BALTUS ROLL SAGA

The BALTUS ROLL Saga



DOCUMENTS & ITEMS PERTAINING TO BALTUS/BOLTUS ROLL




The Roll Family Genealogy Windmill
A Genealogy of the Roll, Van Woggelum, and Related Families
A Collection of Information on Baltus ROLL
  • Baltus Roll
    (1769-1831)
    The Murder on a Mountain Top
    Baltusrol Golf Club
  • The Ghost of 'Old Baldy' Stalks Again
  • Old Resident Here To See Celebration


    • Majority of documents below are courtesy of:
    Janis Holland
    April 23, 2000 and June 1, 2000

    Credit has been given to other contributors.






    Excerpt from Wilson Manuscript regarding Baltus Roll
    Courtesy of Janis Holland






    [NOTE: It is with mixed feelings that I post this court record concerning Baltus ROLL. For the sake of his descendants (if some exist) who search for their roots and researchers who have spent years trying to unearth the mystery of whether or not Baltus ROLL left heirs or not, I feel it is necessary to lay to rest this mystery. And...at a time when we all recognize the value of life and the importance of each human being, Henry Baltus ROLL, should be recognized as a legitimate ROLL descendant no matter what the circumstances were that surrounded his birth. Then, this also lays to rest that Susan JENNINGS is NOT the birth mother of Henry Baltus ROLL, but that a Mary JANUARY, be recognized as his birth mother.

    We know not all the circumstances that surely put this prominent family in the limelight and probably caused great pain, anxiety, and embarrassment during this time period of religious righteousness.

    It appears that Baltus and Susan may have taken Henry Baltus into their home, as reports of a child being at their home time to time is documented. Certainly being childless themselves would have been a reason for them to love, assist and care for this special person in their lives.

    However, another mystery, appears in the will of Baltus ROLL, in that his son was not mentioned as an heir, nor accommodations for his continued support were evident. Hopefully, the family saw to it that this young man was cared for properly, and that there were familial relationships between all members of the ROLL family.   ...ASH]




      Bastard Bond of Brooks & Baltus ROLL  
    Testimony of Mary JANUARY 1816
    Transcribed by:
    David & Audrey (Shields) Hancock


    From a very poor, barely readable/transcribeable copy of a court record found at the Westfield Public Library, Westfield, Union Co., NJ, History Room, in May 1998, I have attempted to give you what I can of this document with the help of my husband, David.

    If anyone is able to obtain a better copy, we would be grateful for a clearer and readable copy.   ASH



    "Caleb Maxwell & Jonathan Woodruff agt. Baltus Roll and Brooks Roll---"

    "Caleb Maxwell & Jonathan Woodruff as Overseers of the Poor of the township of Westfield in the County of Essex for the ?use of the Inhabitants of the said township demand of the defendants thirty seven dollars for this to wit that on the 14th day of September 1816 that said Baltus Roll and Brooks Roll entered into their joint and several Bond to the Plaintiffs by the name & description of Caleb Maxwell and Jonathan Woodruff overseers of the Poor of the township of Westfield in the County of Essex, ?interest for the inhabitants of the said township in penal fine of five hundred dollars with a ____ ____ that Mary January of the township of Westfield ?signee _____ has by her voluntary examination taken in writing and upon oath before Samuel Dennis Esq., one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Essex declared she was with child and that ?this (?the) said child was likely to be born a Bastard and to be chargeable to the township of Westfield and the said Baltus Roll is the father of the said child, _____ ?bind themselves jointly and usually to the said Plaintiffs that they the defendants or either of them should and want from time to time and at all times thereafter fully and clearly indemnify and _____ _____ as ____ the Plaintiffs as Overseers of the Poor of the said township and their ______ for the time being as also all and singular the other inhabitants of the said township of Westfield and for this (?the) time being from all manner of costs, taxes, extra assessments and charges whatsoever for or by reason of the birth _____, and maintenance of the said child and of and from all actions, troubles, and other charges and demands whatsoever of and concerning the same then the said Bond to ___ ____ otherwise in force and the said Plaintiffs say that from the time of examination the said Bond to the time of ____ _____ _____ _____ inhabitants of the township of Westfield ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

    [black area of copied page at the bottom of page...ASH]

    [Top of new page...ASH]

    pay lay out and expected and have paid ____ out and expected ___ ____ and toward the expenses of the birth and maintenance of the said Bastard child the sum of thirty seven dollars and that the said Baltus Roll and Brooks Roll altho ___ ____ [maybe one or two words here...ASH] have not nor hath either of them altho ____ ___ ____ _____ but _____ so to do wherefore the Plaintiffs bring this suit.

    Caleb Maxwell Jona. Woodruff"






    The Legend of Baltus Roll
    "Murder on The Mountain Top"
    Article is courtesy of Janis Holland.
    If anyone can provide a citation, it would be appreciated.






    The Story of Baltus Roll
    Article is courtesy of Janis Holland.
    If anyone can provide a citation, it would be appreciated.





    Photo of Baltusrol Golf Club Sign
    Courtesy of Janis Holland


    "The Roll Family, One Branch"
    by Edwin D. Roll,
    October 1982, p. 10

    "Baltusrol Golf Club; the name of this eminent club was derived from that of Baltus Roll, who owned mountainside property in Springfield, NJ."

    (Source: Internet, 2 Jun 2000, ROLL-L: Nancy LOHBRUNNER cites LDS Microfiche 6018739)
    (See: The Roll Family Genealogy Windmill)



    Picture taken 1999 & shared Apr 2000 by Dave SHIELDS of Long Island.


    Gravestone of Baltus (spelled Boltus here) [aka Henry Baltus] ROLL at the Revolutionary War Cemetery (aka the Presbyterian Church Cemetery) at Westfield, Union Co., NJ . It states that he was murdered. Baltus ROLL was the brother of Brooks ROLL and the son of Abraham ROLL. He is buried near Brooks ROLL at the cemetery.

    Boltas ROLL, Section I, Lot -, Row K, Grave 34
    d Feb. 22, 1831
    61 yrs

    EPITAPH
    My friends that weep and mourn my grave,
    Compose your minds to rest.
    Prepare with me for sudden death,
    And live forever blest.


    (Source: Dave SHIELDS of Long Island:  HALSEY, Herbert A., Guide to the Colonial Cemetery of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, New Jersey, p. E4: Epitaphs)



    Webpage by:   Audrey (Shields) Hancock


    Created: 24 April 2000
    Revised: 19 September 2006