John Ryker ~ A Life Remembered
The following information was contributed by Carole Nurmi Cummings, a Dutch descendant from the 1600s and his sixth great granddaughter.
In 1744, the Ryker family left Newtown, (Queens) New York, for "The Closters," in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The Closters consisted of Closter Village (present Closter), Lower Closter (now Demarest), Upper Closter (now Alpine), and Old Closter (now Rockleigh). In Old Closter (also called Rockland), John Ryken bought from Henry & Mary Ludlow 40 acres in the Lockhart Patent on the road to Snedens Landing and built a farmstead - the Ryker-Mabie- Conklin- Sneden House".
~ Source: James Riker: "Annals of Newtown", p 309. Pub: D. Fanshaw, New York City, 1852
Upon settling in the Closters, the John Riker family did not move.
The same can not be said of the New York/New Jersey provincial boundary or the name of the hamlet.
Question is usually raised in accounts of this Riker branch as to the apparent resettling of John Ryker from "The Closters, NJ" to Orange County, NY, then back to Harrington Twp, New Jersey. The Riker homestead - the 40 acres purchased in "the Closters", NJ, in 1744 from Robert & Mary Ludlow and confirmed by the Province of NY in 1752 -is, indeed, the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin-Sneden House in Rockleigh, NJ. Searches of records in both New York and New Jersey indicate that the conveyance was not recorded. At that time, possession of the signed instrument was considered sufficient proof of ownership. None the less, the Riker's historic record in Rockleigh is clear.
Because the boundary between the Provinces of Jersey and New York was disputed, the New Jersey land in the Closters on which the Ryker homestead was established in 1744 came in 1750 under the authority of Tappan Town, Orange County in the Province of New York. The Reformed Dutch Church in Tappan, NY, was the closest church and it was here that the Riker's usually were baptized, married, and buried. Upon settlement of the boundary dispute in 1769, the Ryker farm came under the jurisdiction of Harrington Township, Bergen County, NJ.
Not only had the state boundary moved a few times, but the immediate area (or parts thereof) has been called or referred to as "Kings Woods", "Lockhart Patent", "The Closters", "Old Closter", Tappan, Rockland Neighborhood, Rockland, Rocklands, "Turkey Ridge", Closter Mountain, East Northvale, and Rockleigh.
John's sons, Abraham and Gerardus, built houses on portions of his contiguous lands.
At the time of the settlement of the provincial boundary dispute in 1769, a list was made of the families residing along Snedens Landing Road from the resolved New York-New Jersey boundary southward towards Closter.
In what is now Rockleigh they were: John Gesner, Jacob Conklin, Jr., Gerardus Ryker, John Ryker [Sr], Abraham Ryker, Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* It is clear that the Rykers (Gerardus, John Sr, and Abraham) each had their own house on John Ryker lands, arranged from north to south along the road between those of Jacob Conklin, Jr, (existing as Conklin-Sneden House) and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr. (existing as Haring-Corning House).
Thus the original Ryker tract was situated between and adjacent to those lands Jacob Conklin, Jr. and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* Of the three Ryker houses, the old homestead of John (Sr) exists as the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin- Sneden House (14 Rockleigh Road). The remains of the house of son Gerardus consists of a cellar hole on borough property just north of John's homestead (opp. 19 Rockleigh Road), later occupied by the Jacob Sneden family.
The house of son Abraham was subsequently occupied three more Riker generations: the Peter Riker, Jacob Riker, and Abraham Riker families. The house exists today as an old stone house deep within the Greek Revival structure that was the former "Pegasus Club" (15 Rockleigh Road).
* "Papers Relating to the New York and New Jersey Boundary Controversy 1686-1775". Vol. 29, p 72. George H. Budke Collection, Manuscript Room, New York Public Library.
His Will
In his will, drafted 21 June, 1765 (proved 28 Oct 1783), John Ryker of Orange Township, Orange County, New York, stipulates:
• My eldest son, Abraham, the house and lot and ½ the saw mills, and 1/3 of my salt meadow; and ½ of the rest of land and swamps, to be divided equally between my sons, Abraham and John.
• Son, John, ½ of my saw mills, and of the rest of the land where I live, and 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades, 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades [Gerardus], the house and land where he lives, and the said 40 acres which I hold in Orange Co."
• Witnesses: Jacob Conklin, Jacob Conklin Jr., Thomas Outwater.*
* John Ryken (1690-1783) Will of 21 June 1765 - NJ Archives, 1st series, Volume 35, Wills VI, p. 339.
• Will Proved on October 28, 1783 in New Jersey per abstract
When John died 18 years later in 1783, he had sold the homestead in 1770 to Peter Mabie.
Abraham resided in houses they had built on his properties in "The Closters".
John, Jr. apparently took over Gerardus' house when Gerardus took his family westward to [West] Virginia and on to Kentucky, where he was killed by Indians.
As such, the 1765 will of John Ryken did not change the locations of Abraham and John, Jr.*
The spelling of the family name appears to have changed to Ryker about 1776.
The following information was contributed by Carole Nurmi Cummings, a Dutch descendant from the 1600s and his sixth great granddaughter.
In 1744, the Ryker family left Newtown, (Queens) New York, for "The Closters," in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The Closters consisted of Closter Village (present Closter), Lower Closter (now Demarest), Upper Closter (now Alpine), and Old Closter (now Rockleigh). In Old Closter (also called Rockland), John Ryken bought from Henry & Mary Ludlow 40 acres in the Lockhart Patent on the road to Snedens Landing and built a farmstead - the Ryker-Mabie- Conklin- Sneden House".
~ Source: James Riker: "Annals of Newtown", p 309. Pub: D. Fanshaw, New York City, 1852
Upon settling in the Closters, the John Riker family did not move.
The same can not be said of the New York/New Jersey provincial boundary or the name of the hamlet.
Question is usually raised in accounts of this Riker branch as to the apparent resettling of John Ryker from "The Closters, NJ" to Orange County, NY, then back to Harrington Twp, New Jersey. The Riker homestead - the 40 acres purchased in "the Closters", NJ, in 1744 from Robert & Mary Ludlow and confirmed by the Province of NY in 1752 -is, indeed, the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin-Sneden House in Rockleigh, NJ. Searches of records in both New York and New Jersey indicate that the conveyance was not recorded. At that time, possession of the signed instrument was considered sufficient proof of ownership. None the less, the Riker's historic record in Rockleigh is clear.
Because the boundary between the Provinces of Jersey and New York was disputed, the New Jersey land in the Closters on which the Ryker homestead was established in 1744 came in 1750 under the authority of Tappan Town, Orange County in the Province of New York. The Reformed Dutch Church in Tappan, NY, was the closest church and it was here that the Riker's usually were baptized, married, and buried. Upon settlement of the boundary dispute in 1769, the Ryker farm came under the jurisdiction of Harrington Township, Bergen County, NJ.
Not only had the state boundary moved a few times, but the immediate area (or parts thereof) has been called or referred to as "Kings Woods", "Lockhart Patent", "The Closters", "Old Closter", Tappan, Rockland Neighborhood, Rockland, Rocklands, "Turkey Ridge", Closter Mountain, East Northvale, and Rockleigh.
John's sons, Abraham and Gerardus, built houses on portions of his contiguous lands.
At the time of the settlement of the provincial boundary dispute in 1769, a list was made of the families residing along Snedens Landing Road from the resolved New York-New Jersey boundary southward towards Closter.
In what is now Rockleigh they were: John Gesner, Jacob Conklin, Jr., Gerardus Ryker, John Ryker [Sr], Abraham Ryker, Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* It is clear that the Rykers (Gerardus, John Sr, and Abraham) each had their own house on John Ryker lands, arranged from north to south along the road between those of Jacob Conklin, Jr, (existing as Conklin-Sneden House) and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr. (existing as Haring-Corning House).
Thus the original Ryker tract was situated between and adjacent to those lands Jacob Conklin, Jr. and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* Of the three Ryker houses, the old homestead of John (Sr) exists as the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin- Sneden House (14 Rockleigh Road). The remains of the house of son Gerardus consists of a cellar hole on borough property just north of John's homestead (opp. 19 Rockleigh Road), later occupied by the Jacob Sneden family.
The house of son Abraham was subsequently occupied three more Riker generations: the Peter Riker, Jacob Riker, and Abraham Riker families. The house exists today as an old stone house deep within the Greek Revival structure that was the former "Pegasus Club" (15 Rockleigh Road).
* "Papers Relating to the New York and New Jersey Boundary Controversy 1686-1775". Vol. 29, p 72. George H. Budke Collection, Manuscript Room, New York Public Library.
His Will
In his will, drafted 21 June, 1765 (proved 28 Oct 1783), John Ryker of Orange Township, Orange County, New York, stipulates:
• My eldest son, Abraham, the house and lot and ½ the saw mills, and 1/3 of my salt meadow; and ½ of the rest of land and swamps, to be divided equally between my sons, Abraham and John.
• Son, John, ½ of my saw mills, and of the rest of the land where I live, and 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades, 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades [Gerardus], the house and land where he lives, and the said 40 acres which I hold in Orange Co."
• Witnesses: Jacob Conklin, Jacob Conklin Jr., Thomas Outwater.*
* John Ryken (1690-1783) Will of 21 June 1765 - NJ Archives, 1st series, Volume 35, Wills VI, p. 339.
• Will Proved on October 28, 1783 in New Jersey per abstract
When John died 18 years later in 1783, he had sold the homestead in 1770 to Peter Mabie.
Abraham resided in houses they had built on his properties in "The Closters".
John, Jr. apparently took over Gerardus' house when Gerardus took his family westward to [West] Virginia and on to Kentucky, where he was killed by Indians.
As such, the 1765 will of John Ryken did not change the locations of Abraham and John, Jr.*
The spelling of the family name appears to have changed to Ryker about 1776.
John Ryker ~ A Life Remembered
The following information was contributed by Carole Nurmi Cummings, a Dutch descendant from the 1600s and his sixth great granddaughter.
In 1744, the Ryker family left Newtown, (Queens) New York, for "The Closters," in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The Closters consisted of Closter Village (present Closter), Lower Closter (now Demarest), Upper Closter (now Alpine), and Old Closter (now Rockleigh). In Old Closter (also called Rockland), John Ryken bought from Henry & Mary Ludlow 40 acres in the Lockhart Patent on the road to Snedens Landing and built a farmstead - the Ryker-Mabie- Conklin- Sneden House".
~ Source: James Riker: "Annals of Newtown", p 309. Pub: D. Fanshaw, New York City, 1852
Upon settling in the Closters, the John Riker family did not move.
The same can not be said of the New York/New Jersey provincial boundary or the name of the hamlet.
Question is usually raised in accounts of this Riker branch as to the apparent resettling of John Ryker from "The Closters, NJ" to Orange County, NY, then back to Harrington Twp, New Jersey. The Riker homestead - the 40 acres purchased in "the Closters", NJ, in 1744 from Robert & Mary Ludlow and confirmed by the Province of NY in 1752 -is, indeed, the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin-Sneden House in Rockleigh, NJ. Searches of records in both New York and New Jersey indicate that the conveyance was not recorded. At that time, possession of the signed instrument was considered sufficient proof of ownership. None the less, the Riker's historic record in Rockleigh is clear.
Because the boundary between the Provinces of Jersey and New York was disputed, the New Jersey land in the Closters on which the Ryker homestead was established in 1744 came in 1750 under the authority of Tappan Town, Orange County in the Province of New York. The Reformed Dutch Church in Tappan, NY, was the closest church and it was here that the Riker's usually were baptized, married, and buried. Upon settlement of the boundary dispute in 1769, the Ryker farm came under the jurisdiction of Harrington Township, Bergen County, NJ.
Not only had the state boundary moved a few times, but the immediate area (or parts thereof) has been called or referred to as "Kings Woods", "Lockhart Patent", "The Closters", "Old Closter", Tappan, Rockland Neighborhood, Rockland, Rocklands, "Turkey Ridge", Closter Mountain, East Northvale, and Rockleigh.
John's sons, Abraham and Gerardus, built houses on portions of his contiguous lands.
At the time of the settlement of the provincial boundary dispute in 1769, a list was made of the families residing along Snedens Landing Road from the resolved New York-New Jersey boundary southward towards Closter.
In what is now Rockleigh they were: John Gesner, Jacob Conklin, Jr., Gerardus Ryker, John Ryker [Sr], Abraham Ryker, Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* It is clear that the Rykers (Gerardus, John Sr, and Abraham) each had their own house on John Ryker lands, arranged from north to south along the road between those of Jacob Conklin, Jr, (existing as Conklin-Sneden House) and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr. (existing as Haring-Corning House).
Thus the original Ryker tract was situated between and adjacent to those lands Jacob Conklin, Jr. and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* Of the three Ryker houses, the old homestead of John (Sr) exists as the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin- Sneden House (14 Rockleigh Road). The remains of the house of son Gerardus consists of a cellar hole on borough property just north of John's homestead (opp. 19 Rockleigh Road), later occupied by the Jacob Sneden family.
The house of son Abraham was subsequently occupied three more Riker generations: the Peter Riker, Jacob Riker, and Abraham Riker families. The house exists today as an old stone house deep within the Greek Revival structure that was the former "Pegasus Club" (15 Rockleigh Road).
* "Papers Relating to the New York and New Jersey Boundary Controversy 1686-1775". Vol. 29, p 72. George H. Budke Collection, Manuscript Room, New York Public Library.
His Will
In his will, drafted 21 June, 1765 (proved 28 Oct 1783), John Ryker of Orange Township, Orange County, New York, stipulates:
• My eldest son, Abraham, the house and lot and ½ the saw mills, and 1/3 of my salt meadow; and ½ of the rest of land and swamps, to be divided equally between my sons, Abraham and John.
• Son, John, ½ of my saw mills, and of the rest of the land where I live, and 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades, 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades [Gerardus], the house and land where he lives, and the said 40 acres which I hold in Orange Co."
• Witnesses: Jacob Conklin, Jacob Conklin Jr., Thomas Outwater.*
* John Ryken (1690-1783) Will of 21 June 1765 - NJ Archives, 1st series, Volume 35, Wills VI, p. 339.
• Will Proved on October 28, 1783 in New Jersey per abstract
When John died 18 years later in 1783, he had sold the homestead in 1770 to Peter Mabie.
Abraham resided in houses they had built on his properties in "The Closters".
John, Jr. apparently took over Gerardus' house when Gerardus took his family westward to [West] Virginia and on to Kentucky, where he was killed by Indians.
As such, the 1765 will of John Ryken did not change the locations of Abraham and John, Jr.*
The spelling of the family name appears to have changed to Ryker about 1776.
The following information was contributed by Carole Nurmi Cummings, a Dutch descendant from the 1600s and his sixth great granddaughter.
In 1744, the Ryker family left Newtown, (Queens) New York, for "The Closters," in Bergen County, New Jersey.
The Closters consisted of Closter Village (present Closter), Lower Closter (now Demarest), Upper Closter (now Alpine), and Old Closter (now Rockleigh). In Old Closter (also called Rockland), John Ryken bought from Henry & Mary Ludlow 40 acres in the Lockhart Patent on the road to Snedens Landing and built a farmstead - the Ryker-Mabie- Conklin- Sneden House".
~ Source: James Riker: "Annals of Newtown", p 309. Pub: D. Fanshaw, New York City, 1852
Upon settling in the Closters, the John Riker family did not move.
The same can not be said of the New York/New Jersey provincial boundary or the name of the hamlet.
Question is usually raised in accounts of this Riker branch as to the apparent resettling of John Ryker from "The Closters, NJ" to Orange County, NY, then back to Harrington Twp, New Jersey. The Riker homestead - the 40 acres purchased in "the Closters", NJ, in 1744 from Robert & Mary Ludlow and confirmed by the Province of NY in 1752 -is, indeed, the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin-Sneden House in Rockleigh, NJ. Searches of records in both New York and New Jersey indicate that the conveyance was not recorded. At that time, possession of the signed instrument was considered sufficient proof of ownership. None the less, the Riker's historic record in Rockleigh is clear.
Because the boundary between the Provinces of Jersey and New York was disputed, the New Jersey land in the Closters on which the Ryker homestead was established in 1744 came in 1750 under the authority of Tappan Town, Orange County in the Province of New York. The Reformed Dutch Church in Tappan, NY, was the closest church and it was here that the Riker's usually were baptized, married, and buried. Upon settlement of the boundary dispute in 1769, the Ryker farm came under the jurisdiction of Harrington Township, Bergen County, NJ.
Not only had the state boundary moved a few times, but the immediate area (or parts thereof) has been called or referred to as "Kings Woods", "Lockhart Patent", "The Closters", "Old Closter", Tappan, Rockland Neighborhood, Rockland, Rocklands, "Turkey Ridge", Closter Mountain, East Northvale, and Rockleigh.
John's sons, Abraham and Gerardus, built houses on portions of his contiguous lands.
At the time of the settlement of the provincial boundary dispute in 1769, a list was made of the families residing along Snedens Landing Road from the resolved New York-New Jersey boundary southward towards Closter.
In what is now Rockleigh they were: John Gesner, Jacob Conklin, Jr., Gerardus Ryker, John Ryker [Sr], Abraham Ryker, Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* It is clear that the Rykers (Gerardus, John Sr, and Abraham) each had their own house on John Ryker lands, arranged from north to south along the road between those of Jacob Conklin, Jr, (existing as Conklin-Sneden House) and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr. (existing as Haring-Corning House).
Thus the original Ryker tract was situated between and adjacent to those lands Jacob Conklin, Jr. and Abraham Ab. Haring, Jr.* Of the three Ryker houses, the old homestead of John (Sr) exists as the Ryker-Mabie-Conklin- Sneden House (14 Rockleigh Road). The remains of the house of son Gerardus consists of a cellar hole on borough property just north of John's homestead (opp. 19 Rockleigh Road), later occupied by the Jacob Sneden family.
The house of son Abraham was subsequently occupied three more Riker generations: the Peter Riker, Jacob Riker, and Abraham Riker families. The house exists today as an old stone house deep within the Greek Revival structure that was the former "Pegasus Club" (15 Rockleigh Road).
* "Papers Relating to the New York and New Jersey Boundary Controversy 1686-1775". Vol. 29, p 72. George H. Budke Collection, Manuscript Room, New York Public Library.
His Will
In his will, drafted 21 June, 1765 (proved 28 Oct 1783), John Ryker of Orange Township, Orange County, New York, stipulates:
• My eldest son, Abraham, the house and lot and ½ the saw mills, and 1/3 of my salt meadow; and ½ of the rest of land and swamps, to be divided equally between my sons, Abraham and John.
• Son, John, ½ of my saw mills, and of the rest of the land where I live, and 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades, 1/3 of my salt meadow, and ½ of the rest of the land and swamp, which I hold in Orange, Co.
• My younger son, Grades [Gerardus], the house and land where he lives, and the said 40 acres which I hold in Orange Co."
• Witnesses: Jacob Conklin, Jacob Conklin Jr., Thomas Outwater.*
* John Ryken (1690-1783) Will of 21 June 1765 - NJ Archives, 1st series, Volume 35, Wills VI, p. 339.
• Will Proved on October 28, 1783 in New Jersey per abstract
When John died 18 years later in 1783, he had sold the homestead in 1770 to Peter Mabie.
Abraham resided in houses they had built on his properties in "The Closters".
John, Jr. apparently took over Gerardus' house when Gerardus took his family westward to [West] Virginia and on to Kentucky, where he was killed by Indians.
As such, the 1765 will of John Ryken did not change the locations of Abraham and John, Jr.*
The spelling of the family name appears to have changed to Ryker about 1776.
Gravesite Details
No legible headstone remains
Family Members
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