John Colver (1670 - 1760)

Born 21 Jul 1670 in New Haven, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Long) Rouse — married 30 Jun 1695 in Groton, New London, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1760 at age 90 in Mt. Pleasant, Schooley's Mountain, Morris, New Jersey

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Biography

John Culver (Colver) was born on 21 Jul 1670 in New Haven, Connecticut to parents John Colver (Culver) and Mercy Clark. He married Sarah Long in 1688 in Connecticut. Children: Nathan, Esther, Mercy, Sarah, John, Timothy, Thankful, Thomas, Samuel, David, Robert, Nathan, Samuel, Stephen. He died on 17 Dec 1760 in Schooley's Mountain, Morris, New Jersey.

There is a dispute over the mother of John Culver's children. At least three different women named Sarah are quoted from various sources: Sarah Armstrong; Sarah Way, granddaughter of Henry Way, the Puritan; and Sarah Long, daughter of Thomas Long and Sarah Wilcox

"Like his father, John was a leader of the Rogerine community in CT after the death of John Rogers in 1721. Suffering oppression and imprisonment on account of religious beliefs, in 1734 John brought with him to Schooley's Mountain New Jersey a religious group totaling 21 persons including many family members and their spouses. At that time they settled on the East side of the mountain near a previously established community of Rogerines alongside Lake Hoptacong.

After 3 years the group removed to Monmouth County, Barnegat Bay area, for a period of 11 years. Returning to Schooley's Mountain in about 1749 the Colvers purchased land and settled on the Western side of Schooley's Mountain. In the local area they became known as "Culverites", presumably because of some difference in religious practice from the other Rogerine group.

John and Sarah's daughter, Esther, with her husband John Waterhouse (Watrous) remained with the Rogerines in CT where they were leaders in their community. In later years they were succeeded in their CT Rogerene leadership by their son Timothy and grandson Timothy Jr."

"John was a Rogerene, a sect that didn't believe in the no-work rule of Sabbath, no organized churches and no doctors. They believed strongly in the separation of church and state. They were heavily persecuted and arrested on several occasions, which supposedly re-enforced their belief as their principles called for and encouraged martyrdom."

Sources

• North America Family Histories, 1500-2000

• American Genealogical Biographical Index

• US New England Marriages Prior to 1700

• Colver-Culver Genealogy: Descendants of Edward Colver of Boston p 48, p 59

• Find a Grave