RUNYAN/RUNYON

OUR HUGUENOT ANCESTOR, VINCENT ROUGNION (RUNYAN)

'The story of Vincent Runyon reflected the historical forces sweeping both France and England in the seventeenth century. France had long been beset with religious wars between the dominant Catholics and the followers of John Calvin, who became known as Huguenots. The Huguenots were always a minority in France, but they were a powerful one, and the focus of their strength lay in the southwestern part of the country. La Rochelle, a Protestant stronghold, was not far from the province of Poitou, the home of Rongnion.

Because of his association with the Carterets, who lived on the Isle of Jersey, we assume that Runyon went to the island along with other Huguenots escaping the religious strife in their native land.After Charles II (England) was restored to the throne, he rewarded Lord Carteret, who had remained loyal to the Stuarts, and in his position as commander of the forces on the island, had offered refuge to the Prince. Charles' brother, the Duke of York, gave what is now New Jersey to Carteret and a fellow loyalist, Lord Berkeley.

Runyon was not among the colonists who first accompanied Carteret, but the new Governor went back to Europe in the same year (1665) and returned in 1666, bringing more immigrants with him. It is possible that Runyon came in 1666 because of his marriage date in 1668. (Vincent and Ann Martha Boucher were married on June 28, 1668.)

Runyon, as one of the early settlers in Elizabethtown, must have prospered as did the village that became the capital of East Jersey when the province was divided. He was successful enough so that in 1671 he was able to purchase property. The following is from that deed of sale: "Francis Barber of Elizabethtown, planter, sells to Vincent Ronyon, 40 rods long by 16 rods wide, on the south side of the house lot of George Pack, fronting on the highway... The name had already been anglicized, as only three years earlier his marriage license had read "Rongnion." Likewise, he adjusted to the ways of a new land, working as a carpenter, buying property, and rearing children with his wife, Ann Martha. '

Documentation of the Runyon House at East Jersey, Piscataway, N.J. Olde Towne - by Laird Klinger

John RUNYAN - born in 1669, married Ann Elizabeth Donn (later Dun or Dunn) on July 20, 1692, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He died at Rocky Hill, Somerset County, November 1745. Ann Elizabeth (daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Drake) Donn)was born March 19, 1676. (Elizabeth Drake was the daughter of Capt. Francis and Mary Drake.)

Vincent RUNYON born 1671, married Mary, daughter of Hopewell Hull. Vincent died in March, 1724.

Ann RUNYON born 1673, married Nathaniel Leonard.

Thomas RUNYAN born 1675, married Martha Donn, (sister of Ann Elizabeth) about 1698, lived near Hopewell, Hunterdon County. He died April, 1753. Martha was born July 13, 1681.

Mary RUNYON died July 2, 1677.

Peter RUNYON born July 1, 1680, married Providence, daughter of Samuel Blackford on October 12, 1704. Peter died October, 1753.

Jane RUNYON born January 19, 1683.

Sarah RUNYON born October 30, 1686, married Richard Sutton on January 25, 1702.

 ORIGIN OF THE VARIANT SPELLING: RUNYON/RUNYAN 

The two sons, Vincent and Peter, and their descendants continued to spell their name with an 'o'. John and Thomas chose to spell it with an 'a'. This same spelling has continued with the majority of their descendants.

The name, 'Vincent', was given to the Runyon/Runyan sons many times. This causes confusion in determining which 'Vincent' is the right one. Our family's Vincent or Vinson Runyan, descendant of Thomas, came to Ontario County, New York about 1803. His first wife was Elizabeth Wolverton, born June 14, 1765, daughter of Isaac,Jr., granddaughter of Isaac, Sr., and great-granddaughter of Charles, who came from England about 1680.

Vincent and Elizabeth had at least four children, including Aaron, born Dec. 9, 1793. Vincent's wife, Elizabeth died on April 26, 1813. Vincent later married Vicey Edington on June 28, 1814. Josiah C. Runyan was born in 1821-22.

Aaron Runyan married Sarah (Sally) Silvers on January 14, 1816 in Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y. Sally, born January 9, 1796, was the daughter of Benjamin Silvers and Johanna Merril. Aaron died November 28, 1864 and Sally died on January 23, 1883. Both Aaron and Sally are buried in Burgh (Hoster) Cemetery, Fayette, N.Y. This writer spent a few days in the beautiful Finger Lakes area of New York in July, 1996. I drove a rented car down a long lane filled with ruts, looking for the Burgh Cemetery.I did find it. How sad to see the old gravestones toppled over, some leaning on other stones. My ancestor's (Aaron's) stone was crooked and hidden behind a bramble bush. Other ancestors' stones were broken and lying on the ground. I wondered how long it would be before this cemetery would disappear into the brush.

Joannah (daughter of Aaron) married Joseph Hunt Abbott on November 26, 1848. In the Abbott Home Page I told about their move from New York to Michigan. Their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Abbott, married J.(oseph) HarveyHutchingson March 1, 1882. J. Harvey came from Wilson, New York to Gratiot County, Michigan, for the marriage. A few years after their marriage Sarah and J. Harvey settled in Bancroft, Michigan, where he was a druggistfor many years. Sarah and J. Harvey were the parents of two sons, Myron Claude and Harvey M. Hutchings. Harvey M. married Sarah (Sadie) Young in 1914. Sadie died in 1923. Harvey married Grace I. Hallman in Kitchener, Ontario on September 4, 1924. Grace's father, Rev. Henry S. Hallman performed the ceremony.

Harvey and Grace Hutchings had four children, Paul Hallman, Elizabeth Hope, who died at six years of age, Faith Isabell, and Harvey Hallman.

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