Elizabeth in Union County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Nathaniel Bonnell House
1682
Photographed by John Miller, November 11, 2013
1. The Nathaniel Bonnell House 1682 Marker
The Bonnell House is the oldest house in Elizabeth, NJ and one of the oldest residences in the state. It was on this site in 1682 and was likely built years before then. The house represents the carpentry skills of Nathaniel Bonnell, a Hugenot originally from New Haven, CT. He came to Elizabeth about 1664 and was one of the original settlers and a member of the incorporating organization, the Elizabeth Associates. Between 1670 and 1685 Bonnell and his wife Elizabeth (nee Whitehead) raised seven children here. The family worked several farms in the environs, one of which in Connecticut Farms (now Union, NJ) was left to his son and namesake, Nathaniel.
[Captions:]
above: The 17th Century Bonnell House is on the National Registry of Historic Houses and has recently been restored by the Historical Society, Elizabeth, NJ Inc. which has its offices within.
above: Francis Barber, headmaster of the Elizabethtown Academy, joined the New Jersey militia with his student Alexander Hamilton in 1775. He married the daughter of Aaron Ogden, owned Bonnell House, and died during the war in 1882.
left: Edward J. Grassmann (1887-1973), an entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey of German immigrant parents. Grassmann reinvested his profits
this page online
Erected by City of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1682.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 39.803′ N, 74° 12.532′ W. Marker was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in Union County. It was at the intersection of East Jersey Street and Catherine Street on East Jersey Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1045 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth NJ 07201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in New Jersey’s North Jersey, in Greater Newark, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named The Nathaniel Bonnell House (here, next to this marker); The Belcher-Ogden Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Property of John Ogden 1680 (within shouting distance of this marker); Boxwood Hall (about 300 feet away,
Photographed by John Miller, November 11, 2013
2. The Nathaniel Bonnell House
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Belcher-Ogden Mansion (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Regarding The Nathaniel Bonnell House. Nathaniel Bonnell was from New Haven. His parents emigrated from England in the 1620's. It has been argued that they were descended from French Huguenots, but according to the Bunnell/Bonnell Family Genealogy by William R. Austin, this cannot be substantiated. And see Donald L. Jacobus, Familes of Ancient New Haven (Baltimore, MD.: Genealogical Pub. Co.; online AmericanAncestors.org; orig. New Haven Genealogical Magazine, 1923-32), v. 2, pp. 358-9; v. 8, p. 1981.
Francis Barber did not die in 1[7]82 but on Feb. 17, 1783. According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (see link), Barber was killed in camp in Windsor, NY, while riding past soldiers who were cutting down trees -- and one of the trees fell on him. This was technically during the war, i.e. before the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783, but hostilities had effectively ceased at Yorktown in 1781. A truly ironic death for the Colonel who had fought with distinction in numerous battles during the actual war.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker. There are slight differences in inscription plus a change in subtitle.
Also see . . .
1. Penn. Historical Society, "The Ironic Deaths of Revolutionary War Soldiers After the War!". Describes death of Francis Barber. (Submitted on November 14, 2013, by John Miller of Rising Sun, Maryland.)
2. Aaron Ogden (Wikipedia). (Submitted on November 14, 2013, by John Miller of Rising Sun, Maryland.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2013, by John Miller of Rising Sun, Maryland. This page has been viewed 6,332 times since then and 367 times this year. Last updated on June 4, 2020, by John Miller of Rising Sun, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2013, by John Miller of Rising Sun, Maryland. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
