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Early  History  of  Atlantic  County 
New  Jersey 


RECORD  OF  THE   FIRST  YEAR'S  WORK  OF 

ATLANTIC  COUNTY'S  HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 


PUBLISHED   AND  COPYRIGHTED  BY   THE  SOCIETY 
1915 


LAURA  LAVINIA  THOMAS  WILLIS,   ") 

Y  EDITORS 
MRS.  L.  DOW  BALL1ETT,       -  -   J 

MRS.  M.  R.  M.  FISH.       -         -       ASST.  EDITOR 


PRESS  OF  THE  KUTZTOWN   PUBLISHING   COMPANY 
KUTZTOWN,    PA. 


Sfr 


1  H  I 

PUBLIC  J 

739399 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 
TlLDEN  FOUNDATIONS 

'9    6  l 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

In    the   Days   of    Yore 7 

How  the  First  Inhabitant  Lived  and  What  He  Saw 22 

The  Mill  at  Bargaintown  .  .  . ' 60 

Daniel   Baker 70 

Richard  Somers — Hero  of  Tripoli 73 

Pleasant    Mills 77 

Mill   Dam   and   Falls  at   May's   Landing 94 

Z'ion  M.  E.  Church,  Bargaintown 101 

Old   Church  at  Head   of  the   River  Tuckahoe 104 

Aetna  Furnace,   Tuckahoe  River 106 

The  old  Log  Meeting  House  at  Weymouth 109 

Stephen    Colwell 110 

Charles    Richards    Colwell Ill 

Friendship   Church,    Near  Landisville 115 

Catawba   Church    126 

Catawba  Graves    129 

Roman   Catholic   Church   at  Pleasant   Mills 142 

The  Old  Buttonwoods 158 


(3) 


INDEX 


Page 

Original   Land    Grants   of    New    Jersey 8 

Titles  to   Land 9 

Letter  from  William  Penn  to  Richard  'Hartshorne 12 

Proprietors'  Instructions  to  James  Wasse  and  'Richard  Hartshorne.  14 

Proprietors'  Instructions  to  James  Wasse  and  'Richard  Hartshorne.  19 

The  Land  System  of  West  Jersey 23 

West    Jersey    Commissioners 23 

New  Jersey  Signers  of  Independence 23 

Newspapers  of  New  Jersey  During  the  Revolution 23 

Officers  and  Men  of  New  Jersey  in  'Revolutionary  War 24 

War  With   France 52 

War  With    Tripoli 52 

Earl  'Moral   Laws   of  New   Jersey 53 

Indians    55 

Indian    Burying   Grounds 56 

Cranberry   Indian    Legend 57 

Slaves  in  New  Jersey 58 

Slaves  at  Bargaintowm 59 

Some    Old  Wills 61 

Old  Gloucester  County 67 

Daniel    Baker    69 

The  Old  Fort  at  Somers  Point 72 

Carding    Mill     74 

Clark's  Old  Log  Meeting  House  at  Pleasant  Mills 76 

The  Calling  of  the  Militia  for  the  'War  of  1812-1815 78 

Artillery  Company,  Third  Regiment,  Gloucester  Brigade 79 

Company  of  Infantry,  First  Regiment,  Gloucester  Brigade 82 

Atlantic   County    86 

The  Naming  of  Atlantic  County 91 

Origin    of   Town    Names 91 

May's  Landing    93 

Anecdotes  of  Place  Names 95 

Naming  Uncle  Tom's 96 

Shore   Road    97 

Presbyterians  in   New  Jersey 98 

Blackmail's  Meeting  House  at  Bargaintown 101 

Head    of    the    River    Church 103 

History  of  Tuckihoe   Baptist  Church 107 

Old  Church  at  Weymouth 109 

History   of   Friendship   Church 114 

(4) 


INDEX— CONTINUED  5 

Page 

M.  E.  Church   in   Port  Republic 124 

Catawba   Church     126 

Zion   M.   E.   Church 1 30 

Frambes  School  House,  Followed  by  Salem  M.  E.  'Church 134 

Roman    Catholics    Ml 

Quakers — 'Friends     149 

Extracts   from    Records   Friends   Society    of   Great    Egg  'Harbour, 

N.   J 151 

Historical  Notes    156 

The    Old    Button  woods 157 

Pulaski's  Ride • 159 

Early   Ship    Building 161 

An    Old    Stage   Lime 162 

Stage  Route  from  Absecon  to  Philadelphia 164 

Place  Names   167 

The    Whipping    Post 171 

Black  Luce    172 

History   of  the   Society 174 

Annual  Meet  of  Historians 178 


PREFACE 


In  offering  you  this  initial  volume  of  Atlantic  County's 
History,  the  Society  reminds  you  this  is  the  product  of  their 
first  year's  work  and  in  no  wise  a  finished  history.  Its  endeavor 
has  been  to  lay  a  firm  foundation,  upon  which  other  books  which 
are  to  follow  can  be  erected. 

You  will  find  within  its  pages  the  early  history  of  the  State 
taken  from  written  histories  which  had  their  bearing  upon  Atlantic 
County.  Also  articles  written  by  the  descendants  of  those  who 
helped  to  make  the  history  of  the  county  worth  reading.  The 
thread  of  events  will  be  continued  through  separate  volumes  in 
the  future  until  the  history  of  the  present  day  is  recorded.  There 
is  found  little  history  in  this  book  later  than  1825-1830.  It  was 
a  somewhat  difficult  task  to  separate  the  history  of  Atlantic 
County  from  that  of  Gloucester,  as  they  were  one  until  the  year 
of  separation  in  1837.  If  you  enjoy  reading  this  book  as  much 
as  the  Society  has  in  its  compiling,  truly  the  work  has  not  been 
in  vain. 

The  Society  acknowledges  its  indebtedness  to  Mr.  A.  M. 
Heston  for  illustration  taken  from  his  book,  "Absequawon," 
and  to  John  Hall's  "Daily  Union  History  of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J." 

Atlantic  County  Historical  Society. 


(6) 


In  The  Days  of  Yore — 1667 


Early  History  of  Atlantic  County,  N.  J. 


ORIGINAL  LAND  GRANTS  OF  NEW  JERSEY 

The  original  grant  of  New  Jersey  from  King  Charles  II, 
when  separated  from  the  Netherland,  was  East  and  West  Jersey. 
They  were  united  in  1673  ancl  were  known  as  Nova-Caesarea  or 
New  Jersey.  This  work,  being  the  history  of  Atlantic  County,  re- 
lates only  to  West  Jersey. 

1671.  The  line  of  partition,  long  known  in  boundary  disputes 
as  the  "Providence  Line,"  extending  from  Little  Egg  Harbor  to 
400,  41  °  north  latitude  to  the  Delaware  River,  north  of  a  line 
drawn  from  Barnegat  Creek,  "about  the  middle  between  Sandy 
Point  and  Cape  May" — and  adjoining  to  and  below  a  certain 
creek  in  the  Delaware  River  called  Ran-ko-kus — Kill. 

In  order  to  have  a  comprehensive  understanding  of  West  Jer- 
sey, of  which  Atlantic  County  is  a  part,  it  is  necessary  to  go  back 
to  the  grants  of  land  and  their  distributions  to  later  purchasers. 
Under  the  English  system,  newly  acquired  lands  were  the  property 
of  the  king,  who  disposed  of  them  by  grants  to  private  persons,  or 
by  charter  to  land  companies.  New  Jersey  thus  came  into  the 
possession  of  two  different  individuals,  each  having  one  half  the 
province.  These  two  men  were  Sir  George  Carteret,  former 
Governor  of  the  Isle  of  Jersey  and  Lord  Berkeley*.  In  June, 
1673,  Lord  Berkley  sold  his  share  to  John  Fenwick  in  trust  for 
Edward  Byllings,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  and  an 
annual  royalty  of  forty  beaver  skins.  Edward  Byllings,  the 
Quaker  owner  of  West  Jersey,  failed.  He  placed  his  property,  in 
1675,  into  the  hands  of  William  Perm,  Gawen  Lawrie,  and  Nich- 
olas Lucas,  (the  latter  two  were  creditors,)  and  Byllings  himself, 
thus  creatine:  four  trustees. 


*  New  Jersey  was  named  in  honor  of  Sir  George  Carteret's  defense,  in  1649,  of  his 
native  Isle  of  Jersey,  when  attacked  by  the  army  and  navy  of  the  Parliamentarians. — 
Page  129,  Vol.  I,  I,ee's  History. 

(8) 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  9 

1673.  The  1 8th  of  March.  It  has  been  stated  that  Lord 
Berkley,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Xew  Jersey,  disposed 
of  the  whole  of  his  right  and  interest  in  the  province.  The  pur- 
chase was  made  by  John  Fenwick.  They  gave  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  pounds.  These  persons  were  members  of  the  Society 
of  Quakers,  or  Friends,  a  religious  people  who  had  experienced 
much  opposition  and  persecution,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  a  principal  object  proposed  by  Fenwick  and  Byllings  in  mak- 
ing their  purchase  was  to  secure  a  place  of  retreat  for  themselves 
and  their  religions  associates. 

1738.  Xew  Jersey  petitioned  for  a  distinct  administration, 
and  Lewis  Morris  was  appointed  Governor. 

In  1682  West  Jersey  was  purchased  by  William  Fenn  and 
eleven  other  Quakers,  and  settlements  were  made  at  Burlington 
— "Ye  falls  of  ye  Delaware,"  or  Trenton,  and  a  flourishing  whal- 
ing station  established  at  Cape  May,  not  to  mention  Salem,  al- 
ready a  growing  town.  (In  1682,  Robert  Barclay,  a  Scotchman, 
was  the  first  Governor  under  the  new  proprietors. ) 

In  1702,  by  the  number  of  proprietors,  the  frequent  sub-divi- 
sions and  transfers  of  shares,  and  various  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  good  government,  soon  involved  the  province  in  trouble,  and 
the  proprietors  surrendered  the  rights  of  government  to  the 
Crown. 

1703.  East  and  West  Jersey  were  united  and  was  then 
known  as  Xew  Jersey. 

1677 — 1687.  The  minutes  and  papers  of  the  Commissioners 
are  missing. 

Titles  to  Land. 

Titles  to  land  in  Xew  Jersey  are  derived  from  the  English 
Crown.  It  is  a  principle  of  law,  recognized  by  all  the  European 
governments,  that  an  uninhabitated  country,  or  a  country  inhab- 
ited only  by  savages,  of  which  possession  is  taken  under  the 
authority  of  an  existing  government,  becomes  the  property  of  the 
country  taking  possession. 

The  Indian  title  to  the  land  in  America  was  to  some  extent 
recognized,  but  the  government  here,  and  in  England,  has  always 
asserted  the  exclusive  right  to  extinguish  that  title  and  to  give  a 
valid  title  to  settlers,  by  its  own  grant  of  the  soil.   Individuals  were 


IO  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    X.    J. 

forbidden  to  purchase  land  from  the  Indians  without  the  consent 
of  the  English  proprietor,  at  an  early  date,  both  in  East  and  West 
Jersey,  and  after  the  surrender  of  the  government  to  the  Crown, 
deeds  from  Indian  claimants  are  held  by  some  of  the  present 
owners  in  both  divisions  of  the  State,  but  unless,  patents  or  sur- 
veys were  also  obtained  the  legal  titles  to  the  premises  rests  upon 
possession  and  not  upon  deeds. 

The  general  proprietors  were  careful  to  purchase  the  land  01 
the  Indians,  and  except  in  those  cases  in  East  Jersey  where  grants 
were  made  subject  to  an  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title,  they 
refused  to  allow  grants  or  surveys  until  this  was  done.  Every 
foot  of  the  soil  claimed  by  the  original  inhabitant  of  this  State  has 
been  obtained  from  them  by  a  fair  and  voluntary  purchase  and 
transfer. 

After  the  division  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  East  Jersey  was 
conveyed  to  twenty-four  proprietors  and  West  Jersev  was  sold  in 
hundredths.  The  original  grants  were  considered  by  the  pro- 
prietors as  conveying  a  right  of  government  as  well  as  soil,  and 
they  instituted  separate  governments,  but  in  1702  joined  in  sur- 
rendering that  right  to  the  Crown.  The  title  to  the  soil  was  not 
surrendered  and  continues  to  be  derived  through  the  original  pro- 
prietors,   by    regular   descent   or   purchase,   to   the   present    day. 

(1845.) 

There  are  two  kinds  of  grants,  one  where  a  gift  was  made  to 
actual  settlers  at  the  beginning  of  the  history  of  the  colony,  where 
by  the  "grants  and  concessions"  the  amount  of  land  donated 
to  a  settler  depended  upon  the  number  of  individuals  in  his  family, 
with  an  additional  amount  for  each  servant  brought  with  the 
family  into  the  province  ;  these  were  called  "head  lands  "  ;  the 
other  kind  of  a  grant  was  acquired  by  this  process  :  A  warrant. 
signed  by  the  Governor  and  a  majority  of  the  council,  was  de- 
livered to  the  surveyor-general,  who  surveyed  the  lands,  made  his 
return  in  writing,  showing  his  survey  and  giving  a  description  of 
the  propertv.  Both  warrant  and  return  were  recorded  by  the 
register.  If  there  were  no  objections  to  the  warrant,  it  was  then 
issued,  signed  by  the  Governor  and  his  council,  authenticated  by 
the  great  seal  of  the  province,  and  this  warrant  was  then  recorded 
and  the  title  of  land  was  perfected.  This  was  the  process  in 
East  Jersev.  No  patents  were  issued  in  West  Jersey. — The  Judi- 
cial and  Civil  History  of  New  Jersey. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  II 


FROM  SMITH'S  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY 

In  June,  1673,  John  Lord  Berkeley  sold  his  share  to  John 
Fenwick  in  trust  for  Edward  Byllinge  for  the  sum  of  one  thou- 
sand pounds  and  an  annual  royalty  of  forty  beaver  skins.  Fen- 
wick, in  1675,  set  sail  from  London  in  a  ship  called  the  Griffith 
or  Griffin  ;  landing  at  a  pleasant  spot  near  Delaware,  he  named 
it  Salem.  With  him  he  brought  his  two  daughters,  who  later 
married  Samuel  Hedge  and  John  Adams,  two  servants ;  other 
passengers  were  Edward  Champness,  Richard  Hancock,  John 
Matlock,  Samuel  Nichols,  Hipolite  Lufever,  Richard  Noble, 
Richard  Guy,  John  Pledger,  Edward  Wade,  Samuel  Wade,  and 
John  Smith  and  wife.  These  and  others  with  them  were  masters 
of  families.  This  was  the  first  English  ship  that  came  to  West 
Jersey. 

Gov.  Andres,  who  saw  in  the  coming  of  Fenwick  an  oppor- 
tunity to  extend  the  influence  of  the  Duke  of  York,  issued  an 
order  that  Fenwick  be  not  received  as  owner  of  lands  on  the 
Delaware;  and  that  no  privilege  or  freedom  of  custom  or  trading 
on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  bay  or  river  be  permitted.  A  warrant 
was  issued  for  Fenwick's  arrest  by  the  Duke  of  York's  officers 
at  New  Castle,  Del.  He  was  afterwards  released  on  parole  and 
returned  to  Salem,  called  by  the  Duke  of  York's  followers 
"Swamptown"  in  derision. 

About  this  time  it  was  learned  that  Edward  Byllinge  pro- 
cured this  conveyance  for  Fenwick  to  avoid  his  creditors;  con- 
sequently this  led  to  an  investigation  in  regard  to  affairs  and  the 
final  discovery  of  his  intentional  defrauding  of  his  creditors. 
Byllinge  having  admitted  the  truth,  a  settlement  was  made 
whereby  Fenwick  relinquished  all  but  one-tenth  of  the  grant. 
William  Penn,  Gawen  Lawrie,  and  Nicholas  Lucas,  creditors,  were 
placed  in  control  of  the  balance  as  trustees  of  Byllinge.  They 
soon  sold  a  number  of  shares  of  their  propriety  to  different  pur- 
chasers, who  thereupon  became  proprietors  in  common  with 
them.  It  now  became  necessary  that  a  scheme  should  be  devised 
for  a  better  distribution  of  rights  to  land  so  as  to  promote  set- 
tlement and  ascertain  a  form  of  government.  Consequentlv  con- 
cessions were  drawn,  mutually  agreed  on  and  signed  by  some 
of  the  subscribers.     It  now  became  the  duty  of  the  original  pro- 


12  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

prietors  to  procure  a  division  of  the  province,  after  which  they 
wrote  the  following  letter  as  an  expedient  for  the  present  well 
ordering  matters.  Of  the  twelve  proprietors  Wm.  Penn  headed 
the  list  and  wrote  the  following  letter : 


Letter  from  William  Penn  to  Richard  Hartshorne 

London,  26th  of  the  6th  Month,  1676. 

"We  have  made  use  of  thy  name  in  a  commission  and  in- 
structions, which  we  have  sent  by  James  Wasse,  who  is  gone  in 
Samuel  Groome's  ship  for  Maryland,  a  copy  of  which  is  here 
inclosed,  and  also  a  copy  of  a  letter  which  we  have  sent  to  John 
Fenwick,  to  be  read  to  him  in  presence  of  as  many  of  the  people 
that  went  with  him  as  may  be  ;  and  because  we  both  expect,  and 
also  entreat,  and  desire  thy  assistance  in  the  same,  we  will  shew 
things  to  thee,  that  thou  may  inform  not  only  thyself,  but  friends 
there,  which  in  short  is  as  follows : 

"1st.  We  have  divided  with  George  Cartaret,  and  hav^ 
sealed  deeds  of  partition,  each  to  the  other ;  and  we  have  all  that 
side  on  Delaware  river  from  one  end  to  the  other.  The  line  of 
partition  is  from  the  east  side  of  little  Egg  Harbour,  straight 
North,  through  the  country,  to  the  utmost  branch  of  the  Dela^ 
ware  river,  with  all  powers,  privileges,  and  immunities  whatso- 
ever. Ours  is  called  New  West  Jersey,  his  is  called  New  East 
Jersey. 

"2.  We  have  made  concessions  by  ourselves,  being  such 
as  friends  here  and  there  ( we  question  not )  will  approve  of, 
having  sent  a  copy  of  them  by  James  Wasse  ;  there  we  lay  a 
foundation  for  after  ages  to  understand  their  liberty  as  men 
christians,  that  they  may  not  be  brought  in  bondage,  but  by  their 
own  consent,  for  we  put  the  power  in  the  people,  that  is  to  say, 
they  to  meet  and  choose  one  honest  man  for  each  propriety,  who 
hath  subscribed  to  the  concessions  ;  all  these  men  to  meet  as  an 
assembly  there,  to  make  and  repeal  laws,  to  choose  a  governor, 
or  a  commissioner,  and  twelve  assistants,  to  execute  the  laws 
during  their  pleasure,  so  every  man  is  capable  to  choose  or  be 
chosen.  No  man  to  be  arrested,  condemned,  imprisoned,  or  mo- 
lested in  his  estate  or  liberty,  but  by  twelve  men  of  the  neighbor- 
hood.   No  man  to  lie  in  prison  for  debt,  but  that  his  estate  satisfy 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 3 

as  far  as  it  will  go,  and  be  set  at  liberty  to  work.  No  person 
to  be  called  in  question  or  molested  for  bis  conscience,  or  for 
worshipping  according  to  his  conscience,  with  many  more  things 
mentioned  in  the  said  concessions. 

"3.  We  have  been  sent  over  by  James  Wasse,  a  commission 
under  our  hands  and  seals,  wherein  we  impower  thyself,  James 
Wasse  and  Richard  Guy,  or  any  two  of  you,  to  act  and  do  ac- 
cording to  the  instructions,  of  which  here  is  a  copy ;  having  also 
sent  some  goods,  to  buy  and  purchase  some  land  of  the  natives. 

"4.  We  intend  in  the  spring  to  send  over  some  more 
commissioners,  with  the  friends  and  people  that  cometh  there, 
because  James  Wasse  is  to  return  in  Samuel  Groom's  ship  for 
England  :  for  Richard  Guy,  we  judge  him  to  be  an  honest  man, 
yet  we  are  afraid  John  Fenwick  will  hurt  him  and  get  him  to 
condescend  to  things  that  may  not  be  for  the  good  of  the  whole; 
so  we  hope  thou  wilt  ballance  him  to  what  is  just  and  fair  ;  that 
John  Fenwick  betray  him  not,  that  things  may  go  on  easy  with- 
out hurt  or  jar;  which  is  the  desire  of  all  friends;  and  we  hope 
West  Jersey  will  be  soon  planted ;  it  being  in  the  minds  of  many 
friends  to  prepare  for  their  going  against  the  spring. 

"5.  Having  thus  far  given  thee  a  sketch  of  things,  we  come 
now  to  desire  thy  assistance,  and  the  assistance  of  other  friends 
in  your  parts ;  and  we  hope  it  will  be  at  length  an  advantage  to 
you  there,  both  upon  truth's  account,  and  other  ways ;  and  in 
regard  many  families  more  may  come  over  in  the  spring  to  Dela- 
ware side,  to  settle  and  plant,  and  will  be  assigned  by  us  to  take 
possession  of  their  particular  lots ;  we  do  contract  and  desire  that 
thou,  knowing  the  country  and  how  to  deal  with  the  natives ;  we 
say,  that  thee,  and  some  other  friends,  would  go  over  to  Delaware 
side,  as  soon  as  this  comes  to  your  hands,  or  as  soon  as  you  can 
conveniently ;  and  James  Wasse  is  to  come  to  a  place  called  New 
Castle,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Delaware  river,  to  stay  for  thee, 
and  any  that  will  go  with  him ;  and  you  all  to  advise  together,  and 
find  out  a  fit  place  to  take  up  for  a  town,  and  agree  with  the 
natives  for  a  tract  of  land ;  and  then  let  it  be  surveyed  and 
divided  in  one  hundred  parts  ;  for  that  is  the  method  we  have 
agreed  to  take,  and  we  cannot  alter  it ;  and  if  you  set  men  to  work 
to  clear  some  of  the  ground  we  would  be  at  the  charges ;  and  we 
do  intend  to  satisfy  thee  for  any  charges  thou  art  at,  and  for  thy 


14  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

pains.  This  we  would  not  have  neglected,  for  we  know,  and  you 
that  are  here  know,  that  if  the  land  we  had  not  taken  up  before 
the  spring ;  that  many  people  come  over  there,  the  natives  will 
insist  on  high  demands,  and  so  we  will  suffer  by  buying  at  dear 
rates,  and  our  friends  that  cometh  over,  be  at  great  trouble  and 
charges  until  a  place  be  bought  and  divided ;  for  we  do  not  like 
the  tract  of  land  John  Fenwick  hath  bought,  so  as  to  make  it  our 
first  settlement ;  but  we  would  have  thee  and  friends  there,  to 
provide  and  take  up  a  place  on  some  creek  or  river,  that  may  lie 
you,  and  such  a  place  as  you  may  like ;  for  may  be  it  may  come  in 
your  minds  to  come  over  to  our  side,  when  you  see  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  with  us  ;  and  so  we  can  say  no  more,  but  leave  the  thing 
with  you,  believing  that  friends  there  will  have  a  regard  to  friends 
settling,  that  it  may  be  done  in  that  way  and  method,  that  may  be 
for  the  good  of  the  whole ;  rest  thy  friends, 

Gawen  LawriE, 
William  Penn, 
Nicholas  Lucas, 
E.  Byllinge, 
John  Edridge, 
Edmond  Warner, 


Proprietors'   Instructions   to  James   Wasse 
and  Richard  Hartshorns 

"London,  the  18th  of  6th  month,  1676. 

"We  whose  names  are  hereunder  subscribed,  do  give  full 
power,  commission  and  authority,  unto  James  Wasse,  Richard 
Hartshorne  and  Richard  Guy,  or  any  two  of  them,  to  act  and  do 
for  us  according  to  the  following  instructions  ;  and  we  do  engage 
to  ratify  and  confirm  whatsoever  they  shall  do  in  prosecution  of 
the  same. 

"1.  We  desire  you  to  get  a  meeting  with  John  Fenwick, 
and  the  people  that  went  with  him,  (but  we  would  not  have  yon 
tell  your  business,)  until  you  get  them  together;  then  show  and 
read  the  deed  of  partition  with  George  Cartaret ;  also  the  trans- 
actions between  William  Penn,  Nicholas  Lucas,  Gawen  Lawrie, 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 5 

John  Edridge  and  Edmond  Warner,  and  then  read  our  letter  to 
John  Fenwick  and  the  rest,  and  shew  John  Fenwick  he  hath  no 
power  to  sell  any  land  there,  without  the  consent  of  John  Edridge 
and  Edmond  Warner. 

"2.  Know  of  John  Fenwick,  if  he  will  he  willing  peaceably 
to  let  the  land  he  hath  taken  up  of  the  natives  be  divided  into 
one  hundred  parts,  according  to  our  and  his  agreement  in  Eng- 
land, casting  lots  for  the  same,  we  being  willing  that  those  who 
being  settled  and  have  cultivated  ground  now  with  him,  shall 
enjoy  the  same,  without  being  turned  out,  although  they  fall  into 
our  lots  :  Always  provided,  that  we  be  reimbursed  the  like  value 
and  quantity  in  goodness  out  of  John  Fenwick's  lots.  And  we 
are  also  content  to  pay  our  ninetieth  parts  of  what  is  paid  to  the 
natives  for  the  same,  and  for  what  James  Wasse  hath  purchased 
of  John  Fenwick,  and  he  setting  out  the  same  unto  him,  not  being 
in  a  place  to  be  allotted  for  a  town  upon  a  river,  but  at  a  distance, 
and  the  said  John  Fenwick  allowing  us  the  value  in  goodness 
in  some  other  of  his  lots  ;  we  are  willing  he  shall  possess  the  same 
from  any  claiming  by  or  under  us  ;  and  for  the  town  lots  we  are 
willing  he  enjoy  the  same  as  freely  as  any  purchaser  buying  of  us. 

"3.  Take  information  from  some  that  knows  the  sound- 
ings of  the  river  and  creeks,  and  that  is  acquainted  in  the  coun- 
try, and  when  James  Wasse  is  in  Maryland,  he  may  enquire 
for  one  Augustin,  who  as  we  hear  did  found  most  part  of  Dela- 
ware river  and  the  creeks  :  He  is  an  able  surveyor ;  see  to  agree 
with  him  to  go  with  you  up  the  river  as  far  as  over  against  New 
Castle,  or  further  if  you  can,  so  far  as  a  vessel  of  a  hundred  tun 
can  go ;  for  we  intend  to  have  a  way  cut  across  the  country  to 
Sandy  Hook  ;  so  the  further  up  the  way,  the  shorter  ;  and  there, 
upon  some  creek  or  bay  in  some  healthy  ground,  find  out  a  place 
fit  to  make  a  settlement  for  a  town  ;  and  then  go  to  the  Indians 
and  agree  with  them  for  a  tract  of  land  about  the  said  place,  of 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  long,  more  or  less,  as  you  see  meet,  and  as 
broad  as  you  see  meet.  If  it  be  to  the  middle,  we  care  not;  only 
enquire  if  George  Carteret,  have  not  purchased  some  there  already, 
that  so  you  may  not  buy  it  over  again. 

"4.  Then  lay  out  four  or  five  thousand  acres  for  a  town ; 
and  if  Augustin  will  undertake  to  do  it  reasonably,  let  him  do  it ; 
for  he  is  the  fittest  man;  and  if  he  think  he  cannot  survey  so 


l6  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

much,  being  in  the  winter  time,  then  let  him  lay  out  the  less  for  a 
town  at  present,  if  it  be  but  two  thousand  acres,  and  let  him 
divide  it  in  a  hundred  parts ;  and  when  it  is  done  let  John  Fenwick, 
if  he  please,  be  there ;  however,  let  him  have  notice.  But  however, 
let  some  of  you  be  there,  to  see  the  lots  cast  fairly  by  one  person 
that  is  not  concerned.  The  lots  are  from  number  one  to  a 
hundred,  and  put  the  same  numbers  of  the  lots  on  the  partition 
trees  for  distinction. 

"5.  If  John  Fenwick  and  those  concerned  with  him,  be 
willing  to  join  with  you  in  those  things  as  above,  which  is  just 
and  fair,  then  he,  or  any  of  them,  may  go  along  with  you  in  your 
business  ;  and  let  them  pay  their  proportion  of  what  is  paid  to 
the  natives,  with  other  charges.  And  so  he  and  they  may  dispose 
of  their  lots  with  consent  of  John  Edridge  and  Edmond  Warner ; 
which  lots  are  20,  21,  26,  27,  36,  47  50,  57,  63,  ^2. 

"6.  If  John  Fenwick  and  his  people,  refuse  to  let  the  land 
they  have  taken  up  of  the  natives  be  divided,  and  refuse  to  join 
with  you,  you  may  let  the  country  know  in  what  capacity  John 
Fenwick  stands,  that  he  has  no  power  over  the  person  or  estates 
of  any  man  or  woman  more  than  any  other  person. 

"7.  What  land  you  take  of  the  natives,  let  it  be  taken,  viz. : 
Ninety  parts  for  the  use  of  William  Penn,  Gawen  Lawrie  and 
Nicholas  Lucas,  and  ten  parts  for  John  Edridge  and  Edmond 
Warner. 

"8.  After  you  have  taken  the  land  as  above,  and  divided 
for  a  town  or  settlement  and  cast  lots  for  the  same  as  above ;  then 
if  they  have  a  mind  to  buy  one  or  more  properties,  sell  them  at 
two  hundred  specie ;  they  taking  their  lots  as  theirs  do,  paying  to 
you  in  hand  the  value  of  fifty  pounds  in  parts  of  a  propriety,  and 
the  rest  on  sealing  their  conveyance  in  London ;  and  so  they 
may  presently  settle.  When  any  of  the  lots  fall  to  us,  that  is  to  say, 
he  that  buyeth  a  propriety  may  settle  on  any  one  lot  of  ninety 
parts ;  which  said  persons  that  buys,  and  what  lots  falls  to  them, 
there  they  may  settle,  and  acquaint  us  what  numbers  they  are; 
and  if  they  will  take  land  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever,  for 
every  acre  taken  up  in  a  place  laid  out  for  a  town,  according  to 
the  concessions,  they  are  not  to  have  above  what  shall  fall  by  lot 
to  a  propriety  in  a  town. 

"9.     What   charges  James   Wasse   it  at,  by  taking  up  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  1 7 

land  of  the  natives,  we  do  oblige  to  pay  the  same  unto  him  again, 
with  what  profits  is  usual  there  upon  English  goods  ;  and  he  may 
pitch  upon  two  lots,  one  in  each  town ;  if  they  be  taken  up  before 
he  comes  away,  to  his  own  proper  use,  for  his  trouble  and  pains. 
And  we  do  also  engage  to  allow  and  pay  what  charges  any  of 
our  commissioners  shall  disburse  in  executing  these  our  instruc- 
tions to  them  or  their  assigns. 

"10.  Let  us  be  advised  by  the  first  ship  that  cometh  for 
England,  of  all  proceedings  hereupon,  and  write  to  the  friends  at 
Sandy  Hook,  letting  them  know  how  things  are,  and  that  we  have 
divided  with  George  Cartaret,  and  that  our  division  is  all  along 
on  Delaware  River  ;  and  that  we  have  made  concessions  by  our- 
selves which  we  hope  will  satisfy  friends  there.  If  John  Fenwick, 
or  any  of  the  people  with  him,  desire  a  copy  of  the  deed  of  par- 
tition, let  them  have  it. 

"ii.  We  desire  that  our  original  deed  be  kept  in  your  own 
custody,  that  it  may  be  ready  to  shew  unto  the  rest  of  the  com- 
missioners, which  we  intend  to  send  over  in  the  spring,  with  full 
power  for  settling  things,  and  to  lay  out  land,  and  dispose  upon 
it,  and  for  the  settling  some  method  of  government  according  to 
the  concessions. 

"12.  If  you  cannot  get  Augustin  to  go  with  you,  or  that  he 
be  unreasonable  in  his  demands  ;  then  send  a  man  to  Thomas 
Bushroods,  at  Essex  Lodge,  in  York  river,  for  William  Elliot, 
who  writes  to  Gawen  Lawrie  this  year,  and  offered  himself  to  be 
surveyor,  and  tell  him  you  had  orders  from  said  Lawrie  to  send 
for  him  and  take  him  with  you.  He  will  be  willing  to  be  there 
all  winter,  and  will  survey  and  do  other  things.  He  had  a  char- 
acter in  Virginia,  but  was  not  able  to  keep  it ;  he  is  a  fair  con- 
ditioned sober  man.  Let  him  stay  there  all  winter,  and  order 
him  something  to  live  upon. 

"13.  If  the  said  Elliot  go  with  you,  give  him  directions  what 
to  do.  If  you  cannot  stay  till  a  place  for  a  town  be  surveyed, 
yet  we  think  you  may  stay  until  you  have  not  only  pitched  upon 
a  place  for  a  town,  but  also  upon  a  place  for  a  second  town  and 
settlement,  and  have  marked  out  a  place  round  about  there,  and 
let  William  Elliott  divide  both  which  no  doubt  but  he  may  do 
before  the  spring,  that  we  send  over  more  commissioners  and 
people ;  and  if  John  Fenwick  be  willing  to  go  on  jointly  with  you 


1 8  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

there,  his  surveyor  may  go  along  and  help  ours,  and  the  charges 
shall  be  brought  in  for  both  proportionably  on  all.  Mind  this 
and  speak  to  Richard  Guy,  or  Richard  Hartshorne,  and  leave 
orders  with  them  to  let  William  Elliot  have  provisions  for  himself 
till  spring,  and  we  shall  order  them  satisfacton  for  the  same;  and 
if  there  be  no  house  near  the  place  you  may  take  up  for  the  sur- 
veyors to  lodge  in,  then  let  there  be  a  cottage  built  for  them  on 
the  place  and  we  will  allow  the  charges. 

"14.  And  whereas  there  is  tackling  there  already,  for  fitting 
a  sloop,  as  we  judge  in  the  custody  of  Richard  Guy:  We  also 
give  you  power,  if  you  see  meet,  and  that  it  be  of  necessary  use 
and  advantage  for  the  whole  concern,  you  may  order  these  ship 
carpenters  to  build  a  sloop  suitable  for  these  materials,  and 
appoint  them  some  provision  for  their  food,  and  for  the  rest  of 
their  wages  they  shall  either  have  it  in  a  part  of  the  sloop,  or  be 
otherwise  satisfied  in  the  spring  of  the  year ;  the  said  sloop  to  be 
ordered  and  disposed  upon  by  you  until  more  commissioners  come 
over  with  further  instructions. 

"15.  With  the  goods  we  have  sent  over  with  James  Wasse 
are  to  disposed  upon  for  purchase  land  from  the  natives  or 
otherwise  as  need  is,  giving  us  account  thereof. 

William    Penn, 
Nicholas  Lucas, 
Edmond  Warner, 
Gawen  Lawrie, 
E.  Byllinge. 


The  instrument  for  dividing  the  province  being  agreed  on 
by  Sir  George  Cartaret  on  the  one  part  and  the  said  E.  Byllinge, 
William  Penn,  Gawen  Lawrie,  and  Nicholas  Lucas  on  the  other, 
they  together  signed  a  Quintipartite  deed  after  the  first  day  of 
July,  1676.  f. 

The  line  of  division  being  thus  far  settled,  each  took  their 
own  measures  for  further  peopling  and  improving  their  different 
shares.  Sir  George  Cartaret  had  greatly  the  advantage  respect- 
ing improvements,  his  part  being  (as  we  have  seen)  already 
considerably  peopled :  The  western  proprietors  soon  published  a 
description  of  their  moiety,  on    which    many    removed  thither: 


KARLV   HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  1 9 

But  lest  any  should  not  sufficiently  weigh  the  importance  of  this 
undertaking,  and  for  other  reasons,  the  three  principal  proprietors 
published  the  following  cautionary  epistle  : 

Proprietors'  Instructions  to  James  Wassf, 
and  Richard  Hartshornf, 

Dear  friends  and  brethren  : 

Epistle.  "In  the  pure  love  and  precious  fellowship  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  very  dearly  salute  you :  Forasmuch  as  there 
was  a  paper  printed  several  months  since,  entitled,  The  Descrip- 
tion of  New-West-Jersey,  in  the  which  our  names  were  men- 
tioned as  trustees  for  one  undivided  moiety  of  the  said  province : 
And  because  it  is  alleged  that  some,  partly  on  this  account,  and 
others  apprehending,  that  the  paper  by  the  manner  of  its  expres- 
sion, came  from  the  body  of  friends,  as  a  religious  society  of  peo- 
ple, and  not  from  particulars,  have  through  these  mistakes,  weakly 
■concluded  that  the  third  description  in  matter  and  form  might  be 
writ,  printed  and  recommended  on  purpose  to  prompt  and  allure 
people,  to  dis-settle  and  transplant  themselves,  as  it's  also  by  some 
alleged :  And  because  that  we  are  informed,  that  several  have  on 
that  account,  taken  encouragement  ami  resolution  to  transplant 
themselves  and  families  to  the  said  province ;  and  lest  any  of 
them  (as  is  feared  by  some)  should  go  out  of  a  curious  and  un- 
settled mind,  and  others  to  shun  the  testimonv  of  the  blessed  cross 
of  Jesus,  of  which  several  weighty  friends  have  a  godly  jealousy 
upon  their  spirits  ;  lest  an  unwarrantable  forwardness  should  act 
or  hurry  any  beside  or  beyond  the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  the 
Lord,  or  the  freedom  of  his  light  and  the  spirit  in  their  own 
hearts,  and  not  upon  a  good  and  weighty  grounds :  It  truly  laid 
hard  upon  us,  to  let  friends  know  how  the  matter  stands  ;  which 
we  shall  endeavor  to  do  with  all  clearness  and  fidelity. 

"i.     That  there  is  such  a  province  as  New  Jersey,  is  certain 

"2.  That  it  is  reputed  of  those  who  have  lived  and  have 
travelled  in  that  country,  to  be  wholesome  of  air  and  fruitful  of 
soil,  and  capable  of  sea  trade,  is  also  certain  ;  and  it  is  not  right 
in  any  to  despise  or  dispraise  it,  or  dissuade  those  that  find  free- 
dom from  the  Lord,  and  necessity  put  them  on  going. 

"3.     That  the  duke  of  York  sold  it  to  those  called  lord  Berke- 


20  EARLY   HISTORY   OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

ley,  baron  of  Stratton,  and  sir  George  Cartaret,  equally  to  be  di- 
vided between  them,  is  also  certain. 

"4.  One  moiety  or  half  part  of  the  said  province,  being  the 
right  of  the  sail  lord  Berkeley,  was  sold  by  him  to  John  Fenwick, 
in  trust  for  Edward  Byllinge,  and  his  assigns. 

"5.  Forasmuch  as  E.  B.  (after  William  Penn  had  ended  the 
difference  between  the  said  Edward  Byllinge  and  John  Fenwick) 
was  willing  to  present  his  interest  in  the  said  province  to  his 
creditors,  as  all  that  he  had  left  him,  towards  their  satisfaction, 
he  desired  William  Penn  (though  every  way  unconcerned)  and 
Gawen  Lawrie,  and  Nicholas  Lucas,  two  of  his  creditors,  to  be 
trustees  for  performance  of  the  same ;  and  because  several  of  his 
creditors,  particularly  and  very  importunately,  pressed  William 
Penn  to  accept  of  the  trust  for  their  sakes  and  security ;  we  did  all 
of  us  comply  with  those  and  the  like  requests,  and  accepted  of  the 
trust. 

"6.  Upon  this  we  became  trustees  for  one  moiety  of  the  said 
province  yet  undivided:  And  after  no  little  labour,  trouble  and 
cost,  a  division  was  obtained  between  the  said  sir  George  Cartaret 
and  us,  as  trustees :  The  country  is  situated  and  bounded  as  is 
expressed  in  the  printed  description. 

"7.  This  now  divided  moiety  is  to  be  cast  into  one  hundred 
parts,  lots,  or  properties  ;  ten  of  which  upon  the  agreement  made 
betwixt  E.  Byllinge  and  J.  Fenwick,  were  settled  and  conveyed 
unto  J.  B^enwick,  his  executors  and  assigns,  with  a  considerable 
sum  of  money,  by  way  of  satisfaction  for  what  he  became  con- 
cerned in  the  purchase  from  the  said  lord  Berkeley,  and  by  him 
afterwards  conveyed  to  John  Edridge  (or  Eldridge )  and  Edmond 
Warner,  their  heirs  and  assigns. 

"8.  The  ninety  parts  remaining  are  exposed  for  sale,  on 
the  behalf  of  the  creditors  of  the  said  E.  V>.  And  forasmuch  as 
several  friends  are  concerned  as  creditors,  as  well  as  others,  and 
the  disposal  of  so  great  a  part  of  this  country  being  in  our  hands  ; 
we  did  in  real  tenderness  and  regard  to  friends,  and  especially  to 
the  poor  and  necessitous,  make  friends  the  first  offer;  that  if  any 
of  them,  though  particularly  those  that  being  low  in  the  world, 
and  under  trials  about  a  comfortable  livelihood  for  themselves 
and  famines  should  be  desirous  of  dealing  for  any  part  or  parcel 
thereof,  that  they  might  have  the  refusal. 


KARIA'  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,    N.  J.  2T 

"9.  This  was  the  real  and  honest  intent  of  our  hearts,  and 
not  to  prompt  or  allure  any  out  of  their  places,  either  by  the  credit 
our  names  might  have  with  our  people  throughout  t'.ie  nation  or 
by  representing  the  thing  otherwise  than  it  is  in  itself. 

"As  for  the  printed  paper  sometime  since  set  forth  by  the 
creditors,  as  a  description  of  that  province  ;  we  say  as  to  two 
passages  in  it,  they  are  not  so  clearly  and  safely  worded  as  ought 
to  have  been ;  particularly  in  seeming  to  limit  the  winter  season 
to  so  short  a  time  ;  when  on  further  information,  we  hear  it  is 
sometimes  longer  and  sometimes  shorter  than  therein  expressed ; 
and  the  last  clause  relating  to  liberty  of  conscience,  we  would  not 
have  any  to  think  that  it  is  promised  or  intended  to  maintain  the 
liberty  of  the  exercise  of  religion  by  force  and  arms ;  though  we 
shall  never  consent  to  any  the  least  violence  on  conscience ;  yet 
it  was  never  designed  to  encourage  any  to  expect  by  force  of  arms 
to  have  liberty  of  conscience  fenced  against  invaders  thereof. 

"10.  And  be  it  known  unto  you  all  in  the  name  and  fear  of 
Almighty  God,  his  glory  and  honour,  power  and  wisdom,  truth 
and  kingdom,  is  dearer  to  us  than  all  visible  things  ;  and  as  our 
eye  has  been  single  and  our  heart  sincere  to  the  living  God,  in 
this  as  in  other  things  ;  so  we  desire  all  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  all  groundless  jealousies  may  be  judged  down  and  watched 
against,  and  that  all  extremes  may  be  avoided  on  all  hands  by  the 
power  of  the  Lord  ;  that  nothing  which  hurts  or  grieves  the  holy 
life  of  truth  in  any  that  goes  or  stays,  may  be  adhered  to;  nor 
any  provocations  given  to  break  precious  unity. 

"This  am  I,  William  Penn,  moved  of  the  Lord,  to  write  unto 
you,  lest  any  bring  a  temptation  upon  themselves  or  others ;  and 
in  offending  the  Lord,  slay  their  own  peace:  Blessed  are  they 
that  can  see,  and  behold  their  leader,  their  ordered,  their  con- 
ductor and  preserver,  in  staying  or  going.  Whose  is  the  earth 
and  the  fullness  thereof,  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills. 
And  as  we  formerly  writ,  we  cannot  but  repeat  our  request  unto 
you,  that  in  whomsoever  a  desire  is  concerned  in  this  intended 
plantation,  such  should  weigh  the  thing  and  not  headily  or  rashly 
conclude  on  any  such  remove ;  and  that  they  do  not  offer  violence 
to  the  tender  love  of  their  near  kindred  and  relations ;  but  soberly 
■and  conscientiously  endeavor  to  obtain  their  good  wills,  the  unity 
of  friends  where  they  live;  that  whether  they  go  or  stay,  it  may  be 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,  N.  J.  23 

of  good  favour  before  the  Lord  (and  good  people )  from  whom 
only  can  all  heavenly  and  earthly  blessings  come.  This  we 
thought  good  to  write,  for  the  preventing  of  all  misunderstand- 
ings, and  to  declare  the  real  truth  of  the  matter ;  and  so  we  com- 
mend you  all  to  the  Lord,  who  is  the  watchman  of  his  Israel. 
We  are  your  friends  and  brethren, 

William  Penn, 
Gawen  Lawrie, 
Nicholas  Lucas." 

The  Land  System  oe  West  Jersey. 
Yet,  even  in  West  Jersey  it  was  unavoidable  that  there  should 
be  some  irregularities  and  disputes.  One  cause  of  trouble  was 
found  in  the  operations  of  the  headstrong  Fenwick  at  Salem. 
Cpon  Fenwick's  arrival  in  West  Jersey  he  styled  himself  sole 
proprietor  of  the  province,  appointed  a  register  and  a  surveyor, 
and  undertook  to  grant  lands  in  a  rather  indiscriminate  manner. 
In  spite  of  the  several  efforts  of  conciliation,  he  continued  to 
ignore  the  legitimate  proprietors,  until  i(>$2,  when  an  agreement 
was  at  length  effected  with  him,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Penn.  lie  was  allowed  150.000  acres  of  land,  that  being  the 
amount  had  had  already  granted  in  Salem  town  an  1  vicinity,  and 
his  deeds  to  that  amount  were  recognized  as  valid.  All  further 
claims  Fenwick  surrendered  to  Penn.  and  as  that  distinguished 
person  had  already  acquired  the  interests  of  Elbridge,  or  Eldridge, 
and  Warner,  he  thus  became  the  recognized  proprietor  of  the 
"Salem  Tenth." — (Copied  from  "The  Province  of  New  Jersey," 
written  by  Bdwin  P.  Tanner.) 


The  first  West  Jersey  commissioners  were  Thomas  (  'live, 
Daniel  Wills,  John  Kinsey,  John  Penford,  Joseph  Helmslev. 
Robert  Stacy,  Benjamin  Scott,  Richard  Guy,  and  Thomas  Foulke. 

Xew  Jersey  Signers  of  Independence:  Richard  Stockton, 
John  Witherspcon,  James  Hopkinson,  John  Hart,  and  Abraham 
Clark. 

Newspapers  of  Xew  Jersey  during  the  Revolution  :  Xew 
Jersey  Gazette,  published  in  Burlington  December  3d.  1777;  Xew 
Jersey  Journal,  first  published  in  Chatham  in  1770;  removed  to 
Elizabethtown  in  1780. 


24  KAkl.Y    HISTORY  01?   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  .1. 

FROM  OFFICIAL  REGISTER  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN 
OF  NEW  JERSEY  !.\  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 

By  Wm.  Stryker,  Adjutant  General 

In  the  following  resolutions  from  the  Journal  of  Congress, 
<  >ctober  9th,  1775.  in  the  first  call  on  New  Jersey  for  Continental 
troops : 

Resolved — That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Convention  of 
New  Jersey,;  that  they  immediately  raise  at  the  expense  of  the 
Continent,  two  battalions;  consisting  of  Eight  Companies  each, 
ami  each  company  of  sixty-eight  privates  officered  with  one  cap- 
tain, one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants,  and  four  cor- 
porals. 

That  the  privates  "be  enli  ted  <  r  one  year,  at  the  rate  of  Five 
dollars  per  Calendar  month:  liable  to  be  discharged  at  any  time 
on  allowing  them  one  month  pay  extraordinary. 

That  each  of  the  privates  be  allowed  instead  of  bounty  1  felt 
hat,  a  pair  of  yarn  stockings  and  a  pair  of  shoes,  the  men  to  find 
their  own  arms. 

That  the  pay  of  the  officers  to  be  the  same  as  the  officers  of 
the  Continental  army. 

That  each  Captain  and  other  Commissioned  Officers,  while  in 
the  recruiting  service  in  this  Continent,  or  on  their  march  to  join 
the  army,  shall  lie  allowed  two  and  two-thirds  dollars  per  week, 
for  their  subsistence,  and  that  the  men  who  enlist  shall  each  of 
them,  while  in  quarters,  he  allowed  one  dollar  per  week,  and 
one  and  one-third  dollars  when  on  their  march  to  join  the  army, 
f<  >r  the  same  purpose. 

December,  1777,  the  cartonment  of  the  army  was  proposed 
by  General  Washington,  and  in  this  connection.  Congress  called 
upon  him  Dec  [9th  for  a  report  thereon  and  urged  that  measures 
lie  immediately  agreed  upon  for  the  protection  of  Xew  Jersey. 

TEXT  OF  THE  RESOLUTION 

Resolved — That  General  Washington  he  informed  that  in  the 
opinion  of  Congress,  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  demands  in  a  pecu- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  25 

liar  degree,  the  protection  of  armies  of  United  States,  so  far  as 
the  same  can  possibly  be  extended,  consistent  with  the  safety 
of  the  army  and  the  general  welfare,  as  that  state  lies  open  to 
attacks  from  too  many  quarters  and  the  struggles  which  have 
been  made  by  the  brave  and  virtuous  inhabitants  of  that  state  in 
defence  of  the  common  cause,  cannot  fail  of  exposing  them  to  the 
particular  resentment  of  a  merciless  enemy. 


January  10th,  1776. 

Resolved — That  another  Battalion  be  raised  in  New  Jersey, 
on  the  same  terms  as  the  other  two  raised,  in  the  same  Colony : — 

Province  of  New  Jersey, 

In  Congress,  Feb.  6th,  1776. 

Whereas — By  a  resolution  of  the  Honorable  Continental 
Congress,  a  Third  Battalion  is  recommended,  immediately  to  be 
raised  in  this  Colony  for  the  service,  at  the  expense  of  the  United 
Colonies,  consisting  of  the  same  as  1st  and  2nd  Battalions — in 
officers  and  in  numbers. 

Resolved — That  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  said 
Honorable  Continental  Congress,  the  recruiting  officer  enlist  none 
but  healthy,  sound  and  able  bodied  freemen,  not  under  sixteen 
years  of  age. 

And  it  is  directed,  where  any  company  shall  be  enlisted  the 
Captain  having  warrants  for  raising  the  same,  shall  a  muster  to  be 
had  thereof  in  the  presence  of 


They  are  hereby  appointed 
muster  master  to  review  the 
said  companies,  and  administer 
the  oath  to  such  Captains. 


Azariah  Dunham, 
John  Mlhelkm. 
Joseph  Ellis, 
Ki>.m  i.'nd  Thomas. 


The  Continental  Congress  assumed  the  right  of  appointing 
New  Jersey's  field  officers.     This,  the  Colony  contended,  should 


26  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

be  reserved  to  itself.  After  much  discussion  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, October  28,  recommended  the  names  of  those  fitted  for 
field  officers  of  the  First  or  Eastern  Battalion,  and  the  Second 
or  Western  Battalion.  This  organization  was  known  as  the 
First  Establishment  of  the  Continental  troops,  "Jersey  Line." 
Of  the  First  Battalion  Wm.  Alexander,  titular  Lord  Stirling,  was 
Colonel  while  Wm.  Maxwell  was  Colonel  of  the  Second  Bat- 
talion. 

Although  it  was  with  difficulty  that  arms  and  clothing  could 
be  secured  for  the  Second  Battalion,  Congress,  on  the  10th  of 
January,  1776,  called  upon  New  Jersey  to  furnish  a  third  battalion 
of  eight  companies,  each  consisting  of  78  privates.  The  Colonel 
of  the  Third  Battalion  First  Establishment  was  Elias  Dayton. 
On  the  3rd  of  May,  the  First  and  Third  Battalions  left  New  York 
City  upon  the  Canadian  expedition,  being  later  joined  by  the 
Second.  After  nearly  a  year's  experience  in  Indian  warfare  at 
Johnstown  German  Flats,  Fort  Dayton,  Fort  Schuyler,  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  Mount  Independence,  the  Third  Battalion  returned 
to  New  Jersey  and  at  Morristown  was  discharged  March  23rd, 
1777. 

The  Second  Establishment  of  Continental  troops  of  New 
Jersey  dates  from  September  16,  1  //< >,  the  men  enlisted  in  the 
First  Establishment  being  given  preference  in  the  matter  of  re- 
enlistments.  Elias  Dayton  was  again  Colonel  of  the  Third  Bat- 
talion. The  1st,  2nd,  3rd  and  4th  Battalions  were  known  as 
"Maxwell's  Brigade,  which  impeded  and  harassed  Gen.  Clinton's 
force  in  its  retreat  through  the  Jerseys,  after  the  evacuation  of 
Philadelphia.  The  brigade  also  participated  in  the  Battle  of 
Monmouth. 

The  Third  and  last  Establishment,  which  consisted  of  three 
regiments,  was  confirmed  by  the  New  Jersey  Legislature,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1 78 1,  Elias  Dayton  being  Colonel  of  the  Third.  Each 
county  was  alloted  one  battalion  of  militia,  except  Gloucester  and 
Salem,  which  were  united.  On  July  4th,  1780,  the  women  of 
New  Jersey  organized  a  society  for  helping  in  the  cause  of 
American  liberty ;  the  names  of  those  from  Gloucester  County 
were  Mrs.  (Colonel)  Clark,  Mrs.  (Colonel)  Wescott,  Mrs.  (Col- 
onel) Ellis,  Mrs.  (Colonel)  I  lugg,  Mrs.  Bloomfield.— Lee,  Vol  2. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  27 


CONSTITUTION— ACT  OF  LEGISLATURE 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  That  the  Governor,  the  Treasurer  and 
Comptroller,  be  authorized  to  cause  to  be  published  such  number 
of  copies  as  they  may  deem  proper,  of  the  record  of  soldiers  of 
this  State  in  the  Revolution  and  that  they  prepare,  if  it  can  be 
done,  a  record  of  like  character  of  the  soldiers  of  this  State  in 
the  War  of  1812  and  the  Mexican  War.  That  the  Treasurer  be 
directed  to  pay  upon  the  warrant  of  the  Comptroller  the  ex- 
penses incurred. 

October  4,  1780 — An  act  was  passed  to  enable  owners  and 
possessors  of  the  tide-marshes  and  meadows,  living  on  Absecon 
Creek,  in  Gloucester  County,  to  erect  and  maintain  a  bank,  to 
prevent  the  tides   from  overflowing  the  marshes  and  meadows. 

The  Constitution  framed  in  1776  just  before  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  by  the  United  Colonies  remained  in  force  until 
1844.  In  that  year  a  convention  of  delegates  from  the  several 
counties  met  in  convention  at  Trenton,  under  authority  from  the 
legislature,  framed  a  new  one,  more  in  accordance  with  the 
altered  condition  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the  spirit  of  fuller 
freedom  which  had  been  developed. 


28  i:\RIA    HISTORY  OI*  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

OFFICERS   OF  THE   REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 

GLOUCESTER   COUNTY 

Ellis,  Captain  Joseph,   Muster  Master,   17S0. 
Davis,  Captain  John,   Recruiting  officer,   1781. 
Lucas,  Simon,  Captain. 
First  Battalion: 

Shreve,   Israel,  Colonel,  also  Colonel  Continental  Army. 

Taylor,  Robert,  Captain,  Major,  Colonel. 

Bodo,  Otto,  Colonel. 

Tonkin,   Samuel,   Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Shreve,   Samuel,   Captain,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Brown,   Robert,  Captain,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Flanningham    (or    Flanagan),    Samuel,    Major,    also    Captain    in 
Continental  Army. 
Second  Battalion: 

Ellis,  Joseph,  Colonel,  also  Brigadier-General. 
-J^  Clark,   Elijah,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Ellis,  William,  Major. 
Third  Battalion: 

Somers,  Richard,  Colonel. 

Westcott,    Richard,    First    Major. 
1     Payne,  George,  Captain,  First  Major. 

Smith,  Jeremiah,   Captain,  Second  Major. 

Smith,   William,   Adjutant. 

Little,    John,    Paymaster. 

Hendry,   Thomas,   Surgeon. 

Carpenter,  Thomas,  Paymaster. 
Baker,  John,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  Captain  of  State  Troops. 
Barnes,  Andrew,  Captain,  Prisoner  of  War  in  September,  1780. 
Browning,   Jacob,   Captain   Second    Battalion,   September  22,    1777. 
Cheeseman,  Richard,  Captain   First   Battalion. 

Covenover,   Joseph,   Captain  Third   Battalion,   September  12,   1777. 
Cozens,  John,  Captain  First  Battalion,  Prisoner  of  War;  exchanged 
December  S,  1780;  Captain  State  Troops. 
Davis,  John,  Captain  First  Battalion. 

Douglas,  ,  Captain. 

Elwell,   Joseph,  Captain  Third   Battalion. 

Elwell,   Sawtel,    Lieutenant  Second    Battalion,    September   3,    1776; 
Captain  First   Battalion. 
—  Estell,  Joseph,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  September  18,  1777. 
Fisher,   P'elix,   Captain. 

Hampton,  John,  Lieutenant  Third  Battalion,  also  Captain. 
Harrison,  William,  Captain  Second  Battalion. 

Higbee,    Richard,    Second   Lieutenant    Captain    Payne's    Company, 
Third  Battalion,  November  14,  1777;  First  Lieutenant,  Captain. 

Holmes,   James,   Captain,    Gloucester;   Captain  Battalion,   "Heard's 
Brigade"  June   16,   1778;   also  Captain  in   Continental  Army. 
Inskip,  John,  Lieutenanl    Second    Battalion.    Captain. 
Lucas,    Simon,    Captain,    Gloucester;    Captain    Major    Hayes'    Bat- 
talion State  Troops. 

Maffatt,  Archibald,  Captain  First  Battalion;   resigned. 
Maffatt,    William,    First    Lieutenant     Captain     Pierce's     Company, 
First  Battalion,  June  2,   1777;  Captain. 

Newkirk,    Cornelius,    Captain   Second    Battalion   Salem;    also    Cap- 
lain  First  Battalion,  Gloucester. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  29 

Patten,  John,  Captain  Second  Battalion. 

Paul,  David,  Lieutenant  Third  Battalion;  Captain. 

Pierce,  George,  Captain  First  Battalion,  June  2,  1777. 

Price,  William,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  September  18,   1777. 

Purvis,  George,  Captain  Second  Battalion. 

Rape,   Christopher,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  September  18,   1777. 

Rice,  William,  Captain,  Salem;  Captain  First  Battalion,  Glou- 
cester. 

Shute,  Henry,  Captain  First  Battalion. 

Smith,  William,  Adjutant  Third  Battalion;   Captain. 

Snell,  Robert,  First  Lieutenant;  Captain. 

Snell,  Samuel,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  September  18,   1777. 

Somers,  James,  First  Lieutenant  Captain  Price's  Company,  Third 
Battalion,   September  18,   1777;   Captain  Second  Battalion. 

Somers,  John,  Captain. 

Steelman,  Zephaniah,  Captain  Third  Battalion,  September  18,  1777. 

Stokes,  John,  Captain  Second  Battalion. 

Stonebanks,  Richard,  Captain  First  Battalion,  October  5,  1778. 

Tallman,  James,  Captain  Troop,  Light-Horse,  May  3,  1777. 

Thorne,  Joseph,  Captain  Second  Battalion,  August  10,  1776. 

Watson,  William,   First  Lieutenant  First  Battalion;    Captain. 

Weatherby,   David,   Captain  Third   Battalion. 

Wood,  John,  Captain  First  Battalion,  Colonel  Holmes'   Regiment. 

Wood,  John,  Captain. 

Baker,  David,  Private,  Lieutenant. 

Carter,  John,   Lieutenant. 

Chatham,  John,   Lieutenant  First  Battalion. 

Leeds,  Enoch,  Lieutenant. 

McCullough,  Joseph,  Lieutenant  Third  Battalion. 

Parsons,  John,  Lieutenant;  Prisoner  of  War  September,  1780. 

Peirce,   Ward,   Lieutenant. 

Weatherby,  Benjamin,  Lieutenant  Third  Battalion. 

Ingersoll,  Joseph,  First  Lieutenant  Captain  Jeremiah  Smith's 
Company,   Third   Battalion,   November   14,   1777. 

Ireland,  Edward,  First  Lieutenant  Third  Battalion,  November 
14,   1777. 

Leeds,  Jeremiah,  First  Lieutenant  in  Captain  Covenover's  Com- 
pany,  Third   Battalion,   September   18,    1777. 

Mitchell,  Alexander,  First  Lieutenant,  also  Captain  Continental 
Army. 

Morse,  Nehemiah,  First  Lieutenant  Captain  Payne's  Company, 
Third  Battalion,  November   14,    1777. 

Springer,  Samuel,  First  Lieutenant  Captain  Rape's  Company, 
Third  Battalion,  September  IS,  1777. 

— »  Westcott,    Arthur.     First    Lieutenant    Captain    Estell's    Company, 
Third  Battalion,  September  18,  1777. 

Chew,  Aaron,  Second  Lieutenant  Second  Battalion. 

Covenhoven,    Peter,   Second   Lieutenant,    November   14,    1777. 

Endicott,  Jacob,  Secon  1  Lieutenant  Captain.  Snell's  Company, 
Third  Battalion,  September  18,   1777. 

Finch,  William,  Second  Lieutenant  Captain  Rape's  Company, 
Third    Battalion,    September    18.    1777. 

Lucas,  John,  Second  Lieutenant  Captain  Estell's  Company,  Third 
Battalion,   September  18,   17  7  7. 

McFarland,  Samuel,  Second  Lieutenant  First  Battalion. 

Parsons  (Passant),  Abraham,  Second  Lieutenant  Second  Battalion. 

Risley,  Jeremiah,  Second  Lieutenant  Captain  Covenover's  Com- 
pany, Third  Battalion.  September  18,   1777. 


30  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Roe,    Henry,  Second  Lieutenant  First  Battalion. 

Scull,  John,  Second  Lieutenant  Captain  Price's  Company,  Third 
Battalion,  September  IS,   1777. 

Townsend,  Elijah,  Second  Lieutenant  Captain  Jeremiah  Smith's 
Company,  Third  Battalion,  November  14,  1777. 

Adams,  John,  Ensign,  Captain  Payne's  Company,  Third  Battalion, 
November  14,   1777. 

Avis,  Joseph,  Ensign,  Third  Battalion. 

Barrett,  Elijah,  Ensign,  Captain  Samuel  Snell's  Company,  Third 
Battalion,  September  18,   1777. 

Clark.  Japhet,  Ensign,  Captain  Price's:  Company,  Third  Battalion, 
September  18,   1777. 

Dilkes,  John,  Ensign,  Captain  Pierce's  Company,  First  Battalion, 
June  2,  1777. 

Extell,  Ebenezer,  Ensign,  Captain  Estell's  Company,  Third  Bat- 
talion. 

Frazer,  Daniel,  Ensign,  Third  Battalion,  November  14,  1777. 

Hooper,  Daniel,  Ensign,  Captain  Taylor's  Company,  Third  Bat- 
talion. 

Inskeep,  Benjamin,  Ensign,  Captain  Browning's  Company,  Second 
Battalion. 

McCollum,   Cornelius,   Ensign. 

Morrel,  Joseph,  Ensign,  Captain  Thome's  Company,  Second  Bat- 
talion. 

Sipple,  Nathaniel,  Ensign,  Captain  Covenover's  Company,  Third 
Battalion. 

Stillwell,  David,  Ensign,  Captain  Jeremiah  Smith's  Company, 
Third  Battalion. 

Tilton,  John,  Private  Third  Battalion,  Sergeant,  Ensign,  Novem- 
ber 14,  1777. 

Bennett,  Abraham,  Private,  Sergeant. 

Campbell,  William,  Sergeant,  Captain  Davis'  Company,  First  Bat- 
talion. 

McCollum,  Patrick,  Sergeant. 

Reed,  John,  Sergeant;  also  Private  Continental  Army. 

Sayres,   Richard,   Private,   Sergeant. 

Spencer,   Jacob,   Sergeant. 

Tomblin,  James,  Private,  Corporal,  Sergeant. 

Fisler,  Leonard,  Corporal. 

Dare,  Philip,  Wagoner. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.   J.  3 1 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  THIRD  NEW  JERSEY 

REGIMENT 

Col. — Elias  Dayton,  Jan.,   1776,  to  Jan.  1,   17S7. 

'Lieut.  Col. — Anthony  W.  White,  Jan.  18,  1776,  to  Nov.  20,  1776. 

Lieut.  Col. — Francis  Barber,  Nov.   28,   1778,  to  Jan.   1,   17S1. 

Major — Francis  Barber,  Jan.  18,  1776,  to  Nov.  20,  1776. 

Major — Joseph  Bloomfield,  Nov.  28,   1776,  to  Oct.  29,   177S. 

Major — John  Conway,  Oct.  29,  1778,  to  July  5,  1779. 

Major — John  Hollinshead,  April  7,   1779,  to  Jan.  1,  1781. 

PRIVATES  OF  GLOUCESTER  COUNTY 

Abbott,  Jeptha,  Third  Battalion. 

Abel,  John,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops;  also  Continental 
Army. 

Ackley,  Daniel,   Gloucester. 

Ackley,  Hezekiah,   Gloucester. 

Ackley,  James,  Gloucester. 

Ackley,   John,    Gloucester. 

Ackley,  Silas,  Gloucester. 

Adair,   James,  Third  Battalion,   Gloucester. 

Adams,  Andrew,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  David,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Elijah,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Jeremiah,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Jesse,  Gloucester. 

Adam?,  Jonas,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Jonathan,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Adams,  William,  Gloucester. 

Aim,  Abram,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Albertson,  Abraham,  Gloucester. 

Albertson,  Albert,  Gloucester. 

Albertson,   Isaac,  Gloucester. 

Albertson,  Jacob,  Jr.,  Gloucester. 

Albertson,  Jacob,  Sr.,   Gloucester. 

Allen,  George,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Allen,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Allen,  William,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Allen,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion   (Allcor),  Gloucester. 

Allset,  Jacob,   Third   Battalion,   Gloucester. 

Anderson,  Henry,  Second  Battalion,  Gloucester,  Continental  Army. 

Applegate,  Captain  Chambers,  Second  Battalion. 

Armstrong,  Isaac,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Aschroft,  Gibson,  Third   Battalion,    Gloucester. 

Ashcroft,  James,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Atherton,  Cormiter,  Third  Battalion,   Gloucester. 

Ayers,  Abijah,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Ayers,  James,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Ayers,  Moses,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 

Bacon,  Abel,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bachon,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Baker,  Frederick. 


32  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Baley,  James. 

Baley,  John,  Continental  Army. 
Baley,  Jonathan. 
Baley,  Joseph. 

Balken,   Benjamin,   Third    Battalion. 
Barden,  Haned,  Third  Battalion. 
Barker,  Richard,  Third  Battalion. 
Barton,  Jonathan,  Continental  Army. 
Bates,  William,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Beavin,  Thomas,  Third   Battalion,   Gloucester. 
Beesly,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Belange,  James. 
Belange,  Nicholas. 
Belange,  Samuel. 

Bell,  Robert.  '  [ 

Bell,   William. 

Benly,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bennett,  Alexander,  Third  Battalion,   Gloucester. 
Bennett,  John. 
Bennett.  Jonathan. 

Berry,  John,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bispham,   Benjamin. 
Blackman,  Andrew. 
Blackman,  David. 
Blackman,  John. 
Blackman,  Nehimiah. 
Bleakman,   James. 

Boggs,  James,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Boice,  William. 

Bortin,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bowen,  Edward. 
Bowen,  Josiah. 

Bowen,   Zadock,   Third   Battalion,   Gloucester. 
Bradford,   John,   Third   Battalion,    Gloucester. 
Brady.  Patrick,  Continental  Army. 
Bright,  George,   Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Brower,  David. 

Brower,  David,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Brown,  Asa,  Second  Battalion,  State  Troops. 
Brown,   Matthew,  Continental  Army. 
Browne,  George,  Third  Battalion. 
Bryant,  John,  Third  Battalion. 

Bryant,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  Continental  Army. 
Buck,  Elijah,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Buck,  Josiah,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Budey,   John,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bulangey,  James.  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Bulangey,  Joshua,  Third  Battalion.  Gloucester. 
Buiiton,    Robin,  Third    Battalion,   Gloucester. 
irch,   Joseph,  Third    Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Burl-:,    Elijah,  Third   Battalion,  Cloucester. 
Burnet,    Moses. 
Burton,  Samuel. 

Bus  iin,    William.  Third   Battalion. 
Butterworth,  Moses,  Third  Battalion.. 

Cade,   Aaron  F.,   Captain  Paul's  Company,   Third  Battalion,   State 
Troops,  and  Continental  Army. 

Cain,  John,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    X.    J.  33 

Cain,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 
Camp,  Ezekiel,  Jr. 
Camp,   James. 
Camp,   John. 
Camp,   Joseph,  Sr. 
Camp,   Joseph,  Jr. 
Campbell,  Archibald. 

Campbell,  David,   Third  Battalion,   Gloucester,   Col.   Somers'   State 
Troops. 

Campbell,  William,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  Continental  Army. 
Campen,    William,    Third    Battalion,    Gloucester,    Colonel    Somers' 
Battalion,  State  Troops. 
Cann,  John. 

Caranna,  George,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester,  also  Colonel  Somers' 
State  Troops. 

Carpenter,  Jacob. 

Carter,  George,  Third  Battalion,  Col.  Somers    Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Caruthers,    James,    Third    Battalion,    Col.    Somers     Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Casey,  John,  Third  Battalion,  State  Troops,  Continental  Army. 
Casker,  Benjamin. 
Caskie,  Simon. 

Casperson,    Tobias,   Third   Battalion,   also     Colonel     Somers'   State 
Troops. 

Cat  tell,  William. 

Cavener,  George,  Third  Battalion. 
Chamberlain,  Thomas. 
Champion,  Daniel. 
Champion,  John. 
Champion,  Thomas. 

Chattan,  John,  Third  Battalion,   Colonel  Somers'  Troops. 
Cheesman,   Thomas,  Third  Battalion,   Col.  Somers    Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Chester,  John,  Third  Battalion,  Col.  Somers    Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Chew,   Robert,   Third  Battalion,  Col.   Somers  Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Clark,   Adrial. 
Clark,   Benjamin. 
Clark,   David. 

Clark,  John,  Second  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 
Clark,  Joseph,  Gloucester. 
Clark,  Parker,  Gloucester. 
Clark,   Reuben,    Gloucester. 
Clark,   Thomas,   Gloucester. 

Clemens,   Richard,   Gloucester,   Continental  Army. 
Clement,   David. 
Clifton,  George. 
Clifton,  William. 

Clough,   Jacob,   Third  Battalion,   Col.  'Somers  'Battalion  and  State 
Troops. 

Cobb,    John,    Third    Battalion,    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    and    State 
Troops. 

Cobb,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,   Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Cobb,  William,  Third  Battalion,  Gloucester. 


34 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


Conklin,  Joseph. 
Connelly,   Bryant. 
Conover,  Da\  id. 

Conover',    Meaijah,    Third    Battalion,    Col.    Somers    Battalion    and 
State  Troops. 

( "i  mover,  Peter. 

Conover,  Peter  B. 

Cook,  John. 

Cook,   Patterson,  Third  Battalion,   Colonel  Somers    Battalion  and 

State  Troops.  „.    , 

Cook,  Silas,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion  and  State 

ps. 

Cordry,  William. 
Corson,  Abel. 
Corson,  John, 
uer,  John. 
Coshier,  Simon. 
Cosier,    Benjamin,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 

State  Troops. 

Cosier,   Simon,  Third  Battalion,   also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,   State 

Troops. 

Coults,  James,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State, 

Troops. 

Course,  Isaac. 

Course,  William. 

Covenhoven,  Isaac. 

Covenhoven,   John. 

Covenhoven,  Joseph. 

Cox,  Andrew,  also  Continental  Army. 

Cox,  Jacob,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion  and  State 
Troops. 

;er,   Samuel,   Third  Battalion,    Colonel  Somers'   Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Crandell,  Levi,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion  and 
State   Troops. 

Cranmore,  Wm.,  Third  Battalion,  also  '  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Cullom,  Cornelius,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Dair,  Cain,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Tro< 

Dair,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troi 

Dallis,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troops. 

m,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troops. 

Daniels,  Kidd,  Third  Battalion. 
.    William. 
n,  Joel,  also  Continental  Army. 

Andrew,    Third    Battalion,    Colonel   Somers'    Battalion   and 
State  Tr  >ops. 

Davis,  Cain,  Third  Battalion. 
I  >a\  is,  Curtis. 
Davis,  Karl. 
Davis,  Richard. 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC   COUNTY,    N.    J  .  35 

Day,    Chas.,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    State 
Troops. 

Day,   Samuel,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   State 
Troops. 

Day,    Thomas,    Third    Battalion,     Colonel    Somers'     Battalion   and 
State  Troops. 

Deal,    E'lias,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    State 
Troops. 

Deal,  James. 

Deal,  John. 
,■  Deal,  Samuel. 

Deckley,   James,   Third   Battalion,   Colonel  Somers'   Battalion   and 
State  Troops. 

Deifel,  Edward,  Third  Eattalion. 

Delfer,  John,  Second  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

Denick,  Samuel. 

Denick,  Samuel,  Jr. 

Dennis,  David. 

Dennis,  Matthew. 

Denny,  Gideon. 

Denny,  Thomas. 

Denny,  Jonas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troops. 

Derrickson,  Andrew,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Dickinson,  John,   Gloucester. 

Dickinson,    William.  , 

Dilkes,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Dill,  Frampton,  Third  Battalion,  also  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Dolbier,  John. 

Dollis,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion. 

Doram,   John. 

Dorcar,  Silas. 

Dormant,   Jesse. 

Dougherty,  Edward. 

Doughty.  Abel. 

Doughty,  Abige. 

Doughty,  Abner. 

Doughty,  Absalom. 

Doughty,  Jonathan. 

Doughty,  Jnsiah. 
1    -hty,  Thomas. 

I  •    u  an,   Edward. 

Dower,  John. 

Drummond,   Benjamin. 

Drummond,  John. 

Duffell,  Edward,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Dulaney,  Samuel. 

Dun  away.  Thomas. 

Dunlap,  James. 

Eastall.  Joseph. 

Edwards,  John,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops,  also  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Edwards,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 


36  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

Eglenton,   Ebenezer,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion, 

Eldridge,  Wm.,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  State 
Troops. 

Elway,  Jeremiah. 

English,  Joseph. 

English,  Mizeal. 

English,  Thomas. 

Ervin,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Evans,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ewing,  Abner,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ewing,   Abraham,   Third  Battalion. 

Falkner,  Daniel. 

Farrell,  John,  Continental  Army. 

Farrow,  Abraham,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Farrow,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Farrow,  Mark,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops.  , 

Feathers,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Fell,  Peter,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Fell,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Fenimore,  Abraham,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Fenimore,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ferlew,  Nathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ferrill,  James,  Continental  Army. 

Fetter,  Jacob,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Field,  Thomas,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  also  Continental  Army. 

Fisher,  Jacob. 

Fisler,  Jacob. 

Fisler,  John. 

Fithian,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Fithian,  Wm.,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Fletcher,  William,  also  Continental  Army. 

Forbes,  Uriah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ford,  William. 

Fort,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Fowler,   George. 

Fowler,  Isaac,  Continental  Army. 

Frambes,  Andrew. 

Frambes,  Nicholas. 

Franklin,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC   COUNTY,    N.    J.  37 

Frazier,  Daniel. 

French,  Samuel. 

Fry,  William. 

Furman,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Furman,  Wm.,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Gamble,  Calvin,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Gandy,  David,  also  State  Troops. 

Gandy,  Edward. 

Gandy,   Elias. 

Gandy,  John. 

Gant,  James. 

Garratson,  Jacob. 

Garratson,  Jeremiah. 

Garratson,   Joseph. 

Garratson,  Lemuel. 

Garret,  Robert,  Continental  Army. 

Garrison,  Cornelius,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Garrison,  Elijah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Garrison,   Reuben. 

Garwood,  Samuel,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Gee,  Rossel. 

Gentry,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Giberson,  James. 

Giberson,  Job. 

Giberson,   John. 

Gillingham,  James,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Giffen,    Daniel. 

Gifford,   Benjamin. 

Gifford,  James. 

Gifford,  John. 

Gifford,  Timothy. 

Given,    Reese,   Sr. 

Given,    Reese,  Jr. 

Given,  William. 

Goff,  John. 

Gonnel,  Francis. 

Graham,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Gormley,  James,  Third  Battalion. 

Graham,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Greaves,  Joshua. 

Gromley,  James,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Guild,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Hacket,  William. 

Haines,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Hainey,  William. 


38  EARLY    HISTORY   OP    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

Hamilton,  James,  also  Continental  Army. 
Hamilton,  John,  Third  Battalion. 

Hampton,  John,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion,  State  Troops. 
Hancock,  Andrew,  Continental  Army. 

Harcourt,  Abram,   Third   Battalion,  also  State  Troops  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Harker,   Abel,    Captain    Snell's     Company,     Third    Battalion,    also 
Continental  Army. 
Harker,  David. 

Harker,    Nathaniel,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers   Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Harris,    Moses,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Harris,  Reuben,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Harris,  William,   Third   Battalion. 
Hawkins,  George. 

Hays,  David,  Captain  Covenover's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also 
Continental  Army,  also  State  Troops. 

Hedd,    Peter,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Heind,   David,   Third   Battalion. 

Helel,  Leonard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Helmes,  Hance,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Helmes,    John,   Third   Battalion,- also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Hemphill,    Robert,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Henns,    Jacob,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Henry,  George. 

Hess,    Michael,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Hessler,    John,   Third    Battalion,   also    Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Hewes,  William. 

Hewett,    Benjamin,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Hewett,    Caleb,    Third    Battalion,    also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Hewett,    Moses,    Third     Battalion,     also     Col.     Somers     Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Hewett,    Samuel,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers     Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Hewett,    William,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Hewett,  Thomas. 
Hickman,  Isaac. 
Hickman,  James. 
Hickman,  Thomas. 
Higbey,  Absalom. 

Higbey,    Edward,    Captain    Steelman's   Company,    Third    Battalion. 
Higbey,  Isaac. 

Higbey,    Richard,    Third    Battalion,     also    Col.     Somers    Battalion 
and  State  Troops. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


39 


Hill,    Uriah,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Hillman,    Daniel. 

Hillman,  John,  Third  Battalion. 

Hillman,  Samuel,  Infantry,  Artillery,  Light  Horse. 

Hillman,   Samuel  A. 

Hillman,   Seth. 

Hiss,  Michael,  Third  Battalion. 

Hitman,    John,   Third    Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Hoffman,  Benjamin,  Continental  Army. 

Hoffman,  Jacob. 

Hollingsworth,    Thomas,    Third    Battalion,   also   Col.    Somers    Bat- 
talion, and  State  Troops. 

Homan,  Andrew. 

Homan,  Daniel. 

Homan,  David. 

Hugg,  John. 

Huskey,   John,   Third   Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Hulings,    John,    Third    Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Humphries,  Thomas. 

Hund,    David,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Hund,    Lewis,    Third   Battalion,    also     Col.    Somers    Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Hurley,  John. 

Hurst,   Andrew. 

Hutchinson,  Abraham,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Hutsinger,  Peter,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Hutchinson,  Ezekiel. 


also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,    and 
also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 

and 


Idle,  Jacob. 

Ihnetler,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Ingalson,  Daniel. 

Inga'son,  Isaac. 

Ingersoll,  Benjamin. 

Ingersoll,  Ebenezer. 

Ingersoll,  John. 

Ingersoll,  Joseph,  Jr. 

Irelan,  Amos. 

Irelan,   David. 

Irelan,  Edmund. 

Irelan,    George. 

Irelan,    Japhet. 

Irelan,   Jonathan. 

Irelan,    Joseph. 

Irelan,   Reuben. 

Irelan,    Thomas. 

Ireland,  James,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ireland,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Ireland,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 


40 


F.ARLV   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


Jefferies,  James. 

Jefferies,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Jerry.  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Jess,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State   Troops. 

Johnson,  Isaac,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

(See  Johnston.) 

Johnson,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Johns  n,  Lawrence,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Johnson,  Lewis,  Third  Battalion. 

Johnson,  Michael. 

Johnson,  Nathaniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Johnson,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

John- ton,  Isaac,  Capt.  Covenover's  Company,  Third  Battalion, 
also  Continental  Army. 

Johnston,   William. 

Jones,  Abraham,   Contim 

Jones,  Abram. 

Jones,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Jones,    Hugh,  Wounded. 

Jones,    Isaac. 

Jones,  Jonas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Jones,    Lawrence,  Third  Battalion. 

Jones,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops, 

Kaighn,  John,  Capt.  Higbee's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col. 
Somers  Battalion,  and  State  Troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Keen.  Reuben. 

Kehela,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion,  State 
Troops. 

Keilson,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Kelly.   Patrick,   Third   Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

Kelly,  ITriah,  Third   Battalion. 

Kelly,   William,   Continental   Army. 

Kendle,  James,  Third   Battalion. 

Kerrey,  John,  Third  Battalion,  Capt.  Steelman's  Company,  Third 
Battalion,   State  Troops,  and  Continental  Army. 

Kesler,  John.  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion. 

Kidd,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Kidd,   Peter,  Third  Battalion. 

Killey,  John,  Third  Battalion,  Capt.  Steelman's  Company,  State 
Troops,  and   Continental  Army. 

Kindle,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

King,  Andrew. 

Lacy,  Cornelius,  Third  Battalion. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  4 1 

Lafferty,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Lake,  Andrew. 

Lake,  Daniel. 

Lake,  Joseph,  Capt.  Steelman's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also 
State  Troops  and  Continental  Army. 

Lake,  Nathan. 

Lake,  William. 

Lamor,   Mack. 

'Land,  George. 

Land,  James,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Leah,  Nathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Leake,  Nathaniel,  Third  Battalion. 

Leake,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Leaman,  Godfrey,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Lee,  David. 

Lee,  Joseph,  Captain  Pierce's  Company,  First  Battalion,  also  Con- 
tinental Army. 

Lee,  Walter,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops, 

Leeds,  Daniel. 

Leeds,  Felix. 

Leeds,  James. 

Leeds,  Nehemiah. 

Leeds,  Thomas. 

Leeds,   William,    Continental  Army. 

Leonard,  Azariah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Lewis,  Francis. 

Lewis,  Irenius,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Linwood,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Lippencott,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion. 

Dippencott,  John,  Captain  Rape's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also 
State  troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Little,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Little,   John,  Sr. 

Little,    John,  Jr. 

Lock,  John. 

Lock,  Jonathan. 

Locy,  Cornelius,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Lodge,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  ana 
State  Troops. 

Long,  Ansey,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Long,  Moses,  Third  Battalion,  also  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Long-,   Silas. 

Loper,  Abram. 

Lord,  Asa,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 


42  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Lord,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Lord,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Lown,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Lusk,  Israel,  Continental  Army. 

Manary,  Abram. 

Mancy,    David. 

Manley,  Benjamin. 

Mapes,  Edmond. 

Marical,   George. 

Marshall,  Joseph. 

Marshall,  William. 

Mart,  Andrew. 

Mason,  Andrew,  Third  Battalion,  also  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Mason,    David. 

Massey,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Master,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Mattacks,  David. 

Mattacks,  Jesse. 

MeCalsner,  John. 

McCleary,  Michael,  Third  Battalion,  also  Colonel  Somers'  Bat- 
talion,  State  Troops. 

McCollum,   John. 

McConnell,  Adam. 

McCullock,  Abraham,  Third  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

McFadden,  James,  Captain  Snell's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also 
State  Troops  also  Continental  Army. 

McFadden,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  State  Troops;  also  Conti- 
nental Army. 

McFarland,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

McGee,   Daniel,   Continental  Army. 

MeGonigal,  George,  Continental  Army. 

M'Henry,  Charles,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

McKay,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

McKimmy,   William. 

McNeil,  Hector,  Third  Battalion.,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops,  also  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Continental  Army. 

Meare,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Meyers,   Charles. 

Miller,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Miller,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Miller,  Stephen,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Minteor,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Mires,  George,  Third  Battalion. 

Mitchell,  John,  Continental  Army. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  43 

Moore,  Andrew. 

Moore,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Morris,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Morse,   Jonas. 

Morse,   Joshua. 

Morse,   Nicholas. 

Moses,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Moslander,  Sharon,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Mulford,  Ezekiel. 

Mulford,  Furman,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Mulford,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Mulford,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion. 

Mullaky,  John. 

Muney  (or  Murrey),  David,  Third  Battalion. 

Munnion,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Murphy,  William. 

Musbrook,  John,  Continental  Army. 

Neaves,  Thomas,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops,  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Nelson,  Davis,  Third  Battalion. 

Nelson,  Gabriel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nelson,  James. 

Nelson,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nelson  Nehemiah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Newgen,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Newman,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Newman,  Reuben,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Newton,  Silas,  also  Sergeant,  Continental  Army. 

Nichols,   Jacob. 

Nichols,    Cornelius. 

Nichols,  Thomas,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Nickles,  Wilson,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nickleson,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nielson,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nielson,  Davis,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nielson,  Gabriel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Nile,   Benjamin. 

Norcross,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 


44  EARLY  HISTORY  01-    ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Norcross,  James. 

Norcross,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Norton,  Caleb. 

Norton,  James. 

Norton,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Nukler,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  Colonel  Somers'  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Nuk'less,   Wilson.      Third  Battalion. 

Orr  (or  <>rd),  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Oslborn,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troop.-'. 

•  >sborn,  John,  Captain  Stonebank's  Company,  First  Battalion, 
ilso  State  Troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Padgett,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State   Troops. 

Padgett,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
Staic  Troops. 

Parker,   Joseph,  Sr. 
ph,  Jr. 

Parker,    Samuel,    (1). 

Parker,  Samuel,    (2). 

Parkes,   Daniel. 

Parkes,  Joseph,  Capt.  Pierce's  Company,  First  Battalion,  also 
Continental  Army. 

Parkes,  Xoah. 

Parkes,    Paul. 

Parry,   John,   Third   Battalion. 

Parshall,  Israel. 

Patterson,  John,  (1),  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers.  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops,  also  Continental  Army. 

Patterson,  John,  (2),  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Paul,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Pavvpe,  Robert. 

Peckin,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion. 

Peirson,  David,  Third  Battalion. 

Peirson,  Stephen,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Penton,    James,    Corporal,    Continental   Army. 

Penyard,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers:  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Penyard,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Perkins,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Perry,  I  >aniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Tn  ops. 

Perry,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Perry,  Joseph. 

Perry,  Moses,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  45 

Peters,  Philip,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops,  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Peterson,   Abram. 

Peterson,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Peterson,  Jacob,  Captain  Smith's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  State 
Troops,  and  Continental  Army. 

Peterson,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Peterson,  Thomas. 

Pett,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Pierce,    George. 

Pierce,  Ward. 

Piatt,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Piatt,  Samuel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Poarch,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Pouleson,  Lawrence,  Continental  Army. 

Powell,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Powell,  Richard. 

Price,  Jacob. 

Price,  Levi. 

Price,  Richard. 

Price,  Thomas. 

Price,  Thompson,  Captain  Somers  Company. 

Pridmore,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Prigmore,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
State  Troops. 

Quicksel,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Rain,   John,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  also  Continental  Army. 

Reed,  Jonathan. 

Reed,  Obediah. 

Reed,  William,  Second  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

Reeves,   John. 

Reeves,  Joshua,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Reeves,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Rennard,  Thomas. 

Reynolds,  Samuel,  Third  Regiment,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Rice,  Michael,  Second  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

Rich,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Richerson,  Richard,  Third  Battalion. 

Richman,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Richmond,  Daniel. 

Riley,  Jacob,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Riley,   Patrick. 


46  I'.AKLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Risley,  Aun. 

Risley,   David. 

Risley,   Joseph. 

Risley,    Morris. 

Risley,    Nathaniel. 

Risley,    Samuel. 

Risley,   Thomas. 

Robbins,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Roberts,    James. 

Roberts,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Roberts,  Samuel. 

Robertson,   George. 

Robertson,  Isaac. 

Robeson,  Caleb,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Robeson,  Jeremiah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Robeson,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Robeson,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Robinson,  Jeremiah. 

Rockhill,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and   State  Troops;    also   Sergeant   Continental   Army. 

Ross,  Andrew,  First  Battalion,  Wounded  October  29,  1777,  ditto 
May  19th,  1778. 

Ross,    Stephen. 

Rossell,   John. 

Rudnown,  Enoch,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Rudrow,    Enoch,    Third    Battalion. 

Salmon,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Salsbury,  John. 

Sawings,  Joseph. 

Sayres,    I  > a  \  id. 

Scott,  Thomas,  Capt.  Paul's  Company,  Third  Battalion,  also  State 
Troops,  and  Continental  Army. 

Scull,   Abel. 

Scull,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Scull,  Joseph. 

Scull,  Peter. 

Sealey,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Seddons,  Jacob. 

Seeds,  Benjamin,  also  Continental  Army. 

Seeley,  John,  Continental  Army. 

Seers,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
Stati.'   Tr<  i 

Seiler,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troop   - 

Selvey,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Senker,   William,  Third  Battalion. 

Shane,  John. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  47 

Sharp,  Henry,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Shaw,  Reuben,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Shaw,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

(Sheeff,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Shepherd,  Lawrence,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Shepherd,  Nathaniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Shepherd,  Owen,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Shinfelt,  Frederic. 

Shroppear,  Edward,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Shute,  Samuel,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  also  Continental  Army. 

Shuley,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Sight,  Henry,  also  Continental  Army. 

Sill,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Silvey,  John,  Third  Battalion. 

Simkins,    George. 

Simkins,    James. 

Siner,  Jesse,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and  State 
Troops. 

Sinker,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Skeoff,  David,  Third  Battalion. 

Slawter,   John. 

Slide,  Philip,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smallwood,  James. 

Smallwood,  John,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops,  also  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Smith,    Elias. 

Smith,    Elijah,   Jr. 

Smith,  Felix. 

Smith,   Henry. 

Smith,  Isaac. 

Smith,  James. 

Smith,  Jesse,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smith,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smith,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smith,  Joshua. 

Smith,   Micha. 

Smith,   Noah. 

Smith,  Thomas,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smith,  Wm.  (1),  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Smith,  Wm.  (2),  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 


48  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Smith,  Zenos,  Second  Battalion,  also  State  Troops,  and  Conti- 
nental Army. 

Snailbaker,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Snailbaker,  Philip,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Snelbacker,  George,  Second  Battalion,  also  Continental  Army. 

Snell,  David,  Third  Battalion. 

Snelly,  Robert,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Soey,    Joseph. 

Soey,    Nicholas. 

Soey,   Samuel. 

Sommers,    David. 

Sommers,  Enoch. 

Sommers,   Isaac. 

Sommers,  John,  Capt.  Pierce's  Company,  First  Battalion,  and  Con- 
tinental Army. 

Sommers,  Richard. 

Sommers,  Thomas. 

Sparks,  Joseph. 

Sparks,    Robert. 

Spire,  John. 

Springer,  Thomas. 

Sprong,   Jeremiah. 

Sprong,  John. 

Starkey,  John. 

Stedman,  Richard,  Third  Battalion. 

Steelman,  Andrew. 

Steelman,  Daniel. 

Steelman,    David. 

Steelman,   Ebenezer. 

Steelman,   Frederick. 

Steelman,    George. 

Steelman,    James,   Sr. 

Steelman,   James. 

Steelman,   John,  also  State  Troops. 

Steelman,   Jonas. 

Steelman,    Jonathan,   Sr. 

Steelman,   Jonathan,   Jr. 

Steelman,  Richard,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Stephens,    David. 

Steward,  Ezekiel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion  and 
State  Troops. 

Steward,  Joseph,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Stewart,  Alexander. 

Stewart,    Joel. 

Stewart,   John,   Sr.,   Captain  Fisler's  Company,   also   State  Troops. 

Stewart,  John,  Jr.,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  also  State  Troops, 
also  Continental  Army. 

Stewart,    Stephen. 

Stibbins,    Ebenezer. 

Stillwell,  David. 

St  (id dard,   Samuel. 

Stonebank,  Thomas,  Captain  Stoneback's  Company,  also  State 
Troops,  also  Continental  Army.. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  49 

Stord,   Joel. 

Stothem,    Thomas,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
State  Troops,  also  Capt.  Allen's  Company,  State  Troops. 
Strickland,  Samuel. 

Strumble,  John,  also  Continental  Army. 

Stull,    Gideon,    Third    Battalion,    Colonel    Somers'    Battalion,    also 
State  Troops. 

Stutman,  John. 

Summers,    James    (Somers),    Second    Battalion,    also    Continental 
Army. 

Swain,  Abraham,  Third  Regiment. 

Swain,   Judeth,   Third   Battalion,   also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Swan,  Jesse,  Third  Battalion. 

Swandler,  Isaac. 

Sweeny,  Valentine,  Third  Battalion. 

Swiney,  Timothy. 

Swing,  Valentine,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Taylor,  Israel. 

Taylor,   Robert,   Third   Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Tennent,  William,  Continental  Army. 

Terrepin,  Isaac,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Terrepin,  Uriah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Terry,  Jonathan. 

Thackry,  John. 

Thomas,  James. 

Thomas,   John,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Thomas,  Richard. 

Thomson,    William,    Third    Battalion,   also   Col.    Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Thorpe,   Oliver,  Third  Battalion,   also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Tice,  John. 

Till,  Peter,  Third  Battalion. 

Tilton,   Daniel. 

Tilton,  Joseph,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Timberman,  Jacob. 

Tomlin,   Elijah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Tomlin,   Jacob,   Third   Battalion,   also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Tomlin,  Jonathan,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Tomlin,    William,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Tonson,   Lewis,   Third   Battalion,   also   Col.   Somers   Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Tourain  or  Tourmier,    Redack,   Third   Battalion,    Colonel   Somers' 
Battalion,  State  Troops. 

Towne,  John. 

Townsend,  Daniel. 

Townsend,   James. 


50  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Townsend,    John. 

Townsend,  Reddick,  Third  Battalion,  Capt.  Smith's  Company, 
Continental  Army. 

Trumey,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Yanaman,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Vernon,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Waggoner,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Walker,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wall,  George,  Capt.  Fisler's  Company,  also  Continental  Army. 

Wallace,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Walles,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Weatherby,  Benjamin,  Third  Battalion,  a'lso  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Weatherby,  David,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Weatherby,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Weeks,  John. 

Weeks,  Zephaniah. 

Welden,  Seth,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Weldron,  Thomas. 

Wells,  Peter. 

Wence,  Jacob. 

West,  Israel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

West,  Uriah,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wheaton,  Peter. 

Wheaton,  Robert,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wheaton,   Silas. 

Wheaton,   Uriah. 

Whitacre,    Samuel. 

White,  Jennings,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

White,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Whitlock,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wild,  John,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wiles,  Daniel,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Wiley,   James. 

Williams,   David,  Third  Battalion. 

Williams,  Edward,  Captain  Fisler's  Company,  also  Continental 
Army. 

Williams,  George,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Williams,  John. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  5 1 


"Williams,  William. 

Williamson,    David,    Third   Battalion,    also   Col.   Somers   Battalion, 
and  State  Troops. 

Wilsey,  John. 

Wilson,  Elijah. 

Wilson,  William,  Third  Battalion,  also  Col.  Somers  Battalion,  and 
State  Troops. 

Woodruff,    Samuel,    Third    Battalion,    also    Col.    Somers    Battalion 
and  State  Troops. 

Woolson,   John,   Third  Battalion,  also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Worrick,   Samuel. 

Wright,    John,  Continental  Army. 

Young,   Hance,   Third   Battalion,   also  Col.   Somers  Battalion,   and 
State  Troops. 

Young,   Uriah,   Third   Battalion,    also   Col.    Somers   Battalion,    and 
State  Troops. 

Zimmerman,  Jacob. 

L.  L.  T.  W. 


52  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


WAR  WITH  FRANCE  1 798-1801 

Officers  in  the  United  States  Navy  From  New  Jersey 

Richard  Somers,  Midshipman,  April  30,  1798;  on  Frigate 
"United  States"  Flagship  of  Captain  John  Barry,  commanding 
North  Atlantic  and  West  India  Squadron,  July,  1798;  took  part 
in  the  capture  of  the  French  letters  of  Marque  "Le  Sans  Panel" 
and  "Le  Joloux,"  North  Atlantic  Ocean,  fall  of  1798;  Lieutenant, 
May  21,  1799;  on  Frigate  "United  States,"  Captain  John  Barry, 
Atlantic  and  Wrest  Indian  Squadron,   1799  to  1801. 


War  with  Tripoli,  Africa,  1801-1805.  Richard  Somers, 
.Lieutenant;  ordered  to  and  served  on  Frigate  "Boston,"  Captain 
Daniel  McNiel,  Mediterranean  Squadron ;  Captain  Richard  Dale, 
July  30,  1801,  to  October,  1802;  in  command  of  schooner 
"Nautilus,"  Mediterranean  Squadron,  Captain  Edward  Preble, 
May  5,  1803,  and  joined  the  fleet  in  the  blockade  off  the  harbor 
of  Tripoli,  March,  1804;  Master  Commandant,  May  18,  1804; 
in  command  of  the  Right  Division  of  gunboats  in  the  several 
attacks  and  bombardment  of  the  city  of  Tripoli,  August  3,  7,  24, 
28  and  September  3,  1804;  volunteered  and  took  command  of 
Ketch  Intrepid  (fireship),  to  attack  and  destroy  the  Tripolitian 
fleet  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  September  4,  1804;  officers  and 
crew  killed  September  4,  1804,  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli  by  the 
blowing  up  of  the  vessel ;  Congress,  by  a  resolution  passed  March 
3,  1805,  expressed  their  "deep  regret  for  the  loss  of  those  gallant 
men  whose  names  ought  to  live  in  the  recollections  of  a  grateful 
country  and  whose  conduct  ought  to  be  regarded  as  an  example 
to  future  generations." 

L.  L.  T.  W. 

(From  "Records  of  Officers  and  Men  of  New  Jersey  in  Wars, 
1719  to  1815.") 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  53 

EARLY  MORAL  LAWS  OF  NEW  JERSEY 

{Published  Many  Years  Ago  in  the  Xezvark  Daily  Advertiser) 

"  'Concerning  the  beastly  vice,  drunkenness,'  the  first  law 
inflicted  fines  of  one  shilling,  two  shillings,  and  two  shillings  and 
sixpence,  for  the  first  three  offences,  with  corporal  punishment, 
should  the  offender  be  unable  to  pay ;  and  if  unruly,  he  was  to  be 
put  in  the  stocks  until  sober.  In  1682  it  was  treated  more  rig- 
orously :  each  offence  incurred  a  fine  of  five  shillings,  and  if  not 
paid,  the  stocks  received  a  tenant  for  six  hours ;  and  constables, 
not  doing  their  duty  under  the  law,  were  fined  ten  shillings  for 
each  neglect.  This  increase  of  punishment  indicates  a  growth 
in  the  vice,  which  may  have  been  attributable  in  part  to  the  re- 
moval of  restrictions  on  the  sale  of  liquors  in  small  quantities 
which  had  previously  been  imposed. 

"In  1668  each  town  was  obliged  to  keep  an  'ordinary'  for  the 
relief  and  entertainment  of  strangers,  under  a  penalty  of  forty 
shillings  for  each  month's  neglect ;  and  ordinary-keepers  alone 
were  permitted  to  retail  liquors  in  less  quantities  than  two  gallons. 
In  1677,  the  quantity  was  reduced  to  one  gallon.  In  1683,  ordin- 
ary-keepers were  debarred  the  privilege  of  recovering  debts  for 
liquor  sold,  amounting  to  five  shillings  ;  but  whatever  good  this 
might  have  done  was  destroyed  by  the  assembly  authorizing 
others  than  keepers  of  ordinaries  to  retail  strong  liquors  by  the 
quart.  In  1692,  'forasmuch  as  there  were  great  exorbitances  and 
drunkenness  observable  in  several  towns,  occasioned  by  tolerat- 
ing many  persons  in  selling  drink  in  private  houses,'  an  attempt 
was  made  to  establish  an  excise  ;  but  the  following  year  it  was 
repealed,  and  the  licensing  of  retailers  confined  to  the  governor. 

"The  observance  of  the  Lord's  day  was  required,  by  abstain- 
ing from  all  servile  work,  unlawful  recreations,  and  unnecessary 
traveling;  and  any  disorderly  conduct  could  be  punished  by  con- 
finement in  the  stocks,  fines,  imprisonment,  or  whipping.  In 
1704,  under  the  administration  of  Lord  Cornbury,  many  of  the 
early  prohibitions  were  re-enacted  ;  but  by  that  time,  it  would 


54  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

seem,  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  began  to  be  considered  necessary, 
keepers  of  public  houses  were  not  to  allow  'tippling  on  the  Lord's 
day,  except  for  necessary  refreshment.' 

"Swearing,  or  'taking  God's  name  in  vain,'  was  made  pun- 
ishable by  a  shilling  fine  for  each  offence,  as  early  as  1668,  and 
such  continued  to  be  the  law  until  1682,  when  a  special  act  pro- 
vided that  the  fine  should  be  two  shillings  and  sixpence ;  and 
if  not  paid,  the  offender  was  to  be  placed  in  the  stocks  or  whipped, 
according  to  his  age,  whether  under  or  over  twelve. 

"  'All  prizes,  stage-plays,  games,  masques,  revels,  bull-bait- 
ing, and  cock  fightings,  which  excite  the  people  to  rudeness,  cru- 
elty, looseness,  and  irreligion,'  were  to  be  discouraged  and  pun- 
ished by  courts  of  justice,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  offence. 
Night-walkers  or  revelers,  after  nine  o'clock,  were  to  be  secured 
by  the  constable  till  morning;  and,  unless  excused  on  examina- 
tion, to  be  bound  over  to  appear  at  court.  The  resistance  of 
lawful  authority,  by  word  or  action,  or  the  expression  of  disre- 
spectful language  referring  to  those  in  office,  was  made  punishable 
either  by  fine,  corporal  punishment  or  (as  from  1675  to  1682) 
by  banishment." 

"In  1676  all  liars  were  included — for  the  second  offence  in- 
curring a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  ;  and  if  the  fines  were  not  paid; 
the  culprits  received  corporal  punishment,  or  were  put  in  the 
stocks." 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  55 


INDIANS 


Lenni  Lenape 


The  Red  Man's  history  in  New  Jersey,  after  the  arrival  of 
the  white  man  and  his  fire  water,  is  anything  but  heroic.  The 
Lenni  Lenape,  one  of  the  Delawares,  were  of  the  great  Algonkin 
family  of  Indians  whose  many  tribal  branches  were  scattered 
along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from  Labrador  to  the  Everglades  of 
Florida. 

The  name  Lenni  Lenape  signifies,  according  to  the  different 
translations,  "Old  Men,"  the  Original  or  Pure  Indian.  The  Dela- 
ware (Lenni  Lenape)  nation  occupied  the  territory  now  com- 
prising the  State  of  New  Jersey  and  lived  along  its  river  valleys 
because  of  the  abundance  of  easily  acquired  and  nature  provided 
food. 

The  original  Lenni  Lenape  was  described  by  the  early  writers 
as  being  almost  lovable  in  his  hospitable  simplicity,  but  when  a 
half  century  had  given  the  white  man's  liquors  and  the  inter- 
mixture of  bloods  a  chance  to  show  what  they  could  do,  it  devel- 
oped that  the  red  man  was  not  what  he  once  had  been  ;  he  was 
not  possessed  of  the  white  man's  mental  power  to  resist  tempta- 
tion of  over  indulgence.  As  an  act  of  charity,  he  was  placed  be- 
yond beckoning  temptation  upon  a  reservation,  the  first  in  the 
United  States.  This  tract  of  land  consisted  of  3000  acres,  near 
Edge  Pillock  or  Brotherton,  now  known  as  Indian  Mills.  The 
Lenni  Lenape  remained  on  this  reservation  until  1802,  when 
they  joined  their  fortunes  with  the  Mohigans  and  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  York. 

They  removed  again  at  a  later  date  to  Wisconsin  (Green 
Bay)  and  ultimately  to  Indian  Territory. 

The  last  act  of  the  Lenni  Lenape  drama  or  tragedy  occurred 
when  the  New  Jersey  Legislature  appropriated  $2,000  in  1832 
to  extinguish  all  the  right,  title  and  interest  which  the  Lenni 
Lenape  held  or  might  hold  against  the  Colony  or  State. 

From  "Lure  of  Long  Branch  of  New  Jersey,"  by 

George;  B.  Somerville. 


56  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


Indian  Burying  Grounds  Uncovered 

While  building  Edgewater  Avenue  at  Pleasantville,  yester- 
day, workmen  exhumed  eight  Indian  skeletons.  This  new  street 
is  on  the  bay  side  of  the  shore  road,  north  of  N.  Disbrow's 
blacksmith  shop,  through  the  estate  of  the  late  Josiah  Risley.  Be- 
tween the  road  and  the  meadows,  is  a  hill  or  shellmound,  where 
for  ages  the  Redmen  of  the  forest  opened  oysters ;  these  mounds 
are  found  all  along  the  bays  through  the  county,  from  Leeds 
Point  to  Somers  Point.  This  is  not  the  first  time  skeletons  have 
been  found,  also  flint  arrow  heads  and  other  relics.  One  of  the 
skulls  found  yesterday  was  incased  in  a  turtle's  shell,  with  clam 
shells  and  arrow  heads  around  it. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  the  remains  of  the  famous  old  chief, 
Kin  Newongha,  members  of  whose  tribe  still  live  along  the  shore, 
and  the  others  were  his  original  warriors,  who  helped  him  to  scalp 
the  forest.     Four  more  have  since  been  found. — 

Newspaper  clipping  dated  Jan.  28,  1890,  contributed  by 

Joseph  R.  Moore. 


Second  Indian  Burying  Ground  "Exhumed" 

Our  Pleasantville  reporter  testifies  to  the  authenticity  of  the 
statement,  here  made  regarding  the  exhuming  of  the  Indian 
skeletons. 

It  appears  while  Jesse  Risley  was  at  work  on  a  tract  of 
land  between  the  shore  road  and  the  meadow  edge  a  few  days 
since,  he  dug  up  a  skeleton  and  on  the  succeeding  three  days  two 
more.  On  Thursday  he  was  assisted  by  Ezra  Adams  and  six 
were  exhumed.  On  Wednesday  four  were  dug  up  and  one  on 
Thursday  ;  in  all  14.  Several  flints  and  six  arrows  were  found 
with  the  bones.  The  ground  where  the  skeletons  were  found 
lies  on  top  of  a  hill,  and  it  is  surmised  that  they  have  been  buried 
at  least  150  years,  as  the  ground  has  been  farmed  for  nearly  that 
length  of  time.     The  mound  where  the  bones  were  found  is  onlv 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  57 

60  feet  wide  and  about  the  same  length  while  the  skeletons  were 
about  three  feet  under  ground.  All  the  bodies  were  facing  Lake's 
Bay,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  remains  are  those  of  Indians, 
although  there  is  a  difference  of  opinion  on  the  matter. — 

A  Newspaper  clipping  dated  Feb.  i,  1905,  contributed  by 

Joseph  R.  Moore. 


Cranberry  Indian  Legend 

Way  back  in  the  misty  ages  of  "long  ago,"  there  is  nought 
but  twilight  and  through  that  twilight,  comes  this  legend  of 
the  cranberry  and  the  Bog;  also  that  the  beasts  of  the  forest 
were  giants,  and  roved  at  their  own  sweet  will  over  the  wilds  of 
West  Jersey. 

Among  them  the  Mastodon  was  king  in  strength  and  fe- 
rocity, and  for  this  reason  was  chosen  by  the  Indians  as  their 
helper — their  beast  of  burden.  He  rebelled  at  servitude,  and  in- 
sisted the  other  beasts  should  share  the  burden — they  would 
not,  then  came  the  crash  of  war.  The  sky  scowled,  the  stars 
wept,  the  earth  shook,  but  the  mighty  beast  fought  on.  Blood 
flowed,  the  slaughter  was  terrific ;  the  roar  was  heard  in  the 
adjoining  states  like  unto  an  earthquake ;  from  this  tremendous 
outpour  of  blood,  the  earth  became  as  a  sponge,  so  deep  that  the 
sun's  rays  could  not  penetrate.  It  was  unsightly,  noisome,  a  bog, 
until  the  good  Lord  in  his  mercy  covered  it  with  a  soft  green 
blanket.  In  time  little  heads  came  up  through  this  blanket,  as  if 
to  see  the  light  of  day ;  now  either  of  their  birth  in  this  bloody 
muck,  or  that  they  blushed  in  their  own  temerity,  they  became  a 
bright  red  and  man  called  them  "Cranberrie,"  and  pronounced 
them  good. 

M.  R.  M.  Fish. 


58  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


SLAVES  IN  NEW  JERSEY 

From  Barbour's  History 

There  is  no  record  when  slavery  was  introduced  into  the 
Colonies,  though  it  is  known  that  it  was  universal  in  Europe  for 
100  vears  before  America  was  discovered,  and  there  is  every 
probability  that  it  was  coeval  with  its  very  earliest  settlement. 
We  know  that  even  New  England  with  its  strict  religious  code 
was  not  exempt ;  labor  with  few  exceptions  was  done  entirely 
by  negroes,  who,  compared  with  the  great  amount  of  work  to  be 
done,  were  few  in  number. 

The  Duke  of  York  (brother  of  Charles  II)  to  whom  he 
granted  the  Province,  was  at  this  time  President  of  the  "Royal 
African  Slave  Company." 

When  Lord  Cornbury  was  appointed  Governor  of  this  Prov- 
ince, Queen  Anne  instructed  him  to  negotiate  with  the  said 
Company  that  "The  said  Province  of  New  Jersey  may  have  a 
constant  and  sufficient  number  of  merchantable  negroes  at  a 
moderate  price  in  money  or  comodities,"  and  that  a  bounty  of  75 
acres  of  land  be  given  to  every  man  who  does  either  bring  or 
send  a  slave  over  14  years  old,  "for  three  years,  the  bounty  dimin- 
ishing each  year  until  at  the  end  of  the  third  year,  his  or  her 
master  receive  30  instead  of  75  acres."  There  was  a  duty  on  the 
importation  of  negroes  and  mulatto  slaves. 

That  there  was  trouble  from  the  earlier  records  we  find  in 
Jan.  26th,  1733,  a  negro  was  burned  alive  for  assaulting  a  white 
woman.  1734  all  the  negroes  of  the  Province  of  West  Jersey 
were  invited  to  see  a  negro  hung  for  urging  a  "Rising  of  negroes 
that  they  too  should  be  free."  In  1737  New  Jersey  had  3981 
slaves. 

Perth  Ambov  was  the  distributing  center  and  slave  vessels 
landed  there,  the  old  barracks  in  which  they  were  confined  until 
disposed  of,  are  still  remembered.  In  1818  a  cargo  of  kidnapped 
negroes  shipped  from  Perth  Amboy,  were  seized  in  New  Orleans, 
not  having  a  manifest  as  required  by  law. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OE   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  59 

A  Newspaper  Item 

Dec.  12,  1818. 

"Certain  men  dealers  who  carried  off  some  negroes  from  New 
Jersey,  after  the  law  was  passed  to  stop  the  trade  in  human  flesh, 
have  been  caught  in  Pennsylvania  and  we  hope  they  will  meet 
their  reward." 

As  early  as  1696  the  Quakers  strongly  advised  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  among  themselves,  preparatory  to  asking  others  to 
do  so,  and  societies  were  established  for  this  purpose. 

1784,  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
joined  for  the  emancipation  of  slaves,  and  freed  his  only  two. 
Though  much  feeling  was  displayed  against  it,  the  first  effort 
by  law  was  in  1804  when  the  infants  of  slave  parents  were  born 
free.  In  1820  all  children  of  slave  parents  were  made  free  by 
law,  notwithstanding  which,  in  iS_;o,  there  were  still  O74  slaves 
in  New  Jersey. 

Note — In  1662  the  Royal  African  Company  was  incorporat- 
ed. At  the  head  of  it  was  the  Duke  of  York,  and  the  King  him- 
self was  a  large  shareholder. 

Slaves  at  Bargaintown 
L.  J.  Price 

We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  Aner  Farrish  for  information.  On 
the  beginning  of  the  road  between  the  two  old  mills  at  Bargain- 
town,  now  where  the  placid  waters  of  Bargaintown  mill  pond 
lie,  was  once  a  cedar  swamp,  through  which  flowed  Patcong 
creek.  Bordering  this  swamp  was  the  home  of  one  Somers,  a 
slave  holder,  and  of  the  family  which  were  ancestors  of  Mrs 
Farrish. 

This  swamp  was  a  barrier  to  easy  communication  with  the 
people  across  the  swamp.  In  order  to  have  passage,  other  than 
the  long  way  around  by  the  roads,  Somers  offered  liberty  to 
his  women  slaves  if  they  would  build  a  way  through  the  swamp. 
The  road  originally  was  stepping  stones,  carried  by  the  slaves  in 
their  aprons.  Later  we  have  been  told  the  stream  was  dammed, 
and  a  road  constructed  by  bags  of  sand,  being  piled  until  an 


6o 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J, 


embankment  was  made.  Tradition  tells  ns  this  was  also  the 
work  of  Somers'  slaves. 

Many,  many  long  years  after,  about  the  summer  of  1903,  the 
dam  which  held  the  waters  of  the  stream  broke,  and  the  waters 
of  the  pond  quickly  flowed  out.  Where  the  bridge  had  been, 
on  which  one  was  wont  to  stand  and  watch  the  water  fall,  was 
now  only  a  yawning  chasm,  through  which  trickled  a  tiny 
stream  ;  and  the  bed  of  the  pond  bare,  save  for  the  many  stumps, 
mute  witnesses  of  a  glorious  forest  long  since  passed  away,  and 
the  dark  soil  of  the  pond's  bed  sprinkled  with  grass,  and  the 
sluggish  stream  which  had  made  the  pond,  flowing  slowly  on. 

Months  passed  without  repairs  being  made,  public  officials 
claiming  that  the  pond  being  private  property,  the  repairs  should 
be  made  by  the  owners.  After  months  of  inconvenience  to  the 
public,  the  road  was  repaired,  the  late  Dr.  F.  F.  Corson  offering 
to  furnish  sand  necessary  for  the  repairs. 


The  Mill  at  Bargaintown 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  6l 


SOME  OLD  WILLS 

Will  and  Inventory  of  Richard  Willits 
Salem,  1759 

No.  958  A,  Bk.  13,  fol.  174. 

Secretary  of  State's  Office,  Trenton,  AT.  J. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  I  Richard  Willits  of  the  town- 
ship of  Alloway  Creek,  in  the  County  of  Salem  and  Province  of 
West  N.  Jersey,  being  through  the  abundant  mercy  and  goodness 
of  God,  of  a  sound  and  perfect  understanding  and  memory, 
calling  to  mind  the  mortality  of  my  body  and  knowing  that  it  is 
appointed  of  all  men  once  to  die,  do  make  and  ordain  that  this, 
my  last  Will  and  Testament  that  is  to  say : 

And  first  of  all  I  give  and  recommend  my  soul  into  the 
Hands  of  the  God  that  gave  it,  and  for  my  body  I  commit  it  to 
the  Earth,  to  be  Buried  in  a  Christian  like  manner,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  my  Executors  Hereafter  mentioned.  And  as  touching 
such  worldly  estate  wherewith  it  has  pleased  God  to  bless  me  in 
this  life,  I  give,  devise,  and  dispose  of  the  same,  in  the  following 
manner  and  form : 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  Sarah  my  beloved  wife,  the  sum  of 
One  Hundred  Pounds  lawfull  money  of  the  Province  aforesaid, 
also  my  whole  movable  Estate,  Excepting  Bonds  for  Money  and 
One  Negro  Woman,  named  Zelpha,  and  I  further  order  her  to  give 
passes  to  Negro  Ned,  and  Ishmael  and  Benjamin  to  go  and  work 
for  themselves.  When  each  arrive  at  30  years  of  age  I  order 
them  that  they  shall  come  and  work  for  her  in  hay  time  and  she 
to  pay  as  much  wages  as  if  they  were  white  men. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  son  Richard  Willis  30  Pounds. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  daughter  Elizabeth  Stilwell  30  Pounds. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  daughter  Deliverance  Birdsill  Ten 
Pounds. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  son,  Amos  Willis  Ten  Shillings. 
I  give  unto  my  beloved  daughter  Mary  Buntin   (Bunting) 
30  Pounds. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  grandson  Richard  Stilwell,  5  Pounds. 


62  EARLY    HISTORY    OE   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

I  give  unto  my  beloved  brother  John  Willis  of  Cape  May,  it 
being  on  my  son  Amos'  account,  seven  Pounds. 

I  give  my  Negro  Adam  Three  Pounds. 

My  will  is  that  the  remainder  of  my  Estate  I  give  and  be- 
queath to  my  well  beloved  sons  Richard  Willis  and  Machai  Willis, 
to  be  equally  divided  between  them. 

I  do  constitute,  make  and  ordain  my  well  beloved  wife  and  my 
well  beloved  son  Richard  whole  and  sole  executors  of  this  my  last 
Will  and  Testament,  and  I  do  hereby  disallow,  revoke  and  Dis- 
annul all  and  every  other  Former  Testaments,  Wills,  Legacies,  and 
Executors  by  me  in  any  ways  before  this  time  named,  willed,  and 
bequeathed,  Ratifying  and  Confirming  this  and  no  other,  to  be 
my  last  will  and  Testament.  In  Witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto 
set  my  Hand  and  seal  this  Thirty  First  Day  of  December,  Anno 
Domini  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty  Seven. 

(Signed)  RICHARD  WILLETS. 

Signed,  Sealed,  Published,  Pronounced  and  declared  by  the  said 
Richard  Willets. 
As  his  last  will  and  Testament  in  the  Presence  of  us 

John  Test 

Elizabeth   (*)  Weithman 

Robt.  Nichols 

March  2d,  1759,  by  Robert  Nicholas  and  John  Test  and  that 
"Elizabeth  Waithman  was  present"  May  24th,  1750,  by  sig- 
nature of  both  Executors. 

Apr.    1 6th    1759,    Thomas    Sayer,    Saml. 

Wood. 
100  Bonds  2  Notes  no  names. 
1    pr.    high    Chest   of   Drawers    and   old 

chests. 
1  Gun  and  Spinning  Wheels. 
Cattle  in  the  Salt  Marsh  and  other  Cattle. 

Negro  Slaves,  £200-00-0. 
Proved  and  Probated 

at  Salem.  Household     furniture,     Farming     imple- 

. ,   .  , ,  ments  and  Books. 

Abstract  or  Inventory. 

Amount,  £  S80-4-8. 


£ARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  63 

Probated  at  Salem,  Abstract  Inventory  App. 

Proved  May  24th,  1759,  affirmed  by  Samuel  Wood 

and  Executors. 

On  small  piece  of  paper  is  written, 
My  man  Ned  was  born  18th  of  January,  1734. 
My  man  Ishmael  was  born  15th  of  Sept.,  1739. 
My  man  Benjamin  was  born  6th  of  April,  1753. 

This  will  contributed  by  a  direct  descendant,  Mr.  Robert  M. 
Willis,  of  Pleasantville,  New  Jersey. 


Some  Abstracts  of  Colonial  Wills  Between  the  Years  1702* 
and  1738  of  Great  Egg  Harbor,  Gloucester  County, 
Province,  West  New  Jersey 

Madam  President  and  Members   of  Atlantic   County  Historical 
Society: 

It  seems  from  the  history  of  New  Jersey,  that  from  about 
1680  it  was  the  practise  to  deposit  Wills,  with  Provincial  Secre- 
taries, by  whom  they  were  filed  or  recorded.  These  records 
were  brought  together  about  1790,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary, 
at  Trenton,  where  they  are  carefully  preserved. 

It  has  been  well  said,  "That  the  History  of  a  Nation  is  but 
the  aggregate  of  the  Biographies  of  its  people,"  and  surely  the 
Will  and  Testament  of  a  person  or  persons,  gives  us  glimpses 
of  their  history,  or  histories,  as  nothing  else  can  do.  We  get 
pleasant  glimpses  of  generosity  on  part  of  some  Testators,  again 
read  between  the  lines  of  family  tragedy,  also  of  romance,  also 
some  testators  with  a  fine  sense  of  equity,  as  one  testator  devised 
"Half  of  my  cattle  and  movable  goods  to  children  of  my  first 
wife,  half  to  children  of  my  second  wife,"  also  the  grotesque 
as  one  wishes,  "Doctor  Robeson  to  dessect  me."  One  with  an 
eye  to  economy,  warns  his  executors  against  paying  the  Doctor 
any  "extorsnit  bills."  We  also  get  an  echo  of  slavery  days  in 
New  Jersey,   as   one   inventory   includes   "Two   negroes,   and   a 


64  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

covenanted  servant."  Another  will,  the  testator  wished  "to  be 
praised  by  two  reasonable  men."  Our  colonial  sires,  were  not 
exact  spellers,  as  one  speaks  of  debts,  as  "Dets  dangerously  dew 
my  estate."  One  letter  of  administration  issued  "To  hee  theay, 
or  bee  whoe  itt  will."  We  can  also  see  where  our  colonial 
ancestors,  not  only  "enjoyed  poor  health"  but  enjoyed  a  funeral, 
as  the  following  bill  presented  for  settlement  will  show :  "Bill 
for  rum,  sugar  and  spices  £1  13s.  For  a  barrel  of  cider,  nine 
shillings,  all  at  the  funeral."  It  is  charity  for  us  to  suppose  "all 
at  the  funeral"  was  to  drown  their  sorrow  in,  or  with. 

The  following  abstracts  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  New  Jersey, 
Wills  is  copied  from  Wills  at  Trenton  and  I  will  add  here  that  I 
have  written  this  paper  at  some  disadvantage,  as  I  have  very 
little  New  Jersey  history  accessible.  However  I  submit  this 
paper  to  your  charitable  judgment. 

The  first  abstract  I  have  is  dated  1702.  Nov.  2nd,  Jonas 
Valentine,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  Gloucester  County,  New  Jer- 
sey ;  wife,  Grace ;  children,  Jonas,  Richard,  Grace,  Deborah,  Eliza- 
beth, Martha,  Sarah.  Wife  executrix.  Witnesses,  Lubbett  Guy- 
sebuss  and  William  Leeds,  Sr.  Inventory  made  by  Daniel  Leeds 
and  William  Lake. 

1702,  Nov.  30,  Peter  Conover,  of  Weymouth  Township. 
Gloucester  County,  New  Jersey;  wife  Mary;  children,  Peter, 
John,  David,  Hester,  Mary;  150  acres,  between  Francis  Collings. 
and  Jonathan  Leeds,  150  acres  between  John  Scull  and  James 
Steelman,  Wife  executrix.  Witnesses,  John  Somers  and  Thomas 
Oliver.  Inventory  of  personal  estate  made  by  John  Somers  and 
Richard  Gregory. 

1 716,  March  22nd,  William  Lake,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour, 
New  Jersey;  wife  Sarah;  sons,  Nathan  and  David;  three  daugh- 
ters, names  not  given.  Executor  John  Scull.  Inventory  by  John 
Cozier  and  Peter  Scull. 

1719,  May  27th,  Jonathan  Adams,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour; 
wife  Barbara ;  children,  Jonathan,  John,  Abbigail,  Margaret,  Re- 
becca, Sarah,  Mary,  Dina,  Phebe.  Executors,  Wife  and  Peter 
White.   Witnesses,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Ingersol,  Thomas  Green. 

1720,  Oct.  30,  Samuel  Gale,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour;  wife, 
Mary ;  daughters,  Dinah,  Sarah ;  stepson,  David  Conover ;  neph- 
ew, Samuel  Howell.     Home-farm  and  85  acres  of  cedar  swamp. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  65 

Executors,    Jonathan    Adams    and    Thomas    Risley.     Witnesses, 
Richard  Risley  and  Jonathan  Adams,  Jr.,  and  Ambrose  Copland. 

1721,  Dec.  18,  Daniel  Harkcut,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  wife, 
Sarah ;  children,  Daniel,  Richard,  Desire  Nichelson,  who  has 
sons,  Nehemiah,  John,  Samuel,  Thomas.  Executors,  Peter  White 
and  Jonathan  Addams.  Witnesses,  James  Howell,  Richard  Man- 
nery  and  Thomas  Green. 

1723,  May  nth,  William  Davis,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour, 
Administrator  of  Estate,  Joseph  Leeds.  Inventory  made  by 
Peter  and  John  Conover. 

1727,  March  29,  Joseph  Dole,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  Wife, 
Hannah.  Executrix,  to  sell  property,  with  the  consent  of  her 
brothers,  Richard  and  James  Somers,  children  mentioned  but 
not  by  names.  Witnesses,  David  Codings,  Daniel  Ingersol, 
Bridget  Somers.  Inventory  includes  a  "Great"  Bible  made  by 
Daniel  Codings  and  William  Cordery. 

1730,  June  26,  Peter  Covenover,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour, 
Wife,  Elizabeth ;  children,  Peter,  Isaiah,  Thomas,  Micajah,  Mary, 
Judith.  Executors,  Wife  and  Brother  John.  Witnesses,  Samuel 
Huested  and  John  Watts. 

1734,  James  Steelman,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  Wife  Kath- 
erine  ;  "one-half  my  movable  estate,  excepting  my  slaves."  Execu- 
tors, Wife  Katherine  and  Son  John ;  children,  Andrew,  Hance, 
John,  James,  Elias,  Peter,  Mary,  Susannah  ;  granddaughter,  Su- 
sannah. Witnesses,  Nathan  Lake,  Edward  Oiser,  Solomon  Man- 
ners. 

1737,  Oct.  12,  Hannah  Somers,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour;  chil- 
dren, Richard,  Samuel,  Job,  Edmund,  Millicent;  grandchildren, 
children  of  Hannah  Ingersol,  not  mentioned  by  name,  grand- 
daughters, Hannah  Somers  and  Millicent  Somers ;  son,  Richard 
Somers,  sole  executor.  Witnesses,  Daniel  Ireland  and  Judith 
Steelman. 

1736,  Andrew  Steelman,  Sr.,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour,  Wife, 
Judith,  sole  executrix ;  wife  Judith  to  have  her  third  while  she 
remained  a  widow ;  children,  Andrew,  Frederick,  James,  Peter, 
Mary,  Judith,  Susannah.  "My  sons  may  buy  or  sell  one  to  an- 
other, but  not  otherwise."  Witnesses,  Daniel  Ireland,  John  Wells 
and  Alexander  Fish. 


66  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

It  is  not  probable  that  this  is  a  complete  list  of  abstracts  of 
Great  Egg  Harbour  Wills,  between  year  1702  and  1738,  but  in 
closing  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  with  more  time  to  explore, 
and  digest  material,  I  could  satisfy  my  own  ideal  more  fully. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Emily  Stlllman  Fisher. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF1    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  67 


OLD  GLOUCESTER  COUNTY 

From  Hall's  Daily  Ltnion  History 

Gloucester  County  at  one  time  extended  from  the  Delaware 
to  the  Sea,  including  what  is  now  Camden,  Atlantic  and  Glou- 
cester Counties.  Camden  was  made  a  county  by  An  Act  of 
Legislature,  passed  March  13,  1844,  seven  years  after  Atlantic 
County  had  been  created.  On  Feb.  7,  1837,  An  Act  was  passed 
creating  Atlantic  County.  There  were  then  only  four  large 
townships  or  voting  places  in  this  county.  Egg  Harbor,  Wey- 
mouth, Hamilton  and  Galloway.  Mullica  was  created  later  out  of 
Galloway,  and  the  town  of  Hammonton  out  of  Mullica.  Buena- 
Yista,  in  1867,  was  created  out  of  Hamilton  and  Atlantic  City 
set  off  from  Egg  Harbor  Township  in  1854.  The  first  deed  was 
recorded  by  J.  H.  Collins,  the  first  County  Clerk,  on  Aiay  4th. 
1837,  and  was  for  40  acres  of  land  in  Egg  Harbor  Township, 
sold  by  D.  Robart  and  wife,  to  Samuel  Saunders.  The  first 
Will  was  made  by  David  Dennis  and  witnessed  by  Joe  West, 
willing  to  his  two  sons,  David  and  Joel,  the  "Ja°k  Pudding 
Cedar  Swamp."  (The  present  President  of  the  Historical  Society 
is  the  daughter  of  Joel  Dennis).  The  will  was  probated  seven 
years  after.  Samuel  Richards  and  wife  gave  the  Board  of 
Freeholders  the  lot  at  May's  Landing  for  the  county  buildings, 
by  deed  dated  May  25,  1838,  and  the  present  Court  House  was 
soon  erected  thereon. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Freeholders,  of 
Gloucester  County,  held  in  May,  1836,  28  members  constituted 
the  board,  while  at  the  annual  meeting  on  the  10th  of  May,  1836, 
20  members  composed  the  body.  The  townships  of  Hamilton, 
Weymouth,  Egg  Harbor  and  Galloway,  having  been  set  off  from 
Gloucester  County,  forming  a  new  county  called  Atlantic,  by 
An  Act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the  7th  day  of  Feb.  A.  D., 
1837.  At  this  meeting  commissioners  were  appointed  to  value 
the  public  buildings  at  Woodbury,  the  Almshouse  property,  and 
other  assets  of  the  County  of  Gloucester,  and  to  ascertain  what 
proportion  of  such  valuation  would  be  due  to  the  County  of 
Atlantic,  according  to  the  ratio  of  population  determined  by  last 


68  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

census.  The  commissioners  appointed  for  Gloucester  County 
were:  John  Clement,  Elijah  Bower  and  Saunders;  for  Atlantic 
County,  Daniel  Baker,  Joseph  Endicott  and  Enoch  Doughty. 
These  gentlemen  met  at  the  Court  House  in  Woodbury,  on  the 
9th  day  of  May,  1837,  at  10  o'clock,  and  were  each  sworn  or 
affirmed  faithfully,  and  impartially  to  value  the  public  properties 
of  Gloucester  County,  which  appears  as  follows : 

Two  tracts  of  land  in  Deptford  Township;  adjoining 
lands  of  John  Swope;  containing  248  47100 
Acres $      850  00 

Movable  property  at  Almshouse   3>728  00 

The  entire  Almshouse  lands,  with  the  buildings  and 

improvements    16,1 50  00 

The  Court  House,  Jail,  Clerks  and  Surrogate  Offices, 
with  their  contents ;  with  all  other  Property  at 
Woodbury,  "including  the  man  O'Hoy" 11,400  00 

Total    $32,128  00 

From  which  deduct  the  debt  of  the  County 7»932  55 


Balance  to  be  divided  between  the  two  Counties    .  .$24,195  45 

By  the  census  taken  in  1830,  the  County  of  Gloucester  con- 
tained 28,431  inhabitants.  Of  that  number  8,164  were  con- 
tained in  the  townships  of  Galloway,  Egg  Harbor,  Weymouth 
and  Hamilton,  composing  the  new  county  of  Atlantic,  its  pro- 
portional share  or  part  was  placed  at $  6,947  75 

Gloucester  County's  proportional  share   *7,247  7° 


Total    $24,195  45 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  69 


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Daniel  Baker  Esq 
Dear  sir 

Our  ticket  was  selected  on  thursday  last— it  consists  of  John  C. 
Smallwood  council— Jos  W  Cooper  J  as  W  Caldwell  David  C  Ogden  John 
Richards  assembly— the  feeling  is  very  strong  in  favor  of  a  division  of  the 
County  and  no  one  was  selected  on  the  ticket  until  it  was  ascertained  that  he 
was  in  favor  of  dividing  the  County  (unless  it  be  Mr  Richards  and  Mr 
Thackray  of  Haddonficld  said  that  Mr  R  would  be  in  favor  of  the  division) 
/  do  not  think  that  anyone  would  have  been  placed  on  our  ticket  if  he  had 


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have  declared  himself  unfriendly  to  the  division — unless  you  should  be  deceived 
again  as  to  who  are  friendly  to  the  division  I  think  the  chances  are  very- 
fair 

/  would  be  much  pleased  if  I  could  receive  the  poiver  of  atty  from 
old  Mrs  Steelman  before  thursday  next  as  I  want  to  go  to  Trenton  that  day 
and  could  get  her  money 

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72  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


THE  OLD  FORT  AT  SOMERS  POINT 

One   of   the   Oldest   Historical   Landmarks   in   Atlantic 

County 

The  construction  of  Bay  avenue  at  Somers  Point  compels 
the  removal  of  one  of  the  oldest  historical  landmarks  in  the 
county,  which  is  the  hillock,  or  the  site  on  which  it  was  erected 
during  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  the  only  fort  in  this 
vicinity.  It  was  erected  by  Atlantic  County  enterprise,  and  by 
our  county's  old  population,  the  cannons  and  equipments  being 
furnished  by  the  state.  At  that  time  was  stationed  at  Somers 
Point  eight  companies  of  foot  soldiers,  and  two  of  cavalry,  at 
that  time  called  horse  guards. 

The  troops  were  commanded  by  Col.  Thomas  Doughty,  an 
old  county  resident,  of  whom  Mrs.  Japhet  Townsend  and  Ely 
Doughty,  of  Linwood,  are  the  sole  descendants.  The  removal  of 
the  fort  calls  forth  many  sad  reminders  from  the  old  inhabitants 
in  this  vicinity.  We  have  often  heard  their  parents  tell  of  the 
exciting  times  of  those  days.  During  the  war  several  war  ships 
were  brought  into  Great  Egg  Harbor  inlet  by  the  United  States. 
Noticeable  was  the  Belvidue  or  Bellview  which  vessel  had  on 
board  a  crew  of  whom  even  the  officers  were  filthy  and  covered 
with  that  small  insect — the  louse.  This  vessel  was  towed  into 
the  harbor  and  the  small  channel  running  from  it  into  Steelman's 
bay  was  given  the  name  of  Lousy  Harbor  and  still  retains  the 
name  to  this  day. 

So  far  15  cannon  balls,  weighing  three  and  onedialf  pounds, 
and  two  weighing  seven  pounds  each  have  been  unearthed  from 
the  fort.  As  relics  they  command  from  50  cents  to  $1.00  apiece. 
The  cannons  were  removed  1816,  having  done  duty  in  preventing 
hostile  forces  from  landing  by  way  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  inlet. 
Several  houses  were  demolished  by  the  enemies'  vessels.  The 
fort  being  built  of  sand  withstood  shot  and  shell.  There  are  to- 
day a  number  on  the  pension  rolls  for  services  rendered  at  this 
fort ;  at  English  Creek  and  Bargaintown ;  two  at  Bakersville,  one 
in  Smiths  Landing  and  one  in  Atlantic  City. — Mrs,  Harriet  Scull. 
From  a  Newspaper  Clipping,  October  8,  1887. 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


73 


Contributed  By  Joseph  R.  Moore 

The  older  inhabitants  of  Somers  Point  remember  being 
told  by  their  parents  of  a  time  when  all  the  men  of  the  place 
were  away  and  a  British  vessel  was  seen  coming  in  the  inlet. 
The  women  hurriedly  gathered  all  the  children  and  put  them  to 
tramping  up  and  down  amid  the  high  weeds  growing  on  the 
shore,  shaking  boughs  of  trees,  to  make  it  appear  as  if  a  large 
body  of  men  were  getting  ready  for  defense,  while  they  banged 
the  cannon  and  old  guns  left  them.  The  British  were  so  de- 
ceived that  they  turned  and  hurried  from  the  inlet  and  were 
not  heard  from  asrain. — Mrs.  A.  Ulicaton. 


'The  Hero  of  Tripoli' 


74  EARLY    HISTORY    01'    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


CARDING  MILL. 

By  L.  J.  Price 

The  carding  of  wool  like  other  industries  of  our  county  is 
now  only  a  matter  of  history.  On  Lake's  Creek,  Scullville,  be- 
fore or  near  the  time  Atlantic  County  was  created,  Thomas  Bevis 
built  a  mill  for  the  carding  of  wool,  and  preparing  sumac  for 
market  trade. 

The  mill  was  about  forty  feet  long,  and  twenty  feet  wide. 
It  was  a  one  story  structure,  with  a  loft.  One  portion  of  the 
mill  was  built  on  piling,  the  remaining  portion  resting  on  the 
ground.  The  preparation  of  the  sumac  for  market  was  an  im- 
portant feature  of  the  mill's  business.  The  leaves  were  dried 
and  crushed  beneath  stones,  not  unlike  mill  stones  of  the  grist 
mills.  The  sumac  when  prepared  was  shipped  by  boat,  principal- 
ly to  the  New  York  markets. 

The  machinery  operating  the  mill  was  enclosed  in  a  box-like 
compartment  underneath  the  mill,  in  which  for  a  time  a  rattle- 
snake made  its  retreat.  When  the  machinery  was  running  the 
snake  would  hum ;  the  sound  was  similar  to  the  singing  of 
locusts. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Joshua  Scull  for  this  information, 
who  until  recently  was  the  owner  of  the  property  on  which  the 
mill  was  located.  The  late  Denman  Bevis,  whose  death  was 
comparatively  recent,  remembered  the  building  of  the  mill. 

About  a  half  century  ago  when  the  industry  was  abandoned, 
the  machinery  was  taken  apart  and  carried  by  boat  to  New 
York,  the  vessel  loading  at  Jefferies  Landing,  commanded  by 
Jonathan  Smith.  Mr.  Scull  tells  of  various  experiences  with 
rattlesnakes  along  Lake's  Creek. 

Once  as  Mr.  Scull  was  driving  home  with  two  children,  Mr. 
Scull  at  the  time  walking  by  the  side  of  the  wagon,  saw  a  rattler 
suddenly  spring  on  to  one  of  the  wagon  wheels,  and  as  the 
wheel  turned  around,  sprang  to  the  front  wheel.  Calling  to  the 
children  to  guide  the  horse  and  walking  backward,  so  as  not  to 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  75 

lose  sight  of  the  snake  until  he  could  procure  a  stick  with  which 
he  killed  the  reptile.  One  of  the  children  was  Mr.  William 
Collins,  who  were  enroute  to  their  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Alpheus  Bevis.  We  can  hardly  realize  at  this  day  of  portions 
of  our  county  being  infested  once  by  a  serpent  so  dangerous 
to  man. 

Mrs.  Deborah  Jane  Anderson,  of  Somers  Point,  tells  us 
that  when  a  child,  she  would  go  with  her  father  to  the  carding 
mill  with  wool  to  be  carded ;  wool  that  was  the  product  of  his 
farm. 


76  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


CLARK'S  OLD  LOG  MEETING  HOUSE  AT  PLEASANT 

MILLS. 

In  1758  a  rude  church  or  meeting  house  was  built  at  Sweet- 
water, now  Pleasant  Mills,  by  Dr.  Elijah  Clark,  an  old-time  min- 
ister. Being  built  after  the  primitive  style  of  the  period,  this 
old  log  meeting  house  was  twenty-five  by  thirty  feet,  ceiled  with 
cedar  boards  and  covered  with  cedar  shingles. 

The  site  of  this  first  rude  church,  which  was  known  for 
many  years  as  Clark's  Log  Meeting  House  at  the  forks  of  the 
Little  Egg  Harbor,  is  still  pointed  out  as  being  upon  practically 
the  same  spot  as  the  present  Methodist  Church  in  the  pine  grove 
on  the  margin  of  the  old  cemetery,  where  sleeps  several  gen- 
erations of  the  villagers.  Reverend  Allen  H.  Brown,  a  zealous 
Presbyterian  minister  and  synodical  missionary,  says  Clark  s 
little  log  meeting  house  stood  at  the  junction  of  Atsion  and  Batsto 
Creeks,  at  what  is  now  Pleasant  Mills  in  Mullica  township.  It 
is  also  stated  that  this  meeting  house  was  ten  or  twelve  miles 
from  the  site  of  the  Clark's  Mill  Meeting  House,  near  Port 
Republic. 

Clark's  Log  Meeting  House  was  a  free  meeting  house  to  all. 
It  had  no  settled  pastor,  but  was  used  by  preachers  of  all  denom- 
inations. In  his  journal  of  1775,  Reverend  Philip  V.  Fithian 
mentions  the  names  of  twenty-seven  Presbyterian  ministers  who 
had  preached  in  this  log  church.  Few  in  our  day  can  appreciate 
the  unlettered  teachings  of  the  itinerant  preachers  and  the  plain 
manner  of  living  of  those  whose  race  was  run  in  rougher  paths 
than  ours.  Reverend  Simon  Lucas,  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
was  one  of  the  primitive  Methodists  who  officiated  in  this  old 
church  twenty  years  or  more  before  it  gave  place  to  a  larger  and 
more  sightly  edifice  which  was  erected  in  1808,  is  still  standing 
and  is  known  as  the  Pleasant  Mills  Methodist  Church. 

This  sketch  is  from  notes  taken  from  "Heston's  Hand  Books" 
and  "The  Daily  Union  History"  by  John  F.  Hall. — JJ'rittcii  by 
May  Elizabeth  Irchui. 


78  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  MILITIA  FOR  THE  WAR  OF 

1812-1815. 

Nearly  two  months  before  war  was  declared  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britian,  New  Jersey  had  begun  to  place 
herself  in  a  condition  to  defend  her  sea,  coast  and  harbor.  An 
Act  of  Congress  called  the  militia  into  service,  April  10th  1812. 
War  was  declared  June  18th  181 2,  five  thousand  troops  were 
required  of  New  Jersey  as  her  portion.  The  Uniformed  Militia 
at  that  time  consisted  of  2500  men. 

March  24,  181 3,  the  Governor  issued  a  general  order  from 
his  headquarters  at  Elizabethtown,  enjoining  upon  every  en- 
rolled militiamen  to  provide  himself  with  a  good  musket  or 
fire  lock,  a  sufficient  bayonet  and  belt,  two  spare  flints,  and  a 
knapsack,  a  pouch  to  contain  not  less  than  24  cartridges,  suited 
to  the  bore  of  his  musket,  each  cartridge  to  contain  sufficient 
quantity  of  powder  and  ball ;  or  if  a  rifleman  with  a  good  rifle, 
knapsack,  shot  pouch  and  powder  horn,  20  balls  suited  to  the 
bore  of  his  rifle  and  one-fourth  pound  of  powder ;  or  if  a  dragoon 
with  a  serviceable  horse  at  least  14V2  hands  high,  a  good  saddle, 
small  pillion,  a  valise,  holsters,  a  breast  plate  and  cupper,  a  pair 
of  boots  and  spurs,  a  pair  of  pistols,  sabre,  a  cartouch  box,  to  con- 
tain cartridge  for  pistols. 

Act  of  Congress  authorized  the  president  to  organize,  arm 
and  equip  according  to  law,  a  militia  to  hold  in  readiness  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice,  to  suppress  insurrection  and  repel  in- 
vasions. The  said  militia  not  to  be  compelled  to  serve  a  longer 
time  than  six  months,  after  arriving  at  place  of  rendezvous,  re- 
ceiving the  same  pay  and  rations  and  emoluments  as  the  United 
States  army  when  in  service.  "Section  5 — And  be  it  further 
enacted  that  in  lieu  of  whipping  as  provided  by  several  rules  and 
articles  of  war,  as  now  used  and  practised,  stoppage  of  pay,  con- 
finement and  deprivation  of  part  rations  be  substituted. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  79 

ARTILLERY  COMPANY,  THIRD  REGIMENT,  GLOU- 
CESTER BRIGADE 

Robert  Smith,  Captain 

This  company  was  organized  Feb.  12th,  1809,  and  was  at- 
tached to  the  Second  Battalion,  Third  Regiment,  Gloucester  Bri- 
gade, New  Jersey  Militia,  and  "having  volunteered  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  maritime  frontier,"  in  accordance  with  section  8, 
of  the  militia  law  of  Feb.  12th,  1814,  was  ordered  into  service 
during  the  war  of  1812-15  by  Governor  Pennington.  In  the 
call  of  troops  made  by  the  Governor,  Aug.  12th,  1814,  this  com- 
pany was  exempted  from  details  "having  volunteered  to  per- 
form certain  services."  The  company  was  enrolled  for  duty  at 
Smithville,  Gloucester  (now  Atlantic)  County  and  was  stationed 
at  Leeds  Point  and  Somers  Point,  and  at  other  places  on  the 
sea  coast,  between  Little  Egg  Harbor,  and  Great  Egg  Harbor 
rivers.  The  enemy  atempted  to  land  at  Somers  Point  on  one 
occasion  and  the  company  was  called  out  to  repel  them.  They 
appear  to  have  had  but  one  continuous  tour  of  duty,  which  was 
from  May  1st  to  June  29,  1814,  and  for  which  they  were  paid  by 
the  State,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  Feb.  8,  1816,  but  dur- 
ing all  the  rest  of  the  year,  they  were  always  "prepared  for 
actual  service  on  any  sudden  emergency,"  and  were  called  out 
several  times  by  alarms  along  the  coast  for  immediate  defense  of 
the  state.  They  were  finally  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war 
at  Smithville,  Gloucester  Co.,  Feb.  19,  181 5. 

NAME  RANK  ENROLLED  PERIOD         DISCHARGED 

Until 

Smith,    Robert    Captain      May  1,  1814        Relieved      Feb.  19,  1815 

Endicot,  Joseph First  Lieut. 

Endicot,  John   .  .       .     .  .Second  Lieut.       " 

Endicott,  William First  Sergt. 

Smallwood,   Levi    Sergeant 

Morse,   Nehemiah    .... 

Kindle,    Joseph    

Smith,  James 

Kindle,  Daniel,  Sr Corporal 

McCollum,   Malcolm    .  . 

Shores,    Joseph    

McCollum,    Samuel    .  .  . 


8o 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


NAME  RANK         ENROLLED  PERIOD 

Until 

Johnson,  Joseph    Drummer    May  1,  1814      Relieved 

Mathis,  Reuben Drummer 

Risley,    Leeds    Fifer 

Adams,   Evy Private 

Adams,    John 

Adams,    Thomas 

Bates,   Joab 

Bell,    Joseph     

Bennett,   Wm 

Blaekman,    James    .... 

Bowen,    John    

Bowen,    Joseph    

Brewer,    John 

Burnet,  Joshua 

Clifton,   George 

Conover,   Absalom 

Conover,  Adam 

Conover,   Eliakim 

Conover,  James 

Conover,  Job 

Conover,  John 

Conover,  Josiah 

Conover,   Maeajah 

Conover,   Peter 

Conover,   Somers 

Conover,    Wm 

Cordery,   Daniel    

Cordery    Edmund    .... 

Delap,  Samuel 

Doughty,    Abner    

Doughty,    John     

Doughty,  Nathaniel  .  . 
Doughty,  Thomas  .... 
Endieott,    Benjamin    .  . 

Endicott,   Jacob    

Endieott,  Nicholas  .... 

Garwood,  Joseph 

Giberson,  James 

Giberson,  Jesse 

Giberson,  John 

Grapewine,   Huston    .  .  . 

Hewitt,    Aaron    

Higbee,  Absalom    

Higbee,  Edward 

Higbee,   Enoch 

Homan,  Daniel 


DISCHARGED 

Feb. 19,  1815 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


Si 


NAME  RANK 

Homan,    David    Private 

Homan,    Eli    

Homan,  John    " 

Homan,  Mahlon " 

Horn,  Isaac " 

Ireland,    Daniel    " 

Ireland,    Vincent    " 

Johnson,   Wm 

Kindle,  Daniel,  Jr 

Kindle,  Thomas 

Leeds,    Cornelius    

Leeds,   Jesse    " 

Leeds,   Reuben    " 

Mathis  Beriah    

McCollum,   Daniel    ....  " 

McCollum,  Jesse 

McCollum,  John 

McCollum,    Samuel    ... 

Morse,   Joab    " 

Morse,   Joshua    

Murphy,    Thomas   S.    .  . 

Newberry,    Daniel    ....  " 

Newberry,  Solomon ....  " 

Parker,   Jesse " 

Risley,    Eli    

Risley,  John    

Scull,  Daniel " 

Scull,   Gideon " 

Scull,  James " 

Scull,    Paul    

Shores,  David    " 

Smallwood,  Samuel  ... 

Smith,  Isaac    " 

Smith,   Jonathan    

Smith,  Noah 

Somers,    Joseph    

Somers,    Richard    

Somers,   Wm 

Sooy,   Benjamin 

Sooy,    Nicholas 

Sooy,   Samuel 

Strickland,   Eli  i 

Strickland,   John    

Strickland,   Samuel    .  .  . 

Thomas,  Aaron " 

Turner,    John    " 

Weeks,   Vincent    

Weldon,   Gideon 


ENROL,  LED 
May  1,  1814 


PERIOD 

Until 
Relieved 


DISCHARGED 

Feb.  19,  1815 


L.  L.  T.  W. 


S2  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

COMPANY  OF  INFANTRY,  FIRST  REGIMENT, 
GLOUCESTER  BRIGADE. 

John  R.  Scull,  Captain 

This  Company  was  organized  April  14th,  1814,  the  officers 
commissioned  May  6th,  1814,  and  was  called  a  Volunteer  Com- 
pany, First  Battalion,  First  Regiment,  Gloucester  Brigade,  New 
Jersey  Militia.  During  the  month  of  May  it  volunteered  "for 
the  protection  of  the  maritime  frontier,"  in  accordance  with 
section  of  the  militia  law  of  Feb.  12th,  1814,  and  was  ordered 
into  service  during  the  War  of  1812-15  by  Governor  Penning- 
ton. 

In  the  call  for  troops  made  by  the  Governor,  Aug.  12,  1814, 
this  company  was  exempted  from  the  detail  "having  volunteered 
to  perform  certain  services.  The  company  was  enrolled  for  duty 
at  Somers  Point,  Gloucester  County  (  Atlantic  County )  and  was 
stationed  at  Somers  Point,  and  along  the  seacoast,  to  Cape 
May.  Thev  appear  to  have  had  but  one  continuous  term  of 
duty  which  was  from  May  25th,  1814,  to  June  nth,  1814,  and  for 
which  they  were  paid  by  the  state  by  Act  of-  the  Legislature, 
Feb.  9,  181 5,  but  during  all  the  rest  of  the  year  they  were  al- 
ways "prepared  for  actual  service  on  any  sudden  emergency,"  and 
were  called  out  several  times  by  alarms  along  the  coast,  for  the 
immediate  defense  of  the  State.  They  were  finally  discharged  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  at  Somers  Point,  Gloucester  Co.,  Feb.  12th. 
1815. 

NAME  RANK         ENROLED  PERIOD        DISCHARGED 

Until 

Scull,   John  R Captain     May  25,  1S14       Relieved      Feb.  12,  1815 

Scull,   Samuel    First  Lieut. 

Holbert,   Levi    Second  Lieut. 

Frambes,   Job Third  Lieut. 

Risley,  Samuel Ensign 

Frambes,  David First  Serg't. 

Dole,    Zachariah    Sergeant 

Scull,    Israel    

Lake,  Samuel    

Somers,   Richard  I 

Pine,  John Corporal 

Reeves,  Thomas 

Robinson,   Isaac 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


83 


NAME  RANK  ENROLLED  PERIOD        DISCHARGED 

Until 

Kisley  Robert Drummer    May  25, 1814     Relieved      Feb.  12,  1815 

Gifford   James  M Fifer 

Adams,   James    Private 

Adams,    Jeremiah    .  .  .  .  "  " 

Adams,  Jonas "  " 

Adams,  Solomon "  " 

Albertson,    Jacob    "  "  " 

Barber,   John    "  "  " 

Bartlett,  David  E 

Beaston,    John    " 

Blackman,  Andrew    ...  " 

Blackman,  Andrew  B.   . 

Blackman,    Thomas  "  "  " 

Booy,  Derestius "  " 

Booy,  Joseph  H "  " 

Burton,   James    "  " 

■Chamberlain,  Jesse.  ...  " 

Chambers,  Jesse 

Champion,    Enoch    ....  " 

Champion,    John    

Champion,  Joseph   .... 

Clayton,    Joel    " 

Clayton,  John 

Cordery,  Absalom    .... 

Delancy,   Samuel    

Doughty,  Daniel 

Doughty,  Enoch 

Doughty,    John     

Edwards,   Daniel    

English,    Daniel    " 

English,    Hosea    " 

Frambes,  Aaron 

Frambes,  Andrew    ....  *' 

Gauslin,   Stephen " 

Godfrey,  Andrew 

Hickman,  Andrew    .... 

Holbert,   Ebenezer   ....  " 

Ireland,   Clement    

Ireland,   David    

Ireland,  Elijah "  " 

Ireland,   Job    " 

Ireland,    Thomas    "  "  " 

Jeffers,  Andrew    " 

Jeffers,    Daniel    "  *' 

Jeffers,  Evin "  "  " 

Jeffers,    Nicholas    " 


84 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


NAME 


RANK  ENROLED 


Jeffers,    John    Private     May  25,  1814 

Jeffers,    Wm 

Laird,    Enoch    

Lee,    David    

Marshall,    Jesse    

Mart,  Daniel 

Mart,   John    .  , 

Morris,    Richard 

Price,    David     

Price,  John,  Sr 

Price,  John,  Jr 

Reggins,    John    

Risley,  Jeremiah,  Sr.  .  . 
Risley,  Jeremiah,  Jr.  .  . 
Risley,    Nathaniel    .... 

Risley,    Peter    

Risley,   Richard    

Robarts,   John    

Robinson,  John    

Scull,  Andrew 

Scull,   David    

Scull,  John  S 

Scull,    Joseph    

Scull,    Richard    

Somers,   Damen    

Somers,   Edmund 

Somers,  Isaac 

Somers,  James 

Somers,    John    Jr 

Somers,  John  Sr 

Somers,    Joseph    

Somers,    Mark    

Somers,  Nicholas 

Somers,   Samuel 

Somers,    Thomas    

Smith,  Abel 

Smith,  Enoch 

Smith,  Isaac    

Smith,    Jacob    

Smith,  Jesse 

Smith,  Zophar 

Steelman,  David 

Steelman,    Elijah    

Steelman,  Francis  .... 
Steelman,  Frederick  .  . 
Steelman,   James    


PERIOD 

Until 

Relieved 


DISCHARGED 


Feb.  12,  1815 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


85 


NAME 


Steelman,   Jesse    Private 

Steelman,   Peter  C.  .  .  . 

Steelman,   Reed    

Steelman,   Samuel    .... 

Tilton,  Daniel 

Townsend,    James    .... 

Townsend,  Japhet 

Vansant,  Joel    

Wilkins,  Joseph 

Wilsey,  Martin 

Winner,   Joseph    

Winner.  John    


RANK  ENROLLED 

May  25,  1814 


PERIOD 

Until 

Relieved 


DISCHARGED 
Feb.   12,  1815 


L.   L.  T.  W. 


86  EARLY    HISTORY   OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

ATLANTIC  COUNTY 
By  L.  L.  T.  W. 

Atlantic  County  is  bounded,  northeast  by  Burlington  County. 
southeast  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  by  Cape  May  County, 
southwest  by  Cumberland  County  and  northwest  by  Gloucester 
County. 

It  is  about  thirty  miles  long,  by  twenty  wide  and  was  formed 
from  the  eastern  part  of  Gloucester  County  in  1837.  The  prin- 
cipal streams  are  the  Great  Egg  Harbor,  running  through  it 
nearly  centrally ;  the  Little  Egg  Harbor,  separating  it  from  Bur- 
lington County ;  and  the  Tuckahoe,  on  its  southern  boundary. 
These  streams  are  navigable  for  many  miles.  Atlantic  County 
is  divided  into  five  townships. 

Egg  Harbor  Township 

Egg  Harbor  Township,  formerly  called  Great  Egg  Harbour, 
is  the  oldest  township  in  Atlantic  County. 

It  formerly  comprised  all  that  portion  of  Gloucester  County 
lying  southeast  of  Deptford  Township  and  included  all  of  what 
is  now  Atlantic  County. 

From  it  have  been  taken  the  various  municipalities  which 
comprise  Atlantic  County,  starting  with  Galloway  Township  in 
1774,  which  cut  off  from  the  northeastern  portion  or  approxi- 
mately that  portion  northeast  of  the  Camden  and  Atlantic  Rail- 
road. Then  Weymouth  Township  in  1798,  which  took  that  por- 
tion between  the  Tuckahoe  River  and  the  Great  Egg  Harbor 
River.  Then  Hamilton  Township  in  1813,  which  took  that  por- 
tion northwest  of  Miry  Run.  Mullica  was  formed  from  Gallo- 
way in  1838,  and  since,  the  Cities  and  Boroughs  along  the  beach 
and  Shore  Road,  leaving  in  the  Township  at  the  present  time 
the  strip  of  meadow  land  between  Absecon  Beach  and  the  Shore 
and  from  the  northwest  boundaries  of  the  Shore  Road  Munici- 
palities to  Hamilton  Township,  between  the  Great  Egg  Harbor 
River  and  Galloway  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  87 


Old  Galloway  Township 

George  The  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain, 
France  and  Ireland,  King"  defender  of  the  faith,  etc.,  to  whom 
these  presents  shall  come,  greeting: 

Know  Ye,  That  we  of  our  special  grant,  certain  knowledge 
and  mere  motion,  have  given  and  granted  and  by  these  presents 
do  give  and  grant,  for  us  and  our  successors,  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  northeast  part,  of  the  township  of  Great  Egg  Harbor,  in 
the  county  of  Gloucester,  in  our  Province  of  New  Jersey,  wherein 
the  following  boundary's,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  a  pine  tree  stand- 
ing on  the  head  of  the  north  branch  of  Absequan  Creek,  marked 
on  four  sides;  on  the  southwest  side  lettered  E.  G.,  and  on  the 
northeast  side  N.  W.,  and  from  thence  running  north  forty-five 
degrees  eighty  minutes  west  (the  eighty  minutes  must  be  an 
error  in  the  records),  sixteen  miles  a  quarter  and  a  half  quarter 
to  a  pine  tree  standing  southwest,  sixty  chains  from  the  new 
road,  and  near  a  small  branch  of  Penny  Pot,  and  in  the  line  of 
the  former  township  aforesaid,  and  marked  as  aforesaid ;  and 
thence  running  by  the  aforesaid  line  north  forty-five  degrees 
east,  nine  miles  to  Atsion  branch,  thence  down  the  same  to  the 
main  river  of  Little  Egg  Harbor;  thence  down  the  aforesai:! 
river,  by  the  several  courses  thereof  to  the  mouth ;  thence  south 
thirty-five  degrees  east,  six  miles  and  a  quarter  through  the  Great 
Bay  of  Little  Egg  Harbor,  to  the  southwest  end  of  the  flat  beach 
at  Brigantine  Inlet ;  thence  southwesterly,  crossing  the  said  Brig- 
antine  Beach  and  the  sea  at  Absequan  Inlet ;  thence  north  sixty 
degrees  west,  five  miles,  crossing  the  sounds  and  Absequan  Bay 
to  Amos  Ireland's  Point,  near  the  mouth  of  Absequan  Creek; 
thence  bounding  by  the  several  courses  thereof  up  said  creek, 
and  north  branch  of  Absequan  to  the  pine  first  named,  and  place 
of  beginning,  to  be  and  remain  a  perpetual  township  and  com- 
munity in  word  and  deed,  to  be  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Township  of  Old  Galloway.  And  we  further  grant  to  the 
said  inhabitants  of  the  township  aforesaid,  and  their  successors, 
to  choose  annually  a  Constable,  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  and  Over- 
seer of  the  Highways  of  the  township  aforesaid,  and  to  enjoy 
all  the  rights,  liberties  and  immunities  thus  any  other  township 


88  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

in  our  Province  may  of  right  enjoy.  And  the  said  inhabitants 
are  hereby  constituted  and  appointed  a  township  by  the  name 
aforesaid,  to  have,  hold  and  enjoy  the  privileges  aforesaid,  to 
them  and  their  successors  forever.  In  the  testimony  whereof, 
we  have  caused  these  letters  to  be  made  patent,  and  the  Great 
Seal  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  to  be  hereunto  affixed. 
Witness  our  trusty  and  well  beloved  William  Franklin,  Esq..  Cap- 
tain General,  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and  over 
the  Province  of  New  Jersey  and  territories  thereon  depending 
in  America,  Chancellor  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the  same,  etc.,  the 
fourth  day  of  April,  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  our  reign,  Anno 
Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-four  (1774). 

The  first  line  was  run  from  the  head  of  Absequan  to  the 
head  of  Gloucester  Township  line,  June  the  first,  seventeen  nine- 
ty-seven. 

Weymouth 

An  Act  for  dividing  the  Township  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  in 
the  County  of  Gloucester,  into  two  separate  townships.  Passed 
February  12,  1798. 

Pe  it  enacted  by  the  Council  and  General  Assembly  of  this 
State,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  tame, 
That  all  that  part  of  the  Township  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  lying 
to  the  west  and  southwest  of  the  said  Great  Egg  Harbor  River ; 
to  wit:  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Turkey  hoe  River;  thence 
up  the  middle  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  River  until  it  meets  the  line 
of  Deptford  Township;  thence  along  the  said  line  to  the  line 
between  Cumberland  and  Gloucester  County,  thence  down  said 
line  till  it  intersects  the  line  between  Gloucester  and  Cape  May ; 
thence  down  the  middle  of  Turkevhoe  River  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from  the  town- 
ship of  Great  Egg  Harbor,  and  the  same  is  hereby  established 
a  separate  township  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  "Weymouth." 

Hamilton 

An  Act  to  incorporate  into  a  township  a  part  of  the  town- 
ships of  Great  Egg  Harbor  and  Weymouth,  in  the  county  of 
Gloucester  by  the  name  of  Hamilton.     Passed  February  5,  181 3. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  89 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Council  and  General  Assembly  of  this 
State,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same. 
That  all  that  part  of  the  Townships  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  and 
Weymouth  in  the  County  of  Gloucester  lying  within  the  follow- 
ing bounds:  Beginning  in  the  line  of  the  Townships  of  Great 
Egg  Harbor  and  Weymouth  at  the  mouth  of  Miry  Run,  where 
it  empties  into  Great  Egg  Harbor  River ;  thence  running  up  the 
middle  of  said  Miry  Run  the  several  courses  thereof  to  the  head 
of  said  run  ;  then  a  northeastwardly  course  until  it  intersects  the 
line  of  Galloway  Township ;  then  along  line  of  Galloway  and 
Great  Egg  Harbor  Townships  northwestwardly  until  it  inter- 
sects the  line  of  the  township  of  Gloucester ;  then  along  the  line 
of  the  townships  at  Great  Egg  Harbor  and  Gloucester,  south- 
westwardly  and  still  on  the  same  course  in  the  line  between  the 
Township  of  Weymouth  and  Township  of  Deptford,  Greenwich, 
and  Woolwich,  until  it  intersects  the  line  of  the  County  of  Cum- 
berland ;  then  in  the  line  of  the  Counties  of  Cumberland  and 
Gloucester,  southeasterly  to  a  station  in  said  county  line,  where 
a  course  corresponding  with  the  southwardly  line  of  the  West 
Jersey  Society's  large  re-survey  will  strike  the  southwest  corner 
of  said  re-survey ;  then  along  the  said  southwardly  line  of  the 
West  Jersey  Society's  re-survey  to  Great  Egg  Harbor  River ; 
then  down  the  said  river  the  several  courses  thereof  to  the 
mouth  of  Miry  Run  aforesaid,  being  the  place  of  beginning, 
shall  be  and  is  hereby  set  off  and  made  a  separate  township, 
to  be  called  by  the  name  of  "The  Township  of  Hamilton." 

BuEna  Vista 

All  that  part  of  the  Township  of  Hamilton  contained  within 
the  following  bounds,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  a  corner  common  to 
the  counties  of  Gloucester  and  Atlantic  in  the  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty line,  and  running  thence  in  the  line  of  said  Atlantic  County 
northeastward  to  a  corner  of  the  incorporated  town  of  Ham- 
monton  in  the  middle  of  a  road  laid  down  and  marked  on  the 
maps  of  the  late  Weymouth  Farm  and  Agricultural  Company's 
land  and  called  third  road  ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  said  third 
road  as  laid  down  on  said  map  southeastwardly  to  a  point  in  the 
middle  of  Seventh  Street  at  the  intersection  of  said  third  road. 


go  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

with  said  Seventh  Street ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  said  Seventh 
Street,  sonthwestwardly  on  the  course  of  said  Seventh  Street 
extended  until  it  intersects  the  west  line  of  a  re-survey  made 
to  the  West  Jersey  Society  for  78,060  acres  ;  thence  along  said 
west  line  of  said  re-survey  about  10  degrees  east  until  it  inter- 
sects the  north  line  of  Weymouth  Township ;  thence  along  the 
north  line  of  said  Weymouth  Township,  westwardly  to  the  east 
line  of  Cumberland  County ;  thence  northwestwardly  along  said 
Cumberland  County  line  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Approved 
March  5,  1867. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  91 

THE   NAMING  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY 
By  Cornelia  C.  Frink 

The  late  Dr.  Jonathan  Pitney,  of  Absecon,  was  calling  on 
my  grandfather,  the  late  Daniel  Baker,  of  Bakersville,  it  being 
his  custom  to  do  so  quite  frequently  ;  they  were  great  friends. 

As  the  Doctor  was  leaving  at  this  particular  time,  my 
grandfather  went  with  him  to  the  door;  and  as  they  stood  on 
the  porch  conversing,  the  Doctor  turned  and  said :  "Judge,  what 
name  shall  we  give  to  the  new  county?"  The  Judge  stood  for 
a  moment,  looked  over  towards  the  ocean,  waved  his  hand  and 
said,  "Doctor  there  is  the  wide  broad  Atlantic  Ocean,  what  name 
more  appropriate  than  Atlantic  County." 

It  was  near  sunset  when  this  conversation  took  place. 


ORIGIN  OF  TOWN  NAMES  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY 
By  M.  R.  M.  Fish 

In  looking  for  the  reason  of  the  naming  of  towns  and 
villages  through  this  county  there  has  usually  been  a  store  named 
after  its  proprietor,  later  the  name  was  given  to  the  locality ; 
hence  Scullsville,  Steelmanville,  English  Creek,  Smiths  Land- 
ing, Mays  Landing,  Somers  Point,  etc.  These  names  represent 
large  families,  one  of  which  kept  a  store,  and  later  a  post  office. 

Pleasantville  is  an  exception.  When  Daniel  Lake  built  his 
new  store  in  Adamstown  he  went  across  the  street  to  Daniel 
Ingersol,  wheelwright,  for  a  board  to  paint  on  the  new  sign.  Mr. 
Ingersol  offered  to  give  him  the  board  for  the  privilege  of  nam- 
ing the  store;  this  granted,  Mr.  Ingersol  called  it  Pleasantville. 

Years  after,  when  Adamstown,  Lakestown  and  Martstown 
were  consolidated  into  a  Borough,  it  retained  this  name,  as  it 
had  probably  been  in  general  use. 


92  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Smith's  Landing- — A  boat  landing'  owned  by  Smith.  Used  to 
send  produce  and  freight  by  water. 

Northfield — The  station  was  first  named  Dolphin,  the  name 
given  by  Jenkin,  Real  Estate  Agent. 

Bakersville — By  Judge  Baker,  who  also  named  Atlantic 
Count}-. 

Linwood — First  Leedsville,  from  Leeds  Store.  When  giv- 
en a  post  office,  there  being  one  of  this  name  in  Xew  Jersey,  it 
was  changed  to  Geneva,  one  in  Xew  York  and  Xew  Jersey, 
causing  confusion.  The  ladies  met  in  the  school  house  and  de- 
cided on  Linwood. 

Sea  View — There  were  but  a  few  places  on  the  Shore  Road, 
giving  a  view  of  the  ocean,  south  of  Pleasantville  ;  one  of  them 
is  from  the  back  porch  of  Hagerty's  Store  ;  when  it  became  the 
post  office  it  was  named  Sea  View. 

Bell  Haven— By  Wm.  Bell. 

Launch  Haven — By  Campbell.  Mayor  of  Somers  Point. 

Somers   Point — Large  land  holdings  of  Somers   family. 

Risley  Town — Risley  family. 

Bargaintown — The  center  of  activities  of  Egg  Harbor  Town- 
ship, with  a  grist  mill,  a  saw  mill,  and  the  only  post  office  be- 
tween Somers  Point  and  English  Creek.  The  mother  of  the 
Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches,  the  voting 
center  for  the  township.  There  was  every  'indication  of  a  grow- 
ing town,  to  attract  speculators  who  bought  and  laid  out  town 
lots.  These  hopes  not  materializing,  the  lots  were  sacrificed  and 
were  bought  at  a  bargain  by  John  Ireland,  hence  the  name  Bar- 
gaintown. 

McKee  City — The  station  was  first  called  English  Creek 
and  changed  to  McKee  City.  When  Col.  McKee,  of  Philadel- 
phia, bought  a  large  tract  of  uncultivated  land,  divided  it  into 
truck  patches,  put  on  the  necessary  buildings  and  leased  it  to 
Germans  on  terms  to  clear  certain  amount  of  land  as  rent  each 
year.  Before  this  was  accomplished  he  willed  it  to  the  Catholic 
Church  for  a  monastery  and  Industrial  School  for  Boys.  The 
will  being  contested  the  property  at  this  date  (Jan.  22,  1914)  is 
lying  idle  awaiting  court  decision. 

Cardiff,  Pleasantville  Terrace,  Oak  Crest,  and  Blenheim 
named  by  promoters. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  93 

MAY'S  LANDING 

By  L.  L.  T.  Willis 

May's  Landing  was  settled  over  two  hundred  years  ago. 

Among  the  first  settlers  appear  the  names  of  Wescott,  Steel- 
man,  Champion,  Gaskill,  Pennington,  Rape,  Norcross,  Baker, 
Abbott,  Adams,  Wheaton,  Wicks,  Dougherty  and  May. 

The  Great  Egg  Harbor  River  at  that  time  was  navigable  for 
vessels  of  a  1,000-ton  or  fonr-masted  ship. 

The  principal  exports  were  wood,  charcoal  and  iron  ore,  the 
vessels  loading  near  the  present  site  of  the  cotton  mill  and  near 
the  bridge  at  Sugar  Hill.  The  Harrison  was  one  of  the  vessels 
sailing  from  May's  Landing,  Captain  T.  D.  Endicott  sailing  her. 

Other  vessels  were  sailed  by  Captains  John  Bowen,  Shep- 
pard  Hudson,  George  Cramer  and  Bassett  Steelman. 

There  were  several  shipbuilding  establishments  owned  by 
J.  Pennington  &  Son  and  James  Baker. 

The  iron  foundries  were  owned  by  McCurdy,  Stephens,  A.  L- 
Izard  and  William  Bartlett,  grandfather  of  Sheriff  Bartlett. 
There  were  also  two  charcoal  furnaces,  one  being  at  Weymouth. 

The  mode  of  travel  in  the  early  days  was  by  horseback.   Men 

and  women  alike  making  the  trip  to  Philadelphia  in  the  saddle, 

following  Indian  trails  and  slowly  making  them  wider  and  better. 

Mrs.  Champion,  great  aunt  of  Captain  Thompson,  has  often 

made  the  trip  in  the  saddle. 

As  time  went  on  and  the  necessity  for  travel  became  greater, 
a  stage  coach  route  was  established. 

Mr.  William  Norcross  was  the  proprietor  of  the  stage  from 
May's  Landing  to  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  William  Norcross,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Rape  were  drivers  of  the 
stage.  The  route  took  one  through  Weymouth,  Pennypot,  Long- 
acoming  (now  Berlin),  the  White  Horse  Pike  and  Philadelphia. 

The  coaches  were  the  regulation  stage,  with  baggage  cage 
at  the  rear. 

There  was  also  a  stage  coach  which  went  to  Absecon  and 
Somers'  Point,  which  started  out  from  May's  Landing. 

After  the  railroad  was  built  through  Egg  Harbor  the  stages 
were  a  thing  of  the  past,  but  the  coaches  were  used  to  take  pas- 
sengers from  May's  Landing  and  vicinity  to  the  trains. 


94 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


About  this  time  there  was  a  band  of  robbers  had  their  lair 
back  of  May's  Landing,  and  one  morning  they  very  quietly  and 
uniquely  cut  the  baggage  rack  away  without  stopping  the  stage. 

May's  Landing  was  made  the  county  seat  in  1837;  previous 
to  this  time  Gloucester  County  included  all  of  what  is  now  At- 
lantic County,  with  the  county  seat  at  Woodbury. 

The  first  court  ever  held  in  May's  Landing  was  held  in  the 
hotel  of  Captain  John  Pennington,  1837-38. 

The  Court  House  was  built  in  1838  and  has  since  been  greatly 
improved. 


Mm,  Dam  and  Fam.s  at  May's  Landing 

The  present  site  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  graveyard 
were  given  the  town  as  a  free  place  of  worship  by  "Richard 
Wescott,  Sr.,"  of  Great  Egg  Harbor  Township.  The  original 
deed  is  still  in  existence  and  bears  date  of  May  20,  1812. 

The  graveyard  is  still  under  the  government  of  a  board  of 
trustees,  although  there  have  been  no  burials  in  it  for  some  years. 

The  dam  was  built  above  the  cotton  mill  to  supply  water 
for  a  factory,  and  this  slowly  closed  up  the  river,  as  the  sand 
naturally  clogged  and  made  the  river  too  shallow  for  vessels, 
taking  away  its  old  industries,  leaving  the  wharves  and  few  hulls 
of  old  vessels  to  remind  one  of  the  happy  busy  davs. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OP  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  95 

ANECDOTES  OF  PLACE  NAMES 
•By  L.  J.  Pricl 

In  1880  with  the  building  of  the  Pleasantville  and  Ocean 
City  Railroad,  from  Pleasantville  to  Somers  Point,  by  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Atlantic  City  Railway  Company  (Narrow  Gauge), 
the  railroad  connected  Ocean  City  and  Somers  Point,  by  steam- 
boat; being"  the  first  medium  of  railroad  communication  Ocean 
City  had  with  Philadelphia  and  the  outside  world.  The  Somers 
Point  post  office  included  all  of  the  shore  territory  from  Somers 
Point  to  where  the  Country  Club  is  now  located. 

The  postmasters  for  many  years  had  been  appointed  from 
Leedsville  (Linwood)  where  the  office  was  located;  the  mail 
being  overhauled  at  Leedsville,  (Linwood)  and  carried  to  two 
or  three  points  for  local  distribution.  All  mail  on  the  shore 
including  Bargaintown,  was  carried  by  stage  from  Absecon  to 
Somers  Point.  Bakersville,  Seaview  and  Somers  Point  might 
be  termed  sub-offices. 

With  the  advent  of  a  railroad  and  a  building  boom,  Somers 
Point  desired  the  post  office  to  be  located  within  its  borders. 
Leedsville  (Linwood)  as  a  distributing  point  must  be  retained. 
There  being  a  post  office  by  the  same  name  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  state,  the  Federal  authorities  required  Leedsville  (Lin- 
wood) to  change  its  name. 

The  citizens  gathered  in  the  schoolhouse,  now  occupied  as 
the  City  Hall,  one  evening  to  vote  for  their  choice  of  names 
presented.  Geneva,  Brinola,  Viola,  Pearville,  and  a  number  of 
others  were  placed  on  the  blackboard  for  approval.  Pairville 
was  suggested,  perhaps  humorously  by  the  late  Dr.  S.  C.  Ed- 
monds, from  the  quantities  of  Bartlett  pears  raised  in  the  village. 
Geneva  was  generally  favored  for  the  town's  new  name. 

Leedsville  (Linwood)  was  the  home  of  several  prosperous 
sea  captains,  and  of  men  with  large  interests  in  vessel  prop- 
erty. A  day  or  so  after  the  selection  of  the  new  name  by  Job 
Frambes,  of  Bargaintown,  LIncle  Job,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  then  in  his  nineties,  the  great  grandfather  of  our  assistant 
secretary,  (Miss  Mattie  Collins),  was  in  Leedsville. 


g6  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Feeble  in  body,  nearly  blind,  and  partially  deaf,  but  still 
retaining  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  when  told  the  new  name  of 
the  village  replied,  "Yes,  Live  Easy."  Again  being  told  Geneva, 
he  replied  with  a  twinkle  in  his  fading  eyes,  "Yes,  Yes,  Live 
Easy,  Live  Easy,"  to  the  amusement  of  his  hearers,  who  recog- 
nized the  application  of  the  prosperous  citizens. 

But  yet  another  name  must  be  chosen  from  the  similarity 
of  the  abbreviations  N.  Y.  and  X.  J.,  the  officials  at  Washington 
called  for  another  name.     Linwood  was  the  name  chosen. 


NAMING  UNCLE  TOM'S 

The  Custom  House  at  Somers  Point,  like  the  post  office, 
was  located  in  Leedsville.  The  late  Thomas  E.  Morris,  through 
the  sixties  to  the  eighties,  was  the  deputy  collector,  and  the  work 
of  the  office  was  conducted  in  a  small  building  on  the  shore 
road,  at  Mr.  Morris'  home,  a  short  distance  above  what  is  now 
Bellhaven  Avenue.  After  the  building  of  the  railroad  to  Somers 
Point  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Custom  officials,  trains  were 
stopped  at  the  road  mentioned. 

Stopping  of  trains  in  all  probability  did  not  occur  until 
the  acquisition  of  the  road  by  the  West  Jersey  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  May  or  June,  1882.  The  late  Israel  S.  Adams  being  a 
director  of  the  West  Jersey  Railroad,  and  Collector  of  Customs 
of  the  port  of  Great  Egg  Harbor,  from  1861  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  December  1884. 

The  writer's  father,  the  late  Captain  John  Price,  who  also 
was  in  the  customs  service  would  ask  the  train  crew  to  let  him 
oft'  at  Uncle  Tom's.  Later  the  late  Captain  William  Ireland, 
whose  home  joined  the  property  now  owned  by  William  E.  Bell, 
offered  to  build  a  platform,  providing  the  railroad  company 
would  stop  trains  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  After- 
ward the  railroad  company  built  a  shed  at  the  platform  with 
the  name  of  the  station,  Lmcle  Tom's  painted  on  it. 

When  Mr.  Bell  purchased  the  property  where  he  now  re- 
sides, the  station  was  moved  a  little  further  down  the  track 
and  renamed  Bell  Haven. 

L.  T.  Price. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J.  97 


SHORE  ROAD 

By  L.  J.  Prigs 

From  Heston's  Handbook  for  1904  we  learn  the  first  public 
road  in  Atlantic  count}-  was  laid  out  in  1716.  It  led  from  Nacote 
Creek  (Port  Republic  )  along  the  shore  to  Somers  Ferry  at  Somers 
Point.  This  road  was  altered  by  surveyors  from  Burlington  and 
Gloucester  counties  in  1731.  Previous  to  giving  the  new  location 
of  the  road,  they  recited  that  the  former  road,  laid  out  for  the  in- 
habitants of  the  township  of  Egg  Harbor,  from  the  east  end  of 
Somers  Ferry,  by  reason  of  the  swamps  and  marsh  through  which 
it  passed,  had  become  inconvenient  to  travel,  and  they  had  made 
application  to  Thomas  Wetheril]  and  five  other  surveyors  from 
Burlington  county  and  to  John  Eslick  and  five  other  surveyors 
of  Gloucester  county.  These  twelve  surveyors  having  found  the 
former  road  inconvenient,  laid  out  the  present  Shore  Road  from 
Port  Republic  to  Somers  Point. 

The  "Somers  Ferry"  between  Beasley's  Point  and  Somers 
Point,  was  established  in  1865. 

Prior  to  building  the  Somers  Point  Railroad  in  1880,  abo^t 
midway  from  the  shore  road  and  where  the  railroad  lies,  an 
indentation  could  be  seen  in  the  woods,  between  the  property  of 
the  late  Captain  Elijah  A.  Price  and  the  late  Dr.  Jeremiah  Hand. 
This  indentation  was  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  wide. 

In  this  narrow  open  space  grew  no  trees,  but  through  the 
clean  white  sand,  the  sweet  fern  grew  and  "gently  waved  it-: 
sweet  wild  way."  Elders  pointed  out  this  space  to  the  children 
as  the  old  shore  road. 


98  EARLY  HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

PRESBYTERIANS  IN  NEW  JERSEY 
From  David  and  John  Brainard's  Diary  From  1706  to  1789 

With  the  landing  of  the  Puritans  began  the  missionary  work 
in  America.  We  can  understand,  that  fleeing  from  persecution, 
for  their  religious  ideals,  and  landing  among  a  people  recognizing 
a  Spirit  everywhere  but  not  a  God,  their  establishing  homes, 
and  working  to  convert  those  among  whom  they  were  living 
would  go  hand  in  hand. 

And  there  are  records  very  early  of  missionaries  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  York  in  1706,  though  the  country  about 
Freehold,  N    J.,  was  a  wilderness,  full  of  savages. 

Gilbert  Vansant,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  was  working 
among  them  with  such  marked  success  that  when  he  was  called 
to  Norfolk,  Connecticut,  in  1726,  the  Freehold  Association  "in- 
terposed their  judgment  that  he  ought  not  to  be  taken  from  so 
destitute  a  region  as  the  Jerseys."  In  1721  Presbyterianism  was 
in  great  disfavor.  About  this  time  there  was  a  happy  change 
in  their  favor.  At  this  period  Win.  Tenent's  son  from  Ireland, 
removed  to  Neskaming  (1726)  and  there  established  a  school 
which  in  diversion  was  called  the  Log  College, — afterward  be- 
came a  Theological  Seminary  (Princeton).  The  Presbvterian 
ministers  who  came  across  the  ocean  had  enjoyed  a  liberal  edu- 
cation and  insisted  that  no  man  should  enter  the  ministry  without 
a  college  diploma.  As  there  was  no  college  in  the  Middle  States, 
those  seeking  to  enter  the  ministry  were  oblig'ed  to  go  to  New 
England  or  Scotland.  This  practically  closed  the  door  on  all 
candidates  and  the  church  had  to  depend  on  emigration,  chiefly 
from  Ireland.  Eleazar  Wales  was  directed  in  1734  to  join 
with  Anduros  in  writing  the  President  of  Yale  for  a  minister  to 
visit  the  destitution  of  West  Jersey.  President  Edwards  answer- 
ed kindly  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  obtaining  help  for  them. 
Whitefield  spread  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence.  This  revival 
caused  a  schism  in  the  Presbytery.  In  1737  the  Synod  passed 
an  act  against  the  intrusion  of  ministers  into  the  boundaries  of 
other  congregations,  and  in  1738  passed  an  act  requiring  that 
before  granting  a  license  to  preach,  the  examining  committee  ap- 
pointed by   Synod,   require  a  college   diploma.     This  the   New 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  99 

Brunswic  Presbytery  disregarded  and  after  much  contention  and 
confusion,  June  1st,  1741,  the  New  Brunswic  party  withdrew 
from  the  Synod.     Hence  the  Old  and  New  School. 

This  was  not  the  result  of  conflicting  views,  either  as  to 
doctrine  or  church  government.  It  was  the  result  of  the  aliena- 
tion of  feeling,  regarding  ministerial  intercourse  and  avowed 
principles  during  a  revival  and  extraordinary  times. 

The  inconvenience  of  long  distance  from  the  Central  Pres- 
bytery was  felt  and  doubtless  led  to  the  formation  of  a  more 
compact  body.  175 1  a  number  of  the  New  Brunswic  Presbytery 
petitioned  to  be  erected  into  a  distinct  Presbytery.  Accordingly 
the  Synod  of  New  York  erected  that  part  of  said  Presbytery  that 
lies  in  Pennsylvania,  with  those  who  live  in  New  Jersey,  south  of 
Philadelphia,  bordering  on  the  Delaware  into  a  distinct  Pres- 
bytery, named  the  Presbytery  of  Abington,  organized  May  20th, 
1752.  The  churches  of  South  Jersey  flourished  under  its  care 
so  long  as  it  existed  from  1752  to  1758.  In  1755  we  find  the 
first  supplies  mentioned  for  Egg  Harbor  and  were  appointed 
probably  as  often  as  once  a  month.  1758,  after  17  years  of  sep- 
aration, the  two  synods  were  reunited.  In  consequence  of  this,  it 
became  necessary  to  remodel  the  Presbyterians.  Abington  was 
merged  into  that  of  Philadelphia,  with  thirteen  (13)  members, 
of  whom  it  is  supposed,  five  labored  among  the  nine  churches  of 
West  Jersey. 

This  time  of  peace  in  the  churches  was  a  period  of  war  in 
the  country.  The  first  meeting  of  the  reunited  synod  was  a  day 
of  fasting  and  humiliation  for  sin  was  appointed.  In  1775  Rev. 
P.  V.  Fithian  journeyed  from  Cohansey  to  Egg  Harbor,  and  the 
Forks  of  Little  Egg  Harbor,  the  first  since  Mr.  Green's  visit  14 
years  previous.  Several  houses  of  worship  had  been  erected  in 
this  time.  Beside  preaching  at  private  houses,  he  preached  at 
Mr.  Clark's  little  log  meeting  house,  near  Pleasant  Mills,  and 
Basto,  where  he  met  Mr.  Brainard.  next  preached  at  Botherton, 
to  Mr.  Brainard's  Indians,  also  at  Clark's  [Mills  meeting  house, 
two  miles  from  the  present  Port  Republic,  there  was  a  farm 
house  and  an  organized  church,  and  he  adds  "they  gave  me 
$1.00." 

Then  he  preached  at  Cedar  Bridge  or  Blackman's  Meeting 
House  at  Bargaintown,  where  a  house  was  built  of  planks 
placed  perpendicular.     The  deed  of   Blackman's  meeting  house 


i^ononn 


I  DO  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

(Zion)  was  given  by  Andrew  Blackman.  1764  two  other  church- 
es are  mentioned,  one  Wadin  River,  in  Burlington  county,  for 
which  the  land  was  given  by  the  will  of  John  Leak,  1777.  Prob- 
ably it  had  been  occupied  previously.  The  other  was  Longacom- 
ing  (Berlin)  17^7.  Mr.  Fithian  was  surprised  how  fastidious 
were  the  people  in  Egg  Harbor,  and  especially  at  the  Forks. 

In  estimating  the  effects  of  the  war  upon  the  churches  of 
New  Jersey,  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  state  was  the  battle 
ground  of  man)-  a  hard  fought  contest.  British  soldiery  destroyed 
the  church  of  John  Brainard  at  Alt.  Holly,  and  probably  his 
dwelling. 

Six  years  after  the  war  (  1789),  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  was  held  and  reports  419  churches,  177  min- 
isters and  in  probationers.  We  hear  of  no  more  appointments 
for  Egg  Harbor,  the  Brainard  churches,  of  Longacoming  (Ber- 
lin) Waden  River,  Clark's  Little  Log  Meeting  House.  Clark's 
Mill  Meeting  House,  Blackmail's  Meeting  House  and  others  now 
unknown,  were  neglected,  abandoned,  swept  into  oblivion,  un- 
til in  our  own  day  the  discovery  of  their  burial  grounds,  deeds 
or  ruins'  afford  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Jersey  the  first  knowledge 
they  ever  existed. 

The  individual  churches  of  this  denomination  will  be  given 
in  the  next  year's  work  of  the  Society. 

1843,  the  Presbytery  of  West  Jersey  was  transferred  from 
the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  from 
which  time  we  will  consider  the  individual  establishment  of 
churches  in  this  county  in  the  next  year's  work  of  the  Historical 
Society. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


IOI 


BLACKMAN'S  MEETING  HOUSE  AT  BARGAINTOWN 

Extract  From  Letter  of  Rev.  Allen  H.  Brown  to  Rev.  Thomas 
Brainard  in  i/6j. 

"Cedar  Bridge  Meeting"  House,"  called  also  Blackmail's 
Meeting  House,  was  near  the  village  of  Bargaintown,  and  about 
ten  miles  southeast  of  May's  Landing.  It  was  built  of  planks 
nailed  perpendicularly. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  deed  recorded  in  Trenton 
liber  X.,  folios  407,  408,  a  copy  being  certified  by  James  D.  Wes- 
cott,  Secretary  of  State,  will  prove  the  existence  of  a  Presby- 
terian Church  and  to  whom  the  property  belongs : 


Zion  M.  E.  Church,  near  Bargaintown 

"This  Indenture,  made  the  nineteenth  day  of  March,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four, 
between  Andrew  Blackman,  Cordwainer,  of  Egg  Harbor,  in  the 
county  of  Gloucester  and  Province  of  New  Jersev,  of  the  one 
party,  and  Joseph  Ingersoll,  John  Scull,  Joseph  Scull,  and  Return 
Babcock,  of  the  aforesaid  township,  county  and  province,  of  the 
other  party,  Witnesseth,  that  the  said  Andrew  Blackman  for  and 
in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  two  pounds,  proclamation  money, 
to  him  in  hand  paid  before  the  ensealing  hereof,  by  Joseph  Inger- 
soll, etc.,  etc.  *  *  *  hath  granted,  sold,  etc..  etc.  *  *  *  ;  containing 
one  acre,  more  or  less,  together  with  the  mines,  etc.,  *  *  *  for  the 


102  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

erection,  building  and  standing  of  a  Presbyterian  Meeting  House 
for  the  carrying  on  of  Publick  Religious  Worship  for  all  that 
shall  incline  to  meet  and  assemble  in  it ;  together  with  a  publick 
Burying-yard,  for  the  interment  of  the  deceased  of  all  denomi- 
nations. *  *  * 

"A  certain  piece  of  land  situated,  lying  and  being  in  the  town- 
ship of  Egg  Harbor,  in  the  county  and  province  aforesaid,  near 
the  Doles  Branch,  Beginning  at  a  stake  standing  in  the  line  of 
Joseph  Doles  and  Atwood,  near  the  Branch,  thence  south  21 
degrees  east,  15  perches  to  a  stake,  thence  south  69  degrees, 
west  13  perches,  thence  north  21  degrees  west  to  Atwood's  line, 
bounded  by  Atwood's  line  north  80  degrees  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning  at  Doles  line,  containing  one  acre,  more  or  less,  together 
with  the  mines,  etc." 

Three  years  afterward,  June  2,  1767,  a  memorandum  was 
written  on  the  back  of  the  deed,  explaining  the  views  of  the 
persons  named,  and  proving  that  the  house  had  been  erected. 
It  read  as  follows : — 

"We,  the  within  Grantees,  *  *  *  having  been  chosen  Trustees 
to  carry  on  and  manage  the  building  of  a  Presbyterian  Meeting 
House  upon  the  lands  within  granted  and  sold  for  that  purpose, 
do  hereby  acknowledge  that  the  said  land  and  meeting  house 
is  not  our  own  personal  property,  but  is  bought  and  built  by  a 
subscription  of  many  persons ;  neither  do  we  claim  any  other 
interest  in  it  but  what  we  have  in  common  with  all  wh  1  have 
subscribed  hereto;  and,  though  the  legal  title  is  vested  in  us, 
vet  we  hold  it  only  in  behalf  of  our  constituents  and  do  promise 
that  it  shall  be  kept  as  a  house  of  publick  worship  and  the  land 
for  a  free  Burying-yard,  in  which  all  may  have  equal  privileges 
with  ourselves,  without  monopolizing  it  or  engrossing  and  ap- 
plying it  to  any  private  use  of  our  own. 

A  memorandum  whereof  we  leave  on  the  back  of  this  instru- 
ment that  'posterity  may  not  be  defrauded  of  their  right  or  mis- 
taken about  the  intent  thereof,  which  is  to  secure  a  House  of 
Public  Worship,  as  before  mentioned.  In  testimony  whereof,  we 
have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  hands,  and  seals."  *  *  * 

Respecting  the  subsequent  history  of  this  house,  we  content 
ourselves  with  adding  that,  before  it  was  decayed,  the  materials 
were  removed,  and  upon  a  portion  of  the  very  site  of  the  old 
building  stands  now  a  brick  edifice. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  103 

HE  YD  OF  THE  RIVER  CHURCH,  1792 
By  Laura  Lavinia  Thomas  Willis 

The  old  M.  E.  Church  standing  at  the  head  of  the  Tnckahoe 
River  has  a  history  which  is  perhaps  unequalled  by  any  church 
of  that  denomination  in  South  Jersey. 

It  was  built  in  1792,  and  probably  dedicated  by  Benj.  Abbot. 
The  first  M.  E.  preacher  visiting  these  parts  was  a  man  named 
James,  who  in  1780,  came  on  horseback  to  the  house  of  David 
vSayers  in  a  driving  snow  storm  and  asked  permission  to  stay 
all  night.  Savers  had  previously  said  that  no  Methodist  preach- 
er should  ever  stay  in  his  house.  He  was  a  very  profane  man, 
and  James  reprimanded  him  for  his  profanity.  He  did  lodge 
there  and  from  that  visit  Savers  became  changed.  His  heart 
was  touched  and  he  prof  1  c  inversion.  Host  of  the  Meth- 
odist preachers  of  that  time  were  men  sent  over  by  Wesley  and 
were  under  bonds  of  loyalty  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain;  al- 
though they  said  but  little,  yet  some  did  act  imprudent.  They 
thought  probably  that  the  weapons  of  their  warfare  were  not 
carnal.  Savers  at  that  time  held  a  captain's  commission  of  the 
continental  army-,  hence  the  remark  that  no  Methodist  preacher 
should  ever  lodge  in  his  house. 

They  arranged  for  preaching  at  Smith's  Mill.  Jeremiah  and 
William  Smith  who  have  left  a  large  n  I  scendants  in 

this  section  and  it  was  mainly  through  their  energy  that  this 
house  was  built,  urged  ■  bbot,  who  then   travelled,  what 

was  known  as  Salem  Circuit.  That  remarkable  man  seems  to 
have  had  wonderful  power  over  men.  Great  fruits  attended  his 
labors  as  he  journeyed  through  Gloucester,  Salem  and  Cape  May 
counties,  and  perhaps  did  more  to  establish  Methodism  and 
built  up  the  church  than  any  other  man,  until  the  coming  of 
Pitman  in  1 83 1. 

The  land  was  given  by  Daniel  Benezet,  a  large  land  holder. 
The  house  was  unfinished  until  1813  when  the  floors  and  gal- 
leries were  put  in.  Benezet  died  before  the  deed  was  given ;  his 
heirs  conveyed  the  property.  One  of  his  daughters,  afterward 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Jos.   Pillman,  of  Pillman  Boardman  fame,  not 


104 


LAHLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


being  of  age  when  she  signed  it.  the  deed  was  invalid  and  a 
new  deed  was  given  in  1813  by  Joss.  Jones  and  wife,  commonly 
called  "Coffee  Jones."  He  also  married  a  daughter  of  Benezet. 
He  sold  the  adjoining  property  to  Aetna  Furnace  property,  at 
one  time  doing  a  thriving  business.  The  church  was  connected 
with  Cumberland  Circuit,  embracing  all  Cumberland  and  Cape 
May  counties,  and  began  to  have  Sunday  morning  preaching. 
Thomas  Xeal  was  presiding  elder  in  1835.  He  was  also  a  man 
who  did  a  great  deal  of  good,  and  had  strong  faith.  It  is  related 
of  him  that  he  was  attending  a  camp  meeting  here.     There  was 


Old  Church  at  Hkad  of  the  Rivkr,  Tuckahoe 


a  protracted  drought,  the  earth  was  parched  and  vegetation  dy- 


He  retired  into  the  woods  and  alone  with  God,  he  prayed 
for  a  drenching  rain.  He  told  the  people  to  look  out  for  there 
were  signs  of  an  abundance  of  rain.  In  the  afternoon  meeting 
thunder  war  heard,  the  heavens  gathered  blackness  and  soon 
there  was  a  powerful  rain  in  answer  to  prayer,  as  he  believed. 

The  church  was  struck  off  from  the  Cape  May  Circuit  in 
1830.  Joseph  t-  twood  was  then  preacher  with  Thomas  Van 
Gilder  as  first  recording  steward,  still  continuing  Sunday  morn- 
ing preaching.  There  have  been  some  very  remarkable  revivals 
of  religion    the  greatest  the  church  ever  enjoyed  was  in   1842, 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 05 

when  William  A.  Brooks  was  preacher  in  charge,  about  130  pro- 
tessed  conversion.  Some  fell  away  from  grace,  only  four  or  five 
now  remain  and  by  far  the  larger  share  have  joined  the  silent  ma- 
jority. The  Sunday  morning  preaching  continued  until  1863  when 
the  church  was  repaired  and  set  off  with  a  station  with  preaching 
Sabbath  morning  by  Jacob  T.  Price,  whose  labors  were  blessed 
by  the  conversion  of  seventy-five  souls,  most  of  whom  remained 
faithful. 

It  remained  this  way  until  1866  when  it  was  reunited  with 
Tuckahoe  Circuit. 

In  1884  the  grove  adjoining  the  church  was  purchased  of 
the  "Estells"  and  nicely  laid  out  through  the  efforts  of  Cap.  T. 
Weeks,  and  others.  Nearly  all  the  old  members  of  this  church 
lie  in  this  grave  yard.  Such  men  as  Joseph  Champion,  local 
preacher;  Nathan  Swain,  exhorter,  and  an  efficient  man  in 
church,  Benjamin  Weatherby,  Sr.,  trustee;  Mathias  Steelman. 
Nathaniel  Steelman,  John  Hurley,  Richard  Sheppard  and  Rich- 
ard Champion,  all  who  were  official  members  of  the  church, 
and  contributed  liberally  of  their  means  for  its  support,  and 
also  others  who  esteemed  it  pleasure  as  well  as  a  duty  to  journey 
to  the  Old  Church  every  Sunday  morning. 

The  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  officiated  were:  Rev. 
Jacob  T.  Price,  J.  F.  Morret,  C.  W.  Heisley,  M.  C.  Stokes, 
H.  J.  Downs,  William  Margoram,  William  Lane,  E.  H.  Mur- 
rell,  J.  B.  Wescott,  William  N.  Osborne  and  Z.  L.  Dugan. 
The  present  Board  of  Trustees  are :  George  L.  Dukes,  Presi- 
dent;  Samuel  M.  Champion,  Anthony  I.  Parker,  Jr.,  Benjamin 
Wetherby,  William  Goff,  John  Burley,  all  gentlemen  of  the  high- 
est reputation  and  well  known  in  their  native  village. 

The  123rd  anniversary  of  Head  of  the  River  Church  was 
held  on  Sunday,  October  10,  1915.  People  come  many  miles  to 
attend  these  anniversaries,  which  is  made  possible  by  automo- 
bile— which  are  in  such  numbers  as  to  remind  one  of  a  great 
County  Fair ;   there  are  also  large  numbers  of  carriages. 

The  church  and  cemetery  are  kept  in  excellent  condition. 

The  church  has  very  recently  come  into  two  endowments — 
one  of  $1300,  from  Mrs.  Swauger,  formerly  a  Miss  Williams, 
daughter  of  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Aetna  Furnace;  one  of 
$300  from  Air.  John  Wallace. 


io6 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J. 


One  of  the  first  Baptist  Churches  in  South  Jersey  was  directly 
across  the  road  from  Head  of  the  River  M.  E.  Church.  The 
ground  was  given  by  Daniel  Benezet,  a  Judge  of  Gloucester  Co., 
who  owned  great  tracts  of  land. 

It  is  supposed  to  have  been  built  about  the  time  of  the  M.  E, 
Church.  Now  there  is  no  trace  of  a  building  ever  having  been 
there.    In  1858  the  church  was  still  standing. 


Aetna  Furnace.  Tcckahoe  Rivkr 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  IO7 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TUCKIHOE  BAPTIST  CHURCH 
By  Morgan  Edwards,  A.  M. 

This  church  is  distinguished  as  above  from  the  river  which 
runs  near  the  meeting  house.  The  house  measures  28x24.  It 
was  built  in  175 1 ,  in  Egg  Harbor  Township,  and  County  of 
Gloucester,  60  miles  southeast  from  Philadelphia. 

The  lot  on  which  it  stands  contains  about  one  acre ;  and  is 
the  gift  of  James  Hubbard;  his  deed  is  dated  May  15,  1750;  the 
house  is  now  in  a  ruinous  condition,  but  the  people  are  talking 
of  building  another  in  a  more  convenient  place ;  Alderman 
Benezet  promises  to  give  them  land,  timber,  glass  and  nails  ;  there 
is  another  house  which  the  church  occupies,  but  is  not  their  own  ; 
it  stands  on  May's  Landing  about  12  miles  off  of  this. 

The  families  which  usually  assemble  at  Tuckihoe  are  about 
60,  whereof  63  persons  are  baptised,  and  in  the  communion,  here 
administered  the  first  Sunday  in  every  month ;  salary  about 
20  pounds.  The  above  is  the  present  state  of  Tuckihoe,  April 
14,  1790. 

In  1770  Rev.  James  Sutton  came  hither  with  a  view  to  settle 
among  them;  this  put  them  on  thinking  of  becoming  a  distinct 
church;  accordingly,  they  were,  July  23,  1771,  incorporated,  by 
the  assistance  of  Revs.  Vanhorn  and  Heaton.  The  names  were: 
Rev.  James  Sutton,  Joseph  Savage,  Esq.,  Jonathan  Smith,  Wil- 
liam Goldin,  Jacob  Garrison,  Joseph  Ingersol,  Thomas  Ireland, 
Elias  Smith,  John  Ingles,  Esq.,  Lemuel  Sayres,  Lemuel  Edwards, 
John  Scull,  Isaac  Scull,  Katharine  Garrison,  Mary  Goldin,  Jane 
Ingersol,  Debora  Lore,  Tabitha  Scull,  Mary  Ireland,  Elizabeth 
Garrison,  Jane  Camp,  Mary  Camp,  Abigail  Scud  and  Catharine 
Weaver.     The  same  year  thev  joined  the  association. 

This  church  is  the  daughter  of  Dividing  Creek.  It  has  now 
existed  19  years  and  increased  from  24  to  63. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Sutton  resigned  in  1772;  Rev.  William  Lock, 
1773,  resigned  1779;  Rev.  Isaac  Bonnel,  ordained  pastor  Sep- 
tember 17,  1783. 


I08  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Note. — On  the  last  page  of  this  book  is  given  a  list  of  sub- 
scribers and  then  goes  on  to  say,  "I  have  150  copies  left,  they 
may  be  had  at  the  stone  house  in  Second  street,  Philadelphia; 
price,  one-third  of  a  dollar."  This  volume  owned  by  the  Phila- 
delphia Historical  Society;  size  about  7x4  inches;  is  valued  at 
$600.00. 

Headstones  in  Baptist  Church  Yard  (is  a  thickly  covered 
woods  now  )  : 

Rev.  Peter  Groom 

Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  West  Creek 

Died  Jan.  16,  1807 

Age,  56 

Anne  Groom 

Wife  of  Rev.  Robert  Groom 

Died  A  lay  4,  1796 

Age,  46  Years 

Isaac  Bonnell 

July  26,  1.704 

In  the  64th  Year 

Robert  Campbell 

Son  of 

Henry  and  Ellen  Campbell 

March  20,  1854 

In  8th  Year 

Millicent  Price 

July  28,  1826 

Age,  56  Years,  4  Days 

By  L.  L.  T.  Willis 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


109 


OLD  CHURCH  AT  WEYMOUTH 

By  Laura  Williams  Colwlll 

"The  old  Log  Meeting  House  at  Weymouth  was  built  about 
80  years  before  the  present  building,  along  the  banks  of  the  great 
Egg  Harbor  River  and  seventy-five  feet  west  of  the  one  now 
standing." — L.  W.  C. 


In  a  beautiful  oak  grove  on  the  high  bank  of  the  Great  Egg 
Harbor  River  stands  the  neat  little  church  at  Weymouth.     For 


mk    mK. 


IjIff'jttS 


'  •■ 


The  Old  Log  Meeting  House  at  Weymouth 

nearly  a  century  it  has  served  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
erected  and  in  the  adjacent  cemetery  are  the  graves  of  persons 
some  of  them  long  since  widely  known  for  more  than  ordinary 
talent  and  usefulness.  Sir  Joseph  Ball,  the  Quaker  merchant 
and  relative  of  Washington,  was  one  of  the  owners  and  founders 
of  Weymouth,  when  this  edifice  was  erected.  From  a  recent 
sketch  compiled  by  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Colwell  and  read  at  the  91st 
anniversary,  the  following  is  taken  : 

"The  building  of  the  Weymouth  Meeting  House  was  begun 
in  1806  and  completed  in  1807  at  the  expense  of  the  Proprietor 
of  Weymouth.    The  time  book  shows  the  carpenter  work  to  have 


no 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


been  done  by  'Eziel  Prickett  and  his  son,'  the  former  working 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days  at  $1.25  and  the  son  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  days  at  $1  per  day.  The  plastering  and  mason 
work  was  done  by  C.  McCormick,  the  material  and  work  on  the 
building  coming  to  $3,600.00.  The  Weymouth  Meeting  House 
was  intended  as  a  non-Sectarian  place  for  religious  meeting, 
more  especially  for  the  benefit  of  employees  of  Weymouth.     Both 


Stephen  Colwele 


tradition  and  record  show  that  it  has  been  chiefly  used  by  Pres- 
byterians and  Methodists,  although  services  have  been  conducted 
and  sermons  preached  by  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Dutch  Re- 
formed and  in  February,  1825,  a  sermon  was  preached  by  'Miss 
Miller,'  presumably  a  Quakeress.  Xo  records  are  accessible  of 
the  occupants  of  the  pulpit  of  Weymouth  Meeting  House  from 
its  completion  until  1813.  From  1813  to  1845  ^ie  Time  Books 
of  Weymouth  furnish  the  names  of  many  preachers  and  dates 
of  service." 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


I  I  I 


At  this  time  Sir  Joseph  Ball  had  sold  all  of  his  interest:  in 
the  Weymouth  tract  to  his  nephew,  Samuel  Richards,  who  built 
the  Meeting  House  for  the  employees  of  his  furnace. 

Sarah  Ball  Richards,  daughter  of  Samuel  Richards,  married 
Stephen  Colwell. 

She  inherited  one-half  of  Weymouth,  and  at  the  death  of 
tier  sister,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Richards  Bell,  Stephen  Colwell  bought 


Charles  Richard  Coi.wkll 


fier  interest  in  the  Weymouth  tract,  which  tract  covered  86,000 
acres  or  12x14  miles  wide. 

Stephen  Colwell  was  born  in  Brooke  county.  West  Virginia 
©n  the  25th  of  March,  1800.  He  died  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
15th  of  January,  1871,  nearly  completing  his  71st  year.  He 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1821  in  Ohio.  Prac- 
ticed law  until  1836.  He  became  a  manufacturer  of  iron  first  at 
Weymouth  and   later   at   Conshohocken,    Pa.,  on   the   Schuylkill 


112  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.   J. 

River.  He  was  a  writer  of  note  and  recognized  as  a  man  of 
great  ability. 

In  1852  Mr.  Colwell  drove  Dr.  Da  Costa  and  Mr.  John  Hay, 
of  Winslow,  in  his  family  carriage  to  Absecon,  there  they  took  a 
boat  across  to  Absecon  Island  and  on  that  day  decided  to  build 
the  C.  &  A.  R.  R. 

Mr.  Colwell  put  in  $150,000 — later  the  other  gentlemen  with- 
drew and  Mr.  Colwell  put  in  an  additional  $150,000. 

The  first  two  years  the  road  only  ran  to  Ellwood  Station 
(formerly  Colville),  and  for  10  years  one  passenger  car  was  run 
behind  the  freight. 

The  road  did  not  pay  for  20  years. 

Charles  Richard  Colwell,  son  of  Stephen  Colwell  and  Sarah 
Ball  Richards  was  born  in  Philadelphia  January  21,  1844;  died 
April  10,  10,01.  Mr.  Colwell  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
Narrow  Gauge  Railroad  and  was  president  and  afterwards  re- 
ceiver when  the  Reading  bought  it  in.  He  invested  $350,000 
in  the  road.  Mr.    Colwell   married    Laura    Williams    Ritz, 

daughter  of  Judge  Charles  and  Susan  Williams  Ritz,  of  Lewis- 
ton,  Pa. 

Note. — It  is  through  the  efforts  of  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Colwell 
that  the  anniversary  services  are  held  at  Weymouth  Meeting 
House  each  year,  this  being  the  110th  anniversary  on  September 
26th,  1915. 

Cannon  were  made  at  Weymouth  during  the  Revolution.  A 
cannon  ball  made  at  Weymouth  is  now  used  as  a  hitching  post  on 
Water  street,  Philadelphia,  and  is  marked  with  a  W  (Weymouth). 

At  the  Anniversary  Service  in  1914,  which  was  attended  by 
the  Atlantic  County  Historical  Society,  Rev.  William  Abbott  told 
of  conducting  a  revival  service  at  Weymouth  and  Zion  in  1876, 
He  said  that  at  the  first  meeting  he  was  to  conduct  at  Weymouth, 
he  and  Capt.  Reuben  Babcock  drove  over  and  lost  their  way  in 
the  woods.  Afterwards,  most  spiritual  meetings  were  held  and 
twenty-eight  converts  made.  He  also  stated  that  his  father  and 
one  of  the  Richards  family  organized  the  first  Sunday  school  here. 

This  church  was  one  of  the  early  appointments  of  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Collins. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  II3 

There  is  a  beautiful  memorial  tablet  in  the  church  bearing 
the  following  inscription  : 

In  Memoriam 

Charles  Richards  Colwell 

Entered  into  Rest 

March  10,  1901 

"A  friend  of  the  poor." 

"A  patron  of  Education" 

"An  honest  man,  one  of  God's  noblest  works." 

This  monument  attests  the  sorrowing1  love  of  his  wife. 


114  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

HISTORY  OF  FRIENDSHIP  CHURCH 
Nlar  Landisyilll  By  Charles  Wray 

It  is  by  no  means  an  easy  task  that  has  been  assigned  to 
me,  viz. :  to  write  a  history  of  this  church.  Though  I  have 
known  of  it  for  perhaps  over  twenty  years,  yet  I  have  had  no 
connection  with  it  except  for  the  past  four  or  five  years.  When 
you  take  into  consideration  the  above  statement,  together  with 
the  fact  that  outside  of  the  title  deed,  there  are  no  books  or 
papers  in  the  possession  of  the  church  Official  Board  that  afford 
even  a  suggestion  of  its  history,  you  will  perceive  I  spoke  but 
the  truth  when  I  said  mine  was  no  easy  task.  If,  under  the 
circumstances,  this  paper  should  prove  uninteresting,  I  trust  in 
the  foregoing  statement  I  have  said  enough  to  secure  your  par- 
don and  favorable  consideration.  Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well 
to  state  here,  that  the  reason  why  there  are  no  books  or  papers 
available,  is  presumed  to  be  because  the  church  has  always  been 
one  of  perhaps  three  or  four  or  half  a  dozen  stations  on  one  cir- 
cuit ;  in  its  earlier  days  a  very  long  circuit,  too,  with  as  many 
as  sixteen  preaching  stations  in  1854  and  1855.  It  is  thought 
the  records  of  all  these  churches  were  kept  in  one  book,  and  that 
book  was  in  the  hands  of  the  preacher  in  charge,  who  either 
retained  the  book  in  his  possession  after  his  pastorate  had  closed, 
or  he  left  it  with  the  Board  of  the  principal  church  on  the  cir- 
cuit, or  in  the  hands  of  his  successor.  Friendship  has  always 
been  a  small  church,  therefore,  the  books  or  papers  were  never 
left  with  it.  I  also  wish  here  to  acknowledge  my  great  indebt- 
edness to  various  old  members  of  the  church,  and  old  residents 
of  this  locality,  for  whatever  may  prove  of  interest  in  this  his- 
tory; and  especially  am  I  indebted  to  Bro.  A.  P.  Vanaman, 
without  whose  memory  and  knowledge  of  the  later  events  con- 
nected with  the  church,  this  paper  could  not  have  been  pre- 
pared. 

The  deed  is  dated  May  14th,  1808,  and  is  certified  as  re- 
corded in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  Gloucester  county,  Nov.  4th, 
i8c8.     There   was   no  Atlantic  County  in  those  days,  and  this 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J, 


"5 


ground  where  the  church  stands  was  part  of  Weymouth  town- 
ship, Gloucester  county.  We  think  it  a  remarkable  circum- 
stance that  a  Methodist  church  should  have  been  located  in  this 
place  at  so  early  a  date.  The  great  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  not  organized  until  1784,  and  was  even  then  largely  a 
distinct  revival  and  reform  movement  within  the  Church  of 
England,  in  America,  as  well  as  in  England.  As  far  as  New 
Jersey  is  concerned,  we  believe  this  to  be  one  of  the  oldest,  if 
not  the  oldest  M.  E.  church  building  in  the  State,  now  stand- 
ing and  used  for  church  purposes.  There  were,  perhaps,  a 
few  built  before  this,  but  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascer- 


Frihndship  Church  near  Landisville 


tain,   none   are   now   standing   and   used    for   worship   regularly 
at  this  day. 

In  1808,  this  country  was  almost  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
covered  with  a  primeval  forest,  specimens  of  which  growth 
we  can  yet  see  in  some  of  these  grand  old  oaks,  which  are 
still  standing  on  the  grounds  of  this  church.  The  farms  and 
clearings  were  few  and  far  between ;  the  only  one  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  was  probably  the  place  just  across  the  New 
Jersey  Southern  R.  R.,  on  the  Weymouth  road,  lately  known 
as  the  "Bushey"  farm,  but  which  at  the  time  the  church  was 
built,  was  owned  by  the  Smith  family.  The  dwelling  house, 
which  stood  there  in  1808,  was  burned  down  in  September, 
1855,  on  which  occasion  three  persons  lost  their  lives,  so  sud- 


Il6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

clen  and  complete  was  the  destruction.  It  has  been  reliably 
ascertained  that  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church,  re- 
ligious meetings  were  held  in  that  house,  and  some,  at  least,, 
were  converted  to  God,  though  the  exact  number  is  not  known. 
So  that  even  previous  to  1808  there  were  Methodists  in  this 
locality,  and  they  were  alive,  too.  In  connection  with  the  men- 
tion of  the  services  held  in  that  house,  perhaps  it  would  be  well 
to  state  here,  that  we  are  enabled  to  assert  positively  that  the 
church  was  erected  at  or  about  the  time  the  deed  was  granted,, 
by  the  fact  that  in  1852,  an  old  resident  of  this  locality,  George 
Smith  by  name,  came  back  here  on  a  visit,  and  stated  to  Bro.  A. 
P.  Vanaman  that  he  had  left  here  in  18 10,  and  the  church  was 
built  before  that,  and  furthermore  that  he  was  one  of  the  persons 
converted  at  the  meetings  held  in  the  dwelling  house  before 
spoken  of,  and  that  at  that  time  the  house  belonged  to  the  Smith 
family,  the  head  of  which  was  a  close  relative  of  the  said 
George  Smith,  but  whether  a  father  or  brother,  Mr.  Vanaman 
does  not  remember. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Vanaman,  mother  of  A.  P.  Vanaman,  now 
in  her  84th  year,  and  present  with  us  today,  and  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  this  neighborhood,  distinctly  recalls  the  church 
as  one  of  the  prominent  landmarks  when  she  was  a  little  girl. 

Besides  the  "Ihishey"  place  before  mentioned,  at  the  time 
the  church  was  built,  there  was  another  dwelling  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Collins  place;  another  where  Mr.  Thomas  Howell 
now  lives,  and  another  at  or  near  Landisville.  What  is  now 
known  as  the  Buena  Hotel,  was  also  standing,  and  usea  as  a 
public  inn  and  change  house  on  the  old  stage  route  to  Cape 
May,  Tuckahoe  and  Philadelphia.  About  three  miles  east  of 
the  church  there  was  an  old  saw  mill,  and  in  fact  there  is  one 
there  now,  at  what  is  known  as  Pancoast  on  the  South  Jersey 
R.  R.  It  was  located  there  over  a  century  ago,  by  a  man  named 
Champion  Campbell.  He  was  what  is  known  as  a  "squatter," 
and  he  lived  there  and  operated  the  mill  for  quite  a  term  of 
years.  He  did  not  farm  any,  except  perhaps  to  raise  some 
things  for  family  use,  but  game  of  all  kinds  was  plentiful,  and 
a  haunch  of  vension  was  not  an  infrequent  or  unappreciated 
addition  to  the  homely  viands  of  the  family  meals.  He  was 
only  interested  in  lumber,  for  it  is  related  of  him  that  when 
told  that  the  land  he  occupied  had  been  taken  up  by  Benj.   B. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J.  117 

Cooper,  under  the  homestead  or  some  similar  land  law,  he  said 
he  did  not  care  who  owned  it,  as  he  had  sawed  up  about  all  the 
logs  there  were  on  it  that  were  worth  anything.  It  is  probable 
the  lumber  used  in  building  the  church  was  sawed  in  Campbell's 
mill. 

As  to  the  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church  in  1808, 
May's  Landing  was  but  a  very  small  village,  Millville  like- 
wise, Bridgeton  not  much  larger,  and  Hammonton  and  Vine- 
land  were  not  in  existence,  and  for  fifty  years  or  more  after 
the  church  was  built,  where  those  two  thriving  towns  now 
stand,  was  but  a  forest  of  oaks,  pines  and  cedar  swamps,  with 
here  and  there  perhaps  a  wood  chopper's  shanty  or  a  smoking 
tar  kiln  or  charcoal  pit.  None  of  the  residents  of  that  early 
day  paid  any  attention  to  agriculture,  except  to  grow  a  little 
rye,  buckwheat,  corn  and  potatoes,  and  some  other  few  crops 
for  their  own  consumption.  They  were  too  far  away  from  a 
market  to  make  farming  pay;  for  remember,  in  1808.  there 
were  no  railroads  or  steamboats  in  New  Jersey,  nor  anvwhere 
else  in  this  great  country,  nor  in  the  whole  wide  world,  so  a 
journey  to  Philadelphia  in  those  days  was  quite  a  big  undertak- 
ing The  people  down  here  had  to  turn  their  attention  and 
labor  to  lumbering,  the  manufacture  of  tar,  charcoal,  and  kindred 
industries.  To  burn  a  charcoal  pit  or  a  tar  kiln,  was  a  matter  of 
eight  or  ten  days,  so  there  were  at  least  two  Sundays  in  that 
period,  and  some  of  the  old  residents,  with  perhaps  some  not 
so  very  old,  either,  recall  that  it  was  customary  to  attend  church 
in  the  morning,  and  then  go  to  the  kiln  in  the  afternoon  to  see 
the  tar  run,  if  it  was  ready  to  be  drawn.  When  the  tar  or  the 
•charcoal  was  ready  for  shipment,  it  was  loaded  on  to  the  wagon, 
two  yoke  of  oxen  were  harnessed  to  it  and  it  was  hauled  awav  to 
Philadelphia  for  sale,  the  team  bringing  back  such  articles  as 
were  needed  and  could  not  be  procured  in  this  vicinity.  This 
journey  and  return  usually  took  three  or  four  days,  for  oxen 
are  but  slow  travelers,  and  the  roads  were  far  from  good.  Horses 
were  scarce  and  too  costly,  and  much  of  the  church  going  was 
performed  with  the  aid  of  that  old,  reliable,  steady  going,  easily 
kept  animal,  "Shank's  mare."  Apropos  of  that  style  of  travel- 
ing, it  is  well  known  that  an  immense  spreading,  shady  old 
oak  tree,  which,  up  to  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  stood  about 
half  a  mile  east  of  the  church  was  known  as  the  "Dinner  Oak," 


Il8  EARLY   HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

from  the  fact  that  some  of  the  old  residents  utilized  it  for  the 
purpose  of  resting  and  eating  their  dinners  there,  when  on  their 
way  to  church.  Sometimes  on  account  of  the  length  of  the  cir- 
cuit, it  was  found  necessary  to  have  preaching  on  a  week  day 
instead  of  Sunday,  and  this  statement  recalls  an  incident  which 
proves  that  though  the  people  down  here  in  those  times  worked 
hard  and  lived  economically,  yet  their  industry  and  economy  did 
not  exempt  them  from  financial  trouble,  for  it  is  related  that  while 
one  of  them  was  seated  in  the  church  on  a  certain  week  day, 
prepared  to  enjoy  the  services,  it  was  whispered  to  her  (  for  it 
was  a  woman  )  that  the  constable  had  made  preparations  to  seize 
her  household  goods  that  very  day  for  debt,  whereupon  she  im- 
mediately took  her  departure,  and  it  is  said  she  arrived  at  her 
home  before  the  officer  of  the  law,  and  succeeded  in  secreting 
her  belongings  where  he  could  not  find  them,  and  no  doubt  she 
took  to  the  woods  herself,  which  was  a  very  needful  proceeding 
likewise,   for  those  were  the  days  of  imprisonment  for  debt. 

Now,  although  these  people  were  not  generally  possessed 
of  much  of  this  world's  wealth,  as  we  understand  that  word  to- 
day, yet  what  they  did  have  they  used  in  God's  service,  with  an 
unstinted  liberality.  To  prove  that,  look  at  the  size  of  this 
building,  which,  though  small  as  compared  with  modern  village 
or  town  churches,  is  yet,  and  always  has  been  much  larger  than 
was  needed  to  accommodate  any  membership  the  church  has 
ever  possessed,  or  is  likely  to.  For  that  day  and  time  and  this 
locality,  it  was  a  very  large  building.  Why,  I  read  the  other 
day  of  another  country  M.  E.  Church,  built  before  this  one, 
but  in  a  much  older  settled  and  populated  neighborhood,  but 
which  is  now  demolished  or  disused  for  church  purposes  for 
nearly  fift\  years,  which  was  so  small  that  at  one  time  in  its 
history,  when  there  was  a  split  in  the  congregation,  it  was  loaded 
up  on  a  wagon,  in  the  night,  I  think,  by  one  of  the  opposing 
factions,  and  carted  oft  to  another  site  several  miles  distant  from 
the  original  one.  A  view  of  the  frame  of  this  building  will 
convince  you  that  that  would  have  been  an  impossible  under- 
taking as  regards  old  Friendship.  The  original  Building  Com- 
mittee of  this  church  were  not  built  that  way  themselves,  nor 
did  they  build  that  way,  either.  The  sills  and  plates  are  some- 
thing to  look  at  in  these  days  of  flimsy  and  showy  building. 
When  first  used,  the  church  had  a  vaulted  or  oval  ceiling,  the 


EARLY    HISTORY    01'    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  119' 

timbers  used  to  support  it  were  6x14,  the  gallery  joist  are  3x12, 
the  rafters  4x8,  and  the  original  wooden  pillars  to  support  the 
gallery  were  one  foot  square.  The  joints  of  the  frame  work  of 
the  whole  building  are  all  dove-tailed  or  lock  mortise  tenon  and 
pinned.  The  lumber  is  all  oak  or  heart  pine,  as  sound  as  the 
day  it  was  put  in.  Such  nails  as  were  used  are  of  the  old-fash- 
ioned hand-made  sorts.     The  lath  are  all  frowecl  or  split  ones. 

We  are  apt  to  think  of  those  old  settlers  as  devoid  of  taste, 
with  no  appreciation  of  embellishment  and  no  desire  to  bestow 
their  labor  for  anything  except  utility;  but  we  are  wrong  in  our 
ideas  brethren,  and  unjust  to  those  old-time  fathers  and  mothers 
of  the  church,  for  we  can  see  evidences  of  loving  hands  and  a 
desire  to  make  the  House  of  God  goodly  to  look  upon,  and  far 
exceeding  their  own  homes  in  appearance,  in  the  facts  that  the 
original  weatherboarding  was  all  beaded  on  the  lower  edge,  and 
the  gallery  columns  were  fluted  and  carved  cptite  beautifully,  and 
all  was  done  by  painstaking,  slow  and  irksome  hand  labor.  From 
the  time  the  church  was  built  until  1853,  the  gallery  remained  in 
an  unfinished  state,  only  the  frame  work  being  in  position,  the 
ceding,  as  mentioned  before,  was  an  oval  one  up  to  that  date ; 
the  pulpit  was  also  up  to  that  time,  one  of  the  old-fashioned  high 
kind,  with  a  flight  of  steps  up  each  side,  and  furnished  besides 
the  seat,  with  little  doors  to  shut  to,  if  the  preacher  saw  fit  to 
do  so. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  pews,  but  ordinary  benches 
with  backs,  somewhat  like  those  in  the  gallerv  now.  The  benches 
were  not  fastened  to  the  floor,  and  were  long  enough  to  reach 
from  the  side  of  the  church  to  the  central  aisle,  and  were  with- 
out division  of  any  kind  their  entire  length.  The  stove  was 
what  is  known  as  a  ten  plate  stove;  it  was  larsfe  enough  to  take 
in  a  three  foot  stick,  and  it  was  connected  with  the  chimney  by 
a  long,  straight  pine,  extending  clear  no  to  the  roof. 

No  changes  have  been  made  in  the  interior  of  the  church 
since  1853,  and  while  the  necessary  labor  was  being  performed 
then,  the  congregation,  far  from  forsaking  the  worshio  of  God, 
and  true  to  their  character  as  a  live  church,  continued  divine  serv- 
ices in  the  school  house,  which  stood  then  on  the  same  lot  where 
public  school,  No.  3,  of  this  township,  now  stands.  The  work 
of  repair  and  alteration  was  begun  in  the  fall  of  1853,  and  finish- 
ed in  June,  1854,  and  the  occasion  was  made  a  time  of  rejoicing 


120  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

and  reconsecration.  In  1893,  the  exterior  of  the  church  was  re- 
paired, new  siding  and  roof  put  on  and  the  vestibule  added,  and 
the  building  painted. 

As  to  the  cemetery,  in  the  old  days  before  the  church  was 
built,  there  were  a  number  of  private  burial  grounds  in  this 
vicinity,  probably  three  or  four,  the  principal  one  was  about  a 
mile  east  of  the  church  and  quite  a  number  were  buried  there, 
but  after  the  church  grounds  were  opened,  they  began  to  be 
used  quite  generally,  not  only  by  residents  of  this  neighborhood, 
but  also  people  from  Millville,  Weymouth,  May's  Landing  and 
other  villages  and  neighborhoods ;  even  nowadays,  funerals  of 
non-residents  are  not  infrequent,  though  the  dead  are  usually 
those  who  have  lived  in  the  vicinity  at  one  time,  or  they  are 
related  to  the  families  of  former  residents. 

Speaking  of  the  cemetery,  recalls  the  fact  that  in  the  old 
days  the  duties  of  the  office  of  sexton  or  janitor  rather,  were 
performed  in  turn  by  the  members  of  the  congregation,  with- 
out pay.  A  collection  was  taken  up  from  time  to  time  to  tie- 
fray  expenses  for  candles,  etc.,  etc.  These  sextons  or  janitors 
did  not  usually  dig  the  graves. 

From  the  deed  we  find  that  the  grantors  and  original  owners 
of  the  land  on  which  the  church  is  built,  were  William  Hollins- 
head  and  Hope,  his  wife.  It  is  likely  the  site  was  a  gift  to  the 
church,  as  the  sum  named  in  the  deed  is  the  nominal  one  of  one 
dollar. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  John  Smith,  Joel  Stew- 
art, William  Ackley,  John  Veal,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  George  Smith 
and  Thomas  Champion. 

These,  you  will  perceive,  are  all  well  known  Jersey  family 
names,  and  no  doubt  many  of  those  present  here  today  will 
recognize  in  them,  that  of  a  grandfather,  or  great  grandfather, 
for  some  of  their  descendants  are  yet  about  us.  They  were  all 
common  everyday  men,  making  their  living  by  hard  labor,  and 
we  believe  them  to  have  been  God-fearing  and  God-serving  men ; 
and  that  they  were  full  of  faith  and  love  toward  God,  the  build- 
ing of  this  church  proves.  That  they  were  mostly  uneducated, 
as  far  as  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  concerned,  goes  without 
saying,  for  public  schools  were  unknown  here  in  180S,  but  we 
feel  sure  they  had  not  only  a  knowledge,  but  a  saving  knowledge 
of  God's  love,  as  manifested  in  the  blessed  gift  of  His  son. 


KARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  121 

No  statue,  or  column,  or  tablet  in-  any  of  earth's  temples 
of  fame  are  erected  to  their  memory,  but  this  church  is  a  monu- 
ment which  shall  count  for  far  more  than  any  of  those,  in  that 
"dread  day  of  the  Lord,  which  will  come  as  a  thief  in  the  night, 
in  the  which  the  heavens  shall  pass  away  with  a  great  noise, 
and  the  element  shall  melt  with  fervent  beat,  the  earth  also,  and 
the  works  that  are  therein  shall  be  burned  up." 

Written  on  the  deed  we  find  the  names  of  the  following 
Hoards  of  Trustees:  One  elected  July  2<)th,  1824 — John  Veal, 
William  Ackley,  Aquilla  Downs,  Nathan  Girard  and  Henry 
Veal.  Another  elected  June  26,  i860 — Charles  Downs,  Sec- 
retary ;  George  Downs,  Wesley  Vanaman,  Ambrose  Pancoast 
and  Archibald  Campbell.  Finally,  one  elected  June  4th,  1866 
— Osborn  Downs,  President;  John  Walker  Downs,  Secretary; 
George  Downs,  Treasurer ;  Archibald  Campbell  and  Wesley 
Vanaman.  In  this  latter  case  note  is  also  made  that  Brother 
George  Downs  was  appointed  to  collect  money,  (an  old  and 
well  established  Methodist  habit  you  observe, )  and  Brother 
Slump,  who  was  the  preacher  at  that  time,  was  appointed  to 
purchase  a  new  carpet  for  the  church. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Rev.  J.  IP  Payran,  Secretary  of 
this  Conference,  we  are  enabled  to  present  the  following  list 
of  the  pastors  of  the  church.  We  include  in  it  the  names  of 
all  who  were  appointed  on  the  charge  since  its  organi^-inon  in 
1803,  as  no  doubt  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church  in  1808. 
these  men  of  God  preached  in  the  Smith  house  before  men- 
tioned. 

For  a  long  time  these  appointments  were  made  in  pairs, 
the  first  mentioned  being  known  as  the  preacher  in  charge,  and 
the  other,  the  assistant.  The  charge  at  its  organization  was 
known  as  the  Gloucester  circuit,  and  it  retained  the  name  for 
many  years.  The  church  was  on  this  circuit  until  1886;  changes 
made  on  and  after  that  date  will  be  found  noted  below.  From 
1803  until  1837,  when  the  present  New  Jersey  Conference  was 
organized,  the  Gloucester  circuit  was  in  the  West  Jersey  district 
of  the  Philadelphia  Conference ;  changes  in  the  district  on  and 
after  1837  are  also  noted  in  the  list : 

1803,  Benjamin  Biff,  Daniel  Higby ;  1804,  David  Dunham, 
Asa  Smith;  1805,  Jos.  Totten,  Wm.  Bishop;  1806-7,  Nat.  Swain, 
Sam.  Budd;  1808,  Rich.  Sneath,  W.  S.  Fisher;  1809,  Thos.  Dunn, 


122        _  £ARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Chas.  Reed;  1810,  Peter  Vannest,  J.  Osborn,  T.  Davis;  i8it,  J, 
Fox,  John  Fernon;  1812,  J.  Fox,  J.  Townsend ;  1813,  Dan.  Ire- 
land, Wm.  vSmith ;  1814,  John  Woolson,  Edward  Stout;  1815, 
Dan.  Fuller,  Amos  C.  Moore ;  1816,  John  Walker,  Amos  C. 
Moore;  1817,  Solomon  Sharp,  Wm.  Smith;  1818,  Peter  Yannest, 
James  Long;  1819,  David  Bartine,  T.  Davis  ;  1820,  David  Bartine, 
R.  W.  Petherbridge ;  1821,  Edward  Stout,  R.  W.  I'etherbridge; 
1822,  Edward  Stout,  David  Dailey  ;  1823,  Watters  Purrows, 
James  Moore;  1824.  Watters  Burrows,  Wm.  Lummis  ;  1825-26, 
John  Woolson,  Eliphalet  Reed;  1S27,  Edward  Page,  William 
Lummis;  1828,  Edward  Page,  J.  Iliff;  1829,  Jacob  Gruber,  Rich- 
ard M.  Greenbank ;  1830,  Wm.  Williams,  R.  M.  Greenbank; 
T831,  Wm  Williams,  Sedgwick  Rusling ;  1832,  John  Henry  Jacob 
Loudenslager ;  1833,  Edward  Stout  and  a  supply;  1834-35,  Wm. 
Lummis,  John  F.  Crouch;  1836,  Jas.  Long.  T.  Christopher. 

New  Jersey  Conference,  Bridgeton  District — 1837,  J.  W- 
McDougall,  A  Owen;  1839,  Edward  Stout,  George  Jennings; 
1840,  Joseph  J.  Sleeper,  George  Jennings,  1841,  Joseph  J.  Sleeper, 
B.  N.  Reed;  1842.  A.  K.  Street, -T.  Christopher;  1843,  Jos.  At- 
wood,  Jos.  Gaskikll ;  1844,  Jos.  Atwood,  John  Fort;  1845,  Nath- 
aniel Chew.  John  Fort;  1846,  David  Duffell,  W.  A.  Prooks  ;  1847, 
David  Duffell,  A.  J.  J.  Truett ;  1848,  A.  J.  J.  Truett,  P.  Andrews; 
1849,  N.  Edwards,  P.  Andrews;  1850,  N.  Edwards,  A.  Gearhart; 
1851,  A.  Gearhart,  D.  T.  Reed;  1852,  J.  White  and  a  supply; 
1853,  J.  White,  L.  J.  Rhodes;  1854-55,  J.  C.  Summerill,  C.  W. 
Heisley,  1856-57,  Samuel  M.  Hudson,  Albert  Matthews;  1858-59, 
H.  S.  Norris,  J.  P.  Connelly,  S.  C.  Chattin;  i860,  Edwin  Waters, 
Albert  Atwood;  1861,  Edwin  Waters,  E.  S.  Marks;  1862,  W.  C. 
Stockton,  J,  Wilcox,  Jos.  H.  Mickle ;  1863-64,  L.  O.  Manchester; 
1865^66,  M.   11.   Slump. 

Camden  District— 1867,  S.  Wesley  Lake;  1868-9,  J-  L> 
Souder;  1870-1,  E.  C.  Hancock;  1872-3,  J.  Warthman ;  1874, 
P.  Y.  Calder;  1875-6,  E.  F.  Moore. 

Bridgeton  District — 1877-8,  C.  A.  Malsbury. 

Camden  District — 1879,  J.  L.  Nelson  ;  1880-2,  J.  P.  Whit- 
ton  ;  1883,  Wm.  Blackiston. 

Bridgeton  District— 1884,  J.  O.  R.  Corliss;  1885,  John  G. 
Edwards. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.   J.  123 

Friendship  Circuit — 1886,  R.  Brooks  Robbins. 

Harmony  Circuit — 1887,  W.  Vanderherchen ;  1888-9,  L.  N. 
Clark;  1890,  Samuel  C.  Johnson. 

Richland  Circuit — 1891,  John  G.  Clark;  1892,  Frank  Cole- 
man. 

Friendship  Circuit — 1893,  J.   Sault,  A.  Jaggers;   1894-5,  A. 
Jaggers ;  1896  A.  Jaggers,  J.  Casto. 

Minotola  and  Friendship — 1897.  Thomas  Huss  ;  1898,  Chas. 
H.  Barnes. 


124  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

M.  E.  CHURCH  IN  PORT  REPUBLIC 
By  Anna  C.  Collins  Fleming 

Bishop  Asbury  first  introduced  Methodism  into  South  Jersey; 
and  Nehemiah  Blackman  was  converted  under  his  preaching  in 
his  father's  house  in  English  Creek,  and  the  first  Methodist  meet- 
ing, in  what  is  now  known  as  Port  Republic,  was  probably  held 
in  the  house  of  Micajah  Smith,  with  12  members,  and  probably 
the  same  number  in  Smithville  which  has  now  grown  to  264 
members  and  225  children  in  the  Sunday  School,  with  two  fine 
churches  and  a  nice  parsonage  property.  1786  New  Jersey  was 
divided  into  four  circuits,  Newark,  Trenton,  East  and  West  Jer- 
sey. West  Jersey  embraced  all  that  section  of  the  state  south  of 
Burlington.  1788  it  was  divided  and  Salem  Circuit  formed  the 
lower  part  in  1800.  There  were  550  members.  Rev.  Richard 
Swain  and  Rev.  Richard  Lyon  were  the  traveling  preachers  and 
Rev.  Soloman  Sharp  presiding  elder  over  all  New  Jersey.  The 
extent  of  their  circuits  took  from  four  to  eight  weeks  to  make  the 
round  of  their  preaching  places,  their  way  often  being  through 
miles  and  miles  of  forests  with  no  path,  save  the  Indian  trail. 

The  first  house  of  worship  in  Port  Republic  was  erected  near 
the  beginning  of  the  19th  century,  on  property  owned  by  Micajah 
Smith  and  was  known  as  Smith's  Meeting  House;  an  old  bury- 
ing' ground  marks  the  spot.  The  preaching  place  was  one  of 
the  appointments  on  Salem  Circuit  until  about  181 1,  when 
Gloucester  was  formed. 

The  meeting  house  was  a  two-story  frame  building,  25  feet 
square.  It  was  never  dedicated  but  as  soon  as  weatherboarded 
meetings  were  held  in  it  in  the  summer,  but  in  the  winter  for 
several  years  services  were  held  in  the  upper  room  of  Nehemiah 
Blackmail's  house.  In  1809  windows  were  put  in  and  a  ten-plate 
stove  purchased.  The  house  was  never  plastered,  but  was  ceiled 
up  with  boards.  In  181 2  they  purchased  planed  boards  and  had 
benches  made  with  pieces  across  the  back  to  rest  the  shoulder. 
Their  lights  were  tallow  dips,  in  tin  candle  sticks.  The  traveling 
preacher  came  once  in  four  weeks  and  even  then  could  not  always 
make   his   appointment,   and  the  local   preachers,   exhorters  and 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  125 

class  leaders  had  to  take  charge  a  large  share  of  the  time.  Bar- 
gaintown  Circuit  was  formed  1828,  from  the  lower  end  of  Glou- 
cester and  a  small  part  of  New  Mills,  and  included  the  following 
places  of  preaching:  Zion,  English's,  West's,  Absecon,  Wran- 
gleboro,  Leeds',  Simkins',  Pine  Coaling,  Gloucester  Furnace, 
Westcott's:  Pleasant  Mills,  Green  Bank,  Glass  Works,  Dutch 
Mills,  Lake,  New  Friendship,  South  River,  Estel's  and  Wey- 
mouth Furnace,  May's  Landing  and  Shore  School  House. 

In  the  early  days  Port  Republic  was  known  as  Wrangle- 
boro.  This  name  antedates  authentic  history.  The  church  for 
many  years  was  called  Union  Chapel,  Unionville.  The  church 
at  Smithsville  was  known  as  Leeds.  Since  1865,  the  last  division 
of  the  circuit,  the  two  have  been  Port  Republic  and  Smithville 
charge. 

The  first  Quarterly  meeting  of  Bargaintown  Circuit  was  held 
at  a  camp  meeting  in  Bargaintown,  June,  1828,  Chas.  Pitman, 
first  presiding  elder;  the  preachers  making  the  journey  on  horse 
back.  A  conference  was  held  in  Port  Republic,  Sept.  23d,  1854, 
F.  Morrell,  J.  P.  Cake  and  John  R.  Doughty  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  look  after  the  interests  of  our  church  in  Atlantic 
City.  Next  meeting  this  committee  reported  in  favor  of  estab- 
lishing a  church  there.  Rev.  David  Teed,  who  succeeded  Mr. 
Morell  as  preacher  in  charge,  informs  us  that  lie  used  to  preach 
in  Atlantic  City  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Chalkley  Leeds,  before  any 
church  was  built  on  the  island.  In  1868  the  trustees  of  the 
church  purchased  from  James  B.  Johnson  and  wife  the  present 
parsonage  property  for  $12,000,  giving  a  mortgage  for  over 
$7,000.  This  was  subsequently  paid  and  the  whole  church  prop- 
erty is  free  from  debt.  Prior  to  this  date  the  preacher  in  charge 
resided  in  Absecon  in  a  rented  house.  Hammonton  and  Winslow, 
first  appear  as  appointments  on  Bargaintown  Circuit,  1835. 
After  1839  these  two  places  with  Gloucester  Furnace,  Westcott's 
and  Pleasant  Mills  are  not  mentioned  in  the  minutes  and  it  is 
presumed  they  were  formed  into  a  separate  circuit.  After 
185 1  Mav's  Landing,  Weymouth,  Catawba,  Shore  School  House, 
Joslin  and  Estelville  disappear  from  the  record.  1855  Absecon 
Circuit  was  set  off  with  Absecon,  Oceanville,  Smithville  and 
Port  Republic  as  preaching  places.  Isaac  Felch  was  presiding 
elder  and  David  Teed  pastor.  1862  Salem  was  added  to  Absecon 
Charge  and  so  continued  for  three  years. 


126  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


CATAWBA  CHURCH  ABOUT  THE  YEAR  1810 


In  writing  a  history  of  Catawba  Church  which  was  located 
about  three  miles  below  May's  Landing,  overlooking  the  great  Egg 
Harbor  River,  little  is  known  of  its  early  history.  It  is  known 
that  George  West  gave  an  acre  of  land  on  which  to  build  the 
church,  and  he  being  a  local  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
acted  as  clergyman  to  his  own  people,  also  adding  the  liturgy 
to  the  church  services  to  suit  the  varied  creeds  of  the  congre- 
gation. It  disappeared  from  M.  E.  minutes  in  185 1.  The 
church  was  named  by  the  West's  "Catawba."  Although  the  West 
family  never  disclosed  their  past  lives  or  residence,  it  was 
surmised  that  the  name  "Catawba"  was  in  some  way  connected 
with  their  family  history,  and  the  church  was  built  in  memory 
of  past  scenes.  It  was  an  elegant  little  structure.  Its  influence 
of  beauty  as  well  as  the  home  of  the  West's  went  far  in  educat- 
ing the   taste   of   the   community   to   the   love   of   the   beautiful. 


KAKLV   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.   J.  I27 

The  church  has  now  fallen  into  decay.  The  gravestones  of  the 
West  family  in  the  graveyard  adjoining,  are  all  so  battered  and 
worn  that  the  inscriptions  upon  the  stones  are  almost  obliterated. 
They  are  as  follows  : 

GEORGE  WEST,  Esq. 

Born  Aug.   i,   1774 

Died  Sept.  10,  1829. 

AMY  WEST,  Widow  of  George  West. 
Born  Jan.  26,  1777 
■     Died   Sept.    15,    1829. 

GEORGE  S.  WEST,  Son  of  George  and  Amy  West 
Born  May  7,  1806 
Died  Sept.  3,   1829 

JAMES  S.  WEST,  Son  of  George  and  Amy  West 

Born  April  7,  1810 

Died  Aug.   24,   1829. 


The  following  poem  was  written  by  Joseph  Weintrob,  a 
native  of  Rumania  and  had  his  home  near  by  Catawba.  He  is 
now  one  of  the  principals  in  Atlantic  City's  High  schools. 

THE  OLD  CATAWBA  CHURCH 

Hard  by  the  road  where  the  sumachs  bloom. 

And  the  pine  trees  cast  their  stately  gloom, 

Where  the  sky  and  trees  in  concord  blend 
O'er  the  river's  silent  onward  trend ; 

Torn  and  battered  and  old  and  gray 

Stands  Catawba  Church  by  Catawba  Way. 

Time's  cold  fingers  have  lingered  there ; 
Left  it  withered  in  mute  despair, 

Touched  its  walls  with  a  ruthless  hand 

And  circled  it  round  with  a  hoary  band. 


128  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Gone  are  the  windows,  broken  the  door, 

Thick  lies  the  dust  on  the  rough-hewn  floor. 

Empty  the  belfry,  where  once  the  bell 
Tolled  a  doleful  funeral  knell; 

Or  rang"  out  in  accents  free  and  gay 

To  the  organ's  tune  of  a  wedding  lay. 

Strange   grey   bats   have   made   it   their   home. 
Fluttering  ghostly,  around  it  they  roam. 

The  pulpit  is  empty,  silent  and  still ; 

Bare  are  the  benches,  cobwebbed  the  sill. 

The  voices  that  once  rose  in  prayer  to  God 

Are  sleeping  in  peace  'neath  the  church-yard's  cold  sod. 

Tall  grow  the  weeds,  hiding  each  grave; 
Sadly  above  them  the  tall  pines  wave. 

Hushed  are  the  voices  that  swelled  in  a  hymn. 
Now  quietness  reigns  there,  silent  and  grim. 

Not  e'en  an  echo  lingers  within, 

Oft  have  I  listened,  often  looked  in  ; 

All  is  forgotten,  in  sorrow  it  falls, 

Naught  but  sad  memories  cling  to  its  walls. 

There,  on  the  hillside,  facing  the  West, 

It  seems  to  peer  anxiously  over  the  crest. 

Mournfully  the  wind  sings  'neath  the  eaves, 

Wildly  the  Autumn  gale  pelts  it  with  leaves ; 

Then  o'er  the  shingles,  covered  with  moss, 

It  seems  to  glide  softly,  bemoaning  its  loss; 

In  through  the  windows,  out  by  the  door. 

Caressing  the  tear-stained  benches  and  floor. 

Poor  old  relic  of  by-gone  years. 

Naught  left  for  you  but  sighs  and  tears. 

Hard  by  the  road  where  the  leaves  are  blown, 
It  stands  ;  fast  falling,  silent,  alone. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Away  in  the  distance  the  river  flows, 

And  catches  and  holds  the  sunsets  glows  ; 

Then  throws  the  reflections  far  and  high 

On  Catawba  Church  alone  'neath  the  sky, 

Till  the  lights  as  they  fall  on   its  grey  old  1 
Seem  to  form  a  halo  of  holy  grace. 

The  shadows  grow  thicker,  and  darkness  falls 

Like  a  benediction  on  its  dimmed  old  walls. 


129 


JOSEPH  WEINTROB. 


Copyrighted  1003  by  J.  Weintrob. 


Catawba  Gravhs 


130  iiARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


HISTORY  OF  ZION  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 
1814,  FOUNDED  1764 

By  Rkv.  J<  hn  A.   Nayi.or 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  South  jersey  by  Bishop 
Xdi'iry.  Preaching  places  were  established  in  many  private 
homes  or  houses.  In  1786  New  Jersey  was  divided  into  four 
circuits:  Newark,  Trenton,  East  and  West  Jersey.  West  Jersey 
Circuit  embraced  all  that  section  of  the  state  south  of  Burling- 
ton. In  1788  the  West  Jersey  Circuit  was  divided  and  Salem 
Circuit  was  formed  in  the  lower  end  of  it.  In  1800  there  were 
five  hundred  and  fifty  members  on  the  Salem  Circuit.  The  Rev. 
Solomon  Sharp  was  then  the  Presiding  Elder  over  all  New 
J  ersey. 

Bargaintown  was  one  of  the  preaching  places  on  the  Salem 
Circuit.  Prior  to  the  year  18 14  the  Methodist  Society  had  no 
permanent  organization.  They  worshipped  in  the  Blackmail's 
Meeting  House.  In  the  summer  of  1814  they  resolved  to  form 
a  permanent  organization  according  to  the  laws  of  the  state. 
They  have  left  the  following  record : 

Whereas,  The  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
that  assemble  for  divine  worship  at  Blackmail's  Meeting  House, 
in  the  Township  of  Egg  Harbor,  in  the  County  of  Gloucester, 
and  State  of  New  Jersey,  there  being  more  than  thirty  families 
who  steadfastly  assemble  at  that  place,  for  public  worship,  have 
thought  proper  to  elect  Trustees,  for  the  better  government  of 
said  house;  did  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  October,  in  the  year 
of  Our  Lord,  eighteen  hundred  and  fourteen,  at  the  place  afore- 
said (agreeable  to  the  laws  in  that  case  made  and  provided), 
elect  Thomas  Garwood,  Japhet  Ireland,  John  Price,  Philip 
Smith,  Daniel  Tilton,  Daniel  Edwards  and  Richard  Devinny, 
Trustees  for  said  House. 

We,  the  above  named  Trustees,  do  hereby  certify  that  we 
have  assumed  the  name  of  the  Trustees  for  the  Methodist  Society 
to  Blackmail's  Meeting  House,  in  the  Township  of  Egg  Harbor, 
in  the  County  of  Gloucester. 

"In   testimony   whereof   we   have   hereunto   set   our   hands 


EARLY    HISTORY   OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  13I 

and  seals,  this  twenty-eighth  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  Our 
Lord,  eighteen  hundred  and  fourteen  (1814)." 

This  was  signed  by  each  one  of  the  above  named  Trustees ; 
each  Trustee  also  subscribed  to  three  separate  ami  distinct  oaths: 

First,  To  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ; 
Second,  To  bear  true  faith  and  allegiance  to  the  government 
established  in  this  State,  under  the  authority  of  the  people ;  Third, 
To  faithfully  fulfill  the  trust  reposed  in  them  as  Trustees  for  the 
Methodist  Society  at  Blackmail's  .Meeting  House  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Egg  Harbor,  according  to  the  best  of  their  ability  and 
understanding. 

We  here  notice  that  the  Trustees  were  elected  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  October  and  signed  their  acceptance  of  their  duty  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  the  same  month,  1814. 

The  second  record  is  a  deed  for  the  land  where  the  Church 
stands,  dated  ( )ctober  thirty-first,  eighteen  hundred  and  fourteen, 
from  one  Joseph  Sharp,  Esq.,  and  Hannah,  his  wife,  of  Gallo- 
way Township,  Gloucester  County,  New  Jersey,  for  the  consid- 
eration of  twenty-five  dollars  in  specie  to  them  paid,  by  Thomas 
Garwood,  Japhet  Ireland,  John  Price,  Philip  Smith.  Daniel 
Edwards,  Daniel  Tilton  and  Richard  Devinny,  Trustees  in  trust, 
that  they  shall  repair  the  house  thereon,  for  a  place  of  public 
worship  for  the  use  of  the  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copalian Church,  in  the  United  States  of  America;  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  and  discipline  of  the  said  Church,  or  build 
or  rebuild,  or  cause  to  be  built  or  rebuilt,  or  repaired  or  be 
repaired,  a  house  thereon,  for  the  aforesaid  purpose ;  to  be 
rmed  and  governed  in  all  things  agreeable  to  the  discipline 
of  said  Church,  and  the  laws  of  this  State;  and  that  any  of 
the  aforesaid  Trustees,  or  their  successors,  may  be  removed 
from  the  office  of  Trustee,  or  their  vacancies  supplied  according 
to  the  discipline  of  said  Church  and  the  laws  of  this  State.  This 
deed  begins  at  a  Black  Oak  tree  marked  for  a  corner,  being  a 
corner  to  Thomas  Garwood's  land,'  and  calls  for  one  acre  of 
land ;  and  recites  that  Christian  ■  Blackman,  Administratrix  of 
Andrew  Blackman,  deceased,  under  a  decree  of  the  Orphans' 
Court  of  the  County  of  Gloucester,  made  the  fourth  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1813,  did  sell  at  public  auction  the  said  lands  to  Joseph 
Sharp.  By  this  deed  of  conveyance,  the  Methodist  Society  be- 
came the  prospective  owners  of  Blackman's  Meeting  House. 


132  EARLY   HISTORY  OE  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


Zion  Meeting  House 

The  question  of  repairing,  rebuilding  or  building  a  new 
meeting  house  to  comply  with  the  requirementts  in  the  deed  from 
Joseph  Sharp  and  wife,  to  the  Society,  continued  to  agitate  the 
minds  of  the  members  of  this  Society  until  the  year  1821,  when 
definite  action  was  taken  to  build  a  new  meeting  house,  when  the 
following  heading  was  made  to  procure  subscriptions  for  that 
purpose : 

"List  of  subscribers  for  the  new  meeting  house,  to  be  built 
at  Blackmail's  Meeting  House ;  sums  subscribed  and  the  time 
fixed  by  the  Trustees,  for  the  payment,  being  in  four  equal 
installments. 

"Thomas  Garwood,  Treasurer." 

The  time  fixed  for  the  first  payment  was  April  1st,  1822; 
the  second  payment,  July  1st;  third  payment,  October  1st,  and 
the  fourth,  January  1st,  1823.  The  total  amount  subscribed 
was  $1525.95. 

Bargaintown  Circuit  was  formed  in  1828.  "At  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference"  for  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand,  eight 
hundred  and  twenty  eight,  a  new  circuit  was  laid  off  of  the  lower 
end  of  "Gloucester"  circuit  and  a  small  part  of  "New  Mills," 
which  included  the  following  places  for  preaching,  viz:  Zion, 
English's,  West's,  Absecon,  Wrangleboro,  Leeds',  Simkins',  Pine 
Coaling,  Gloucester  Furnace,  Westcott's,  Pleasant  Mills,  Green 
Bank,  Glass  Works,  Dutch  Mills,  Lake,  New  Friendship,  South 
River,  Estell's,  W'eymouth  Furnace,  May's  Landing,  and  the 
Shore  School  House. 

The  first  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Bargaintown  Circuit  was 
held  at  a  Camp  Meeting  at  Bargaintown  on  June  14,  1828.  The 
Rev.  Charles  Pitman,  Presiding  Elder,  presided.  Hammonton  and 
Winslow  first  appear  as  appointments  on  Bargaintown  Circuit  in 
1835.  After  1839,  these  two  places,  with  Gloucester  Furnace, 
Westcott's  and  Pleasant  Mills  are  not  mentioned  in  the  minutes 
and  it  is  presumed  that  they  were  formed  into  a  separate  cir- 
cuit After  185 1,  May's  Landing,  Weymouth,  Catawba,  Shore 
School  House,  Joslin's  and  Estleville  dropped  from  the  record. 
In  1855  Absecon  Circuit  was  set  off  with  Absecon,  Oceanville, 
Smithville   and   Port   Republic,   as   preaching  places.      In    1862, 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  1 33 

Salem  was  added  to  Absecon  Charge.  In  1S71  and  for  some 
years  following  there  were  four  preaching  plpaces  in  the  Bar- 
gaintown  Circuit:  Zion,  Asbury  (English  Creek),  Central,  (Lin- 
wood),  Bethel,  ( Somers  Point).  Then  Central  and  Bethel  were 
made  a  separate  charge  and  Zion  and  Asbury  continued  as  the 
English  Creek  Charge.  In  191 1,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
W.  F.  Atkinson,  Zion  and  Asbury  became  separate  charges,  each 
having  its  own  pastor.  During  the  winter  of  icjn-12  a  new  mod- 
ern parsonage  was  built  at  Bargaintown  on  ground  donated  to 
the  church  by  Mr.  Andrew  Marcus  and  wife.  Various  improve- 
ments have  been  made  under  different  pastors,  memorial  windows, 
altar,  vestibule  and  belfry  have  been  added,  so  that  we  now  have 
an  up-to-date  church  and  parsonage. 

The  members  of  this  Society  may  be  justly  proud  of  its  one 
hundred  or  more  years'  history  and  say  with  the  Psalmist,  "And 
of  Zion  it  shall  be  said,  this  and  that  man  was  born  in  her ;  and 
the  highest  himself  shall  establish  her." — Psalm  87:5. 

The  writer  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Wm.  Lake,  of  Ocean  City, 
and  Mrs.  C.  K.  Fleming,  of  Absecon,  for  most  of  the  historical 
facts  related  above. 


134  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    OLD    SHORE    OR    FRAMBES 

SCHOOL  HOUSE,  NEAR  THE  BEGINNING  OF 

18TH  CENTURY,  FOLLOWED  BY  SALEM 

M.  E.  CHURCH  1857. 

Maria  Collins  Thomas 

When  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was  delivered  in  America 
by  John  Wesley,  under  the  famous  oak  tree  still  standing  in 
Southeastern  Georgia,  this  part  of  New  Jersey  was  occupied  by 
the  Absequam  Indians,  a  branch  of  the  Delawares.  Here  they 
lived,  loved,  feasted,  and  buried  their  dead.  Along  our  shores 
may  still  be  found  the  shell  mounds  where  the  red  man  was  laid 
to  rest  with  his  belongings  on  which  was  inscribed  the  totem  of 
the  Delawares,  the  turtle. 

The  Delawares  were  a  branch  of  the  large  and  powerful 
tribe,  the  Lenni  Lenape  of  New  York  state. 

In  1758  the  Colonial  legislature  appointed  five  commission- 
ers to  pay  any  and  all  just  rights  and  claims  that  might  be  due 
the  Indian  nations  of  this  Colony.  Seventy-four  pounds  of 
this  money  paid  was  expended  to  purchase  3044  acres  of  land 
for  a  reservation.  This  reservation  was  near  Atsion,  in  Burl- 
ington County.  Here  Rev.  John  .Brainard  labored  among  them 
and  called  the  settlement  Brotherton.  It  is  now  known  as  In- 
dian Mills 

During  the  early  period  the  Quakers  predominated  in  this 
sparsely  settled  region.  As  early  as  1726  there  were  three 
selected  places  for  holding  Friends'  Meetings  :  Leeds  Point,  Ab- 
secon  and  Somers  Point. 

Methodism  was  first  introduced  in  New  Jersey  by  Bishop 
Asbury.  One  of  the  earliest  places  in  which  he  held  meetings 
was  the  home  of  David  Blackman,  in  English  Creek.  The  names 
of  those  converted  in  this  home  would  include  the  ancestors 
of  the  most  prominent  families  in  Atlantic  County  today. 

The  first  Presiding  Elder  was  Rev.  John  McClaskey.  His 
district  was  not  small  as  it  included  all  of  New  Jersey,  and 
Newbury,  Delaware  and  Albany  in  New  York.     He  was  a  mem- 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J.  135 

ber  of  the  Conference  of  twenty  members  that  met  in  the  old 
St.  John's  Street  Church  in  1789,  when  the  Methodist  Book  Con- 
cern was  founded. 

Rev.  John  McClasky  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1756,  the  year 
In  which  Dr.  Richard  Collins  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
at  Collins'  Mills,  near  what  is  now  known  as  Smithville.  Six- 
teen years  later  John  McClasky  came  to  America  and  made  his 
home  at  Salem,  X.  J.  He  went  from  curiosity  to  hear  the  Meth- 
odist preachers  when  they  came  near  that  vicinity,  and  was  con- 
verted, entering"  the  ministry  in  1785. 

In  1786,  New  Jersey  was  divided  in  four  circuits,  Newark, 
Trenton,  East  Jersey  and  West  Jersey.  The  West  Jersey  Cir- 
cuit  included  all  of  Xew  Jersey  south  of  Burlington. 

In  1788,  the  West  Jersey  Circuit  was  divided,  and  the  lower 
half  called  the  Salem  Circuit.  In  i8od  there  were  five  hundred 
fifty  members  on  the  Salem  Circuit;  there  were  two  travel- 
ing preachers.  Rev.  Richard  Swain  and  Rev.  Richard  Lyon.  Rev. 
Solomon  Sharp  was  Presiding  Elder  of  all  New  Jersey.  There 
were  then  seven  circuits  in  the  state,  with  three  thousand  thirty 
members  and  fourteen  traveling  preachers.  There  are  now,  1914, 
two  hundred  fifty  eight  charges  and  56,428  members. 

The  "traveling  preachers"  are  identified  with  the  early 
spread  of  Methodism,  and  were  inspired  with  great  religious 
zeal,  which  enabled  them  to  withstand  great  discomforts  and 
hardships.  They  traveled  on  horseback  to  reach  their  various 
preaching  places,  usually  taking  from  four  to  eight  weeks  to 
make  the  rounds  of  their  circuit.  They  carried  their  library 
and  articles  of  attire  in  their  saddle  ba^s.  Most  of  South  Jersey 
was  then  but  forests  and  pine  barrens,  and  the  trail  often  un- 
broken except  as  an  Indian  trail.  The  meals  of  these  religious 
pioneers  were  timed  by  their  arrival  at  the  homes  of  the  mem- 
bers and  friends.  Their  coming  was  an  important  event  in  the 
lives  of  the  settlers. 

One  of  these  travelers  was  John  Collins,  son  of  Dr.  Richard 
Collins,  and  who  married  Sarah  Blackmail,  daughter  of  David 
Blackman,  of  English  Creek.  He  was  converted  in  1794  and 
was  soon  licensed  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher.  In  1803,  he  and 
his  familv  and  his  brother-in-law  Lardner  Blackman  removed 
to  Ohio  where  he  took  up  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  Cler- 
mont  County.      Rev.   Collins   preached   the   first   Methodist   ser- 


136  liAKLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

mon  in  Ohio,  in  Cincinnati  in  1804,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
forceful  and  successful  among  the  pioneers  of  the  West.  His 
name  is  found  on  one  of  memorial  windows  in  the  Metropolitan 
Memorial  Church  in  Washington,  D.  C,  being  placed  there  in 
recognition  of  his  religious  work. 

In  181 1,  Gloucester  Circuit  was  formed  from  the  Salem 
Circuit,  and  in  1828,  at  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  Bargain- 
town  Circuit  was  laid  off  the  lower  end  of  Gloucester  Circuit, 
with  a  small  part  of  New  Mills. 

Bargaintown  Circuit  included  the  following  preaching  plac- 
es :  Zion,  English's,  West's,  Absecon,  Wrangleboro,  Leeds',  Sim- 
kins',  Pine  Coaling,  Gloucester  Furnace,  Westcott's,  Pleasant 
Mills,  Green  Bank,  Glass  Works,  Dutch  Mills,  Lake,  New  Friend- 
ship, South  River,  Estells,  Weymouth  Furnace,  May's  Landing 
and  the  Shore  School  House. 

The  first  Quarterly  Meeting  was  held  for  the  Bargain- 
town  Circuit  at  a  camp  meeting  in  Bargaintown  in  1828. 

The  first  Presiding  Elder  was  Charles  Pitman.  In  the 
warm  weather  the  Quarterly  meetings  were  usually  held  in  groves 
near  the  meeting  places.  Whole  families  would  drive  in  from 
miles  around  for  the  all  day  service,  bringing  well  filled  lunch 
baskets.  These  services  were  anticipated  for  a  long  time  as  a 
social  feature  and  as  an  occasion  of  great  religious  activity. 

Among  those  whose  eloquence  rang  through  these  resound- 
ing aisles  of  woodland  were:  Ezekial  Cooper,  Charles  Pitman, 
Father  Lummis  and  others. 

The  Shore  School  House  and  Church  stood  on  the  site 
where  the  late  Nathaniel  Risley's  residence  now  stands. 

Mrs.  Asenath  Risley,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Risley,  said  the  lot 
was  given  the  community  to  build  a  school  upon  by  Alexander 
Fish,  with  the  proviso  that  when  no  longer  used  for  such  pur- 
pose, it  should  revert  to  the  Fish  estate.  Owing  to  the  difficulty 
in  locating  deeds  of  Gloucester  County  of  a  date  previous  to 
1800,  I  have  been  unable  to  find  this  deed  of  gift  as  yet.  How- 
ever the  services  requiring  a  more  commodious  place  of  meet- 
ing, a  new  church  and  school,  called  the  Salem  M,  E.  Church 
was  built  in  185 1  ;  the  Shore  School  House  was  torn  down;  and 
the  lot  sold  to  Nathaniel  Risley  by  Alexander  Fish  and  Milisent 
Fish,  their  deed  dating  May  25,  1S53.  Mr.  Risley  owned  the 
lot  several   years   before   he  built   upon   it.     The   Shore   School 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 37 

House  was  built  about  the  year  1800  from  brick  burned  by  John 
Lake  in  his  brickyard  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Fred  Carmen 
place. 

This  school  was  also  known  as  the  Frambes  School,  prob- 
ably because  a  number  of  families  by  the  name  of  Frambes 
lived  near  it. 

Mr.  Wesley  Ingersoll,  who  was  born  in  1833,  says  in  his 
earliest  recollections  the  Shore  School  House  appeared  to  be  a 
very  old  building.  The  regular  preacher  on  the  Bargaintown 
Circuit  preached  here  once  a  month,  but  Class  and  Prayer  meet- 
ings were  held  every  week,  usually  Wednesday  and  Thursday 
evenings. 

Mr.  Ingersoll's  early  memories  of  his  father,  Daniel  Inger- 
soll,  a  wheelwright  and  undertaker,  and  his  mother  Ann  Inger- 
soll,  is  their  faithful  attendance  at  church,  one  Sunday  at  the 
Shore  School  House,  the  next  driving  to  Absecon,  and  the  third 
attending  services  at  Zion.  He  also  remembers  David  Bartlett, 
father  of  the  late  William  Bartlett,  walking  by  the  Ingersoll 
residence,  from  his  home  on  Delilah  Road,  faithfully  and  regu- 
larly to  attend  divine  services  in  the  Shore  School  House. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  first  became  interested  in  seeking  salvation 
while  attending  a  Methodist  Protestant  Camp  Meeting  back  of 
the  Bakersville  school  house  in  the  fall  of  1844  and  1845.  These 
meetings  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Jacob  Timberman,  and  his 
brother  John  Timberman,  who  conducted  services  both  at  the 
Bakersville  school  house  and  at  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church, 
which  then  stood  where  the  Mount  Pleasant  cemetery  is  now. 
Here  Mr.  Ingersoll  was  converted,  but  united  with  the  church 
of  his  parents  in  the  Shore  School  House. 

Ezra  B.  Lake,  one  of  the  founders  of  Ocean  City  was  con- 
verted at  the  same  time. 

Mr.  James  Ryon,  who  was  a  boy  of  fifteen  at  this  time, 
says  that  these  meetings  were  of  far  reaching  influence,  and 
that  nearly  all  of  the  young  people  of  this  section  were  con- 
verted either  in  these  meetings  or  from  the  influence  of  them. 
Among  those  converted  to  God  then  were :  Eliza  Frambes,  John 
Lake.  Sarah  Ingersoll,  Elijah  Adams,  Alice  Ryon,  Emmeline  Ry- 
on, Mariette  Ryon,  Peter  Frambes,  John  Sampson  and  Thomas 
Sampson.     All  of  these  joined  the  Shore  School  Church  except 


138  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

Peter  Frambes,  who  joined  the  Mount  Pleasant  M.  P.  Church, 
at  Bakersville. 

One  of  the  preachers  who  was  a  powerful  speaker  in  this 
church  was  Rev.  Joseph  Atwoocl.  John  Adams  and  Samuel 
Steelman  were  exhorters. 

One  of  the  teachers  in  this  school  was  Steelman  S.  Sooy, 
who  lived  in  the  little  red  house  now  standing  at  the  corner 
of  Edgewatcr  Avenue  and  Main  Street,  having-  purchased  it 
from  Pardon  Ryon,  who  in  turn  had  purchased  it  from  John 
Bryant. 

During  the  summer  months  a  prospective  teacher,  fre- 
quently from  "down  East"  would  make  a  house-to-house  can- 
vas soliciting  pupils  to  attend  school  the  following  winter,  at 
a  charge  of  about  $3.50  per  quarter  for  each  pupil.  There  were 
no  free  schools  in  those  days.  If  the  teacher  secured  enough 
subscribers  he  would  return,  if  not  some  other  pedagogue  would 
follow. 

In  March  1844,  a  Miss  Emeline  D.  Huntley,  of  Connecticut, 
was  hired  as  a  teacher  in  this  section  at  the  munificent  salary 
of  $10  a  month  and  board.  She  would  "board  around"  among  her 
patrons.  Her  contract  is  signed  by  Jeremiah  Baker,  Joseph 
Ireland  and  James  English. 

Samuel  Steelman,  father  of  Benjamin  S.  and  Lewis  Steel- 
man, was  a  Class  Leader,  and  lived  at  the  corner  of  Park  Avenue 
and  Main  Street,  where  this  edifice  now  stands. 

Among  those  converted  in  the  Shore  School  House  were 
Asenath  and  Caroline  English,  of  English  Creek,  who  were  sent 
to  the  home  of  their  uncle,  Daniel  Collins,  to  board  and  attend 
school.  They  were  converted  to  God  in  a  prayer  meeting  in  the 
absence  of  any  regular  pastor.  Asenath  joined  the  church  pre- 
vious to  her  marriage  to  Nathaniel  Risley.  Caroline  married  Bar- 
clay Leeds  in  whose  home  the  first  meetings  of  the  First  M.  E. 
Church  of  Atlantic  City  were  held. 

Among  those  who  were  members  of  the  church  in  the  Shore 
School  House  were:  David  Bartlett,  John  Frambes,  Sr.,  John 
Frambes,  Eliza  Dennis  Frambes,  Michael  Frambes,  Sarah  Fram- 
bes, Sara  Sampson,  Samuel  Steelman,  Ezra  B.  Lake,  Daniel  In- 
gersoll,  Ann  Ingersoll,  Wesley  Ingersoll,  Asenath  English,  Caro- 
line English,  Talitha  Sooy,  Steelman  S.  Sooy,  John  T.  Lake, 
Elisha  Adams,  Alice  Adams,  Alice  Rvon,  Emmeline  Ryon,  Mar- 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  I39 

iette  Ryon,  Nathaniel  Disbrow,  Peter  Watkins,  James  English, 
Joseph  Race  and  others. 

In  1850,  there  was  an  increased  activity  in  the  church 
affairs  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Philip  Cline,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Shore  School  Church  met  in  that  building"  on  Oct. 
13,  1850,  and  arranged  to  erect  a  more  imposing  church  edifice. 
A  board  of  trustees  were  elected  consisting  of  the  following: 
Pardon  Ryon,  John  Frambes,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Disbrow,  Mark  Ad- 
ams, Jonathan  Albertson,  Absalom  Doughty.  The  new  edifice 
was  to  be  known  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Meeting  House 
at  Smith's  Landing.  The  Certificate  of  Trustees  was  recorded 
at  May's  Landing  in  1851. 

The  plot  of  ground  on  the  road  leading  from  Smith's  Land- 
ing to  Risleytown,  on  which  the  church  was  to  be  erected,  was 
given  by  Pardon  Ryon  and  his  wife.  Elizabeth  Ryon. 

Many  citizens  not  members  of  the  church  became  interested, 
and  contributed  toward  the  building,  as  the  basement  was  to  be 
used  as  a  school. 

Some  members  gave  their  contributions  as  labor,  such  as 
excavating  and  carting. 

The  contract  for  the  building  was  given  to  Adam  Conover. 

In  1855,  Absecon  Circuit  was  set  aside  from  the  Bargain- 
town  Circuit  with  Absecon,  Oceanville,  Smithville  and  Port  Re- 
public as  preaching  places.  In  1862,  Salem  was  added  to  the 
Absecon  Circuit,  and  so  continued  until  March  29,  1870,  when 
it  became  an  independent  charge.  The  records  state  that  grave 
fears  were  entertained  for  its  ability  to  be  self-supporting. 

The  first  musical  instrument  used  in  the  church  was  a  melo- 
deon  belonging  to  Miss  Rachaelette  Sooy,  who  afterward  became 
Mrs.  Arnold  B.  Race.  Miss  Sooy  was  the  first  organist.  This 
instrument  is  now  in  the  possession  of  her  son,  Robert  L.  Race. 

The  use  of  this  instrument  in  the  church  service  was  the 
cause  of  much  discussion,  some  of  the  members  claiming  an  organ 
to  be  worldly  and  of  the  devil.  One  dear  old  lady  said  she  al- 
ways put  her  hand  over  her  eyes  as  though  sleeping  whenever 
it  was  played,  so  as  to  shut  out  all  the  worldly  thoughts  she 
could. 

The  first  child  baptized  in  the  church  was  Annie  Disbrow, 
now  Mrs.  William  Taylor,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Sarah  Dis- 


I40  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

brow,  and  who  presented  the  beautiful  baptismal  font  in  the 
present  church  as  a  memorial  to  her  mother. 

When  the  church  was  built  in  1851,  Joseph  Race  placed  the 
altar  rail ;  at  the  rebuilding  in  1889,  his  son,  Arnold  B.  Race 
made  the  altar  rail,  and,  in  the  present  building  the  grandson, 
Robert  L.  Race  had  the  honor  of  making  the  altar  rail. 

For  many  years  there  was  no  bell  in  the  church,  and  after 
the  Smith's  Landing  school  was  built,  the  sexton  of  the  church, 
would  ring  the  school  bell  to  call  the  people  to  divine  service. 

In  1889,  the  church  was  remodeled,  the  brick  basement  be- 
ing taken  away  entirely.  It  was  then  considered  one  of  the 
prettiest  churches  along  the  shore. 

For  the  following  quarter  of  a  century  worship  was  con- 
tinued in  this  remodeled  building,  when  plans  were  formuulated 
for  the  present  handsome  stone  edifice. 

The  cornerstone  of  this  building  was  laid  by  District  Sup- 
erintendent Sanford  M.  Nichols,  with  impressive  ceremonies,  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  Oct.  27.  1912. 

The  old  building  was  sold  to  the  (colored)  Asbury  M.  E. 
Church,  of  Pleasantville,  and  the  building  moved  to  their  lot  at 
Bayview  Avenue  and  Shore  Fast  Line  R.  R. 

The  new  edifice  was  completed  and  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Joseph  F.  Berry,  on  Dec.  7,  191 3. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  141 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  FIRST 

CATHOLIC  CHURCH  OF  ATLANTIC 

COUNTY,  NEW  JERSEY. 

St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  the  Pines, 

Pleasant  Mills,  New  Jersey. 

Founded  About  1820. 

Scattered  through  the  pine  lands  of  Southern  New  Jersey 
are  several  deserted  or  partly  deserted  villages,  where,  over  sev- 
enty years  ago,  industry  and  prosperity  reigned,  but  now  ruin 
and  desolation  are  seen  everywhere.  Streets  that  were  once 
hardened  with  the  traffic  of  hundreds  of  people,  are  now  over- 
grown with  wild  grass  and  weeds  and  but  little  used.  The 
houses  are  silent  and  slowly  falling  to  decay.  The  churches 
are  seldom  opened,  and  some  are  gone  entirely  and  their  very 
sites  disputed.  The  old  iron  forges  and  furnaces  are  in  ruins, 
or  only  remembered  by  the  black  cinder  piles  which  mark  their 
sites.  Three  of  the  tall  chimneys  still  stand,  ready  to  topple 
over  at  any  *ime. 

Two  of  these  old  villages  are  of  interest  to  the  Catholics 
of  New  Jersey,  because  in,  or  near  them,  were  established  two 
of  the  first  Catholic  parishes  in  New  Jersey.  They  are  Pleasant 
Mills,  in  Atlantic  County,  forty-two  miles  from  Philadelphia, 
and  nine  miles  from  Hammonton.  The  settlement  at  Pleasant 
Mills  was  made  about  1718,  when  a  saw  mill  was  erected  at 
the  head  of  the  old  Fresco  pond,  now  caller  Nesco-hague.  This 
drew  a  colony  of  sturdy  wood  choppers,  who  levelled  the  ori- 
ginal pine  forests  and  white  cedars  sending  the  heavy  timbers 
to  the  mill  to  be  sawed  into  lumber  or  split  into  shingles  and 
piled  the  branches  in  great  heaps,  to  be  converted  into  char- 
coal. The  lumber  was  loaded  on  vessels  and  shipped  down 
the  Mullica  River  and  on  to  New  York.  The  charcoal  was 
transported  by  wagon  to  Philadelphia  where  it  was  sold  for 
fuel.  This  was  before  hard  or  soft  coal  was  known  here,  and 
these  were  the  charcoal  burners,  the  traces  of  whom  are  still 
frequently  found  in  South  Jersey. 


142 


EARLY    HISTORY    c:<    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


Yet  not  all  the  charcoal  was  sent  away,  for  much  of  it  was 
used  in  the  old  iron  furnaces  and  forges,  called  bloomeries, 
for  as  early  as  1766  we  find  a  large  iron  furnace  established  at 
Batsto,  Burlington  County.  This  was  the  era  of  the  iron  work- 
ers, and  brought  to  New  Jersey  hundreds  of  men  who  found 
employment  either  as  wood  choppers,  teamsters,  day  laborers  or 
skilled  mechanics.  In  1777  we  find  that  the  wood  choppers  re- 
ceived two  shillings  and  six  pence  per  cord  for  their  labor,  and 
an  industrious  man  could  chop  one  and  a  half  cords  per  day. 

The  forges  and  furnaces  were  set  u.p  near  the  water  courses 
in  those  parts  where  the  bog  iron  ore  was  abundant.  Thus  we 
find  this  old  iron  industry  at  old  Gloucester,  near  Egg  Harbor, 


Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Pleasant  Mills 


at  Martha,  Weymouth,  Atsion,  and  they  manufactured  all  kinds 
of  iron  ware  for  house  as  well  as  for  implements.  Here  at 
Batsto  was  made  much  of  the  ammunition  used  in  the  American 
Revolution,  but  when  after  the  better  magnetic  ores  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Northern  New  Jersey  were  discovered  the  old  bog 
iron  furnaces  were  abandoned  and  the  workmen  moved  to  new 
centres  of  work.  About  this  time  also,  1761,  shingles  were 
split  from  the  real  cedar  trees,  which  abounded  in  the  swamps 
of  this  district.  These  were  carted  to  Egg  Harbor  and  shipped 
to  New  York  and  elsewhere. 

Next  came  the  glass  workers,  when  Casper  Wister  built  and 
operated  the  first  American  glass  factory  near  Allowaystown  in 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  143 

Salem  Count}-.     These  colonies  came  from  various  parts  of  Ger- 
many to  convert  the  Jersey  soil  into  hollow  ware  and  window 
Hghts.     Again  with  these  came  new  bands  of  wood  choppers  and 
teamsters.     Among  the  various  artisans,  mechanics  and  lahorers 
were  many   Catholics,  single  and  married,  who,   Reeling  the  re- 
ligious persecution  of  the  old  world,  sought  peaceful  homes  in 
America,   only   to   find   that   bigotry    and   race    hatred    had   also 
crossed  the  sea,  and  confronted  their  new  homes.     Ready  to  give 
their  labor  and  skill  of  their 'hand  and  heads  to  the  upbuilding 
of  their  adopted  land,  yet  they  refused  to  accept  or  follow  the 
religious  systems  that  had  so  cruelly  persecuted  their  ancestors 
:n   Ireland  and   Germany.     They   cherished  their   Catholic   faith 
and  practiced  it  in  private  under  the  scorn  of  bigots  ^or  the  ridi- 
cule of  fanatics,  until  such  times  as  circumstances  permitted  them 
to  build  their  chapels  and  bring  their   priests  to  have   services 
for    them.      These    were   brave    and    fearless    people,    strong    of 
character  and  big  of  body,  and  danger  was   unknown  to  them 
as  disloyalty  to  church  was  hateful.     It  was  by  such  men  that 
the    little    parish    of    Pleasant    Mills    and    Batsto    was    founded. 
When  they  had  no  church  in  which  to  assemble,  they  gathered 
tn    private    houses,    and    here    they   met    their    priests    whenever 
chance    or   appointment    brought    one    in    their    midst.      But    as 
time    went    on    prejudices    lessened    and    the    Revolution    found 
Catholic  and  Protestant  combined  to  defend  their  common  coun- 
try on  the  bloody  field  of  battle,  and  when  the  smoke  of  eight 
years'  strife  had  cleared  away  and  the  young  nation  had  cast  off 
the  tyranny  of   England,   their   rights   were  recognized  and   re- 
spected.    And  when  the  names  of  the  fallen  heroes  were  called, 
many    Catholics    were   orphans    and    widows.      Again   the   glass 
works  and   iron   forges  were  set  in  motion  and  another  colony 
gathered,    and    Pleasant    Mills    and    Batsto    became    centres    of 
travel.     The  Richards  family  bought  the  place  and  infused  new 
life  into  both  towns. 

In  1826,  Jessie  Richards  offered  to  donate  a  plot  of  land 
and  help  to  erect  a  church  for  his  faithful  Catholic  workmen. 
Accepting  this  kind  offer  from  their  generous  employer,  they 
collected  money,  and  worked  together  under  the  direction  of 
their  zealous  young  pastor.  Rev.  Edward  R.  Mayne,  who  was 
a  convert  from  Protestantism,  until  they  had  succeeded  in  erect- 
ing at  Pleasant  Mills,  the  first  Catholic  Church  south  of  Trenton 


144  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

and  perhaps  the  third  in  New  Jersey.  This  was  in  1827,  and 
Father  Mayne  remained  in  charge,  living  at  St.  Augustine's, 
Philadelphia,  and  coming  down  monthly  for  services.  The 
church,  however,  was  not  formally  dedicated  until  1830,  as  there 
was  no  Bishop  in  Philadelphia  at  that  time,  Bishop  Conwell 
having  gone  to  Rome,  leaving  Father  Mathews  in  charge.  In 
1830  Rev.  Patrick  Kenrick  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  on  August  15th,  1830,  dedicated  the  little  church  under 
the  title  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Assumption.  In  the  meantime, 
Father  Mayne,  who  had  fallen  into  consumption,  went  to  Florida 
for  relief,  and,  finding  the  climate  beneficial  to  him,  remained 
there  and  became  pastor  of  St.  Augustine,  where  he  died  on 
December  21st,  1834,  aged  32  years. 

In  1833  we  find  Rev.  James  Cummisky  attending  from 
Philadelphia. 

1834 — Rev.  William  Whelan,  occasionally  from  Philadelphia. 

1835 — Rev.  Patrick  Reilly,  occasionally. 

1836— Rev.  Edw'd.  McCorthy,  S.  J.,  monthly  from  St. 
Joseph's,  Philadelphia. 

1837 — Rev.  Richard  Waters,  S.  J.,  monthly  from  St.  Jos- 
eph's, Philadelphia. 

1838 — Rev.  Edward  Sourin,  St.  Charles  Seminary,  Phila- 
delphia. 

1830— Rev.  Jas.  Miller,  C.  M.,  Philadelphia. 

1840-43 — Rev.  Wm.  Loughran,  from  St.  Michael's,  Phila- 
delphia. 

1844 — Rev.  B.  Rolando,  C.  M.,  Seminary,  Philadelphia. 
1845-48 — Rev.  Hugh  Lane,  from  St.  Philips,  Philadelphia. 
1849 — Rev.  Hugh  Kenny,  St.  Michael's,  Philadelphia. 
1850 — Rev.  J.  Finnegan,  Gloucester,  N.  J. 

The  following  is  the  translation  of  all  that  now  remains 
of  Father  McCarthy's  Latin  Baptismal  Register  concerning  Pleas- 
ant Mills  Mission,  as  received  from  Rt.  Rev.  James  A.  McFaul. 

August  9,   1835,  I  baptized  Michael,  born  at  Philadelphia, 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  145 

on  the  first  of  Maw  this  year,  from  Daniel  McNeil  and  Elizabeth 
Dunn.    Sponsors :  Michael  Dunn  and  Mary  McGonigal. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

August  9,  1835,  I  baptized  Nicholais,  born  Dec.  26,  1834,  of 
Samuel  Crowley  and  Parnelia  Saney.  Sponsors :  Herman  My- 
rose  and  Catherine  Myrose. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

October  11,  1835,  I  baptized  Samuel,  born  March  28,  from 
Abraham  Nicholas  and  Mary  Ann  Crowley.  Sponsors:  Herman 
Myrose  and  Anna  Maria  Cliff. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,   S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  Mary  Ann,  born  Aug.  5,  1836,  from 
Patrick  and  Catherine  Kelly.  Sponsors :  John  Moore  and 
James  Daly. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  I  baptized  James,  born  Feb.  5,  1836, 
from  James  McCambridge  and  Anna  Miller.  Sponsors :  Thos. 
Murphy  and  Mary  Ann  Mclntyre. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  I  baptized  Sara  Ann,  born  March  17, 
1836,  of  Terance  Daly  and  Sara  Onslan.  Sponsors :  James 
McDermott  and  Jno.  McCambridge. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  I  baptized  James,  born  Aug.  31,  1836, 
from  Thomas  Fox  and  Elizabeth  McDermott.  Sponsors :  Jno. 
McCambridge  and  Sam  Crowley. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  I  baptized  Patrick,  born  Aug.  3,  1836, 
from  Patrick  Monaghan  and  Bridget  Dohan.  Sponsors :  Mich- 
ael Doolan  and  Mary  Mclntyre. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

September  11,  1836,  I  baptized  Andrew  Stout,  born  June 
13,  1836,  from  Philip  Kane  and  Anna  Westcott.  Sponsors,  Ed- 
ward Daly  and  Sarah  Daly. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 


146  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

September  n,  1836,  I  baptized  John,  born  Aug.  27,  1836, 
from  Hugh  Gibbons  and  Catherine  Morison.  Sponsors  :  Patrick 
Clark  and  Margaret  Morison. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

October  9,  1836,  I  baptized  Charles,  born  May  13,  1836, 
from  Samuel  Crowley  and  Parmelia  Saney.  Sponsors :  William 
Smith  and  Catherine  Cobb. 

Rev.  Edward  McCarthy,  S.  J. 

An  old  account  book  was  found  in  the  church  by  Fatber 
Van  Reil,  of  Egg  Harbor,  when  he  took  charge  and  is  the  hand- 
writing of  Edward  Daily.  The  list  below  shows  the  names  of 
the  Catholics  who  contributed  to  the  monthly  expenses  of  the 
church  from  the  year  1834  to  i860: 

John  Cumingham,  Terrence  Daily,  James  Kelly,  Jas.  Sween- 
ey, Henry  Boyle,  Sr.,  John  Mclntyre,  Edw.  Mclntyre,  Jeremiah 
Fitzgerald,  Peter  McDermott,  Wm.  Troy,  Jas.  Kane,  Edw.  Daily, 
Jno.  Gillan,  Philip  Brogan,  Philip  Kane,  Jno.  Nugent,  Patrick 
Lafferty,  David  Berry,  Wm.  Boyle,  John  McDaniel,  John  Kane, 
Michael  Murphy,  Cornelius  Kelly,  1  [ugh  Smith,  Samuel  Crow- 
ley, Arthur  Travis,  Patrick  Kane,  Herman  Myrose,  Jas.  Mc- 
Dermott, Michael  McDermott,  Patrick  McDermott,  John  Martin, 
Jno.  Desane,  William  Dougherty,  Jas.  Boyher,  William  Kelly, 
Jno.  Dougherty,  "Peddler",  Jno.  Sweeney,  Owen  Murphy,  Jno. 
Clark,  James  McCambridge,  Rob.  Walls,  Sarah  Campbell,  Jas. 
Tonner,  Bryan  Hart,  Michael  McCorkle,  John  Connor,  Andrew 
McAlister,  Wm.  Dunlap,  Jas.  McWiggin,  Jas.  McNally,  Wm. 
Harkins,  Anton  Fraelinger,  George  Stinzer,  Chas.  Freeling,  John 
Hanlon,  Oswald  Reinboot,  Jas.  Dealin,  Jas.  Leading,  Thos.  Lead- 
ing, Chas.  Freath,  Patrick  Murray,  Wm.  McDermott,  Patrick 
Clark,  Jno.  Smith,  Wm.  Smith,  Jno.  Mason,  Jno.  Aniese,  Jno. 
McGovern,  John  Mclntyre,  Dominic  Daily,  Andrew  Kenan,  Pat- 
rick Milligan,  John  Waters,  Wm.  Maxwell,  '36,  Patrick  Hacket, 
-36,  Patrick  Henry,  Jno.  McGinty,  Wm.  Conly,  Wm.  Dolan, 
Patrick  Clark,  Henry  Mison,  Thos.  Murphy,  Thos.  Darbey,  Peter 
McGoldrick,  Harry  Boyce,  Jr.,  Wm.  McCormick,  Henry  Laf- 
ferty, Bernard  Lafferty,  John  Lafferty,  John  Moore,  Jno.  Boyle, 
Cornelius  Gibbon,  Hugh  Gibbons,  Peter  McAleer,  John  Waters, 
Rob't.  Smith,  Michael  Leonard,  John  McDermott,  James  Waters, 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  147 

James  Cawe,  John  Doran,  John  Coyle,  Darby  Gillen,  Francis 
Clarke,  Michael  McLaughlin,  Patrick  Grey,  Thos.  Fox,  Rob't. 
McNeil,  John  Donigan,  James  Fisher,  Denis  Corbley,  Henry  Lee, 
Patrick  McDevit,  Dan. 

In  1848  this  parish  passed  to  the  care  of  Father  Waldron, 
and  as  Mission  of  Gloucester  it  was  attended  by  Fathers  Finne- 
gan,  1853,  and  Hannegan,  until,  in.  1859,  it  passed  to  the  Camden 
parish,  under  Father  James  Moran. 

In  1857,  Father  Moran  of  St.  Mary's,  Camden,  officiated 
there.  From  1855  on,  this  parish  was  attended  from  St.  Mary's 
Camden. 

In  1848,  three  Redemptorists  from  St.  Peter's  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, found  their  way  to  Pleasant  Mills  at  different  times. 
These  were  Father  Bayer,  Cowdenhave,  and  Hotzer.  In  June, 
1849,  Father  Bayer  also  visited  this  place,  and  again  in  Decem- 
ber. A  priest  from  this  church  visited  Pleasant  Mills  again  in 
1 85 1  and  1852.  The  last  visit  of  a  priest  there  seems  to  have 
been  December  11,  i860,  when  we  find  the  congregation  dwindled 
to  the  following  named  persons :  Rob't.  Dougherty,  Hugh  Far- 
ron,  Jno.  Gillen,  P.  Bannon,  J  no.  Walters,  Jerry  Fitzgerald,  Mrs. 
Garritt,  Michael  Pharroah,  Jno.  McGovern,  Daniel  Bannon,  Thos 
Bannon,  Jno.  McCorristan,  Jno.  Mallory,  Michael  McCorristan, 
Wm.  Kelly,  James  Dillett,  Darby  McGonigal  and  James  Plenney. 

Shortly  after  the  building  of  the  church,  a  house  was  built 
by  the  people,  about  1830,  with  the  idea  of  renting  it  to  a 
Catholic  family  who  would  care  for  the  priest  on  his  monthly 
visits.  This  house  was  occupied  by  old  Jerry  Fitzgerald  and 
later  was  sold,  in  1865,  to  Charles  D.  Smith,  now  of  Elwood, 
N.  J.,  who  sold  it  to  Dr.  Stille,  of  Atlantic  City.  After  the 
opening  of  the  church  the  priest  lodged  with  Mr.  Richards, 
an  Episcopalian,  and  his  daughter  took  charge  of  the  altar. 
John,  Hugh  and  Daniel  Farron  were  faithful  from  '35  to  '60; 
their  descendants  are  good  Catholics. 

The  church  remained  closed  until  1865,  when  a  young  Dillet 
woman  from  that  district  appealed  to  a  Philadelphia  priest,  and 
laid  the  condition  before  him  ;  she  was  directed  to  Camden,  and 
explained  matters  to  Father  Byrne,  who  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
spot  and  found  things  as  described.  The  church  was  deserted, 
the  few  remaining  people  had  lost  their  faith.  There  stood  the 
little  church  surrounded  by  pines,  hidden  away,  but  in  a  good 


148  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

state  of  preservation,  everything  just  as  it  had  been  left  by  Father 
Daly — but  even  the  memory  of  it  was  being  lost  when  Father 
Byrne  re-discovered  it  in  the  wilderness,  and,  strange  to  say, 
the  few  Catholics  then  around  cared  not  to  assemble  within  its 
walls,  so  that  he  held  services  in  a  private  house,  whilst  he 
boarded  with  Air.  Paterson,  a  Protestant  gentleman,  who  re- 
ceived him  most  hospitably. 

When,  in  1866,  Father  Thurnes  was  made  pastor  of  Egg 
Harbor,  Pleasant  Mills  was  one  of  his  missions.  He  attended 
it  when  necessary  as  did  also  his  successor,  Father  Esser,  '78-'85, 
and  Father  Van  Riel,  '85,  until  the  Hammonton  Parish  was 
formed,  when  it  became  a  part  of  that  parish.  At  present,  Octo- 
ber, '05,  there  is  only  one  Catholic  family  at  Pleasant  Mills,  and 
none  at  Batsto,  Mr.  A.  T.  McKeon  and  his  children.  They  at- 
tend the  church  at  Hammonton,  driving  there  on  Sundays,  a  dis- 
tance of  nine  miles,  and  this  for  thirteen  years,  proving  their 
sterling  faith  and  loyalty.  Father  Van  Reil  moved  the  pews 
to  Hammonton,  where  they  are  still  in  use,  also  a  beautiful 
old  oil  painting  of  the  Crucifixion.  The  church  was  completely 
destroyed  by  a  forest  fire  in  April  1899.  The  cemetery  is  en- 
closed with  a  neat  iron  fence,  placed  there  by  Mrs.  Copperthwaite, 
McKeon,  etc.  The  stones  and  graves  are  in  good  condition 
owing  to  the  care  of  the  McCambridge  boys. 

The  earliest  missionary  work  of  the  Catholic  Church  was 
done  by  the  Jesuits,  followed  by  the  Augustines,  as  early  as  1795. 
For  30  vears  they  attended  the  spiritual  wants  of  New  Jersey. 
Father  Neal  was  the  last  of  the  Jesuit  Missionaries.  He  went 
to  Georgetown  1798.  There  was  not  a  single  Catholic  structure  in 
New  Tersev.  The  church  is  closely  connected  with  the  beginning 
of  the  glass  industry  of  the  United  States.  From  an  old  record  we 
learn  that  the  pioneer  glass  blowers  of  New  Jersey  were  Casper 
Halter,  John  Martin  Halter,  Simon  Grisemeyer  and  John  Wentzel, 
skilled  glass  blowers  from  Belgium,  who  came  to  Salem  under 
contract  to  blow  glass  for  Casper  Wister  and  teach  his  son  Rich- 
ard, lie  paid  for  their  passage  58  pounds  and  8  shillings.  Later 
other  families  followed. 

This    historical    extract    is    contributed    by    Mrs.    George    W. 
Lee  eh,  (  Jl'eilil). 


EARLY    HISTORY    OE    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 49 


QUAKERS— FRIENDS 

Gathered  From  the  History  oe  the  M.  E.  Church 
By  Anna  S.  Collins  Fleming 

The  Quakers  were  by  many  years  the  first  religious  organ- 
ization in  the  county.  When  the  M.  E.  Church  was  first  organ- 
ized in  Smithville,  the  Friends  Society  was  well  nigh  ioo  years 
old.  So  far  as  I  know  there  is  no  printed  account  of  their  early 
meetings  in  this  vicinity,  but  their  records  are  well  kept,  and 
through  the  courtesy  of  Hon.  John  Clement,  of  Haddonfield, 
and  the  kindly  research  of  Sarah  Nicholson,  a  friend  of  the 
same  place,  and  information  of  Japhet  Leeds'  family,  I  have  been 
enabled  to  give  my  readers  this  account  of  the  Friends  of  Leeds 
Point.  In  1676  the  Province  of  West  Jersey  passed  under  the 
exclusive  control  of  Wm.  Penn  and  his  associates.  Friends,  who 
completed  and  published  a  body  of  laws  of  which  Goodrich 
saws :  "This  simple  code  enacted  by  the  Friends  in  America, 
livaled  the  charter  of  Connecticut  in  the  liberality  and  purity 
of  its  principles."  Before  the  end  of  the  year  over  400  families 
of  Friends  had  arrived,  from  England,  and  found  homes  in 
West  Jersey.  There  in  the  lower  counties  of  the  state  the  Friends 
antedated  by  many  years  all  other  religious  societies,  and  many 
of  the  best  families  with  justifiable  pride  claim  descent  from  these 
first  Quaker  settlers.  For  nearly  a  generation  the  Friends  as  a 
Society  have  ceased  to  exist  in  Leeds  Point. 

The  date  of  their  first  meeting  for  worship  is  not  known, 
but  the  Hon.  John  Clement,  of  Haddonfield,  an  authority  on  local 
history,  says  :  "Daniel  Leeds  was  an  important  man  in  the  early 
history  of  West  Jersey.  He  was  the  first  surveyor  general.  In 
1698,  he  made  several  surveys  in  Egg  Harbor,  and  removed  there, 
about  which  date,  I  suppose  the  Friends  Meeting  at  Leeds'  Point 
was  established.  In  1704,  he  published  the  first  Almanac  in 
America,  and  continued  the  publication  until  1716."  What  we 
know  as  two  villages,  Leeds'  Point  and  Smithville,  seem  to  have 
been  known  as  Leeds  until  1844. 

The    Haddonfield   Quarterly,   gives   that   as   early   as    1726, 


I50  EARLY    HISTORY   OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

there  were  three  places  for  holding  Friends'  meetings  in  Atlantic 
county,  namely :  Japhet  Leeds',  Peter  White's  and  John  Scull's. 
J.  Leeds  doubtless  lived  at  Leeds  Point,  (a  son  of  Daniel  Leeds). 
Peter  White  was  at  or  near  Absecon,  and  John  Scull  in  the 
vicinity  of  Somers  Point.  He  was  one  of  the  five  men  who  in 
1695  purchased  land  and  probably  formed  the  first  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Atlantic  County.  1726  several  Friends  of  Great 
Egg  Harbor  and  Cape  May  addressed  a  letter  to  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  Gloucester  and  Salem,  which  convened  in  Haddonfield 
7th  month  and  1 6th  day,  asking  for  a  monthly  meeting.  Their 
request  was  granted,  and  it  was  ordered  to  meet  alternately,  at 
Richard  Somers',  on  Egg  Harbor  side,  and  Rebecca  Garretson's, 
on  the  Cape  May  side,  which  lasted  until  1804.  1806  Egg  Harbor 
met  alternately  with  Galloway,  and  were  a  branch  of  Haddonfield 
Quarterly  Meeting  the  first  and  second  day,  9th  month,  1726. 
Richard  Townsend  was  appointed  clerk.  Peter  White  and  Jona- 
than Adams,  as  overseers  of  the  meetings  held  at  Japhet  Leeds ; 
Peter  White  and  John  Scull. 

1740  the  meeting  which  had  been  held  at  Japhet  Leeds'  was 
removed  to  Robert  Smith's.  1744  Friends  at  upper  end  of  the 
shore  make  request  to  build  a  meeting  house.  This  probably  was 
the  first  public  house  of  worship  in  Atlantic  County  and  was 
situated  directly  west  of  the  present  site  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  the  burying  ground  adjoining  is  still  used  and  is 
known  as  Quaker  burying  ground. 

Friends  are  ever  educators.  As  early  as  the  first  quarter  of 
the  19th  century  the  only  school  house  in  this  vicinity  adjoined 
this  meeting  and  was  under  the  control  of  the  Friends.  Their 
preacher  at  this  time  was  Samuel  Leeds,  who  taught  part  of  the 
time,  and  kept  a  store  at  Leeds  Point,  near  the  present  residence 
of  John  Anderson.  Services  were  held  every  first  and  fifth  day. 
He  was  far  in  advance  of  his  time  in  temperance  principles  ;  his 
was  the  only  store  in  the  neighborhood  which  did  not  sell  intoxi- 
cating liquors.  After  the  first  meeting  house  had  served  its  day, 
a  new  one  was  built  about  a  mile  east  of  the  old  site.  When 
no  longer  needed  for  a  house  of  worship,  it  was  rebuilt  into  a 
dwelling  and  is  now  occupied  by  Absalom  Higbee.  Thus  after 
an  honorable  history  of  over  150  years  the  last  meeting  house  in 
Atlantic  county  was  closed.  One  has  since  been  established  in 
Atlantic  Citv. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  151 


NOTES  RELATING  TO  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE 

FRIENDS  SOCIETY  OF  GREAT  EGG 

HARBOUR,  NEW  JERSEY 

By  Mrs.  Emily  Steelman  Fisher 

I  deem  it  a  special  honor  to  be  one  of  the  number  whose 
privilege  it  is  to  help  rescue  from  oblivion  the  memories  of  our 
Quaker  ancestors,  of  Great  Egg  Harbour. 

It  has  been  my  aim  to  collect  a  few  local  facts,  most  likely 
to  interest  the  society.  I  collected  most  of  this  data,  in  the 
search  I  made  for  my  own  Quaker  ancestry,  a  few  years  ago. 
Among  these  "Fragments"  I  found  many  historical  sketches  illus- 
trating the  origin  and  places  of  meeting  for  worship  and  spread- 
ing of  Friends  principles  in  this  section  of  New  Jersey. 

There  has  heretofore  been  too  great  an  indifference  prevail- 
ing in  respect  to  the  memories  of  the  early  Quaker  settlers,  as 
most  of  the  first  settlers  were  peace  loving  friends. 

There  is  no  record  of  massacres  or  treachery  by  the  In- 
dians in  this  section  of  New  Jersey.  No  doubt  but  this  was 
owing  to  the  love  of  peace  and  justice,  also  to  the  liberal  code  of 
laws  instituted  by  the  Quakers.  I  always  feel  the  great  charm 
(to  us  of  the  present  day)  consists  chiefly  in  this  fact,  also  that 
they  lived  here  in  the  early  period  of  our  county's  history  and 
that  of  itself  will  always  be  interesting  to  all  lovers  of  history. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  before  entering  into  the  history  of  At- 
iantic  County  "Quakerism,"  to  give  a  brief  history  of  the  first 
yearly  meetings  of  Friends  in  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey. 
It  appears  by  the  records,  that  the  first  yearly  meeting,  for  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  was  held  at  Burling- 
ton, New  Jersey  in  the  house  of  one  Thomas  Gardiner  on  the 
31st  day  of  the  6th  month  1681  (O.  S.).  In  the  year  1685,  it 
was  unanimously  agreed  and  concluded  by  the  yearly  meeting, 
that  "There  be  one  yearly  and  general  meeting  in  Penn'a.  and 
New  Jersey."  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  at  a  quarterly  meet- 
ing first  held  at  Friend  William  Biles,  it  was  agreed  "That 
Friends  ought  not  to  sell  rum  to  the  Indians." 


I52  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

We  will  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Friends,  at — what  is  known  by  us,  of  the  present  generation — 
as  the  town  of  Somers  Point.  We  may  in  imagination  picture 
Iheir  first  meeting,  and  to  quote  from  records  before  me :  "The 
first  meeting  of  Friends  met  at  the  house  of  Richard  Somers  on 
the  7th  day,  9  month,  1726.  At  this  meeting  Peter  White,  and 
Jonathan  Adams  were  appointed  overseers  of  the  meeting,  which 
was  to  be  held  at  Japhet  Leeds,  Peter  Whites  and  John  Sculls. 
Again,  6th  day  nth  month,  1726,  at  said  meeting  John  Scull  was 
appointed  overseer  in  place  of  Jonathan  Adams,  dee'd." 

From  a  list  I  have  reaching  from  1726  to  1769,  a  period  of 
forty-three  years,  I  find  Edmond  Somers  was  the  first  Friend 
appointed  to  attend  Quarterly  Meeting  (from  Great  Egg  Harbour 
Meeting)   at  Haddonfield,  N.  J. 

Fourth  day,  11  month,  172^,  Richard  Somers  and  Jacob 
Garetson  were  appointed  to  fi'.i  the  office  of  Treasurer.  Fourth 
day,  8th  month,  1736,  at  said  meeting  it  was  concluded  that  a 
weekly  meeting  should  be  "sett"  up  for  ye  friends,  at  ye  house  of 
Widow  Somers,  one  fourth  day,  and  at  the  other  fourth  day  at  ye 
meeting  house. 

Passing  to  year  1764,  we  find  that  on  1st  day,  10th  month, 
"Two  friends  are  appointed  to  treat  with  friend  John  Somers, 
concerning  our  holding  meeting  in  his  house,  and  to  hire  a 
privilege  of  him  for  that  service  and  make  report  thereof  at  next 
meeting." 

At  next  meeting  the  two  friends  report,  that  friend  John 
appeared  willing  that  they  should  meet  at  his  house,  but  not  will- 
ing to  take  pay,  but  at  next  meeting  we  find,  "The  meeting 
agreeing  to  pay  him,  twenty  shillings  a  year."  We  also  find  as 
late  as  1770  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings  was  "put  in  the  hands 
of  a  friend  to  pay  John  Somers,  for  the  use  of  his  house."  An- 
other item  of  interest  we  note  is  a  portion  of  the  will  of  James 
Somers  (of  July  15,  1695)  in  which  he  wills  one  acre  of  land,  for 
Quakers  where  meeting  house  stands  "forever  more."  Mrs. 
Anderson  informed  me,  that  the  Friends  Meeting  House, 
at  Somers  Point,  was  on  Shore  Boulevard  near  the  residence 
of  Mr.  J.  Scull,  that  during  the  life  of  Mrs.  Anderson's  grand- 
father, Jesse  Somers,  Sr.,  he  made  two  dwelling  houses  of  the 
building:. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.   J.  153 

The  first  marriage — that  is  the  first  I've  been  able  to  find 
record  of— celebrated  according  to  the  usages  of  the  Friends  was 
tliat  of  Richard  Somers  and  Judith  LeTart,  who  published  their 
intentions  of  marriage  with  each  other,  2d  day,  nth  month,  1726 
"At  said  meeting  Richard  Somers  and  Judith  LeTart,  appeared, 
and  this  meeting  consents  that  they  take  each  other  in  marriage, 
and  appoints  Jonathan  Adams,  and  John  Scull,  to  be  present  at 
said  marriage,  6th  day,  12th  month,  1726.     At  said  meeting  one 
of  ye  persons  appointed  to  be  at  Richard  Somers,  and  Judith  Le- 
Tart's  marriage,  made  report  that  it  was  orderly  accomplished.     I 
have  records  of  many  marriages  but  will  only  give  one  more,  as 
to  give  all  would  be  too  tedious.     This  second  marriage  is  of 
much  interest  to  many—  -who  are  members  of  this  society — as  well 
as  myself.     I  refer  to  Judith  Steelman,  widow  of  Ancestor  An- 
drew Steelman   (year   1736).     We  find  in  the  monthly  meeting 
held  at  Somers  Point  under  date  of  7th  day,  6th  month,  1738,  the 
following: — "At  this  meeting  our  friend  Charles  Dingee  (widow- 
er-)   and   Judith    Steelman    (widow)    declare    their    intention   of 
marriage   with   each   other,   4th   day,    7th   month,    1738,    Charles 
Dingee  produced  a  certificate   from   the   meeting  where  he  did 
belong  which  was     'red'  and  gave  satisfaction,  at  said  meeting 
Charles  Dingee  and  Judith  Steelman  declared  their  intention  of 
marriage,  with  each  other  second  time.    Two  friends  are  appoint- 
ed to  see  the  marriage  orderly  accomplished.     Judith  Steelman- 
Dingee,  was  soon  a  widow  second  time.     She  died  2d  day,   1st 
month,  175 1.     Her  will  is  an  instrument  of  much  interest  espec- 
ially the  codicil,  she  being  a  Friend.     The  most  unique  article 
mentioned  by  her  is  that  of  a  pair  of  bracelets,  which  she  wills  to  a 
granddaughter.     We   cannot   reconcile  ourselves  to  the   idea   of 
great-great-great  grandmother  Judith  the  Quakeress,  being  own- 
er of  so  sinful  an  ornament  as  a  "pair  of  bracelets,"  and  we  can- 
not  by   any   stretch   of   our    imagination   see   Ancestress   Judith 
decked  out  in  them,  as  we   feel  the  woman   friends  would  call 
upon  the  men  friends  to  assist  them  in  getting  up  a  "testifacation," 
against   Friend   Judith    for   her    "Outgoings"    in    the   matter   of 
wearing  ungodly  apparel.     Just  here  I  feel  safe  in  saying  that 
the  wills  of  our  ancestors  are  the  most  valuable  manuscripts  that 
remain.     They  develop  interesting  views  and  characters,  and  ex- 
hibit portraits   of  mind,   far  more  valuable   then   personal   like- 
nesses.    In  recalling  the  past,  we  are  apt  to  forget  that  the  lives 


154  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

of  our  colonial  ancestors  were  filled  with  very  much  the  same 
matter-of-fact  details  as  we  fill  our  lives  with  at  the  present  time. 
With  them,  as  with  us,  it  was  births,  marriages  and  deaths,  and 
so  "the  great  eventful  tale  is  told." 

It  may  interest  many,  and  amuse  some  to  hear  that  our  meek 
and  lowly  Quaker  ancestors,  were,  at  times  sorely  tried  by  the 
pranks  cupid,  "The  God  of  love,"  played.  I  find  recorded  in  the 
minutes  of  the  meeting  of  4th  day,  2d  month,  1760,  James 
Somers,  Jr.,  hath  sometime  ago  married  his  first  cousin  contrary 
to  the  good  order  established  in  our  society,  and  friends  have 
waited  sometime  for  his  repentance ;  therefore,  two  friends  are 
appointed  to  draw  a  testifacation  against  him."  We  wonder,  did 
the  testifacation  take  due  effect  and  did  James  the  Quaker 
repent?  If  so,  one  doesn't  envy  Mrs.  James,  the  Quakeress.  Also 
another  youth,  Isaac  Somers,  having  "gone  out"  in  his  marriage 
from  the  order  of  Friends,  two  friends  were  appointed  to  speak 
with  Friend  Isaac,  and  at  next  meeting  report  that  they  had 
spoken  with  him  and  that  ( like  a  true  and  gallant  gentleman  he 
was)  he  replied  "that  he  did  not  repent,  and  should  not  make  any 
satisfaction. 

There  seems  to  be  many  cases  like  the  above,  but  I  will  only 
quote  one  case  more,  28th  day,  5th  month,  1764.  At  this  meet- 
ing "  Our  women  Friends  requested  our  assistance  in  testifying 
against  Margaret  Adams  for  her  outgoings  in  marriage  from  the 
Order  of  Friends.  Second  day,  7th  month,  1764,  a  testifacation 
against  Margaret  Adams  was  produced,  read,  and  approved." 
I  was  unable  to  find  the  name  of  the  man,  Margaret  the  Quaker- 
ess married.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  if  the  "Fair  Mar- 
garet" has  any  descendants,  members  of  our  Society,  if  so,  they 
will  be  much  interested  in  her  "out  going." 

It  may  also  interest  the  society  (if  the  fact  is  not  already 
known  )  that  the  first  newspaper,  published  in  New  Jersey,  was 
the  "New  Jersey  Gazette,"  printed  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  December 
5th,  1777,  by  a  Quaker,  one  Isaac  Collins.  Being  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  he  was  not  willing  to  fight,  but  he  could 
and  did  edit  and  print  a  paper.  We  fancy  Friend  Isaac  Collins 
felt  that  in  his  case,    "The  pen  was  mightier  than  the  sword." 

Apropos  to  the  Quakers  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of 
this  country  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  we  extract  from  the 
writings  of  a  New  Jersey  Quaker,  the  following:     Ninth  month, 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 55 

1776,  "Now  did  troubles  much  encrease,  Friends  having  their 
goods  taken  from  them  for  not  contributing  to  the  support  of 
war."  Again  "very  great  fear  fell  on  our  young  men,  they  strove 
to  keep  themselves  hid  for  fear  being  forced  to  go  to  war."  It 
is  well  known  that  Quakers  would  not  "make  oath."  While  making 
researches  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  I  found  a  document  of  much  interest 
to  me,  as  dealing  with  an  Uncle  "of  ye  olden  times."  Three 
witnesses  had  signed,  two  "made  oath,"  one,  my  kinsman  re- 
fused, but  he  affirmed.  The  officer,  before  whom  the  three 
men  appeared,  added  an  explanatory  note  at  foot  of  document, 
saying,  "John  Steelman,  being  one  of  those  people  called  Quak- 
ers, refused  to  make  oath."  At  present  I  cannot  carry  the  his- 
tory of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour  Friends  Society  any  farther  in 
this  paper,  but  surely  the  memories  of  our  Quaker  ancestors, 
ought  not  to  be  suffered  to  perish  on  the  soil  which  they  honored 
and  blessed. 


156  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

HISTORICAL  NOTES 
By  C.  F.  Green. 

The  site  of  Pleasant  Mills  was  formerly  occupied  by  a 
hunting  village  of  the  Leni  Lenape  or  Delaware  Indians,  by 
whom  it  was  named  Xescochague.  Here  the  Red  men  and  their 
families  were  accustomed  to  spend  a  portion  of  each  year,  and 
to  stop  on  their  way  to  and  from  their  great  festivals  by  the  sea- 
shore. 

The  few  traditions  that  have  come  down  from  aboriginal 
days  are  full  of  interest,  and  fully  worthy  of  preservation  in 
song  and  romance.  (  )n  Absecon  Beach  was  an  Indian  mint, 
where  their  money  or  wampum  was  manufactured  from  shells; 
the  interior  or  black  portion  of  the  shell  was  the  more  valuable, 
and  was  the  gold  of  the  Indian  currency. 

The  first  white  settlers  located  at  Pleasant  Mills  in  the  year 
1707,  and  appear  to  have  been  of  English  and  Scotch  origin. 
Their  manner  of  living  at  first  was  almost  as  primitive  as  that  of 
the  Indians,  who  preceded  them.  Their  subsistence  was  gained 
by  hunting,  fishing  and  tillage  of  the  soil,  such  articles  as  they 
could  not  make  for  themselves  including  salt,  gunpowder  and 
cloth  were  at  first  brought  from  Philadelphia  by  pack  horses 
and  later  from  New  York  by  way  of  the  Minelola  or  Mullica 
River. 

The  first  mechanical  industry  was  a  saw  mill,  built  by  one 
Mullin,  about  the  year  1752.  The  first  church  was  erected  by 
Col.  Elijah  Clark  and  was  known  as  Clark's  Meeting  House. 
Within  the  walls  of  this  unpretending  edifice  some  of  the  most 
famous  pulpit  orators  of  olden  days  proclaimed  the  message  of 
salvation  to  listeners,  who  received  with  sincere  and  unquestion- 
ing faith.  Among  the  preachers  of  that  era  was  Brainard  whose 
missionary  labors  among  the  Indians  form  an  interesting  and 
important  part  of  American  church  history.  The  present  church 
was  erected  in  1808  and  for  many  years  the  old  meeting  house 
was  used  for  school  purposes. 

Within  30  years  from  the  arrival  of  the  first  settlers,  the 
original  log  cabins  had  given  place  to  neat  cottages,  and  farm 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J.  I57 

houses  and  the  place  had  become  an  ideal  colonial  village.  The 
building"  known  as  the  Aylesford  Mansion,  was  erected  in  1762 
by  an  English  gentleman  whose  wife  is  said  to  have  been  the 
daughter  of  a  British  Lord;  this  lady  died  in  1774,  and  her 
daughter  ( The  Kate  Aylesford,  of  Peterson's  Romance )  was 
sent  to  finish  her  education  in  England.  She  returned  to  America 
in  1778,  shortly  after  the  death  of  her  father,  to  whose  fortune 
she  was  left  sole  heiress.  In  1780  she  married  an  American 
officer,  who  was  in  command  of  the  military  post  at  the  Forks 
of  the  Mullica.  There  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  this  officer 
(Major  Gordon)  was  sent  to  a  post  on  the  northwestern  frontier, 
where  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife.  They  appear  to  have 
left  no  descendants.  During  the  war  for  Independence  the  men 
of  Pleasant  Mills  were  prompt  in  answering  their  country's  call 
for  volunteers  and  most  of  them  entered  the  army  either  as  regu- 
lar soldiers  or  rangers,  who  were  of  great  service  in  hunting 
down  and  destroying  the  various  bands  of  outlaws  that  infested 
the  counties  of  Burlington  and  Gloucester. 

The  most  notorious  of  the  outlaw  chiefs  was  a  dare  devil 
named  Mulliner,  who  after  terrorizing  the  country  for  years  was 
captured,  duly  tried  and  hanged  as  a  spy  and  traitor.  His  re- 
mains were  buried  near  the  Old  Buttonwoods.  This  group  of 
venerable  trees  (now  falling  into  decay)  have  been  famed  in  local 
annals  for  two  centuries.  Their  great  height  gave  them  a  com- 
manding view  of  the  surrounding  country  for  miles  and  one  of 
them  was  used  as  a  lookout  station  in  Revolutionary  days. 

THE  OLD  BUTTONWOODS 

They  stand  like  spectres,  gray  and  grim ; 

In  time's  devouring  flight, 
Crumbling  slowly,  limb  by  limb. 

From  their  once  majestic  height. 

Landmarks  of  an  eventful  past 

Famed   in  history  lore. 
They  feel  the  touch  of  doom  at  last 

And  soon  will  be  no  more. 

Yet,  had  these  trunks  the  power  of  speech 
What  legends  might  be  told, 


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The  Old  Buttonwoods 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.   J.  1 59 

What   thrilling  lessons  they   might  teach 
Anent  the  clays  of  old. 

Here  once  the  Indian  hunter  roved 

And  at  the  twilight  hour. 
Held  converse   with   the   maid  he   loved 

In  yonder  sylvan  bower. 

Once  from  the  towering  lookout  bough 

The  watcher  oft  might  spy, 
Upon  the  placid  flood  below 

The  light  craft  gliding  by. 

Here  Patriot  and  Royal  bands 

Clashed  in  their  martial  pride, 
And  the  dark  river's  pebbled  strand 

With  gore  and  crimson  dyed. 

None  mourn  the' forest  giant's  fall 

Save   haply   one   like  me. 
Whose  reprospective  thoughts  recall 

Their  name  and  history. 

Time  levels  alb  the  things  of  earth 

Will  quickly  pass  away, 
Not  human  strength  nor  pride  nor  worth 

The  powers  of  fate  can  stay. 

C.  F.  G.,  Pleasant  Mills,  N.  J. 


PULASKI'S  RIDE— 1778. 

Five  score  years  ago  and  more 
When  blazed  the  lurid  flames  of  war 
From  Nesco-chague  at  break  of  day 
Pulaski  led  his  brave  array. 
Loud  and  clear  that  Autumn  morn 
The  bugle's  brazen  call  was  borne ; 
Each  trooper  sprang  to  his  seat,  amain 
Anl  gave  his  gallant  steed  the  rein 


l6o  EARLY  HISTORY   OR   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 

Down  the  shore  road  under  the  pines 
Swiftly  moved  the  serried  lines 
Numbered  among  that  dauntless  band 
Were  stalwart  sons  of  the  Fatherland 
With  Jersey  woodsmen  strong  and  bold 
As  the  famed  Palladius  of  old 
And  Polish  exiles  in  danger  tried 
With   Yankee  and  German  rode  side  by  side. 

Not  once  they  paused  in  their  career 
Until  the  enemy's  lines  were  near. 

"Halt!"  said  the  chief,  "In  order  form, 
Then  forward !  like  the  vengeful  storm." 
As  the  avalanche  of  Alpine  snow 
Crashes  down  to  the  vale  below 
They  hurled  themselves  upon  the  foe 
And  the  sons  of  Britain  back  did  reel 
Before  the  shock  of  flame  and  steel 
Swift  as  the  jagged  bolt  of  heaven 
From  the  dark  storm  cloud  firecely  driven 
The  charge  with  whirlwind  fury  sped 
Till  the  red  coats  wavered,  broke  and  fled 
In  headlong  haste  to  their  ships  again 
Finding  their  scheme  of  conquest  vain. 

Pulaski,  the  last  of  a  noble  name 
Has  left  his  mark  on  the  rolls  of  fame 
And  those  who  followed  at  his  command 
Still  live  in  the  archives  of  our  land. 

C.  F.  Green,  Pleasant  Mills,  N.  J. 


The  ranger  company  above  referred  to,  included  among  its 
members  three  of  the  original  trustees  of  Pleasant  Mills  Church, 
Simon  Lucas,  Simon  Ashcraft  and  Lawrence  Peterson.  Simon 
Lucas  was  also  one  of  the  first  pastors.  He  died  in  1838  at  the 
advanced  age  of  87  years. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  l6l 

EARLY  SHIP  BUILDING 
By  Mrs.  S.  Johnson  and  Middleton 

Somers  Point  was  the  old  port  of  entry  for  Gloucester 
County.  The  Custom  House  was  established  in  1797  by  the 
States  at  that  time. 

In  1800,  it  is  said  that  Christopher  Vansant  built  a  full 
rigged  vessel  at  Bargaintown,  along  Patcong  Creek. 

About  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  later  five  ships  were  built 
along  the  same  creek,  and  in  1825,  we  hear  of  the  John  Somers 
ship  yard  at  Sculls  Bay. 

In  the  half  century  beginning  1830,  shipbuilding  was  at  its 
height.  It  is  said  that  a  hundred  vessels  were  built  from  timber 
obtained  from  the  Colwell  Estate  alone.  The  United  States  at 
this  time  led  the  commerce  of  the  world,  and  held  the  record 
of  the  world's  finest  ships,  and  the  best  trade  in  the  Mediterranean, 
West  Indies  and  South  America.  A  line  of  trading  schooners 
made  regular  trips  between  Gravelly  Run  and  Manhattan,  now 
New  York.  They  were  about  thirty  or  forty  tons  capacity,  and 
carried  charcoal,  wood,  pig  iron  and  other  products  of  the  found- 
ries, and  brought  back  food  supplies,  and  various  mixed  cargoes. 

Bassett  Steelman  ran  a  packet  steamer  between  Philadelphia 
and  Somers  Point,  and  brought  the  iron  work  all  fitted  for  use 
in  the  ship  yards. 

[A  more  exhaustive  account  of  ship  building  will  follow  in 
next  edition. — Editor.] 


1 62  EARLY   HISTORY   OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J. 


AN  OLD  STAGE  LINE 

That  Ran  From  Market  Street,  Philadelphia,  to  Atlantic 

City. 

From  Woods  town  Year  Book. 

We  have  a  well  preserved  poster  announcing  the  running 
of  a  line  of  stages  from  Philadelphia  to  the  Seashore. 

The  line  left  Pierson's  Ferry,  the  upper  side  of  Market 
street,  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  three  days  a  week — Tues- 
day, Thursday  and  Saturday.  Half  an  hour  was  allowed  for 
passengers  and  baggage  to  be  landed  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  where,  from  John  Knissell's  Ferry,  Camden,  the  coach  left 
at  4.30  o'clock; 

Some  of  the  villages  and  crossroads  passed  on  the  route  to 
Great  Egg  Harbor  will  not  be  recognized  by  present-day  travel- 
ers, who  are  swiftly  carried  to  Atlantic  City  in  something  less 
than  an  hour  from  Camden,  although,  with  few  exceptions,  the 
old  villages  and  towns  on  the  route  retain  their  ancient  names. 
From  the  poster  it  is  learned  that  the  line  passes  through  Hacl- 
donfield,  Long-a-Coming,  Tansboro,  Blue  Anchor,  Winslow  Glass 
Works,  Weymouth  Iron  Works,  May's  Landing,  Bargaintown, 
Somers  Point,  Smith's  Landing  to  Absecon.  Return  journeys 
were  made  on  Mondays'  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  and  passeng- 
ers from  Absecon  had  to  be  ready  by  4  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Those  at  Somers  Point  need  not  be  on  the  coach  until  4.30. 

In  addition  to  this  United  States  mail  stage  line,  the  pro- 
prietors, who  were  John  C.  Briggs,  James  Stoy,  Samuel  Nor- 
cross,  William  Coffin,  Jr.,  Uriah  Norcross  and  William  Nor- 
cross  &  Co.,  announce  that  they  had  established  an  accommoda- 
tion line  between  Philadelphia  and  May's  Landing.  This  line 
was  operated  on  alternate  days  with  the  mail  and  left  Philadel- 
phia at  the  same  early  hour.  As  the  announcement  calls  special 
attention  to  the  use  of  "elliptic  spring  coaches,"  it  is  presumed 
travellers  over  the  line  had  as  comfortable  a  journey  as  stage 
journeys  went  in  those  days. 

Long-a-Coming  is   now  known   as   Berlin,   and   Penny-Pot, 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  163 

which,  although  not  noticed  on  the  poster,  was  a  posting  house 
on  the  line  between  Winslow  and  Weymouth,  is  now  known  as 
Newtonville.  Bargaintown  remains,  but  the  traveller  on  the 
steam  road  is  not  aware  of  its  existence  unless  he  is  on  his  way 
to  Somers  Point.  Smith's  Landing  remains,  and  Pleasantville 
has  come  into  existence.  The  distance  by  stage  from  Camden 
to  May's  Landing  was  forty-eight  miles.  Bargaintown  was  ten 
miles  further  and  Absecon  about  the  same  distance  to  the  northeast 
although  by  the  stage  route,  it  was  about  twenty  miles.  In  those 
days  Atlantic  City  was  simply  known  as  Absecon  Beach  and, 
while  visited,   was  not  a  resort. 

Haddonfield  was  a  town  of  140  buildings  ;  Long-a-Coming 
a  village  of  only  forty  buildings  ;  Blue  Anchor  and  Penny-Pot 
mere  groups  of  houses  around  taverns  of  those  names.  Wey- 
mouth was  a  small  manufacturing  place,  with  a  population  of 
about  450.  May's  Landing,  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  Great 
Egg  Harbor  River,  about  eighteen  miles  from  the  coast,  had  a 
population  of  250.  A  route  book  of  the  time  adds  that  it  has  "a 
Methodist  church,  five  stores  and  as  many  taverns,"  so  it  must 
have  been  something  of  a  metropolis  on  the  coast.  Bargain- 
town  was  a  small  settlement  of  fifty  buildings,  and  Absecon 
about  the  same  size.  While  the  poster  does  not  advertise  any 
schedule  for  running  time,  from  what  is  known  of  stage  lines 
seventy-five  years  ago  it  may  be  assumed  that  about  ten  hours 
were  required  to  make  the  journey  from  Camden  to  Absecon. — 
Philadelphia  Ledger. 


164  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

STAGE  ROUTE  FROM  ABSECON  TO  PHILADELPHIA 
By  L.  J.  Price 

Long  before  the  time  which  the  writer  describes  a  stage 
line  was  established  between  Great  Egg  Harbor  and  Philadelphia, 
but  this  time  is  in  the  early  years  of  Atlantic  County,  and  the 
history  is  peculiarly  our  own. 

Looking  backward,  we  may  see  the  old  stage  coach  as  it 
rolled  along  the  highway,  with  its  driver,  Billy  Norcross,  crack- 
ing his  whip  over  his  horses,  and  blowing  his  horn  that  people 
desiring  passage  might  know  the  stage  was  coming.  The  great 
lumbering  vehicle,  with  its  rack  strapped  with  luggage,  and  the 
boot  filled  with  smaller  bundles,  mayhap  a  bandbox  or  two. 
This  as  it  rolled  along  in  the  '40's  and  till  the  great  time  of  the 
building  of  the  railroad  to  the  (our  J  sea,  is  the  time  which  we 
describe  and  is  Atlantic  County's  own. 

The  coach  left  Absecon  at  three  or  four  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, for  Somers  Point,  stopping  for  passengers  in  the  interven- 
ing villages.  Bargaintown  for  the  mail  would  be  included  either 
to  or  from  Somers  Point. 

Returning  from  Somers  Point  by  the  back  road  which  con- 
nects with  the  road  to  English  Creek  and  May's  Landing  at 
the  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  coach  did  not  al- 
ways travel  the  same  road.  If  notified  the  route  was  changed 
for  the  convenience  of  people  desiring  passage.  Sometimes  the 
way  would  lead  by  Doughty 's  Tavern,  or  by  English  Creek  and 
Catawba,  or  striking  the  May's  Landing  road  through  a  woods 
road,  but  what  woods  road  is  not  designated.  Evidently  all 
roads  leading  to  May's  Landing  merged  in  one  on  the  upper 
part  of  the  way. 

Breakfast  was  eaten  at  May's  Landing  at  eight  o'clock  and 
the  horses  changed.  Weymouth  lay  between  May's  Landing  and 
old  Camden.  Here  we  found  a  prosperous  town,  iron  works, 
church,  store,  homes  for  employees  and  the  Colwell  home.  Col- 
wells  were  managers  of  the  enterprise. 

Penny-Pot,  a  settlement  of  other  years,  one  large  house 
remaining.     At   Penny-Pot  sand  was  encountered  so  deep  that 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  165 

wheels  sank  to  the  hubs.  Bark  was  scattered  over  the  road  to 
enable  the  coach  to  proceed.  New  Germany  was  the  next  stop, 
here  the  horses  were  changed  again.  New  Germany  was  a  new 
settlement.  Men  and  women  were  engaged  in  clearing  land. 
Houses  were  built  of  logs,  and  huts  made  of  slabs.  This  town 
was  afterward  called  Wooley  Field  and  is  now  Folsom.  Win- 
slow,  a  town  of  greater  facilities  was  next  on  the  route ;  here  we 
found  glass  works,  Andrew  K.  Hay,  proprietor. 

Blue  Anchor  had  a  post  office  and  store,  a  public  house, 
with  the  sign  of  a  bine  anchor.  Tansboro,  a  small  village  with  a 
public  house.  Cross  Keys  the  next  town,  through  which  the 
coach  passed,  had  a  public  house,  with  a  sign  of  two  large 
keys,  crossed  on  a  high  sign  post.  Dinner  was  served  at  three 
o'clock  at  Long-a-Coming,  which  was  generally  abbreviated  to 
Long-Coming,  ami  was  scheduled  as  such  on  the  early  time 
cards  of  the  Camden  and  Atlantic  Railroad,  but  for  many  years 
has  borne  the  name  Berlin.  Long-Coming  had  its  public  house 
and  post  office.  White  Horse  is  described  as  having  a  hotel  with 
a  large  painted  sign  of  a  white  horse.  Haddonfield,  a  Quaker 
town,  with  handsome  homes.  The  lawns  were  bordered  with 
"box  brush  trimmed  in  the  form  of  tumblers.  From  Haddon- 
field to  Camden  was  a  gravelled  pike,  the  first  in  the  journey,  now 
White  Horse  Pike.  When  the  days  were  long,  the  journey  was 
ended  at  sunset,  but  in  the  winter  long  after  dark. 

Ferry  boats  with  steam  power  were  used  at  this  time.  The 
return  journey  was  made  the  next  day,  leaving  Camden  in  the 
early  morning  and  arriving  in  Absecon  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening. 

This  route  is  as  described  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Price 
some  years  ago,  before  it  had  entered  the  minds  of  men  to  organ- 
ize a  society  to  preserve  Atlantic  County's  history. 

Should  exceptions  be  made  to  the  roundabout  way  of  a 
part  of  the  route,  this  was  necessary  in  order  to  collect  the  mail, 
from  the  various  post  offices.  Mrs.  Price  made  this  journey, 
important  in  those  days,  for  the  first  time,  when  a  girl  in  her 
teens,  in  care  of  her  uncle,  the  late  Captain  Jeremiah  Baker. 
Captain  Baker  pointed  out  the  things  of  interest  as  they  approach- 
ed the  city.  A  man  who  had  entered  the  coach  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  county,  remarked  that  the  city  was  a  great  contrast 


166  EARLY    HISTORY   OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

to  one  coming  from  the  pines,  to  which  Miss  Baker  replied  with 
spirit  that  she  was  not  from  the  pines,  bnt  from  the  seashore. 

Air.  James  Ryon  tells  ns  the  fare  to  Philadelphia  was  five 
dollars.  Mr.  Ryon  tells  that  the  stage  coach  was  often  very 
late  on  its  return  journey.  His  father,  the  late  Pardon  Ryon, 
was  the  post  master  at  Smith's  Landing.  Mr.  Ryon  would  wait 
until  midnight  for  the  mail ;  if  it  did  not  arrive  at  that  time, 
the  office  was  closed. 

Oft-times  it  would  be  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the 
stage  arrived.  At  this  early  hour  the  driver  would  herald  his 
coming  by  blowing  his  horn  at  the  top  of  Michael's  Hill,  (Michael 
Frambes  was  the  Michael  referred  to,  and  the  hill  through 
which  Wright  Street  runs.) 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  1 67 

PLACE  NAMES 

By  Mrs.  Richard  S.  Collins 
\ 

Chestnut  Neck  is  teeming  with  history  but  this  paper  is  to 
give  the  origin  of  names  of  different  points  and  places. 

The  most  prominent  place  on  Chestnut  Neck,  except  the 
monument  recently  erected  by  the  Gen.  Lafayette,  Chapter  N.  S.„ 
D.  A.  R.,  is  Fort  island,  so  called  in  that  vicinity.  It  is  where 
the  fort  stood  when  it  was  burned  in  the  battle  of  Chestnut  Neck 
in  177S. 

Another  place  is  Payne's  Creek,  which  received  its  name 
from  the  tavern  that  stood  there,  and  was  burned  at  the  same 
time  as  the  fort.  From  its  foundations,  which  still  show  plain- 
ly, it  must  have  been  a  large  building.  When  I  visited  the  place 
and  was  looking  at  the  heavy  imported  stone  used  for  a  part  of 
the  foundation,  I  saw  several  of  the  old  bricks  in  some  very  fine 
sand.  Perhaps  it  was  not  very  patriotic  in  me  to  appropriate  one 
of  them,  and  thus  remove  even  a  small  part  of  an  old  landmark, 
but  I  wished  to  show  it  to  others.  The  traces  of  fire  still  show 
very  plainly  on  it.  It  must  be  over  136  years  old.  When  the 
Historical  Society  has  a  headquarters  I  will  gladly  donate  the 
brick  to  them  should  they  desire  it. 

Port  Republic  was  at  one  time  called  WTrangleboro.  It  must 
have  received  the  name  from  the  pugnacious  disposition  of  some 
of  its  inhabitants,  caused  by  their  using  so  much  intoxicating 
liquors,  sold  to  them  not  only  by  three  taverns;  but  also  by 
several  stores.  One  old  gentleman  told  me  that  when  his  father, 
then  a  young  man,  first  came  to  Port  Republic  he  was  quite 
surprised  at  the  number  of  young  men  who  wanted  the  pleasure 
of  fighting  with  him.  But  in  time  the  better  element  prevailed, 
every  liquor  license  was  revoked,  and  for  over  sixty  years  no 
liquor  has  been  legally  sold  in  Port  Republic.  We  are  proud 
of  our  dry  town. 

At  the  time  when  the  name  was  changed  from  Wrangle- 
boro'  to  Port  Republic,  the  place  was  becoming  quite  a  port. 
Many  vessels  came  in,  taking  away  vast  amounts. of  wood  and 
charcoal  and  returning  with   all   kinds  of  merchandise.      Many 


1 68  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC   COUNTY,   N.  J. 

boats  were  built  here,  and  as  it  was  already  a  port,  the  in- 
habitants called  it  Port  Republic  and  the  post  office  received 
that  name.  It  was  the  second  post  office  appointed  in  Galloway 
Township  and  was  kept,  I  have  been  told,  by  Lewis  Clark.  The 
first  post  office  was  at  Leeds  Point. 

There  is  a  part  of  Port  Republic  still  called  Hewitt  Town 
though  every  family  of  that  name  have  gone  or  moved  away. 

Port  Republic  still  has  the  beautiful  mill  pond  and  mill  dam. 
The  old  mill  was  recently  torn  down.  The  charter  of  this  mill 
was  granted  in  the  time  of  George  III,  of  England.  There  are 
also  traces  of  Clark's  Mill,  and  faint  traces  of  an  old  colonial 
mill  owned  by  one  James  Morse.  Two  of  the  family,  it  is  said, 
were  in  the  battle  of  Chestnut  Neck.  The  name  through  the 
course  of  years  was  corrupted  into  the  word  "Moss."  So  trie 
road  leading  to  that  mill  is  still  called  Moss'  Mill  Road. 

Leeds  Point  was  named  from  the  family  of  Leeds  that  came 
irom  Leeds,  England.  They  were  Quakers.  John  and  Japhet 
Leeds  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  which  they  bought  for  twelve 
and  a  half  cents  an  acre.  They  called  it,  at  that  time,  Leeds. 
The  first  post  office  in  Galloway  Township  was  held  in  a  stone 
house  owned  by  Japhet  Leeds,  and  built  by  him.  This  house  is 
now  occv.pied  by  Mi .  Jesse  Mathis. 

The  old  Friends'  Meeting  House  is  still  standing  in  Leeds 
Point.  It  is  now  converted  into  a  dwelling  house.  It  stands 
across  the  street  from  the  home  of  Mr.  John  Higbee.  It  is  the 
second  Meeting  House  built  by  the  Friends.  The  first  stood 
near  their  burying  ground,  which  is  adjacent  to  the  M.  E.  Church 
at  Smithville,  and  piesented  to  that  society  by  the  Friends.  The 
Quakers  at  that  time  must  have  been  a  very  large  society  and 
very  devout.  There  is  a  place  on  the  Mullica  River  near  Leeds 
Point  called  Swimming  Over,  which  received  its  name  from  the 
fact  that  at  this  point  the  Quakers  mounted  on  horse-back, 
would  swim  their  horses  to  the  other  side  of  the  river  when 
they  wished  to  attend  the  Friends'  Meetings  at  Tuckerton. 

The  information  I  have  given  in  this  paper  I  obtained 
partlv  from  papers  given  me  by  Mr.  Roland  Ashley;  also,  from 
facts  given  me  by  Mr.  Jesse  Mathis  who  has,  in  his  possession, 
some  very  valuable  papers ;  and,  from  an  old  historical  collection 
of  facts  compiled  by  J.  W.  Barber. 

Smithville   was   a   part   of   Leeds   and   was   so   called   from 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF   ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J.  1 69 

the  family  of  Smiths  who  once  owned  much  property  there.  •  A 
part  of  the  old  Smith's  Tavern  still  stands.  It  used  to  be  a 
famous  hostelry  and  the  stopping  place  for  the  stage  coach  that 
came  from  Philadelphia  and  Camden. 

Oceanville  was  at  first  called  Tanners  Brook.  Over  a  ioo 
years  ago  there  was  a  tannery  there.  It  is  said  that  it  took 
about  a  year  at  that  time  and  at  that  place  to  tan  a  cow  hide 
properly.  The  villge  at  Tanners  Brook  was  first  called  Center- 
ville.  The  name  of  Oceanville  was  given  to  that  section  below 
the  bridge  at  the  time  that  the  M.  E.  church  was  built  which 
was  burned  down  in  1809.  The-  section  was  still  called  Center- 
ville  above  the  bridge  until  the  post  office  was  given  them  during 
Cleveland's  Administration.  The  post  office  being  moved  above 
the  bridge  resulted  in  the  whole  place  being  called  Ocean- 
ville. 

Absecon  I  find  is  spelled  in  several  ways.  In  some  histories, 
Absecombe  and  Absecom,  also  Absecum,  called  so  by  the  Indians 
which  in  their  language  meant  beach  or  place  for  swans,  from 
the  number  which  once  resorted  there.  It  is  said  that  the  whole 
Absecon  tract  originally  belonged  to  one  Thomas  Budd  who 
sold  large  tracts  to  actual  settlers  and  each  deed  contained  this 
clause,  "With  the  privilege  of  cutting  cedar  and  commomidge 
for  cattell  on  ye  swamps  and  beaches  laid  out  by  ye  said  Thomas 
Budd  for  commons." 

Clark's  Landing  received  its  name  from  the  illustrous  fam- 
ily of  Clarks  who  settled  there  in  colonial  days  from  Connecti- 
cut. 

May's  Landing  was  named  by  George  May,  who  bought  the 
land  where  the  town  now  stands.  In  1810  Hammonton  was 
built  on  the  so-called  Hammonton  tract  of  land.  Judge  Richard, 
J.  Byrnes  and  Charles  K.  Landis  opened  a  section  of  N.  J.  and 
by  liberal  terms  and  advertisement  drew  many  settlers  from  New 
England  who  brought  with  them  culture  and  education.  They 
clustered  about  a  station  which  they  named  Hammonton,  aftei 
John  Hammond. — Coffin. 

Elwood  was  first  called  Weymouth  Station,  but  in  order  to 
have  a  post  office  it  changed  its  name  to  Elwood,  named  after 
one  Elwood  Matlack,  taking  the  name  of  Elwood  instead  of 
Matlack.     Weymouth  proper  was  a  few  miles  distance,  contain- 


I70  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J. 

mg  in  those  days  foundries  and  factories  which  have  long  since 
shut  down. 

Brigantine  Beach  is  one  of  the  oldest  resorts  on  the  New 
Jersey  coast.  It  has  a  very  interesting  history.  It  is  over  200 
years  old,  receiving  its  name  from  the  fact  that  a  large  brigantine 
went  ashore  there  about  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  ago. 

I  think  that  I  can  vouch  for  the  authenticity  of  every  item 
that  I  have  written  and  have  gone  to  much  careful  study  to  have 
them  authentic. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  171 

THE  WHIPPING  POST 
By  L.  J.  Price 

The  whipping  post  has  existed  in  onr  town  within  the  mem- 
ory of  onr  oldest  citizens,  hnt  not  as  an  instrument  of  punish- 
ment. When  this  medium  of  punishment  was  abolished,  our 
informants  have  not  stated.  But  that  the  whipping"  post  stood 
years  after  its  abolition  as  a  penal  mode,  has  been  asserted  by 
those  who  recall  this  grim  preserver  of  law  and  order,  as  stand- 
ing in  the  days  of  their  childhood. 

The  whipping  post  was  located  by  the  tavern  of  Espress 
Tilton.  Looking  westward  from  the  suburban  trolley  line,  as 
the  conductors  call  Morris  Avenue,  but  more  properly  Zion  Road, 
one  may  see  a  house,  standing  facing  the  Shore  Road,  some 
two  hundred  feet  distant ;  this  marks  the  spot  where  the  whip- 
ping post  stood  as  closely  as  we  can  identify.  The  broad  space 
between  the  house  and  the  Shore  Road  was  used  for  a  drilling 
ground  for  the  House  Guards  of  1S12. 

The  late  Constant  Adams,  who  was  born  in  181 8,  related 
witnessing,  when  a  lad,  the  whipping  of  a  colored  boy  for  theft. 
This  boy  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  slave  in  the  possession  of 
a  member  of  the  Tilton  family,  and  the  last  person  to  receive 
public  whipping.  Were  it  possible  for  us  to  be  transferred  to 
the  first  quarter  of  the  past  century,  we  might  travel  our  roads 
in  fear  of  beasts  of  the  forest. 

It  is  related  that  one  day,  as  Espress  Tilton  was  riding 
to  the  mill  with  a  bag  of  grist,  a  panther  sprang  from  the  large 
overhanging  branches  of  the  trees  along  the  road,  about  where 
the  home  of  Mr.  Job.  Frambes  is  located.  The  beast  failed  to 
strike  the  horse,  but  Mr.  Tilton  thinking  it  unwise  to  proceed, 
turned  about,  and  rode  down  the  Shore  Road,  gathering  a  com- 
pany of  men  to  assist  in  hunting  for  the  animal.  Though  the 
woods  were  searched,  the  panther  was  not  found. 


172  EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 

BLACK  LUCE 

By  L.  J.  Price 

While  every  State  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  Line  by 
1850  had  set  the  black  man  free,  there  were  still  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  negroes  in  bondage  in  New  Jersey.  As  late  as 
the  '70' s  there  was  one  slave  living  in  Leedsville  (Linwood). 
To  those  of  our  Society  who  remember  Lnce,  will  recall  her, 
as  a  large  woman,  darker  than  the  mulatto,  but  not  the  ebony 
face  of  many  negroes. 

Black  Lnce  appears  to  have  been  the  property  of  the  Doughty 
Family,  of  Revolution  naval  fame.  Luce,  when  an  old  woman, 
was  purchased  from  the  auction  block  in  Leedsville,  (Linwood) 
where  the  Masonic  Hall  in  Linwood  now  stands,  by  one  Hold- 
craft.  (Thomas  Winner?  auctioneer).  The  sum  paid  for  the  slave, 
as  related  by  different  people  varies  from  twenty-five  cents  to 
two  and  a  half  dollars.  There  are  still  at  this  time,  (1914)  people 
living,  who  witnessed  this  transaction. 

It  is  told  us  that  the  purchase  of  a  slave  at  this  time  neces- 
sitated on  the  part  of  the  purchaser,  care  and  sustenance  of  the 
negro  for  life.  Lnce  is  said  to  have  lived  to  be  over  one  hundred 
years  old.  When  a  very  small  child  the  writer  accompanied  by 
her  oldest  sister,  returning  from  Leedsville,  (Linwood)  in  pass- 
ing Townsend's  Tavern,  (old  Linwood  Hotel),  was  asked  by 
Mrs.  Holdcraft,  Mrs.  Townsend's  mother,  to  deliver  a  message 
to  Lnce,  who  lived  in  the  old  Holdcraft  home,  and  by  the  block 
from  which  she  had  been  sold. 

The  message  to  Lucy  I  cannot  recall.  Rain  had  fallen,  and 
it  was  about  sunset  as  my  sister  and  I  entered  the  house.  A 
roaring  fire  evidently,  just  kindled  was  burning  in  the  fireplace. 
Tongues  of  flame  were  shooting  up  the  chimney,  and  I  was 
fearful  lest  something  would  take  fire.  I  was  accustomed  to  see- 
ing fireplaces,  but  this  one  of  smaller  size,  and  with  whitewashed 
bricks  was  a  matter  of  wonder,  for  my  early  years. 

No  one  appeared,  so  my  sister  called  Lucy  repeatedly  at  the 
top  of  her  voice,  and  opened  the  stair  door,  perchance  she  should 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF   ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  173 

be  upstairs,  but  no  one  responded.  So  with  darkness  gathering 
we  pursued  our  homeward  way. 

The  writer  recalls  this  large  woman  of  powerful  physique 
at  one  of  the  Bakersville  Agricultural  Fairs,  with  a  sontag 
around  her  shoulder  and  a  knitted  hood  on  her  head.  My  im- 
pression is  that  she  was  employed  as  a  helper.  A  colored  person 
at  this  time  of  shore  history,  was  not  commonly  seen. 

Old  Luce  was  a  bugbear  to  unruly  children.  Whether  she 
merited  this  claim,  the  writer  cannot  state.  She  had  a  son  known 
as  Samson  Rattler,  whose  home  was  with  some  one  at  Smith's 
Landing. 

Samson's  affection  for  children  was  well  known.  It  is  told 
of  him  as  he  drove  his  team  along  the  road,  he  would  throw 
candies  to  the  children.  While  the  writer  was  never  the  recipient 
of  his  gifts,  the  story  is  told  of  an  older  sister  who  strayed  in 
the  path  of  the  horses  tracks,  was  rescued  by  Samson,  and  de- 
livered to  her  parents.  Also  gifts  to  the  children  of  wonderful 
fruit  made  of  candy  is  told  of  him. 


174  EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SOCIETY       . 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Atlantic  County  Historical  Society 
of  New  Jersey,  was  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  M.  R.  M.  Fish, 
Pleasantville,  New  Jersey,  July  23,  1913.  Members  present  were: 
Mrs  M.  R.  M.  Fish,  Mrs.  Emma  Cordery  Johnson,  Mrs.  Martilla 
Price  Ketchnm,  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Price,  Miss  Sarah  Risley  and 
Mrs.  L.  Dow  Balliett.    The  following  officers  were  elected. 

Mrs.  L.  Dow  Balliett,  President. 
Mrs.  M.  R.  M.  Fish,  Vice-President. 
Mrs.   Martilla  Price  Ketchnm,  Secretary. 
*Miss  Sarah  Risley,  Treasurer. 

Weekly  meetings  were  held  during  the  remainder  of  the 
Summer  and  during  the  Autumn  months.  Monthly  meetings 
have  since  been  held. 

Four  pilgrimages  were  taken  to  historical  places  within  the 
county. 

The  annual  meeting  was  held  July  23,  1914.  The  following 
officers  were  elected  : — 

President — Mrs.  L.  Dow  Balliett. 
First  Vice-President — Mrs.  R.  M.  Fish. 
Second  Vice-President — Mrs.  Samuel  Johnson. 
Third  Vice- President — Mrs.  Maria  Collins  Thomas. 
Fourth  Vice-President — Mrs.  Carl  A.  Hoptf. 
Secretary — Mrs.  William  Lear. 
Assistant  Secretary — Miss  Mattie  Collins. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Job  C.  Stebbins. 
Librarian — Miss  Lizzie  J.  Price. 
Assistant  Librarian — Miss  Mae  Ireland. 
Press  Correspondent — Miss  Mattie  Collins. 
Editor — Laura  Lavinia  Thomas  Willis. 

Entertainment  Committee — Mrs.  J.  C.  Thomas,  Mrs.  George 
Leach  and  Mrs.  Kate  Adams. 


'Miss  Risley  resigned,  and  Mrs.  Job  Stebbins  filled  the  vacancy. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J. 


175 


Trustees  for  One  Year — John  F.  Hall,  Airs.  John  F.  Ryon 
and  Airs    Jane  Fifield. 

Trustees  for  Two  Years — Hubert  Somers,  Mrs.  T.  S.  Mid- 
dleton  and   Mrs.   C    D.   Nourse. 

Trustees  for  Three  Years — Allen  B.  Endicott,  Airs.  Preston 
Adams  and  Airs.  Alartilla  Ketchum. 


Charter 

Airs.  L.  Dow   Balliett 

Mrs.  M.  R.  M.  Fish 

Mrs.  Emma  Cordery  Johnson 

Mrs.  Martilla  Price  Ketchum 

Mrs.  Hester  A.  Stebbins 

Miss  Lizzie  J.  Price 

Miss  Martha  K.  Collins 

Mrs.  Alaria  Collins  Thomas 

Miss  Sarah  A.  Risley 

Mrs.  Flora  Collins 

Mr.  John  F.  Hall 

Mrs.  Samuel  Somers 

Mrs.  Isora  Blackman  Somers 

Airs.   Maine  H.  Ryon 

Miss  Cornelia  Cook  Frink 

Airs.  Thomas  E.  Scull 

Airs.  Aneita  F.  W.  Leech 

Aliss  Hannah  Frambes 

Airs.  D.  E.  Collins 

Aliss  Alay  Elizabeth  Irelan 

Airs.  Carl  A.  Hopf 

Airs.  Mary  Bowen  Tomlinson 

Airs.  George  H.  Adams 

Mrs.  James  E.  Steelman 

Airs.   Susan   Somers   Dubois 


AIembers 

Airs.  William  Lear 

Aliss  Harriet  I.  Frambes 

Airs.  Alargaret  S.  Aliddleton 

ATrs.  Sarah  Somers  Tilton 

Mr.  Job  Frambes 

Air.  Hubert  Somers 

Airs.  Hubert  Somers 

Airs.  Anna  B.  Wilson 

A[r.  Allen  B.  Endicott 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Boice  Nourse 

Airs.  Alartha  D.  Scull 

Airs.   Nettie  C.  Leeds 

Airs.  Stella  P.  Kappella 

Airs.  Irene  C.  Imlay 

Airs.  Emeline  E.  Collins  Race 

Aliss  Alargaret  Sarah  Race 

Airs.  Robert  M.  Willis 

Airs.  Richard  S.  Collins 

Airs.  Preston  B.  Adams 

Airs.  S.  J.  Fifield 

Airs.  Helena  Simkins 

Airs.   Susan  Baily  Ireland 

Mr.  Arthur  Adams 

Mrs.  Emily  Steelman  Fisher 

Mr.  A.  M.  Heston 


176  early  history  of  atlantic  county,  n.  j. 

Honorary  Members 


Hon.  Champ  Clark 


Liee  Members 


State  Senator  Walter  Edge  John  J.  Gardner,  Congressman 

Judge  E.  A.  Higbee  Carleton   Godfrey,   Speaker  of 

Mrs.  Hannah  Somers  Hayday  Assembly 

Walter  J.  Buzby  Daniel  Myers 

Emery  Marvel,  M.  D.  Alexander  Weintrob 

Henry  W.  Leeds  Hubert  Somers 

Judge  Allen  B.  Endicott  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Nourse 

Stewart  R.  McShea  Laura  Williams  Colwell 

Harry    Bacharach,    City    Com-  Robert  Moore  Willis 
missioner 


The  first  pilgrimage  of  the  Atlantic  County  Historical  So- 
ciety took  place  on  June  16,  1914,  when  about  thirty  members 
and  friends  visited  the  historical  points  of  interest  in  the  vicinity 
of  English  Creek  and  Scullville. 

The  Society  members  were  the  dinner  guests  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henry  Dennis,  of  Scullville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis  accompanied  the  party  to  the  site  of 
the  old  Catawba  church,  and  Mr.  Dennis  pointed  out  the  beauti- 
ful site  of  the  old  Joseph  West  mansion. 

Mr.  Dennis  furnished  the  Society  with  some  interesting  and 
valuable  data. 

Inscriptions  were  copied  from  this  church  yard,  as  well  as 
from  the  church  yards  of  the  Asbury  and  Zion  churches. 

Mrs.  John  G.  Thomas, 
Chairman  of  Pilgrimage  Committee. 

Second  Pilgrimage 

The  Atlantic  County  Historical  Society  as  a  body  attended 
the  109th  anniversary  services  of  the  Old  Weymouth  Meeting 
House,  at  Weymouth,  on  Sunday,  July  29th,  1914. 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,  N.  J.  177 

A  most  cordial  welcome  was  extended  by  the  church  and  an 
able  address  rendered  to  the  Society  by  Rev.  Win.  T.  Abbott, 
of  Asbury  Park.  A  beautiful  reply  was  made  by  our  honored 
president,  Mrs.  L.  Dow  Balliett. 

A  great  privilege  was  also  extended  by  the  courtesy  of  Mrs. 
Charles  Richards  Colwell,  who  exhibited  the  many  valuable  relics 
and  curios  in  her  lovely  home. 

An  invitation  was  extended  to  make  this  an  annual  pilgrim- 
age of  the  Society. 

Mrs.  John  G.  Thomas, 
Chairman  of  Pilgrimage  Committee. 

Third  Pilgrimage 

The  last  pilgrimage  of  the  season  was  a  trip  to  the  122nd 
anniversary  service  of  the  Head-of-theRiver  Church  at  Tucka- 
hoe,  on  Oct.   11,  1914. 

It  was  well  worth  the  trip  to  see  the  quaint  interior  of  this 
historic  edifice. 

A  large  number  of  the  Society  attended  and  the  occasion 
was  considered  one  of  the  pleasantest  events  of  the  season's 
program. 

Mrs.  John  G.  Thomas, 
Chairman  of  Pilgrimage  Committee. 


178  EARLY  HISTORY  OP  ATLANTIC  COUNTY,   N.  J. 


ANNUAL  MEET  OF  HISTORIANS 

Clipping  From  Atlantic  City  Daily  Prlss, 
Friday,  July  24,  1914. 

President  Mrs.  L.  Doze  Balliett  Gives  Sound  Advice  at  First 
Annual  Meeting.- — Lauds  Hall-Hcston. 

Speaking  before  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Atlantic 
County  Historical  Society  yesterday  afternoon,  President  Mrs.  L. 
Dow  Balliett  urged  the  members  to  continue  with  their  efforts 
until  they  had  placed  upon  the  shelves  of  libraries  in  every  state 
in  the  union,  records  of  the  early  life  and  advancement  of  the 
county.  She  lauded  the  work  of  John  Flail,  and  Alfred  M. 
Heston,  and  counseled  her  co-workers  never  to  drop  a  project 
until  it  was  seen  that  the  worth  did  not  justify  the  effort.  In 
her  remarks  she  stated: 

"When  the  Divine  within  the  hearts  of  men  realize  a  cer- 
tain need,  that  will  lend  its  benefits  to  future  generations,  the 
universal  in  nature  takes  to  itself  the  thought,  and  when  the 
great  cycle  of  time's  impulse  concentrates  itself  into  one  desire 
it  influences  the  minds  of  men  into  motion  and  action — Then 
something  is  born.  A  year  ago  this  society  was  the  culminat- 
ing point — and  it  was  formed.  You  as  its  members  are  its  visible 
expression.  You  will  agree  with  me  we  have  had  but  one  aim 
and  that  aim  was  to  give  the  county  a  correct  history,  one  that  must 
ever  bear  uppermost  the  one  essential,  for  without  it  the  work 
is  valueless  and  vain.  Its  motto  should  be  an  unfaltering  fidelity 
to  truth.  This  society  should  not  waver  until  they  place  upon 
the  shelves  of  libraries  throughout  the  States,  Atlantic  County's 
history  as  accurate  and  full  as  those  of  the  other  counties  of  our 
State.     The  work  they  have  previously  done  we  are  now  doing. 

"I  see  no  reason  for  discouragement  with  members  whose 
hearts  are  sincere  and  desire  to  teach  their  children  the  recorded 
deeds  of  their  ancestors.  We  are  grateful  to  our  individual 
pioneer  historians,  A.  M.  Heston  and  John  Hall,  for  their  past 
efforts  and  our  hopes  for  future  work.  As  members  of  this 
society  you  have  need  to  look  into  each  others  faces  with  just 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    ATLANTIC    COUNTY,    N.    J.  179 

pride.  Your  papers  read  before  the  society  bear  not  only  the 
stamp  of  painstaking  truth,  but  more  literary  merit  than  is 
uusually  found  in  new  societies.  An  unusual  condition  exists 
among"  the  faces  before  me,  a  condition  perhaps  that  could  not 
be  found  to  exist  with  equal  strength  in  any  other  part  of  the 
state.  It  is  that  of  blood.  This  holds  and  links  us  together  as 
one  family.  As  our  ancestors  have  married  and  inter-married 
until  we  seem  not  only  of  one  race,  but  also  of  one  blood,  indi- 
vidual effort  seems  over-shadowed  in  the  greater  love  of  delineat- 
ing truthfully  the  history  of  our  many  and  somewhat  compositive 
ancestors. 

'We  now  are  ready  for  general  good  work.  We  have  a  consti- 
tuution  with  its  charter  members  whose  names  show  the  strength 
of  this  society.  We  must  become  incorporated,  we  must  join 
hands  with  the  officials  of  this  county  in  helping  them  preserve 
the  historical  places  under  their  care,  and,  above  all,  let  us  be 
free  from  the  deadening  influences  of  spasmodic  effort  which 
dies  and  destroys  from  a  lack  of  vitality. 

"\\  hen  this  society  puts  its  hands  to  a  project  let  it  continue 
until  it  falls  from  lack  of  worth  and  not  from  effort.  I  am 
well  aware  that  you  are  decendants  of  men  and  women  who  with 
dauntless  courage  made  the  history  of  Atlantic  County.  The 
call  has  again  come  clothed  in  another  form.  Its  message  is  to 
record  their  deeds  in  the  accuracy  of  printed  words.  Who  will 
say  the  work  is  less  worthy  than  theirs  when  judged  by  your 
children's  children.  Let  us  ever  hold  before  us  the  one  funda- 
mental law  of  Truth,  which  shall  be  our  watchword." 

THE  END 


3'