Colonel John Rosenkrans was born in 1724 in Rochester, NY, and died in 1786 in Walpack, NJ. In 1745, he settled in Walpack along the Old Mine Road, where he acquired Fort Shappanack, strategically overlooking Delaware River. This fort, also known as Fort Johns functioned as a military post for approximately 27 years until the end of Revolutionary War. Following the of the American Revolution in 1776, Rosenkrans enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of Sussex on May 23, 1777.
Colonel John Rosenkrans Biography as submitted from excerpts by John D. Rosenkrans, VI, presented at the 50th Anniversary Ceremony of the re-dedication of the Col. John Rosenkrans Monument.
Colonel John Rosenkrans was born in 1724 in Rochester, New York, and died in 1786 in Walpack, New Jersey. In 1745, he arrived in what is now known as Walpack, along the Old Mine Road, where he purchased Fort Shappanack overlooking the Delaware River.
Fort Shappanack, also known as Fort Johns, was named after the old village in which it stood. The origin of the name "Fort Johns" has been linked to one of three men: its owner, Colonel John Rosenkrans; John Stevens, who was responsible for its construction; or John Johnston, who designed forts along the Delaware River. The fort operated as a military post for about 27 years, remaining active until the end of the Revolutionary War.
Following the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1776, Rosenkrans enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the Sussex County Militia on May 23, 1777, and was commissioned as a colonel. In 1779, he fought at the Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and accompanied General Sullivan in the campaign against the Native Americans of the upper Susquehanna and Genesee Valleys.
During his service, he was shot in the shoulder and never fully recovered. A physician in Morristown attempted to treat the injury by scraping the shoulder bone, which only caused the wound to worsen. Colonel Rosenkrans died in 1786 and was buried in the old Shappanack Graveyard along the Old Mine Road.
Portrait of a Patriot, Colonel John Rosenkrans
John Rosenkrans was born in Rochester, New York on July 6, 1724. He was the third son and sixth child of
Alexander and Marretjen Depue Rosenkrans. At the age of seven, he travelled with his parents and siblings to
Walpack (Sussex County, New Jersey) and settled there when it was mostly wilderness. John grew to manhood
along the banks of the Delaware River.
In 1745, John purchased his father’s homestead consisting of 500 acres. That tract of land, known as
Shapanack, began on the north side of the stream running next to the Van Campen Inn. At the age of 27, he
married Margaret DeWitt and became the father of 14 children. Three years after their marriage, he added a
705-acre tract of land extending from the Delaware River past the Flatbrook, and from Shapanack to beyond
the East/West Jersey line. Besides those land holdings, John Rosenkrans also owned two farms amounting to
275 acres across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, and held a 3/4th interest in lands on the Rondout in Ulster
County, New York.
John lived first in a log cabin and later in a stone house on the brow of the hill overlooking the Van Campen
Inn. Then in 1755 his home became part of a fort surrounded by a palisade. It was known as Fort Johns, as
well as Fort Shapanack and Headquarters, and it is where he served as Captain during the French and Indian
War.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he retained the rank of Captain until 1777 when he was
commissioned Colonel replacing Colonel John Cleves Symmes. Colonel John was in command of the third
regiment of Sussex County Militia and several forts in the lower Minisink Valley. He was commander at the
Battle of Germantown and later in 1779, accompanied by General Sullivan, he fought in the campaign against
the Indians of the upper Susquehanna. This is when he was shot in the shoulder, a wound that he never
recovered from. Three of Colonel John’s sons also served in the military. Jacob and Alexander served during
the Revolutionary War, and Benjamin who attained the rank of Colonel served in the War of 1812.
Even though he had no formal education, Colonel John became a leader of the lower Minisink. He was a man
of moral worth, an owner of over 1500 acres, an extensive farmer and an elder of his church. He served as a
Freeholder, Justice of the Peace, and as a member of the Committee on Safety.
He died on June 5, 1786 at the age of 62 and is undoubtedly buried in the Shapanack Cemetery but, his gravesite
has not been found. The memory of this patriot lives on as in 1958 a memorial marker was placed along the
east side of Old Mine Road two-tenths mile north of the Isaac Van Vampen Inn by the then newly formed Sons
of the American Revolution, Colonel John Rosenkrans Chapter. A review of online records shows many have
used Colonel John as their direct-line ancestor to become a member of the Daughters and/or Sons of the
American Revolution organizations.
Members of the Walpack Historical Society maintain the area around Colonel John Rosenkrans memorial
marker.
Hixon H. Spangenberg, Jr., member
Col. John Rosnkrans Chapter and
Member of Walpack Historical Society