Next up in the review of the proposed children of Jacob Vanderhoof (1772-1847) and Ann Hopler (1772-1841) are two sons who relocated from New Jersey to Wisconsin in the 1850s: John and Samuel. More information is needed to definitively link all these people.
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| Worksheet of proposed offspring Jacob Vanderhoof and Ann Hopler born in Morris County, New Jersey 1790s through 1820s. *Do not use this as documentation of any names, dates, or relations!* |
In prior articles we reviewed other possible children of Jacob Vanderhoof and Ann Hopler.
-Hiley Vanderhoof (1803-1888) and Elizabeth (1799-1878) were two different people.
-Mary Vanderhoof (1822-1861) was not their daughter.
-Charlotte Cook (18xx-18xx) was a daughter with a close relationship (sister?) to Elizabeth.
Vanderhoof brothers John and Samuel and their many descendants are found in many records of Wisconsin.
Here is a map of the United States with boundaries from the early 1850s. The path from New Jersey to Wisconsin must have been treacherous and difficult. I do not know why these brothers, along with other families from the area of Morris County, relocated.
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| Map of the United States 1850s. New Jersey and Wisconsin are indicated with red arrows. |
Louisa Caroline Freeman Hickerson (1921-2018) was a cousin of mine on few lines. In her book assembled in 1991 titled Vanderhoof, Louisa tried tracing John and Samuel. The pertinent entries are excerpted below.
JOHN VANDERHOOF 1804-1888
Louisa provided exact dates for John Vanderhoof. He was born January 15, 1804 and died March 24, 1888. These are the dates on his gravestone in Maple Grove Cemetery in Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, which we can see today thanks to his memorial page on Find A Grave. Louisa did not specify her source in her book.
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| Brief overview of John Vanderhoof, born 1804 and died 1888 in Wisconsin |
Below is John and Sarah's household in the 1860 census in Plymouth. Note that the prior household is Shauger- another Morris County family. John's son Peter married Susanna Shauger (1836-1913). Note that the next household is Dobbin, the family of John's wife, Sarah Dobbin.
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| 1860 federal census. Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Household of John Vanderhoof, farmer, of New Jersey. |
Sarah Dobbin, wife of John Vanderhoof, died in 1876 in Plymouth. Her death certificate was included in this collection at Ancestry.
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| Death certificate of Mrs John Vanderhoof, died January 7, 1876 in Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. |
I did not find a match for the death of John Vanderhoof, 1888, in this collection. Alternatively, a record of death could have been filed with the Register of Deeds for the county in which the death occurred. I requested a search of Sheboygan County. This had to be done by regular postal mail. Within two weeks the task was completed with the issuance of a piece of paper "unable to locate the record."
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| Unable to locate record of death John Vanderhoof 1888, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin |
A death certificate could have provided the names of John Vanderhoof's parents.
Samuel Saron Vanderhoof also relocated to Wisconsin. I have not uncovered any documents using this middle name.
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| Brief overview of Samuel Saron Vanderhoof, born around 1811, unknown date of death |
Louisa wrote, "One record has 3-1-1809 for date of birth but that might be in error. Charlotte was born September 4, 1809 in Denville." Which record? Based on his ages in the census, he was probably born in 1807 or 1808.
Charlotte Vanderhoof (1809-1886) married Chileon Cook (1807-1888) in 1828.
"Samuel Vanderhoof and Eleanor Anderson - married 6-15-1836 according to one record." Which record?
Louisa was unable to discover the names of any children of Samuel and Eleanor. This couple had at least ten children. The family relocated to Wisconsin by 1855, when they appeared in the Wisconsin State census in Plymouth. The 1860 federal census reflects this move in the birthplaces of the children. Mary Ella Vanderhoof (1853-1921) was born in New Jersey in White Meadow, Morris County. Hannah C, later called Fanny Caroline, was born in Wisconsin around 1856.
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| 1860 federal census Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Household of Samuel Vanderhoof and Elena [Anderson]. |
There was another man named Samuel Vanderhoof of the same age who remained in Morris County, New Jersey. This Samuel was a son of Cornelius Vanderhoof and Sarah Smith. He died in 1886 in Boonton, Rockaway Valley.
Some newspapers for the area are online. I did not find obituaries for John or Samuel. If anyone knows how to access more newspaper archives for this area of Wisconsin, please comment below.
Probate records are online at Ancestry. Sheboygan County is not included in this collection.
FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDED
If anyone has further resources to explore in Wisconsin, directives would be appreciated.
