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OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY COURT HOUSE, AT WOODBURY.
TROM SKETCH BY FRANK H. TAYLOR
NOTES ON
Old Gloucester County
?
NEW JERSEY
HISTORICAL RECORDS PUBLISHED BY THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME I
3
Compiled and Edited by FRANK H. STEWART HISTORIAN OF THE SOCIETY 1917
PRELIL LIRARY 83-371 WAR I WR AND
1
19.8 L
COPYRIGHTED 1917, BY THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
PRINTED BY SINNICKSON CHEW & SONS COMPANY CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
New Jersey
Down from thy hills the streams go leaping, Up from thy shores the tides come creeping, In bay and river the waters meet, Singing and singing with rhythmic beat Songs no orchestra may repeat, New Jersey !
Fled from the southern sun's fierce burning, Back from the chill of the north wind turning, With mayflowers decking her form so rare And magnolias redolent in her hair, Queen Flora rests on thy bosom fair, New Jersey !
Lakes the feet of thy mountains are laving, Over thy plains the forests are waving, Across thy meadows and marshes and sands Orchards and farms are clasping their hands, Garden of States in fairest of lands! New Jersey !
Smoke from thy cities' chimneys rising Looms to the sky, a Genius surprising,- A Genius whose touch to new visions gives birth, Of homes rejoicing in music and mirth, And song floating everywhere over the earth, New Jersey !
Quaker and Dutchman, long ago meeting, Hailed thy shores with immigrants' greeting, And still on the old home sites to-day Their children's children sturdily stay, Glad for thy progress and leading the way, New Jersey !
Mother, dear Mother, thy sons are proclaiming Loyalty; with their banners aflaming The Jersey Blues still march at thy side, Eager to cheer thee with love and with pride, Ready to guard thee, whatever betide. New Jersey !
JAMES LANE PENNYPACKER, Haddonfield, June 2, 1917.
-
The New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA
The action of The New Jersey Society of Pennsyl- vania in causing to be printed the "Notes on Old Glouces- ter County, New Jersey," compiled by Mr. Frank H. Stewart, the Historian of the Society, was the result of a motion made at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Society, held on May 4th, 1917.
At that meeting the following action was taken :
On motion duly made by Mr. John W. Sparks, and seconded by Mr. George B. Hurff, the Chair appointed Messrs. Mulford and Stewart a committee of two to act in conjunction with the Ban- quet Committee, and cause to be printed at the expense of the Society and distributed at the annual banquet of the Society, to be held on December 18th, 1917, copies of "Notes on Old Gloucester County," written and edited by the Historian of the Society, Mr. Frank H. Stewart.
WILLIAM J. CONLEN, Secretary.
FOREWORD
All over the State of New Jersey there are priceless historical and genealogical manuscript records gradually decaying and wearing away. Every year destruction by fire, age and carelessness takes place. Books and papers of a public nature are in private hands, sometimes rightly and oftentimes otherwise. Before it is too late legisla- tion should be enacted providing at Trenton or elsewhere a fire-proof building suitable for preserving and making accessible the old unknown and unused records that are now stored in boxes or jammed in drawers in the various county buildings. In all of the New Jersey counties are marriage records. These by all means should be printed in the New Jersey Archives. Various Church records of great value for the vital statistics they contain are stowed away in attics and every time the clergyman changes loss is likely to occur. Township records, unrecorded deeds, ancient diaries, surveyors' maps, church documents and letters are invariably in private hands, and many of the owners would gladly give them to the State of New Jer- sey if a proper custody were provided.
The New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania believes it can do a noble work by publishing, from time to time, county by county, as its funds permit, the most important happenings of a historical character. With nothing but a deep desire to preserve worthy records, the compiler has possibly followed an unique course in the belief that the ordinary man is selfish enough to desire that the his- tory of his family should be forever saved. Therefore,
6
FOREWORD.
if this publication should seem to be over-burdened with names it is because of the wish to impress on as many people as possible that they have a personal family inter- est in the records that will not exist a few years hence if immediate action is not taken either to copy them or safeguard the originals.
The compilation of this book has taken altogether several months of time, and to many kind friends whose names appear as authors of different papers the Society here makes acknowledgment. The names of the con- tributors are George E. Pierson, Wallace McGeorge, M. D., Louis B. Moffett, Rev. Edgar Campbell, George B. Macaltioner, Gideon Peaslee, Frank H. Taylor, James 1. Pennypacker and Samuel N. Rhoads.
To other good friends who have otherwise assisted by making easily accessible countless pages of manuscript records the compiler is indebted.
FRANK H. STEWART.
Contents
Page.
New Jersey, a poem.
3
Gloucester County Court Records, 1686 to 1799. 9-28
Old Trinity Church, Swedesboro. 29
Battle of Red Bank 35
Gloucester County Merchant 51
Township Book of Great Egg Harbor
55
Inn and Tavern Licenses.
60
Slavery in Old Gloucester.
65
King's Highway
69
Moravian Church. 77
Gloucester County Freeholders' Records, 1701 to 1800. 87-132
James B. Cooper, a Hero of Two Wars. I33
Gen. Franklin Davenport 139
Col. Thomas Heston. 143
The Indian King 147
Woodbury Fire Company
151
Samuel Mickle's Diary
155 255
Job Whitall's Diary.
Spelling of Family Names 261 263
First Quakers in Old Gloucester
Ancient Burial Places.
265
Old Gloucester County, its Formation and its Divisions 289 Distinguished Clergymen. 29I 293
Haddon Hall, of Haddonfield.
Journal of Thomas Clark 303
Battle of Chestnut Neck. 307
Life of Dr. Bodo Otto, Jr.
309 313
Diary of Ann Whitall
315
Historical Notes 317
Gloucester Fox Hunting Club 322
Docket of John Litle, J. P.
325
Historical References
329
Officers, Committees and Members of The New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania. 332-336
Index
337
Custom House of Little Egg Harbor
Illustrations
Page.
Old Gloucester County Courthouse, 1787-1885. Frontispiece
Defying the Hessians, Red Bank
34
Old Milestone on King's Highway 68
Old Moravian Church .. 76
Indian King Tavern, Haddonfield 146
Woodbury Fire Engine, 1799 150
Old Tatem Oak, Mt. Royal. 154
Proprietors' Tree at Gloucester
254
Graveyard, Moravian Church. 264
Elizabeth Haddon House 292
.
Notes on Old Gloucester County
Gloucester County Court Records *
Two hundred and thirty-one years ago Gloucester county was established, and despite the fact that several fires have occurred in the County Court houses since then, the Court records still exist in fair condition after the ravages of time and use are considered. Gloucester county was the first county in America established by its inhabitants. The first page of the first Court book con- tains the following :
GLOUCESTER YE 28TH MAY, 1686
By the Proprietors, Freeholders and inhabitants of the Third and Fourth Tenths (Alias County of Glouces- ter) then agreed as followeth :
Imprimis-That a Court be held for the Jurisdiction and limits of the aforesaid Tenths or County one Tyme at Axnamus alias Gloucester and an- other tyme at Red Bank.
Item-That there be four courts for the Jurisdiction aforesaid held in one year at ye days and tymes hereafter mentioned viz, upon the first day of the first month, upon the first day of the fourth month, on the first day of the seventh month and upon ye first day of the tenth month.
Item-That the first Court shall be held at Gloucester aforesaid upon the first day of September next. Item-That all warrants and summons shall be drawne by the Clerke of the Courte and signed by a Justice and soe delivered to the Sheriff or his Deputy to execute.
* By FRANK H. STEWART.
I
IO
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
Item-That the bodye of each warrant &c shall Contayne or Intimate the nature of action.
Item-That a copy of the Declaration be given along with ye warrant by the Clerke of the Court that soe the defendant may have the longer tyme to considder the same and prepare his answer.
Item-That all summons warrants &c shall be served and declaration given at least ten days before the Court.
Item-That the Sheriffe shall give the jury summons six dayes before the Courte be held at which they are to appear.
Item-That all persons within ye jurisdiction aforesaid bring into the next Courte ye marks of their Hoggs and other Cattell in order to be approved and recorded.
THE EAR MARK BOOK.
This book contains about two hundred and fifty ear mark registrations, and is a practical directory of all of the first settlers of the county, beginning at 1686. A fac simile copy of the book has been made by request of the writer and is now in The Genealogical Society of Penna., 1300 Locust street, Philadelphia.
Many of the members of the New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania will find the hog ear marks of their ancestors in this book.
All of the old counties of New Jersey had their ear mark books, and they, together with other priceless records of the Colony of New Jersey, should be printed by author- ity of the State as part of the New Jersey Archives, and I know of no greater privilege or duty than this for our Society to accomplish. Ear marks were handed down from father to son and in some cases transferred as a trade-mark would be to-day.
In the court records of the old counties of New Jer- sey frequent mention is made of the unlawful killing of
1
II
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
hogs in the woods. Negro slaves loved bacon then as their descendants do to this day, and how to keep a husky negro slave away from a good fat acorn fed hog was a problem that oftentimes had its finish in the court records of Glou- cester, Salem and Burlington counties.
A long snouted, agile, wild boar hog furnished better sport for a gunner than a jack rabbit would to-day, and it is not without pleasure that I mention the names of the following sportsmen of old Gloucester, predecessors of the famous fox hunting club :
At the Sept., 1690, Court held at Gloucester, Israel Holme, Mons Justeson and William Cobb were "indicted for their unlawful hunting and killing of Hoggs."
In 1697, John Ashbrook, John Hugg, Jr., Amos Whiteall, Samuel Taylor, Robert Parker, Charles Cross- thwait were also indicted for killing Hogs in the woods contrary to law.
COURT HOUSE AND PRISON
It was just as necessary to have a good substantial jail in 1696 as now. The following appears in the court records of that year :
"The Court orders that a prison of twenty foot long and sixteen feet wide of a sufficient Height and strength made of loggs be erected and builded in Gloucester with a Court House over the same of a convenient height and largeness Covered of and with Cedar shingles well and workmanlike to be made and with all convenient expedi- tion furnished."
Twelve years later it seemed desirable to make an addition to the prison and court house, and it will be noticed that brick and stone took the place of logs in the new edifice. In order to get the money by taxation a plan was formulated by the grand jury and then as now there were some delinquent tax payers of the assessments
12
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
made for the addition to the public buildings. It is sur- mised that Matthew Medcalf, the County Treasurer, had some trouble in keeping the various cereals turned in to him in payment of taxes at "money price." For two or three years afterwards it appears that some of the inhabi- tants had not paid their share of this special tax made in accordance with the following :
Wee the Grand Jury of the County of Gloucester being met together this 5th Day of the 8th Month 1708 conclude it necessary that an addition be made to the prison and Court House in manner following vis., that it Joyne to the South End of the old one, to be made of stone and brick twelve foot in ye cleare and two story high with a stack of chimneys joyning to the old house so that it be uniform in breadth to the Court House from the foundation.
TAX
A tax was laid for the cost as follows :
For every hundred acres of land taken up and sur- veyed one shilling
For every horse and mare exceeding three years old one shilling
For cattle exceeding three years old six pence
For sheep exceeding one year old two pence
For each free man in hired service or otherwise three shillings
For each negro exceeding twelve years old three shillings
to be paid into the county treasurer at or before the first day of the first month next ensuing the date hereof either in current silver money or corn or any other country pro- duce at money price to be delivered and brought into ye County Treasurer at his dwelling house by the respective inhabitants within the time aforesaid.
Matthew Medcalf was appointed County Treasurer.
I3
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
ASSESSORS
The following assessors were appointed :
Samuel Cole for Waterford twp. William Albertson for Newton. John Siddon for Gloucester. John Ladd for Debtford twp. William Dalbo & Elias Fish for Greenwich twp. John Summors for Egg Harbour.
All to receive six pence per pound for assessing the same and to give the people notice and for making of the dupli- cates ready to deliver to the treasurer the first of the tenth month next. The County Treasurer was also allow- ed six pence per pound for his services.
FARM PRODUCE AS CURRENCY
Currency was a scarce article in New Jersey, and Gloucester county in 1686 placed the products of the field on a currency basis and, if a citizen could not pay his taxes with money, cereals were acceptable at the fol- lowing valuations :
Wheat @ S.
d.
4 O
Rye
3
O
Barley
3
0
Indian corn
2
6
Oats
2
0
Indian peas
5
O
Buckwheat
2
6 per bushel
At the end of the June 1703 term of Court held at Gloucester is this inscription
Here end the Proprietary Government of ye province of West New Jersie in America.
14
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
OLD ROADS AND BRIDGES
A careful reading of the court records concerning the marking, building and repairing of the first highways shows much of interest to the historian and users of the roads.
It seems that the inhabitants of a section in which a road was to be built were ordered to help, and when they refused were fined. Where repairs were necessary the overseer was told when to have the job done or suffer a fine for neglect or tardiness. The comfort of the indi- vidual was always subservient to the necessities of the times as is shown by the quaint words of the old records.
In 1686 several of the persons summoned to build the road between Salem and Burlington by Wolly Dalbo surveyor having refused to obey the order of the court were fined six shillings each.
Dec. 1, 1696: The Grand Jury return and present John Hopman for not repairing of ye Bridge on Salem Road within his provimet.
The Bench order that ye Bridge and Road be re- paired within ye space of six weeks next or H-to pay 20 shillings fine for his neglect.
In 1696 James Steelman elected overseer of ye high- ways to mark and make the road from Egg Harbour to- wards Gloucester and that he have power to summon to- gether ye Inhabitants of Egg Harbour to that purpose.
In 1698 the Grand Jury ordered the highway be- tween Gloucester and Great Egg Harbor to be repaired and made good at or before the 29th of Sept. Next.
1698: A Court held at Gloucester, March Ist, 1698 Thos. Revel, Joseph Tomlinson, Joseph Broman, Mord. Howell, John Somers, Justices Present.
Complaint having been made to ye Bench that a Bridge over a Branch of Pensoaken Creek above Richard Heritage's is either broken down or wants much repaira- tion whereupon ye Bench orders that ye clerk send to
15
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
Thomas Shackle overseers of ye Highways and together with Richard Heritage to see that ye said Bridge be mended and made good on or before ye next Gloucester Court under ye penalty of being then and there fined for their neglect.
1701: The Grand Jury does agree that ye lower Road to Salem shall be upheld with this proviso. That ye Bridge over Timber Creek be built and that ye said Bridge be Builded without a county charge to which ye Bench assents.
In 1708 William Warner and Mat. Medcalfe at the request of John Wood and his neighbors "laid out a way for the use of the people of Dedford twp. avoiding the swamps and low wet grounds from John Woods' house to Henry Threadways to a fast landing upon the branch of Woodbury Creek called Matthews his branch where was formerly and now must be made a bridge." From there over the said branch and causeway through the swamp to the fast land on the other side of the branch in a direct line to Thomas Nixons field and so along the outside of the said field straight to the King's Road near Dedford Bridge which said way is to be 16 ft. wide.
1709: The overseers for the highways appointed were John Mickle for Gloucester town.
William Clarke and Nathaniel Chew for Gloucester twp.
Joseph Collins and John Hinchman for Newtowne.
John Chevers (Shivers) and John Heritage for Waterford.
Joshua Lord and John Cook for Debtford, Wollo Peterson and Andrew Lock for Greenwich.
In 1710 Joseph Yard was fined twenty shillings for his contempt in cutting the Bridge over Gloucester River. 1712: "WHEREAS there was complaint made unto us the under written commissioners that there was need of a road from the head of Timber Creek where the old road to Salem formerly went down to Gloucester. Pur-
16
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
suant to an act of assembly that impowers us in these cases we have layde out a road commonly called the Irish Roade as followeth Beginning at Porters Mill and from thence falling into the Old Roade that went to Burlington and along the same over Sheeyanees Run from thence to other branch and thence over the hills to Beaver Branch by John Huggs plantation thence to the Brick kills upon Elias Huggs land and from thence upon a straight course to the little Bridge and from thence along the King's Roade to Gloucester layde out by us the third day of December 1712.
RICH. BULL Commis's" THO. SHARP
COOPERS FERRY ROAD
"This 3d day of ye 2d mo. 1721.
Pursuant to an act of General Assembly Instituted an act for laying out of Public high Roads &c., in the province of New Jersey, application being made unto us the survey's under named to lay out a Road from the ferry of William Cooper until it intersect the Road from Newton to the mill. Beginning at delloware River on ye south side ye Bolting house then south easterly sixty five degrees to ye gate entering said Williams plantation then south easterly thirty two degrees then south easterly forty degrees then south easterly fourty four degrees then south easterly forty degrees then southeasterly twenty degrees then southeasterly seventy degrees to the old Road against Arthur Powells house and to along the same to the intersection aforesaid to be four Rod wide on the south side of these courses layd out by us the day and year aforesaid.
THOS. SPICER ALEXANDER MORGAN JOHN MICKLE 1. THOMAS SHARP JOSEPH COOPER JOSEPH HUGG"
1
I7
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
From a fragmentary record the following is gleaned, probably 1727.
"We the subscribers thought proper and necessary to alter a certain road in ye County of Gloucester in the Township of Dedford that formerly run between John Tatems plantation and the Presbyterian Meeting House on ye-side of the King's roade, etc. & etc.
BENJAMIN WATT
ISAAC JENNINGS
JOHN SIDDONS
JOHN HIN
SAML. HEDGE
COBUS
AARON MASON
JAMES W- ",
This is the first mention of the Presbyterian Church at Woodbury.
NEW ROADS
"In 1726 application was made for four rod road which was laid out in Gloucester County beginning where the old road lay from Salem to Burlington thence to the Saw pitt on the Road commonly called Cohocken Road and from thence to Mollicas meadow and from thence to the Cedar Swamp road and along the said road to the King's Road thence to Robert Garrords and from thence to a landing place in Manta Creek commonly called by the name of Garrords Landing."
"At about the same time there was another road laid out from Nath. Champions to the King's Road starting between the said Champion and the widow Champion to the south side of John Shivers over Gadsbys Bridge to the King's Road. This was a two rod road."
COOPER CREEK FERRY
In 1701, we have an early case of the Public Utility Commission. Good old John Champion, the ancestor of an army of present day Champions, did not always feel like discontinuing his work when some lone traveler came to the banks of Cooper's creek and hollered for John to
.
I8
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
get his boat and take the aforesaid traveler across the ferry. He appeared before the Grand Jury and dickered for a new rate of fare to which the Judges assented.
The record as written by that fine penman, John Reading, Clerk of the Court, follows :
"1701: John Champion complained of the great cost in setting people over Coopers Creek at his house and the Grand Jury proposed that in case he would pro- vide sufficient conveniences for the ferriage of people at all times that he might charge for two persons together two pence a head; for one single person three pence, and for a man and a horse four pence, to which the Bench assented."
ROAD HOUSES
Accommodations for travelers were first provided by persons having residences in the main lines of travel. In 1700, Stephen Jones was granted a license for keeping an ordinary at his dwelling house on the Salem Road. Mat- thew Medcalf at this time and for several years previous was keeping an ordinary in Gloucester.
COST OF LIVING
To give some idea of the cost of things during the year 1742, the following is copied from the court records :
An Ordinance of the rates of liquors and eatables for men, provender and pasture for horses to be observed and kept by all the Public House Keepers, inn keepers or Tavern Keepers in the county of Gloucester for the en- suing year as followeth, viz :
Every pint of Madeira Wine. IS O Every quart bowl of punch made of loaf sugar good
rum and fresh limes. I" 6 Every like Bowl of Punch made with lime juice ... I" 4 Every quart of Mimbo made of Muscooda sugar . o“ 8 Every quart of Methegline
" Cider royal o“ 8
19
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
Every quart of Egg punch. IS O
Milk o" 8
66 " Cyder from Ist of Sept. to Ist of Jan. " o"
Jan. Ist to Ist of Sept. 0" 3
Every quart of strong beer
4
4
gill of brandy ,,0 6
66 other Cordial drams 5
" Rum 3
And so in proportion for greater or smaller quanti- ties for each sort.
Every breakfast of tea, coffee or chocolate os 8
Every breakfast of other victuals. o“ 6
Every hot dinner or supper provided for a single
person with a pint of strong beer or cyder. . . . I“ O Every hot dinner or supper for a Company with a quart of strong beer or cyder each. 0
Every cold dinner or supper with a pint of strong beer or cyder each. o“ 8
Every nights lodging each person o“ 3
HORSES, ETC.
Stabling every horse each night and clover hay enough os8
Stabling each night and other hay enough o“ 6
Every night pasture for a horse. o“ 6
Every two quarts of oats or other grains 3
SURVEYORS IN 1744
Robert Stephens, Joseph Ellis, Jacon Alberson, Ebenezer Brown, Simeon Ellis, Michael Chew, John Wilkins.
These names appear as surveyors in description of a road running by Daniel Eastlack, John Breacher, Joseph Zane, James Graysberry. Mill Creek and Ferry roads are mentioned.
20
NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT
1746: Richard Hammon a prisoner under execution in the gaol of the county for a debt of eighteen pounds at the suite of Marmaduke Peacock exhibited his petition to have ye benefit of the act of this province for the re- lief of insolvent debtors and having signed ye schedule of his estate and being examined and having taken the oath in court prescribed by the said act of assembly. On motion of Mr. Rose, ordered that he be remanded to prison till next term. At the next court he was dis- charged from custody.
TAVERNS IN 1748.
Benjn. Cooper, Gab. Friend, Daniel Cooper, Anna Elli- son and Nehemiah Cowgill were licensed to keep public houses.
1762: John Sparks, John Brien, James Steelman, Jere- miah Steelman, Sam'l Matlack, Robert Maddox, Samuel Scull, Peter Risley, Sam'l Wickward, John Pinyard, Wm. Hugg and Daniel Cooper were licen- sed as innkeepers for 1 year.
In 1767 Licenses to Keep Public Houses of Enter- tainment were granted :
Thos. Thompson, Greenwich. Thos. James, Woolwich. Henry Sparks, Deptford. Sam'l Snell, Egg Har- bour. Henry Thorne, Gloucester. Jonathon Aborn, Gloucester. Wm. Falkner, Newton. Geo. May, Egg Harbour. Ann Risley, Egg Harbour. James Steelman, Egg Harbour. Thos. Bacon, Woolwich. Thos. Bishop, Gloucester. Richard Thorne, Timber Creek. Wm. Hugg, Gloucester Town.
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