New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-28
THE BRINRBRHOFF JUBILEE.
A THOUSAND AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
EATING SEVENTEEN KINDS OF CAKE--DIsCUssINo
TpADrTToNa AMI spFIIING.

EATING SEVENTEEN KINDS OF CAKE--DISCUssING
TRADITIONS AND SPELLING.
The old Brinkerhoff farm at Ridgeteld, Nd,
on the banks OF the Hackensack River fairly swarmed
yesterday with the descendants OF the and daugh
ters who have gone forth from Its boundaries In the
past Just 200 years ago Hendrick Jonsen Brnkerhof
with his sugar-loaf hat and his big meerschaum pipe
settled there and built himself little stone house beside
the Deverang spring Yesterday 1000 Of his children
with those who trace their descent through collateral
branches back Jors Deekscn Brinkerhohe ancestor
OF all the Brinkerhos In America assembled on the old
place and cake while they discussed
the method of spelling the family name There
Brinckerhofs with &C" and Brinkerh0fs without
ths"c". There were Brinkerhods in heavy broadcloth
that had evidently served long and faithfully Sunday
clothing. and Brnkerhos In neat business suits There
were mOtherly old Indies In steel-bowed spec
tacles and black gowns, and young ones In
broad sashes and white dresses, upon whom
tho OF Brnkerhon cast admiring
hut bashful gances Tho youthful scons of the family
Knckerboekers and short dresses wandered free and
far and ate green apples in absolute security, while
their elders in the grea tent and listened to the wise
OF tho tribe they told OF their researches In
ancient history while trying to settle the troublesome
question Of photography about which their forefathers
had exhibited such lamcntable oarelessness
Before this however there were refreshments served
in large barn. Coffee, lemonade, two kinds
Of sandwiches and seventeen varieties OF
cako were passed around in unlimited
quantities by the fair daughters Of the house OF Brnker
hon The cousins In friendly intercourse
beneath the old roof. through which tho sunlight
strcaned In many mooted beam. while outside brass
band in lightred coats and palS'Diue
t.ousers immortallzed themselves. Such
rlkng over OF family histories as there was
Not In the il-natured backblting method common to
tea and quilting parties but In the eagar search Tor
nearer relationships which ali figured out with
al. hon "A
Tho talk all. OF ancestors, second wives
aud other links I'm the genealogical chain.
The royal strain Of BrinkerhoG blood was traced down
through It's intermIture with allen families, and the
bearer OF the resultant ranked high or low dc
corning TO the fraction OF Brlnkerhon there was
in him. whio tho reception committee marshalied
is cohorts OF relatives that all could got into the
barn By turns AMI eat OF the seventeen toothsOme
varieties Of cake with its wholesome homemade flavor
the grandmothers got together aud discussed the Bet
seys Hester, and James who had married aud wan
dcred beyond the boundaries OF Bergen County, which
IL above all others the land OF The Brinkerhohs
Many were the relics exhibited aud the bits OF family
tradition told 10 group after group Of Interested listen
cfs The representative OF branch had worked out
bis entire genealogical tree and distributed tue printed
tie original Jors Dercksen BunKerhon' VINO cLne
from Flushing ia the province OF LeAlahe a"u ',h
Flushing, L. T.. in 1888. Another had "A ph9toSrhpn
OF h- mother who died ~ the age OF
pauung VITA her fo hall oil the period during Whsh
sui third had an old Dutch Bible with an Inscription
duly setting forth that u WAS given early IN tue soo
tenth century by Derrick tho son OF tho hrs
10 Mya ZyoH Sfebd ihero inc name 70 Spencer M G
Hon and Mr. Donarcst, member of another OF the Oid
Dutcn families OF the county ana nisen Pths. , ,noy
year,. gave the weight OF his authority To the theory
that that was tho oriyiual hhu cottvOt
way OF spelling the name, which as thus showh 70 eS
mpoundcd OF tho two Dutch words, meaning oeHuu-
tai garden" ,,-.--, ...,,..,,
with PRAYER by tho Rev. Christian Brinkerhon; me
oldest mlnlster OF tho name. After few rcmarks ny
-.
By dTtuc OF his double descent % s btt mn "a
both Sides General R0clof Brine t'I. OF hausnclu'
OHIO reviewed tho III NE ,oa 'ii Sis H.t eH
they were all tho same hth ana KIN
whether they spelled tue name conpSrrd their Dutch
ancestors with tie Pilgrim Fathers who learned tue
best u their NewEns and system OF goperno a Eu
iug their life IN Holland, whlo thelr DlSoty Wa Luz
hsh and their Lot Us come 10 AN end OF lnis MSS
ing Il tue Plymouth biarnoy stonoi We nav" Sa1oa
back too long II was tho country non Oh mlt,a
the silent. not the refugees ~ Ehglsn tyranny H.o
shaped tho desnnie, OF THIS country All hoh2r then 20
oiaud the little giant OF the ten seas All honor 10
uendrick Brinkcrhoh aud his brothrenF -,
T. Van wyck Brnckerhon OF Glove branch =, A. tnc@
.poxe FOR the faction who Sou their names WIN
after which aud short speeches completed tue pro
register placed N 2I1 STtno, ~ t1
some ia the trembling angular writing OF the patriarch
others with the bold signature OF the man OF business
aud s others In those carefully formed qua.
toll 81 slow and paihIu limitations VI tuo 0oPy
lied for the day the benches cleared away tue req anu
blue band uced 10 action the Olg can OF oe cream ~
ped. aud while the elders 9oleu on % nP
youngest generation OF Brinkerhons UOu tho ., ~
tho quadue. or ghded AROUND 70 tho M w. ,r
"seessw" waltz Then AS the darkness came T"' , Gaa
rngcs and trains carried away the much-ieluoI m1,
bers OF this happy Ia, family ear IN MS While the
fue ruins OF the Old Brnkerhon mansion whch Ato9u
Its bank, protected by Gd willow frees nCr
r. luced IL condition such thht III oOuiu no 'unn
name, aud the old place passed into the hands OF
strangers