Lavina Heath

Lavina married William Lair on 1 Jan 1846. William was born on 29 May 1823; died on 19 Jan 1902. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William was proficient in mathematics, and was the first to teach in the old school at Locktown, serving seven years. He was a silversmith and for years the postmaster at Baptistown, a position he held until his death. He lived in the house occupied in 1893 by James P. Gary. On 08 Sep 1841 the possessioms of his home in Baptistown were sold at public vendue by Ann Heath, his widow and administratrix of his estate. Lavinia Lair in Kingwood Township lived there until her death.

William married Nancy Ann Rittenhouse on 24 Jun 1820 in Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. Nancy (daughter of Benjamin Rittenhouse, Jr. and Elizabeth Roberson) was born on 20 Sep 1795 in Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey; died on 11 Sep 1878 in Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 14 Jul 1759, Delaware Twp, New Jersey

Notes:

Richard is buried in the Old School Baptist Church Cemetery, Locktown, New Jersey.

In J.P. Snell's " History of Hunterdon & Someset Counties", Snell wrote that Richard's father, Andrew served in his place during the Revolutionary War believing Richard too young to serve. However the New Jersey Adjutant General's Offices a record of Richard having enlisted as a private in the 2nd Regiment of the Hunterdon County Militia under Captains Ely, Schenk, Stout, Phillips, Gearhart, and Hoppock, making several monthly tours. Richard's name was on the 1792 Kingwood Township Militia roll. His name is found in the daybook of John Waterhouse who kept the old Kingwood store in 1796, having purchased a 1/2 gallon of rum for seven shillings.

Richard Heath and his wife Catherine Rittenhouse were members of the Kingwood Baptist Church, incorporated on 22 May 1742, when members of the Old School Baptist Church in Hopewell wanted a church closer to their homes in Baptistown. Their assiation with the church is recorded in the Kingwood Baptist Church Records, published in 'Hunterdon County Records 1701-1838" by Phyllis D'Autrechy. The author states that the church minutes indicate the church took an active part in maintaining the moral fiber of its members and settled disputes between them. Church members were sent to admonish those who did not attend services regularly or were guilty of cardplaying, profanity, drinking and other behavior frowned upon. The admonished were able to present their cases at the next business meeting, and if found innocent or confessed to the wrongdoing were invited to "keep his place", thereby retaining membership. Exclusion from the sacraments and final dismissal resulted if the member neglected to answer the charge against him.

The first record of Richard was on 16 September 1787 when he was baptized at the age of twenty eight, followed three months later by the baptism of "Cattron" on 02 December 1787. Four years later on 24 January 1791 Richard and Catherine were ruested to appear at the next meeting, together with his brother John; the record does not state the reason. Two years later the records indicate that on 04 March 1793 Richard and Catherine were excluded, together with brother John. John was restored to membership three years later; Richard and Catherine a week later on 07 March 1796. Richard's activity in the church continued and he with two other members were delegated to ask the Reverend Garner A. Hunt, their pastor, why he had departed from their faith and order; on the first of May Rev. Hunt had joined the Presbyterians. On 10 September 1808 Richard was to procure "cole" and be a messenger to the Philadelphia Association, representing the church. Richard entered on 03 June 1809 a complaint against Thomas Dalrymple who was suspended, but later restored to membeship. Richard's daughter Elizabeth Emmons was baptized in June 1808 and was received into membership on the 19th of the same momth. At the 10 February 1810 Richard paid $ 57.25 when the trustees met at Francis Roberson's house and settled with those who held subscription papers. Richard was the moderator at the 17 March 1810 meeting, and was one of two members selected to meet with the Flemington Baptist Church to counsel them on the best method for obaining a minister.
His daughter Elizabeth Emmons was dismissed by letter on 12 May1810. At a special meeting on 08 November 1810 Richard was selected to serve on the committee which was to meet with the Amwell church regarding the need of a minister fo both churches. Richard and the committee reported on the 29 July 1811 that Rev. James McLuaghlin agreed to be their minister fo one year. Richard served as moderator for several meetings, and the last mention of him in the records was on the 01 January 1819 meeting at the Baptistown meeting house when it was agreed to build a new meeting house in the lower part of the congregation, or near Mr. William Dilt's, this meeting house was completed by 24 June 1820.

REFERENCES; Family records of Louise H. Tunison
History of Hunterdon & Somerset Counties
J.P. Snell, pgs 371,377,395

Kingwood Baptist Church Records
Letter 05 Jun 1940, Office of NJ Adjutant General
Hunterdon County Historical Assoc.

Official Register of NJ Officers & Men in the Revolution
W.S. Stryker, pg. 624

Recollections of Baptistown
J. Bellis, 1892, pg. 8

Richard married Catherine Rittenhouse about 1782 in Kingwood Mm, Hunterdon, New Jersey. Catherine (daughter of William Rittenhouse and Rebecca Harned) was born about 1762; died on 10 Jan 1830. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Andrew was under the age of twenty-five when he inherited land in Delaware Township, from his father. During the Revolution he served as a private. Based, probably on family tradition, James P. Snell in " The History of Hunterdon & Somerset Couties" states that Andrew served in place of his drafted son, Richard, believing him too young to serve. On march with his company to headquarters Andrew was engaged in a fray with some Tories. It being a hot day he drank a quantity of water and buttermilk at a farmhouse and died suddenly a few hours later, leaving a wife, three son and four daughters. He died prior to 21 Jul 1777 when letters of administration were granted at Hopewell. Magdalene later married Uriah Bonham, who together with Daniel Howell conducted the inventory of Andrew's personal estate which was valued at 226.13 pounds. Uriah and Magdaline lived in KingwoodTownship. In his will, dated 24 May 1803, probated 4 May 1809, Uriah left his wife the whole and sole privilege for use of his dwelling house, together with his whole plantation during the time she remained a widow. In addition to the bequests to his children and grand-children, he also left money beguests to Andrew Heath and his four sisters.

REFERENCES; DAR Patriot Index

Official Register of thr Officers & Men in thr Revolution
W.S. Stryker, 1872, pg. 624

Andrew married Magdalene (..) Heath, Mrs about 1745 in Hunterdon, New Jersey. Magdalene was born about 1724; died after 1809. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(NJ Archives, Vol. XXXVIII, page 295):
Jan. 3, 1799 - Will of William Rettinghouse, Sr., of Kingwood, Hunterdon Co. Wife, Elizabeth (2nd wife?), all goods belonging to her before she married me; also 1 cow, room in house with other privileges and her maintenance on plantation, while widow. Son Benjamin 10 shillings, son William wearing apparel and 20 shillings, son Garret 7 shillings, son Abner 10 shillings, son Daniel remainder of homestead plantation not disposed of by deeds; also 24 acres purchased of Andrew Heath, formerly of Amwell dec'd. To the children of Hannah Hide, dec'd, i.e. Amelia (dec'd), Rebecca, Jonathan, William, Benjamin and Anne, the 1/6 part of movable estate, divided betwen them when of age. Daughters, Prescill Freeman, Anne Dansdil, Rebecca Bonham, Catherine Heath, and Abigail Larue, each 1/6 part of movable estate.
Exec: sons Benjamin and Daniel both of Kingwood.
Witnesses: Uriah Sutton, Aaron Swayze and Uriah Bonham.
Proved May 8, 1799. Inventory of 363 pounds and 14 shillings made by Uriah Bonham and William Lair Apr. 22, 1799.

William married Rebecca Harned about 1745. Rebecca (daughter of Edward Harned and Rebecca (..) Harned) was born in 1728; died in 1806 in Locktown, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]