A contact for APPLEGATE and DYE

Nancy Robertson, a genealogist researching a family that is frequently associated with the Applegate's in the Cranbury/Hightstown, NJ region, wrote to me with several helpful sources of information. She is seeking proof of the mother of John Dye, 1733 - 27 Dec 1822. John Dye, 1711 - 1 Oct 1776, may have married a Mary Applegate. If you have information about John Dye and Mary Applegate, please contact her.

Sources that Nancy wrote about:

  1. The Middlesex County records are housed in the Department of Special Collections and Archives, Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903; phone 732-932-7510. I did not visit Rutgers, or these other addresses:
    Genealogical Society of New Jersey, PO Box 1291, New Brunswick, NJ 08903;
  2. New Jersey Historical Society, 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104; phone 732-483-3939;
  3. New Jersey State Library, Bureau of Law and Reference Services, 185 West State St, CN 520, Trenton, NJ 08625, phone 609-292-6220. Guide to Family History Sources, wills, probates, deeds;
  4. New Jersey State Archives, Department of State Building, 225 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 609-292-6260;
  5. Howard Stipe, Premier Abstract and Title Agency, Inc., 8-A Highway 101 Interchange Plaza, Cranbury, NJ 08512, phone 609-860-1000;

  6. The Old Brainard Cemetery [First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury] records are available from Betty Wagner, Cranbury History Center, 6 South Main, Cranbury, NJ; phone 609-860-1889.

    While in Cranbury NJ, you might visit the following locations that Nancy wrote about:


    I had two delightful dinners in the Firehouse Eatery at 619 Applegarth Road, marked Applegarth on maps. The sun shone, the azaleas were gorgeous, the residents invited in most graciously. There are no shoulders or pull-offs on the roads, so it is difficult to park and take photographs. The land is still undeveloped and you are clearly a visitor, widely observed. I stayed in the Days Inn, 460 Route 33 East, East Windsor; just east of New Jersey Turnpike Exit 8 and New Jersey 33, east of Princeton, phone 609-448-3200, 1-800-325-2525. The town of Cranbury is lovely. I drove up the Wycoff Mills road to Cranbury Station and west over the tracks. The interesting Cranbury Museum is open on Sundays at 4 Park Place East, several blocks north of Brainard Lake and the History Center, which is painted light yellow.

    The Old Church Farm, on the northeast corner of Federal, is owned by Hendrick and Angela Bennick, 75 Old Church Road, Cranbury, NJ 08512. The Old Church location, west of the road, formerly owned by Florence and Charlie Dey, Jr, residing in South Carolina, is currently owned by Paige Grillo, 60 Old Church Road, Munro Twp, Cranbury, NJ. The Cranbury Museum flyer states that "In July 1739 James Rochead sold land adjoining the mill property "to the use of the elders and Deacons of the Presbyterian Church.' The community had moved from Old Church in Monroe Township to Cranbury." The Records of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury were printed in the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol 27, July 1952, pages 49-60. Marriages after 1790, GMNJ, Vol 31, pages 39-46.