Abraham Thomas Van Buskirk was born in 1700 and baptized March 25th in the Dutch Reformed Church at Hakensack, New Jersey. Died 1793. Buried in Van Buskirk cemetary Saddle River. He moved to Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey where he was a yeoman. He married Rachel Banta (Bantor) who was baptized on April (or March) 24,1704. She died October 3, 1781. She was the doughter of Cornelius Eppie Banta and Magdaline Demarest.

In this era the Colonials were becoming prosperous, and according to his will, Abraham did indeed. Scarce as coined money was at that time, he willed 710 English pounds to his children and grandchildren besides land and houses with the residue to be divided among his children. Rachel died before him on October 3, 1781, and he died Nov. 29, 1793.

Children
1. Thomas
2. Cornelius, bp June 10, 1743 (Little Church, N.Y.; m. Jannetje Demarest, died May 29, 1819
3. Magdalene, bp Dec. 25, 1727, Hackensack, N.J.; m. Cornelius Bogart
4. Leah, bp. Jan 31, 1731 (Little Church, N.Y.)
5. Jannetje, bp. Apr. 30, 1733; m. Laurence Van Buskirk, her cousin (Loyalist)
6. Elizabeth, b. 1735; m. Pieter Van Buskirk; d. Sept 10, 1814
7. Catherine, m. Thomas Boggs
8. Margaret, m. Henery Fredericks (Loyalist)
9. Rachel, m, Thomas Cooper

Will of Abraham Van Buskirk Nov. 28, 1788

Abraham Van Buskirk of Paramus, Bergen Co., N.J. yeoman; will of:
Eldest son, Thomas, my Dutch Bible and £10 for his birthright; also, farm whereon he now lives, and £50 drawn with me in a lottery. Son, Cornelius, homestead plantation, brew house, and 1/3 part of a certain meadow called Buskirk's near place called Weasimus. Daughter, Helena Bogert (wife of Cornelius Bogert), £100 and £50 drawn in lottery. Grandchildren, Margaret, Rachel, and Henry Fredericks, Jr. (issue of daughter Margaret, ded'd, formerly wife of Hery Fredricks), £100 divided between them. Daughter Catharine (wife of Thomas Boggs), £100. Residue divided between sons and daughters; the children of dec,d daughters to have their mother's share.
Executors: sons, Thomas and Cornelius Van Buskirk, and son-in-law, Cornelius Bogert.
Witnesses: Jacobus Rutan, Ceorge Achenback, Antye Ackenback
Proved March 6, 1794 :ob/ 35, pr. 47 File 2476B
(New Jersey Archives, 1st Series, Vol. XXXVII - Abstracts of Wills Vol. VIII 1791-1795. Pages 366,367

From this will one can see that Abraham was not only prosperous, but very fair and just; also he must have been surrounded by a devoted family. The 'lottery' must have been a spirited affair.

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