The Miller-Cory House:
Westfield's Colonial Museum
Until 1921 but two families were associated with the colonial farmhouse at 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield. Both families were among the original settlers of Elizabethtown, of which Westfield was a part until 1794.
The Miller family, with its several branches, was one of the great land owning families in what is today Westfield's north side and Mountainside. Samuel Miller (1718-1782) is believed to have built the house about the time of his marriage in 1740. Samuel left to his widow, Sabra, "the privilege of my two middle rooms and the chambers over them, privilege to go up in said chambers through the other rooms, and the privilege of one quarter of cellar and to go in and out of same when and with what she pleases."
This Samuel Miller is the son of William Miller (1698-1782), who in 1734 provided land to build the Presbyterian Church at the foot of Mountain Avenue; grandson of Samuel Miller (1675-1759), carpenter; and great grandson of William Miller (1650-1712), weaver, who acquired Lot 62 in the "Clinker Lot Subdivision" of 1699-1700, when the west fields were apportioned into 100-acre lots among the Elizabethtown Associates.
In 1784 the house was sold to Joseph Cory by Jesse Miller, son of Samuel, for 579 pounds, 15 shillings. It remained in the Cory family until 1921 -- 137 years. It was known into the 20th century as "the old Cory Farm." The Cory family, too, is one of the founding families of Elizabethtown and Westfield-Mountainside.
Joseph Cory, an elder of the Presbyterian Church, died in 1802 at the age of 45. His widow (Margaret Darby of Scotch Plains) probably lived here until 1810, and his son William owned the house from 1802 to 1866. William learned the trade of carpentry but afterwards became a farmer. He was married to Charity Baker, also of Scotch Plains.
Levi Cory, William's son, became the owner in 1867 when his sisters signed over their share to him. Levi, who was born in the Miller-Cory house, farmed the land, served on the Township Committee and was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He married Harriet B. Clark of Rahway. Levi owned other land in the area, including 2 New Providence Road, the present Mountainside office of Barrett & Crain (which he leased in 1891 to the founders of the Children's Country Home -- today the Children's Specialized Hospital.)
Three years after Levi's death in 1895, Harriet deeded the house to Theresa Cory (believed to be her adopted daughter) but remained resident until her death in 1903. Theresa sold the house in 1921 to Jennie Steans, widow of the Rev. W. Irwin Steans, pastor of the Presbyterian Church from 1903 until his death in 1919. Owners since 1921 have included George and Lillian Burrows (1923-1962), Donald and Isabel Jones (1962-1972) and the Westfield Historical Society (1972 to present).
The Joneses restored and renovated the house. The Society formed the Miller Cory Association, which completed the restoration and adapted for it for public visitation. It was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1972. Today, it has achieved a wide reputation as a museum and educational facility for the study of East Jersey farm life in the 18th and early 19th century.
(Based on a copyrighted column by Ralph H. Jones published in the Westfield Leader in 1987)
(This information has been compiled and edited by John R. Panosh from original documents supplied by Ralph H. Jones, Curator, Westfield Historical Society Museum and Archives.)
