The First Baptist Church of Piscataway
is in Edison, New Jersey and was formed in 1689.
Hunterdon County originally included all or parts of Mercer, Morris, Warren, and Sussex Counties.
Hezekiah Bonham, Jr. was born about 1701 at Maidenhead (now Lawrenceville, Mercer County), Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was the son of Hezekiah Bonham and his second wife.
He married Martha Runyan who was born about 1704. She was the daughter of Thomas Runyan, Sr. The Bonham family was closely associated with the Runyan family. They were all members of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway.
They lived in Hopewell. Hezekiah, Jr. appeared on the tax rolls of Hopewell, Hunterdon (now Mercer) County for 1722. He had 5 head of cattle and 150 acres.
Hunterdon County was originally part of Burlington County, West Jersey. It was set off from Burlington County on March 11, 1714. It included Amwell, Hopewell, and Maidenhead Townships.
Hopewell is currently in Mercer (formerly Hunterdon) County, New Jersey. Mercer County was formed in 1838 from portions of other counties including Hunterdon. Early settlers found that their deeds were worthless and they were forced to repurchase their land or relocate. On April 23, 1715 the settlers who stayed organized Hopewell Baptist Church.
Baptist churches were found in early colonial settlements and grew out of the English Separatist movement and the doctrine of John Smyth who rejected infant baptism.
Lawrenceville, Mercer County, New Jersey was founded as Maidenhead in 1697, as part of Burlington County in the colony of West Jersey. In 1714, the village became a part of Hunterdon County.
from An Ancestral Chart and Handbook by Olive Barrick Rowland
Hezekiah Bonham. The first one of the so-called "iah" Bonhams, sons of Hezekiah and his second wife, Ann Hunt. He is listed in 1722 on the tax rolls of Hopewell, Hunterdon County (Snell's History, p. 185), as follows Hezekiah Bonham, Junior--cattle and hores, 5; acres, 150. He married Martha Runyan, dau. Thomas Runyan, Senior, and g. dau. Vincent.
