Opdyke

Among the earliest settlers of Kingwood, the Opdyke family occupies a prominent place. They were, as the name indicates, from Holland, and are registered among the first who came to the Long Island settlements. Joshua Opdyke, the first who settled in Kingwood, was a grandson of Albert Opdyke, who emigrated from Holland. Joshua purchased several hundred acres of land of the heirs of William Biles, situated northeast of Barberstown. He had two sons, Luther and Richard; a daughter Catharine, who married a Mr. Van Syckel; one married a Mr. Hill; Fanny married Mr. Hoagland, and after his death, she married Ambrose Barcroft, and was the mother of Stacy B. Barcroft, of Philadelphia, lately deceased. Richard married Grace Thatcher. They had 12 children: Daniel, Jeremiah, Richard, Joshua, Elisha, Samuel, Elijah, Jonathan, Benjamin, Nancy, Fanny and Rebecca. Luther's son George was the father of Hon. George Opdyke, late Mayor of the City of New York.

Page 75 lists Hon. Luther Opdyke among the judges who sat upon the bench during the murder trial of James Guise ("Little Jim") in 1828.

Page 157 relates the emancipation of slaves in New Jersey. "The heirs of George Opdyke followed the example, in 1796, and manumitted their slave James Cullen."

Page 189 relates the recollections of Mr. Bonham and the notables who have shared his dinner table including "George Opdyke, late Mayor of New York City."

Lequear's articles were originally published 1869-70.