HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
From "The Imlay Family" by Hugh and Nella Imlay, published from Zanesville, Ohio, in 1958. This week tells the story of Patrick’s son, William’s son, Peter and his progeny.
Peter [son of William] left an intricate will and named his brother Nathaniel and his son Samuel as executors. Samuel was to have charge of all real estate and to assume the responsibility of the family; in the event he should die, the next son should take on his duties. In case of the death of the second son, the third should assume the responsibilities and so on down the line. Each his sons was to receive 150 pounds and each daughter 50 pounds, when they arrived at the age of twenty-one.
The following twelve were the children of Peter and Susanna Imlay: William Eugene was born in 1755. He received an A.B. degree from Princeton University [then, College of New Jersey] in 1773. His diploma and other papers are preserved at the University, having been presented by Mrs. Peter C. Pumyea of New York City. He later studied medicine in Philadelphia and settled in Tom’s River, New Jersey. He became a prominent Universalist there. During the Revolutionary War he served as Captain of the third regiment of Hunterdon County, also as Captain in the Continental Army. He died in 1803. His wife Rhoda survived him by seventeen years. Both were buried in the family burial ground in Imlaystown. There were no children.
Samuel was born January 22, 1757. He lived in the vicinity of Imlaystown all his life. On January 30, 1788, he married Mary English a window (born 1760); at the death of his father, he took full charge of his land and the responsibility for his mother and brothers and sisters. Samuel died August 5, 1826 and his wife Mary died May 10, 1843. They were buried in the family burial ground at Imlaystown.
[Remaining children of Peter include:] 3. John; 4.Peter; 5. Joseph; 6. George; 7. Rebecca; 8. Hannah, married William Clut[c]h; 9. Sarah; 10. Susannah; 11.Elizabeth; 12. Nancy.
Samuel and Mary English Imlay were the parents of three children, namely: Peter, was born November 3, 1790, and died March 27, 1852. On February 3, 1814, he married Catherine Hendrickson, who was born June 29, 1797, and died February 13, 1847. We find no record where in June 1840, Peter Imlay and wife Catharine Hendrickson bought forty-four acres of land in Imlaystown from his sister Mary Ann, widow of Peter Wickoff for $2,657.43.
Mary Ann, born July 21, 1795 and died September 9, 1848. Her husband Peter I. Wickoff was born April 20, 1790 and died February 26, 1826. Samuel W. was born June 4,1800.
Peter and Catharine Hendrickson Imlay had the following children: Elizabeth H., born July 4, 1815, and died March, 1892. She married Aaron Robbins. Mary Ann, born November 4, 1816, and died October 2, 1899; married John Bodine, who was born June 3, 1809, and died September 29, 1872.
George was born October 8, 1818, and died March 15, 1875. On December 17, 1856, he married Sarah Elizabeth Bruere, the daughter of Jonathan and Thomassen Imlay Bruere. She was born September 23, 1835, and died November 11, 1907.
Theodosia was born May 18, 1822, and died August 28, 1898. She married Joseph Hartman. Sarah H. was born May 9, 1824, and died December 29, 1907. On June 4, 1850, she married James Giberson, born April 21, 1819, and died April 18, 1878.
James and Sarah Imlay Giberson were the parents of five children, namely: Helen, married Joseph Holmes and had two children: George B., born July 7, 1882; died January 12, 1934. Martha, born October 24, 1885, never married. Sarah, married George Rue and had two children: Marion, born November 12, 1889, never married. Franklin, born November 27, 1886. Martha Holmes and Marion Rue have lived together at the Holmes homestead at Cream Ridge, New Jersey, for many years.
Elizabeth, born October 23, 1855, died December 21, 1933; married Luther Williams. Gilbert, born September 20, 1855, died September 19, 1941; married Ann Wickoff. Peter I., born March 8, 185; died May 30, 1902.
George and Sarah Bruere Imlay were the parents of eight children, namely: Mary, was born January 12, 1859, in Imlaystown. On September 23, 1878, she married Dr. Peter Berrien Pumyea, son of Peter J. and Ann Berrien Pumyea. He was born September 23, 1842, and died December 4, 1903, in Allentown, New Jersey, where she made her home until her death, January 29, 1939. He graduated from Princeton University in 1863 and from Bellevere Medical College, New York in 1864. After practicing twelve years at Imlaystown, he moved to Allentown, where he practiced till his death. Mary kept her home in Allentown until her death, January 29, 1939. Both are buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Allentown, New Jersey.
Dr. Peter B. and Mary Imlay Pumyea had two children: Peter Clinton was born November 8, 1880 in Hightstown, New Jersey. He graduated from Princeton University in 1901; studied medicine at Columbia University; served his internship at New York City Hospital in 1905, after which he practiced medicine at New York City. On September 29, 1915, he married Pauline Schumacher, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Schumacher of New York City.
Pauline was born May 18, 1895. Since her husband’s death, January 18, 1940, she has continued to maker her home in New York City. She has taken an active interest in the history of the Imlay and Bruere families and has been instrumental in the preservation of many worthwhile records.
Dr. Peter C. and Pauline Schumacher Pumyea were the parents of two children, namely: Peter Clinton, Jr., was born August 14, 1916, in New York City. On June 11, 1938, he married Louise Newhouse, born April 16, 1916. Peter is with the Prudential Life Insurance Company. They live in Brooklyn, New York, and have two sons: Peter Clinton III, born February 7, 1947; Frederick William, born May 28, 1948.
Eleanor Dorothy was born June 14, 1920. On December 12, 1941, she married Louis W. Tompkins, Jr., who was born November 25, 1918. He is with Farr and Company, a sugar brokerage in New York City. They are the parents of three children, namely: Pauline Pumyea, born June 26, 1944, in New York City; Tommy, born March 2, 1948, in Montclair, New Jersey; Daniel Delawan, born October 11, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey. Pompton Plains, New Jersey, is where the family make their home now.
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, president of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. For information about the historical society, send e-mail to [email protected].