Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey)

Coordinates: 40°52′59″N 74°15′35″W / 40.88306°N 74.25972°W / 40.88306; -74.25972
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Van Ness House
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey) is located in Essex County, New Jersey
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey)
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey) is located in New Jersey
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey)
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey) is located in the United States
Van Ness House (Fairfield, New Jersey)
Location236 Little Falls Road, Fairfield, New Jersey
Coordinates40°52′59″N 74°15′35″W / 40.88306°N 74.25972°W / 40.88306; -74.25972
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
BuiltNovember 5, 1740
NRHP reference No.77000862[1]
NJRHP No.1086[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 29, 1977
Designated NJRHPAugust 10, 1976

The Van Ness House, also known as the Peter Van Ness Farmhouse, is located at 236 Little Falls Road in the township of Fairfield in Essex County, New Jersey. The house was built about 1740. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1939.[3] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1977, for its significance in agriculture and architecture.[4]

The cornerstone shows the date the house was completed, November 5, 1740

Van Ness family history[edit]

Nine Dutch settlers (Simon Van Ness, Gerebrand Clawson, Hans Spier, Elias Franson, Christopher Steinmets, Andrese Louwrentz, Garret Vanderhoof, Hessell Pieters and Jan Spier) purchased a substantial part of the Horseneck Tract from the Lenape Native Americans in 1701. Later surveys confirmed that Simon Van Ness owned 300 acres of the north-east boundary. When the Board of East Jersey Proprietors began to press settlers to secure Proprietary deeds, Simon produced proof of 'fee simple' purchase from The West Jersey Society a London based land investment partnership. Simon received a confirmation deed on September 3, 1744, After his death, Simon's properties were divided among his four sons and two sons-in-law. His son Isaac was given a substantial portion of the 300 acres in Fairfield including the homestead there. Isaac's son Peter was named executor of the will of Isaac Reyken (Ryker) on September 30, 1768. Peter Van Ness then became the first registered owner of the Van Ness House, along the Passaic River where it can still be found today.[3]

Changes to the house[edit]

The house went through some renovation in the 1840s, 1930s, and 1980's.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#77000862)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Essex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. December 22, 2021. p. 4.
  3. ^ a b "Peter Van Ness Farmhouse". Historic American Buildings Survey. 1939.
  4. ^ Gioioso, Jacquelin; Esposito, Joseph (December 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Van Ness House". National Park Service. With accompanying 2 photos

External links[edit]