The Cornelius Quicks of Amwell Twsp., Hunterdon Co., NJ
Updated and corrected 5/1/2026 [1]
There were several marriages of men named Cornelius Quick in and around Amwell in the period from 1770 to 1790. There has been some uncertainty about them and their families. This article will offer some additional information about them.
Cornelius Quick and Mary Williamson, 13 Oct 1770 [2]
Cornelius Quick and Anne Covenhoven 11 Dec 1771 [3]
Cornelius Quick and Elizabeth Quimby 2 Jul 1772 [4]
Cornelius Quick and Eleanor Schenck 26 Jun 1779 [5]
Cornelius Quick and Anne Johnson 4 Feb 1789 [6]
Cornelius5 Quick (Peter4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) and Eleanor Schenck are said to have had two sons, Jacob and Garret. [7] However, those were not their sons. The will of Garret Schenck of Amwell Twsp, Hunterdon Co., NJ, dated 9 Jun 1794, mentions his grandsons, Peter and Ralph, sons of his daughter Lanah and his son-in-law, Cornelius Quick. [8] On 3 Aug 1797, Ralph and Peter Quick of Hunterdon Co., sons of Cornelius Quick, dec’d, made the choice of Jacob Schenck as their guardian. [9] Jacob was undoubtedly their maternal uncle.
Who then were the parents of Garret and Jacob Quick? First, they probably had a sister, Mary Quick, who married Judiah Higgins by license dated 13 May 1809 in Hunterdon Co., NJ. [10] Mary was 68 in the 1850 census of Raritan, Hunterdon Co., NJ, [11] so born about 1782. She had a son named Cornelius Quick Higgins. [12] Her presumed half-brother, Jacob, had a son named Judiah [13] (Joshua [14] ) Higgins Quick, born about 1826. In the 1850 census Jediah was living in Trenton, East Ward, Mercer Co., NJ. [15] Jacob J. Quick was born about 1790 and was living in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ according to the 1850 census. [16] Garret was estimated to have been born about 1782.
I believe Mary, Garret [17] , and Cornelius (mentioned in the will of his grandfather [18] ) are children of Cornelius6 Quick (Cornelius5, Francis4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) and Anne Covenhoven, [19] while Jacob [20] is the son of Cornelius and his presumed 2nd wife, Anne Johnson. [21] Cornelius6 Quick was identified as the grandson of Francis Quick in a deed of 20 Mar 1794 when he and his wife, Ann, Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ sold 135 1/4 acres of land to John Schenck, noting that Francis Quick, by his will dated 6 Jan 1772, willed his two sons, Cornelius and Teunis, all his lands, which they divided on 10 May 1779; Cornelius in turn willed his land on 19 Feb 1790 to his son, Cornelius, the owner at the time of the deed. [22]
Anne Covenhoven was the daughter of John Couwenhoven and Mary Sprong, [23] though Mary is frequently misidentified as Mary Cozine. Anne's daughter, Mary, was named after her maternal grandmother, while her son, Garret, was named after his maternal uncle. Her other son, Cornelius, was named after his paternal grandfather.
Ann Johnson was the daughter of Jacobus Johnson and supposedly Sarah Quick. [24] Jacobus was the son of Cornelius Johnson and his 2nd wife, Ann Stout, mentioned in his father’s will written in Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ on 5 Mar 1770, named as one of the executors. In May 1786 Cornelius Johnson is mentioned as the surviving executor, Jacobus having died in the interim. [25] Jacobus’ will, written on 2 Jan 1778 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ, mentions his wife, but does not name her, his two sons, Jacob James and Peter, and his daughters, Alice, Sarah and Anna. The will was proved on 24 Oct 1778. [26] Later probate records show that Jacobus’ wife at his death was named Elizabeth, not Sarah. Letters of administration on her estate were given on 14 Aug 1790 to Peter Johnson (presumably her son), with Cornelius Quick, fellowbondsman (presumably her son-in-law by his marriage to her daughter, Ann), all of Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ. [27] It is unknown if Elizabeth was the mother of any of Jacobus’ children. Peter Johnson died before 13 May 1801 when Peter Fisher [Peter’s brother-in-law] and Jacob James Johnson [his brother], all of Hunterdon Co., NJ were declared the fellowbondsmen for his estate.
Cornelius and Ann Johnson’s son, Jacob J (James?), was probably named after his maternal uncle. Cornelius Quick was of Oxford, Sussex Co., NJ when he died before 24 Nov 1795 and Jacob James Johnson [presumably his brother-in-law] of Hunterdon Co. was given administration of his estate. [28] An inventory of his estate was taken in Hunterdon Co. by Peter Prisler [Peter Fisher?, his brother-in-law] and Jacob Schenck. His widow, Ann, married Jesse Pettit before 27 May 1805 when she and her remaining siblings sold land of their brother, Peter, who had died without heirs. [29]
Mary Williamson, wife of Cornelius5 Quick (Francis4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1), was probably the widow of John Williamson who died in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ before 26 Aug 1769. [30] As his second wife (his first wife being unknown), she was probably not the mother of any of his children. Her son, Jacob Williamson, moved to Amwell by 1778 and may have been living with Cornelius and Mary in 1780. [31]
Elizabeth Quimby, wife of Cornelius5 Quick (Teunis4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1), was the widow of Ephraim Quimby who died before 25 Sep 1767 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ when his will was proved. [32] Cornelius did not marry Ephraim and Elizabeth’s daughter, Elizabeth, as some have suggested. In the Quick Genealogy, this Cornelius was combined with Cornelius5 Quick (Johannes4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1). However, they were two different men, the second marrying a woman named Susannah [33] and also lived in Washington Co., PA around the same time (see footnote 1).
As noted earlier, the husband of Sarah5 Quick (Teunis4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) is uncertain. Jacobus Johnson is unlikely as his wife at his death was Elizabeth, though Sarah could have been his first wife. The other option is Andries/Andrew Johnson/Jansen. He was not the son of John Johnson of Maidenhead as suggested by Stuart Quick. [34] who was underage in 1752 according to his father’s will. Catherine died in 1747 and John remarried Mary Fish, so their son Andrew was born no earlier than 1748, [35] too late to have been the father of Coert and David. Andrew’s parents were more likely Coert Johnson [36] and Guertje Lane, born about 1717. [37] He married Mary Knowles who was the mother of his children, but Sarah may have been his second wife since his will mentions a wife, but does not name her. [38] His eldest son (presumably Cornelius’ nephew), Coert, was baptized in 1739 at Readington. [39] Her father’s will [40] states that his moveable estate is to be sold after his death, but at least some of his real estate was only to be sold after the death of his wife. Her mother died before 3 Jan 1787 when an inventory of her estate taken. There is an accounting of the estate on 19 Oct 1787 which includes a legacy paid to an Andris Johnson, which is well after this Andries Johnson died. A review of the accounting may clarify that question.
Jacob James Johnson, son of Jacobus Johnson (a relative of John Johnson of Maidenhead) and Elizabeth, was the administrator of the estate of Cornelius6 Quick (Cornelius5, Francis4) on 24 Nov 1795, [41] which may be part of the reason for associating Andrew with John Johnson of Maidenhead). David Johnson and Henry Johnson, Jr. were the fellowbondsmen. David and Henry were probably sons of Hendrick Johnson, son of Coert Johnson and Geurtje Lane, [42] (probable brother of Andrew Johnson, but not related to John Johnson of Maidenhead) and Sarah Hover. Andrew’s brother, Abraham, [43] and his son, Coert, both migrated to Washington Co., PA, suggesting a close relationship between Cornelius Quick and this Johnson family.
Endnotes
[1] Two corrections have been made. 1) The parents of Cornelius Quick, husband of Elizabeth Quimby, were Teunis4 (Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) and Catherine, not Johannes Quick and Wyntje Kinne as appears in A Genealogy of the Quick Family in America (hereinafter Quick Family), by Arthur Craig Quick, p. 52, and in the previous version of this post. Stuart M. Quick identified correctly identified his parents in his book, “Beyond the Reserve, The Quick Family of Colchester, Essex County, Ontario, Canada”, see https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/GH8W-7JX . One important piece of evidence for this was that Tunis Quick, Jnr, of Amwell, undoubtedly his brother, served as the fellowbondsman for his marriage license to Elizabeth. 2) Cornelius Quick, husband of Mary Williamson, was the son Francis4 (Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) as appears in Quick Family, p. 49, not Teunis4 and Catherine as stated in the earlier version of this post. Stuart Quick also identified the father of Cornelius Quick, husband of Susannah, as the son of Johannes4 (Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1) and Wyntje Kinne, who was not included in Quick Family or the previous version on this post.
[2] Quick Family, p. 49.
[3] Quick Family, p. 75.
[4] Quick Family, p. 52.
[5] Quick Family, p. 54.
[6] Quick Family, p. 51.
[7] Quick Family, p. 85.
[8] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 36, Calendar of Wills, Vol 8, p. 38.
[9] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 37, Calendar of Wills, Vol 9, p. 292.
[10] Marriage Records of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 1795-1875, Vol. 1, by Hiram E. Deats, p. 224. This marriage is not included in the Quick Family genealogy.
[11] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1 :1:M6MJ-8M5 : 9 November 2014), Mary Higgins, Raritan, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; citing family 213, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[12] See: https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:Judiah_Higgins_and_Mary_Quick_(1)
[13] See: https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/LWTJ-GLN
[14] His name as it appears in Quick Family, p. 131.
[15] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1 :1:M6MV-TNG : 9 November 2014), Jediah H Quick, Trenton, East ward, Mercer, New Jersey, United States; citing family 621, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[16] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1 :1:M6MV-DJC : 9 November 2014), Jacob J Quick, Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; citing family 208, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[17] Quick Family, p. 85.
[18] Quick Family, p. 49.
[19] Quick Family, p. 85.
[20] Quick Family, p. 85.
[21] Quick Family, p. 51, suggests she may have married Cornelius5 Quick (Teunis4, Cornelius3, Jacob2, Teunis1), person E41, but she was not. No children were identified of that couple.
[22] Hunterdon Co., NJ Deeds, Vol. 1, p. 673.
[23] Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume VI. 1760-1766), ABSTRACTS OF WILLS LIBER 23, p. 101
[24] Quick Family, p. 52, person E25. Quick Family notes that Sarah may have married an Andries Johnson instead.
[25] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 33, Calendar of Wills, Vol 4, p. 219.
[26] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 34, Calendar of Wills, Vol 5, p. 274.
[27] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 36, Calendar of Wills, Vol 7, p. 126.
[28] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 37, Calendar of Wills, Vol 8, p. 291.
[29] Hunterdon, NJ Deeds, Vol 11, pg. 299.
[30] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 33, Calendar of Wills, Vol 4, p. 482.
[31] Revolutionary soldier, pension application(#W2393NJ) of 1832 states that Jacob Williamson lives in Clover Hill. By his own recollection, Jacob Williamson, Esquire, moved into Amwell Township in 1778. He may have been the single man of that name who resided with Cornelius Quick when Amwell Township's Assessor, John Lambert, prepared his tax list in 1780.
[32] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 33, Calendar of Wills, Vol 4, p. 340. For further details, see: Cornelius Quick (abt.1729-abt.1791) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
[33] Some Records of Old Hunterdon County, by Phyllis D’Autrechy, online at: https://www.familysearch.org/en/memories/memory/119320671
[34] Beyond the Reserve, The Quick Family of Colchester, Essex County, Ontario, Canada, Stuart M. Quick, p. 72
[35] Genealogical and Biographical Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, by Francis Bazley Lee, p. 444
[36] Coert and Andries Johnson were named as defendants in a suit brought by Daniel Selover in the Supreme Court of New Jersey for a debt in Hunterdon, NJ in 1753. Supreme Court Case Files, 1704-1844 Online at: https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/SupremeCourt.aspx
[37] Notes on the Descendants of Gysbert, Son of Matthias Lanen Van Pelt, New Netherland Ancestry blog, online at
[38] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 34, Calendar of Wills, Vol 5, p. 273.
[39] Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 4, p. 218.
[40] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 34, Calendar of Wills, Vol 5, p. 411.
[41] Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 37, Calendar of Wills, Vol 8, p. 291.
[42] Baptized at the Readington Reformed Dutch Church on 18 Dec 1737. Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 4, p. 217.
[43] Baptized at Readington, Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. ??, p. ??, and died at Washington, PA, see his will at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G991-MVX4?lang=en&i=189
