I read with interest your answer regarding "Folly/Smith". Some of the names mentioned in the sales of land were familiar to me from my research. I have been researching my Newkirk ancerstors from Bergen and have been wanting to know more about land purchase and ownership. If I give you my family's ancestoral line, would you be able to help me?? Mattheus Cornelisse Van Niewkirk , born Dec. 4, 1642 in Holland - came to Bergen about 1665 from Flatbush where he arrived in 1656 with his brother Garret. He married Catryna Paulus about 1665 (his 2nd wife). They were married Aug. 15, 1686 in Bergen and both died in Bergen Paulus M. P. Newkirk, born Aug. 20, 1699 in Bergen - married Helen Spier June 18, 1728 in Schraalenburgh NJ - lived in Bergen, both died in Bergen. Jacob Newkirk, born Nov. 24, 1742 in Bergen - married Fitje Hennion 1769 in Bergen. Lived and died in Bergen Garret J. Newkirk, Born July 21, 1780 in Bergen - married Rachel Shepard 1785 - lived and died in Bergen Jacob J. Newkirk, born Nov. 26, 1807 in Bergen - married Elizabeth Brinkerhoff May 22, 1830. Lived and died in Bergen John Henry Newkirk, born Feb. 2, 1841 in Hudson Nj (Bergen?) - married Emma C. Coe March 19 1866. Since your answer to FollySmith was so complete and informative, I was hoping that you might help me as well. I have a census of 1860 in which it shows Jacob and Elizabeth with a great value of land, he was a farmer. His brother Garret was also a farmer and had the same value of land - $170,000 each. That seems like a tremendous amount of value and I wonder how much land that would be and where it was situated and how he came about getting it. By 1870 the land seems to have been sold, it seems that Jacob, and then his son, John, were living in the town of Bergen... with no land. Also! Jacob and Elizabeth show on their 1860 census that they had a young family living at their home who worked a coffee and spice shop from the house. The handwriting is difficult to read, but I think that family's name is Pandis, they had two small children. By 1870 they were no longer mentioned. Can you tell me anything about that? It seems the Newkirk's had land in the family from the beginning. I would be so anxious and so happy to get any information you might have!!! Thank you!!!!