Before I begin this post, I have to say that this topic was one of my favorites with June Kennedy, our Basking Ridge Town Historian who recently passed in November 2018. We often challenged each other to dig into the true meaning on the naming of all the 463 streets. I think I remember hearing that June named somewhere around 40 of the 463 street names so finding the truth was sometimes a challenge. But we did the analysis nonetheless. See what our research has found out since our sessions with June.
The streets covered include the hamlets of Basking Ridge, Lyons, Liberty Corner, and West Millington which makes up Bernards Township. June Kennedy had been involved with history as soon as she moved to town from Little Silver, New Jersey. During the “boom boom” build years in Bernards Township starting in the 1960’s, she became increasingly frustrated at developers who were building in the township and naming streets after their sons, daughters, golf clubs and whatever else. So she got involved.
Based on discussions with June, she named over 40 streets as historian and was an advisor to David Schley and the Bernards Township Engineering Department up until five years ago.
Street Names by the Numbers
In business, nothing drives us more that metrics. Knowing the numbers drives the discussions. So let’s give you a few metrics:
- 52 street names start with the letter C – the most by any other letter
- 99 streets are named based on an area feature representing 21% of the street names
- 86 streets were named after local residents.
- 32 streets were named after Revolutionary War events in the area.
- 29 streets were named after a developer’s relative
- 24 street names need your help to determine their proper category! (Post in Comments below)
Let’s Analyze a Bit More
Key Street Name Categories
Our next metric focuses on a key set of categories that June and I agreed. It’s great to know that the town certainly ties back to its roots with Area Features, Local Residents, and England taking the top three categories. (Residents are 75 plus 8 Reverends)
Local Names from Bernards Township
The next category breakdown we targeted was local names of town residents. If you’ve ever wondered who that street is named after and what is the significance, here’s your chance to learn some great local history. You can click the image below to enlarge it.
83 Streets Were Named After Basking Ridge Residents
(Residents are 75 plus 8 Reverends)
| Street Name | Origin |
| ACKEN RD | Named for the Acken family of Liberty Corner, landowners and shopkeepers |
| ALEXANDRIA WAY | Named for William Alexander, Lord Stirling (1726-1783) |
| ALLEN RD, CR (652) | Named for Josiah Allen of Liberty Corner, descendent of Ethan Allen, American soldier and patriot, 18th Century |
| ALLEN ST | Named for W. J. Allen who owned much land in Basking Ridge Village in mid-19th Century |
| AMBAR PL | Named for settlers in the area, early 20th Century |
| ANNIN RD | Named for the John Annin family (Johnstons of Annandale, Scotland). Their 1,000 acres in 1722 were called Annin’s Corner and later renamed Liberty Corner |
| BALDWIN CT | Named for an old family of Liberty Corner, 19th Century |
| BERNARD DR | Named for Sir Francis Bernards, provincial Governor of New Jersey 1758-1760 |
| BROWNLEE PL | Named for the Rev. William Brownlee, sixth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Street originally called Back Street (1783-1860) |
| CARSWELL CT | Named for the Carswell family, active in township community affairs since the 20th Century |
| CHAPIN LN | Named for original estate of Chapin-Earhart family |
| CHILDS RD | Named for William Childs, who moved the barn to the Old Mill Inn site and Samuel Childs, benefactor to the Bernards Township Library in the 1900’s |
| CODDINGTON CT | Named for early settlers in the West Millington area of the township |
| COLLYER LN | Named for John Collyer family, large land owners on south maple Avenue, 19th Century |
| CONKLING ST | Named for the Conkling family, 18th Century settlers in Bernards |
| COOPER CT | Named for early settlers in the township |
| CROSS RD | Named for the Rev. John Cross, first pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church |
| CULBERSON RD | Named for the Culberson family, landowners for more than 150 years. The street runs through their property |
| DAYTON ST | Named for William L. Dayton (1807-1864), U.S. Senator, Vice Presidential candidate and Ambassador to France |
| DECKER ST | Named for early settlers in the township. Carl G. Decker sold to Wheeler Corporation in 1939 this tract known as the Bernards Plateau. |
| DOGGETT CT | Named after the President of the High Meadow Hunt Club |
| DOUGLAS RD | Named for the Douglas family who settled this area in 1765 |
| DRYDEN RD | Named for John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist and critic |
| DYCKMAN PL | Named for the Rev. W. H. Dyckman, who preached in both the Basking Ridge and Methodist Churches, 19th Century |
| E ALLEN ST | Named for W. J. Allen who owned much land in Basking Ridge Village in mid-19th Century |
| E CRAIG ST | Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century |
| E LEWIS ST | Named for the Edward Lewis family who arrived in the mid 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s |
| ELLIS DR | Named for Monroe F. Ellis, for whom Monroe Place was also named in 1900’s |
| ENGLISH PL | Named for the Rev. James English (1810-1873), first pastor of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church |
| EVERSON PL | Named for original family on property before development in late 1900’s |
| FORBES CT | Named for Dr. John Forbes, local physician, c1900’s |
| GOLTRA DR | Named for James P. Goltra (1792-1871), farmer, judge and builder of the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church |
| GOVERNOR DR | Named for Sir Francis Bernards (1712-1779), NJ Provincial Governor, 1758-1760 |
| GRANVILLE WAY | Named for John Carteret, The Earl of Granville, (1690-1763) British statesman and orator |
| HAAS RD | Named for John V. Haas, farmer and owner of Sunnyside Farm in West Millington area |
| HADLEY CT | Named for Henry K. Hadley (1871-1937) U.S. composer and conductor |
| HARRISON BROOK DR | Named for John Harrison, agent of the King of England, who bought 3000 acres of land for $50 from the Lenai Lenape Indians in 1717 |
| HARTLEY LN | Named for David Hartley (1705-1757), English physician and philosopher |
| HENRY ST | Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century |
| IRVING PL | Named for Isaac L. Irving family of Liberty Corner—former mortician, wheelwright and blacksmith, 19th Century |
| JOHNSTON CIR | Named for Johnston family who left Annandale, Scotland and arrived in 1722 in area known today as Liberty Corner |
| KINNAN WAY | Named for Mary Lewis Kinnan (1764-1848) captive of the Indians, rescued and returned to Basking Ridge, 1794 |
| KNOLLCROFT RD | Named for estate of Walter Reynolds, most of property now occupied by U.S. Veterans Medical Center, Lyons |
| LAYTON RD | Named for Peter Layton of Liberty Corner, former mortician, wheelwright and blacksmith, 19th Century |
| LEWIS ST | Named for the Edward Lewis family who arrived in the mid 18th Century and contributed to many township activities since 1730’s |
| LORD STIRLING RD | Named for Lord Stirling, William Alexander (1726-1783), major general in the continental Army whose estate “Stirling Manor” was built here in 1762 |
| LURLINE DR | Named for Lurline Eberkardt, accidentally shot while hunting |
| LYONS PL | Named for David Lyons family here in lat 18tuh Century. Family owner land where Lyons Railroad Station is located and had encouraged Bernards to bring first railroad to area in 1872. |
| LYONS RD | Named for David Lyons family here in the late 18th Century. Family owned land where Lyons Railroad Station is located and had encouraged Bernards to bring first railroad to area in 1872. |
| MARTINSVILLE RD, CR (525) | Named for a thoroughfare in the Township which terminates in Martinsville (Bridgewater). Named for prominent Martin family |
| MEEKER RD | Named for the Meeker family which had large land holdings since the mid 19th Century |
| MILITO WAY | Named for the Milito family who occupied land and have lived there since the late 1800’s |
| MONROE PL | Named for Monroe F. Ellis for whom Ellis Drive was also named in 1900’s |
| MORRISON ST | Named for early settlers in the Township |
| N ALWARD AVE | Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732 |
| N FINLEY AVE, CR (613) | Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy |
| N VOORHEES DR | Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, country doctor in the mid-19th Century |
| OAKLEY ST | Named for an early family which settled in the area |
| OSBORNE PL | Named for J.H. Osborne’s sawmill and pond |
| PENNINGTON ST | Named for Dr. William Pennington, country physician |
| PITNEY CT | Named for James Pitney, first recorded settler in this area, early 18th Century |
| RADEL PL | Named for a 19th Century farming family |
| RICKEY LN | Named for Col. Israel Rickey (1744-1821), a valuable officer in the Revolutionary War |
| RIGGS CT | The Riggs family settled in the area in the early 1800’s |
| RUNYON DR | Named for early settlers in the West Millington area |
| S ALWARD AVE | Named for the Alward Family who settled on land here in 1732 |
| S FINLEY AVE, CR (613) | Named for the Rev. Robert Finley (1772-1817), fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church and builder of the 1809 Brick Academy |
| SCOTSMANS WAY | Named in honor of the Annin family, known as Johnston in Scotland. Settled Liberty Corner area in 1722 |
| SOUTHARD PL | Named for the Southards, Father Henry (1747-1842), US Representative; Sen. Samuel L. (1787-1842), US Senator, NJ Governor, Secretary of the Navy |
| SPENCER RD | Named for Austin P. Spencer, lost at sea in the North Atlantic while piloting a bomber on submarine duty, 1943 |
| SUTRO PL | Named for the Sutro family which owned property on South Finley Avenue. Son Frederick (1879-1964) was executive director of NJ Park Commission |
| THOMPSON WAY | Named for Harold Thomson, former mayor and township committee member 1948 -1956 |
| TURNER ST | Named for Kenneth A. Turner Sr., Bernards Township Engineer, 1932-1957 |
| TYSLEY ST | Named for early settlers in the Township. Tysley Avenue is in Bernardsville |
| VAIL TERR | Named for Daniel Vail (1735-1793), large land owner & distant cousins of Alfred Vail, who with Samuel F. B. Morse invented the telegraph @Speedwell, Morristown, 1844 |
| VAN DORN RD | Named for Ferdinand Van Dorn (1807-1902), who owned and operated the flour/grist mill in Franklin Corners |
| VANDERVEER DR | Named for Dr. James Vanderveer (1838-1913), country doctor |
| VOORHEES DR | Named for Dr. Amadee Voorhees, country doctor in the mid-19th Century |
| W CRAIG ST | Named for Daniel D. Craig, banker and storekeeper, 19th Century |
| W HENRY ST | Named for Parmenus C. Henry, owner of P.C. Henry’s General Store and other properties in the area, 19th Century |
| WHITENACK RD | Named for the Whitenack family which settled here in the mid-18th Century and were large landowners |
| WOLF LN | Named for Lyla Wolf Florio’s maiden name, property owner |
| WOODWARD LN | Named for Woodward family which supplied grain and material to the Revolutionary War troops at Jockey Hollow |
32 Streets Named Honor the Revolutionary War Terms
| Street Name | Origin |
| BEACON CREST DR | Named for location of Revolutionary Ware beacon, designed by Lord Stirling |
| BULLION DR | Named for Bullion’s Tavern located in Liberty Corner during the American Revolution |
| CANNON CT | Named for mounted gun used in the Revolutionary War |
| COLONIAL DR | Named for a person who supported America’s fight during the Revolutionary War |
| CONCORD LN | Named for the second battle of the American Revolution, Concord, MA, April 19, 1775 |
| FIFE LN | Named for a type of flute used in military musical groups |
| FLINTLOCK CT | Named for a firearm used in the American Revolution |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN DR | Named for the Green Mountain Boys, soldiers form Vermont, organized by Ethan Allen in 1775 |
| HALE CT | Named for Nathan Hale (1755-1776), American soldier hanged as a spy by the British during the American Revolution |
| HANCOCK CT | Named for John Hancock (1737-1793) first signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 |
| HARCOURT LN | Named for Col. William Harcourt, arresting British officer of General Charles Lee at the Widow White’s Tavern, Basking Ridge, 12/13/76 |
| HESSIAN DR | Named for a mercenary used by England during the American Revolution |
| HONEYMAN RD | Named for John Honeyman (1727-1822) who was a spy for George Washington prior to the Battle of Trenton, 1776 |
| HUNTINGTON RD | Named for Samuel Huntington (1731-1797) American Revolution political leader |
| KNOX CT | Named for General Henry Knox (1750-1806) of Washington’s staff in the American Revolution |
| LAFAYETTE LN | Named for Marquis de Lafayette, friend of General George Washington (1757-1834) French general and statesman |
| LEE PL | Named for General Charles Lee (1731-1782) arrested by the British in Basking Ridge, December 13, 1776 |
| LEXINGTON RD | Named for the first battle of the American Revolution at Lexington, 1775 |
| MINUTEMAN CT | Named for an American militia man just before and after the Revolutionary War, who was ready for instant military service |
| MT PROSPECT RD | Named for very old geographic area from Revolutionary War times |
| MUSKET DR | Named for a large heavy caliber handgun used in the Revolutionary War |
| PAINE CT | Named for Thomas Paine (1737-1809), patriot and writer, the “Conscience of the American Revolution” |
| PRESCOTT CT | Named for William Prescott (1726-1795), U.S. soldier, played vital part in Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775. “Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes” – famous order given in Battle |
| PRINCETON CT | Named for the Battle of Princeton, American Revolutionary War, 1777 |
| QUINCY RD | Named for Eliza Susan Morton Quincy (1764-1850), who wrote her recollections of Basking Ridge during and after the American Revolution |
| REVERE DR | Named for Paul Revere (1735-1818), American patriot and silversmith, famous for his night horseback ride, April 18, 1775 |
| RICKEY LN | Named for Col. Israel Rickey (1744-1821), a valuable officer in the Revolutionary War |
| SENTINEL DR | Named for a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack |
| STIRLING LN | Named for Lord Stirling, William Alexander (1726-1783), American Revolutionary War major general |
| SULLIVAN DR | Named for General John Sullivan (1740-1795), Revolutionary War leader |
| WAYNE TERR | Named for General “Mad Anthony” Wayne (1745-1796), American Revolutionary War leader |
Developers Ran the Roost for Street Names for a Period
This was the category where June Kennedy finally put her foot down. For a number of years starting in the 1960’s, development increased at a feverous pace. Without June, the street names were permitted to be named by the Developer. So what did they do? Then typically named the street after a family member, usually a spouse or children. So is your street named after a developers relative?
New Street Name Recommendations
Based on historical research, here’s a list of five street names we recommended to the Bernards Township Township Committee:
John Morton – 1779 Hospital – The Rebel Banker & Basking Ridge Resident (1776)
As wealthy merchant, Morton became known as the “Rebel Banker” for loaning large sums of money to the rebel cause. In 1775, Morton liquidated most of his capital to loan the Revolutionary War effort. After the capture of New York City by the British, John and Maria Sophia Morton were forced to flee with their large family (six kids) to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, then they remained several weeks in a house in Springfield with five other families, who were also fugitives. Not feeling safe, they decided to go beyond the “Long Hill” and settled on Basking Ridge in 1776 where they called for their belongings from New York City.
Elias Boudinot – President of Continental Congress – Basking Ridge Resident
Boudinot was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress and was elected President of the Continental Congress in 1783. He purchased a little over 100 acres of land in Basking Ridge in 1771 and 1772 from Edward Lewis, but would remain in Elizabeth for a while longer. Boudinot served on New Jersey’s first Committee on Correspondence, formed in 1774, tasked with contacting the legislatures of each colony so that they could join Virginia and offer concerted opposition toward British encroachments. In August 1775, Boudinot secretly rounded up and sent to General George Washington desperately-needed supplies of gunpowder. A year later he served as an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General William Livingston, who became the state’s first governor elected under the new state constitution. In 1777, Boudinot was commissioned Commissary General of Prisoners by the Continental Congress. He lived in Basking Ridge while serving as president of the Continental Congress from 1782-83. He sold the house in 1785.
Alexander Kirkpatrick – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1736)
Alexander Kirkpatrick (b.1697), who settled at Mine Brook in 1736, on the farm lately owned by Henry Baird. The Kirkpatrick’s belonged to a noble family in Scotland. Alexander, the ancestor of the family in this country, was born at Watties Neach, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He removed with his family to Belfast, Ireland, after the birth of his son David, about the year 1725.
John Ayers – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1727)
John Ayres came from Woodbridge, New Jersey and was born on March 02, 1663 in Newbury, MA. Son of Obadiah Ayres and Hannah Ayres (Pike), husband of Mary Ayers and Ruth Ayres He had seven sons; John, Thomas, Obadiah, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Moses, and Aaron. He moved to Basking Ridge the same year Harrison bought the land from the Indian Chief Nowenwalk. John Ayres, who settled on the Millstone, in 1717, is mentioned as having lands in the east part of the Basking Ridge in 1727. John Ayres is noted for donating 1 ½ acres which included the land on which a log meeting house stood in 1730 but it was said that the meeting house had probably been there since at least 1725 (the BRPC states 1717).
James Alexander – Early Settler to Basking Ridge (1720)
James Alexander, father of William Alexander (Lord Stirling) was a large landowner and had to deal with “squatters” on his land. James Pitney was noted as being on James’ land when he first arrived in the area. Research shows Cornelius Brees from Staten Island, bought land in 1720 from James Alexander on the East side of the Dead River which had been occupied by James Pitney. John Ayres son Obadiah also bought land from Alexander.
Thanks for taking a look at our street names presentation. I shared it at the local historical society back in 2017. I hope to present the presentation and topic again in the future. Below is the list of every street name we knew as of 2016. Enjoy the list.
Still Researching
MLH is still looking to determine the 24 streets where we don’t have definitive proof of naming. Post in the Comments section if you have an idea or opinion.
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