Philip Van Horne (1719-1786)

He was christened at the Dutch Reformed Church, New York City, on April 29, 1719. He was a first cousin of the brothers Jacobus and Charles McEvers and like them became a prosperous merchant in New York City. In 1738, he married Elizabeth Ricketts, daughter of a wealthy Jamaican planter and sister-in-law of Stephanus Van Cortlandt. From 1727 to 1740, he was a Member of the Legislative Council for Middlebrook in Somerset County, New Jersey. He was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Somerset County (1758); Judge of Oyer and Terminer (1767); and, Colonel of the Militia under the British government. Initially, he wintered in New York and summered at Phil's Hill, Middlebrook (now Bridgewater) where he owned 1,104-acres, first purchased in 1706 by his grandfather, Philip French. But on the outbreak of war, he left left New York to settle permanently at his country home where he farmed and operated a grist mill. 

His patriotism was questioned during the Revolution, and indeed he was arrested and put on parole but was allowed to remain at Middlebrook. The French General, the Marquis de Chastellux, dined with the Van Hornes in 1780 and described Philip in his memoirs as a, "tall, lusty man... vigorous, hearty and good-humoured". His portrait was painted by Robert Feke. He and his wife were the parents of 9-children including two sons (both in the Jamaica trade) and their daughters who were, "remarkable for their beauty and grace".