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According to "North of the Rariton Lotts" (1):
Their first owners' names are well documented, but the same cannot be said for the lands north of the Rariton lotts. Notwithstanding a deed in the New Jersey State Library which clearly states that Peter Sonmans in 1708 purchased 2,000 valley acres from the Indian chief, "Mochosconge". The General Board of Proprietors in Perth Amboy, still operating today, insists that this deed was not a legal instrument. " Washington's Continental Army established the Middlebrook Encampment here during the early summer of 1777, and used it during the winter of 1778-1779 also. The village officially came into being in 1827, when it was established as a US Post Office. The man responsible for this achievement was Absalom Martin, who's father Joshua, settled here in about 1786. The townspeople showed their appreciation by naming their post office for him. The Martin house still stands just east of the bridge over the east branch of Middlebrook on Gilbride Rd. (formerly Martin Lane).
Bridgewater History Middlebrook Encampment Reference (1) "North of the Rariton Lotts: A history of Martinsville, NJ area", By Members of the Martinsville Historical Committee, Edited by Edward J. Maas Published by Neshanic Printing 1975. Reprinted by Somerset Co. Historical Soc. 1998 Avail. for $25 from the Somerset Co. Historical Society Note: The Martinsville Historical Committee was disbanded.
Somerset Co. Historical Society A. A. Boom (deceased) manuscript describing rock walls between Vosseller and Chimney Rock.
Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission
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