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