Bartholomew Applegate² and his Descendants

A paper written by Mary Evalyne Applegate, Chicago, for the 16th Annual Reunion, held Sunday, September 5, 1915, at the residence of Mrs. Henry Sapper, Noblesville, Indian.

Let us first get the geographical situation, so vita. in following the various lines. In 1693 Monmouth County, New Jersey, was divided into three townships: Middletown , Shrewsbury and Freehold. Dover Township was formed from Shrewsbury in 1767 but not incorporated until 1798. The original township of Shrewsbury embraced all of what is now Ocean County, which was not set off until 1850.

Of the children of Thomas Applegate, the immigrant, only two of the sons left issue, forming two distinct groups or lines. The names of the brothers, Thomas, Junior and Bartholomew², appear together in several of the early records, but there came a time when their paths divided. This may have been due wholly to the fact that they settled some distance apart. It is possible a difference of religious views had some influence. As time went on they grew further apart, until now their descendants claim that the Applegates of Ocean County are in no way connected or related to the Applegates of Middlesex County.

Thomas Junior settled in Middletown, and this is the line best known. Two of his sons remained in Monmouth County , but the other four moved on into Middlesex County.

Today I shall confine my attention to his brother, Bartholomew Applegate ², for outside of Dr. Stillwell's account, there has been nothing whatever published about this branch of the family, and I therefore turn to it with a great deal of pleasure and anticipation. It has been a difficult quest because there have been so few records accessible, so I bespeak in advance your indulgence, and earnestly solicit your assistance that I may complete the task now only begun.

The first chapter of the third volume of "Historical and Genealogical Miscellany", (Published within the last year) by Dr. John E. Stillwell, is devoted to the Applegate Family and contains the best account yet given us. He is authority for the statement that Bartholomew² was the eldest son. I quote further:

1650, Bartholomew Applegate,'with William Wilkins, completed a tide mill on Strome Kiln, rear the site of the present Garretsen's mill, Gravesend.

1650, October. He married Hannah Patrick, of Gravesend.

1653, Oct. 22, He sold some land to C1ase Paulus at Gravesend.

1657, He had eight acres of land under cultivation in Gravesend.

1661, Mch 22, He and William Goulding exchanged their four acre lots in Gravesend.

1662, Oct. 9. John Van Cleef was sent, by his New Utrecht neighbors, to notify Director Stuyvesant that about three hundred armed English were at Jamaica, and that Bartholomew Applegate and others, of Gravesend, well armed and mounted had joined them.

1667, Aug. 1. He bought of Matthew Whitman the farm allotted to Thomas Monell, in Gravesend.

1670, June 15. He was sued by Richard Stillwell, at Gravesend, for debt and judgement was given.

1671, Nov. 6. 'Whereas, the Governour was pleased to order Wm. Wilkins to pay ten pounds toward the release of Hannah Applegate and her child, th s shweeth that Thos. Whitlock received of Mr. Delavall five pounds of the aforesaid somme, of which the said Thomas delivered five pounds to the constable end overseers, of Gravesend, in red cloth:,", etc. Doubtless she and her child had been taken prisoners by the Indians and this was the ransom demanded.

1674, Mch 8 He, with Thomas Applegate and. Richard Sadler, was granted permission to purchase lands of the Indians, near the Nebraska in East Jer;s.

1675. Not being present at the drawing for neck or fifteen acre lots, john Rawles represented him, he having removed either to Milford, Conn., or Middletown, N. J., (more likely the former place, for, in 1685/6, his rights for two hundred acres of land were vested in Col. Lewis Morris, at the Falls of the Shrewsbury

Bartholomew Applegate probably withdrew from Gravesend about 1674. He may have gone to New England to live, or to Monmouth County, but information concerning him ceased about this date.

Issue:

John Applegate³

Daniel Applegate³

Hannah Applegate³

Mary Applegate³

And perhaps others.

John Applegate³ resided at Oyster Bay in 1685.

1687, Jan 12. John Applegate, of Oyster Bay, made his will; proved, at Jamaica, Oct. 24, 1688, in which he mentioned: Brother, Daniel Applegate, eldest sister, Hannah Applegate; youngest sister, Mary Applegate.

1688, May 22. Daniel Applegate, executor of John Applegate of Oyster Bar, was released by Hannah, wife of Francis Herbert of Middletown, (who signed for his wife,) and Mary Applegate, who signed for herself, both heirs of the said John Applegate, deceased. Witnesses: Phillip Hayes, Deborah (?) Tilton, John Tilton and William Leeds (?) (Queens County Records).

Daniel Applegate³, son of Bartholomew, whom we are especially interested in just now.

1678. He received a warrant for one hundred and twenty acres of land in Monmouth County.

1686, Dec. 7. His first intentions of marriage with Rebeckah Tilton, were published before the Shrewsbury Monthly. Meeting of Women.(Note: This is the first reference to Quakers in the family).

1688. He was a witness to the will of Joseph Grover, of Middletown.

1697. He occupied land in Middletown.

1697, June l. Peter and Rebecca Tilton conveyed one hundred acres of their daughter, Rebecca, wife of Daniel Applegate, between Hop and Swimming Rivers, Middletown.

1701. His lands, in Middletown, are mentioned as boundaries.

1704, April 2. His wife, Rebecca Applegate, was a witness at the marriage of her cousin, Sarah Tilton, to Walter Herbert, in Shrewsbury.

1709. He styles himself 'Daniel Applegate, Sr.' in his will.

1709, Oct. 15. He made his will; proved 7 Sept.

1710, in which he called himself, Daniel Aplegat, senior, resident of Middletown, Monmouth County, and mentioned: wife, Rebeckah, sole heiress and executrix of real and personal estate.

Two oldest sons, John and Jacob, each to receive six shillings.

Two youngest sons, Bartholomew and Ebenezer, each to receive one shilling.

Four daughters, Susanna, Hannah, Mary and Rebecca, each to receive one shilling

Witnesses: John Newman, Thomas Shepherd and Thomas Applegate.

The testator signed the will by his mark.

His widow, Rebecca Applegate, married any 9, 1710/11) William Leeds, the benefactor of Christ Church, Shrewsbury N. J.

Of these four sons.we can only speak very briefly here, but soon after the close of the Revolutionary War we find their children moving westward with the pioneers.

John Applegate⁴ the eldest son of Daniel, made his will Oct. 14, 1737; proved May 30, 1788.

The money arising from my land estate shall be divided equally between my three sons and three daughters, and Jane Sheerman, my granddaughter, the daughter of my daughter Elizabeth Jeffres -- that is, John Applegate, Samuel Applegate and Israel Applegate; Sarah, Rebeckah and Hannah, and Jane Sheerman, my above named granddaughter, to them end their heirs forever.

Executor, son, John Applegate and Aaron Bennett, Jr.; sworn May 30, 1780.

The will names but six children; there were three more, who died prior to 1787; William, Keziah and Elizabeth.

Samuel Applegate⁵, baptized publicly, 1 yr 2 mos.

March 25, 1747, (son of John) on July 10, 1788, took out a patent for 215 acres in the "Jersey Settlement" A1leghaney County, Pa., which he disposed of on April 2nd, 1794. Passing through Kentucky, he later settled in Clark County, Indiana.

Israel Applegate⁶ grandson of John, was among the early settlers in the vacinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, and some of his children soon found their way over into Indiana.

The other children of John⁴ have not been traced as yet.

Turning to the next son of Daniel, Jacob Applegate⁴. He married Rebecca, daughter of Peter Tilton. They had three sons: John, Jacob Junior, and Ebenezer, born July 28, 1742, died March 20, 1827; lived near Freehold. Of Ebenezer's⁵ descendants we have a complete record, but will not repeat here for lack of space, mentioning only that the elder son, John Applegate⁶ (the only child leaving N. J.) moved to Ohio, and finally settled in Indiana, of whom you know.

The third son of Daniel was Bartholomew Applegate ⁴, is the group identified with Dover Township, and whose descendants are still numerous around Toms River. He had seven sons, Bartholomew, Jacob, William, Ebenezer, Daniel, and Joseph, of most of whom we have a more or less complete account, embracing the records of Charles Albert Applegate, of Chicago, John Beard Applegate, of Franklin, Indiana, Dr. John Chew Applegate of Philadelphia, Alva J. Applegate, of Wichita, Kans., and others. Many of the descendants of Bartholomew⁴ found their way through Ohio into Indiana and Illinois. And if tradition can be relied upon, a few traveled down through the Cumberland Gap into Tennessee, thence into Kentucky, landing finally in Indiana.

We know less about Ebenezer Applegate⁴, the youngest son of Daniel, then any of the other children. Quoting` again from Miscellany:

Ebenezer Applegate recorded his cattle mark and brand mark for horses, April 27, 1746, in Middletown.

1743, July 9. He had marriage license with Mary Imlay, Peter Tilton being surety on the same.

He was a yeoman, of Upper Freehold Township. Made his will march 8, 1771; proved Sept. 24, 1771. Names the following children: Ebenezer Junior, Obadiah, Meridah, Sarah, Rebecca, Parthenia, Mary, Lucia, and Margaret.

Obadiah Applegate⁵ married Bethenia Vaughn on June 26, 1772. Census of 1790 show him a resident of Washington County, Penna., but there our information ends.

The persistence of certain Christian names in this line, generation after generation, has been more than an interesting coincidence. You even have a Bartholomew County close by. Although we find the descendants of Bartholomew² particularly strong in Indiana, as the number in attendance today demonstrates, they have maintained their reputation as pioneers, and are scattered all through the West, still true to the traditions of the family.

Bartholomew Applegate2 and his Descendants