M. 30 Apr 1789 in Somerset County, New Jersey2
Wife: Sarah Dumont
D. 1 Jun 1840 in Somerset County, New Jersey3
It must have been exciting to have been living at the time when the American Revolution broke out. This was all the more true if you were a 16-year-old boy, as was the case for Christopher Van Arsdalen.
Christopher was born April 20, 1760 to Hendrick Van Arsdalen and Catherine Brokaw in Somerset County, New Jersey,1 the third of their seven children. Like many where he lived, his heritage traced back to the Dutch who founded New York. He received enough schooling in his childhood to be able to read and write fairly well.
Christopher was a teenaged boy at the start of the Revolutionary War. After the first action in New England secured that region for the Americans, the fighting moved into the mid-Atlantic colonies. More soldiers were needed, so Christopher enlisted with his father in a new company led by Jacob Ten Eyck.4 The two served together for a time, but Christopher later served on his own. His time in the war amounted to a total of two years.5
During 1776, Christopher marched all over the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, and was stationed within sight of New York City when the British burned it. He “saw the tall steeple fall,” which was when the tallest church in the city collapsed in the fire.5 The only action Christopher was involved in during the war was a winter raid of some British wagons near Millstone, New Jersey, where two men were killed.5
Christopher was a teenaged boy at the start of the Revolutionary War. After the first action in New England secured that region for the Americans, the fighting moved into the mid-Atlantic colonies. More soldiers were needed, so Christopher enlisted with his father in a new company led by Jacob Ten Eyck.4 The two served together for a time, but Christopher later served on his own. His time in the war amounted to a total of two years.5
During 1776, Christopher marched all over the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, and was stationed within sight of New York City when the British burned it. He “saw the tall steeple fall,” which was when the tallest church in the city collapsed in the fire.5 The only action Christopher was involved in during the war was a winter raid of some British wagons near Millstone, New Jersey, where two men were killed.5
The British burn New York City on September 20, 1776.
After the war, Christopher settled down in Somerset County and married his third cousin Sarah Dumont on April 30, 1789,2 the very day that George Washington was sworn in as the nation’s first president. They had six children born between 1790 and 1803. Christopher was a farmer, but also may have been involved in some legal work in his community, as his name turned up on several wills as executor and inventory taker.6 The inventory of his estate after he died showed that he owned at least one law book.7 Christopher's will, written in the 1830s, was in his own handwriting.7
Christopher Van Arsdalen's signature from his will
In 1832, after the act of Congress was passed that granted pensions to Revolutionary War veterans, Christopher testified to his own service in order to qualify for a payment of $30 per year.5 He died on June 1, 1840.3 His estate was worth over $4,200 and much of that was in the form of outstanding loans to friends and family members.7 Although he was listed in the 1840 census as owning one slave (an elderly man),8 there were no slaves on the inventory taken in connection with his will.
Children:
1. Sarah Ann Van Arsdalen — B. 7 Mar 1790, Somerset County, New Jersey;9 D. 12 Mar 1858, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;10 M. Jacobus Voorhees (1789-?), 7 Jul 1810, Somerset County, New Jersey11
2. Henry Christopher Van Arsdalen — B. 1 Jun 1792, Somerset County, New Jersey;12 D. 6 Nov 186013; M. Maria Van Pelt (1790-1867), 20 Mar 1815, Somerset County, New Jersey14
3. Peter Christopher Van Arsdalen — B. 4 Nov 1794, Somerset County, New Jersey;15 D. 20 Oct 1886;16 M. (1) Maria Van Middleswart (1798-bef 1828), 31 Dec 1815, Somerset County, New Jersey;17 (2) Ann Nancy Oppie (1793-1875), 5 Oct 1828, Somerset County, New Jersey18
4. Ann Van Arsdalen — B. 29 Jun 1797, Somerset County, New Jersey;19 D. 29 Oct 1831, Bridge Point, New Jersey;20 M. John Oppie (1798-1836), 20 Nov 1822, Somerset County, New Jersey21
5. Catherine Van Arsdalen — B. 20 Oct 1799, Somerset County, New Jersey;22 D. 3 Aug 1888, Somerset County, New Jersey;23 M. Jacob J. Quick (1800-1875), 23 Dec 1823, Somerset County, New Jersey24
6. Alletta Van Arsdalen — B. 7 May 1803, Somerset County, New Jersey;25 D. 13 May 1886, South Branch, New Jersey;26 M. James S. Ross (1803-1878), 29 Mar 1826, Boundbrook, New Jersey27
Sources:
1 Birth record of Christopher Van Arsdalen, Family bible of Christopher and Sarah Van Arsdalen, pension file of Sarah Van Arsdalen, NARA
2 Marriage record of Christopher Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
3 Death record of Christopher Van Arsdalen, New Jersey Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988, FamilySearch.org
4 1777 muster roll of Jacob Van Ten Eyck’s company
5 Military pension file of Christopher Van Arsdalen, 1832
6 New Jersey Historical Society Calendar of Wills, 1814-1817, Vol. 13, pp. 444 & 452
7 Probate file of Christopher Van Arsdalen, 1840
8 1840 U.S. Census, Somerset County, New Jersey
9 Birth record of Sarah Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
10 Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Vanarsdale) Voorhees
11 Marriage record of Jacobus Voorhees and Sarah Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
12 Birth record of Hendrick Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
13 Find-a-Grave listing of Henry C. Van Arsdale
14 Marriage record of Henry Christopher Van Arsdalen and Maria Van Pelt, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
15 Birth record of Peter Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
16 Death record of Peter C. Van Arsdalen, N.J.D. & B.
17 Marriage record of Peter Van Arsdalen and Maria Van Middlesworth, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
18 Marriage record of Peter Van Arsdalen and Nancy Oppie, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
19 Birth record of Antie Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
20 Find-a-Grave listing of Ann (Van Arsdalen) Oppie
21 Marriage record of John Oppie and Ann Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
22 Birth record of Catherine Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
23 Death of Catherine Quick, N.J.D. & B.
24 Marriage record of Jacob Quick and Catherine Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
25 Birth record of Aletta Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
26 Find-a-Grave listing of Aletta (VanArsdale) Ross
27 Marriage record of James Ross and Alletta Van Arsdalen, Family bible of C. & S. V.A.
