NJ History Nerd Tour #9 ... The Green at Hackensack, NJ, Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Charter Members Bill Bogertman, Gary Link and Probies John Breur and John Dyksen. New Probie Mark Yost unable to attend.
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| First Reformed Church Marker |
1. The Green marker2. The flat, white marble block commemorating British burning of Bergen courthouse and jail in 1780.3. General Enoch Poor stature4. The Statue for American war memorial5. The 1st Reformed Church marker and Church and Meeting Hall building then walked around the 1st Reformed Church cemetery.
I entered the Church meeting hall building next to the Reformed church to use the “woman’s room” while there was some type of Spanish service or meeting occurring inside the meeting hall.
I walked back to the Green where at 10:00am I met John, John and Gary who were just parking in front of the Bank House where we took pictures of marker.
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| Sites on the Hackensack Green |
Our plans today were to take a walking tour around the green and the 1st Reformed Church and Cemetery and included visits to the sites and/or plaque memorials for:
- The Green
- The memorial for original Courthouse/Jail burning 1780.
- The American War Memorial
- General Enoch Poor Statue/Memorial
- The Bank House
- The Zabriskie Mansion House Plaque
- The Archibald Campbell Tavern House Plaque
- The First Reformed Church
- The First Reformed Church Cemetery and General Enoch Poor gravesite as well as Archibald Campbell, Varick family plot and Peter Zabriskie family plot.
Together then, we returned to the Green, stopping at the markers, Enoch Poors statue, war memorial, Archibald Campbell tavern (across from Green), the Bank House and marker. We spent some time looking for 50 Main Street where we know there was a plaque/marker for the Zabriskie Mansion house but we couldn’t find it. That was disappointing.
We walked to the Church and cemetery, finding Archibald Campbell’s family monument, General Enoch Poor’s grave-site, Richard Varick’s family plot, Zabriskie family plots, Schuyler family plots, Demarest family plots and many more familiar sounding Dutch names; Brinckerhoff, Westerveld, van Blaarkum, Voorhuis, Banta, etc. We also discovered different names and initials carved into the soft sand/brownstone on the east? side of the church building.
While walking back from the cemetery past the church, we wanted to use “the men’s room” so we walked into the Church and met 4 men coming out. One was the leader/Pastor named Ivan Palacios. We had a nice talk with him about his ministry to Hispanics and hopes for future. He turns out to be a firefighter in Midland Park and was interested in connecting to Midland Park CRC’s minister. He also said that he would unlock the doors of the church and let us inside to view it.
Inside we found a magnificent and beautiful old sanctuary with upper balcony. John Breur and John Dyksen went up to the pulpit and pipe organ and JohnB began to play. Gary and I went upstairs to find 4 large glass museum displays holding Dutch books, bibles, deeds and artifacts from the church. The Old church bell was also there with the old (original?) beams. After spending about 30 minutes inside, we left to return to the Green and see the “Courthouse and Jail Burning” Memorial.
We then reviewed what we learned and visited today and at 11:45, we walked across the street to the SideBar at the National Hotel Tavern (General Poor's Tavern), directly next door to Campbell’s Tavern, and enjoyed a very good lunch. I walked back to the Municipal Garage, then left for home around 1:00pm, arriving home at 3:00pm.
A terrific, simple RevWar learning day experiencing some sites lost to history in Hackensack, NJ!
Hackensack’s name honors the “Sagamore of Hacquinsacq,” Lenni Lenape Chief Oratam, born in 1577, who deeded the land to early settlers in 1664.
...from Passaic County Historical Society: "The flowing river and the area around it was called by the Lenape Hocquaan (hook) and sauk (mouth of a river). The sound of these words led the early Dutch settlers to call it Hackingh, as a hook, and by 1645, Hackinkeshacky which became Hackensack by 1685."
The town was first settled as a trading post by the Dutch in 1639, later occupied by the French Huguenots, and, in 1688, by the British. At that time it was known as the township of New Barbadoes. In 1921, by referendum vote, Hackensack received its charter under its present name.
A strategic point during the American Revolution, Hackensack was a small village centered around The Green. Washington headquartered here in November 1776 while he surveyed the local roads and bridges. On November 20, 1776, he led his army into Hackensack. It camped on The Green as he made the important decision to continue the retreat from overwhelming British and Hessian forces. This prepared the way for the first American victory of the Revolution the following month at the Battle of Trenton.
At The Green is the statue of General Enoch Poor, one of Washington’s officers, who died in September 1780. He was buried in the adjoining cemetery of the Dutch Reformed Church. The church, initially built in 1696 and rebuilt in 1791, is the oldest in Bergen County and the second oldest in New Jersey.
Hackensack is the seat of Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey, occupying 4.6 square miles. The elevation is from three feet to 120 feet above sea level. From a number of locations, one can see the New York City skyline, seven miles to the east.
Prior to being settled by the Dutch in 1693, Hackensack was home to the thriving Lenni Lenape Indian community that lived and prospered along the banks of the Hackensack River.
Bergen County was inhabited by the Achkinheshcky tribe, from which “Hackensack” was eventually derived. Hackensack means “mouth of a river.” The “Hackensacks” formed villages, each one practicing and serving as its own government. Interestingly enough, these villages practiced a democracy, where all members of the tribe were involved in the decision-making.
Once the Dutch arrived in Bergen County, they began to build the area into a permanent settlement they named Bergen. Through their dealings with the Chief of Hackensack, Oratam, the Dutch could live harmoniously with the Indians. By the mid-1600s, the British began to arrive in the Hackensack area. From then until the Revolutionary War’s end in 1783, Hackensack was an area of unrest.
Upon the War’s end, Hackensack residents began organizing themselves into a functioning government.
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| Note the "Bank" Building directly above the plaque |
A strategic point during the American Revolution, Hackensack was a small village centered on The Green, a public meeting place where public notices were posted. In the 18th century it was where punishments were inflicted on criminals and where the local militia trained.
General Washington headquartered here in November 1776, while he surveyed the local roads and bridges. On November 20, 1776, he led his army into Hackensack. The army camped on The Green as Washington made the important decision to continue the retreat from overwhelming British and Hessian forces. On March 23, 1780, the British raided Hackensack and burned the courthouse that stood on the Green at that time. Since 1715, a Bergen County courthouse building faced The Green in Hackensack, the County Seat since 1710, making it the historic heart of Bergen County (County of Bergen Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs).
Cemetery First Reformed Dutch Church, Hackensack, New Jersey
First Dutch Reformed Church, also known as the "Old Church on the Green" is located in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, where it sits in the churchyard of the church by the same name, the current building being constructed in 1791. The east wall of the building is of particular interest because it incorporates several carved stones from the first church building erected on the site. These stones bear the monogram of several of the founding families. The Congregation was founded by Dutch Settlers in 1686. For the first ten years the congregation worshipped in various locations, and in 1696 the first building was built on the current site. In 1780 Colonial General Enoch Poor was buried in the Cemetery. George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette attended the funeral. The church is the oldest church in Bergen County.
The church is adjacent to the Hackensack Green, which was originally church land and is one of the oldest public squares in New Jersey.
from Visiting a Museum: Downtown Hackensack. Internet...
During the first ten years, churchgoers worshiped in a private home outside the limits of modern-day Hackensack. The official name of the congregation was the “Dutch Reformed Church of Ackensack” and comprised thirty-three residents from Hackensack, New Barbadoes and Acquackanonk. All three of these townships made up most of northeastern New Jersey. Acquackanonk was located in the northern portion of modern Essex County. New Barbadoes was comprised of land west of the Hackensack River, while Ackensack was located to the east. In April of 1696, Captain John Berry (1619-1712), the proprietor of a large portion of land in northeastern New Jersey, donated two and three-quarter acres of his property to the congregation to support their efforts to build the church. Most of present-day Hackensack at that time was called “New Barbadoes Township” and Hackensack is thought to have gotten its unofficial name when the Church relocated to New Barbadoes and brought the name “Ackensack” with it.
The emergence of the Dutch Reformed Church in America developed from Dutch colonization of New York and New Jersey during the 17th century. Dutch settlement was prominent in these areas before the British took control of the area in the late 1600’s. Still, the Dutch were freely allowed to practice their religion in America, even under British sovereignty. The Hackensack First Reformed Church would become the second oldest Reformed Church in New Jersey and the first in Hackensack. Construction of the church was completed in the latter part of 1696.
John Berry’s donation of land was appropriately dubbed, “The Green” and the church soon became known as “The Church on the Green”. The first sermon was preached on November 15th, 1696, based on Psalm 26:8 “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honor dwelleth.” Although the first church was largely completed in 1696, the steeple was not built until 1708. The entire structure was rebuilt in 1728 on the same site. These two early church buildings were thought to have been octagonal structures.
In 1780, during the Revolutionary War, the British invaded Hackensack. They burned the courthouse and jail and threatened to destroy the Church on the Green, which was located adjacent to the aforementioned buildings. Fortunately, the church was spared. Dutch Colonial architecture with sandstone walls being the prominent feature of the building. Some aspects, especially the arched and pointed windows, appear to have Gothic elements.
The front of the church has three sets of double doors with similarly arched doorways and transom windows. This style was a precursor for many of the Reformed Dutch churches that were eventually build in New Jersey. Although the present-day building dates from 1791, the church was enlarged in 1847 and again in 1847 and again in 1869, thus containing newer elements.
The attached cemetery is original to the first building’s construction in the late seventeenth century but during the renovation in 1847, it was also enlarged. The neighboring service house was built in 1867 and was used as a Sunday school, lecture hall and chapel.
The churchyard cemetery features simple stone tablets and obelisks that are surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Some notable burials include General Enoch Poor (1736-1780), Colonel and New York Mayor Richard Varick (1753-1831), Congressman George Cassedy (1783-1842) and Congressman Adam Boyd (1746-1835). General Enoch Poor’s burial is especially noteworthy as he served alongside George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Additionally, both Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette were in attendance at Poor’s funeral. Enoch Poor’s gravestone reads: “In Memory of the Hon’ble Brigadier General Enoch Poor of the State of New Hampshire who Departed this Life on the 8 day of Sept: 1780 aged 44 years/Washington, Lafayette and a portion of the American army attended the burial of Gen. Poor. In 1824, Lafayette visited this grave and turned away much affected, exclaimed, “Ah, that was one of my Generals!” Poor died in 1780, before the close of the Revolutionary War, so this gravestone is clearly not the original.
The Reformed Church was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places on April 25, 1983. Included in this nomination was the “Green”, which is one of the oldest public squares in New Jersey. This area encompasses the Churchyard, the cemetery, the church outbuilding and the green area that is adjacent to the Bergen County Courthouse. There are a few monuments that occupy this space, including a statue memorial to General Enoch Poor, which was dedicated in 1904 and the Hackensack War Memorial, which dates to 1924. The church continues to be a prominent feature of the history of Hackensack through community and self-guided walking tours. In addition to this, there are yearly Memorial Day commemorations, where a wreath is placed over General Enoch Poor’s grave and a tour of the church is provided to the attendees of the celebration.
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| Note the "50" and the Historical Marker beside it. We could not locate it. |
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| The Zabriskie House (Washington HQ) Plaque was located to the left of John Dyksen, but it could not be found anywhere on the block or building. (left to right: John Dyksen, John Breur, Gary Link) |
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1936 Photo..."Washington Mansion House Tavern, Main Street & Washington Place, Hackensack, Bergen County, NJ." Originally the mansion of Peter Zabriskie, a Colonel in General Washington's Army. Peter Zabriskie was host to General Washington. Served was captured and escaped from the British Troops during the Revolutionary War. It was he who later Ratified the United States Constitution as one of three Signers for Bergen County, New Jersey. This home with Peter Zabriskie and his family served as headquarters for General George Washington, November 18 to 21, 1776. Demolished in 1945. It was a cousin John (Jan) Zabriskie who built the brown stone house at New Bridge Landing who made his allegiance with the Loyalist Militia and had that home confiscated and presented to General Von Stueben of Valley Forge. That home General Von Stuben later resold back to the Zabriskie family." |
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| Top left, the Mansion House. Fore ground is the First Reformed Church cemetery where Washington stood at Gen. Enoch Poor’s burial in 1780. –Bergen County Historical Society. |
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| 1905 |
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| A view of Hackensack c.1831: the house was located in the cluster of buildings to the right of the church tower |
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| This is the plaque we could not find. It was supposed to be on the building located at 50 Main Street, but as you can see from our picture, it is not there. We were disappointed not to find this important site marker. |
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| Plaque reads, "Archibald Campbell's tavern stood here. He supplied meals to General Washington when Peter Zabriskie's home was used as military headquarters between November 13 and November 21, 1776 during the retreat across New Jersey. The army marched down Main Street and camped on the Green during November 20, 1776" |
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| Plaque reads, "BANK HOUSE. Erected about 1831 by the Washington Banking Company. The first bank in present Bergen County, it opened in the nearby Mansion House in 1825-26. After the bank failed in 1833, it housed the offices of prominent lawyers and judges. Later the home of the “New Jersey Citizen”, a newspaper published in the 1870’s. The original Federal style building was enlarged by additions to the side and rear in 1909." |
The first house built in the City of Hackensack was that of Dr. Van Emburgh (1686) located along a creek at the rear of the Court House. Early settlers had huts on this creek where they traded furs with the Indians.
This Plaque is located at the intersection of Main Street and Washington Place.
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| The probable location of the "First House in Hackensack" plaque is on this building, above the red and yellow Christmas sign. |
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| Note the Family names scribed in the sandstone. |
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| Stones from the original 1686 Church. |
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| Going Inside the Church with the Spanish Pastor Ivan Palacios. |
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| From the back lobby and upstairs stairway behind us. |
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| From the Balcony. Note the small choir loft on the right and left. |
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| There were for or five small glass display cases of church history and memorabilia. |
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| All old documents are in Dutch. |
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| I believe this book was the "Washington signature" book referred to us by the "Pastor" who allowed us to take a tour of the church. The book title is "Memoirs of George Washington" by George Washington Parke Custis. |
The book jacket dedication is difficult to read but Bill believes it says. "To Doctor Cornelius Kraissl. In deep appreciation for all he has done for me. This book was written by my great uncle brother to my great grand-mother Elinor Parke Custis. They were Martha Washington's grandchildren and adopted children of George and Martha Washington. -Carter Perry Servus Wiley?
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| Old Dutch New Testament Came Over on Old Ship in the Year 1652--Used by Daniel Van Vallen. |
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| Delft Dish from Holland. 1638. Loaned by Mrs. Frederick Kraissl, North Hackensack, NJ. |
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| Commemorative Medallion |
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| The note with broken pitcher on the right says "This XXXXXX? pitcher was given to Nellie? Custis by Geo and Martha Washington a few years after he went to live at Mt. Vernon. Gift to the Hackensack (Paskack?) Chapter Daughters of the Revolution for/ Peggy and Patsy Wilus?" |
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| Note the 10 inch planks for flooring |
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| Marble memorial says, "Site of the Court-House & Jail Burned by the Enemy 1780 Erected by the Bergen County Historical Society 1922 |
Prelude
By 1780, the military focus of the War for Independence had moved south to the Carolinas, and northern warfare was largely relegated to community conflicts, and punitive or foraging expeditions. From its beginning, the war had been one of neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother, and nowhere was this more in evidence than in northern New Jersey.
One reason for the Continental Army post at Paramus, and part of the British desire to eradicate it, was the so-called London Trade, whereby local "disaffected" inhabitants supplied much-needed goods to British-held New York. Continental forces in the area were intended to interdict that trade, whereas the British high command certainly wanted to keep the lines open.The March 1780 raid against Paramus and Hackensack was originally instigated by Major General William Tryon, former Royal Governor of New York, who recommended the enterprise to Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, then overall commander at New York in the absence of Crown commander in chief Lieutenant General Henry Clinton. Tryon's wish was to punish the rebellious inhabitants of Hackensack, a sentiment Knyphausen supported. An intelligence agent, known only as "AZ", kept Tryon informed of area defenses.
On February 6, "AZ" relayed information supplied by a British soldier's wife who had just traveled through Paramus, the gist of which was, "the regiment that has laid at Paramus for some time past was relieved a few days ago by another consisting of between two and three hundred men, that they have guards at Hendrick Zabriskie's and the widow Ackerman's, on the road from Paramus Church to New Bridge, also another at a fulling mill to the eastward of the church. This being the case, they are open and exposed on every side but their front."
The only immediate result of this and other reports was an inconclusive February 10 British light cavalry incursion into Hackensack (in fact, an aborted attempt to capture the American commander-in-chief at Morristown), but that town and the post at Paramus remained on the British agenda.
Battle Begins
On March 22, a "Cool Windy" day, a deputation of the "Magistrates, Sheriff & Officers of the Militia of the County of Bergen residing at Hackensack & its Vicinity" wrote Major Christopher Stuart, 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanding at Paramus, apprising him of the danger of a British attack.
On March 23, the British struck, confirming the well-intentioned but belated warning. Marching in two columns, Lieutenant Colonel John Howard's British Foot Guards grenadier and light infantry companies took a roundabout route to Paramus, while Lieutenant Colonel Duncan McPherson, commanding elements of seven units, the British 42nd and 43rd regiments, and German Anspach, Bayreuth, von Donop, Landgraf and Leib (also called "du Corps") Regiments, captured Hackensack, then proceeded to join Howard's force.
One of the earliest intimations the high command had of the attack was dated "8 Oclock A.M. 23rd March Acquackana[ck] Bridge," and sent by Lt. Col. Samuel Hay, 10th Pennsylvania Regiment, to Major General Baron Johann De Kalb at Springfield
De Kalb also received a 10:00 AM note from 5th Connecticut Captain Abner Prior stationed at Newark, reporting, "I Have this moment heard that the Enemy was in Hackansack last night Burning & Destroing it is Said to be about Three hundred british and they was advancen to wards Paramius ..."
Relaying these notes the next day to General George Washington, de Kalb also informed him "The four Prisoners, three of which are Anspackers, I will Send to Head Q. under Escort ... The Prisoners tell me that the Party at Hackensack to which they belonged, was to return to New York after Burning Sundry Buildings, that they had neither Baggage nor Provision with them."
Aftermath
The raid and several participating officers were recognized in general orders, "Head Quarters New York 25 March 1780":
His Excellency Lieutenant General von Knyphausen requests that his approbation be made known in published orders to Lieutenant Colonel Howard of the Guards, Lieutenant Colonel McPherson of the 42nd Regiment, and the officers and men under their command for the good conduct on the morning of the 23rd of this month during the fatiguing expedition to Paramus and Hackensack and, although it was not as successful as might be wished, due to unavoidable circumstances, it still provided honor to the troops. His Excellency is appreciative of the dedication to duty of Lieutenants Cranton and Peery of the Navy who commanded the division of flatboats, and also of Lieutenant Hatfield of the Royal Volunteer Militia for his bravery during this opportunity
The event was covered in a number of newspaper accounts, some of which offer new details. The 27 March 1780 New-York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury's article was written with a Loyalist bent:
NEW-YORK, March 24.
On Wednesday evening a detachment of the Royal Army, under the command of Col. Howard, crossed from this city to the Jersies, and proceeded to Hackensack, where a number of continental troops were assembled to protect sundry new fangled Justices of the Peace, who had assembled there to devise means to harrass and distress such of their neighbours as were thought to be disaffected to the cause of rebellion. It was not until the troops were close by them that they were apprised of their danger, when they fled with the greatest precipitation, after animating the rebel soldiers to stand their ground, that their retreat might be the more secure. The poor wretches did so for a little time, but after a few being killed, they broke and made the best of their way home; however, several of them were made prisoners, and brought to town last night. Our loss was, one killed and another wounded.
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Poor's Monument Marker reads... "Dedicated to the memory of Brigadier General Enoch Poor by the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution: Born at Andover, Mass., June 21, 1736; Died near Hackensack, N.J., Sept. 8, 1780. In command of a New Hampshire brigade, he rendered signal service at many battles, especially Stillwater, Saratoga, Newtown and Monmouth. Valley Forge witnessed his courage in its privation and his unselfishness in providing for the comfort of his soldiers. He secured the respect of all who were under his command, gained for all time, the esteem of his fellow officers, and the confidence of Washington and La Fayette. He won fame, as soldier, patriot and citizen, which has inspired the descendants of Revolutionary sires to rear this memorial of his virtues. Erected by New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution." |
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| Left to Right: John Dyksen, Bill Bogertman, John Breur; Gary Link taking photo. |
Enoch Poor was one of the best brigade commanders in Washington's Army. Born in Andover, MA, he had served under Amherst during the French and Indian War. Following the Lexington alarm he was appointed Colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire. He took part in Montgomery's invasion of Canada and was made Brigadier General in February, 1777. The nucleus of Poor's Brigade was three New Hampshire regiments, and at various times it also included Hazen's 2nd Canadian (Congress's Own), the 2nd and 4th NY, and even some Connecticut militia.
Poor and his men fought with the Northern Army throughout the Saratoga Campaign from Ticonderoga to Burgoyne's surrender, serving with distinction at Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights. He wintered at Valley Forge and participated in the final maneuvers at Monmouth. Poor's Brigade was dispatched to escort the British and German prisoners of Burgoyne's surrendered "Convention Troops" through part of CT on their way to internment in Virginia in November, 1778. The following year, Poor played a prominent role in Sullivan's Expedition against the Iroquois.
In early August 1780, the Marquis de Lafayette formed a light division with uniforms and equipment he had brought back from France that Spring. Poor accepted command of one of the two Brigades in Lafayette's division (Brigadier General Hand had the other). The light infantry were considered elite troops and were used aggressively. Both Poor and Hand were proven commanders of hard fighting brigades that were used as shock troops.
from the Society of the Cincinnatti... Internet
Poor’s brigade again spent the winter with the main army, this time at Valley Forge. He led the last maneuvers in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. He accompanied the Sullivan Expedition in 1779, leading a brigade in the victory at Battle of Newtown.
Afterward Brigadier General Poor was assigned to Lafayette’s division and mainly saw garrison duty in New Jersey. Some sources say Poor was shot in a duel near Hackensack, New Jersey, on September 6, 1780, and died two days later from the wound, although the Army surgeon reported that Poor died from typhus. Either way, his death is reported as September 8, 1780. Poor was buried in the First Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey. George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette both attended his funeral. When Washington wrote to inform Congress of Poor’s death, he noted that “He was an officer of distinguished merit, one who as a citizen and soldier had every claim to the esteem and regard of his country.”
In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette visited his grave, and turning away much affected exclaimed “Ah! That was one of my generals!”
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General Enoch Poor's Marker reads... "In memory of the Honorable Brigadier Gen. Enoch Poor of the State of New Hampshire who departed this life on the 8 day of Sept. 1780 aged 44 Years. Washington, Lafayette and a portion of the American army attended the burial of Gen. Poor. In 1824, Lafayette re-visited this grave and turning away much affected, exclaimed, “Ah, that was one of my Generals.” |
Born in 1753 to a prominent Dutch-American family in Hackensack, New Jersey, Richard Varick became a lawyer, then a Patriot officer in the American Revolutionary War. Colonel Varick served with distinction as aide to generals Philip Schuyler and Benedict Arnold. Later, George Washington entrusted him with the editing of his wartime papers—forty-four volumes now housed in the Library of Congress.
In peacetime Varick helped initiate the new Federalist-oriented government of New York City, becoming its mayor from 1789–1801. Next he turned his energies to the accumulation of lucrative real estate, all the while furthering the development of Columbia University and the Society of the Cincinnati, and starting the entity that became Jersey City.
His personal passion was to help promulgate the Christian message, especially through the founding of the American Bible Society and the New York Sunday School Union. A highly respected, multitalented businessman and national hero, he was returned to Hackensack for burial in 1831.
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| Varick Family Plot |
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| Plaque Reads... "In Memory Of Col. Richard Varick formerly Mayor of the City of New – York and at the time of his decease President of the American Bible – Society Born 25th March 1753 Died 30th July 1831 Aged 78 Yrs 4 Mos 5 Days" |
from Virtual American Biographies...
"VARICK, Richard, soldier, born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 25 March, 1753 ; died in Jersey City, New Jersey, 30 July, 1831. The family name was originally Van Varick. He studied law and was practising in New York city, when, at the opening of the Revolution, he became a captain in Alexander McDougall's regiment He afterward became military secretary to General Philip Schuyler, and on the latter's recommendation was appointed by congress deputy muster master-general, 25 September, 1776, to which post the rank of lieutenant-colonel was attached on 10 April, 1777. He remained with the northern army till the muster department was abolished after the capture of Burgoyne, and was present at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. He was inspector-general at West Point after 1780, and first aide-de-camp to General Benedict Arnold, whom he greatly admired as a soldier. It is said that when Arnold's defection was made known, Colonel Varick was almost insane for several days. With Colonel Franks, the second aide, he was examined by a court of inquiry, which exonerated both from suspicion of the least complicity in the treason. Shortly afterward he became a member of Washington's military family, acting as his recording secretary till near the close of the war, and taking charge of his confidential papers. From the evacuation of New York by the British in 1783 till 1789 he was recorder of that city. In the latter year he became attorney-general of the state, and from 1791 till 1801 he was mayor of New York. In 1786 he and Samuel Jones were appointed revisers of the state laws, and they published the result of their labors in a volume (1789). On the organization of the state militia he was made colonel of one of the regiments. Colonel Varick was speaker of the assembly in 1787, for many years president of the Merchants' bank, and a founder and liberal benefactor of the American Bible society, of which he was president from the resignation of John Jay till his death. He was more than six feet high, and of imposing presence, and has a fine monument in his native place."
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| Note the Varick family Marker directly on the corner of the church |
Patrolman Ray Woods Dr, New Milford, NJ 07646
Thought to be oldest cemetery in Bergen County, the French Huguenot-Demarest Cemetery was established in 1677 as the final resting place for prominent French Huguenot and Dutch settlers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. David Demarest purchased approximately 2,000 acres of land along the east bank of the Hackensack River from Native Americans in 1677 to establish a colony of French-Huguenots. The cemetery is all that remains of the original French-Huguenot colony and has more than four dozen descendants of Demarest family buried on site. The Borough of New Milford acquired the property in 2018 and has been working closely with the New Milford Historic Preservation Commission to plan for its restoration and future interpretation.
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