Nathaniel Fitz Randolph (1703 - 1780)

Born 11 Nov 1703 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Rebekah (Mershon) Fitz Randolph — married 20 Oct 1729 in Princeton, New Jersey [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1780 at about age 76 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph (1703) of Princeton was born at Stoney Brook on November 11, 1703. ^{[1] [2]} in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey. ^[3] Some sources state birth was in Stony Brook, Princeton, New Jersey.

Nathaniel was the son and last child of Benjamin Fitz Randolph and Sarah Dennis. ^{[1] [3]}

Grandfather, Benjamin was the youngest of the five sons of Edward and Elizabeth Blossom Fitz Randolph of Scituate, then Barnstable, Massachusetts.. In 1630 Edward Fitz Randolph was the first of this branch of the Fitz Randolph family to emigrate, from England to Plymouth Colony. ^[1]. Edward was part of John Winthrop's group during the Great Migration to New England in search of religious freedom.

Edward and Elizabeth moved to Piscataway, New Jersey around 1660 with all their children except their eldest son Nathaniel Fitz Randolph (1642) who followed shortly. This Nathaniel (1642), the first of that name, was an active Quaker in Barnstable and with the Society of Friends in Woodridge, New Jersey, and was the namesake of Nathaniel (1703) of Princeton.

On October 20, 1729, Nathaniel and Rebekah Mershon married ^{[1] [2]} at Princeton, New Jersey. Rebekah was born March the 10th 1712 at Maidenhead, Hunterdon, New Jersey. She was the third daughter of Henry and Ann Houghton Mershon II. Henry Mershon II was the son Of Henri Merchard I, a French Huguenot from Caen, Normandy, France. Henri I left Henry II with brethren at Newtown, Long Island, New York to learn a trade as a weaver, while he, Henri I returned to France to retrieve the rest of the family and was never heard from again.

From the "Book of Records"

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph born at Prince Town November 11 1703

Was marryed to Rebekah Mershon October 20th 1729 She was born March 10 [17??] (EFR: 1701/2)

Their issue are as follows VIZ-

The 1st Eunice, born at Prince Town on Tuesday November the 10th 1730 at one o clock afternoon

The above said Eunice departed this life in Carolina March 28th 1759-

The 2nd Sarah born in Kent County Maryland on Wednesday at 10 C at night April 26 1732:The above said Sarah departed this life at Prince Town April 3rd 1759

The 3rd Ann born at Prince town on Tuesday at 3 in the morning May the 7-1734

The 4th Ruth born on Sunday at 8 C in the morning January the 4th 1735/6-

The 5th Job born at Prince Town at 11 C on Sunday morning November 6-1737

The above said Job dyed of the Smallpox at Prince Town April 11-1760-

The 6th Abigial born at Princetown on Thursday at 10 C in the Evening October 18-1739

The 7th Samuel born at Prince Town on Satterday 1 C afternoon May the 2nd 1741

The 8th Rachel born at Prince Town on Monday at 8 C in the Evening January 31st 1742/3

The 9th Hanah, born at Prince Town January 20 1744/5: Departed this life October 7th 1746

The 10th Hannah the 2nd born at PrinceTown on Monday 12 at night January the 5th 1746/7

The 11th John born at Princetown on Tuesday 2 C afternoon April the 4th 1749-

The 12th Rebekah born at Princetown on Saterday 4 C in the morning January 19th 1750/1-

The 13th Nathaniel Born at Prince Town on Thursday half an hour after six of the Clock in the Evening in fair weather May the 24th 1753: New Stile

The said Nathaniel Departed this life September the 16th 1757 on Fryday-

The 14th Elizabeth born near Prince Town in my brick house on Tuesday night about midnight February the 15th 1757: New Stile"

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, the author of the "Book of Records" , now in the possession of Princeton University, recorded the date and time (denoted by a “C” for o'clock) of the births of each of his children. Also is an account of the branch of the Fitz Randolph family to which he belonged. The original is the Journal presented to Princeton University by Lloyd FitzRandolph. Two or more copies are extant. All are in different handwriting, but the original has been proved through careful comparison with the handwriting of Nathaniel on numerous other documents. The fact that copies of his entire book were made by others, probably of his family, shows the importance which they attached to it.

Early Princeton

The Assunpink Trail was a Native American trail in what later became Middlesex, Somerset, and Mercer counties Algonquian language Ahsën'pink, meaning "stony, watery place", hence the name Stoney Brook. The King's Highway was a roughly 1,300-mile (2,100 km) road laid out from 1650 to 1735 in the American colonies. It was built on the order of Charles II of England, who directed his colonial governors to link Charleston, South Carolina, and Boston, Massachusetts.

In the 1690's six Quaker families established communities along Stony Brook near the King's Highway (Route 206). <1> A Brief History of Princeton In the “Book of Records” Nathaniel's father Benjamin’s (son of Edward Fitz Randolph) was born in 1663 at Barnstable, Barnstable county, Plymouth Colony then moved as a child to Piscataway, New Jersey in 1668. ^[1]

The first of Benjamin’s children born at “Prince-town” New Jersey was Benjamin Junior, born April 24, 1699.

In 1696 Dr. John Gorden conveyed 400 acres, purchased from William Penn in 1693, to Richard Stockton. (Richard also owned about four thousand acres conveyed to him by William Penn.) In 1709 Richard Stockton conveyed 100 acres to Benjamin Fitz Randolph with the remaining three hundred acres of this tract going to son Joseph Stockton. Part of this tract became the site of the original Seminary, Episcopal Church and Springdale Farm.

The Stony Brook settlers built a landing in 1707 and the Worth grist mill in 1712-14. Land was given for the Stoney Brook Friends Meeting in 1709 by Benjamin Clarke II of Piscataway and a meeting house was built in 1724.

“Extracts from minutes: 175[8] By Nathaniel Fitz Randolph in the 56th year of his age- Prince Town, first named at the Raising of the first house built there by James Leonard: Anno Dom. 1724 -- Whitehead Leonard, the first Child born at Prince Town 1725

In 1724 the area along Kings Highway (Nassau Street between Bayard Lane and Witherspoon Street) was named Princeton, and this area north of Stony Brook became settled by Presbyterians.”

At this point we don’t know much of Nathaniel’s occupation. We do know that, while raising his family, Nathaniel (1703) worked tirelessly to have the College of New Jersey located in Princeton.

From the "Book of Records"

Of The College at Prince Town-

When it was reported that a Charter was granted by Hamilton

Deputy Governor for a college to be errected some where in New Jersey

Twelve trustees appointed-I was the first man that proposed to set [subscriptions]on foot for said Town-also I was the first man that drew a subscription [for]

that purpose, also the first that rode to obtain subscriptions, [also wrote]

twenty papers for that purpose And helped to spread them and did

obtain about five hundred pounds subscribed under said first Charter

[Also] After a second Charter was granted by Gov. Jonathan Belcher

A College in New Jersey & about twenty five trustees appointed. The old subscription

was all dropped. And I wrote about fifteen subscriptions more,

Spread said subscriptions in which about seventeen hundred Pounds was obtained.

I also gave four acres and a half of land to set the college on, and twenty Pounds, besides time and expenses for several years together, but whereas, I did sign but three acres in the subscription-so I took a receipt of some of the Trustees, only for the three acres of land to answer the subscription- And altho the consideration mentioned in the deed I gave the Trustees for said College land-is one hundred & fifty Pounds- I never did receive one peny of it that was only to confirm title-

(signed) Nathaniel Fitz Randolph- - -

January 25th 1753-Gave a deed to the Trustees for 4 1/2 acres of land for the College. July 29, 1754 Joseph Morrow set a man first to begin to dig the College Cellor September 17 1754 Then the first Corner-stone of New Jersey College was laid in the Northwesterly Corner of the Cellor: by Thomas Leonard Senior Esqr., John Stockton Esqr., John Hornor Esqr., Mr. William Worth the Mason that built the stone and brick work Of said College, my self and many others VIZ-

[(EFR; November 1755.)] The roof of said College was raised by Mr. Robert Smith the Carpenter

[That] Built the timberwork of the College. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph

Reverend Aaron Burr Sr. was the first President of the College to reside in Princeton in1756.

“1756 Aaron Barr President: Preached the first sermon and began [(EFR: the first school)]

In Prince Town College-Said Barr Departed this life September 24 1757”

While little can be found regarding Nathanial’s later years we do know that from the vantage point of his home on the King’s Highway, next door to the President’s manse, he came into contact with the future illuminati of American independence , foremost, signer of the Declaration of Independence and son of his friend John Stockton, Richard Stockton. Without the persuasion of Richard Stockton, who traveled to Paisley Scotland to convince Dr. Weatherspoon, the other signer of the Declaration of Independence from Princeton, to come to New Jersey it is doubtful that Dr. Weatherspoon would have accepted the post of President of the College of New Jersey, Princeton.

“The distinguished revolutionary careers of so many of the students of Princeton is evident that doctrines of resistance and freedom were taught exceedingly well at Princeton”

Among those students were William Bradford, Andrew Hunter, Morgan Lewis, Aaron Ogden, Henry Brockholst Livingston,Henry Lee III, Aaron Burr Jr. and James Madison

There is much information that can be obtain from the diaries and journals of the students and faculty of the College of New Jersey that can provide information about the daily life of Nathaniel(1703). Surely he was victimize by many of the pranks of the students such as midnight bell ringing and turkey stealing. Turkeys and hens were stolen locally by the students and set loose in Nassau Hall. It got so out of hand that several students were expelled.

Philip Vickers Fithian in a letter to his father, found in his Journal, wrote:

I am sorry that I may inform you, that two of our Members were expelled from the College yesterday ; not for Drunkenness, nor Fighting, not for Swearing, nor Sabbath-Breaking; But, they were sent from this Seminary, where the greatest Pains and Care are taken to cultivate and encourage Decency, & Honesty, & Honour, for stealing Hens! Shameful, mean, unmanly Conduit!

Hugh Henry Brackenridge provides much information about this period in his journals.

Excerpts from an article “HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE, AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, 1768-1771” written by Martha Conner in 1927 Note - Feb 2021 PSU article is not available

Princeton is beautifully located on rising ground on what was then the post road, half way between New York and Philadelphia. The village consisted of somewhat less than threescore houses scattered along this thoroughfare, with a well-found tavern or two. The Fitz Randolph land was opposite the thickest clustering of the houses. The advantages of the location were that the students were free from the temptations of a city, any irregularity was easily discoverable in so small a place, but at the same time the “Flying Wagons,” as the coaches on the post road were called, brought many distinguished visitors and all important news of the day. “The romance and pageant of colonial life passed back and forth along that highway and many scenes in the drama of our early history were enacted there.” (3) Though the village was small, many wealthy landowners and cultivated men of prominence lived in the vicinity. The names of Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and of William Paterson, U. S. senator and governor of New Jersey, are familiar in American history

President Burr with about seventy students moved to Princeton in 1756, tho the building was not completed until 1762. Mr. Burr died the following year and was succeeded by the brief occupancy of Jonathan Edwards. Princeton had lost five presidents when in 1768 the Rev. John Wither¬spoon of Paisley, Scotland, accepted the presidency.

Dr. Witherspoon was a skilled teacher. He dictated a syllabus to his classes, filled in the outline which each student made with illustration and comment and then held recitation. The duplication of these outlines was called “making studies” and copies were sold from class to class. Copies of his lecture were used in many other colleges by teachers who had first heard them in Nassau Hall.

Mr. Houston taught mathematics and the natural sciences and the equipment was as good as any on the continent, including an orrery lately invented and contributed by David Rittenhouse of Philadelphia. (14)

Students were required to lodge in the College and to be in their rooms during study hours. Tutors also resided in the College to “stimulate the slothful.” There were quarterly examinations, of which Madison noted, “The near approach to examinations occasions a surprising application to study on all sides.” (14a)

The College seems to have possessed a fair library. (15) In 1755 Governor Blecher presented his library of 500 volumes. In 1760 President Davies made a catalogue of about 1200 volumes. This must have been a joy to the boy who once walked thirty miles to borrow a book. That he was an omnivorous reader we know from his writings, for not only Was he familiar with Greek and Latin literature, but he quotes from the literature of every country.

The student body over which this new President was to preside numbered upwards of a hundred, including the grammar school. The College of New Jersey, being neither the college of a particular church nor of a single colony, was cosmopolitan in character; its faculty graduates of Harvard, Yale, Glasgow and Edinburgh; its students sons of New England Puritans, English Friends, Virginian and West Indian planters. We hear of the only son of a Dutch Patroon, a Van Rensellaer, arriving with full military escort, a full blooded Delaware Indian chieftain struggling with Caesar, and negroes, expecting to return to Africa as missionaries. From its very beginning the College had a national character.

The inns of the village where the stagecoach passengers stopped for the night on their journey between New York and Philadelphia were favorite gathering places for the students. A billiard table was kept for the amusement of the guests and here the students could procure the luxuries of the table.

That there were charming girls in the vicinity is to be expected. Elizabeth Stockton was called the Belle of Princeton. She was a daughter of Capt. John Stockton, whose wife was a famous beauty.

Commencement, which was held on the last Wednesday of September, was a great public holiday attended by a large number of people from the different parts of the province and from New York and Philadelphia, often including many distinguished persons. From Philip Fithian’s Journal we learn of the commencement of 1773. “Commencement is over. . . and what is more, never was there such a commencement before and likely never will be again. The galleries were cracking now and then all day—every mousehold in the church was crammed full—the stage covered with gentlemen and ladies amongst whom were the Governor and his Lady; and that he might not appear singular, he was stiff with lace-gold lace. A band of music from Philadelphia assisted to make all agreeable and to crown the whole the eloquence of Demosthenes was heard in almost every man’s mouth, so that the person who spoke last was always the hero of the tale.” (21)

The day was a holiday for the entire countryside who assembled around the College, set up refreshment stands along the roadside, and eating, drinking, dancing, fiddling, pitching pennies and horse racing were some of the amusements by which the assembly beguiled themselves while the exercises were going on in the church. (22)

Princeton University writes:

"The four and a half acres of ground given by Mr. Fitz Randolph for the site of the College adjoined his own residence on the King's Highway, now Nassau Street and the Lincoln Highway, behind which was the family burial ground. When Holder Hall was erected on this site in 1909, several old graves were found. No less than thirty-two tombs were discovered, one of them being that of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph. The contents of the graves were carefully preserved in separate boxes and were placed in a vault in the wall of the Eastern arch of the building. A tablet to Mr. Fitz Randolph was placed on the wall. Also in his memory, a descendant (Augustus S. Van Wickle gave the Fitz Randolph gateway, the official entrance of Princeton University, which is opened only at Commencement and upon the occasion of the reception of distinguished visitors."

Burial

Place: Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey “RANDOLPH’S BODY FOUND Princeton Stirred By Discovery of Ancient Burying Ground. ONE OF THE FOUNDERS. Remains Will Be Carefully Re-interred and a Tablet Will Mark Spot. Princeton, April 26. --- There was a great deal of excitement in Princeton today over the discovery of the remains of three bodies on the site of the new Sage dormitory about to be erected. While digging for the foundation of the building the workmen first unearthed the remains of what are quite positively known to be those of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph. The other two are unknown. For some time the university authorities have been attempting to locate the spot where Fitz Randolph was buried and the records pointed to the locality of the Gage dormitory site. The discovery was not unexpected or simply a chance, as a good many here thought today. President Woodrow Wilson is authority for this statement. The first remains found are supposed to be those of Fitz Randolph because the records show that he was buried close to a tree which was removed this week. The remains lay within a few yard of this spot. It was also known that there are other bodies near this place, but thus far it has been impossible to find out whose they are. The records at hand do not give these facts. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph was one of the founders of Princeton university, in that he gave to the college the site on which stands Nassau hall. He died soon after the beginning of the university, probably about 1760. Inasmuch as this was 150 years ago, there was nothing left in the grave to aid in a certain identification. The university will mark the spot where the body was found. Dr. Wilson tonight gave out this statement in regard to the discovery of the bodies. “”The site of the new dormitory crosses a portion of an ancient private burying ground, in which the location of the graves had become uncertain. In excavation for the foundation and cellar of the building the authorities have taken occasion to remove the remains uncovered very carefully and they will be reinterred under a portion specially arranged for the purpose. The only grave certainly known is that of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph over whose remains a special tablet si to be placed commemorative of his great generosity to the college. The authorities of the university have been guided in the matter as much as possible by such scant records as are extant.”” Descendants of Fitz Randolph gave to Princeton the magnificent gateway which marks the main entrance of the campus on Nassau street.” The Paterson Morning Call, Tuesday, April 27, 1909, Page 10.

Notes

Donated land purchased by his father for site of Princeton University

He and Rebekah worked to establish the College of New Jersey(LaterPrinceton), and donated land to it. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph kept very good records of his family and his "Book of Records" is in the Princeton University Library.

According to legend, an agreement between Nathaniel Fitz Randolph and the College of New Jersey (as Princeton was then known) was made in 1753. In exchange for donating the land on which Nassau Hall now resides, the College agreed to pay tuition for all of his descendants to attend the institution. Unfortunately, this is not true.^[4]

Nathaniel's grave was one of thirty-two discovered during the construction of Holder Hall at Princeton University. The remains were placed in a vault in the wall of Holder Hall in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Mayes, Edward. Genealogy of the Family of Longstreet Completed. Privately published, circa 1935. Clark T. Thornton, editor. Reprinted 2009. Pages 49 - 51.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Pangburn Society of Allegheny County Pennsylvania, William Pangburn and his wife Hannah Fitz Randolph, Their Ancestry and Decendants, 1620 ~ 1909. Published by The Werner Company, Akron, Ohio and Pittsburg, 1909. Pages 36-37.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5FL-SL9 : 18 January 2020), Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, 1703.
4. ↑ Princeton University Kristine Marconi McGee

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

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• History of Princeton and its institutions : the town from its first settlement, through the Revolutionary War ... Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Hageman, John Frelinghuysen.. History of Princeton and its institutions : the town from its first settlement, through the Revolutionary War .... Philadelphia: J.B. Lippinco Note: Includes index.

• Family Data Collection - Deaths Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.

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• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 about Nathaniel Fitz Randolph Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls

• The descendants of Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom 1630-1950 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - Christian, Louise Aymar.. The descendants of Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom 1630-1950. East Orange, N.J.?: unknown, 1984.Original data: Christian, Louise Aymar. Note: Photocopy.

• New Jersey Census, 1643-1890 Author: Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.Orig

• Princeton past and present, Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Collins, Varnum Lansing,. Princeton past and present. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, c1945.Original data: Collins, Varnum Lansing,. Princeton past and present

• Randolph, Oris H. F. Edward Fitz Randolph Branch Lines Allied Families and English and Norman Ancestry. Ann Arbor, Michigan; Edward Brothers; 1980 Date: 30 May 2004

• Find A Grave: Memorial #75001641

• http://longislandsurnames.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I0903&tree=Hunt

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 3. pg. 1166-1168)

Acknowledgments

Fitzrandolph-39 created on Jul 10, 2011 by Marilyn Cardwell through the import of MarilynCardwellGedcomJuly2011.ged.
FitzRandolph-51 created on Jul 14, 2011 by Becky Bierbrodt through the import of Bierbrodt.GED.
Fitzrandolph-74 created on Oct 2, 2011 by Susan Shirey through the import of Nixon Family Tree 100211.ged.
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FitzRandolph-116 created on May 28, 2013 by Sally Garrison through the import of FTM - Mershon Line._2013-05-28.ged.