by
Helen Corinne Bolen Wicks
As told to Daniel Robert Bradley
Robert Bolmer
is known as the first settler in the Martinsville village area in the early
1700's. At that time, America was under control of the British government.
Robert was born in Germany in 1680. When he was old enough to be conscripted
into the German army, he decided to find his fortune in the new continent of
America. First, he went to Amsterdam to await a sailing ship for the new land.
He was fortunate enough to obtain passage and he sailed to New Amsterdam (now
referred to as New York City). While in America, he traveled to New Jersey in
search of land on which he could farm. He found suitable territory near the
Raritan and Millstone rivers. He applied to the New Jersey commissioner Lord
Berkeley and Sir George Carteret (both who had been appointed to office from
the British government) for a tract of land. They granted him 150 acres of
land in the Watchung Mountains beyond the Chimney Rock Gap. He was told that
he could add to his lands any other areas of land if he would promise to clear
and cultivate them.
In 1705, Robert Bolmer built a one room home and added another room as his
family grew. This home still stands in Chimney Rock Road and a government
plaque on the front describes it as a historical home of the first settler.
The home has been occupied over the years and efforts have been made to keep
it in the same condition as early years. Field stone fireplaces have been
uncovered and returned to their original state. As Robert Bolmer prospered, he
built another home in the Spring Run section. That, too, is occupied and has
been restored.
Robert Bolmer died in 1755 at the age of 75. A
family plot on the farmland
contains his gravestone. Other stones in the burial plot are inscribed with
the names of Fanny Bolmer who died in 1742, and Mary Bolmer who died in 1771.
Graves of others buried there are unmarked.
After Robert Bolmer's death his property went to his son Albert Bolmer.
Albert became acquainted with General George Washington who wanted to use the
farmland as an encampment for his troops who were organizing to fight the
British. The troops arrived in 1777, built huts in which they would live and
several redoubts for fortification. They arrived in May and June of 1777 and
kept the encampment for the next two years (through 1779). Only the redoubts
remain on the land at the present time. An extensive development of homes now
occupies the farmland.
Though the fort was never attacked, many soldiers died of disease and
exposure. The dead soldiers were buried on the farmland.
Washington's armys' right flank was well guarded as he implied it would be in his letter to General Arnold (the letter dated June 17, 1777):
"The main position here is a very strong one and with little labor will soon be bestowed upon it and rendered a great deal more so. The passes in the mountain are for the most extremely difficult and cannot be attempted with any degree of propriety. Our right is most accessible and the weakest but two or three redoubts will render it as secure as possible."
It was rather late in history of the Washington Valley area (circa 1814) that
the village acquired the name Martinsville from the Martin family whose name
figured in the local records around 1750.
Another son, Colonel Ephriam, who was
born in 1733, fought through the Revolutionary War as a commander of the 42nd
New Jersey Regiment. After the war Ephriam served on the Legislative Council.
When the council was in session, Ephriam would walk from his home in New
Brunswick to the sessions in Trenton and back again.
On the National Archives Building in Washington DC is engraved this inscription:
As told to Daniel Robert Bradley
PREFACE
My Mother,
Fannie Bolmer Bolen, visited her relatives very often. She visited with them frequently and as
I was the youngest child in our family, I was always taken with her on these
visits. We would take the trolley car to Bound Brook and Somerville NJ on
weekdays. On Sundays, Dad would drive the Stevens Duryea auto to either
South Somerville or to Martinsville to visit the folks who lived on the
farms there. Every Sunday, on the way to the farms, a tire would “pop" as a
result of the worn, dusty roads.
I remember some of the visits to Mother's cousin Marley King well. Marley
would always tickle me until his wife Kitty made him stop. Mother's Aunt
Phoebe would have a blue coffee pot steaming on the old coal stove, ready to
serve those who would drop in. Mother's cousin Bess would always have a
trinket to give to me from her store of "second-time-around" furniture and
miscellany. Great Aunt Henrietta's husband would bring out his banjo and
play sing-along songs to me. I have many pleasant memories of all of these
folks.
Brother
Wilbur
gave me a great collection of hand-written letters, a 1970 newspaper which
had a story about the history Martinsville (researched and written by a Mr.
William Roach), and a
little booklet
written by members of a Martinsville women's club about the original
settlers of their village.
From a combination of my memory and various articles, I have tried to write
in a narrative style the story of our ancestors from the time they arrived
in our country.
A quote from Plutarch states that "It is indeed a desirable thing to be well
descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors."
Robert Bolmer
is known as the first settler in the Martinsville village area in the early
1700's. At that time, America was under control of the British government.
Robert was born in Germany in 1680. When he was old enough to be conscripted
into the German army, he decided to find his fortune in the new continent of
America. First, he went to Amsterdam to await a sailing ship for the new land.
He was fortunate enough to obtain passage and he sailed to New Amsterdam (now
referred to as New York City). While in America, he traveled to New Jersey in
search of land on which he could farm. He found suitable territory near the
Raritan and Millstone rivers. He applied to the New Jersey commissioner Lord
Berkeley and Sir George Carteret (both who had been appointed to office from
the British government) for a tract of land. They granted him 150 acres of
land in the Watchung Mountains beyond the Chimney Rock Gap. He was told that
he could add to his lands any other areas of land if he would promise to clear
and cultivate them.
Before he could settle the land, each settler was required to have in his
possession a good musket, twenty pounds of gun powder, a good supply of
bullets and matches, and six months supply of provisions.
Other early settlers who followed Bolmer were named: Goltra, Zimmerman,
Waldren, Yan Nest, O'Higgens, Stangle. So neighbors appeared and so did
families. Old church records from a Dutch Reformed Church in Pluckemin listed
many baptisms of infants born in that area.
In 1705, Robert Bolmer built a one room home and added another room as his
family grew. This home still stands in Chimney Rock Road and a government
plaque on the front describes it as a historical home of the first settler.
The home has been occupied over the years and efforts have been made to keep
it in the same condition as early years. Field stone fireplaces have been
uncovered and returned to their original state. As Robert Bolmer prospered, he
built another home in the Spring Run section. That, too, is occupied and has
been restored.
Robert Bolmer died in 1755 at the age of 75. A
family plot on the farmland
contains his gravestone. Other stones in the burial plot are inscribed with
the names of Fanny Bolmer who died in 1742, and Mary Bolmer who died in 1771.
Graves of others buried there are unmarked.
After Robert Bolmer's death his property went to his son Albert Bolmer.
Albert became acquainted with General George Washington who wanted to use the
farmland as an encampment for his troops who were organizing to fight the
British. The troops arrived in 1777, built huts in which they would live and
several redoubts for fortification. They arrived in May and June of 1777 and
kept the encampment for the next two years (through 1779). Only the redoubts
remain on the land at the present time. An extensive development of homes now
occupies the farmland.
Though the fort was never attacked, many soldiers died of disease and
exposure. The dead soldiers were buried on the farmland.
The winters were very severe during the soldiers encampment. The Bolmers and
their neighbors supplied the troops with food and warm clothing as they were
able to do so.
Washington's armys' right flank was well guarded as he implied it would be in his letter to General Arnold (the letter dated June 17, 1777):
"The main position here is a very strong one and with little labor will soon be bestowed upon it and rendered a great deal more so. The passes in the mountain are for the most extremely difficult and cannot be attempted with any degree of propriety. Our right is most accessible and the weakest but two or three redoubts will render it as secure as possible."
The British troops advanced from New Brunswick late in June 1777 under their
commander Sir William Howe. The troops crossed the river in pontoons sent over
from England. The British troops formed a line from Middlesex with its center
facing the strong fortification positioned at Chimney Rock, which Washington
was able to hold. General Howe realized the futility of moving his army
further and retreated back to Perth Amboy.
Joshua Martin , who came to America from England, was one of three brothers who
made their home in the Washington Valley. Joshua died in 1800 1815 and one of his
sons, Absalom, inherited the property.
The following was included in the original story, but has been found to be inaccurate. Clearly, Colonel Ephriam, born in 1733 could not be the son of Joshua, who was born in 1751. They are related, however, and all descend from Ephraim (1708-1771) of Piscataway.
Absalom Martin became an important figure in the development of Bridgewater
township, which included at this time what is now called Bound Brook. He was
known as Squier Martin and, by 1858, he owned most of the land there, the main
portion of the village of Martinsville.
Absalom was active in building better roads all over the township. When he
could not get more money from the farmers to build roads, he tapped his own
funds, and to an extent, impoverished himself. Through Absalom's efforts a
post office was established in Martinsville in 1827. He was appointed the
first postmaster and served in that position until the infirmities of old age
forced him to give up the job. The mail going to Martinsville was delivered by
a stage coach which traveled from Basking Ridge through Martinsville to Bound
Brook, three time a week.
Among those surviving Absalom at his death in 1850 were: Dr. Samuel Martin, a
78 year old practicing physician who became one of the foremost forces of the
settlement acting as a surveyor, a commissioner of deeds, a magistrate, and a
member of the New Jersey Legislature.
As fate would have it, the Bolmers and the Martins intermarried. The great
grandson of Robert Bolmer, named after him, and the great granddaughter of
Joshua Martin, Elisabeth Martin, married. The couple prospered and reared ten
children. Soon the Washington Valley settlers came and families grew. Out of
the years of toil remains a homestead or two. Out of a grueling war for
independence, there remains a redoubt. And out of all there remains the
intangible heritage somewhat dimmed and yet shining through.
On the National Archives Building in Washington DC is engraved this inscription:
“The heritage past is the seed that brings forth the harvest of the future.”