GORDON, William

Notes:

Lived at Rockaway. While on a business trip to Baltimore, MD, to introduce a method of extracting iron from cinder refuse of the forges, was taken sick, returned to New York, called at a hotel and requested a room to rest, and was told they had none for a drunken man, he acted so strangely, he insisted he was a sick man, and inquired for his brother-in-law Ithamar Ayers, who was sent for and removed to his house where he died. He was buried at Rockaway near his father, David, but there is no monumental record of the same.

William married ROCHELLE, Elizabeth 27 Aug 1803. Elizabeth was born , Of Sparta, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

David lived to a very great age and was for many years sexton of the Rockaway Presbyterian church. David also served in the Revolutionary War, and he told the following account of a march his company made to Newark from Morristown. The captain halted his company and thus addressed them "Brother soldiers, we must get to Newark tonight, and we cannot do it and march in a body. Let every man make his way as best he can, and if we get there each one of you shall have half a gill of rum for tea." "Oh, captain," roared his followers, "call it a gill, and then we can do it!" "Well, a gill it shall be, then," said the captain, "but halt when you get this side of Newark, and let us march into town as brother soldiers should, together and in order!" The march was accordingly accomplished by each "on his own hook," and the valiant captain had the pleasure of entering Newark at the head of his company in the "brother soldier" way. In the night the men were roused up and embarked in boats, and were rowed down the Passaic in perfect silence. They landed on the salt meadows and marched up to a little village, probably Bergen. The object of this expedition Dr. Tuttle inferred to have been to break up a gang of tories, some of whom were captured and carried to Morristown.
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The following are certified records at Trenton: "It is certified, that the records of this office show that David Gordon served as a private in the Eastern Battalion, Morris County, New Jersey Militia; also as a private in the New Jersey State Troops; also private in the First Battalion, Second Establishment; New Jersey Continental Line, and in the Sixth Company commanded by Captain Jeremiah Ballard, Third Battalion, Second Establishment; served in the Indian Campaign against the six nations in Western Pennsylvania from May to November, 1779; private in Captain Alexander Mitchell's' Company, First Regiment; detailed to Colonel Barber's New Jersey Light Infantry Battalion, and served in the Virginia Campaign from April to October, 1781; took part in the siege of Yorktown, and was present in the battle of Yorktown and surrender of Lord Cornwallis, October 19, 1781, - during the Revolutionary War." The following are the records from the War Department at Washington, DC: "The records of this office show that David Gordon enlisted July 24, 1777, as a private in Captain Jeremiah Ballard's Company, Third New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Elias Dayton, Revolutionary War, to serve three years. His name appears on the rolls from June 1777 to August 1780, without additional data." The records also show that, "David Gordon served as a private in the 5th company of foot, first New Jersey regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathias Ogden, Revolutionary War. He enlisted, date not shown, to serve during the war. His name appears on the rolls for January, 1781, to February, 1783, without additional data." The records show further that, "David Gordon enlisted, date not stated, as a private in Captain Jonathan Dayton's Company, New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathew Ogden, Revolutionary War, to serve during the war. He joined March 1, 1783, and his name is on the rolls for March and April, without additional data."
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As David Gordon was born Oct. 23, 1759, monumental record Sept. 23, it will show that he enlisted before he was 18 years of age, and continued in the service nearly six years. His father, William, was 40 years of age, and his grandfather, Joshua, in the 60's. David died July 23, 1852, the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Barnabas King from text, 1 Peter 4th chapter 7th verse.
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David Gordon, born 1759, enlisted July 24, 1777, and served in the Revolutionary War nearly six years, as the records show, married while on furlough May 17, 1780, Nancy Southard, a daughter of Timothy, Jr., who lived at or near Rockaway.

David — SOUTHARD, Nancy. Nancy (daughter of SOUTHARD, Timothy and SWORDEN, Susanna) was born 4 May 1763; died Feb 1859, Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey; was buried , Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"It is certified, that the records of this office, show that, William GORDON, was in commission as second lieutenant of Captain John ROSS Company, Third Battalion, First Establishment, New Jersey Continental Line, March 5, 1776; promoted First Lieutenant, July 19, 1776. This battalion served in the expedition to Canada and took an active part in the operations before Quebec in May and June 1776. He was commissioned captain in Third Battalion, second establishment, New Jersey Continental line, Nov. 29, 1776, and died in service in April, 1777, during the Revolutionary War."
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Adj. Gen. STRYKER has also William GORDON, a minute man of Monmouth County Militia, also another a minute man in the Middlesex Militia, and also a William GORDON, who served as a private in the Fourth Company, Captain John BURROWES commanding. Colonel Oliver SPENCERs Regiment, Continental Army, served in the Indian Campaign against the Six Nations in Western Pennsylvania from May to November, 1779, also served as a private in Captain Jonathan HOLMES Company, Second Regiment, New Jersey Continental line, during the Revolutionary War. There is tradition that William GORDON, the father of the "old sexton" David Gordon.
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William married KINNEY, Deborah Aft 1756, New Jersey. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the earliest days of Hibernia, probably as early as 1740, not later than 1745, lived one Timothy Southard. He was unfortunate in the death of his wife, who it is probable was buried at Rockaway. They had one son, an infant at the death of the mother, and also named Timothy. The father sold out his household belongings, not very extensive in those days, and carried his infant in his arms, and was going to make the journey on foot to some of his relatives living at Elizabethtown Point, or to Long Island, where he came from. He stopped for the night at an acquaintance by the name of Hedden, then living on the back road between Rockaway and Hibernia, the only road then traveled, at that times perhaps a bridle path, and the family induced him to leave the infant in their care until he should he return in two or three weeks, , which arrangement had been satisfactorily made, and Timothy proceeded on his journey, saying that when he returned the family would be amply repaid for their kindness and trouble, and other arrangements for the keeping of the family of the child satisfactorily made.
He was never heard from again, and it was thought that he had died of grief stricken before he had reached his relatives, as they had never received any tidings from their relative, and a case of misplaced confidence, or intended disappearing was unusual, as the ties of affection were stronger in those days than in this present day and generation.
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Young Timothy grew up with the Hedden family, and became as one of their large family of children, the hospitality of the early settlers had no boundary however, scanty of provisions or clothing, or close quarters the house provided, there was always room and a welcome for one more. Timothy grew up in these surroundings, married in early life, became a prominent member in the circle of society in those days, was a soldier in the Revolution, returned and died from the effects of his service for the country, a few years near the place where he was "brought up" and was probably buried at Rockaway, though we have no written records to prove the same, we accept it traditionally.
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He had quite a large family of children, who became connected with many of the good people of that time and generation. Nancy was born in 1768, married David Gordon, a Revolutionary soldier, soon after the Revolution. He was a son of William, a captain in the army, who was the son of Joshua, a quartermaster in the army. Son, father, and grandfather all doing service at the time. David Gordon served many years, it is said forty, as the "old sexton" of Rockaway. Dr. Tuttle's tribute to the "old sexton" brings out the character and duties and life of early days of service. He was born Sept. 23, 1759, and died July 23, 1852. His wife died Feb. 1851, both buried at Rockaway.

Timothy married SWORDEN, Susanna 16 May 1762, Probably New Jersey. Susanna (daughter of SORDEN and Margaret) was born 23 Apr 1741, New Jersey; died 16 Oct 1796. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Timothy, was among the first settlers in the Hibernia mountains from Long Island. His wife died, leaving young Timothy Jr. but a few weeks old, born Oct 6, 1736. His father sold out his household belongings and started on foot to return to relatives at Long Island. He passed the first night at Haden's at Denville, and was induced to leave young Timothy, and return later, or during the next summer. He never returned, and was never heard from. Young Timothy grew up with the Haden family, and married Susanna Sworden May 16, 1762, and had several children who married in Revolutionary families of this section.
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Tradition has it that this family of SOUTHARDS who came from Long Island, were related and connected with the family of Abraham SOUTHARD, who came from Long Island and settled at Basking Ridge in 1755. His son, Henry born Oct. 1747, was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterwards a congressman, died June 2, 1842. Samuel L., son of Henry, born at Basking Ridge June 9, 1787, also distinguished himself as senator, secretary of navy, and also many high offices of this State, where he was known as "New Jerseys favorite son", he died at Fredericksburg, VA, June 26, 1842.

— Margaret. [Group Sheet]