41. The Van Veghten House Traditional Cache

The Van Veghten House is both a NJ State and National Historic Site, is one of the 5 surviving homes in the county used by General George Washington and his officers during the Middlebrook Encampment.

Many important historic figures have visited the Van Veghten House and walked the floorboards. Including: Martha and George Washington, General Knox and his wife, Lucy General Van Stueben, Alexander Hamilton and his future wife, General Nathanael Greene and his wife Caty, Light Horse Harry Lee (grandfather of Robert E Lee), and Lord Stirling General Anthony Wayne

The first owner, Michael Van Veghten, bought acreage from the East Jersey Proprietors and built a home from bricks used as ballast on the trading vessels in New Brunswick. The present structure evolved from the first house built by Michael Van Veghten, ca. 1720. The lower section on the left in the accompanying photo is the older portion of his home. It still contains the original open hearth kitchen.

Michael Van Veghten settled in Somerset County in 1685. In 1694, he acquired 836 acres of land on the north side of the river. A prosperous Dutch farmer, he built a Dutch Reformed Church near the bridge over the Raritan that was known as Van Veghten Bridge. Michael's son, Derrick, inherited the property after his father's death and expanded it to meet the needs of his family. The glass in the windows of his addition reflect his prosperity in 12 over 12 panes. The brickwork clearly shows the additions. In the photo you can see the line created when the second story was added.

Derrick "offered" his property for the use of the Continental Army and it served as headquarters for Quartermaster Nathanael Greene during the Middlebrook Encampment in 1778-1779, when 10,000 Continental officers, troops, including their followers and animals descended on the county.

Because they were late getting to the encampment site, there was no room for them in the Watchung hills with the other units. So portions of the Pennsylvania Continental troops under "Mad" Anthony Wayne encamped on Derrick's fields, which encompassed the present town of Manville, during the winter layover.

Greene’s early military career insured that the Continental Congress never regretted its decision to promote him. After the Siege of Boston in 1776, Greene proved to be an able commander when he took command of the city upon the British retreat. However, the young general’s career was not without blemish: during the New York Campaign, he lost Forts Washington and Lee. Although racked by guilt for these loses, Greene subsequently led a column of troops to victory at the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. Following the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown in the Pennsylvania campaign in 1778, the Continental Congress appointed him Quartermaster General under the condition that he retain the right to command troops in the field. He performed his duties as Quartermaster brilliantly, skillfully supplying Continental troops while dealing with logistical and bureaucratic challenges.

George Washington trusted Greene immensely, and that trust only grew over the course of the war. Greene’s legacy endures. He is one of the most celebrated generals of the Revolution for his crucial role in wrestling the southern theater from the British and securing a revolutionary Patriot victory.

Washington known today mostly for his military and political accomplishments, was known throughout his lifetime for his accomplishments on the dance floor. The private assembly, the public ball, and the afternoon dancing party were venues to bring the political leaders, financiers, military leaders and power brokers together under favorable and visible conditions.

Much socialization occurred among the officers, their wives and their staff during this winter between Valley Forge and Morristown encampments. While in residence at the Van Veghten House, General Greene wrote a letter to Jeremiah Wadsworth describing "a pretty little frisk" held in the house on March 17, 1779. Throughout the course of the evening, General Washington danced with Mrs. Greene "upwards of three hours without seting [sic] down". When the spring engagements began and the troops moved out, the Greenes presented Mrs. Van Veghten with a mahogany tea table, in appreciation of the Van Veghten hospitality.

"Mrs. Nathaniel Greene, the former Catherine Littlefield of Block Island, turned out to be the life of any party she attended, Kitty, as she was called, was apparently one of George Washington’s favored dancing partners. “At a Valley Forge soiree, according to historian Theodore Thayer in George Washington’s Generals, she danced with General Washington for three hours without stopping, which set a Continental Army record. General Green himself said that Kitty danced with the Commander-in-Chief for three hours without stopping, at Morristown…….Dancing, as Washington said of his gambling, was “an agreeable and innocent amusement,” a welcome relief from the time he spent in the saddle commanding the troops.”

Apparently, Kitty Green was a favorite dancing partner of the Commander-in-Chief as we see once again in 1778 when the camp spent a day rejoicing over the French alliance. The celebration, was concluded by a splendid ball opened by his Excellency General Washington, having for his partner the lady of General Knox. Greene describes how "we had a little dance at my quarters a few evenings past. His Excellency and Mrs. Greene danced upwards of three hours without once sitting down.”

But Revolutionary events didn't end at the house. In ensuing years Derrick was arrested by the British and held for several days. Simcoe burned the church during his notorious second raid, and Rochambeau and his troops marched past the back door on his journey to Yorktown, Va.

After Derrick Van Veghten's death in 1781, the house passed through several families. From the 1850's through the early 20th century, the house was renovated several times. Although evidence of alterations can be seen throughout the house, the original wide pine planks still cover the floors of the second story.

In 1897, a German family, the Meyer's, acquired the house and property, which they farmed. During World War I, horses and mules being shipped to the front in Europe, would lay over at the farm before being sent overseas. The property was purchased from Bernhard Meyer in 1934 by the Singer Company. For a while the property was used as an employee recreation park. Later it was sold for industrial development. Where once horses and sheep quietly grazed, roaring diesel trailer trucks now deliver to self -storage, manufacturing and county offices.

Come visit one of the best kept secrets in Somerset County. The Van Veghten House is situated at the back of an industrial park off county road 633, also known as Finderne Avenue, it can't be seen from the road. Now a stately two story brick home, a residence has stood on the north bank of the Raritan River through 300 years. The house currently serves as the headquarters of the Somerset County Historical Society.

This cache is one of "The American Revolution Geo~Trail" caches throughout New Jersey. These special geocaches are hidden at historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history. To participate in the optional Geo-Trail, after you find the geocache, locate the secret code and record it into your passport which you will print from the Geo~Trail website. Information at njpatriots.org

The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.