The Grovers, Founding Family of Middletown

Public Presentation (via Zoom): The Grovers, Founding Family of Middletown by Rick Geffken

This presentation is about the Grover Family of Monmouth County before and after James Grover (1686-1753), who built the eponymous Grover House in 1730. Grover and his descendants occupied the house for over two hundred and fifty years. Research is based on Grover Wills, property deeds, genealogical records, newspaper articles, and other historical documents.

Please Register (click on the button to the left of this text) to participate this exciting and informative presentation by Rick Geffken.

The land where the Grover House stood (near Exit 109 on the Garden State Parkway) was part of a tract of 330 acres which Governor Carteret granted in 1676 to James Grover I on the Swimming River and which Grover referred to as “Grover's Inheritance.”

It was on this tract of land that the Grover House was built and where Grover's descendants lived until the death of Anna Lum in 1983. Nine generations of Grover’s lived in this historic Middletown, New Jersey, house.

In 1902, historian William Nelson claimed that “The old Grover homestead was originally built in 1730; this date is authentic, since it is plainly cut into the old shingles of the roof which still form ample protection against wind and weather.

Today, Grover House is the headquarters of Navesink Maritime Heritage Association and is looked after with tender loving care!

This presentation is supported by a grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust