Notes on Cornelius Anderson
In 1694 Cornelius Anderson and brother Enoch were sued in the East Jersey Court of Con.. Right by Wm. Pinhorne, Esq., of Bergen Co., for trespass, in amount. of L150, and for debt on a bond involving breach of covenant, in amount of L500 They
lost the suit for debt, and the other was withdrawn. Most unfortunately, no further details have been preserved.
On Mar. 18, 1698/9, as Cornelius Andris, he was among 28 grantees in a deed for land in Maidenhead (Lawrenceville). It is uncertain whether he was living in Maidenhead or Hopewell at the time, but he was certainly of Hopewell not long after, and
for the balance of his life. In 1710, as Cornelius Andrews, he was Constable for Hopewell; in 1721, Overseer of the Poor; and in 1722, Overseer of Highways and Collector. In 1722 and 1723, Town Meetings were held at his house, but thereafter at
Ringo's Mill. On May 30, 1724, administration on his estate was granted to his widow Annah and their son Eliakim.
Of his children, one was baptized at Hackensack as a son of Cornelius Albardi, four at Hopewell in 1710 by the pastor of the New Dutch Church at Bensalem PA and one at Maidenhead by the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.
On Oct. 4, 1738, the estate of Cornelius not yet settled, his son Eliakim gave bond in amount of L800 to his four brothers, to protect their equal shares with him of the Hopewell farm formerly their father's, and then in nominal possession of
Eliakim, but leased to Andreew Mershon. This bond was basis for a suit commenced in the N.J. Supreme Court in 1764, by Cornelius and Abraham Anderson, as survivors of John and Bartholomew Anderson, against Elizabeth and John Anderson, Executors
of Eliakim Anderson, dec'd. The matter was eventually submitted to three referees, who, in 1768, found that the said Executors were indebted to plaintiffs in the amount of L452. It was stipulated that the representatives of John and Bartholomew
Anderson, dec'd, were equally entitled, with Cornelius and Abraham, to a share of the L452.
Previous to this litigation there bad been some friction in the family, perhaps originating in the same situation, and in May, 1763, Cornelius and Abrahalm Anderson, Cornelius Mershon and his mother, Francina Mershon, and Cornelius Anderson, Jr.
and Thomas Anderson, sons of Cornelius, gave bond to appear at the next session of the Hunterdon County Court, and meanwhile not to molest John Anderson of Hopewell, evidently Eliakim's son.
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