BANTA, JOHN JACOB

John Jacob Banta (1747-1828), was born on November 26, 1747, son of . The family's paterfamilias was Epke Jacob Banta, who arrived in America in New Amsterdam about April 1659 aboard the ship "De Trouw" sailing from Amsterdam. Epke Jacob Banta was from Harlingen, East Friesland, Holland. The family settled in Bergen County, New Jersey in 1679. Epke Jacob Banta was appointed Judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer.

He fought in the Revolutionary War and was paid £56 for his personal property destroyed by the British.

He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Schraalenburgh.

He married Annatie Vanderhoff. They had four children : Jacob (1776-1812), Cornelius (1779-), John (1783-1837), and an unnamed born 1788.

On February 29, 1828, he was appointed first postmaster of Schraalenburgh, Bergen County, New Jersey. His wife died on September 7, 1828. He served only 8 months as postmaster and retired one month after his wife's death on October 7, 1828. He died 2 months and 3 weeks after his retirement on Christmas Day, 1828.

Letter sent from Newark, New Jersey to Dr. John Jacob Haring, Schraalenburgh, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

He is buried in the South Schraalenburgh Cemetery, Bergenfield, New Jersey. Unfortunately his tombstone is so badly weathered that it has begun to crumble and break apart.

He was a member of the Freemasons.

Bibliography :

United States Official Postal Guide (1828) : 106

John L. Kay and Chester M. Smith, New Jersey Postal History (Quarterman, reprint 1977) : 37, 140.