John Wortman

Notes:

Original Source: Workman Family History - Researched by Mrs. Lydia W. Billings.



"Among the early settlers of this beautiful valley (Raritan, Sommerset County, NJ) was Jan Derick Woertman (Wortman) who, with his family, came from Brooklyn Heights, New York in the year 1699, his daughter Elizabeth being christened in
Sommerville in September of that year. By the year of 1704 he removed to the village of Raritan where he remained for a number of years, moving from there with grown children to Pluckemin. Here he erected a long old-fashioned house made of
logs that was to be known for many years as the Workman Homestead. Here a descendant, Jan Wortman, known as Squire Wortman (no doubt because of his vast estate of 500 acres) entertained the patriots, Guisbert Sutphen (see Catherine Wortman),
Aaron Merick, and Colonel Stephen Huntwhen they met to plan their resietance to the British army a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed. It was here too that Jan Wortman, trained by his father in the family trade as a
blacksmith, shod the horses of George Washington and his entourage during the Revolutionary War. Some nights John and his helpers worked all through the night repairing the carriages and shoeing the horses so they would be ready for the
General the next morning.

The Woertman tradition in America had been one of civic loyalty. Derick Jans had begun it in 1673 when he became an officer of his town in Brooklyn. Jan Derick continued it as Justice of the Peace in New Jersey: Squire Jan Wortman, his
nephews and sons plannes and worked for the revolutionary forces and from Somerset County Peter and Andrew Wortman joined the Militia.

Jan married Anna Marie Andries (Andriessin) on 17 Jan 1690 in Brooklyn, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

christened on 1670, Brooklyn, Kings, NY