Green Brook History
The Vails of Green Brook	First  <  Previous  <  Page 3  >  Next  >  Last

Descendants of Thomas Vail

Children of John Vail and Catherine FitzRandolph are:

Notes

John Vail III:

Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey Vol 1. John Vail, second son of John and Margaret (Laing) Vail, was born in Green Brook, New Jersey, August 29, 1734, died January 29, 1814. He married Catharine Fitz Randolph, born September 20, 1739, died March 2, 1809, daughter of Edward Fitz Randolph. Their children were: Margaret, born January 5, 1762, married Benjamin Nichols, died February 27, 1831; Edward, born March 27, 1764, married Sarah Kinsey, died April 19, 1849; Amos, born July 31, 1766, married (first) Phebe Smith, (second) Elizabeth Dell, died October 4, 1834; Isaac, born August 1, 1770, married (first) Sarah Thorn, (second) Sarah Shotwell, died October 1, 1839; Phoebe, born October 17, 1772, died May 14, 1857; Nathan, born June 3, 1777, married Anna Webster, died June 24, 1857; Joel, of whom later.

John appears on the DAR Patriot Index - Centennial Edition, as having served in the New Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary War.

WASHINGTON ROCK

      On one occasion during the Revolutionary War, General Washington with an escort rode up to John Vail's house and engaged his brother-in-law, Edward Fitz Randolph, as a guide to take them to an eminence on the face of the mountain whence a good view of Greenbrook and vicinity could be obtained. The horse of this volunteer guide being in a distant field, an aid or orderly vacated his saddle which Edward took and led the General and his party to the top of a high rock, since known as "Washington's Rock," whence the desired view of the plain below was had. In the meantime a boy had been sent to the pasture for the horse, which the waiting attendant at once mounted and hastened off in pursuit of General Washington and staff. (v. N. J. Hist. Soc'y Proceedings, October, 1932, p. 370).

John Vail and Catherine FitzRandolph:
Marriage: April 23, 1760, Plainfield, Union County New Jersey
     


72. Daniel⁵ Vail (John⁴, Samuel³, Samuel², Thomas¹) was born March 07, 1735/36, and died 1823 in Basking Ridge, N. J.. He married (1) Mary Tue. He married (2) Mary McEowen Bef. November 16, 1774.

Child of Daniel Vail and Mary Tue is:

Notes

Daniel Vail he lived at Plainfield and was a member of that Preparative Meeting of Friends. His first marriage was to Mary Tu(e) the date being now not known; he had a daughter, Prudence (6), by this marriage, which was "out of Friends' unity." After the death of Mary Tu(e), Daniel married again, also contrary to Friends' discipline and was disowned by the Monthly Meeting 15 February, 1775. This marriage took place before the 16 November, 1774. Daniel (5) Vail had eight children by bis second wife, -- four sons and four daughters

Daniel appears to have died between the 8 November and the 12 December, 1794, these being the dates of signing his will and of its probate, as given in the Morristown (N. J.) Combined Registers, p. 241. This Will named as Executors Daniel's brothers Jacob and Benjamin; gives to his wife Mary and children Daniel, Jacob, Alexander, Ann, Catharine, Harriet, Martha, -- the last four named being under 18 years of age. The names of these brothers, the wife, and the children correspond exactly with those of Daniel (5) Vail, -- only one of his children (i. e. Dr. Israel (6) Vail) not being mentioned; proving beyond cavil the Will to be that of the Daniel Vail under consideration. The date 1823 given by Leonard and by Shotwell, (loc. cit.) is palpably erroneous. Daniel's brothers David and Jacob both died in 1823.

73. Isaac⁵ Vail (John⁴, Samuel³, Samuel², Thomas¹) was born November 27, 1737 in Piscataway, Middlesex County New Jersey, and died Bet. April 01 - 20, 1770 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey. He married Rachel Compton 1762.

Children of Isaac Vail and Rachel Compton are:

Notes

The date of this marriage is given as "some years before 1758, without unity of Friends," and as "before 15 April, 1762, 'by a Priest', for which he made acknowledgment to the Woodbridge, Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting 21 October, 1762." His wife Rachel Compton was a lineal descendant of William Compton, one of the first settlers in Middlesex County, (1666-1668), -- his daughter Mary was reputed to be the first white child born in the Township, (November, 1668; she married 1 January, 1695, Caleb Campbell.)

The Will of Isaac (5) Veal, of Bernardstown, was made the 1st April, 1770, and was probated the 20 April, 1770. Isaac, therefore, died between these dates. In it he names his father-in-law James Compton and his brother Daniel (5) Vail as Executors. John (5) Vail, "the 3rd," was a witness. Isaac gives to his wife, Rachel, and to his children Samuel and James (both under 21 years old), and Sarah and Margaret (both under 18 years).



74. David⁵ Vail (John⁴, Samuel³, Samuel², Thomas¹) was born June 06, 1740 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey, and died August 07, 1823 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He married Phebe Jackson April 23, 1766 in Plainfield, New Jersey. She was born 1747 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and died May 05, 1820 in Plainfield, New Jersey. Disabled Veteran/1823. David was a slave-holder, but freed his negroes when other New Jersey Friends did the same.

Children of David Vail and Phebe Jackson are: