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THE FIRST OF THE MABIES in America wrote the surname Meebji. He was Casparus (Jasper) Mabie, and of French origin, though from what particular part of France he hailed does not appear. He was a Huguenot, and either he or his ancestor had fled from France to Amsterdam, in Holland, from which city he emigrated to America about 1692 with his wife, Elizabeth Schuerman, and three children: Christina, Sophia, and Peter. The family went to New Harlem, where Casper bought lands of Daniel Tournure, and where he became a considerable landholder. On September 29, 1696, he was elected Constable of Harlem, the duties of which office he discharged for one year. In 1700 he sold part of his farm and in 1709 the balance, and removed to Bergen County, N. J., where in 1710 he purchased of Captain Lancaster Symes a large tract on the west bank of the Hudson, extending westward to Closter. Here he settled, and here he died about 1726. His children were Christina (married Joost Albert Zabriskie), Sophia (married Matthew Conklin), and Peter, all born in Holland, and Jeremia, Abraham, Frederick, and John, baptized at Harlem. Of these Peter married Catelyntie Johns Bogert and had issue at least thirteen children, all baptized at Tappan. Peter located at Old Tappan. The descendants of his children spread over Bergen County, and many of them are still residents.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 171-172.

THE MERSELES FAMILY is still numerous in Hudson and Bergen Counties. They trace their lineage to Pieter Marcelisen (Marcells), a native of the little Town of Beest, near Leerdam, in the province of Utrecht, Holland. He left Amsterdam in April, 1681, with his wife, four children (aged, respectively, twelve, six, four, and two years), and two servants, on the Dutch West India ship "Beaver," and arrived at New Amsterdam on the 9th of May of the same year. The ship's register shows he paid 232 florins passage-money for the family of eight persons, all of which goes to show that even then he must have been a man of considerable means. He removed to Bergen, where he settled, and where his wife died in 1680, and he followed her in 1681. His issue were James, Jannekie, Pieter, Merseles, Elizabeth, and Hilldegend. These all married and remained at Bergen. Peter, the eldest son, died wealthy. Some of his descendants settled in Rockland County, N. Y., and in the north end of Bergen County.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 172.

THE MEYER FAMILY. The first American ancestor of the Meyer family in America was Adolph Meyer (or Mayer), a native of Ulsen, a parish of Bertheim in the German Province of Westphalia, who emigrated to New Amsterdam in 1661. His arrival was followed soon after by the advent of the kinsmen, Andrew and John Meyer, brothers. They must have been on friendly terms with the Van Vorsts at Bergen, for, on November 5, 1671, Andrew's marriage to Miss Vrontie, eldest daughter of Ide Van Vorst, was duly solemnized in the old Dutch Church on the heights, and on June 13, 1677, Miss Ann Van Vorst, Vrontie's sister, was united to John Meyer in the same church. Andrew and John both took their wives to New Amsterdam, where they prospered and reared large families. In 1694 John removed to Tappan and located near the Sparkill Brook. John's wife, then a widow, received her share of the Tappan patent at the division in 1764. Their children, whose descendants spread southward into Bergen County, were Catharine, Ide, John, Judith, Iden, Cornelius, Ann, Elizabeth, and Andrew.

Adolph Meyer removed to near Demarest in Bergen County, where he settled on a large farm purchased by him from the Demarests. His issue spread all over Bergen County and are numerous to-day.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 168-169.

PETER E. MOORE, merchant, Borough Collector, and since 1877 Postmaster of Schraalenburgh, Bergen County, N. J., was born in New York City on the 18th of October, 1842. He is the son of Peter D. and Elizabeth (Voorhis) Moore, his mother being of Holland Dutch descent. Samuel Moore and his wife Naomi emigrated to America from the Island of Barbadoes, W. I., in 1671-72. Barbadoes was then under the control of England, and both Samuel and his wife were English people. They landed and located at Boston, where their son, Francis Moore, was born about 1674. Francis Moore came to New York and from thence in 1696 to Bergen County (English Neighborhood), where he married Jannetje Laurens, daughter of Thomas Laurens, of Newtown, L. I. They eventually settled at English Neighborhood (near Ridgefield), in Bergen County, where some of their descendants have ever since lived. He had several children, the youngest of whom was Samuel, who married Sara (Michaels) Smith, another of the original settlers in Ridgefield Township. From this couple have sprung most of the Moores in Bergen County.

Peter E. Moore was educated in the public schools of Bergen County, whither his parents removed from New York City when he was a mere boy. He left school at about the age of seventeen and went to work on his father’s farm, and in the active and healthful duties of an agriculturist continued until he was thirty. This period was one of constant usefulness. He laid the foundation of a sturdy physique, acquired habits which insured success, and gained a reputation for industry, enterprise, and integrity. But farming was not destined to be his life work. In 1873 he engaged in the grocery business in Schraalenburgh, which he has ever since followed, building up a large and successful trade. He has been for many years one of the principal merchants in that village. In 1877 he was appointed Postmaster of Schraalenburgh, and by successive re-appointments has continued to hold that important position. Mr. Moore is also Collector of the borough, having held that office since 1895. He is a regular attendant at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schraalenburgh, and in every capacity has distinguished himself for ability, sound common sense, enterprise, and public spirit.

Mr. Moore married Miss Charlotte Christie, and has had five children—three sons and two daughters.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, pages 118-119.

JAMES S. NEWKIRK, Secretary and Treasurer of the Provident Institution for Savings, of Jersey City, was or in Bergen (now Jersey City) September 9, 1852. His family at one time was one of the most numerous in Hudson County, and the name is still very common. More than a century ago some members of the family settled in New York State, in Ulster and Sullivan Counties, here their numerous descendants have spread rapidly and become prominent in the various walks of life.

Matthew Cornelisse, who is said to have been a native of Nieuwkercke (New Church) in Holland, emigrated to America in about the year 1660, and after landing and staying at New Amsterdam a short time went to Flatbush, L. I., where he bought and located on a "Bonwerie" of about thirty-six acres of land, butting, as his deed declared, on "Corlears Flats." This tract he sold March 10, 1665, to one Arent Evertse, and he removed thence to the "Towne of Bergen," in New Jersey. Here, on December 14, 1670, he married one Anna Luby, daughter of Jacob Luby, who had served as a non-commissioned officer (Sergeant) in the Dutch West India service, but who had for some years been a resident and landholder at Bergen. Mattheus Cornelissen assumed the surname of Newkirk--in honor of his birthplace, no doubt. He leased lands at Bergen which were afterward conveyed to his children. His occupation seems o have been that of a farmer. His wife, Anna, died December 20, 1685, and he married in 1686 Catharine Pouwless, a daughter of Poulus Pieterse, of Bergen. She died in April, 1764. The children of Matthew Cornelissen Van New Kirk were twelve--five by the first wife and seven y the second wife: Gertrude, Gerritie, Jacomina, Cornelius, Jacob, Jannetje, John, Jannete, Peter, Gerritt, Poulus, and Cornelius. Those by the first wife scattered to different parts of the country, while those of the second wife remained in Bergen County, inheriting all their mother's property, which was considerable. The eleventh of these children, Gerrit Newkirk (2d gen.), born at Bergen November 18, 1696, married September 5, 1730, Catrina, daughter of Hendrick Kuyper (Cooper). She died September 12, 1751. He died April 23, 1785. Their children of the third generation were four: Catrina, Janneke, Matthew, and Henry.

Matthew (3d gen.) married Caroline, daughter of Arent Toers. He died July 10, 1811, leaving three children: Garret M., Aaron, and Henry.

Garret M. Newkirk (4th gen.), born at Bergen April 9, 1766, died August 28, 1832, married Polly Ackerman. They had six children: Catherine, Margaret, Sally, Sally, Henry, and Garret.

Garret G. Newkirk (5th gen.), born at Bergen October 17, 1808, married (1) October 25, 1828, Rachel, daughter of Halmigh Van Houten. She died December 1, 1835. He married (2) Jane Fowler, widow of Abram Tice. She died October 6, 1849. He married (3) September 6, 1851, Eliza Ann Beatty, daughter of George E. Beatty, born in 1820. His children by three wives were: two by first wife,, ten by second wife, and four by third wife. One of these children is the subject of this sketch.

James S. Newkirk (6th gen.) inherited all the sturdy characteristics of his race and early displayed those intellectual qualities which have since won for him so much distinction in the affairs of life. He was educated in the common schools, at Columbian Academy, and at District School No. 1 in the Town of Bergen. He commenced his business career as clerk in the grocery store of Jacob Van Winkle, of Bergen Square, in 1865. Five years later, or in 1870, he entered the Provident Institution for Savings in Jersey City, with which he has ever since been actively identified, having filled important positions in all the departments up to and including the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, which he now holds.

Mr. Newkirk has not, however, aspired to public or political office, having devoted himself almost exclusively to business affairs. For five years he was a member of the Fourth Regiment, N. G. N. J. He is a member of the Jersey City and Union League Clubs, of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

Mr. Newkirk's fist wife, Mary Elizabeth Terhune, died in 1878. In 1881 he married Annabella Meeker Randall, and they have four children of the seventh generation.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 131-132.