Van Veghten House

In 1697, Michael Van Veghten (also spelled Van Vechten) purchased 834 acres along the Raritan River near Finderne. His first wife died and he married Jannetje Dumont on April 2, 1691. Their son Derrick inherited the property when Michael died in 1737. During the second Middlebrook encampment, Derrick Van Veghten gave Quartermaster General Nathanael Greene and his wife Catharine Littlefield Greene the use of the house for his headquarters and the farm for an encampment of his troops, without asking for any compensation. On August 30, 1781, the First Brigade of the French Army marched past his house, under the command of General Comte de Rochambeau, following the route to Yorktown, Virginia. The day's march was from the campground at Bullion's Tavern in Liberty Corner to the campground at Somerset Courthouse, now Millstone, New Jersey. The Second Brigade followed on August 31. The American Continental Army marched nearby along different roads as part of this joint effort. Derrick died in 1781 and the estate passed to his son Michael Van Veghten (1764–1831). ==Description==

The house is two and a half stories plus a cellar. Brownstone is used for the foundation, and the first story features Flemish bond brickwork on the south and west walls; otherwise common bond brickwork is used. Iron beam anchors are visible on the south wall by the arches of brick voussoirs above the window heads. The house was renovated around 1837 in the style of Greek Revival and features four mantelpieces of that style. ==Gallery==

File:Van Veghten House, Finderne, NJ - looking west.jpg|Van Veghten House, looking west File:Van Veghten House, Finderne, NJ - brickwork detail.jpg|South wall Flemish bond brickwork, brownstone foundation, and iron beam anchors File:Derrick Van Veghten House, Finderne, NJ - information sign.jpg|Somerset County historical information File:Van Veghten House, Finderne, NJ - Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.jpg|Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route File:Nathanael Greene by John Trumbull 1792.jpeg|Nathanael Greene,by John Trumbull, 1792 ==See also==