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2006 Officers of The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
Chairman, June Campbell
President, Daniel Lincoln
V.P. Diane O'Connor
Secretary, Lawrence Terricone
Treasurer, Richard Macksoud
Trustees: Joseph Callahan,
John Campbell
David Connolly
Sylvia Gambony
Florence Hallgring
George Helinke
June Kennedy
Donald Lorenz,
Marcella Miccolis
Ann Parsekian
Ken Salvo
Larry Schwenk
Constance Smythe
Mildred Van Dyke

Newsletter:
Tom & Karen Fitzsimons

Historical Timelines:
Significant Dates Relating
to the Somerset Hills
1688
Somerset County set off from Middlesex on May 22.

1699
Early settlers 'in Bedminster area are Huguenots, Scots-Irish and later, Germans from the Palatinate--John Van Doren, Hugh Gaston, the Castners, Craigs and others.

1717
Large contingent of Scots-Irish Presbyterians arrive in Bernards Township area. John Harrison agent of the King of England, who purchased land from Indians, sells parcels for development. Also, there are "squatters" who occupy area.

1722
John Annin (really John Johnston of Annandale, Scotland) arrives 'in Bernards and soon takes title to 1,000 acres purchased for him by his father. The settlement is known as Annin's Corner until the Revolution, when the area's name is changed to Liberty Comer. Logtown, a distinct settlement near Basking Ridge, is founded and exists 100 years as an independent community along Hardscrabble Road. It may have been named for a sawmill or logs brought in for an iron forge, In 1723 an Englishman, Canfield, establishes a fulling and textile mill and brings in workers from abroad to man it. Several multi-family houses are said to have been built near the mill for workers. During the period of greatest activity, there is believed to have been a gristmill, a carpet weaving shop, several stores and some mechanics' shops. Nearby farms raise wool and flax for local sale.

1776
In May, Frederick Freylinghuysen, William Paterson, John Witherspoon, Jacob Hardenbergh and James Linn serve as Somerset's delegates to the Provincial Congress meeting 'in Burlington.

1781 - August
The French troops, including Rochambeau stops over at what was then called Bullions Tavern (Liberty Corner) with somewhere around 4,000 troops for a brief stopover before marching South to argubely the deciding battles of the Revolutionary War.

1806
Warren Township is formed from Bernards and Bridgewater Townships.

1809
The Basking Ridge Classical School (the Brick Academy) is built in Basking Ridge, its pupils drawn from areas along the Eastern Seaboard. Graduates enter the College of New Jersey (Princeton)

1832
The Lenape Indians accept $2,000 from the white settlers for relinquishing their remaining hunting and fishing rights in Somerset County.

1872
The railroad arrives! Many more people settle in area.

1890
In the 90s flamboyant Bernardsville mountain life reaches its peek with polo matches, private racetracks, balls, servants' balls, commuters' coaches-and-fours racing-to the railroad station. The town grows as large numbers of Italian and Hungarian artisans and gardeners, and English and Irish servants are brought 'in to build and serve the great estates. At 5 A.M. each morning, it is said, bands of laborers start for work up the mountain, many on foot, singing. Today, the estates are being divided into smaller acre plots.

1912
Peapack-Gladstone is set off from Bedminster Township as an independent borough.

1921
Far Hills is set off from Bernards Township.

1924
Bernardsville is set off from Bernards Township.

1931
The Veterans Administration Hospital at Lyons opens its doors to receive and treat the nation's veterans.

AS THEY SAY, THE REST IS HISTORY .........

Landed Gentry Map -    Click Here

Bernardsville - Upton Pyne Estate

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