference to the old Hutchinson family, which I have not the space to fully record. Ann Hutchinson retained her faculties to the last, and could see to thread a needle or read without spectacles when in her 101st year. The family have been remarkable for longevity. Her son, Joseph Hutchinson, (very properly and justly called in his day by the Methodist Father Hutchinson,) lived on the place where Wm. R. Hutchinson now lives. I well recollect the old gentleman myself. He was a very exemplary and pious man, and between 1780 and 1790 was one of a very small class or society in Milford. About the time Methodism began to be frequently preached; my grand father, Richard Ely, who died in 1791, in his life time invited the Methodists ministers to preach in his house, and in warm weather they sometimes preached in his barn; he lived where Richard A. Ely, son of my uncle Aaron Ely, now lives, in Millstone township. I have heard my father frequently say that he remembered, though then young, when these meetings were held at his father's. By (sic) why digress into the history of Methodism? Because the history of the old Hutchinson family is identified with the early history of Methodism in this part of the country. William Hutchinson, another son of this Ann, lived where Daniel P. Hutchinson now lives, and had four sons, all of whom turned out to be Methodist preachers, viz: Ezekiel Hutchinson, Robert Hutchinson, Sylvester Hutchinson and Aaron Hutchinson, all of whom have passed the earth. Ezekiel Hutchinson removed, many years before his death, to Ohio. My mother, who departed this life in 1819, was one of the little band of despised Methodists (for Methodists were persecuted and despised in their infancy) who formed the church at Milford, and having been brought up to attend that church till I arrived almost to manhood, and conversing much with the Hutchinson family, I became of necessity acquainted with many facts in relation to that family, and to the Methodist Church at Milford; which facts are many of them given by Judge Pearce in the Record, a few weeks back, and are in accordance with what I remember having heard from old people. There are many respectable families descended from this Ann Hutchinson in the United States - Among those of her descendants now living on the old Hutchinson tract are William R. Hutchinson, Daniel P. Hutchinson, and the present Treasurer of New Jersey, R.M. Smith, Esq.

I would say, in conclusion, that not withstanding I have departed in my religious views in some respects from ancient Methodism, the early instructive lessons which I received from my Methodist relatives and friends, "He saves me from a thousand snares." I still firmly believe the good old doctrine of free grace, the freedom of the human will, and the universality of the atonement. To which I will add; "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all my days," and that "The arms of love that compass me, Will all mankind embrace." J.J.E. [Joseph J. Ely]

In the Village Record on the following week of the 27th Nov 1857, a response to the above article was made by a great-grandson, Daniel P. Hutchinson, of William & Ann:

“Mr. editor - Having noticed an article in your paper of the 20th inst., relative to the history of William and Ann Hutchinson, their burial place, and descendants, and thinking it may be interesting to some of your readers who may have lost the knowledge of their ancestors, I ask your indulgence while I speak of some matters connected with these things.

William Hutchinson and one of his brothers came from England to this county early in the 18th century. The maiden name of his wife Ann, was Simpson. Their family of children, thirteen in number, as is recorded on Ann Hutchinson's tombstone, consisted of five boys and eight girls. From these branches have sprung numerous families, bearing the name of Tindall in the neighborhood of Hamilton Square; English and Laird in Englishtown; Ely, Wilson, Moore, Taylor, and others, of this vicinity; Kannan [Kinnan], Bennett and others, of New Brunswick. The marriages into families of these names took place about one century ago. With later generations come in the names of Cubberly, Dey, Moore, Taylor, James, Hartman, and many others down to the present time, and now beside hundreds of Hutchinsons in this vicinity, these descendants may be found in almost every resident name among us. Although the date of the woman's birth reaches back a period of about one hundred and sixty years, and her descendants are numbered in the thousands, yet if she were living to-day in your borough, she might receive daily visits from a grand-daughter who is now in the middle age of life, while in other branches of the family she might look upon children with a string of greats too long for any but a clear-headed person to mention.

In the old burying ground alluded to, this host may look upon the final resting place of their time-honored ancestors- their first parents of this western world. But it would be a sad sight to many, for the plough has already broken the sod over many graves of this ancient burial place, and unless steps be speedily taken, there will soon be left no mark to designate the sacred spot where these first breakers of the soil rest.

I would ask if some plan may not be devised by which the remaining graves shall be religiously protected, so that future generations may read this headstone. We presume the present owner of the land would sell the lot to the descendants for a trifling amount - That such graves should be thoughtlessly trampled upon seems to us a burning shame; and from the personal knowledge we have of many of the descendants, we believe that a sufficient amount of money could be raised to do it in a permanent manner. D.P.H. [Daniel P. Hutchinson]

[Today, this ancient cemetery still exists off of Cedarville Road but with only the two existing stones of Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson and her husband William plus pieces of other fieldstones used as grave markers. I’m afraid that nothing was done after the above article to preserve it and nothing has been done since. Recently, many members of the community thought that site had been protected by East Windsor Township due to the work of the East Windsor Township Preservation Commission several years ago. This was work in which I participated to a limited degree and even received written thanks from the Commission for helping preserve the site. However, after many years, I was among the many surprised residents who found out through various news articles in the local Hightstown, New Jersey papers that this ancient burial ground was not protected and had not been so protected as had been proclaimed by the Commission. After having found this gravesite, many years ago, I have walked through the fields to the site and tended to this ancient cemetery each November in an attempt to keep it open. I have planted numerous bulbs near the stones and have even introduced it to my grandson, aged 5, who would help me. This is the oldest known cemetery, with existing stones, in East Windsor Township and it should be protected from further destruction. The blade of the farmer's plow in the field currently passes over those two remaining burials while the farm nearby uses the site as a place to discard various materials. It would be a worthy project of the Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society to clean it up, put a fence around it, and try to gain the proper preservation of the site for the future generations. It would be a great project for the Society to complete the job that the East Windsor Township Preservation Commission failed to finish.]

William is buried in field to the right of the big bend in the road from Etra to Roosevelt, after leaving Etra, by Feldsher Road. The two trees in the field to the right mark the spot of these two graves.

I found unauthored notes & material on the Hutchinson family in the New Jersey Historical Society in 1980s in an uncataloged cardboard box. I was given access to this material that appeared to have been given to the Society from a family. It contained newspaper clips, notes, and many pages of handwritten family sheets. I believe that this material MAY have come from Elmer Tindall Hutchinson, who was an officer of the Society and a well known author and historian. In this material, was information on the William and Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson family, which indicated that an Isaac Hutchinson of Three Hills Run, NJ, had the family record material on William and Ann.

***************************************************************************************************

In the early days of Methodism in New Jersey, William and Ann's homestead and the homes of their children, became regular stopping points or "stations" for the Circuit Riders of the Methodist Church. Without going into great detail, the Hutchinson family members were very much involved with the Methodist Circuit in NJ. Bishop Francis Asbury and the other ministers of the Circuit wrote in their journals of the times they frequented the Hutchinson homesteads. The three volumes of "The Journals and Letters of Francis Asbury" by Abbingdon Press gives a great deal of personal detail of some of the the Hutchinson family members.

William and Ann's son, William, was the father of nine known children of which four of them became Methodist Circuit Riders - Rev. Robert Hutchinson, Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson, Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, and Rev. Ezekiel Hutchinson. Rev. Aaron Hutchinson died young and is buried in the Milford Church Cemetery, in Milford [now Etra, Mercer Co.], New Jersey, as is Rev. Robert Hutchinson, who as a youth was involved in the Revolutionary cause. Rev. Robert and Rev. Ezekiel travelled into the Ohio Territory and purchased land in what in now Clermont Co., Ohio. My research suggests that Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson was first buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery, on Stockton Street, Hightstown, New Jersey, but later moved to the Cedar Hill Cemetery, in Hightstown, after the a new church was being built on the Stockton Street property and the cemetery was vacated. Also, further support of that theory is the fact that Rev. Sylvester died in 1840 and the Cedar Hill Cemetery was formed in the 1850s. Rev. Ezekiel Hutchinson is buried in what was the Hutchinson Cemetery [now known as the Greenberry Cemetery, in Jackson Twp., Clermont Co., Ohio. Rev. Ezekiel formed a Methodist Church that once sat across from the cemetery on the Glancy-Marathon Rd and Rt 133, in Jackson Twp, Clermont Co, Ohio.

*****************************************************************************************

William Hutchinson, son of William and Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson

William Hutchinson, son of William and Ann, according to every record in New Jersey, was married to a woman named Catherine. With William being born in 1724 and his first known child, Mary, being born in 1755, it appears that he was abt. 30 when he married Catherine. It is possible that he married twice but I have no positive knowledge or records supporting same. However, this possibility may explain the confusion over his wife's name - Mary ( family in OH) versus Catherine (records in NJ). However, if there were two marriages, Catherine was his second wife based upon the NJ deeds and his will. It is certainly possible William married twice. The dates I have used for births and deaths comes from the work of Charles R Hutchinson.

The Hutchinson family descendants in Ohio insist that William's wife's name was Mary Vann/Vohn. The Vann/Vohn name comes from the published histories in Ohio for Clermont and Darke counties in the 1880s. These works contain both good and questionable info. However, the Vaughn [with its various spellings] family was an early family in Windsor Twp. Middlesex Co., NJ.

A descendent from N Carolina wrote me in 1989 and stated that she had information showing that the maiden name was GARRISON. She also had two family Bibles that showed the given name as Catherine in one and Mary in the other while each name had the same date of birth. This same woman later wrote that her full name was Mary Catherine Garrison. So, this may settle one part of the issue.

However, whether Catherine or Mary, Catherine was definitely living in 1809 when she was named in her husband's NJ will. Yet, in un-authored notes in the NJHS by either Elmer or Charles Robbins Hutchinson, there was found information on the family which states that she was Catherine Vann, the daughter of William & Mary Vann. Adding to the Vann name being in the area of Windsor, Middlesex Co, NJ, in the 1700s, are the Baptist church records dated 1745. These records name the original members of the Baptist congregation in Cranbury, NJ before it moved to Hightstown, NJ (about 2 miles from Cranbury). Among the original membership of the church can be found the following individuals - Catharine Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Mary Vann, Rachel Vann, Joseph Vann, etc. Therefore, there may be something to the name Vann being associated with this family.

William and Catherine had in their family nine (9) known children born from 1755 to 1772. William was born 13 Dec 1724 and died 12 Jun 1818. Catherine was born 17 May 1731 and died 27 June 1823. They resided in Windsor Twp. area, Middlesex Co, NJ.

In the Joseph Ely material, Box 5, at the Hightstown-E Windsor Twp Historical Society, I have found the original deed of sale of land by William and Catharine, his wife, to Ezekiel Hutchinson, their son, as so stated in the deed. This deed was dated 16 April 1805 and described them as being from East Windsor Twp and described "Ezekiel Hutchinson Sun of the afore Said William Hutchinson of the same place aforesaid of the other part..." This is, in my opinion, a very important deed because the language of this statement would "possibly" indicate that Ezekiel was a son of William but not Catharine and would corroborate and satisfy the belief that William was married twice (1) Mary Vann and (2) Catharine Garrison. When they signed the deed, Catharine made her mark "o" and William signed his name with it running erratically up-hill. The scribe made the following note - "Wm Hutchinson his hand when blind". This is the first evidence that William was blind as of 1805. The witnesses were Juliann Dennison, Benjamin Van Schoick.

William left a Will, Vol B-P345, Middlesex Co, dated 6 November 1809, where he was of East Windsor Twp. It was witnessed by John Van Kirk, James Reynolds, and Stephen Johnes and it was proved on 30 June 1818. The executors were his sons, Rev. Robert and Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson. He mentions his wife Catharine, sons - Sylvester, Robert, Ezekiel; daughters- Mary, Hannah, Ann, and Catharine; and grandson, Richard, the son of his son Aaron, who was under 21. He left the homestead farm where he then lived to his son, Sylvester. The Inventory of the estate, Vol D-P59, was taken on 7 July 1818 and consisted of 2 horses, 4 cows, 3 ewes and 3 lambs, 2 wagons, 4 feather beds, bedding, chairs, and various other household material totaling $251.57. The inventory was taken by Stephen Jones [Johnes] and Andrew Rowan. It was submitted on 29 September 1818.

William and his wife, Catherine, are BELIEVED to be buried in what was the Milford Methodist Cemetery in Etra, based upon the burial stones with their initials. The dates of birth of their children come from many sources; one being the History of Drake Co, Ohio by Beers.

Other information:

NJ Supreme Court Case - #10222 - Debow vs Hutchinson (James Debow, James Hepburn and Robert English, the surviving Exec. of the will of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d)

2 Jan 1764. Middlesex - Nov Term 1768 - Filed 29 Feb 1769. Know all Men by these Presents that we John Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Jr., Benjamin Hixson, all of the Township of Windsor, Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, are holding and firmly bound unto Robert Montgomery of NJ, Esqr., in the just and full sum of £167, 16 shillings, which sum well & truly to be paid to void Robert Montgomery, his certain attorney, his heirs, Executors, administrators and assigns, we bind ourselves, heirs, Executors, Administrators & every of them by these Presents. The Condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound, John Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Jr., and Benjamin Hixson, they or either of them, their heirs, etc., due well and truly pay or came to be paid to Robert Montgomery, his certain Attorney, etc. the just sum of £83, 18 shillings in 6 months from this date, together with lawful interest for the same, then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force & virtue. Signed: John Hutchinson, Wm. Hutchinson, Jr., Benjamin Hixson.

28 Apr 1768, Returned - May Term 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take William Hutchinson and Benjamin Hixson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick they may be found and them safely kept so that he may have their bodies before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in May next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Plea of Trespass and also to the Bill of them against sd. William and Benjamin for £167, 16 shillings.

10 May 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take John Hutchinson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick he may be found and him safely kept so that he may have his body before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in May next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Bill of them against sd. John for £191 for debt.

26 May 1768, Returned - Sept Term 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take William Hutchinson and Benjamin Hixson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick they may be found and them safely kept so that he may have their bodies before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in May next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Plea of Trespass and also to the Bill of them against sd. William and Benjamin for £167, 16 shillings.

27 Sep 1768, Returned - Nov 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take William Hutchinson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick he may be found and him safely kept so that he may have his body before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in May next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Bill of them against sd. William for £167, 16 shillings.

4 Nov 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take John Hutchinson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick he may be found and him safely kept so that he may have his body before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in May next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Bill of them against sd. John for £191, 16 shillings for debt. It was Returned by the Sheriff in Sep 1768 and a not of the back states “Corpus in Custody & ordered to be stopped as a Defendant says by order of Plaintiff.”

14 Nov 1768 - It is commanded the Sheriff of Middlesex Co. take John Hutchinson, otherwise called, etc. if within his Bailiwick he may be found and him safely kept so that he may have his body before the Lord the King at the City of Burlington on the second Tuesday in Apr next to answer the Exec. of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, on a Bill of them against sd. John for £191.

10 April 1769 - We Command you that the goods, chattels, Real Estate, and lands, etc. of William Hutchinson, otherwise called William Hutchinson, Jun., of the Township of Windsor, Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, in your Bailiwick, you came to be made as well the sum of £167, 16 shillings, which the Executors of Robert Montgomery, Esqr, in Court before us was adjudged for their Damages which they have sustained as well by occasion of the detention of that same debt as for their expenses…. WHEREAS, the sd. William is Convicted as to in appear of Record and have you there Moneys before as at our City of Burlington on the Second Tuesday in May next to render unto the afsd. Executors for their debt and damages.

May 1769 - Noted on the back of the above document “By virtue of the within encl., I have levied and seized and taken a tract of land in Windsor whereon the Defendant Lately dwelt with buildings, etc., with the value of 6 pence which [can’t be read] for want of buyers.”

May 15, 1769 - Non est. Isaac Bonnell, Sheriff, Ret. Sept 1769. We Command that you take William Hutchinson, Junr., otherwise called etc. if within your Bailiwick he may be found and him safely kept so that you have his Body before at Perth Amboy on 1 Sep next for debt of £174, 8 shillings lately recovered by the Exec. of Robert Montgomery against sd. William plus £6, 12 shillings and 6 pence costs. Whereas sd. William is convicted as appears in the record for the sd. debt.

9 Sept 1769 - Same as above but it further indicates that the Sheriff has by virtue of a writ has levied the lands and chattels of the sd. William.

Middlesex Co. - Sept Term 1769 - James Debow, James Hepburn and Robert English, the surviving Exec. of the will of Robert Montgomery, Esqr., dec’d, complain against William Hutchinson, otherwise called William Hutchinson, Junr., of the Township of Windsor, Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, in Custody of the High Sheriff of Middlesex Co., of a Plea he rendered unto them, £167, 16 shillings, which from them he unjustly detained and for this, to wit: That WHEREAS, the said William Hutchinson on 2 Jan 1764 at Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., by his certain writing obligatory sealed with the seal of him the sd. William and to the Court of our Lord the King nowhere shown the date where of is the same day and year last absd., did grant himself to be held and firmly bound to the afsd. Robert Montgomery, Esqr., in his lifetime in the afsd. sum of £167, 16 shillings money afsd., to be paid to the sd. Robert Montgomery, Esqr., or his Exec. when he the sd. William should be there unto afterward required. NEVERTHELESS, the sd. William Hutchinson although often required the afsd. sum or any part thereof unto the sd. Montgomery in his lifetime and the afsd. Exec. since his death hath not paid, but the same to the sd. Montgomery during his lifetime and his Exec. after his death, has altogether refused to pay either of them as yet to pay still doth refuse and unjustly detain to the Damage of the Exec., £50, to bring the suit….The Exec. put in their place, John Lawrence, Attorney.

William's and his wife's children:

Their nine (9) known children were: Mary Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Hannah Hutchinson, Rev. Robert Hutchinson, Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson, Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, Rev. Ezekiel Hutchinson, Ann Hutchinson, and Catherine Hutchinson.

1. Mary Hutchinson - b. NJ - 17 May 1731 - died in Ohio, 8 Sept 1838 - buried in Hartman Cemetery, US Rt. 50, Clermont Co., OH. She married Christopher Hartman, 20 Apr 1777, in the Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex Co., NJ. She was living in 1809 being she was mentioned in her father's will.

2. William Hutchinson - b. 12 Mar 1757, NJ - died bef. 1809. He is said to have died during the Revolutionary War of "camp fever." He was born on the 1? of the month. The handwritten notes in family records can't be made out. He was not mentioned in his father's will of 1809.

3. Hannah Hutchinson - b. 9 Aug 1759, NJ - married (1) Stout, (2) Holmes. Hannah was living in 1809 as she was mentioned in her father's will.

4. Rev. Robert Hutchinson - b. 26 Jul 1763, Middlesex Co, NJ - d. 23 Aug 1852, Milford [now Etra], East Windsor Twp., Mercer Co., NJ, buried - Milford Methodist Cemetery, East Windsor Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ - married Sarah Ely. He was a soldier in the Revolution. Death notice in State Gazette, 18 Sept 1852, gives his death as 3 September 1852. He was living with his son, William R., in E Windsor Twp 1850 Census - #876, listed at age 86, which would make his birth date 1766.

The following is from “Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey”, from the foundation of the first society in the state in 1770, to the completion of the first twenty years of its history... by Rev. John Atkinson, of the Newark Annual Conference, 1860:

Page 362 - Some time during 1785 Adam Cloud and Matthew Greentree, who then traveled East Jersey circuit, visited Hightstown, and established preaching in a tavern kept by one Adam Shaw. They received, however, but little encouragement. John M’Claskey and Ezekiel Cooper, who succeeded them on the circuit this year, did not regard the appointment with much favor, and it is not certain that Cooper preached there. M’Claskey preached there once or twice, “and then publicly informed the congregation that he would preach there once more, and then if a more suitable place for holding meeting could not be found he should cease to preach for them. Robert Hutchinson, a young man of about twenty-one years of age, was present; and, being pleased with the preacher, was unwilling to be deprived of the privilege of hearing him. He, therefore, persuaded his uncle, Joseph Hutchinson, to go and hear M’Claskey, and invite him to preach at his house. The invitation was given and accepted, and thus, early in the year 1786, the preaching was transferred from Hightstown to Milford [then in Middlesex County, in Mercer County since 1838, and the area now known as Etra, NJ], about two and a half mile from the former place. Joseph Hutchinson’s was quite a rendevous for the weary itinerants, and being near the line between ‘East’ and ‘West Jersey,’ the preachers on the two charges would sometimes meet here. Robert Hutchinson, with three brothers, Ezekiel, Sylvester, and Aaron, all four of whom afterward became preachers, went over to uncle Joseph’s to ‘have the small-pox,’ as they were accustomed to call it in ‘olden-time.’ While there they met with a number of traveling preachers. one occasion there were several together. Ezekiel Cooper, J. M’Claskey from ‘East Jersey,’ and Robert Sparks from ‘West Jersey,’ among the number. They became wonderfully attached to them; and their preaching and conversation made impressions which resulted in their conversion. During the year a class was organized; and, among the number of its members were Joseph Hutchinson and wife. This brother was very zealous and enterprising, and soon after the organization of the class, he erected at almost entirely at his own expense, a house of worship for the despised band. The location was unfavorable however, and from this or other causes the society never became large. It continued to be used as a place of worship down to about 1835, when a church was built in Hightstown, after which it was sold. The old church was the scene of stirring times, and many have there fallen under the power of God, and many passed from death unto life. Among the number converted here were four sons of William Hutchinson, brother of Joseph, named respectively, Ezekiel, Robert, Sylvester, and Aaron, who all became ministers of the M.E. Church.

Upon his death, the Village Record, dated 27 August 1852, had the following obit: "Rev. Robert Hutchinson was born on the 25th day of July 1763, upwards of eighty nine years ago. In early life, at the age of 16, he engaged as a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He was about twenty years of age at the time the peace was concluded between the United States and Great Britain. At the age of twenty-two years he was converted to God, and became associated with the Methodist Church, and thereupon commenced his labors as a Minister of the Gospel. He died at his residence near Milford, in the township of East Windsor, Mercer county, N.J., on the 23rd day of August inst., respected and beloved by all who knew him."

The following was the Village Record, dated 25 March 1853: "Rev. Robert Hutchinson, die Aug, 22nd 1852, in the 90th year of his age. The subject of this brief memoir was a native of Mercer county, New Jersey. Born in the year 1762, and very early in life took a decided part in the Revolutionary struggle for our National Independence. After the close of the war, he and his uncle Joseph went to hear the Rev. Thos. Ware, on of the first Methodist preachers in this country. in 1789, he was converted to God. In connection with his uncle and aunt, himself and wife constituted the first class ever formed in this section of the country. In 1790, he was licensed to preach, and taken out by the presiding elder. In due time he was received in Conference, and for about twelve years travelled on his expense, (as the preachers then were necessitated to do) and clad in home-spun cloth, made by the fingers of his industrious wife. He located in 1801 and continued a very industrious local preacher in the M.E. Church until the Reform was agitated in 1830, when he was led to examine the merits of the controversy then pending, which eventuated in his conscientious belief that the tremendous power attached to the office of bishop, and denying the laity the right of being heard was not in accordance with the civil liberty that he had fought to obtain, nor the Holy Scriptures, which he was taught to believe was the only sure rule for the government of churches, as well as of individual piety; consequently, he withdrew from the M.E. Church, and gave his name to Rev. Joseph Cranmer, the Methodist Protestant Minister on the circuit. The writer of this being intimately acquainted with the deceased for about 50 years, never heard him express any regret for the change he had made. He was in the ministry about sixty-five years, and a more holy man I never knew. Let me died the death of Robert Hutchinson. Signed - S. Budd"

5. Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson - b. 20 Apr 1765, Middlesex Co, NJ - d. 11 Nov 1840, East Windsor Twp, Mercer Co., NJ, buried - Cedar Hill Cemetery (Old Section), Mercer Co., Hightstown, NJ - married (1) Sarah Deveau, abt. 1800, (2) Phebe Phillips, 10 May 1808, Hopewell, NJ. “Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey”, - A long, multi-page item on Rev. Sylvester Hutchinson begins on Page 423.

He was the traveling connection of the Methodist Church in 1789. First appointment at Salem, NJ, Chester, Pa, & Fell's Point, Baltimore. Was presiding elder of NY district in 1797-1799. In NY in 1800, he was traveling companion of Bishop Whatcoat. In 1803, he covered districts which covered NY City, Long Island, Canada, with Connecticut River on east with Hudson River and Lake Champlain on west. He would take a tour every three months. (Bangs History of the M. E. Church).

This family's info was provided to Charles R. Hutchinson by a list of the family members that was in the possession of Isaac Hutchinson, of Three Hills Run, NJ, and probably a member somewhere along the line of the Hutchinson family.

Reportedly, Sylvester left the Methodist Episcopal Church because of differences with Francis Asbury over his marriage. On 18 May 1802, Asbury writes in his Journal that at Milford, he visited Sylvester "in an afflicted and low state of body." This could refer to his mourning over the death of his wife, Sarah, based upon Asbury's later note of 30 May 1802, noting that he (Asbury) preached at her funeral in NY. In 1804, Asbury notes that Sylvester was his traveling companion in Rhode Island at the time. His name does not appear in the Minutes in 1804 and he is reported as located in 1806. Apparently, Sylvester traveled into the New England area after his wife's death. Sylvester later joined the Methodists Protestant Church and continued to preach. A Marriage notice of his 2nd marriage in True American, 23 May 1808.

In the records of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, there are baptismal records in 1848 which definitely make a connection to the Phillips & Hutchinson family due to the names of the children baptized. The connection to Sylvester is made through the Joseph and Mary Phillips family of Hunterdon Co, NJ. However, the connection to Sylvester's wife, Phebe Phillips, and Joseph Phillips above is not presently known to me. The Pennington Church's records are as follows:

26 April 1848 - Baptized - Sylvester Hutchinson Phillips, David Alwood Phillips and Harriet Louisa Phillips, being all children of Joseph and Mary Phillips. In Cooley's work on "Old Hunterdon County", he identifies Phebe Phillips as the daughter of Job (son of Theophilus Phillips) and his second wife, Rachel Kerr of Freehold. On his tracing of another Phillip's line, Cooley identifies the above Joseph Phillips, as the son of Aaron Phillips, who married Mary Young (daughter of William), and they had the following children: Silvester, David, Louisa, Margaret, and Harriet. One would assume that since Joseph and his wife, Mary, named one of their children "Sylvester Hutchinson Phillips" that there is a connection between the two family lines; and, there obviously is: Rev. Sylvester's son born in 1809 was named John Kerr Hutchinson, who is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hightstown, NJ. And, two other male children of his carry the middle initial of "P", which probably stands for Phillips.

Page 362 - Some time during 1785 Adam Cloud and Matthew Greentree, who then traveled East Jersey circuit, visited Hightstown, and established preaching in a tavern kept by one Adam Shaw. They received, however, but little encouragement. John M’Claskey and Ezekiel Cooper, who succeeded them on the circuit this year, did not regard the appointment with much favor, and it is not certain that Cooper preached there. M’Claskey preached there once or twice, “and then publicly informed the congregation that he would preach there once more, and then if a more suitable place for holding meeting could not be found he should cease to preach for them. Robert Hutchinson, a young man of about twenty-one years of age, was present; and, being pleased with the preacher, was unwilling to be deprived of the privilege of hearing him. He, therefore, persuaded his uncle, Joseph Hutchinson, to go and hear M’Claskey, and invite him to preach at his house. The invitation was given and accepted, and thus, early in the year 1786, the preaching was transferred from Hightstown to Milford [then in Middlesex County, in Mercer County since 1838, and the area now known as Etra, NJ], about two and a half mile from the former place. Joseph Hutchinson’s was quite a rendezvous for the weary itinerants, and being near the line between ‘East’ and ‘West Jersey,’ the preachers on the two charges would sometimes meet here. Robert Hutchinson, with three brothers, Ezekiel, Sylvester, and Aaron, all four of whom afterward became preachers, went over to uncle Joseph’s to ‘have the small-pox,’ as they were accustomed to call it in ‘olden-time.’ While there they met with a number of traveling preachers. one occasion there were several together. Ezekiel Cooper, J. M’Claskey from ‘East Jersey,’ and Robert Sparks from ‘West Jersey,’ among the number. They became wonderfully attached to them; and their preaching and conversation made impressions which resulted in their conversion. During the year a class was organized; and, among the number of its members were Joseph Hutchinson and wife. This brother was very zealous and enterprising, and soon after the organization of the class, he erected at almost entirely at his own expense, a house of worship for the despised band. The location was unfavorable however, and from this or other causes the society never became large. It continued to be used as a place of worship down to about 1835, when a church was built in Hightstown, after which it was sold. The old church was the scene of stirring times, and many have there fallen under the power of God, and many passed from death unto life. Among the number converted here were four sons of William Hutchinson, brother of Joseph, named respectively, Ezekiel, Robert, Sylvester, and Aaron, who all became ministers of the M.E. Church.

Armenia Hutchinson's Sampler

Rev. Sylvester and his wife, Phebe, had seven (7) known children and one was named Armenia. She was born 1 Dec 1821 and died 29 Feb 1844 [per gravestone]. She is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, in the old section, Hightstown, NJ. She was not married.

In 2009, the Hunterdon County Historical Society, in preparation of moving into new quarters, found 4 previously unknown samplers folded up in their collection materials. There were no names, dates, or record of where they came from. As a result, Dan and Marty Campanelli, of Quakertown, NJ, who are artists and needlework collectors and researchers, were contacted by the Society. After looking at the samplers and obtaining the names and dates of the sampler makers, they began their research. Eventually, they obtained my phone number and they ended up contacting me in reference to any information on Armenia Hutchinson, which was gladly provided. I was thrilled that another of the Hutchinson family samplers had come to light. I presently have two other samplers in my possession that were done by other girls in the Hutchinson family.

After talking to the Campanelli's, I learned that the sampler stated "Armenia Hutchinson's work wrought in the year of our Lord 1833 under the tuition of Eleanor T. Stephens." I then did a Google search and learned that Eleanor T. Stephens was known for other similar samplers and that her school of instruction was known as the Cream Ridge Seminary, Monmouth Co., NJ. Another Google search done on the school's name turned up some books that had other known sampler works from the Cream Ridge Seminary.

After conservation of Armenia's samplerby the Campanelli's, they gave a presentation regarding each of the Society's samplers on 9 Nov 2009. Unfortunately, my wife was recovering from surgery and I could not attend the presentation. As a result, the Campanelli's put together a booklet of their research and work on Armenia's sampler and sent it to me.

It is my belief that Armenia's sampler went back to the Hunterdon Co. area due to her father's connection to the Phillips family of Hunterdon Co., NJ.

Here are some photos of Armenia's Sampler done at age 12 - Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3.

6. Rev. Aaron Hutchinson - b. 17 May 1767, Middlesex Co, NJ - d. 30 Jul 1791 - buried - Milford Methodist Cemetery, Etra, East Windsor Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ - married Mary Jacques.

Page 412: Aaron Hutchinson was born at Milford [then in Middlesex County, in Mercer County since 1838, and the area now known as Etra, NJ], Mercer county, N.J., the 17th of May 1767. He was converted to God about the year 1786, and though the youngest of the four brothers who became preachers, he was the first to enter the itinerant field. “When converted to God,” says Rev. H.B. Beegle, to whom I am indebted for the following notice of him ---”When converted to God he gave evidence of such gifts, and promise of so much usefulness to the Church, that brother M’Claskey immediately took him along with him around the circuit requiring him to exercise his gifts in prayer and exhortation. When they came back to Joseph Hutchinson’s, brother M’Claskey said he must preach there. It was a great cross to the youthful soldier. But a few months since he was converted; and no opportunities for study, for they had been on the wing from the time they left until they returned. And then to open his commission among his own kindred too. But he lifted his cross and stood up, and preached from Isa. Ii. 3. They were all astonished at the marvelous manner in which God assisted the stripling. His mother, especially, wept profusely through the whole service. He was immediately called out as a supply on some of the large circuits. Whether he labored with M’Claskey and Cooper on “East Jersey’ or went elsewhere we know not, but it is settled that he labored somewhere during most of the year 1786. At the Conference of 1787 he was admitted as a traveling preacher, and appointed to Dover, De; in 1788 and ‘89 he was on Flanders circuit; in 1790 he was appointed to Trenton, where he ended his labors.

The General Minutes, in noting his death, contain an estimate of him by his brethern of the Conference. They say he was ‘a man of clear understanding; gospel simplicity; blameless in his life; acceptable as a preacher; fruitful in his labors, which ended in the short space of four years. He was patient, resigned, and confident in his last moments.

He was married some time during his ministry to a lady by the name of Jacques. He frequently tried his hand at poetry. On meeting Mrs. Hannah Salter, a daughter of Aaron Hutchinson, she informed me of her father’s poetic tendencies, and of the many effusions of his she had stored away. She was away from home at the time, but with one she was so familiar that she could repeat it, and as she did I penned it...

Brother Hutchinson departed this life at Milford, July 30, 1791, and his remains lie in the old burial ground there.

"Aaron Hutchinson, was one of the four brothers who were Methodist preachers of the last century. He was the son of William and Catherine Hutchinson. In the brief space of time which he was permitted to live after he attached himself to the ministry, he gained a wide reputation. He left a widow and an only child named Richard Hutchinson now living in the city of New York. His wife was a Miss Jacques of the family of that name in the county of Mercer. It is said that he preached his first sermon at the house of Joseph Hutchinson, the old brick house near the dwelling house of William R Hutchinson. About 1787, he preached in the state of Delaware, and in 1790 he was appointed to Trenton, where he ended his labors. Aaron Hutchinson and his wife, two children and his mother in law, all died in one house on a farm where Richard Ely, Jr, now lives in the town of Millstone." (Village Record - 3/28/1867)

There was another Aaron Hutchinson, son of Rev. Robert Hutchinson, and Rev. Robert also had a daughter, named HARRIET, who married a Rev. David Salter.

[I believe this reference to Hannah Saltar being a dau. of Rev. Aaron is an error and should refer to Rev. Robert because Rev. Robert Hutchinson, a son of William and Catherine, had a son named Aaron and a dau. Harriet, who married Rev. David Salter. The following obit was found in the "Hightstown Gazette", dated 31 July 1890: “Mrs. Harriet Salter died at her home at Bayonne City, Friday last, aged 86 years. The funeral was on Sunday, and after, her remains were brought to Hightstown for burial in Milford cemetery. Mrs. Salter was a sister of the late William R. Hutchinson of this place [a son of Rev, Robert Hutchinson [b. 1793/1805 and d. 2 May 1875], and as of the time of her death was a member of the Hightstown Methodist church”. The family relationships in this 1890 obit are accurate. - rsh]

7. Rev. Ezekiel Hutchinson - b. 10 Oct 1769, Middlesex Co., NJ - d. 9 Jul 1845, Clermont Co., OH, buried - Greenberry Cemetery, Jackson Twp, Clermont Co., OH - married Rachel Hutchinson (2nd cousins).

They lived near Williamsburg, Clermont Co., Ohio. He was born either Sep or Oct. I received handwritten notes from the family Bible of the granddaughter of Rev. Ezekiel Hutchinson in 1990 which were written in Marathan, Ohio, in Oct 1889, Wednesday evening. These notes gave the family names, births, deaths, and marriages. Rev Ezekiel's Bible indicates he was born on 18 Sept 1769. He came to Jackson Twp, Clermont Co, Ohio in 1806.

The Greenberry Cemetery was originally known as the Hutchinson Cemetery being the land was donated by Ezekiel Hutchinson. (See gravestone photos in my Hauser file.) He also donated the land for the Greenberry Methodist Church. He was a Methodist Circuit Rider with his three other brothers; Rev. Robert, Rev. Aaron and Rev. Sylvester. On this same road, in 1993, Charles Elton's farm held a reunion of the descendants of Rev. Robert Hutchinson, which I attended.

The calculation of Ezekiel's birth from the data on his gravestone puts his birth date at what I found in other family information; that is Oct 18, 1769. I had received copies of Ezekiel's daughter's Bible from Elmer Hauser out of Florida. Rev Ezekiel's original home no longer exists but was located at the second house on the right from the corner of Glancy-Marathon Rd and Rt 133, in Jackson Twp, Clermont Co, Ohio. Ezekiel's grandson, Ezekiel J. Hutchinson, built the present house that stands at this location, and in 1993, it was occupied by the Brown family. One original out building still exists in the rear of the house and was photographed 1993.

Ezekiel and Rachel Hutchinson sold land in Clermont Co, Ohio, on 24 December 1800, recorded on 24 December 1812 - Deed K9-P238. (See other Clermont Co deeds in Vol 44-P365.) Yet, Clermont Co First Families carry Ezekiel as coming to Clermont Co, Ohio in 1807 from New Jersey but this deed shows that he was "of Clermont Co" at least as of 24 Dec 1800. I wrote a letter to them on this issue but they said the other date had been approved by their committee and refused to change it. So, be it!

8. Ann Hutchinson - b. 8 Jul 1772, Middlesex Co, NJ - d. 10 Sep 1828 - married Jacob Hutchinson (2nd cousins).

Not sure of this data as it is culled from various un-authored items and upon fragments of original documents found in the metal wall boxes in the Surrogate's Office, Mercer Co, NJ in the 1970s.- b. Jul 8, 1772-d. Sep 10, 1828 & married Jacob Hutchinson. She was also known as Nancy. She had a dau, Mary b. 17 Jan 1798, who married a William Van Kirk in May 1815 - re: un-authored notes in NJ Historical Society material which also named another daughter, Rachel, b. 4 Apr 1804, who married James G. Gorman, on 7 May 1824. Both daughter's families being from Hamilton Co, Ohio. Ann was definitely living in 1809, when she was mentioned in her father's New Jersey will.

9. Catherine Hutchinson - b. 3 Jan 1775 - d. 27 May 1856. Not sure of data - b. Jan 3, 1775-d. May 27, 1856 & married Joseph James. She was definitely living in 1809 when she was mentioned in her father's will.

[ Home ] [ Charles Robbins Hutchinson ] [ Nathaniel Hutchinson ] [ John & Elizabeth (Pearson) Hutchinson ] [ John & Elizabeth (Dissosway) Hutchinson ] [ Various Robert Hutchinsons ] [ Wm & Ann (Simpson) Hutchinson ] [ Robert Hutchinson, son of Wm. ] [ Thomas Hutchinson ] [ DNA Relationships ] [ Photo Album ] [ Feedback ]