Michael Henry, the Immigrant

[biographical sketch in progress]

Parentage is unknown at this time. They were born in Scotland, going from there to Newry, a seaport town in Counties Down and Armagh, Ireland. From newry, Michael migrated to America, along with other Scots who came in large numbers about the same time. He brought with him his wife, Jean or Jane, also perhaps born in Scotland, and certainly of Scotch parentage.

While no date of the coming to America has been found, it was probably in 1716 or earlier, as on October 19th of that year he purchased from John Harrison a lot in the town of Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, for 20 pounds. This lot was sold by Michael and Jean thirteen years later on 29 December 1729.

On 24 December 1733 he purchased a farm of 137 acres in then-Amwell, later Readington Township, Huntertown County, New Jersey, which became the Henry homestead and where Michael lived until his death.

The inscription on Michael's tombstone is as follows: Here lie the precious remains of Michael Henry who died Dec. 1760 aged 77 years. The truly pious, faithful, loving friend, who persevered in every Christian virtue to the end, To all his virtues neighbors and relatives dear, Still loving them and serving God in fear, but now he's gone to praise his God above Where sorrows cease, and nothing dwells but love.

MICHAEL HENRY – HENRIE EMIGRANT ANCESTOR Our ancestral emigrant to America was Michael Henry, of Readington Twsp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. He was b. about 1683, probably in Scotland. His parents at least were b. in Scotland, going from there to Newry, a seaport town in Counties Down and Armagh, Ireland. From Newry, Michael migrated to America, along with other Scotchmen who came in large numbers about the same time. He brought with him his wife, Jean or Jane, b. about 1694, also perhaps in Scotland, and certainly of Scotch parentage. Michael d. Dec. 1760 and was buried at Three Bridges Hunterdon Co., New Jersey [bapt. by proxy 18 Oct. 1924, end. 23 Apr. 1926]. She d. June 1761 and was buried at Three Bridges.

While no date of their coming to America has been found, it was probably in 1716, or earlier, as on Oct. 19 of that year he purchased of John Harrison a lot in the town of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, for 20 pounds. This lot was sold by Michael and Jean on 29 Dec. 1729. It is probable that Michael lived upon this lot until his removal to Hunterdon Co. While at Perth Amboy in 1718 he was appointed as assistant alderman of that city.

Michael may have gone to Hunterdon Co. from Perth Amboy in 1732, or earlier. On 24 Dec. 1733 he purchased a farm of 137 acres in then Amwell, later Readington Twsp. Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, which became the Henry homestead and is where Michael lived until his death. It was near Three Bridges, on the northerly side of the south branch of the Raritan River. (This farm descended to his son Nathaniel, by Michael’s will.) Subsequently he, Michael, purchased lands, probably adjoining. He also purchased on 13 Dec. 1743, 166 2/3 acres near Bloomsbury, which he sold Apr. 1752 to his son Michael. These deeds show his thrift and business success.

When he purchased the Emons farm in 1733, Michael was about 50 years of age, and, as he had been married since about 1714, or earlier (judging from his wife’s date of birth) various of his children must have been born at Perth Amboy, and perhaps the eldest, William, in Ireland. Only the younger of his eight children were probably born in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Michael signed his name to a deed as ‘Michael Henarie.’ In 1733-34 Michael’s name was spelled ‘Hendry,’ but never so by himself.

That Michael was a man of influence and high character is shown not only by the fact that he was a chosen freeholder of the new township at and after its formation in 1734 and 1735, and then an overseer of the poor in 1735, but by the further fact that, about the time of the organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Amwell (near Rezville, Hunterdon Co.) a meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was held at his house 11 Oct. 1739. At this time Michael was an elder of the Amwell church, his name appearing second on the [p. 2] roll of elders of that church. He probably remained an elder for life (as the custom then was), as in 1756 his name again appears as one of the elders of the church who attended a meeting of the Presbytery. In 1749 Michael was one of the members of a lottery to raise funds to finish the Presbyterian meeting house and to purchase a parsonage; he made a subscription to such parsonage.

Michael died Dec. 1760 at the age of 77 years. He was buried, as was his wife later, in a burial plot near Three Bridges, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, on what may have been the farm on which he was living at the time of his decease. The plot lies between the New Jersey Central Railroad track and the South Branch River, and two elms still overshadow their graves. Other interments there are of persons belonging to a Rowe family. A relationship between the Henry and Rowe families has not been established; it is possible a Rowe was a subsequent owner of the land.

Michael’s will of 17 January 1760 was probated 7 January 1761 (Trenton Wills, Book 10, p. 540). This will, which states he is “of Reading Township,” names his wife Jean, and, so far as known, all his children, viz: William, Esther, Michael, Daniel, David, John, Nathaniel (now gone to sea), Margaret, and Sarah; his grandson John, son of his son Michael; his grandson Arthur, eldest son of his eldest son William; and his son-in-law William Bishop. By this will he devises to his wife Jean “the northeast upper room in the house where I now dwell” (a not unusual bequest in those days) with choice of furniture for it, and with provision that his son John shall pay her 15 lbs. yearly and sufficient [p. 3] meat, drink, and firewood, and with other provisions for her sustenance. To his son John he devises the tract he purchased of Abraham Delemater and the widow Bogart; Nathaniel, the tract he purchased of Nicholas Emons; to his daughter Margaret and Sarah, the tract he purchased of John Rupert; and his library books (which must have been numerous for that period), to his children, the Rev. James McCrea, of Lamington, to make the division of such books. The executors were his sons David and John, and Jacob Mattison.

An inventory of his personal estate, filed 5 Jan. 1761, amounted to 712.8.0 lbs. and included 22 horses and colts, 34 cattle, and 37 sheep, weave house and smoke house, spinning wheels, 2 guns, etc. On 19 Nov. 1766 a final account was rendered by his son John Henry.

Jean's will was signed by mark on 3 March 1761, three months before her death, and was not probated until 26 November1763 (Trenton Wills, Book ll, p. 445). In it she mentions only her grandson Arthur Henry, son-in-law William Bishop, and son John, the two latest being her executors. Her small estate was settled 22 January 1768.

The true name of the wife of Michael Henry is not known. His will and hers shows it as ‘Jean’ and her will shows it as ‘Jean.’ In other references her name is given as ‘Jane’ or 'Jane Robertson'.

A family tradition tells of Michael Henry bringing with him to America a fine large apple, or apple tree, which became known as the Michael Henry apple. Some descendants of this tree were long known in various parts of Utah and are said yet to be found in some areas.

There being no Bible or other records discovered giving the births or particulars of Michael Henry’s children (except of David), it has been difficult to give dates of birth or the full names of the wives of many of his nine children. The birth dates given below are therefore, for the most part, conjecture, and the order of the nine children is not quite certain:

1. William Henry (born c.1716 probably Ireland) married Hannah Cook
2. Esther Henry (born c.1718) probably New Jersey) married William Bishop
3. Michael Henry (born c.1721, Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey) married Sarah. His father's will spells his name as “Micha”
4. Daniel Henry (born c.1722 Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey) married Sarah Graham
5. Nathaniel Henry (c.1724, Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey - 15 May 1763 will probated) no marriage record, probably died at sea
6. John Henry (1726 Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey - July 1772 will probated) married Stinchee
7. Sarah Henry (born 1728) married John Crawford
8. Margaret Henry (1729 - 1777) no record of marriage
9. David Henry, (1731 - 24 Jan. 1783) married Mary Rosbrough

Further Reading

• Henry Genealogy, A6E7, pp. 153-156. Somerset Hist. Quarterly, Vol. 7 (Year 1918), p. 98 N.J.S-1, Vol. 7, pp. 98-99 102-107. N.J. I, Vol. 35, pp. 186-8 Utah Genealogical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
• N.J. 1 Vol. 33, p. 188—Utah Genealogical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

Sources

• The Red Book
• Find A Grave Memorial# 57945407

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LDP5-KVW

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Birth: 1683, Scotland
Death: Dec. 1760, USA

Children: William Henry Esther Henry Michael or Micha Henry Daniel Henry Nathaniel Henry John Henry Sarah Henry Margaret Henry David Henry

He was of Scotch Irish descent. Michael married Jean or Jane about 1713 and started the Henry (Henrie) line in America. They went from Scotland to Newry, a seaport town in Counties Down and Armagh, Ireland. From here they emigrated to Perth Amboy, New Jersey about 1716; lived there at Readington and Bedminster and died at Three Bridges, all towns of New Jersey.

Michael was a man of influence, a chosen free holder in 1734, and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was the father of nine children and left valuable books, real estate and 712.80 pounds sterling to his heirs.

Bio taken from Henrie.org.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Jean Robertson Henry (1694 - 1761)

Children:

 William Henry (1716 - 1756) *

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: Here lies the precious remains of Michael Henry who died Dec. 1760, aged 77 years The truly pious, faithful, loving friend, who persevered in every Christian virtue to the end. To all his virtues neighbors and relatives dear, Still loving them and serving God in fear. But now he's gone to praise his God above, where sorrows cease, and nothing dwells but love.

Burial: Rowe Cemetery Three Bridges Hunterdon County New Jersey, USA

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Created by: Karen Fisher Record added: Aug 31, 2010, Find A Grave Memorial# 57945407 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=henry&GSfn=mi...