GASTON FAMILY LINES OF SOMERSET

BY MRS. ANNA REGER GASTON, SOMERVILLE, N. J.

 

IN GIVING IN detail, so far as possible, the Somerset lines of the Gaston family, credit must be given, in the first place, to the results of patient inquiries and well-considered statements by Mr. Marshall Gaston, of Ohio, who investigated the Connecticut and Massachusetts Gaston lines, and to Mr. Charles A. Hanna, of Ohio, whose "Historical Collections of Hamilton County, Ohio," (1900) have gone into much detail concerning the early Somerset Gaston families. Without the latter work it would not have been possible to give herein so many of the descendants of Hugh Gaston, of Peapack, and it has also thrown much light upon the early descendants of Joseph Gaston, of Bernards. I also acknowledge the assistance of the Editor of the QUARTERLY in securing a large number of facts and dates, and that of Mr. John A. Powelson, of Bedminster township, and of various correspondents. Some of the other authorities are noted in their proper places.

So far as known, nearly all Gastons in New Jersey descend from Joseph and Hugh Gaston, brothers, of Bedminster township, Somerset County. At present those of the name in the County are descendants of Joseph, the male descendants from Hugh being scattered elsewhere, chiefly in Pennsylvania and the West. But the Connecticut and Massachusetts lines also descend, as is believed, from brothers of Hugh and Joseph, viz., John and Alexander, as will presently appear.

That the Gaston family was a French family there is no doubt. As early as 1445 "two gentlemen" of the name of Gaston, living at or near La-Mothe St. Didier, became interested in what were believed to be wonderful cures wrought at the shrine of St. Andrew in that town, especially because one of these Gaston sons was there cured of the disease known as "St. Anthony's Fire." In consequence they devoted their property to the work, and, seven other persons assisting, built a large hospital. The hospitallers soon founded the "Congregation of Regular Canons of the Order of Anthony," and one of the Gastons was made Grand Master of the Order. (See McClinton and Strong's "Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature" (1894), Vol. I, p. 252). The name was common in France afterward. Alphonse Daudet, the noted French novelist, used the name "Marie Gaston" as a pseudonym.

The Gastons with which we in America are concerned adhered to the Calvinistic Reformation in the Sixteenth Century and had to leave France. The first known Gaston in the British Isles, and the earliest certain ancestor of the New Jersey Gastons, was John Gaston, a French Huguenot, born about 1600, supposedly in France. He married in Scotland, and had, among other sons, three: John, William and Alexander. These three sons "emigrated to County Antrim, Ireland, about 1660 to 1668. Of these probably John, whose name appears on Hearth-money rate list for Ireland in 1669 as of Magheragall, County Antrim, had issue, among others, several sons, some of whom remained in Ireland and some emigrated to America, as did also the sons of other brothers." William, son of John, remained in Ireland, but all of his sons came to America and settled in South Carolina except one, who went to North Carolina. Their names were: John, Elizabeth, Hugh, Mary, Robert, Janet, William, Alexander and Martha. Alexander had a son William, b. 1778, who became a North Carolinian of distinction, serving in Congress 1813-'15 and being Chief Justice of North Carolina 1834-'44. One of this Scotch-Irish Gaston family (which one is not clearly stated), living in Gaston-town, County Antrim, had a daughter who m. Gavin MacArthur, whose son, William, born in 1796, came to America after 1818, settling in Vermont, married Malvina Stone, and was the father of Chester Alan Arthur, who became twenty-first President of the United States.

John Gaston, the eldest son of the John of Scotland, is believed to have been the grandfather of:

  • Hugh Gaston, of Peapack, Somerset co., N. J., b. 1698.
    Joseph Gaston, of Bernards township, Somerset co., N. J., b. about 1700.
    John Gaston, of Voluntown, New London co., Conn., b. about 1704.
    Alexander Gaston, of Richmond, Mass., b. 1714.
    Mary Gaston, who m. Rev. James Cauldwell, who came to New Jersey about 1732 and settled at Long Hill, N. J.

    • There may have been others, both sons and daughters, who did not come to America.

    Both John Gaston, of Connecticut, and Alexander Gaston, of Massachusetts, have many descendants, both in the East and in the West. One of this John's descendants was Hon. William Gaston who became Governor of Massachusetts in 1874.

    It is said that the four brothers, Hugh, Joseph, John and Alexander, came at the same time and "landed in New Jersey," and, as we know from a Bible record and otherwise that Joseph arrived "about 1720," it is probable that is the approximate date of their arrival at (presumably) the port of Perth Amboy.

     

    We are now concerned only with Hugh and Joseph of Somerset County and their descendants.

     

    Line of Hugh Gaston, of Peapack, N. J.

    1. HUGH GASTON, farmer (line of John, of Ireland, Scotchman, as before stated), was b. in the county of Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch parents, about 1687; d. at Peapack, Somerset County, N. J., Dec. 23, 1772, "in his 85th year," as his tombstone at Lamington indicates; m. (probably in Ireland about 1718) Jennet (???), who was b. about 1698 and d. Aug. 1, 1777, "in her 80th year." She was also buried at Lamington and has a tombstone. Some have supposed she was a Kirkpatrick, but without actual proof.

      Hugh arrived in New Jersey, with his brothers previously named, about 1720. Where he resided for the first twenty years no record shows, but probably in Bedminster township, as, on April 21, 1744, in the Johnston "Journals," his house is mentioned in a survey of that date, viz., "at 10 chain Hugh Gastin's house," evidently near corner of Lot No. 7. (QUARTERLY, Vol. I, p. 264). So it is judged he, with other Scotch-Irishmen, drifted quickly to the Peapack Patent lots and, probably by an early lease, located in Bedminster township and built a log house, which had fallen to ruin by 1755. (Ibid, Vol. III, p. 262). He had at that time a large family growing up, and these dates are certain:

      On Feb. 10, 1746, he took up land (probably for his son William) in Mt. Bethel township, Bucks (now Northampton) county, Pennsylvania. This was over the river from Warren County, and was just being developed by the Scotch-Irish (especially by the Craig family, which formed a settlement called "the Craig Settlement" in that general vicinity).

      On June 20, 1751, he again took up land in Mt. Bethel township, probably for one of his sons.

      On May 2, 1755, he purchased Lot No. 5 in the Peapack Patent, embracing 268 1/2 acres. (QUARTERLY, Vol. III, p. 196).

      He was an attendant at and contributed to the Lamington Presbyterian church during Rev. James McCrea's ministry (1740-'66), but no other records than those named, and the occasional references to him in the Johnston "Journals," throw light on his personal character, which no doubt was religious and positive after the Scotch fashion. Nor is there other data concerning him in Somerset, the early records of the County being destroyed in 1778. The data given below of his children is largely from the researches of Mr. Hanna, of Ohio, but have been extended and supplemented by searches in Somerset County and at Trenton.

      CHILDREN OF HUGH GASTON (1) AND JENNET (???)
      (Order uncertain).

    2. JOHN, b. about 1719; d. after 1793; m. (???). He settled in Upper Freehold township, Monmouth co., before 1740, attending the old Tennant church. In 1758 he owned a grist and fulling mill there (called "Gaston's Mill," being "on Rocky brook" in 1779; see "N. J. Archives," Vol. III, pp. 89, 99), and in the same year subscribed to the Presbyterian church parsonage at Cranbury. (Clayton's "Hist. of Middlesex Co.," p. 867). From Johnston's "Journals" of 1754, he was then of Cranbury, while his brother James was of Freehold. (QUARTERLY, Vol. III, p. 25). In 1793 he deeded a tract of land to his son, Hugh. His known children were all baptized at the Tennant church. (For children, see infra).
    3. WILLIAM, of Mt. Bethel township, Northampton Co., Pa., b. about 1720; d. (killed by Indians) Dec., 1755; name of his wife unknown, but she d. before Sept., 1762. He went to Northampton (then Bucks) county in 1751. (For ch., see infra).
    4. MARGARET, who m., Nov. 8, 1750, Thomas Moffat, of Middlesex county, N. J. He d. 1770, and Hugh Gaston (her father, or brother) administered on his estate. (For ch., see infra).
    5. ALEXANDER (supposed). There was an Alexander Gaston who was a lay Judge of Somerset County, N. J., in 1780, and it may have been he was a son of Hugh.
    6. JOSEPH. He took up land in Mt. Bethel township, Northampton county, Jan., 1765; d. 1775; m. Isabell (???), who d. after 1775. He was Justice of the Peace 1766-'75. By his will his executors were "Hugh Gaston, of East Jersey, Samuel Rea, and Major John Gaston, of Mt. Bethel township."
    7. HUGH, JR., farmer, of Peapack, N. J., b. 1734; d. June 25, 1808, "in his 75th year;" m. (1) Mary Sloan (dau. of William and Mary Sloan, of Lamington), who was b. about 1742 and d. Apr. 14, 1766, "in her 25th year;" (2) Mary Adams (dau. of John and Agnes Adams), who was b. about 1745 and d. Feb. 16, 1769, "in her 25th year;" and (3) Mary Kirkpatrick (dau. of Hon. David Kirkpatrick and Mary McEowen, of Minebrook, and sister to Chief Justice Andrew Kirkpatrick), who was b. Nov. 23, 1761, and d. July 1, 1842. After Mr. Gaston's death, Mary Kirkpatrick Gaston, his widow, m., Apr. 15, 1819, George Todd, who d. about June, 1830. Hugh, Jr., succeeded to his father's estate (perhaps purchased it after his father's death) and lived in a stone house at Peapack. He was appointed lay Judge of Somerset in 1782. On Aug. 18, 1808, his estate was administered on by his widow, Mary, and her brother, Alexander Kirkpatrick (who was the father of Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D. D., of Ringoes, N. J.). It is believed Hugh, Jr., had no ch. by his second wife. (For ch., see infra).  
    8. JAMES, of Upper Freehold twsp., Monmouth co., in 1754. (See under John, 2). There appear to be no other dates concerning him, except that, sometime prior to 1758, he was on the congregational list of the Lamington Presbyterian church in Somerset Co., while in that year (1758) he subscribed to the building of a church parsonage at Allentown, N. J., and in 1785 he subscribed to the building of the Cranbury Presbyterian church, both being in Middlesex co. No further trace.
    9. ELIZABETH, b. 1737; m. Thomas Kirkpatrick, who, in Sept., 1795, was a member of the Session of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian church, and who settled at Liberty Corner. (For ch., see infra).
    10. REBECCA, b. Dec. 12, 1739; d. June, 1819; m. William Logan, of Bedminster twsp., who was b. Mar. 18, 1736, and d. Jan. 8, 1814. (QUARTERLY, Vol. III, p. 154).

    CHILDREN OF JOHN GASTON (2) AND (???)
    (All baptized at Tennant church, Monmouth county, N. J.

    1. MARY, bap. Dec. 9, 1739; d. in infancy.
    2. JAMES, bap. Mar. 28, 1742; m., Apr. 20, 1773, Lydia Tapscott. He (or James 21), in 1773, took up land in Mt. Bethel twsp., Northampton co., Pa. Later a James Gaston was on the tax lists of Cecil and Rostraver twsps., Washington co., Pa. James and Lydia had a son William, who served in the Revolutionary War, and who m. Catherine English (dau. of Dr. James English, of New Brunswick), and had ch.: Lydia Tapscott; John Baird; Mary Ann; Letitia; Hannah.
    3. HUGH, bap. July 15, 1744; lived in Millstone twsp., Monmouth co., until after 1801.
    4. MARY (second), bap. Mar. 8, 1747.
    5. ELIZABETH (twin with Mary), bap. Mar. 8, 1747.
    6. DANIEL, bap. Apr. 3, 1749; m. (???); served in Revolutionary War. Children (bap. at Tennant) were: John; Catherine; John; William; Jane.

    CHILDREN OF WILLIAM GASTON (3) AND (???)

    1. JOHN, b. (probably in Somerset County, N. J.), May, 1740; d. Sept. 10, 1823; m., in Monmouth co., N. J., Feb. 4, 1760, Charity Cheeseman (dau. of Joseph Cheeseman, of Upper Freehold--now Millstone--twsp., Monmouth co.), who was b. Mar. 13, 1734, and d. Feb. 15, 1821. Both are buried in the Mingo churchyard in Washington co., Pa. John removed, after 1767, to Mt. Bethel twsp. (then Bucks co.), Pa.; took up 275 acres there in Feb., 1772. He served as a Major in the Revolutionary War. Between 1780-'82 he removed to Rostraver twsp., West-moreland co., Pa., and, about 1790, to Peters (now Union) twsp., Washington co., Pa. His ch. were: William, who removed to Ohio; Joseph, who went to South Carolina and then to Butler co., Ohio; John; Samuel; James, who went to Ohio; Samuel (second); Elizabeth; Margaret, who m. Samuel McClain, of New Jersey, and settled in Washington co., Pa.
    2. WILLIAM, b. (probably in Somerset County, N. J.), about 1742; d. in Upper Mt. Bethel twsp. (then Bucks co.), Pa., about April, 1801; m. Elizabeth (???). (It is supposed his wife was a dau. of Robert Simonton, who resided in Bedminster twsp., Somerset County, prior to the Revolution). His children were: Alexander; William; Charles; Margaret; Elizabeth.
    3. HUGH, b. about 1745; served in Revolutionary War from Mt. Bethel twsp., Pa.; removed to Allegheny co., Pa., in 1795.
    4. JENNET, b. about 1748; m. Moses Phenix.
    5. JAMES, b. about 1750. Supposed to have gone to Mt. Bethel twsp., Pa. (But he may be the James Gaston who was a Justice of the Peace of Somerset Co., in 1781, and was appointed a Lay Judge in 1783, as of this last named James there seems to be no other trace).

    CHILDREN OF JOSEPH GASTON (6) AND ISABELL (???)

    1. HUGH, b. in Somerset Co., N. J., Jan. 18, 1764; d. in Columbiana co., Ohio, June 24, 1839; m., Mar. 14, 1789, Grace Gaston (dau. of Robert Gaston, 40, and Rosanna Cooper), who was b. Nov. 25, 1764, and d. Mar. 14, 1838. He remained in Bedminster twsp., Somerset Co., till about 1797, when he removed to Lycoming co., Pa., and subsequently went to Ohio. (For ch., see infra).
    2. JAMES, b. in Somerset Co., N. J., about 1767; d. 1813; m. Jane (???). In 1788 he removed to Smith twsp., Washington co., Pa. Children were: William; Mary; Jane; John.
    3. ELIZABETH.
    4. JOHN, who probably settled in Indiana.
    5. ALEXANDER, a physician, b. July 22, 1769; d. July 9, 1825; m. Rachel Perry. He probably went to Canton twsp., Washington co., Pa., about 1792. Left descendants in Ohio.

    CHILDREN OF HUGH GASTON, JR. (7) AND MARY SLOAN

    1. WILLIAM, b. Apr. 2, 1763; d. Dec. 15, 1763.
    2. JOSEPH, b. Dec. 18, 1765; d. Aug. 14, 1777.

    CHILDREN OF HUGH GASTON, JR. (7) AND MARY KIRKPATRICK

    1. SAMUEL KIRKPATRICK, physician, who m. Nancy T. Cooper (dau. of Henry Cooper, of Chester, N. J.). He resided in Bedminster twsp., Somerset Co., in 1816, when he conveyed 300 acres of land (doubtless the same as owned by his father) to Nicholas Arrowsmith, and on Oct. 27, 1817, a lot to the same. Had one ch., Henrietta. As there is no trace of him in N. J. after that date, it is supposed he went West.
    2. JOHN, b. July 4, 1796; d. Feb. 17, 1800.

     

    CHILDREN OF THOMAS KIRKPATRICK AND ELIZABETH GASTON (9)

    1. John Kirkpatrick; m. Anne Coriell (dau. of Elias Coriell). Ch.: Sarah, who m. John Layton and settled at Plainfield, N. J.; Elizabeth, who m. John King (son of John King, of Liberty Corner, N. J.); Thomas, who m. Maria Hurd; Elias, who m. Jane Squier (dau. of Ludlow Squier), and settled at Plainfield, N. J.; James, who m. (1) Aletta Van Arsdale (dau. of Philip Van Arsdale), and (2) Mary Stout; Lydia, who m. Stephen Woodard, and removed to Chicago; Jane, who m. David Kline; Mary, who m. Tunis Van Nest; John, unmarried; Ann, who m. Philip Van Arsdale (son of Peter Arsdale); Hugh, who m. Elizabeth King, of Belleville.
    2. Jane Kirkpatrick, who d. unmarried, aged 60 years.

     

    CHILDREN OF HUGH GASTON (22) AND GRACE GASTON

    1. JOSEPH, b. Dec. 24, 1789. Whom he m., or where he settled and died is unknown. Children were: Samuel; Hamilton; Martin; Watson; Hugh; Jacob; Elizabeth.
    2. JAMES, b. Jan. 20, 1793; d. Mar. 13, 1872; m. Elizabeth Kilgore, of Cadiz, Ohio, where he probably resided.
    3. ROBERT, b. Feb. 23, 1794; d. June 4, 1801.
    4. ELIZABETH, b. Sept. 7, 1797; d. Jan. 14, 1816.
    5. HUGH, b. Apr. 9, 1804; d. Mar. 27, 1854. No further knowledge of him except that he had ch.: Hamilton; Martha; Elizabeth; Mary.

      (All foregoing probably lived in Ohio).

      Line of Joseph Gaston, of Bernards Township
      (Numbering continued to facilitate reference).

    6. JOSEPH GASTON (brother to Hugh (1) and son of John, of Ireland, a Scotchman, as before stated), was b. in County Antrim, Ireland, about 1700; d. about April, 1777, in Bernards twsp., Somerset Co., N. J.; m., probably about 1725-'28, Margaret (???). According to a record in the Gaston Bible owned by the late John W. Gaston, of North Branch, N. J., and according to published statements otherwise, he came to America with his brothers Hugh, John and Alexander, about 1720. He was a farmer, but little is known of him. No record of the date of his death appears, nor is his place of burial known (though it was probably at Basking Ridge); but his will, dated March 31, 1777, probated May, 1777 (Trenton Wills, Book 18, p. 577), provides for his wife "Margrete," and directs his executors to "find her a place to live upon" after the sale of his farm. The children named in his will are Robert, Joseph, Martha, Margaret Kirkpatrick and Prucilla, and grandchildren William and Joseph Gaston; also grandchildren John, Stephen, Elizabeth, Isaac and Margaret Gaston (children of his son John, who was deceased), and grandchildren Joseph, William and John (sons of David Chambers). His executors were his sons Robert and Joseph Gaston and David Kirkpatrick. His widow, Margaret, subsequently removed to, and doubtless lived with her son Joseph in Hardwick twsp., Sussex co. (now Frelinghuysen twsp.), where she died Aug. 31, 1795, aged 90 years. Her tombstone is to be found in the Yellow Frame Presbyterian church burying-ground in Frelinghuysen twsp., with these words following her name and date of death, "She was long a mother of Israel." This curious verse follows:

      "Age and diseases in a throng
      Attacked the house that stood so long
      In spite of all attempts to prop
      They tore the earthly fabrick up
      Tho dead she speaks and thus she cries
      Friends seek your house above the skies."

      CHILDREN OF JOSEPH GASTON (38) AND MARGARET (???)
      (All born in Bernards township, Somerset Co., N. J.).

    7. MARGARET, who m. Andrew Kirkpatrick (son of Alexander and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, the progenitors of the Kirkpatrick families in this country), of Somerset Co., N. J. Andrew arrived in this country with his father in 1736, and inherited the homestead, but, shortly after his father's death in 1758, he sold it to his brother David Kirkaptrick, and removed to Redstone, Fayette co., Pa., and had ch.: Alexander; Jennet, who m. Abner Johnson; Elizabeth, who m. Hugh Bartley, farmer, who resided in Somerset County, N. J. (in Bedminster twsp.); Margaret, wife of Joseph McMartin; Mary; Sarah; Anne; Hannah. Elizabeth Bartley d. June 24, 1803, aged 86 years. [For other particulars of the Kirkpatrick family, see next number of the QUARTERLY; also Ibid, Vol. III, p. 268; Lee's "Geneal. and Memor. Hist. of N. J.," Vol. II, p. 458; also "Kirkpatrick Memorial," 1867.--EDITOR QUARTERLY].
    8. JOHN, b. Nov. 10, 1730; d. Oct. 3, 1776; m. (1), June 27, 1758, Elizabeth Ker (dau. of William and Catherine Ker, of Lamington, natives of Scotland), who was b. Mar. 19, 1738, and d. May 6, 1765. He married (2) Sarah Ogden (dau. of Stephen Ogden and Elizabeth Whitaker, of Basking Ridge). John was a farmer, living, probably, near the Burnt Mills, which mills, or some other mills on the North Branch of the Raritan, he owned prior to his death, as his "mills" property is mentioned in a deed of 1787 to Colonel William McDonald, having been sold to him that year by John Gaston's executors. He was in the mercantile business with Bryan Lefferty prior to March, 1760 ("N. J. Archives," Vol. 20, p. 437). In 1762 he was one of the "Managers" of the Lottery for the Bound Brook Bridge. (QUARTERLY, Vol. III, p. 92). In a mortgage to him of 1769 he is described as a "merchant." From 1772 to '76 he was clerk of the Board of Freeholders, and during this time was also engaged in building bridges, so that he must have been an active business man in his day. Probably he was also a member of the Bedminster township Committee of Observation and Inspection in 1775 (as stated, without first name, in Mellick's "Story of an Old Farm," p. 286). He was an attendant at the Lamington Presbyterian church. His will, dated Sept. 10, 1776, probated Oct. 14, 1776 (Trenton Wills, Book 18, p. 1), refers to his wife as "Sarah Gaston," and mentions eldest son William, and sons Joseph and John. The will states eight children. (For ch., see infra).
    9. ROBERT, b. Jan. 23, 1732; d. in Torbet (now Delaware) twsp., Northumberland co., Pa., Sept. 2, 1793, and was buried in Warrior Run graveyard; m., May 15, 1762, Rosanna Cooper (dau. of Daniel Cooper, the famous cenetenarian of Long Hill, N. J., and probably Grace Runyon, the first of Daniel's six wives), who was b. Mar. 23, 1742, and d. Jan. 14, 1817. Robert resided in Bernards twsp., Somerset Co., N. J., until about 1770; then in Pequannock twsp., Morris co., until 1778; then in Bedminster twsp., Somerset Co., until about July, 1792, when he removed to Northumberland co., Pa. While in Morris co., in May, 1776, he was the first man to sign the articles of association of many citizens of that county to sustain the Continental Congress ("N. J. Archives," First Series, Vol. X, p. 717). On May 15, 1777, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the Western Battalion, Morris co. militia, but subsequently (date not given) resigned. ("N. J. Archives," Second Series, Vol. I, p. 290; Stryker's "Officers and Men," p. 358). On Oct. 15, 1777, he purchased ten acres of land in the township of Mendham, Morris co., but the next year removed to Bedminster twsp., Somerset Co., and resided on a place of about 20 acres (which embraced what is now known as Schomp's Mills), adjoining the "Old Stone House farm" of Johannes Moelick. In 1782 he was Justice of the Peace; from 1782-'84 he was clerk of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Somerset. During the same period, in 1783, he was appointed a Lay Judge of the Somerset Courts. In 1787 he was assessed on 20 acres in Bedminster twsp. In the October Term, 1791, he again appears on the records as Lay Judge, but not after the June Term, 1792. During that year he sold the Bedminster place mentioned, and also 37 acres of land in Bernards twsp., to Nicholas Arrowsmith (as per Somerset Deeds), and removed to Northumberland co., Pa., where his son, Joseph, was located, and there died. He was a Free Mason, as appears by the Bedminster Lodge books. (For ch., see infra).
    10. JOSEPH, of Sussex co., N. J., b. about 1738; d. Oct. 24, 1804; m., Nov. 2, 1772, Margaret Linn (dau. of Joseph Linn and Martha Kirkpatrick, of Sussex co.), who was b. about 1751 and d. Sept. 19, 1822, in her 72nd year. (The above-named Joseph Linn was a brother to Judge Alexander Linn, of Bernards twsp., Somerset Co., and his wife Margaret was the daughter of Andrew Kirkpatrick, of Mine Brook). Joseph Gaston was a farmer, and an elder in the Yellow Frame Presbyterian church in Hardwick twsp., Sussex co. (now Frelinghuysen twsp., Warren co.), On June 1, 1776, he purchased of his father-in-law "Lot No. 2" in Hardwick twsp., containing 218 acres. (Sussex Deeds, not recorded until Nov. 28, 1816). He also owned at the time of his death 59 acres in Newton twsp., and 60 additional acres in Hardwick twsp. In the Rev. Casper Schaeffer "Memoirs and Reminiscences" (1907), edited by Hon. William M. Johnson, of Hackensack, two interesting sentences occur respecting Joseph. "Immediately in front of the pulpit, on the west side of the middle aisle, appeared the aldermanic and portly form of Esquire Gaston and his family. . . . Joseph Gaston, Esq., was esteemed a judicious, upright man; he died of bilious colic." (Page 50).

      Joseph was both a prominent and responsible man, as he was not only paymaster during the Revolution to the militia of Sussex co., but was also appointed sole agent for that county of forfeited estates (estates confiscated because belonging to Tories), and as such agent made several deeds in 1787, one being to Henry Johnson, of Newton, (Capt. Henry, son of Coart Johnson, of Readington, Hunterdon co., and grandfather of Hon. William M. Johnson). From 1798-1800 he was a member of the New Jersey Assembly. As Joseph died intestate, his real estate descended to his two daughters, Martha and Margaret, who, with their husbands, Dr. Elijah Everett and Rev. John Boyd, made a partition deed in May, 1809, by which Margaret received the homestead in Hardwick twsp. of 218 acres, and the other lands went to Martha. Joseph's wife, Margaret, in her will of June 22, 1821 (Sussex Wills, Book B), mentions these daughters and three grandchildren, Joseph Gaston Everett, Margaret Gaston Everett and Margaret Boyd. (For ch., see infra).

    11. MARTHA, who m. (???) Paterson. No further trace.
    12. PRISCILLA (or Prucilla, as spelled in father's will), who m. (license date), Sept. 24, 1771, Daniel McCain, of Somerset Co. (probably son of James McCain). They probably resided in Hardwick twsp., Sussex co., as McCains were there fifty years ago.
    13. (???) (daughter, name unknown), who m. David Chambers, but was deceased in 1777, leaving ch.: Joseph; William; John, as per will of Joseph, 41).

      CHILDREN OF JOHN GASTON (40) AND ELIZABETH KER

    14. CATHERINE, b. May 12, 1759; d. Apr. 14, 1762.
    15. WILLIAM, of Pluckemin, N. J., b. Jan. 13, 1761; d. Feb. 13, 1809; m., Dec. 10, 1782, Naomi Teeple (dau. of John Teeple and Margaret Castner, of Pluckemin), who was b. July 20, 1760, and d. June 24, 1818. He learned the trade of harness making and kept a shop in Pluckemin, his house being a little west of the village. The parents of William's wife were somewhat noted in local annals from the fact that, after living together for fifty-seven years, they died on the same day, Mar. 17, 1813, within three hours of each other, and were buried in the same grave at Pluckemin. William died without a will. Naomi's will, probated in 1818 (Somerset Wills, Book B. p. 370), bequeathed all her property to her son, William, who was appointed sole executor. (For ch., see infra).
    16. JOSEPH, of Pluckemin, b. Mar. 29, 1763; d. Oct. 16, 1796; m., Mar. 1, 1781, Ida Van Arsdalen (dau. of Capt. Isaac Van Arsdalen, noted patriot). This Ida is the one who, when fourteen years of age, gained glory by following the British who had made a raid at Pluckemin and had carried away her favorite colt, and recaptured the colt. (Snell's "Hunterdon and Somerset," p. 701). Joseph owned 19 acres of land in five lots in 1795 (when he mortgaged same), purchased of George Schamp, John Teeple, Garret Eoff and others. He d. when thirty-three, without a will, and his estate was administered on by his father-in-law and Abraham Brown. (For ch., see infra).

      CHILDREN OF JOHN GASTON (40) AND SARAH OGDEN

    17. JOHN, who m. a Lansing and settled at Lansingburg, N. Y.
    18. STEPHEN, b. July 20, 1769; m., at Troy, New York, Hannah Wright, who was b. in Massachusetts in 1783. He settled in the State of New York, and has now some descendants at Montclair, N. J.
    19. ELIZABETH, who m. Elias Hedges and settled at Colerain, Ohio.
    20. ISAAC, b. Mar. 25, 1773; m., Mar. 17, 1803, Anna Hedges, and settled near Morristown. Children: (1) Augustus L., b. May 15, 1801; d. 1841; settled at Reilly, Butler co., Ohio, in 1828. (2) Elias Hedges, of same place. (3) Margaret, who m. Smith Scudder, of Elizabeth, N. J.
    21. MARGARET.

    CHILDREN OF ROBERT GASTON (41) AND ROSANNA COOPER

    1. GRACE, b. Nov. 25, 1764; d. Mar. 14, 1838; m., Hugh Gaston, who finally settled in Ohio. (See further under Hugh, 22, and, for ch., Nos. 33-37).
    2. JOSEPH, b. Nov. 19, 1766; d. Apr. 18, 1834; m., Mar. 12, 1787, Margaret Melick (dau. of Aaron Malick--as he wrote his name--and Charlotte Miller), who was b. Dec. 22, 1767. He settled in Northumberland co., Pa., where he served as county commissioner. Their children being fully given, with details, in Mellick's "Story of an Old Farm" (p. 635), they are merely added here in brief, viz.: (1) Robert, of Warrior Run, Northumberland co., Pa., who m. Eleanor Shannon. (2) Charlotte, who m. James Durham. (3) Rosanna. (4) Aaron, who m. (a) Sarah Ann Clarke, and (b) Rosanna Camp. (5) Daniel, clergyman, who m. Rosa Morris. (6) Mary. (7) Anne, who m. William Sample. Mellick gives only a line to Rev. Daniel Gaston, but it ought to be added that he was educated at Lafayette College, was pastor at Beaver Meadows, Pa.; and from Jan. 1, 1845, until his death, Apr. 16, 1865, was pastor of the Cohocksink Presbyterian church at Philadelphia. After his death the members of this church established a mission, which has since become the fine Gaston Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, located at 11th street and Lehigh avenue.
    3. MARGARET, b. Dec. 17, 1768; d. Sept. 10, 1807; m., 1785, Daniel Melick (brother to Margaret, of preceding paragraph), tanner and farmer, of Bedminster twsp., Somerset Co., N. J., who was b. Oct. 28, 1763, and d. July 9, 1815, in the "Old Stone House," Bedminster. Daniel subsequently m. (1808) Catherine Johnston LaRue. His children are only named here, because fully given, with their descendants, in Mellick's "Story of An Old Farm," (p. 639). These children were (by first wife): (1) Aaron, unm.; (2) Elizabeth, who m. Dennis Van Duyn, of Peapack; (3) Charlotte, unm.; (4) Roseanna, who m. William J. Todd, of Peapack; (5) John, who m. Ann Nevius; (6) Mary, who m. Peter Sutphen, of Bedminster; (7) David, unm.; (8) William, who m. Maria Suydam; (9) Daniel, unm.; (10) Catherine, who m. John Allen. (By second wife): (11) Margaret, who m. Abram D. Huff; (12) Andrew D., who m. Elizabeth Dunn, and was father of Andrew D., Jr., author of "The Story of An Old Farm."
    4. MARY, b. Feb. 12, 1770.
    5. DANIEL, b. Apr. 5, 1773.
    6. ANNE, b. Mar. 25, 1774.
    7. GEORGE WASHINGTON, b. Apr. 2, 1777.
    8. JOHN, b. Feb. 8, 1780.

      (Of what became of the last five children, no record has been found).

      CHILDREN OF JOSEPH GASTON (42) AND MARGARET LINN

    9. MARTHA, b. about 1774; m., Jan., 1800, Dr. Elijah Everett, who d. Jan. 11, 1850. Dr. Everett resided in Greene twsp., six miles from Newton. They had at least two children, Joseph G. and Margaret G. (As to land inheritance of Martha, see under her father, Joseph, 41).
    10. MARGARET, b. about 1776; m., Apr. 10, 1806, Rev. John Boyd (son of John Boyd, of Franklin co., Pa.). Rev. Mr. Boyd was a brother to Rev. William Boyd, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Lamington, Somerset Co., N. J., from 1784-1807. From 1803-12 he was pastor of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian church in Hardwick twsp., Sussex co. (now in Frelinghuysen twsp., Warren co.), and of the Newton Presbyterian church, jointly, but when or where he died I have not been able to ascertain. They had at least one ch., Margaret. (As to the land inheritance from her father, see under Joseph, 42).