Name: Capt James Bollen
Born: 1629
Place: England
Died: c1682
Place: Woodbridge, Middlesex, NJ
Buried:
Married: c1644
Place: Gravesend, Long Island
See "History of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Including the Early History of
Union County", by Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield [link]
for some biographical information about James Bollen and his supposed
father-in-law, Robert
Vauquellin.
From History of Elizabeth, New Jersey, by Edwin Francis
Hatfield, pages 108-109:
James Bollen came over, it is thought, with the English fleet in 1661. As he
was styled " Capt.," he may have been in command of one of the vessels. Col.
Nicolls appointed him "Commissary of the Ammunition," at New York. He was
one of those who were deputed by Nicolls, to receive the surrender of the
fort at New Amsterdam, Sep. 8, 1664. He remained at New York until Aug.
1665. In the Court Records for that year, it appears, that he frequently
served as Foreman of the Jury, his name being written--"Bullaine," and
"Balline." When Capt. Carteret, on his first voyage to America, arrived at
"Newportes newes, Virginia," he sent his dispatches, June 13, 1665, "to
Capt. James Bullaigne in New York;" indicating previous acquaintanceship,
probably in the Island of Jersey, and, quite likely, a French extraction for
Bollen. He attached himself to Gov. Carteret on his arrival at New York,
and, as Secretary of the new Province, accompanied him, in August, to this
town. He adhered, most rigidly, to the Governor through his troublesome
administration, and was rewarded with the entire confidence of his superior.
He was appointed Justice of the Peace, Jan. 20, 1665/6, and, as such,
officiated in almost every instance in the marriage-services of the period.
He presided at the town meeting when the oath of allegiance was administered
in February. He kept the Records of the Proprietary Government, and several
of the early volumes are the work of his fingers. Becoming exceedingly
obnoxious to the town, by his readiness to do all the Governor's bidding in
opposition to the people, he exchanged properties, Sep. 30, 1673, with John
Martin, of Woodbridge, and thenceforward ceased to reside here. His
house-lot adjoined Abraham Shotwell's on the East. Martin sold the property,
Nov. 6, 1674, to Henry Lyon, who resold it, May 1, 1675, "together with the
Cow Yard Orchard or Garden," to Carteret, for £30. He died, intestate, in
March, 1682/3, having survived his friend, Carteret, but a few weeks.
A post by Duane A Boogs at The Diary of Samuel Pepys
says...
The James Bollen who met with Pepys, Henry Moore and the Privy Seal (Sir
John Robartes) was surely the same James Bollen/Bullen who became Secretary
of the Colony of New Jersey under Sir George Carteret in 1665, after having
accompanied Sir Richard Nicolls/Nicholls and other commissioners to New
England and then New Amsterdam (and taking it from Stuyvesant, to become New
York) in 1664. Also, this James Bollen/Bullen might be the author of a
manuscrpt entitled Proposals "for the Incouragement of Merchants
inhabiting and residing in New England and other his Majesties plantations
in those parts of America and for the benifit and aduantage of his Majesties
Coustomes:"
From The Wintrop Papers, The Massachusetts Historical Society,
1871, page 412:
JAMES BOLLEN TO JOHN WINTHROP, JR.
To the honorabl John Wintroph Esqr., Governor of
Coneticott Colony, these at Hartford.
Milford, 6th June 1666.
Honored Sr,--I am inforced to trouble you wth these few lynes to
aquaint you that our Gouernowr, Captt Carteret, hath seuerall of
his seruants that are runn away from him; and they comming into this
Collony, the people here abouts are so farr from examaning and stopping of
them, that they doe not only relieue them, butt helpe to conuay them away,
pretending that they haue no lawe nor order to stopp any man, butt which
means wee shall nott be able to keep a seruant. I humbly desire that you
will take some order for the preuenting of such inconueniencies, which I
supose may easely be douu by giuing order to atache all suspected parsons
that trauell vpon the waye, vnlese they cann produce a passe vndr
hand and seale. Sr, I thought good to giue you notice of these things, being
heere in the behalfe of Captt Carterett. Crauing yor
pardon for my importunity, I take leaue and rest, Sr,
Yor most humble seruant,
Ja : Bollen.
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