CHAPTER V

THE BEEKMAN CEMETERY

On the old Beekman estate on the Millstone River near
Griggstown, N. J., there is a private burying-ground. This
farm was part of the original purchase of Colonel Gerardus
Beekman in 1702. It was afterward subdivided and parts
of it sold.

On April 22, 1814, Gerardus Christopher Beekman con¬
veyed the farm surrounding the cemetery to Abraham Van
Derveer by deed of conveyance which was recorded on Oc¬
tober 21, 1814, in the clerk's office at Somerville in Liber H
of deeds at page 538. The consideration expressed therein
was $5941.50. The farm was described as being in the town¬
ship of Montgomery, county of Somerset, N. J. Begin¬
ning at a stake standing on the west side of Millstone
River, on the edge of the bank, being the northwesterly
comer of land formerly belonging to Gerardus Beekman, Sr.,
and thence north 36 degrees 30 minutes west 16 chains 18
Hnks to a stake standing in the edge of the upland; thence
along the same two courses thereof northwardly 6 chains
80 links to a stake for a comer, thence north 46 degrees and
4 minutes west 64 chains 60 links, more or less, to a sapling
marked standing on the brink of Dead Tree Brook on the
northeastwardly side of the same; thence along the same
south 33 degrees 15 minutes west 4 chains 80 Hnks, to a
stake standing on the line of the said Gerardus Beekman, Sr.,
deceased; thence along said line north 46 degrees 4 minutes
west 25 chains 8 links, to a stone planted for a comer,
thence south 16 degrees west 3 chains to John Van Dyke's

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