Jacob Croxson to Joel Lippincott, Deed

File no. 45 from Abstracts of Early Monmouth County Court Papers, Part II, is an indenture, or deed, in which Jacob Croxson (Croxon) transfers land to Joel Lippencott. There is an important piece of genealogical information in this deed.

No. 45, Indenture Jacob Croxon to Joel Lippincott

I have seen the Croxson surname recorded both as CROXSON (with an S) and as CROXON (without the S). Despite the label I've given the file, it appears that the surname is spelled with the S, as CROXSON, more frequently in this document.

The photocopied and scanned copy presented here is difficult to read. I would suggest to anyone who is seriously interested in pursuing research on this family that they seek out the original. According to the source who located this document for William B. Bogardus, it is found in Monmouth County Deed Book R, pages 137-138.

The indenture is dated 2 January 1808, and it records that Jacob Croxson and his wife, Elizabeth, of Shrewsbury, conveyed for the sum of $4000, to Joel Lippincott, land lying in Shrewsbury. There is a lengthy description of the property which I will not attempt to transcribe here. The statement of genealogical significance that is found in the indenture mentions that Jacob Croxson has right to the land being conveyed by the last will and testament of his grandfather Jacob Brewer. This statement is the only evidence found to date that can place Jacob Croxson as a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island. The indenture also states that he owns part of the property by quit claim from his brother William Croxson, and Garret Wikoff and Rachel Wikoff, his (Garret's) wife.

Jacob Croxson is found on the 1830 U. S. census at Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey with a household of 1 male 10-15, 1 male 30-40, 1 male 50-60, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 50-60, and 1 free colored female age 10-23. Jacob would have to be the male aged 50-60 (the male aged 30-40 would have been too young to execute a deed in 1808), and therefore he was likely born sometime between 1770 and 1780. His birth was more likely closer to 1770, and may have been prior to 1770, as his daughter, Hannah Croxson, was married in 1811 (implying that she was probably born around 1790). Jacob Croxson died before April 1842. In that month, William W. Croxson, applied for the assignment of the dower for Elizabeth Croxson, widow of Jacob Croxson, dec'd. He had purchased the real estate of Jacob Croxson, dec'd., subject to the dower being set aside (Monmouth County Orphans Court Book K, page 368).

The identity of Jacob Croxson's parents has not been determined. His mother would have been a daughter of Jacob Brewer. I have seen one undocumented tree on Ancestry.com that called her Hannah Brewer, but I have been unable to confirm this identification. Jacob Croxson's grandfather, Jacob Brewer, is most likely a son of William Brewer/Brower (a.k.a. Willem Brouwer) who was baptized on 8 May 1687 at Brooklyn, Long Island. He was a son of Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus, and a grandson of Adam Brouwer. This would make Jacob Croxson a great-great-great grandson of Adam Brouwer. Although no record of baptism has been found for Jacob Brewer, his mother would have been Maritje Van Oort (Van Nordt). It is likely that Jacob Brewer was born between 1715 and 1720. On 19 June 1746, William Brower conveyed to Jacob Brower of Mansquan in Shrewsbury Twp., property in Monmouth County. In 1748 and 1755, Jacob Brewer is listed as a Freeholder in Shrewsbury. On 25 April 1755, Joseph and Ruth Kinnan of Somerset County, conveyed to Jacob Brewer of Swan in Monmouth County, land in Shrewsbury (see the following post). On 30 March 1772, Jacob Brewer was a bondsman on the administration of the estate of William Vannorte of Shrewsbury. William's widow was named Magdalen, and it is suspected, but not proved, that she was Magdalena Brouwer, baptized 8 March 1704 at New York, a daughter of Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus. If correct, Magdalen would be Jacob Brewer's aunt.

According to John E. Stillwell,  Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Early Settlers of New Jersey and their Descendants, Vol. 5. (New York: n.pub., 1932), page 452, Jacob Croxson married Elizabeth Woolley, born 20 Jan 1776, daughter of Nathan Woolley and Zilpah White. Stillwell identifies two children, the daughter Hannah, mentioned above, who married Peter T. Wolcott, and a son Nathan W. who married Mary Haggerty. In addition, Jacob and Elizabeth had a son William (likely the William mentioned in the April 1842 Orphans Court record) and a daughter Deborah. From this deed we also know that Jacob had a brother named William Croxson, and a sister Rachel who was married to Garret Wikoff (Wyckoff). The brother, William Croxson, had married Catharine Wyckoff who was a brother of Garret Wyckoff. Garret and Catherine were children of Samuel Wyckoff (1732-1826) and Gertrude Shipman (1735-1820). For additional information and sources regarding the ancestors and some descendants of Jacob Croxson please consult the Brouwer Genealogy Database website.

BGB 406