When Cornelius Bergen was born on 29 April 1775, in Roycefield, Somerset, New Jersey, United States, his father, John Bergen, was 28 and his mother, Altje Rapalje, was 31. He married Nancy Ann Hart on 5 November 1811. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He died on 31 January 1831, at the age of 55.