Ferdinand Schureman Schenck Papers

Ferdinand S. Schenck (1790-1860) was a physician who lived near Franklin Park, N.J. The papers include notes made by him as a student of medicine (with Dr. Peter I. Stryker, of Somerville, N.J. and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York), c. 1808-13, and later medical notes, speeches, etc., as well as accounts of his practice, 1811-59. Reflecting his political career are texts of speeches in the New Jersey legislature (c.1829-31) and U.S. Congress (1833-37) and on similar occasions; letters received, particularly during his Congressional service, from political associates in New Jersey; notes of cases heard by him as a judge, Court of Errors and Appeals, c.l845-57.

There are numerous papers of his father Martin Schenck (1770-1823) including his blacksmith accounts, 1792-1818, and many bail bonds, inventories, vendue lists, and writs, concerned with his function as Somerset County sheriff.

Both men served frequently as administrator, guardian, trustee, com-missioner, etc., and papers of many estates and of persons whose affairs they hand-led are found. The most extensive are those of Jacob A. Van Deventer (d. 1839), a New Brunswick (N.J.) clothing merchant with a branch outlet in St. Louis, Mo. Among the estate papers are many records of the two stores, including 84 letters (1836-39) from his partners in St. Louis, relating to the business.

There are some items of Ferdinand's children. One of the latter, Margaret, married Garret Nevius (1821-1896), and a few papers of Garret and several generations of forebears are found: Peter D. Nevius, 1787-91; Garret P. Nevius, blacksmith accounts, etc., 1785-1810; John Staats Nevius (1797-1883), farm accounts, diaries, etc., 1821-76. A son of Garret and Margaret, John Staats Nevius (1848-1898), attended the Lawrenceville (N.J.) Classical and Commercial High School. Most of his papers (letters received, etc.), 1862-69, date from this period.

Miscellaneous (i.e., extraneous or of undetermined relationship) papers include Somerset County and Bridgewater freeholders lists, 1817; Franklin Township tax list, c.l823; many deeds, mortgages., surveys.

Most of the papers relate to Somerset County (chiefly Franklin Township) and, to a lesser extent, Middlesex County, N.J. The Schenck papers consist of 4391 items, including bound account books and other volumes. They were received in October, 1953, through arrangements made by Mr. G. Clifford Nevius, as a gift of Mr. James C. Dunn, living near Franklin Park., N.J. They descended to him through his mother, daughter of Abraham V. D. Polhemus and Alice White Nevius (1850-1888), daughter of Garret Nevius and Margaret Schenck (1822-1888), daughter of Dr. F. S. Schenck. Non-manuscript items, also received, have been removed for separate handling: 50 pamphlets, etc.; 1 map; 128 broadsides, etc. (including 50 N.J. legislative bills, 1829-31); almanacs, 116; about 300 newspapers.