Regarding Capt. John Willis, here's a reference to him in the Rev. War pension application filed by Peter Tise -- Peter Tise, in his Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application File (NARA M804, Peter Tise, p. 11), it is recited that he “then Served two months as a Volunteer [ant?] of Capt. John Willis Company in the months of August, Sept & October in the year 1782 Stationed at Log Jaiole (Gaol/Jail?) [Oakland] -- their duty was guarding the Refugees and tory prisoners confined there....” Here's what I have for the family of his son, John -- John Willis, son of (Capt.) John Willis & Rachel Doremus, m. (1) Margaret Packer, dau. of -?-. John Willias was b. 29 Dec 1774; d. 29 July 1847. ae 72.7.-; buried Ref Chyd, Wyckoff, NJ Margaret Packer was b. 3 Nov 1781; d. 31 Mar 1815, ae 33.4.28; buried Ref Chyd, Wyckoff, NJ John Willis m. (2) Dorcas Ackerman Dorcas Ackerman was b. about 1776; d. 19 March 1841, ae 65.7.27; buried Ref Chyd, Wyckoff, NJ John Willis was a farmer at Wyckoff, Bergen County, NJ. On 8 May 1804 (recorded 12 May 1804, Bergen Co. S:157) Abraham J. Van Vorhase of the Township of Franklin, and his wife Nancy, conveyed to John Willis of same place, for $1175, two parcels: (1) in Franklin Township at a place called Wicough beginning SE corner of land of Abraham Van Vorhaze, formerly the property of William Van Vorhaze, and (2) wood land in the same place, beginning line of Abraham Brower, in all 49 acres more or less, excepting 60/100 acre of last mentioned lot which was sold to Abraham Van Vorhaze by said Abraham J. Van Vorhaze. Signed Abraham J. Van Vorhase, Nancy Van Vorhase (her mark). No witnessed listed. ---children of John Willis & (1) Margaret Packer: • Rachel Willis, b. 25 Nov 1801; d. 24 Nov 1870; m. (1) Abraham Romaine, son of Ralph Romaine of the High Mountain; m. (2) 15 July 1837 Fairfield, Cornelius Dey • John Willis, d.y. • (poss) Frances Willis, m. John I. Debaun • Catharine Willis • Elizabeth Willis (Eliza), m. (1) 9 Nov 1822 Jacob Berdan; m. (2) William McKee • Sophia Willis; m. (prob) 16 Apr 1829 John J. Westervelt • Christina Willis • William Willis, b. 1814; m. Dorcas Ackerman, dau. of Cornelius J. Ackerman & Elizabeth Yeoman. Dorcas m. (2) 1878 Paterson, Stephen Bartholf. She m. (3) -?- Staples. ---Sources: Tobey, Barbara W., The Ackerman Family, 1988, vol. II, p. 17; Eberhart, Edith Whitcraft, The Doremus Family in America, 1687-1987, 1990, p. 61, 65, 95; Westervelt, Bergen County Marriages, p. 107; Ackerman, Herbert S. and Arthur J. Goff, Records of the Wyckoff Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, including gravestone Inscriptions from the Chyd (Wyckoff, Bergen County, NJ) January 1945; Martha Ann Zabriskie Memorandum Book (Typescript at Bergen County Historical Society Library), p. 36; Bergen County Deeds (Hackensack, NJ) The property described in the deed abstract cited above sounds like the Spring Lake property to me. Maybe Braun, in her book, missed the mark by one generation and it was the John Willis above who lived on the Spring Lake property. Just a thought. Pat On Jul 27, 2008, at 12:20 PM, RMorris216@aol.com wrote: > Hi Pat: > > I was quite surprised when I found the entry in the book as well. > Although > from looking at a Google map, I did notice that there is a close > proximity > between Spring Lake and Crescent Ave - where Adam Folley had his > property > (which I'm proud to say is still standing as is the home where > Jannetje Blauvelt > Folley lived after Adam passed away!) Nice to see that some of the > old homes > haven't been turned into McMansions! > > The connection between John Willis/Rachel Doremus, would be that their > daughter Maria married Johnnes Storms, and Johannes' grandson, David > Storms > married Hannah Folley, daughter of Adam and Jane. Guess I'm just > trying to make > pieces of the puzzle fit. Wondering how all of these people wound > up together! > > I am assuming and only assuming that if John Willis and Rachel > Doremus lived > in Spring Lake Farm, they eventually moved to the area near > Hopper's Crooked > Pond. (mentioned in the 1806 deed). If I'm correct, the area is near > Franklin Lakes Road/Colonial Road in Franklin Lakes in the area of the > Ackerman/Boyd house. However, since it was 80 acres, it may have > extended down to Ewing > Ave. This book also mentions James I. Ackerman Franklin Lakes Road > corner of > Ewing Ave, where the Roehr Farms used to be. That expanse would > probably be > double the 80 acres, but I don't know how far James Ackerman's land > extended > or which way. > > Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. > > Regards, > > Jean > > > In a message dated 7/27/2008 11:04:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > the.wardells@gte.net writes: > > Hi Jean -- > > Here is the family group, as I have it -- > > -------------------------------- > children of John Willis & Rachel Doremus: > • Abraham Willes, b. 7 Sep 1762; bp. 3 Oct 1762 Acquackanonk Ref Ch > (wit: Isaac Bruyn, Fytje Willes); m. Catrina Post > • Elizabeth Willis, bp. 10 Feb 1765 Second River Ref Ch (wit: Peter & > Rachel Doremus); m. Michael Moore > • Maria Willis, b. about 1772; m. Johannes Storms > • John Willis, b. 29 Dec 1774; m. (1) Margaret Packer; m. (2) Dorcas > Ackerman > • (prob) Sophia Willis, m. Cornelius Demarest > • (prob) Rachel Willis, m. Ryer Demarest > • Peter Willis, m. Elizabeth -?- > ---Sources: Eberhart, Edith Whitcraft, The Doremus Family in America, > 1687-1987, 1990, p. 41; “Baptismal Register of Second River > (Belleville) Dutch Reformed Church, 1727-1794” in Genealogical > Magazine of New Jersey, Jan 1928, p. 128; Kelly, Arthur, Vital > Records > of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk, 1977 > (reprinted 1992) > ----------------------------------- > > Their surviving children and their spouses sold property in Franklin > Township in 1806, as mentioned in the following deed abstract, but > this appears to be a different piece of property near Crooked Pond. > > On 20 May 1806 (recorded 21 May 1806, Bergen Co. W:403) Abraham > Willis of the Town of Paterson in County of Essex and Caty, his wife, > John Willis and Mary [Pegge], his wife, Michael Moore and Elizabeth, > his wife, John Storms and Mary, his wife, Cornelius Demarest and > Sophia, his wife, all of the County of Bergen, Ryer Demarest and > Rachel, his wife, and Peter Willis and Elizabeth, his wife, of the > City of New York, conveyed to John Waggoner of the Township of > Franklin, for $2000, 80 acres more or less in the Township of > Franklin, the property of the late John Willis, where John Waggoner > now dwelleth; whereas John Willis late of the Township of Franklin > (at > the Ponds), deceased, was possessed of a certain farm by deed of > conveyance from Abraham Van Houten and Sophia, his wife, Nelly Van > Houten and Cornelius Van Houten on 15 July 1801; at SE side Crooked > Pond at line of James A. Ackerman. Bounded SE by Benjamin Bartolf and > Roeleff Van Houten; SW by Patent line of Johnson and Willix tract; W > and NW by said Benjamin Bartolf and Garret Van Blarcom; N by said > pond > and James A. Ackerman. Signed by Abraham Willis, Caty Willis, John > Willis, Pegge Willis, Michael Moore, Elisabeth Moore (her mark), John > Storms, Mary Storms (her mark), Cornelius Demarest, Sophia Demarest, > Ryer Demarest, Rachel Demarest, Peter Willis, Elizabeth Willis. > Witnessed by John Campbell, Wm. Stewart (his mark). > ---Source: Bergen County Deed W:403, abstracted by Pat Wardell > > I don't know where you could find the De Boer book on the Storm > Family > in America (I just checked Google books, and it's not listed there > that I could see). > > I don't know if Capt. John Willis had a brother with a given name > beginning with "S." I really don't know much about the family -- it's > not in my personal line. I have gathered some information because of > my interest in early Bergen County families. I would love to have > anything you or anyone else could add to my sketchy notes on the > family (above). I had no idea they were connected to the Spring Lake > farm property. > > Regards, > > Pat > > On Jul 27, 2008, at 10:39 AM, RMorris216@aol.com wrote: > >> One correction, the John Willis that is mentioned in 1811, must have >> been >> John Willis and Rachel Doremus' son, as Captain John Willis died in >> 1804. >> >> >> >> >> In a message dated 7/27/2008 10:16:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, >> RMorris216@aol.com writes: >> >> Hi Pat: >> >> I believe this is the same John Willis. There is another section >> in the >> book that mentions that, "in Franklin Lakes, concern with religion >> went >> along >> with concern for education. Those who served the church came from >> many >> walks >> of life and their contributions to church activities took many >> forms." >> >> "On the property of Spring Lake Farm is a one and a half story >> building >> with >> dates on the exterior denoting the locust years. The earliest date >> is >> 1771. >> This frame house was built by two brothers, S. and J. Willis. >> John Willis >> was a Church Master in 1811. Samuel Demarest held this same >> position. >> Cornelius Staff, who was a private in the Revolutionary War, >> served as a >> Ponds >> elder in 1781." >> >> It then goes on to say, "De Yoe, Historian February 22, 1961." >> >> Serving with Washington's forces was John Van Blarcom of Franklin >> Township >> who was a distinguished officer in the Continental Army. Spring >> Lake Farm >> in >> Wyckoff was the home of Captain John Willis. >> >> Do you happen to know if John had a brother with the first initial >> "S". >> >> If you would like to post the family group again, that would be >> wonderful. >> Thank you! >> >> Also, would you happen to know where I can find a copy of "The >> Storm Family >> >> in America", by De Boer? I've checked Ridgewood and Franklin Lakes >> library >> and neither have it. I understand that there is more information >> on the >> "Jersey" side of the Storms family. >> >> Regards, >> >> Jean >> >> >> >> In a message dated 7/26/2008 9:43:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, >> the.wardells@gte.net writes: >> >> Was this the John Willis who was married to Rachel Doremus? Was >> he a >> Capt. in the Revolution? If so, I have his family, from the >> following >> sources: Eberhart, Edith Whitcraft, The Doremus Family in America, >> 1687-1987, 1990, p. 41; “Baptismal Register of Second River >> (Belleville) Dutch Reformed Church, 1727-1794” in Genealogical >> Magazine of New Jersey, Jan 1928, p. 128; Kelly, Arthur, Vital >> Records >> of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk, 1977 >> (reprinted 1992). >> >> I would be happy to post the family group I have, if anyone is >> interested. >> >> Pat >> >> On Jul 26, 2008, at 9:22 PM, Liz Haren wrote: >> >>> Funny enough I received snail mail today from the YMCA in >>> Wyckoff. >>> In it >>> they mention they have a new "powerpack membership" which >>> includes >>> access to >>> Spring Lake for the summer of 2009. I believe this is a large >>> lake next >>> to the YMCA but I would have to check. Here's what they >>> mention on >>> their >>> website: >>> >>> Here's the website for the Y : >> http://www.wyckoffymca.org/about/about.html >>> >>> This is the address ---> 691 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. >>> Here's a >>> link to >>> the aerial view of the place from Google Map. You can see the >>> lake >>> on the >>> right side. >>> >>> >> > http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=691+wyckoff+avenue,+wyckoff,+ >> n >> &sll >> = >> 37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.014453,76.640625&ie=UTF8&ll=41.015158,-74. >> 175069&spn=0.002631,0.004678&t=h&z=18 >>> Summer >>> Spring Lake >>> >>> Your family can enjoy Spring Lake beginning Saturday, June 7th* >>> for >>> a summer >>> of sun and fun. Lake is open from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm on weekends >>> beginning >>> June 7, and daily beginning June 23. >>> >>> Krafty Klams >>> >>> A fun way to spend your afternoon at Spring Lake. Storytime and >>> "arts and >>> crafts" for 3-5 year olds. Parent must be on premises. >>> *Monday-Friday 2-3:30pm* >>> Lake Members Only - FREE >>> >>> Join the Stingrays Swim Team >>> >>> Swim laps daily, learn the strokes and turns necessar y for >>> summer >>> league >>> competition. Swim meets scheduled twice a week. Prizes, trophies >>> and >>> ribbons >>> awarded. >>> *Tryouts—June 14, 2-4pm.* >>> Must have current Spring Lake membership. >>> >>> Funky Fish Days at Spring Lake Lagoon >>> >>> Ideal for children aged 6-9 not enrolled in our Camp. A day of >>> arts >>> and >>> crafts, supervised swimming, and fun! >>> *Six Wednesdays - $35 per day. >>> Spring Lake Members - $25 per day. >>> 10 am - 2 pm* >>> Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied at all times >>> by an >>> adult lake member. >>> >>> Hope this helps! >>> Liz >>> On Sat, Jul 26, 2008 at 7:39 PM, <RMorris216@aol.com> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> I've just read "Franklin Lakes: Its History and Heritage" by >>>> Maria Braun. >>>> In it she mentions that Spring Lake Farm in Wyckoff was the home >>>> of >>>> Captain >>>> John Willis. Does anyone know if this farm still exists? >>>> >>>> Or where it would have been located? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> Jean >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. 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