John Ten Brook

  General Notes:

John was noted to have a guardian uncle, Cornelius tenBroeck. John is said tohave inherited a large estate from him. John referred to Cornelius as his father. Was his real father John who was married to Catrina Van Eyck; and killed by a slave? John jr. served as a captain, first major, and finally leutenant colonel in the Revolutionary War. He commanded a batallion (New Jersey Malitia) at the "battle of Monmouth" and because he understood "their" language (german? / dutch?), was detailed to teach the Hessian prisoners and induce them to stay in this country. After the battle of Saratoga, General Washington"gave into his keeping a Hessian General Reidisal, his wife and attendances." After the war John sold his farm and tavern near Trenton (1785) for continental money which later became almost worthless, and moved to Black Hole Valley (1786), Lycoming County, PA., where he took a ten year lease on the land from a William Maskey. In November 1787, a deep snow with resulring April flood preventing supplies from entering the area, and "Major tenBroeck a good marksman kept some of the settlers supplied with deer. By spring he had only onehorse left. With this he put in his crops." In Spring of 1788 when roads could be traveled again, a Mr. Emmons (the father of one of John's wives) arrived in the valley with his wagon loaded with salt, seed, wheat, corn, and vegeatable seed. He also brought a fishing seine 600 feet long. With the seine, the settlers in the valley went fishing at Lawson Island 2 miles upstream.With the first drag they brought up 2500 pounds of fish. The settlers thought this miraculous as when the net was cast off shore in Galilee and recordedthe event in carving on a soft maple on shore where it could still be read 20years later. Evidently Mr. Emmons did not move to the valley, because it isnoted that in the same year, "Mr. Emmons again brought provisions to the needy. They in turn filled his wagon with fish salted and in barrels which he took to his home in New Jersey." John later bought several hundred acres in White Deer Valley, where he died. One reference states his death to be 1820, while another noted 1828. One states he was 80 years old when he died, which would place his death in 1818 or 1819, making the 1820 date probably being moreaccurate. source: Ann Taylor Curry, Phoenix, AZ He had 11 children. The early inhabitants of this township, on account of its having been a part of Washington, passed through the stormy times of the Indian wars and Revolution. Cornelius Low was one of the first settlers in Black Hole Valley. In 1778 heleased 320 acres of land from the celebrated Dr. Francis Allison. The leasewas what might be termed an "iron clad" document, and bound him under strictcondition to remain five years and make many improvements. It does not clearly appear when Low and his family occupied the land, but it probably was soon after the execution of the lease, as there were a number of settlers already located in that section of the new county. But the Red Man seriously interfered with its terms; and although there was no reservation of that kind made, he prevented Low from carrying out the terms on his part. Indian troubles soon commenced and Low was advised by the friendly Indian, "Shaney John," to fly. He at once sent his family and stock down the river, but remained tosee what the outcome of the rumors would be. The "Big Runaway" had commencedand he barely escaped the vengeance of the pursuing savages. In a few dayshe rejoined his family at Fort Augusta and they straightway continued their flight to New Jersey, whence he never returned. His experience in the Indiancountry satisfied him. Allison sold the land to John Bell. About 1783 itwas purchased by William Mackey, but he did not occupy it. In 1786 Maj. John Ten Brook, of New Jersey, came to the valley a

John married Katie Emmons in 1770 in Harlingen, Somerset Co, New York. (Katie Emmons was born about 1752 in Readington, Hunterdon Couty, New Jersey and died in 1820 in White Deer Valley, Pennsylvania.)

John next married Catherine Lowe about 1760. (Catherine Lowe was born about 1740.)

John next married Gerritje Van Neste. (Gerritje Van Neste was born on 4 Aug 1738 and died on 2 Jan 1770.)