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Caleb Brokaw (1746-1814)
By Col. Larry P. Cornwell
Caleb Brokaw was born Jul 12, 1746 in Somerset County, New Jersey and died May 8, 1814 at Weston, New Jersey at the age of 67.
He married Jane Van Nostrand Brokaw (his second cousin) around 1768. She was born Dec 5, 1748 and died Oct 14, 1823 at the age of 74. She was the daughter of Isaac Brokaw and Antie Van Nostrand.
Caleb was a farmer and mason and lived in Weston, New Jersey. He served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Peter Dumont Vroom's Company, Second Regiment of the Somerset County Militia. In 1780, he received $139 for depreciation of his Continental pay. According to Hill he held a lieutenant's commission.
Members of the Sons of the American Revolution who claimed Caleb Brokaw as their patriot ancestor were Harold A. Van Derveer, national number 94468, who was descended from Caleb Brokaw, Jr., Anne Brokaw, Caleb Brokaw VanderVeer, and Lewis Wooley VanDerveer; and Larry Patrick Cornwell, 138085. Caleb's service is recorded as, "soldier, New Jersey militia." Source documentation for his service include The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 86, 1955, p. 93 and Our Brokaw-Bragaw Heritage, Elsie E. Foster, compiler, Junction City , Oregon, 1964, p. 51.
In 1793 Caleb lived in Piscataway Township, New Jersey, and in Hillsborough Township in 1802.
His will was written Apr 2, 1814, a month before he died, and is recorded as 1577R, Somerset County, New Jersey, on file in the Archives and History Bureau, New Jersey State Library.
"In the name of God Amen. I Caleb Brokaw of Hillsborough Township of the County of Seomerset and state of New Jersey, being of Sound mind and Memory. do make and publish this for my last will and Testament --"first I give and bequeath to my wife Jane her choice of one room in my dwelling house and one bedsted beding and furniture property belonging thereto, and other household furniture sufficient to furnish one room, and my Negro girl named Deydan and eighty dollars per annum, and one cow in Liew of her Dower during her widowhood
"second I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann one Cow. one Cubboard. one bedsted beding and furniture properly belonging thereto.
"third I give and devise to my grandson Caleb Brokaw. Son of my Son Caleb Brokaw fourty acres of my homested plantation whereon I live to him his heirs and assigns --
"fourth I give and devise to my Son Caleb Brokaw and my Daughter Anne and my Daughter Mary wife of Hendrick Fisher all the remainder of my farm or plantation whereon I now live and Twelve Acres of woodland lying near Raritan and also a Certain plantation I purchased of Isaac Van Duyn containing about one hundred and twenty three acres lying in Franklin township to be equally divided between them their heirs and assigns forever. I give also to my Son Caleb and my two Daughters Anne and Mary all my personal estate Share alike, provided they do pay all my Just Debts and funeral charges. and also to pay my wife Jane the sum of eighty Dollars / annum during her widowhood. and to pay my Son Isaac Brokaw the sum of five hundred Dollars one year after my wife's decease.
"fifth I give and devise to five of the Children of my Son Isaac by name Jane. Cornelius. Isaac. Anne. and John. and all the Children of my Son Abraham Brokaw. all that farm or plantation which I purchased of Peter Stryker Containing about two hundred and twenty five acres to be Divided in two equal parts. that is the five Children of my son Isaac to have the northerly side with the Building where he now lives. and the Children of my Son Abraham to have the Southerly part thereof. nearly as the Division now is made. the woodland to be divided in two equal parts. the Children of my Son Isaac to have the Northerly side of the woodland to them their heirs and assigns. The same to be divided between the Children aforesaid according to Law the males to have each two Shares to the females each one Sharee. Provided and it is my will that my two Sons Isaac and Abraham to have the possession of their Children's shares of the said Plantation on as aforesaid during their lives.
"lastly I do nominate and appoint my Son Caleb Brokaw and my Son in Law Hendrick Fisher executors of this my Testament and last will.
"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
"Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Caleb Brokaw to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us Abrm Staats Peter van Zandt Eleanore Van Nortwick (signed) Caleb Brokaw"
Caleb Brokaw wrote a codicil to his will on Apr 29, 1814 in which he voided the portion of his will which gave money to his son Isaac.
The will was proved May 14, 1814.
The inventory of his possessions on May 25, 1814 listed 209 categories of personal property with a total value of $5,323.21. Items included a covered wagon ($40), crib of corn ($200), 21 bushels of wheat ($30), lot of hay ($45), fowls and turkeys ($9), hogs ($19), 19 sheep ($90), 5 hives of bees ($15), pew in the Dutch Church, 7 horses ($430), 9 cows and calves ($140.50), 1 barrel with Spirits ($20), 1 barrel with cider ($3), 1 barrel with tobaco ($2.50), 2 guns ($10), barrel of vinegar ($3), spinning wheel ($3), clock ($60), black man and woman and child ($600), a Negro boy fourteen years of age ($250), a Negro boy ten years of age ($225), and a Negro girl eight years of age ($75).
Caleb Brokaw was buried in an old family cemetery in Hillsborough (later Mansville). Caleb Brokaw of Dunellen, New Jersey, a great-great grandson of Caleb Brokaw, visited the site in 1915, and copied the following from his tombstone: "In memory of Caleb Brokaw, who died May 8, 1814, in the 68th year of his life." There was also this verse inscribed:
"This spot contains the ashes of the just Who sought no honors, betrayed no trust, This truth he proved in every path he trod, An honest man, - the noblest work of God."
The site is now covered by a housing development.
The children of Caleb Brokaw and Jane Van Nostrand Brokaw were:
i Isaac I., b. Aug 16, 1770, bap. Sep 16, 1770, m. Magdalena Van Liew ca. 1789, d. May 6, 1837. 7children
*ii Abraham C., b. Mar 2, 1773, m. Maria Stryker on Jan 8, 1792, d. Jul 23, 1826. l5 children
iii Caleb, b. spring 1776, m. Elizabeth Coddington in 1792, d. Jun 16, 1861
iv Antie (Ann), b. Apr 11, 1778, bap. May 9, 1779, unmarried in 1814, d. 1814
v Maria (Polly), b. Apr 18, 1782, bap. Oct 6, 1782, m. Hendrick Fisher on Apr 26, 1800, d. Jul 2, 1850
Larry P. Cornwell is a retired Air Force colonel who is active at the chapter, state, and national level in the Sons of the American Revolution. He is a member to the General Richard Montgomery Chapter and serves as its registrar. He is the senior vice president of the Alabama Society, SAR, and serves at the national level on the Genealogy Committee, DNA Committee, Veterans Committee, and Color Guard Committee. He can be reached at LaCornwell@aol.com.