transcription of Newspapers->Deaths->30.2.jpg From the Hunterdon Gazette, Flemington, New Jersey dated November 16, 1831: BEGIN DIED, In Amwell, on Friday the 11th inst. Mr. Jacob Godown, at an advanced age. END From the Hunterdon Gazette, Flemington, New Jersey dated September 27, 1848: BEGIN HUNTERDON ORPHANS' COURT, AUGUST TERM, 1848.-Upon filing a Petition and Affidavit by Jonathan Robins, the security of William A. Loder, Esq., Administrator of John Godown, dec'd., it is ordered by the Court that the said Administrator show cause on the first day of the next term of this Court why his said letters of Administration should not be revoked, made void and for nothing holden, and that a copy of this order be set up in the Surrogate's Office of this county for the space of two months next before that day, and published in the Hunterdon Gazette, which shall be a sufficient publication of the same. SAMUEL HILL, JOHN BARBER, A true copy. JOS. THOMPSON, Judges. Geo. C. Seymour, Cl'k. Sept. 27,-4t. END From "Hunterdon County Marriages 1795-1875" by Hiram E. Deats in 1918: BEGIN Robins, Abegel and John Godown, Mch 12, 1825, 2-232 (Clifford, J.P.) END From "Marriage Index: New Jersey, 1680-1900" (FTM CD #240) by Broderbund Software in 1998: BEGIN Robins, Abegel Godown, John Mar 12, 1825 Hunterdon END From Richard L. Godown : BEGIN John A Godown was born Amwell Twp, Hunterdon Co, NJ February 12, 1787. John died October 16, 1847 Ithaca, Thompkins Co, NY, at 60 years of age. He married Abigail Robins Alexandria Twp, Hunterdon Co, NJ, March 12, 1825. Abigail was born Hickory Corner, Hunterdon, NJ March 02, 1809. Abigail was the daughter of Jonathan Robins (Jr. and Mary Huff. Abigail died June 23, 1873 Alexandria Twp, Hunterdon Co, NJ, at 64 years of age. Burried in the Methodist Church cemetery, Pattenberg NJ along with her daughter-in-law Caroline Godown Robins and son Jacob and their daughter Emma. John and Abigail were given a small plot (about 10 acres) of land with a small "cabin" behind the main house which was named "Hickory Dell". The cabin faced south and had a woodlot behind and beyond it. There were 4 rooms, a cave built at the east end for a cellar and a garden patch in front. The deed included the 10 acres of land, a right of way through the other farm and right-to-use "Bill's Spring" in the middle of a neighbor's field, if the spring on the place went dry at any long drought. This was the inheritance of Abigail. The cabin had a large stone chimney and fireplace with a very constricted spiral staircase against it, a large living room below, a large sleeping room above (next to the shingles), a lean-to at the west end for a summer kitchen and a newer lean-to behind, for a parlor or bedroom. Jonathan, Abigail's brother eventually bought the old homestead from the heirs and owned most of the 285 acres (probably all but the 10 acres of John and Abigail's that was given to them by Abigails Father, Jonathan,). The original homestead is now "Kings Road Winery". John was a Wheelwright. A beautiful penman - also called a schoolteacher. He kept his savings of gold and silver coins in a earthen crock. When he was old and feebleminded, he burried the crock somewhere in the woodlot surrounding his cabin and hid the violin he had made in a hollow tree. I have been told that one of the rooms in the house was fitted with bars to help control John before he was sent to Ithaca. I would like to confirm this somehow. There being no asylum for the insane in New Jersey, he was sent at last to an institution at Ithaca, New York and died there October 16, 1847 and was buried there. John and Abigail were married March 12, 1825 by Justice of the Peace Clifford. In the 1830 census in Hunterdon Co, Alexandria, NJ. page 517, John (age 40-50) is living with 2 males (Jonathan and Jacob) under 5, 1 female (Rhoda) under 5, and 1 female (Abigail) 20-30 In the 1840 census Hunterdon Co, Alexandria Twp, page 301, John is recorded as living with 1 male under 5 (Jonas), 1 male 10 to 15 (Jacob), male 50-60 (himself), 2 females 5-10 (Margaret 6, Sarah 9), 1 female 10-15 (Rhoda 11), and 1 female 30-40 (Abigail). The inventory of John Godown is typed below. (some words are probably misspelled because I cannot read the writing). This must have a story behind this in that the original Inventory was filed on January 11, 1848, and a second part was filed November 15, 1848 after some notes of hand were found in the papers of the administrator who absconded from the state. This raises a couple of questions, why did the administrator run away, why were the notes not filed with the original Inv, and why did John have notes with his son and wife? After John's death the family apparently scattered. So far in the 1850, 1860, or the 1870 census I can not find Abigail. ********* start of Inventory ********** There is an inventory of goods for a John dated 1848 and recorded on page 5058J in the index of NJ Wills. It reads: *Page 1:* Recorded Inventory of John Godown 5058J Filed Jan 12, 1848 (signed) Geo. G. Seymour *Page 2* Hunterdon, Jonathan Robins, one of the appraisers of the written Inventory, being duly sworn according to law, did appraise and say, that the goods, chattels, and credit in the written Inventory set down and specified, were by him appraised according to their true respective rates and values after the best of his judgement and understanding, and that Jacob Flickner, the other appraiser whose name is theirto subscribed was present at the same time and counseled in all things to the doing thereof and that they appraised all things brought to their vision for appraisment. Subscribed and Sworn before me, Jan 12th 1848 (signed) Geo G Seymour (and) Jonas Robins Hunterdon, William A Loder, Administrator of John Godown, deceased, within named, being duly sworn according to law, did appraise and say that the within writing contains a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, that have come of his knowledge or possession, or to the posession of any other person or persons for their use. Subscribed and sworn before me, Jan 12th, 1848 (signed) Geo. G. Seymour (and) Jim A Loder. *Page 3 * A true and Perfect inventory of the goods and Chattels, rights and credits of John Godown late of the township of Alexanderia, county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey. Appraisal made by William A Loder, the administrator and Jonathan Robins and Jacob Fleckner, two distinterested freeholders, this 11th day of January, 1848. The Purse $10.00 Sundry household goods 37.27 Sundry tools etc 8.83 A lot of lumber 5.40 2 wheel barrows 3.75 1 britle and 3 wedges and wheel 1.25 2 old axes and shovel .75 1 crow bar .50 lot of paints, clock and grind stone etc 2.08 1 crank and gudgion and steel .38 lay tub iron kettle and 2 tubs 2.00 shaving horse, ladder and cask .70 2 cows 16.00 lot of corn stalks .50 $89.41 (signed) Jim A Loder, administrator Jonas Robins and Jacob Flickner, appraisers *page 4* Recorded Inventory of John Godown 5058J Filed Nov 15, 1848 (signed) Geo. G. Seymour Hunterdon, Jonathan Robins, appraiser of John Godown, deceased, within named, being duly sworn according to law, did appraise and say that the written writing contains a true and perfect writing of all and singular, the goods, chattels, and credit of the said deceased, that have come to his knowledge or possession, or the possession of any other person or persons for his use. Subscribed and sworn before me Nov 15th 1848 (signed) Geo G Seymour and Jonas Robins *page 5* An inventory and apppraisements of the goods, chattles rights and credits of John Godown, late of the township of Alexandria in the county of Hunterdon deceased, as found in the possision of William A Lodin (who was appointed administrator of said deceased) among his papers after he abscounded from the state of New Jersey. To Witt note of hand against Reansyckel, Alhaugh and Egberts $5.96 interest on the same .19 note of hand against Jonathan R Godown and Abbigal Godown for 53.85 interest on the same 1.88 Balance on (Ricndiac??) list 2.09 $53.97 appraised by us this 15th day of November, 1848 (signed) Anthony L Case and Samuel H Britton Hunterdon, Anthony L Case and Samuel H Britton, the appraisers of the foregoing inventory, being duly sworn according to law did appraise and say that the goods, chattels and credits of the foregoing inventory set down and specified were true respective rates and values after the best of their judgement and understanding, and that they appraised all things brought to their view for appraisment. subscribed and sworn before me Nov 15th, 1848 (signed) Geo. G Seymour Anthony L Case Samuel H Britton ********* end of Inventory ********** John A Godown and Abigail Robins had the following children: i. Jonathan R Godown was born October 16, 1825. ii. Jacob C Godown was born May 16, 1827. iii. Rhoda H Godown was born Hickory Corner, Hunterdon, NJ October 16, 1829. Rhoda died September 21, 1881 at 51 years of age. She married Oliver H Smith in Hunterdon Co, New Jersey, August 18, 1849. Married by Rev. Joseph Ashbrook on Saturday afternoon last, Mr. Oliver Smith of Hunterdon and Miss Rhoda H.Godown of Somerset. Married Oliver was born in New Jersey August 11, 1826. Oliver died January 2, 1895 at 68 years of age. In the 1870 census Baptistown Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon page 227B, a David (age 59) is living with a Sarah age (58). If this is the correct family then the age should be 48 not 58. iv. Sarah Godown was born Hickory Corner, Hunterdon, NJ September 17, 1831. Sarah died June 21, 1901 Milford, Holland Twp, Hunterdon Co, NJ, at 69 years of age. Her body was interred June 24, 1901 Milford, Holland Twp, Hunterdon Co, NJ, Milford Union. Buried in Milford Union Cemetery In the 1860 census Union Twp Hunterdon Co page 535, there is a Sarah Godown (age 25) living with Jonathan Robins (age 66) who would be her Uncle, an Elizabeth (Jonathan's daughter age 19), Reubin R, William and Isabelle Right (should be spelled Wright). Sarah had been sick and of ill health for nearly a year before her death. She died at the home of her brother Charles near Milford NJ. She died on Friday morning, June 21, 1901 at 3:30am. She had made her home with her brother Charles for 20 years. She was a member of the Milford Christian Church for about 40 years. v. Mary Godown was born about Nov 1832. vi. Margaret Godown was born Hickory Corner, Hunterdon, NJ January 11, 1834. Margaret died March 1907 in Bridgewater, Somerset Co, NJ, at 73 years of age. She married George Washington Pittenger November 19, 1854. George was born Frenchtown, Hunterdon Co, NJ July 3, 1830. George was the son of Isaac L Pittenger and Margerite Dilley. George died June 23, 1897 in Bridgewater, Somerset Co, NJ, at 66 years of age. Buried in North Branch Cemetery with his wife Margaret, son William and Helen who presumably was William's daughter. vii. Jonas Godown was born 1837. viii. John P Godown was born November 20, 1840. ix. Charles Robins Godown was born April 24, 1843. END