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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
Sara I tale lebarker
1
THOMAS SHOURDS. Born 1805.
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P
WITHDRAWN
HISTORY
AND
GENEALOGY OF
1
FENWICK'S COLONY,
BY
THOMAS SHOURDS.
OF SALEM COUNTY.
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BRIDGETON, N. J .: GEORGE F. NIXON, PUBLISHER. 1876.
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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by THOMAS SHOURDS AND GEORGE F. NIXON, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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INTRODUCTORY.
The earliest attempts at settlement by the Europeans on the shores of the Delaware may be traced to the second decade of the seventeenth century. In 1621 a charter was granted to the West India Company by the United Netherlands, whose pur- pose was to transport colonists to these new Territories, and es- tablish trade and commercial intercourse therewith. In 1623 Captain Cornelius Jacobson May, under the patronage of the before-named company, made a voyage to America, and sailed up the Delaware river as far as the mouth of Great Timber creek, a few miles below the present site of Philadelphia, and erected a trading post, which was called Fort Nassau. The Swedes and Finns soon followed, as in 1638 Queen Christiana gave her countenance to the sending of a Colony to the same river, and where a settlement was made. Passing over the grant made by Charles I., king of England, to Edmund Ploy- don, in 1634, of certain territories in America, and the attempts of the New Haven Colony, under Captain Nathaniel Turner, in 1640, to effect a settlement on the eastern shore of the river, the English emigrants holding the right of government, and title to the soil. under the conveyance made by the second Charles to the Duke of York, 1664, were the next to establish a Colony on the banks of the before-named river. The many political changes, arising from the wars and internal commo- tions of the home government, added much to the attendant troubles of the colonists, but at no time were they entirely lost sight of, or their nationality obliterated. The language, the customs, and the religions of each were distinctly preserved for several generations, and even at this day have not entirely disappeared.
The Dutch were the least successful in establishing themselves here, for the reason, doubtless, that much greater attractions lay about .New Amsterdam, and the many difficulties in which they were involved by the dissentions across the sea. The Swedes and Finns, yielding generally to the condition of things around them, and avoiding as much as possible any participation in 1
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FENWICK'S COLONY.
quarrels between the Dutch and English, soon made a settlement on the eastern or New Jersey side of the Delaware river ; most of which can be traced with some degree of accuracy. In a letter from William Penn, then living in Philadelphia, he says : "The first planters were Dutch, and soon after the Swedes and Finns. The Dutch applied themselves to traffic, and the Swedes and Finns to husbandry. The Dutch have a meeting place for religious worship at New Castle, and the Swedes one at Chris- tiana, one at Tinicum and one at Wicaco, within half a mile of this town. The Swedes inhabit the freshes of the river Dela- ware. There is no need of giving any description of them who are better known in England than here, but they are a plain, strong and industrious people, yet have not made much progress in the culture or propagation of fruit trees, as if they desired rather to have money than plenty or traffic. But I presume the Indians made them the more careless by furnishing them with the means of profit, to-wit : all kinds of furs for rum and such strong liquors. They kindly received me as did the English, who were few before the people concerned with me came among them. I must needs commend their respect to authority and kind behavior to the English. They do not degenerate from their old friendship between both kingdoms, as they are a peo- ple, physical and strong of body, so have they fine children, and almost every house is full ; it is rare to find one of them without three or four boys, and as many girls ; some of them have six, seven and eight sons, and I must do them justice to say I see few young men more sober and industrions." On the New Jer- sey shore they had settled near Salem, on Raccoon creek, where Swedesboro now stands, at the mouth of Woodbury creek, and other places on the navigation.
John Fenwick, on his arrival to this country, found much of his territory occupied by the Swedes and Finns and Hollanders, but he settled amicably with them by confirming their title to the land they held in possession. Deeds for the Finnstown tract and the Boughtown tract and other like conveyances appears on record, and are curious documents in their way. Those settled on Raccoon Creek had made their homes on either side of the stream, and extending several miles along the same, with a Church at Swedesboro. This Colony assumed such proportions that the attention of travelers and historians were attracted to it, and many detached sketches of their mode of living, their political arrangement, their success as farmers, dealers in furs and skins, may be found in the old books. Near the mouth of Woodbury Creek a few families of Swedes had their farms and
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FENWICK'S COLONY.
fisheries, but this settlement always remained small, and was eventually overgrown by the English, who established a Friends' Meeting there, and occupied most of the land in that region. At the outlet of Pennsiaukin Creek into the Delaware river at one time stood a small stockade called Fort Eriwonock, surrounded by a few Swedes and Finns. This, like the Colony at Wood- bury Creek, soon lost its identity, and the grants of land there- abouts, as made by the proprietors of West New Jersey, took precedence of any previous title to the same, saving always the Indian ownership, which was recognized and compensated for previous to location. The more particularity is given to the description of these localities and names of such as resided there, for the reason that many of the emigrant's families became the ancestors of the present inhabitants living in West Jersey and scattered through the different States of the Union. The use of surnames was not general among the Swedes and Finns for several years after the arrival and settlement of the English under John Fenwick and William Penn. The custom was overcome only by intermarriage with and the rigid usage of the English in this regard, and has rendered it impossible to follow the lines of families which took that direction. The transposition of names, the alteration in spelling, as well as Christain and surnames, is another source of confusion and leads to endless difficulties in geneological research. Among the Indians ; names were never hereditary, and one generation could not trace its lines of blood through that of another by this means. When any name could be found it was so utterly unpronouncable and beyond the possibility of being spelled, that our ancestors in despair abandoned all attempts at reconciling the one language with the other.
As early as the year 1684, the proper authorities of Salem County were at much pains to secure a translation of the language used by the Aborigines, and have the same on record in one of the court's books of the Bailiwick, evidence of their purpose to carry out a desirable object, and of how little was accomplished thereby. These impediments are encountered by the genealogist and antiquarian at every step, making dark his pathway, and his progress in some degree uncertain. In following the movements of the first English emigrants, the inquiry very naturally arises why their places of settlement were selected, as they were in this wilderness country, and the causes that contributed such action. The charts of the new world were defective, and knowledge of this particular section, in like degree limited. These people were not surrounded with
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FENWICK'S COLONY.
prestige of any monied corporation, or backed by the royal perogative to assist them in this undertaking. The breaking up of their household was an end of all claims to an inheritance in their native land. The persecutions they had passed through, and the uncertainty of any change for the better, banished all hopes of justice and tolerance for them. Whatever may have been their attachments, or however bitter the feeling incident to separation from friends and home ; no hope of return softened their grief or assanged their sorrow. With all their earthly goods (limited among the most fortunate,) their families and such of their associates as would make the venture, left the shores of England never to return. Their departure was not surrounded with any pleasant associations, neither had their approach to the land of their adoption any anticipated welcome. Privations and dangers met them at every step, but no means were at hand whereby they could escape. They only knew that the Delaware river was the western boundary of New Jersey, but the most desirable localities whereat to make their settle- ment no one had given them any information. The natives, they looked upon as savages in a literal sense, and dreaded the necessity of any intercourse with them; regarding the wild beasts of the forest with less fear, and more easily controlled. Under these circumstances did our ancestors turn their ship from the ocean into Delaware bay and ascend the river, ignorant of where should be their abiding place.
John Fenwick, with his children, his associates and servants, in the little ship Griffin, Captain Griffith master, sailed up the bay, about fifty miles along the eastern shore from Cape May, and anchored opposite the old Swede's fort, Elsborg, near the mouth of Assamhocking river, on the 23d of September, 1675, old style. The day following they ascended the Assamhocking river, now Salem, about three miles, and landed on the south side of the river on a point of land pleasantly located, that being, at the present computation of time, the fifth day of Octo- ber, 1675. We can readily imagine that their minds were turned to the author of their being in adoration and praise for their safe arrival to their newly adopted country, after a long and tedious voyage in crossing the Atlantic of more than two months and a half. Fenwick soon determined on laying out a town at the place where they landed; it being one of those pleasant autumnal days which are common in this latitude at that season of the year. He gave it the name of Salem, which signifies peace, and which name it still bears, it being the first English town on the Eastern shore of the Delaware. The next
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FENWICK'S COLONY.
in order of time was the ship Kent, bringing the London and Yorkshire commissioners and many families, intending to oc- cupy the lands of West New Jersey. For some reasons never explained the ship passed only about twenty miles higher up the river than where the Griffin anchored, and the passengers went on shore near the mouth of Raccoon creek, and where a settle- ment of Swedes were found. The destination of the cominis- sioners and many of the emigrants was Yegon's Island, now Burlington City, which point was reached after much trouble and delay. The reason the passengers by this ship went so far up the river is explained by this fact that where Burlington now stands, as early as the year 1668, a Hollander named Peter Yegon built a house of entertainment for travelers. No other settlement to that time had been sustained on the river front above the month of Raccoon creek until this point was reached, and, as a consequence, no discretion was left the commissioners if they sought comfortable lodgings. The sale of rum by Peter to the Indians ended in a drunken riot, in which he was driven away from the house, and forced to abandon the place. George Fox and his companion, Richard Lippincott, was of them who rested in the empty dwelling one night on their road from New England to Virginia, which ocenrrence he mentions in his jour- nal. These are well settled historical facts, and accounts for the procedure on the part of the commissioners, and also explains the name attached to the island before the arrival of the English. Several emigrant ships followed, and proceeded at once to Burlington, where the people landed and soon found homes in the neighborhood. The Newton settlers chartered a vessel for their special use, the ship Adventure, and sailed from Dublin harbor. With them they brought all their worldly goods, and some implements of husbandry, and arriving in the winter season, they only proceeded as far as Salem, where they remained through the cold weather. Their purpose was to set- tle on the Irish tenth, lying between Oldman's and Pennsahaw- ken creek, and which they examined at once to carry out that object. This was two years before William Penn first visited America. A settlement was made on a stream falling into the river Delaware opposite, and a short distance below the city of Philadelphia, which they called Newton creek, and the same name given to the location chosen. Why this place was pitched upon, and whence the name adopted does not appear. This settlement became allied with the Salem settlement more than any other along the Delaware river ; marriages were frequent among the inhabitants of the two locations. The prominent
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FENWICK'S COLONY.
cause of this, I presume, was that very early after the arrival of Fenwick's colony, and the one at Newton, Friends organized a yearly and quarterly meeting, composed of members of both localities, and likewise those of Burlington. The early emi- grants, finding in the Aborigines excellent neighbors and relia- ble associates, the relations brought about marriages between the emigrants and natives, involving the genealogy of a number of families in the Salem tenth, and likewise all West Jersey. It is always to be regretted that so little pains has been taken to trace the Indian blood, distributed in these latter generations, and although much diluted, occasionally crops ont, in feature or form. Although, black hair, dark skin, and exact, graceful form, may not always be taken as coming from this line, yet the presumption is a fair one, that the parents of such with several removes, were of this people, and the manor born. Like the Swedes and Finns, however, their customs in regard to names rendered it impossible to follow families in the ascending line, and through neglect, much has been lost in the other direction.
In writing the history and also genealogy of ancient families of Fenwick colony, I have been assisted by a number of persons who have kindly loaned me their family records. Among the most conspicnous is Charles E. Sheppard, of Bridgeton, a young practicing lawyer, of much promise, who has a talent for antiquarian researches. Gideon D. Scull, the eldest son of David Scull, of Philadelphia ; Gideon has resided in England for a number of years, a man of literature, has turned attention extensively to the history and genealogy of his native land, and has furnished me with several valuable charts of families, which otherwise would have been difficult to obtain with such correctness in any other way. I am particularly indebted to my valued friend and antiquarian, John Clement, of Haddon- field, who has furnished me with much valuable information in regard to the families and early history of West New Jersey. Without such assistance it would be impractable for any one after a lapse of two centuries to follow the ancient families to the present time with much degree of accuracy.
JOHN FENWICK.
John Fenwick, the proprietor of the one-tenth of West New Jersey, was born in Northumberland county, at Stanton Manor, in England, in the year 1618. He was the second son of Wm. Fenwick, and in the year 1640 he became a member of the church of England. In the year 1645 he was a student of law at Grey's Inn, in London. Soon after he was made captain of Cavalry by Cromwell; he taking such active part against the crown, it has been the opinion of many, that it was the primary cause, after Charles II ascended the throne, that there was so little favor shown him in the affairs of the colony. About the year 1648 he married Elizabeth Covert, of the county of Sapoy. The Coverts as well as the Fenwicks were ancient families, and they can be traced back in English history as early as the 12th century. He had three children by Elizabeth Covert, all daugh- ters ; Elizabeth, Anne and Priscilla Fenwick. His second wife was Mary Burdet, the daughter of Sir Walter Burdet, but there was no children by that connection. In 1665 he and his wife Elizabeth became members of the society of Friends. He, like many others of that religions faith and other descendants, were imprisoned for conscience sake. About that time Lord Berkley offered West New Jersey for sale. There appeared to have been an understanding between Edward Billinger and John Fenwick, for John Fenwick to purchase the whole of West New Jersey, and Fenwick to have the one-tenth of the whole. The deed was given by Berkley in the year 1673, and the con- sideration money mentioned in the deed was soon after the purchase by mutual understanding. The land comprising Salem and Cumberland counties, as now divided, were set off as Fen- wick's tenth. He immediately afterwards made preparations to emigrate and take possession of the lands in West New Jersey, in America, and held out inducements for others to emigrate with him. There was a large number accepted the invitation, principally members of his own religions faith. Many of them purchased land and paid him for it before they embarked, which afterwards gave rise to many difficulties between them and the
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JOHN FENWICK.
proprietor, because their lands were not surveyed to them as soon as they desired. The following are the names of some of the principal persons who embarked with John Fenwick : John Pledger, Samuel Nicholson, James Nevil, Edward Wade, Rob- ert Wade, Samuel Wade, Robert Windham, Richard Hancock, and their families, and several others. There were several sin- gle men, Samuel Hedge, Jr., Isaac Smart, and others. The servants that hired in England to persons above mentioned, and likewise to John Fenwick and his two son-in-laws, were Robert Turner, Gewas Bywater, Wm. Wilkinson, Joseph Worth, Jo- seph Ware, Michael Eaton, Eleanor Geeve, Nathaniel Chamb- less, his son, Nathaniel Chambless, Jr., Mark Reeve, Edward Webb, Elizabeth Waiters. Smith, in his history of New Jer- sey, says in many instances the servants became more conspic- nous members of civil and religious society than their employ- ers. I myself, in tracing families, find the remark to be correct. Fenwick's immediate family that came with him were his his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, John Adams, his daughter Anne Fenwick, who married Samuel Hedge, Jr., the spring following, and his youngest daughter, Priscilla, whose husband was Edward Champney. His wife, Mary Fenwick, did not accompany him to his new home in the wilderness, for some canse that has never been explained. The letters passed between them manifested a sincere and filial attachment, and they continued to correspond while life remained. They em- barked from London in ship Griffith, Robert Griffith being master, on the 23d of the 9th month. They arrived at the month of Assamhoekin, and ascended the stream abont three miles, and landed at a point of land at a place Fenwick and his friends that were with him thought it a suitable location for a town. He gave it the name of New Salem, because he remark- ed to one of his intimate friends the name signifies Peace, but it did not prove so to him, as the sequel of his history will show. He, like his great friend and benefactor, William Penn, and also Roger Williams, found in settling colonies that there were more thorns than roses.
As soon as it was practicable after they landed, the proprie- tor held a council with the Indian chiefs that lived within the compass of Salem county, and purchased all their lands of them, thereby securing perpetual peace with the natives, and the same kind of a treaty was made with them by Billenge or his agents for the remainder of West Jersey. They reserved certain rights for themselves-trapping, fishing, and the privilege of entting certain kinds of wood for the purpose of making baskets, also
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JOHN FENWICK.
in making their canoes and other things. The treaty was faith- fully fulfilled. About fifty years ago, the few remaining Indi- ans in this State made application to the New Jersey Legislature to sell all their rights and privileges they held in the State, which was accepted by the Legislature, and they were paid the price they asked. They then removed to the State of New York to dwell with the Mohawks and other scattering tribes that re- mained in that State.
John Fenwick, after his arrival here, issued a proclamation granting civil and religious liberty to all persons who should settle within his province. In the year 1676, he turned his attention to providing homes for his children, and accordingly directed Richard Hancock, his surveyor, to lay out and survey two thousand acres in Upper Mannington for Samuel Hedge, Jr., and his wife Anne. The said land was called Hedgefield. IIe also directed him to survey two thousand acres for his son- in-law, Edward Champney, and his wife Priscilla, which land was bounded on the west by John Smith's land, on the north by James Nevel's farm, and Alloways creek on the south. To his son-in-law, John Adams and his wife Elizabeth, he gave all that tract of land located in what is now called Pen's Neck. It is known at the present day as the Sapaney. Fenwick built him- self a house in the town of Salem on what he called Ivy Point. From said house he was forcibly taken in the middle of the night by a party of men from New Castle and taken to that town, and from thence sent to New York, and there imprisoned by an order of Governor Andross, under pretence that he was infringing upon the rights of that State, which they claimed to own to the eastern shore of Delaware river. After he was re- leased, he for some time neglected to attend meetings. Accord- ingly Salem Monthly Meeting, held the 6th of the 3d month, 1678, appointed Richard Guy and Christopher White to visit John Fenwick to inquire of him whether he owned the truth that he formerly possessed, and if he owned it to desire him to come to the next monthly meeting, if not, return his answer to the next meeting. At the next meeting, the Friends that were appointed to visit Fenwick on account of his non-attendance of meetings, reported they had an interview with him, and he in- formed them that he loved the truth he formerly possessed, and that an answer to a letter he had received from George White- head, a distinguished Friend in London, he wished to be for- warded to the meeting. The contents of the letter, I believe, were never preserved, but the proceedings of the meeting shows plainly that difficulties existed between him and some of the
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JOHN FENWICK.
members of his own society; which was at fault, they or him, no one can tell to a certainty at the present day. After two or three years more of perplexities and trouble in endeavoring to estab- lish a government in the colony, he wisely abandoned it by sell- ing all the lands he had in the Salem tenth, (reserving one hundred and fifty thousand acres for himself and family,) to Governor Wm. Penn. The deed was given the 23d day of March, 1682. From that time the whole of West Jersey was under one government. The Legislature met at Burlington, and Samnel Jennings, of that place, was elected Deputy Gov- ernor at the first Legislature afterwards. John Fenwick was elected one of the members of that body from Salem county, in the fall of 1683, but being unwell, he left his home in Salem and went to Samuel Hedge's, his son-in-law, in Upper Manning- ton, there to be cared for by his favorite daughter, Anne Hedge, in his last days, for he died a short time afterwards at an age of 65 years. He requested before his death to be buried in the Sharp's family burying-ground, which was complied with. The said ground was formerly a part of the Salem County Alıns- house farm, but now belongs to Elmer Reeve. If the ground could be designated where the grave-yard was, although the exact spot where Fenwick lays could not, it would be a grateful deed for his descendents and the citizens of this county to assist in erecting a monument to his memory there on the spot where the grave-yard was, for gratitude for favors received is one of the noblest traits of mankind. His will, made not long before his death, shows no alienation on his part toward the members of his own religions society, for he leaves his friend, William Penn, one of his executors, and also trustee for his three oklest grandsons, Fenwick Adams, Samuel Hedge and John Champ- ney. His other three executors were Quakers, Samuel Hedge, John Smith, of Smithfield, and Richard Tindall, of Penn's Neck. The last named was his surveyor.
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