MERCER COUNTY. GROVER CLEVELAND, former president of the United States, is a native of New Jersey, born in Caldwell, Essex county, March 18, 1837, and comes of a notable ancestry. In their various generations several of his ancestors were distinguished in military and professional life, and four Clevelands were governors of states--Chauncey Fitch Cleveland, of Connecticut; Jesse F. Cleveland, of North Carolina; Alvin P. Hovey, of Indiana; and Grover Cleveland, the subject of this narrative, of New York. The Cleveland family traces its descent from one Thorkil, in all probability a Saxon landlord, who about the time of the Norman conquest assumed the surname De Cliveland, calling himself Thorkil De Cliveland, maintaining his family seat in the county of York, England. From him was descended the progenitor of the American branch of the family, Moses (or Moyses) Cleveland (or Cleaveland), who was born probably in Ipswich, Suffolk county, England, whence he came to America about 1635, when a lad about twelve years of age. He landed at either Plymouth or Boston, about fifteen years after the coming of the Pilgrims. He died in Woburn, January 9, 1701-2. He married, at that place, 7 mo. 26, 1648, Ann Winn, born about 1626, died prior to May 6, 1682. One family tradition makes her a native of England, and another of Wales. Moses and Ann Cleveland were the parents of twelve children. (II) Aaron, son of Moses and Ann (Winn) Cleveland, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, January 10, 1654-5, and died there September 14, 1716. He married there, 7 mo. 26, 1675, Dorcas Wilson, born January 29, 1657, died in Cambridge, November 29, 1714, daughter of John and Hannah (James) Wilson. He married (second), 1714-15, Prudence (???). Aaron Cleveland served in King Philip's war, as did his brothers Moses and Samuel. He was made a freeman in 1680, and became a man of wealth and distinction, prominent in all public affairs. He gave to his children the best educational advantages of that day. __________________ Linda M. Thank lthank@turboisp.com __________________