THE VAN VEGHTEN HOUSE--A State & National Historic Site

The Van Veghten House, both a NJ State and National Historic Site,  is a  survivor.  And a perfect example of how dedicated individuals can preserve and protect incredible national assets.     We are one of five surviving colonial era homes where Washington and his generals stayed during the second Middlebrook Encampment during the winter of 1778-1779.  These  homes, known as the Five Generals Houses, are Van Veghten House, Staats House, Wallace House, Vanderveer House and Horne House.  Several other sites in the county housed officers, but, sadly, the structures no longer exist. 

Van Veghten House, now a stately two story brick house,  has stood here on the north bank of the Raritan River for more than 300 years, since first owner, Michael Van Veghten, bought  acreage that had been part of the East Jersey Proprietorship and built a home.  Date of first construction is unclear, but a baptismal record for Michael's son Derrick (born 1699)  indicates the child was "born on the Raritan."  The dates on our historical marker reflect the first published record, a map from 1725, which shows a building on the site labelled Van Veghten.  In the photo above, the lower section on the left  contains an original colonial open hearth fireplace and for a long time we believed this to be the oldest portion of the house.  However, the brick work and interpretation of historic architects tells us that two walls on the opposite end of the house are the oldest part of the structure.  And there are odd double walls  and curious lengths on the supporting beams in the basement.   So the evolution of the building structure is partially a mystery.  Come visit and help us consider the evidence.  We have a short video to trigger discussion.

The house currently serves  as the headquarters of the Somerset County Historical Society.    It is situated at the back of an industrial park off county road 533, also known as Finderne Avenue.   So it can't be seen from the road past the  complex.  Finding us is part of the adventure! 

First Owners

Michael Van Veghten settled in Somerset County in 1685.  In 1694, he acquired 836 acres of land on the north side of the Raritan River.  A prosperous Dutchman, in 1712 he bought more than a 1000 acres on the other side of the river and  built a bridge to join both sides, which came to be  known as Van Veghten Bridge. Later he built a Dutch Reformed Church near the bridge.  Michael's son, Derrick, inherited the property after his father's death in 1732 and expanded the building (s) to meet the needs of his family.  (His second wife had given him 3 children!) The glass in the windows of the west wing, 12 over 12 panes,  reflect his prosperity.  The brickwork clearly shows the additions.  In  photos you can see the line created when  the second story was added after Derrick's death. 

Revolutionary War Involvement

Derrick was arrested/kidnapped at sword point by the British 6 December 1776 (while Washington and the Continental Army was retreating across New Jersey towards Pennsylvania, only 3 weeks before the Battle of Trenton!). Perhaps it was because he owned property all the way to the first range of the Watchung mountains and had served as commissioner of the county roads. The incident is recorded in exciting detail in the diary of  the Hessian Captain Ewald,  who managed it practically single-handed. Ewald was serving under General Charles Cornwallis, who was stationed in [New] Brunswick .  The next day a detachment of British with Cornwallis' mapmaker ascended the mountain toward Baskingridge.  Only 6  days later the British captured Continental General Charles Lee at a tarvern in Baskingridge.

In April 1777 the British used the Van Veghten Bridge in a flanking movement as part of the Battle of Bound Brook. , This  battle is reenacted annually at the Staats House and Van Horne House

The next year Derrick offered his property for the use of the Continental Army!  It served as headquarters for Quartermaster Nathanael Greene during the Middlebrook Encampment in 1778-1779, when 10,000  Continental officers, troops, followers and their animals descended on the county.   Portions of the Pennsylvania Continental troops  under Anthony Wayne, who reported to Greene,  encamped on Derrick's fields, because they were late getting to the site and there was no room for them in the Watchung hills with the other units.  The Washington Camp Ground Association maintains a small remnant of the  mountain encampment.  The official flag of the new United States was first flown at that encampment.  Green's troops under Wayne camped during the winter layover o the suth side of the river in what is  the present town of Manville, .   (There is an historic marker at the Manville library recording this event.  And the town's current Complain Street, is said to be a corruption of its original designation as Camp Lane.)

Washington had asked Greene to become Quartermaster General after the winter encampment at Valley Forge.  Supplying the Grand Army was a daunting assignment!   Greene inherited a staff which grew to over 3000; was responsible for supplying food to the men and animals of Continental troops in the Mid-Atlantic and New England plus the 3000 prisoners from The Battle of Saratoga!  The British commanded all the navigable waterways on the Atlantic coast, and were encamped in Brunswick on the Raritan.   New Jwersey had been desimated duing the Forage War skirmishes the winter before.  So   everything had to be carted overland from the west.  In fact, it was Greene's recommendation that the winter encampment be at Middlebrook.  It saved two extra days of carting, among other things.  For more about Greene. the Supply Chain and the logistics issues, stop in at the Van Veghten House, view our  displays, and watch a video.  For more on Nathanael Greene's career , see the summary on this site (after the Howe Farmstead.)

Much socialization occurred among the officers, their wives and their staff during this winter between Valley Forge and Morristown encampments.  While in residence here, General Greene wrote a letter dated March 17, 1779 to his friend and supply agent, Jeremiah Wadsworth, describing "a pretty little frisk" held in the house "a few days ago". Throughout the course of the evening, General Washington danced with Mrs. Greene "upwards of three hours without seting [sic] down".  When the spring engagements began and the troops moved out,  the Greene's presented Mrs. Van Veghten with a mahogany tea table, in appreciation of the Van Veghten hospitality.  Sadly, the Society only has a picture of it.

But Revolutionary events didn't end at the house. In ensuing years  British Lt. John Simcoe, during his notorious second raid,  burned the Reformed Church Michael Sr. had built.  Still later, French General  Rochambeau and his troops marched past the back door on their journey to Yorktown, Va.   As a "witness site", the house is  part of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, which is under the National Park Service (NPS).  This is a more than 700 mile route through 9 states.  Look for the marker  just before our driveway.

Nineteenth Century

After Derrick Van Veghten' s death in 1781, the land was divided between his 3 children.  His son Michael received the portion with the  house  and eventually raised his children there.  Around 1831 the property passed out of the Van Veghten family.  The good farm land and lovely home passed through several owners in ensuing years.  From the 1830's through the early 20th century, the house was renovated several times.   Evidence of alterations can be seen throughout the house ( for example the mantles in the fireplaces).  However,  original wide pine planks still cover the floors of the second story.   In 1897, a German  immigrant, Bernard Meyer, acquired the house and a portion of the original property, which this family farmed for three generations.  (Descendants are members of the Society today!)

Twentieth Century

Bernard created a stock farm on the property and raised a breed of cattle, which he displayed ("Showed") at fairs around the nation.  During World War I, the French government tried an experiment.  Horses and mules being shipped to the front in Europe, would lay over at the farm and be put to pasture before being sent overseas.  We've been told that at one time over 7000 animals were part of the experiment!  Unfortunately, the first shipments were all sunk by u-boats and the project was dropped. 

Three hundred acres of the property were purchased from the Bernhard Meyer family in 1934 by the Singer Company. They used a portion to build a manufacturing facility for their Diehl subdivision, which made small motors for fans.   For a time, some of the property was used as an employee recreation park.  Good times at Singer's  pavilion near the river are still spoken of by older Manville residents.  Later, the land was sold for industrial development.  Where once horses and sheep quietly grazed,  roaring diesel trailer trucks now deliver to self-storage, manufacturing and county offices to the North and East of the house.

In the 1970's, a  real estate developer and the county considered making the former pastures to the south  of the house a sanitary landfill.  But In 1971, the house, with one acre of land, was deeded to the Somerset County Historical Society by Singer Company and Mr. Stanley Rustic. The house was placed on the National Historic Register in 1979.  

In 1982 the Society celebrated its 100th Anniversary and planted a tree in commemoration.   It still stands behind the house reacihing well over the rooftop.

In 1999, Hurricane Floyd and its ensuing flooding engulfed the property causing serious damage.   A marker on a tree near our parking lot shows the water was at least a foot above the ground level.  

Twenty-first Century

The story continues.   The house was stabilized and restored to colonial era status  in several steps between 2000 and 2012.  Preservation funds came from the State administered by the Somerset County Historical and Cultural Commission.

Around this time, The Army Corp of Engineers worked on former pasture land to the south  between the house and the river  to create the Finderne Wetland Mitigation Project.  Native grasses, trees,  and flowers were planted.  It now contains hiking trails and several fields for sports,  and is considered a great site for birdwatching.  The Historical Society sponsors walking tours through the area periodically.

In 2016, for his Eagle Scout project, the grandson of one of the Society's trustees created two museum rooms  in the oldest section of the house .  One room currently displays hand tools; the other Indigenous People's stone artifacts.  In 2020, his brother conducted another Eagle Scout Project  to restore the shed porch on the east end of the house.  The 20th century "shed" was deconstructed, a slate floor was laid over the concrete patio,  and cedar shakes replaced the asphalt shingles, among other things.

The site, along with the other Five General Houses, has an official geocache.  Can you find it?

With help from the Native Plant Society of NJ, Society members removed 70 year old bushes and put in a garden of native plants on the west end of the house.  Work in the yard kept the Society active during the COVID pandemic shutdown.

In September 2022, tropical storm Ida again flooded the area .  Another marker shows the water level was even higher than Floyd! There was 12-16 inches of water in the lower section of the house and the basement was completely flooded.  The house still stands proud although moisture damage to the plaster walls is obvious.  Plans to safeguard the house from future flooding are in the works. thanks to an award from the Federal government in 2023.

Visit and Be a Part of History!

We welcome visitors for research, tours and talk every Tuesday from 11 to 3 pm and the second  and fourth Saturdays of each month from 12 to 3 pm. Please be sure to sign our guest book!  Admission is $5 for adults.

Come and visit an amazing local  treasure.  Walk the trails that once were pasture for those WWI horses and mules.  Get a close up view of the colonial features of the house.  Walk the same floors as colonial heroes and heroines and plain ol' ordinary folk have.  Imagine walking where the Lenape camped, or where you could have interacted with: 

     Martha and George Washington

     General Knox and his wife, Lucy

     General Van Steuben

     Alexander Hamilton and his future wife, Becky

     General Nathanael Greene and his wife Caty

     Light Horse Harry Lee (grandfather of Robert E Lee)

     Lord Stirling and his wife

     General Anthony Wayne

Imagine hundreds of wagons and their animal teams on the grounds in place of the trailer trucks and warehouses you see now

It's all right here in Somerset County, NJ close to local restaurants and pubs in Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Manville and Somerville.  Come and Visit!