Cornelius Jansen Berrien, as appears upon the early records of the family, was the first of the name that emigrated to this country, and became the common progenitor of the family here. He settled in Flatbush, Long Island, as early as 1664, and there married Jeannetie, daughter of Jan Stryker. Being a person of character and education, he was appointed to fill positions of trust and held offices in the town government and was a deacon in the Dutch church. In 1683, by appointment of the Colonial Assembly, he served as one of a commission to levy a special tax in the province. In 1685 he removed to Newtown, Long Island, where, during the previous year he and his brother-in-law, Abraham Brinckerhoff, had bought over four hundred acres of land at the head of Flushing Bay, which they afterward divided. Mr. Berrien died at Newtown in 1689.

Peter Berrien, son of Cornelius, born 1672, married August 10, 1706, his step-sister, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Edsall, Esq. He was a surveyor by profession, and became a large land holder. He served several years as a supervisor of the town, and enjoyed a large measure of public confidence. He presented the ground upon which the First Dutch church in Newtown was erected. He died very suddenly while riding from Newtown to his home, April 5, 1737. His widow died May 6, 1763. Their children, except two that died in infancy, were: Cornelius, born May 24, 1707; Samuel, born September 29, 1709, died August 29, 1742; John, born November 19, 1711; Peter, born February 6, 1714; Jane, born September 29, 1716, married Nathaniel Fish; Nicholas, born August 3, 1720; and Jacob, born April 10, 1723. The last two became merchants in New York City, and of the last two named children only Nicholas married. Of this family, Peter settled on a farm in Somerset county, New Jersey, where he died in 1781, aged sixty-seven years. He married Anna Emmons, and had sons Henry and John; and daughters, Elizabeth, married Colonel Van Dyck; Sara, married a Mr. Schureman; and Ann, married Richard Betts. The sons, Henry and John, married into different branches of the Van Dyck family, but only Henry had issue.

Nicholas Berrien Became a merchant in New York City.

Jacob Berrien Became a merchant in New York City. Never married.

Nathaniel Lawrence, (1761-97), was a student at Princeton at the time of the battle. He served as lieutenant, 1780, and was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Lafayette, and was not exchanged for two years. He was a member of the Cincinnati. He died in Hempstead, L. I. Son of THOMAS LAWRENCE and ELIZABETH FISH. He was born 1761, and died 1797 in Hempstead, New York

Thomas Berrien was educated at Princeton. He afterward became a teacher, and also studied medicine, but practiced but a short time. He enlisted at the beginning of the War of 1812, and at its close received honorable discharge. He died at the home of his son, Isaac Scudder, April 6, 1850, aged 80 years. Rachel Freeman Berrien died January 22, 1857. She also died at the age of eighty, and at the home of her son, Isaac Scudder.

William Berrien, son of Thomas and Rachel (Freeman) Berrien, was born in Princeton. He became a farmer, and owned a small farm in Lawrenceville, NJ. He married Delilah Wilson, who bore him nine children. The youngest Charles Henry died at 2 years 6 months. William died of Palsy April 15,1874 in Princeton. According to the death records of West Windsor, NJ

Scudder A. Berrien, was a trapper and dealer in wild flowers. He drowned in Grover's mill pond in West Windsor township. It is supposed he fell in while suffering from convulsions which he was frequently attacked.

David O. Berrien, Son of Scudder A. Berrien and Hannah L. (Hughs) Berrien, was born in West Windsor. He was working for the Railroad at age 22 as reported on his Marriage Return dated October 23, 1890 and again on his son Russell's birth certificate, 3 years later.

Archibald Berrien, Son of David O. Berrien and Minnieola W. (Bowers) Berrien, was born in Trenton.

Russell J. Berrien, Son of Archibald Berrien and Parnella (Snook) Berrien, was born in Trenton.

Dennis K. Berrien, Creator of this website.