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THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WEST WINDSOR
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Grovers Mill: The Bergen House

Picture
The Bergen House in the 1970s or 1980s.
Historical Overview
Sitting atop a hidden but commanding hill overlooking the Millstone River is 474 Cranbury Road - one of West Windsor's oldest houses and a member of West Windsor's "100 Club." According to tax records and an architectural survey, this structure likely dates to the mid-late 1700s. It was clearly built in 3 or 4 sections, presumably by several owners over the centuries.[1]

It is unknown who built the house. The property's first confirmed owners were John and Mary Phillips of Maidenhead (present-day Lawrenceville) who sold it to Benjamin and Sarah Temple in 1815.​[2] From there, the property passed through several owners - in 1815, to the Temples' son, Asher (later a West Windsor Constable​[3] and an owner of the Red Lion Inn in Penns Neck​[4]), in 1819 to William Kovenhoven and his wife, Elizabeth Story,[5] then to their son, Johnson and his wife, Ann Conover, in 1829,[6] and then to George and Ida Hutchinson in 1841.[7] 

Finally, in 1847, the property passed into Bergen hands when the Hutchinsons sold it to local farmer James W. Bergen and his son, John Stryker Bergen.[8] James was married to Abigail W. Scudder,[1] daughter of Isaac Scudder,[1] who (along with his forefathers) once owned "Scudders Mill" in the community of the same name.[1] Meanwhile, both John and James were longtime Elders of the First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck.[1],[1]

John died in 1896, and...


  1. ​James N. Bergen & Abbie Bergen (1847-48) – Bk L P 164 è Mentions a premises
  2. John Stryker Bergen (1847-96) – Bk N P 84 (John died in 1896; it was probably then that it passed to the next owner).
  3. XXX
  4. Marsena Riggs (XXXX-1919)
  5. James P. & Mary E. Hiland (1919-1932) – Bk 422 P 149
  6. Leon R. Hiland (1932-32) – Bk 697 P 200
  7. Mary E. & James P. Hiland (1932-XXXX) – Bk 6987 P 203
  8. Mary E. Hiland (XXXX-1960) – James P. Hiland died and left Mary the sole owner of the property.
  9. First National Bank of Hightstown (1960-61) – By last will and testament of Mary E. Hiland, who died in 1960.
  10. Bernard & Lilian M. Mount (1961-61) – Bk 1575 P 505
  11. William R. & Virginia B. Linke (1961-69) – Bk 1587 P 98
  12. Joseph O. Rand Jr. & Elizabeth M. Rand (1969-74) – Bk 1833 P 396
  13. M. David & Ellen M. Egger (1974-75) – Bk 1968 P 172
  14. M. David Egger (1975-84) – Bk 1984 P 572
  15. Paul E. & Mary Elizabeth Gray (1984-2010) – Bk 2246 P 571
  16. Mary Elizabeth (and Trustee) Gray (2010-2021) – Bk 6128 P 821
Return to Grovers Mill Homepage

Bibliography
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Contact Info
Museum Address​ (DO NOT send mail here): 50 Southfield Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
Send ALL Mail To: 220 Meadow Brook Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
Email: westwindsorhistory@gmail.com 
Phone: 609-903-9013
To Join/Donate: CLICK HERE.
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  • About
    • Our Mission
    • WW History Museum
    • Our Origins
    • Our Team
  • WW History
    • WW History Overview
    • Historic Sites & Villages
    • Special Historic Topics
  • History Book
  • Programs/Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Self-Guided History Tours
  • Join/Donate/Contact