Family History

(As related to the Shephard's of Hunterdon County, NJ)

By: Russell S. Pickett

      This document display's the Runyan family as it is related to the Shepherd Family of the Hunterdon County, New Jersey area. Any towns or cities noted are in the State of New Jersey unless otherwise shown. Family members names shown in Marroon are the direct ancestors of my children Chris, Ryan, Kayla & Kara. Anyone that has information or questions on this family line please email me. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this short history of the Runyan Family.

Other Family names included in this document:
Boutcher, Dunn, Hull, Blackford, Smock, Sotton, Drake, Curtiss, Bonham, Woolverton, Houghton, Pierce, Jewel, Conrod, Lake, Johnson, Stout, Large, Jolley, Coolbaugh, Mettler, Stanford, Hoppock, Kitchen, Apgar, Sinclair, Gardner, Smith, Barrett, Huff, Wedgebury, Shepherd, Trout.

Vincent Rongnion (Runyon), (1)

 &np;    Vincent, (1) was from Portiers, France. He is currently the senior member of this fbsamily known to the author. He came to Elizabethtown, NJ ca. 1668. He married Ann Boutcher on July 17, 1668. The marriage license (old style) was issued by NJ Governor Sir Philip Cartaret. The original license can be seen in the Trenton State Archives. Ann Boutcher was from Hartford, England. Vincent (1) & Ann moved, by 1677, to their 154 ½ acres on the Raritan River (A map of this land is shown as Appendix "B" of this document). Vincent (1) died intestate in December, 1713. He left gold, silver, a canoe, silver spoons, etc. He was also a witness, in Elizabeth in 1671, in the first jury trial held in New Jersey. He is buried in the Runyan Cemetery on the corner of Possumtown Road & Centennial Avenue in Edison, NJ. They had 7 children. 2.   John Runyon, b.cir. 1669
3.   Vincent Runyon II, b.cir. 1670
4. *Thomas Runyon, b.cir. 1673
5. *Mary Runyon, b. Jul 2, 1677
6.   Peter Runyon, b. Jan 1, 1680
7.   Jane Runyon, b. Jan 19, 1683
8.   Sarah Runyon, b. Oct 30, 1686

      Family Notes: John (2) was born in Elizabeth. He moved, after his marriage to Elizabeth Dunn, to Rocky Hill on Stoney Brook. Vincent II (3) was born in Elizabeth. He & Mary Hull, dau of Benjamin Hull, were married at the Runyon home on the Raritan and they later lived in the home. This property was later sold to Hendrick Smock in 1739. Peter (6) was born in the Runyon home on the Raritan River. He married Providence Blackford. Jane (7) was born in the Runyon home on the Raritan River. Sarah (8) was born in the Runyon home on the Raritan River & married Richard Sotton. (Note that Elizabeth Dunn, wife of John (2) & Martha Dunn, wife of Thomas (4), were sisters.)

Thomas Runyon, (4)

      Thomas, (4) was born the 3rd child & 3rd son of Vincent (1) & Ann (Boutcher) Runyon in ca. 1673 in Elizabeth, NJ. He married Martha Dunn prior to 1698 and it is believed that they were married in Piscataway, NJ. Martha was born July 13, 1681 in Piscataway, NJ. the dau of Hugh & Elizabeth (Drake) Dunn (See the "Drake" Family History by Russ Pickett).
       In 1698 Thomas (4) & his brother John (2) signed a compact with many others to build a church above the falls of the Delaware (Scudders Falls at Trenton). The land was traded for land at Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, & a church was built there. It was a Presbyterian Church & it is not known at this time whether or not it still stands. Thomas (4) & his wife Martha, however, joined the Hopewell Baptist Church prior to 1730 & that is the only record of them joining any church. The above compact is in the Colonial Archives in Trenton. Both Thomas (4) & his brother John (2) signed with their marks so evidently neither could write.
      By 1700 they had moved to Hopewell, NJ. There they purchased 150 acres of land from Daniel Coxe on March 5, 1712 for 50 pounds (English money). The land is on the Titus Mill Road just below Hopewell & was described in the deed as being next to William Hixson, by Stoney Brook, & next to Captain Hunt. It was witnessed by J. Basse, Edward Kemp & Alex Lockhart. The record of this transaction is in the Burlington County (Hunterdon Cty was part of Burlington Cty in 1712) Book AAA, page 445 in the State Archives in Trenton. (Note: The original copy of this deed was found in Pennington, NJ in a mans personal effects after his death during 1991. It was given to Marvin C. Shephard who presented it to the Museum in Hopewell, NJ. He also sent the author a copy of the original)
      They built their house, which is still standing, in 1713. Thomas (4) died in 1753 & is probably buried in the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery (no marker has been found). There is proof that his wife Martha was still alive at that time, however, no records have been found to establish the date of her death. They had 7 children.   9.   Vincent Runyon,b.cir. 1699, d. 1770
10.* Thomas Runyon, II b.cir. 1701
11.   Catherine Runyon, b.ca. 1705
12.   Martha Runyon, b.ca. 1707
13.   Ephraim Runyon, b.ca. 1708, d. 1772
14.* Aaron Runyon, b.ca. 1710, d. 1791
15.   Joseph Runyon, b.ca. 1711

      Family Notes: All the children were born in or near Hopewell, NJ. Vincent (9) married 1st Alice Curtiss & then 2nd Mercy Bonham. He had only one child, Vincent, Jr. Vincent (9) died in Hopewell. His son, Vincent, Jr. married Elizabeth Woolverton & moved to New York in 1800 after selling the remainder of the lands of Thomas I (4). Catherine (11) married Cornelius Anderson & had many children. A record of her descendants is available as part of the Anderson genealogy records in the Hopewell, Museum. Martha (12) married Hezekiah Bonham & the record of Martha's descendants can be found in the Bonham genealogy records which are available in Hunterdon & Mercer County. Ephraim (13) married A____ Houghton & was a logger & was killed in a wagon accident in 1772. He & his wife had three daus, of which I have no record. Joseph (15) Lived in Amwell Cty after his marriage (unknown to who) & had two sons, Peter & John. John remained a bachelor.

Mary Runyon, (5)

      Mary, (5) was born the 4th child, 1st dau of Vincent (1) & Ann (Boutcher) Runyon on July 2, 1677 in the Runyon Home on the Ruritan River near Elizabethtown, NJ. She married Benjamin Drake whose dates and information are currently unknown. They resided in Hopewell, NJ and had one known child. 16.   John Drake, b.1710, d. Jul/Oct, 1750

Thomas Runyon, II, (10)

      Thomas, (10) was born the 2nd child & 2nd son of Thomas (4) & Martha (Dunn) Runyon in ca. 1701 in Hopewell, NJ. He married Elizabeth _____. By trade, he was a Tailor, having a shop in Hopewell & later having a shop in Kingwood Township. In 1753 he bought 150 acres near Quakertown. He joined the Baptist Church in Baptistown in 1764 & was buried there after his death in January of 1770. His tombstone is unreadable today, however, he was buried right in front of his son Absolam (16). His wife, Elizabeth died prior to Thomas (10), in ca. 1765. They had 6 children. 16.* Absolam Runyon, b. 1736
17.   Rosanna Runyon
18.   Elizabeth Runyon
19.   Sarah Runyon
20.   Catherine Runyon
21.   Rachel Runyon

      Family Notes: Rosanna (17) married Francis Pierce in Kingwood Township. Elizabeth (18) married Thomas Jewel who died on Nov 14, 1777. Thomas was a wheelwright & Absolam (16) was the bondsman to his estate. Sarah (19) married Adam Conrod who was a Revolutionary War Veteran & was in a parade at Flemington NJ in 1826 (Article is printed on the last page of this document.) Catherine (20) was not married as of 1770. Rachel (21) was also not married as of 1770.

Aaron Runyon, (14)

      Aaron, (14) was born the 6th child & 4th son of Thomas (4) & Martha Dunn near Hopewell, NJ in ca. 1710. He married, however, his wifes name is currently unknown. They had 3 known children.

22.   Bonham Runyon, d. 1806
23.   Reuben Runyon, d. 1810
24.   Catherine Runyon

      Family Notes: Bonham (22) moved to Pennslyvania where he later died. Reuben (23) and his sister Catherine (24) both moved to Kentucky where they both later died. Catherine (24) had evidently become a widow prior to moving since it is noted that she moved with her children.

Absolam Runyan, (16)

      Absolam, (16) was born the 1st child & 1st son of Thomas, II (10) & Elizabeth (_____) Runyon near Hopewell, NJ in 1736. From Absolam (16) on, the spelling of RunyOn was changed to RunyAn. He first married a _____ Lake, dau of Daniel Lake & with her had four children. She died prior to 1770. He then married Winifret Johnson (See the Johnson Family by Russ Pickett), dau of Cornelius & Ann (Stout) Johnson. Ann Stout was the great-granddau of Richard & Penelope (Van Princis) Stout, the first European settlers of the State of New Jersey (The story of Penelope (Van Princis) Stout is included as Appendix "x" of this document). Winifret, ancestor of the author, died in 1791. Absolam & Winifret had three children. Absolam (16) married a third time to Ann Johnson , the sister of his 2nd wife Winifret, & she was born in 1746. They did not have any children.
      Absolam (16) moved from Hopewell, NJ to Baptistown prior to 1753. He joined the Baptist Church in Baptistown in 1764 with his father, Thomas II (10), where he served as a Trustee. He ran a Tavern in Frenchtown during 1769 & was a Tax Assessor in Kingwood Township in 1772. He served as a Quarter Master during the Revolutionary War under Colonel Beavers. He purchased 300 acres of land just below Baptistown prior to 1780.
      Absolam's sons Stephen & Abner moved to Beaver County, PA to homestead in the mid-1780's. In 1787 they used their father's Revoluntionary War Service records to help their father purchase 207 acres of land in North Sewickley Township in Beaver County, PA. Absolam (16) immediately sold ½ of this land, at cost, to each son where they remained to raise families of their own.
      Absolam (16) died near Baptistown, NJ. on August 25, 1809 at approximately 73 years of age. He is buried in the Baptistown Cemetery in Baptistown, NJ. His 3rd wife Ann, died on August 29, 1813 & is buried next to Absolam.

      Note: Marvin Shepherd (See the "Shepherd" Family History), along with his cousin Richard Shepherd, installed the U.S. Govt. Revolutionary War Veterans Stone in Baptistown. This stone is still decorated each Veteran's Day by the County.

Children of Absolam Runyan & ______ Lake:

25.* Stephen Runyan
26.* Abner Runyan
27.   Mary Runyan
28.   Ann Runyan
Children of Absolam Runyan & Winifret Johnson: 29.   Jerusha Runyan
30.   Thomas Runyan
31.* Johnson Runyan, b. Jan 19, 1782, d. Nov 29, 1852

      Family Notes: Mary (27) married Sam Large, a Quaker on February 10, 1780 & moved with him to Warren County, NJ. Ann (28) married Elisha Jolley & there is no further record of her. Jerusha (29) married 1st to Ezekial Compton on December 29, 1796 but they had no children together. She married 2nd to Benjamin Coolbaugh & moved with him to Pa. They had a number of children including Johnson Runyan Coolbaugh, Moses Coolbaugh & Absolam Runyan Coolbaugh. She also had a illegitimate dau named Lovina. I have no furthur information on the names of their other children. They do have descendants, however in PA, IL, & CA. Thomas (30) stayed with this father, Absolam, & helped work the farm. He was married & also worked as a township clerk in Kingwood Township.

Stephen Runyan, (25)

      Stephen, (25) was born the 1st child & 1st son of Absolam (16) & _____ (Lake) Runyon. He married Johanna Johnson (#32 in Johnson Fam.) in May/June of 1782 in Hunterdon County New Jersey. Johanna was born the dau of Cornelius & Ann (Stout) Johnson.
      Stephen (25), along with his brother Abner (26), was farming in Alexandria Township in 1782. He and his brother both moved to Beaver County, Pa. in the mid-1780's where they evidently were homesteading land in North Sewickley Township in Beaver County, Pa. They contacted their father Absolam (16) and used his influence, based on his Revolutionary War Service, to help him purchase 207 acres of land there. This land was known as Lot #192 and was called "Absolam's Choice" after the purchase. Whether or not this was the same land the sons were homesteading is unknown at this time, however it is more than likely the case. Stephen (25) and Abner (26) both bought ½ of the 207 acres of land purchased by their father in ca. 1788 for cost. They both remained in Beaver County, PA. where they raised their families. The descendant's of Stephen (25) & Abner (26) still have a yearly reunion (as of 1993) in Michigan. Stephen & Johanna had four known children.

32.   Absolam Runyan
33.   Joseph Runyan
34.   Stephen Runyan
35.   Jerusha Runyan
      Family Notes: Absolam (32) was born in New Jersey. The others were all born in PA.

Abner Runyan, (26)

      Abner, (26) was born the 2nd child & 2nd son of Absolam (16) & _____ (Lake) Runyon. He married Rebecca Johnson (#33 in Johnson Fam.) in May/June of 1782 in Hunterdon County New Jersey. Rebecca was born the dau of Cornelius & Ann (Stout) Johnson.
      For information on Abner (26) please read the story of his older brother Stephen (25) above. The descendant's of Abner (26) & Stephen (25) still have a yearly reunion (as of 1993) in Michigan. They had five known children together. 36.   Rachel Runyan
37.   Thomas Runyan
38.   Mary Runyan
39.   Ann Runyan
40.   Adam Runyan

Johnson Runyan, (31)

      Johnson, (31) was born the 7th child & 4th son of Absolam (16) & the 3rd child & 2nd son of Winifret (Johnson) Runyan on January 19, 1782 in Kingwood Township. He married Permelia Mettler (#29 of the Mettler Fam.), dau of James & Elizabeth (_____) Mettler, on December 24, 1803. She was born May 5, 1787 in Alexandria Township.
      Johnson (31) inherited 1/2 of his father, Absolam's (16) farm. The other half going to his brother Thomas (30). He bought the other half from Thomas (30) in 1814. He was elected a Freeholder of Kingwood Township. He later went bankrupt, according to the Hunterdon County Gazette of August 9, 1826, & lost the farm. Johnson (31) then bought the old homestead & farm of Philip Mettler (#3 of Mettler Fam.) Grand-father of his wife Permelia, in Alexandria Township. In 1830 he served as co-executor of the will of his father-in-law, James Mettler (#16 of Mettler Fam.).
      Johnson (31) died on January 29, 1852 in Alexandria Township at the age of 70. He was buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cem. in Mt. Pleasant, NJ. His wife Permelia went to live with her dau, Orpha (43) in Little York, NJ. She died on July 14, 1868 at the age of 81 years & is buried next to her husband and her parents in the Mt. Pleasant Cem. They had 9 children. 41.   Stevenson Runyan, b. 1805, d. Nov 25, 1842
42.   Laraine Runyan, b.ca. 1806
43.   Orpha Runyan, b. 1808, d. 1881
44.   Clarissa Runyan, b.ca. 1810
45.   Stanford Runyan, b. 1812, d. Jun 28, 1820
46.   Oakley Runyan, b. Jul 20, 1813, d. Dec 7, 1895
47.* Alvah Runyan, b. Dec 13, 1816, d. Nov 24, 1872
48.   Sylvester Runyan, b. 1818, d. Mar 22, 1855
49.   Clarkson Runyan, b. 1824, d. Jul 16, 1852

      Family Notes: All of the children are believed to be born in Kingwood Township, NJ. Stevenson (41) married Mary _____ & is known to have two children - Jon Stanford & Emma Runyan, who both died the same year as their father, 1842. It is believed that they all three are buried in the same plot at Mt. Pleasant Cem. It is also believed that they all died from tuberculosis, which was in epidemic scale during this time. Laraine (42) married a Hoppock & lived in Little York & had children. Orpha (43) cared for her mother, Permelia, after her fathers death & evidently never married. She is interred at Mt. Pleasant next to brothers Alvah (47) & Oakley (46). Clarissa (44) married a Kitchen & lived in Little York & had children. Stanford (45) died at the age of 8 & is believed to have also died from tuberculosis, like his brother Stevenson (41). Stanford (42) was interred in Baptistown Cem, Baptistown, NJ & is the only child of Johnson interred there. Oakley (46) married Elizabeth _____ & had children. They owned a farm in Mt. Pleasant, NJ on the road east, just above the cemetery. He was the co-executor of his fathers will with this brother Alvah (47). He is also known to be interred in Mt. Pleasant Cem. Sylvester (48) was never married & is buried in plot 108 of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Clarkson (49) married, but no name is known. He died the same year as his father & is buried there with him at Mt. Pleasant Cem.

Alvah Runyan, (47)

      Alvah, (47) was born the 7th child & 4th son of Johnson (31) & Permelia (Mettler) Runyan in Kingwood Township, NJ on December 13, 1816. He married Ann Apgar on November 19, 1840 in Alexandria Township. She was born July 20, 1819. Where she was born & who her parents were is unknown.
      He lived on his father Johnson's (31) farm until his father's death in 1852. He then bought a 60 acre farm from a Wright. This farm was located just outside of the town of Little York on the road east. (House is still standing, 1990).
      Alvah (47) died on November 24, 1872 at the age of 55 in Alexandria Township. His obituary was recorded in the Flemington Democrat. His farm was sold by his son & executor John Martin Runyan (50) to _____ Alpaugh. The sale was not recorded, however, until 1922 for some reason. He was interred at the Mt. Pleasant Cem. with his other family members, close to his brother Oakley (46) & sister Orpha (43). His wife, Ann, died on February 4, 1897 at the age of 77 & is interred next to her husband at Mt. Pleasant. They had 8 children. 50.   John Martin Runyan, b. 1842, d. 1936
51.   Mary Ella Runyan, b. Aug 17, 1843, d. Jan 2, 1900
52.* Corinda Runyan, b. Oct 17, 1846, d. Oct 25, 1881
53.   Marthae Runyan, b. Sep 18, 1848, d. Jan 30, 1925
54.   Johnson Runyan, b. Dec 22, 1851, d. Jan 9, 1918
55.   Spencer Runyan, b.ca. 1853, d. Sep 16, 1940
56.   Stanford C. Runyan, b. Sep 13, 1856, d. Jan 18, 1891
57.   Emma Runyan, b. Jun 11, 1859, d. Jun 24, 1950

      Family Notes: John Martin (50) married Uri Sinclair. She was born in 1847 & died in 1930. He was the co-administrator of his father Alvah's (47) estate in 1872 with his brother-in-law William Gardner. He & his wife are both buried in the Frenchtown Cem. Mary Ella (51) married William Gardner & had one dau, Adah. Adah married a Smith & was widowed prior to 1918 when she moved to East Orange & worked for Prudential Ins. Co. She married 2nd a Barrett. Adah did not have children by either marriage. Mary Ella (51) was interred with her husband in Bloomsbury, NJ. Her dau, Adah was also interred in Bloomsbury. Marthae (53) married George Huff. There is not a record of any children. She is interred at Mt. Pleasant Cem., NJ. Johnson (54) was born in Alexandria Township & married a widow named Brown in Newark, NJ on October 14, 1897. They had two children - son named Alvah & a dau Lillian. Lillian married a Wedgebury & lived at 13 Blossom Road in Rumson, NJ. She worked at the Prudential Ins. Co. with relative Adah, dau of Mary Ella (51). No further information is available on their son Alvah. Spencer (55) remained a bachelor & died on September 16, 1940. He is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cem. Stanford C. (56) married a Mary J____ who died on June 17, 1917. They are both interred in the Mt. Pleasant Cem. in plot 377 (no markers). Their son, the only child of record, was named Howard. He also had a son, named Arthur, who had a son named Howard who is (or was) the police chief of Clinton Township, NJ. Emma (57) married a Kephart & is interred in Mt. Pleasant Cem. in plot 118.

Corinda Runyan, (52)

      Corinda, (52) was born the 3rd child & 2nd dau of Alvah (47) & Ann (Apgar) Runyan on October 10, 1846 in Alexandria Township, NJ. She married Peter Aller Shepherd on September 29, 1868. Peter (See the "Shepherd" Family History) was born on December 17, 1844, the son of John & Mary (Sherred) Shepherd.
      Corinda (52) was evidently a housewife. Her husband Peter worked for the railroad & later became a station agent in Stockton, NJ. Corinda (52) preceded her husband in death, dieing on October 25, 1881 at the age of 35 & was interred in the Frenchtown Cem. in Frenchtown, NJ. She was later disinterred & moved to the Riverview Cem. in Lambertville, NJ where she lays next to her husband Peter who died on October 10, 1921 at the age of 76. They had 4 Children. 58.   Alvah Runyan Shepherd, b. Aug 09, 1871, d. 1959
59.   Lemuel Shepherd, b. Oct 25, 1873, d. Jul 16, 1877
60.   Charles Alvater Shepherd, b. Jun 24, 1875 d. Apr 12, 1959
61.   Harry Jacob Shepherd, Sr, b. Jul 17, 1877, d. May 22, 1951

      Family Notes: Alvah (58) married a Miss Trout & they both moved to near Riverside, California in 1906 where he is buried. Lemuel (59) died at the age of 4 years & is interred in Riverview Cem., Lambertville. Charles' (60) and Harry's (61) descendants are shown in the Shepherd Family History.

For further information on this family please see the
"Shepherd Family History".

CONTINUED LINEAGE OF AUTHOR

Harry Jacob Shepherd & Amanda Carver Howell had a daughter: Edith Elizabeth Shepherd Edith Elizabeth Shepherd & Russell Stout had a daughter: Emma Virginia Stout Emma Virginia Stout & John Ernest Pickett, Jr. had a son: Russell Stout Pickett Russell Stout Pickett & Diane Sue Collison had two sons: Christopher Scott Pickett & Ryan Mark Pickett Russell Stout Pickett & Ruth Elizabeth Hardy had twin girls: Kayla Grace Pickett & Kara Virginia Pickett

Created by Russ Pickett on: 5/14/98
Last Update: 5/15/98