Stories of earliest history fuel my imagination. What was it like when Dutch settlers travelled from Esopus (Kingston) New York, to the remote Walpack region on the Delaware River in New Jersey? Why did they relocate there?
While there is no definitive answer to why the settlers moved there, one suggestion is that they were intrigued by the discovery of a copper mine, circa 1700. It was located below Minisink Island on the Delaware River in the Walpack region. Unfortunately, the ore from the mine was not of great quantity and value. Still, the land along the Delaware River, in particular, the Shapanack Flats, was suitable for farming and grazing animals with convenient travel accessible on the Delaware River. Good choice!
Or was it?
In 1713, the Dutch settlers from Esopus made their way to the Walpack region on the Delaware River and began to occupy the land. Colonel Abraham Van Campen was one of the earliest Dutch purchasers of land from the original West Jersey Proprietors. He built a house in 1725 and a mill in 1732. Over the years, Native Americans became increasingly disgruntled with European encroachment on their land and as a result, the French and Indian War ensued (1755-1763) Colonel Abraham Van Campen was a staunch defender of the Dutch settlements and his home became a headquarters during the war.
The Rosenkrans family of the Hudson River Valley arrived in 1730, settling in the same area along the Delaware River. They acquired land on the Old Mine Road in 1742 known as the Shapanack Flats and set up a farm. In 1746, Harmon Rosenkrans built a small stone home nestled into the hillside across from the Flats which he eventually sold to his brother in law, Ysaack ( Isaac) Van Campen who was living across the Delaware in Smithfield, Pennsylvania before his marriage. Isaac Van Campen was the nephew of Colonel Abraham Van Campen, mentioned above. Isaac married Harmon Rosenkrans’ sister Magdalena.
In 1754, Isaac Van Campen built the stone structure on the Old Mine Road pictured here. The outline of the original smaller structure can be seen on the side wall. The smaller structure was used as a kitchen and was eventually torn down in 1917.
The larger addition by Isaac Van Campen was Georgian in style with of course, Dutch features. The stone walls were 22 inches thick. This proved essential for protection. As a result, Van Campen’s home was appointed by local New Jersey law as a “yaugh house” and for good reason. The Walpack region on the Delaware River was extremely remote. Roadhouses and inns were few and far between. A yaugh house owner was required to provide shelter and food for travelers who found themselves without a place to stay. During a Native American raid in 1763, 150 people found refuge at Van Campen’s yaugh house.
Isaac Van Campen established himself within the Walpack community. According to the Walpack Historical Society Blog, he was a deacon of the Walpack Dutch Reformed Church, a constable of Walpack Township, justice of the peace, a delegate from Sussex City to the Third NJ Provincial Congress, a freeholder of Sussex City, and a member of the NJ Assembly. John Adams, a member of Continental Congress, spent the night at Van Campen’s while on his way to Philadelphia.
The Van Campen Inn, as the home came to be known, was host to Revolutionary War participants. Most notably, Casimir Pulaski and his cavalry were sent to defend the region during the Winter of 1778. Raids by those loyal to Britain and rogue Native Americans were not uncommon. Pulaski made his headquarters at Van Campen’s while his cavalry wintered on the Shapanack Flats across the Old Mine Road from the house.
Another Revolutionary War story involved Major General Horatio Gates and his troops, who were heading from Esopus, New York to Trenton to aid Washington in December 1776. They travelled on the Old Mine Road along the Delaware and were caught in a blizzard which brought their progress to a halt. Gates stayed overnight in “Van Kemp’s” Isaac Van Campen’s house, while the troops tented on the Shapanack Flats. Fortunately, the next day brought milder weather and rain so that they were able to proceed down the river in boats.
My husband and I visited Van Campen’s Inn during the time of quarantine in May 2020. All was peaceful and quiet, the air full of birdsong and heady fragrance of thousands of blossoms. At that time, I wondered what significance this beautiful stone home played in the past. I am glad to know some of the stories and recommend a day trip. See www.walpackhistory.org for more information.
