John Van Camp
Homestead

John Van Camp Homestead. Built 1852, Branchburg Twp., Somerset Co., NJ (40.525970, -74.707732). John Van Camp was Great Uncle to Moses Van Campen (1757-1849).

• John Van Camp Home. Photo by D.C. Hopkins for MosesVanCampen.com.
• Detail of the D. Stanton Hammond Hunterdon Co., NJ, Land Owner Map D showing the lands of John Campbell (1,874 acres) on the lower right portion of the map. Of these 1,874 acres, 485 acres were later sold by John and Richard Hall to John Van Camp on October, 8, 1740.

The history of John Van Camp’s Homestead is detailed in “Historic Sites & Districts in Somerset County, New Jersey. Somerset County” Published by the Cultural & Heritage Commission, in 2015.

“The John Van Camp Farmstead is a notable survivor of Branchburg Township’s early domestic architecture and farm culture. There are three historic structures on the property. The house, constructed c. 1835, is a good example of a one-and-one-half-story, two-room deep house common throughout the Raritan Valley during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The interior of the house retains much of its original character including three distinctive Federal/Greek Revival mantels, door and window trim and a four-door built-in cupboard. A three bay Dutch barn was constructed in 1835 on the site. Hand-hewn timbers were employed for most of the framing members. The inscription “Built 1835” is written prominently in iron oxide paint on one of the very large main anchor beams. The third historic structure on the site, a rare wagon house, was constructed in 1842. The wagon house is framed in the Dutch manner. This farmstead documents the persistence of Dutch building traditions in rural areas of Somerset County well into the 19th century. The site is owned by Somerset County and is being restored.”