JOIN US FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL COLONIAL TIMES WEEKEND OCTOBER 9-10, 2010

Colonial Living History Alliance and Colonial Banquet

John Wyckoff’s grandfather arrived in New Amsterdam on March 13, 1637. At the age of twelve, he was indentured to Killian Van Rensselaer and worked out his five years near what is now Albany, New York. With his new wife, he soon moved to New Amsterdam, where he became the Superintendent of the Bowery for the Director General, Pieter Stuyvesant. His son Cornelius was one of eight, prosperous “Hollanders,” who lived in Brooklyn [Breukelen] and the Flatlands [NewAmertsfort], that came out to this region of New Jersey in 1701 looking for promising farmland. He purchased 1200 acres and divided it among his four of his sons.

His son John and bride moved onto this property in 1709 and his son Cornelius was born here in 1711. As this was a forested wilderness, John probably was not prosperous enough to build the first half of this house until 1730. After John died in 1746, Cornelius continued to farm on this site until his death in the 1790s. His wife continued to farm the property until her death in 1805. At that time Samuel Garretson, a farmer from Hillsborough, moved to the Wyckoff farmto be “closer to the city,” New Brunswick. He undertook the building of the second half of the house in the same traditional Dutch anchorbent style in 1740. Open hearth cooking, live music of the period and tours of the house and grounds results in a unique depiction of what 18th century life was like for many Colonists. Estimates vary slightly, but in the 1750’s, there was an estimated English population of 1.2 million people. At it’s height during the American Revolution, only about 20 to 30 thousand, or roughly about 2.5% of the population, were directly involved in the military.

What about the other 97 percent? They were farmers, midwives, tavern and shop keepers, and other civilians that continued to go about their daily lives, in spite of the European power struggles going on around them.

Each day there will be activities going on all day, around and in the house. Join our celebration of Colonial Times! There is no admission to Colonial Times weekend.


Colonial Time Weekend is held at:
Wyckoff-Garretson House
215 South Middlebush Road
Somerset, NJ 08873

Hours:
Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday: 12 to 5 PM

Colonial Banquet- Saturday, October 9th
at 6 p.m.
Hageman House and Barn
209 South Middlebush Road
Somerset, NJ 08873
tel. (732) 828-7418
Map and directions

Banquet tickets are $30, and advance reservations are a MUST by October 4. Banquet checks should be sent to the Van Wickle House, 1289 Easton Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873. Download a copy of the printable flyer here.

At last years event, guests enjoyed an authentic Colonial meal surrounded by Colonial re enactors in authentic period clothes at the Hageman House and Farm. Last year, we had 18th Century Music featuring the Harpsichord Baroque Flute and Recorder.