M. about 1704 in Somerset County, New Jersey
Wife: Sarah Janse Van Middleswart
D. 16 Oct 1740 in Raritan, New Jersey
In about 1700, many of the Dutch living in Brooklyn moved to central New Jersey, buying land they could clear and cultivate. Within a few years, they had formed a community, and a few men who were primarily farmers took on civic duties that raised them in status.
Jan Brokaw was an example of this. He was born to French Huguenot immigrants, Bourgon Broucard and Catherine Lefevre in about 1680 in Flatbush, New York, one of ten children. Early on, he was known as Jan Broucard, but his surname evolved into a spelling that turned into “Brokaw.” In 1684, Jan's father moved the family to Bushwick, and in about 1688, they relocated to what is now Long Island City. Then in 1702, around the time Jan came of age, they sold their land and migrated to Somerset County, New Jersey.
In about 1704, Jan married Sarah Janse Van Middleswart, whose family had also come from Brooklyn. In fact, she was the granddaughter of Sarah Rapalje, the first white child born in the Dutch colony. Between 1705 and 1728, Jan and Sarah had eight children, six of whom are known to have lived to adulthood.
On August 30, 1725, Jan was appointed as “Commissioner of the Peace,” the colonial equivalent of a lower court judge. During the 18th century, New Jersey generally followed the rules of the English judicial system. It’s likely that Jan’s primary duties were to hear cases involving minor offenses, although he may have been involved in the arrest and investigation of more serious crimes. In colonial America, few men had formal legal training, and it’s assumed that Jan relied on “manuals of justice” and other legal sources when needed.
The same year that Jan became a judge, he purchased 3,000 acres of land on the east side of the South Branch of the Raritan River, near the present-day town of Millstone. It was said that he built a log house on his land, then a few years later, put up a “low-roof” house, which stood until at least 1909.
Example of the type of house Jan would have built.
Jan was known to have owned at least eight slaves, a practice which was common in New Jersey during the 18th century. We know that the names of his slaves were Jack, Simon, Jacob, Herry, Old Betty, Hannah, Eva and Little Betty. It’s impossible to say how well or poorly Jan treated the enslaved people living under his roof. It was unfortunately a few generations before slavery was phased out in New Jersey.
Jan died in Raritan, New Jersey in 1740, although the exact date is unknown. The inventory of his will showed such possessions as a silver cup, a tankard, a large Dutch Bible, a gun and two swords. His wife survived him, but it's not known when she died; it’s believed that they were both buried in the Dumont Burying Ground in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Their descendants include Humphrey Bogart and Tom Brokaw.
Children:
1. Kalleyntie (or Catalyntje) Brokaw — B. 28 Oct 1705, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. (probably) young
2. Femmetje Brokaw — B. 10 Jun 1707, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 1753, Hillsborough, New Jersey; M. Jan Staats (~1713-1781), 1736, Hillsborough, New Jersey
3. John Brokaw — B. 26 Sep 1709, Raritan, New Jersey; D. 25 Sep 1804, Bridgewater, New Jersey; M. (1) Marritje Van Cleef (1715-1789), about 1734, New Jersey; (2) Catherine Van Vechten (?-1829)
4. Bergon Brokaw — B. 13 Sep 1711, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 17 Apr 1779, Roycefield, New Jersey; M. Metje Van Wicklen (~1710-~1785), about 1738
5. Isaac K. Brokaw — B. about 1715, Somerset County, New Jersey
6. Marretje Brokaw — B. 21 Jan 1721, Somerset County, New Jersey; M. Benjamin Taylor (?-1773), 19 Nov 1742, Somerset County, New Jersey
7. Isaac Brokaw — B. 26 Oct 1723, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 7 Jul 1789, Somerville, New Jersey; M. (1) Annetje Van Nostrand (1727-1758), 31 May 1746, Somerset County, New Jersey; (2) Catherine Van Wagenen (1725-1775), 7 Mar 1758, Somerset County, New Jersey
8. Abraham Brokaw — B. 22 Apr 1728, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 20 Jan 1810, Cross Creek, Pennsylvania; M. Judith Davis (1731-1782), 26 Aug 1751, New Jersey
Sources:
Our Brokaw-Brogaw heritage, Elsie E. Foster, 1967
Calendar of New Jersey wills, administrators, etc., Vol. 30, Elmer T. Hutchinson (editor), 1918
Find-A-Grave
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