Old Dutch Parsonage facts for kids
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Old Dutch Parsonage
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Old Dutch Parsonage, 2017
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 Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 65 Washington Place, Somerville, New Jersey, United States |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1751 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000514 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1971 |
The Old Dutch Parsonage is a very old house in Somerville, New Jersey. It was built way back in 1751. This house is special because it shows how buildings looked in the mid-1700s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's an important historical site in the United States.
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History of the Old Dutch Parsonage
This brick house has two and a half stories. It was built in 1751 by people from the first Dutch Reformed Churches in Somerville, New Jersey, and Raritan, New Jersey. It was meant to be the home for their ministers.
Early Ministers and Students
The first person to live in the house was Reverend John Frelinghuysen. He was a minister and also taught students who wanted to become ministers. His son, Frederick Frelinghuysen, later became a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
After Reverend Frelinghuysen passed away, one of his students, Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, moved into the house. He lived there with Frelinghuysen's widow and her children. Hardenbergh later became the minister himself. In 1756, he married Frelinghuysen's widow.
Connection to Rutgers University
Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh helped start Queen's College in 1766. Today, this college is known as Rutgers University. In 1785, Hardenbergh became the very first president of Rutgers University. He moved out of the Old Dutch Parsonage in 1781. However, the house continued to be used by ministers until 1810.
Later Owners and Moving the House
In 1810, a man named Peter Stryker bought the house. He then sold it to the Doughty family in 1836. The Doughty family owned the house until 1907. They sold it to the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
In 1913, the railroad company planned to tear down the house. But instead, they decided to move it! The house was carefully moved right next to another historic building called the Wallace House, which was built in 1775.
Old Dutch Parsonage Burial Ground
Behind the Old Dutch Parsonage, there is a special burial ground. It contains graves from the early 1700s. Two people buried there are Harmanus Barkeloo II (who lived from 1745 to 1788) and John Waldron (who lived from 1737 to 1790).
See also
