Collection # 14

SCHANCK FAMILY

PAPERS, 1790 - 1813

Processed by Lois R. Densky

Edited by Gregory J. Plunges

Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court Street
Freehold, New Jersey

September 1980

INTRODUCTION

Garret (c. 1768 - 1795) and John (1774 - 1864) Schanck were silversmiths from Monmouth County, New Jersey. They were the sons of Capt. John Schanck (1745 - 1834) and Mary Denise Schanck. It is possible that both Garret and John Schanck served their apprenticeships under Aaron Lane, a silversmith from Elizabeth, N.J.

Garret Schanck married Sarah Van Dyke the daughter of Mathias Van Dyke and Eleanor Lane. There is no record that he worked in Monmouth County. Garret worked in New York City with Daniel Van Voorhis from 1791 to 1792. On October 9, 1793, he was commissioned a captain in the 5th Regiment of the NY Militia. Between 1793 and 1795, he and John Schanck worked together at 25 Fair Street and at 133 Water Street in New York City.

When Garret died in 1795, his wife Sarah, brother John, and father-in-law Mathias Van Dyke served as executors of his estate. About 1796, Sarah married Joseph Dubois (1767 - 1798). He and his brother Teunis Dubois (1773 - 1843) were also silversmiths who worked in New York City and Monmouth County. They and the Schanck brothers were first cousins.

John Schanck continued working in New York City until at least 1797, the last year for which he is listed in the NYC directory. He returned to Monmouth County about 1800. At that time, he married Micha Van Nuyse of Middletown Point, N.J. (now known as Matawan). They had at least nine children, three of whom died in infancy. John established residence in a house purchased by his father in 1806 in Middletown Point. When his father Capt. John Schanck died in 1834, he left his son lifetime rights to the property. Schanck still occupied the house in 1843.

Between 1816 and 1819, John Schanck served on the Middletown Township Committee. He continued silversmithing in Monmouth County as late as 1847 and produced both flat and hollow ware. He frequently signed documents ast "John Schanck Silv." probably to differentiate himself from the half dozen other John Schancks and Schencks then living in Monmouth County.

DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION

The Schanck Papers contain financial and legal business records documenting their silversmithing enterprise in New York City, and also contain papers related to the settlement of Garret Schanck's estate. The papers deal primarily with the dissolution of the partnership between Garret Schanck and Daniel Van Voorhis, and John Schanck's administration of his brother's estate.

The collection contains an inventory of silverwork belonging to the estate of Garret Schanck (signed by the executors), legal documents related to the dissolution of the Schanck/Van Voorhis partnership, bills and receipts, bonds, indentures, accounts, promissory notes, a commission, the document appointing the administrator's of Garret Schenck's estate, and documents pertaining to the case of Kenneth King vs. John Schanck in Major's Court. The bulk dates of the collection are 1795 to 1797.

All document types are interfiled and arranged chronologically. No items have been removed. The Schanck Papers will be useful to researchers of the decorative arts and the history of silversmithing. Related manuscripts in the Monmouth County Historical Association library and archives are a 1794 - 1823 account book and a 1797 - 1847 day book belonging to Teunis Dubois. Additional Garret Schanck letters will be found in the Holmes Family Papers at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark, NJ.

PROVENANCE: Acquired in 1932, a gift of Mr. Willard Schanck, Marlboro, NJ

RESTRICTIONS: None.

SIZE OF COLLECTION: 62 items

CONTAINER LIST

BOX / FOLDER # / CONTENTS

1 / 1 / Legal & Financial Documents. 1790 - 1813; n.d.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, James S. "Antiquing" Asbury Park Press, 1974 Feb 24

Brown, James S. "Antiquing" Asbury Park Press, 1977 May 22

Schenck, William E. Ancestors and Descendants of John Schenck (1740 - 1794) s.l.: s.n., n.d.