USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > Newton in Gloucester County > Sketches of the first emigrant settlers in Newton Township, old Gloucester County, West New Jersey > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Gc 974.901 C14cl 1573230
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02232 7784
4
SKETCHES
OF THE
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS
IN
NEWTON TOWNSHIP,
OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY,
WEST NEW JERSEY.
BY JOHN CLEMENT, OF HADDONFIELD, N. J.
"An Ungrateful Generation Neglected the Memory of its Fathers."
CAMDEN, N. J .: PRINTED BY SINNICKSON CHEW, N. E. CORNER FRONT AND MARKET STREETS.
1877.
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E 696283.2
E696253.2
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1573230
Entered, according to an act of Congress, in the year 1877, by JOHN CLEMENT, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
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OESCES:
Presented to France's Bier bog by the auction with his regards .. In the hope that its paracetade may encourage haces to continue het study of the history of his nature State : and put his researches un permanents forms. Is that otrais com. -
..
TO
MY FATHER'S MEMORY
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, THE MERITS OF WHICH, IF ANY IT HAS, ARE DUE TO HIS INTEREST IN A CORRECT
HISTORY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
ABOUT HIS NATIVE PLACE, WHICH INTEREST HE SO FAITHFULLY SOUGHT TO IMPART TO
THE AUTHOR.
1
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فتوير الانتخ
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PREFACE.
T HE collection and preservation of facts illustrative of the early history of West New Jersey have always been, to the author of this volume, a pleasing task. The little interest manifested in these events which are so rapidly passing from memory, and which hitherto have attracted so little attention, has prompted this purpose and given it greater importance. The arrangement of the material here presented to the public, it is hoped, may not be entirely without value, for the reason that, by this means, some facts may be saved from oblivion, inquiry assisted, and new light shed upon a subject too long neglected, and too much mystified by time. The method of reference which has been adopted will enable the reader to consult the authorities used, and thus any particular line of inquiry may be the more fully pursued.
It is not claimed that these Sketches are a complete history of the times to which they relate, although much effort has been made in that direction; nor that they are entirely free from error; yet, if any interest shall be excited, or any one stimulated to examine the subject still more critically, their purpose will not be wholly defeated.
INTRODUCTION.
T HE first Dutch, Swedish and English settlements on the Delaware river have been so comprehensively considered by various writers within the last half century, except those included within the limits of Newton Township, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, now embraced in the city of Camden and Haddon Township, Camden County, and places adjacent thereto, that, to recite their history here, would be a needless repetition. Upon that subject little uncertainty now remains, since nearly all the leading facts that, for many years, appeared contradictory or doubtful, have been reconciled and settled, so that no reader, however particular or inquisitive, need go astray.
But the persons who, separately or collectively, made up the English colonies upon the New Jersey shore of the Delaware should not pass unnoticed; nor can they be lost sight of, however prominently the results of their undertaking may be presented. They were men of decided views and positive characteristics, of clear and discerning minds, able to consider a subject in all its bearings, and endowed with courage to over- come obstacles apparently insurmountable.
Feeling that the abuse of power had not only made their property insecure, but was also destroying the quiet of their firesides, they naturally looked for some other land in which these troubles could be avoided. With the warmest attachment to the fundamental principles of the government under which they lived, they were forced to seek a new home, where these
8
INTRODUCTION.
principles could be enjoyed in their original purity. Adhering to their religious belief with a tenacity that could not be shaken, and in that belief finding nothing that encouraged resistance, the " Plantations in America" were the only asylum in which the proper administration of law could be assured, since these colonies were too distant, and of too little importance, to attract the attention of those in authority at home. Not long did it take to put these conciusions into shape, and the unan- imity with which they were accepted gave force and character at once to the movement.
Here was a novel and responsible enterprise; one new in its inception, new in its development and uncertain in its results ; dependent for its success upon the business capacity and per- sistence of those who had enlisted in the cause; yet little time elapsed before such as were equal, or unequal, to the task began to appear. Among the original projectors, the timid were soon replaced by others more sanguine, and such as hesi- tated, at once found those who were glad to accept their positions.
With a common object, no radical difference of opinion delayed its consummation ; hence a general outline of procedure was soon adopted, and the leaders found themselves clothed with responsibilities hardly anticipated. Their object was a declared and open one, to be obtained without bloodshed, yet through privation, suffering and sacrifice. They were not . mere adventurers in search of wealth to be procured by rapine . and the sword, regardless of the rights of others; nor did they endeavor to seduce the unsuspecting into their scheme by plau- sible or specious promises. Their purpose was to secure a new. home in the wilds of America, and, in so doing, to lay the foundations of a government that would give to themselves the enjoyment of liberty in its legally restricted sense, and would perpetuate the same blessings to their descendants. How well they did this needs no answer from the present generation, which now reaps the full fruition of the labors of these pioneers in their efforts to obtain civil and religious liberty. In this light it is proper to regard them, and to admire their fidelity in laying so broad and deep the fundamental principles of human rights, so
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INTRODUCTION.
that these have come to us, after two hundred years, as pure and inspiring as when first published to the world. Nor did they hesitate when they found themselves in a strange land, sur- rounded by difficulties even greater than they had looked for. Without a dwelling, save such as could be made of the sails of their vessels; without an acre of land prepared for culture, and without a friend to welcome or direct them; they at once established their religious meetings, organized their form of government, and put in operation their code of laws, the liberality of which is felt to the present time. Nothing shows their intention to abandon the undertaking, or to yield to the discouragements that met them; but each successive day proved the wisdom of their plans, and strengthened their belief that success must ultimately follow.
The influence of female example also deserves to be com- mended. Taken from their homes and from the circle of relatives and friends where the refinements, if not the luxuries, of life could be enjoyed, and where the strongest ties of human nature exist-the courage and the faithfulness of the wives and daughters of the first comers to the soil of New Jersey must excite the admi- ration of every reader. The trials and exposures through which they passed cannot, in our day, be fully appreciated. In the midst of a wilderness where even shelter was an object, these women are found, showing by word and deed that no complaint of theirs should bring despondency upon the little company. Resolute in the discharge of every duty, and unceasing in their efforts to contribute to the comfort and encouragement of their companions, they displayed those traits of character which belong to the sex alone, and which always accomplish so much when brought into action. Having shared every sacrifice and met. every requirement, their position in the first endeavor to settle our State with English colonists should be made a promi- nent one and must ever command respect.
From these small beginnings at Salem, at Burlington, and at Newton, can be traced the development of West New Jersey; and to the families who made the first adventure, many of its citizens can follow their direct line of blood.
The letters O. S. G., used in the foot notes, refer to the records in the office of the Surveyor-General of West New Jersey. All other references, except those specially noticed, are made to the records in the office of the Secretary of State, at. Trenton. N. J. Those indicated by letters contain records of deeds, and those by numbers contain records of wills.
Many of the wills, probates and letters of administration of the first settlers in Burlington and Gloucester counties-part of Mercer county then being in Burlington, and Atlantic and Camden counties being part of Gloucester-are on file and not recorded. The like documents, however, of Salem county-then embracing what now form Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties-are entered in the Salem books in the same office at Trenton. The records of many marriages of early times will be found in the court minutes of Salem and Burlington counties ; some also will be found 'in the book of "Licenses of Marriages," of later date in the same office.
ROBERT ZANE.
R OBERT ZANE was the pioneer of the settlement at Newton. He was the first of that colony who left the . shores of his native land to seek a new home in an unknown and unsettled country.1 He did not wait the tardy move- ments of his associates, but took advantage of the first opportunity by which he could become acquainted with the place in which his life was to be spent, his children to be reared and his bones to be laid. With the vigor of youth and a fondness for adventure, he entered upon his purpose with a determination that could not be foiled. He was too young to be the victim of religious persecution, yet his sympathies were with those whose estates were being wasted, and whose persons were at the caprice of unrestrained authority. While these abuses excited his indignation, riper minds than his had con- vinced him that new homes, new laws and new rulers were the only hopes for security and peace. The records of his time follow so close upon his footsteps that he is seldom lost sight of, and, from the first to the last, no question arises as to his identity under so many different aspects.
Thomas Sharp, in his Memorial, refers to him as coming from the city of Dublin to Salem four years before he, Sharp, came to Newton; and all authorities agree that he was one of the "members of the first Friends' Meeting established at Salem in 1675. He probably was in the ship with John Fenwick, among many other emigrants who arrived at Elsinburg in September
I Hazzard's Annals of Pennsylvania, 422.
I2
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
of the year named, this vessel being the first which came to Salem under the auspices of that remarkable man. There is abundant evidence that his stay at Salem was designed to be but temporary, although his name frequently occurs in the proceed- ings of the Friends' Meetings of that place, from the year 1678 to the time of his removal. His name is not among those signed to the agreements made by the planters with the chief proprietor ; nor was he of those who located lands in the Salem Tenth, and received their title from the same person with a view to permanent settlement. He does not appear to have participated in the government of the colony, or to have been a party to the troubles between Fenwick and his Dutch and English rivals. ' His only purchase of real estate during the four years of his residence there, was that of a town lot, which he subsequently sold to William Royden in 1689, several years after he had settled at Newton.2 Thus the whole course of his actions, previous to the coming of Thomas Thackara and of the others with whom he associated, shows that his departure from home with John Fenwick was made in expectation of being followed by them, and of their forming a united settle- ment within the bounds of the Irish Tenth, many miles from the place of his first arrival. The limits of the territory in which this settlement was to be made, were shown to him soon after the arrival of the London and Yorkshire commissioners, as lying between Penisaukin and Timber creeks, two large and well defined streams. Beside these, but two others, at all navig- able, found their way into the Delaware within the bounds fixed ; upon any one of which the selection could be made. No one can doubt that Robert Zane traversed each of these to examine locations, test the soil and discover the most eligible place "to settle down by." Opposite to where the Swansons had made their farms, and where now stands the southerly part of the city of Philadelphia, the mouth of Newton creek opened into the river and was in full view from the spot where their houses stood. Near their dwellings a few scattered huts were already built, which gave the place some pretensions to a town, whose inhabitants, however, at that time, were all Swedes.
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2 Salem Deeds No. 4, 163.
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I3
ROBERT ZANE.
About this time William Penn arrived at Shackomaxin, and the prospect was that a town would be laid out, extending along the river front from the last named point down to the little Swedish village; and including it. To be near this growing place, Robert no doubt, considered desirable ; and, when his friends arrived from Ireland, he called their attention to these advan- tages, and, through his representations, the place on the north bank of Newton creek was fixed upon, and an embryo town soon built.
These friends and associates, to whom reference has before been made, may be known through two separate and distinct papers, bearing widely different dates, and made for entirely different purposes. The first is a deed, dated April 12th, 1677, made by Edward Bylinge and his trustees to Robert Turner, of Dublin,3 " Robert Zane, of Dublin, Serge Maker, and others for one whole share of Propriety in West New Jersey ;" and the second is the Memorial of Thomas Sharp, dated in 1718, in which a history is given of all their proceedings down to the . writing of the same, covering a space of forty-one years, and until after the death of several of those in the first interested. Taking these papers together, the one as the first and the other as the last, the coincidence of names, dates and localities are remarkable, and puts at rest any question touching the persons participant in that adventure.
As an artisan, Robert Zane was a worker in wool, manufac- turing a kind of material that bears the same name to this day, and which is used for the same purpose." It is probable that he brought his looms with him, but he found no use for them here for several years after his coming, for the reason that the required material was not produced until agriculture had been somewhat advanced, and the people had made themselves farms from lands where before had stood an unbroken forest. A majority of his associates were educated to the same kind of labor, and, although producing a different stuff from their looms, yet all came under the general head of "Weavers," and were thus known among their neighbors.
3 Lib. B-1, 52.
+ Lib. B-1, 52.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
In 1679 he married Alice Alday, of Burlington, in the Friends' Meeting at that place. Alice was, in all proba- bility, an Indian maiden. A faithful search among the names of the early settlers reveals none similar to hers; and it may . fairly be. concluded that Robert became enamored of . the bronzed beauty in one of his perambulations among the natives of the soil. Perhaps some hunting expedition found him at night-fall, hungry and foot-sore, near the hospitable wigwam of an Indian chief, by whom he was invited to rest and accept the good cheer set before him; and, while the assurance of welcome delayed him for the night, he may have noticed a daughter of his host, of artless ways and graceful movements.
" What though the sun with ardent frown, Had slightly tinged her cheek with brown,"
he could see in her a comely, and, to his youthful eye, an attractive person. To the talk by the evening fire, during which the old chief questioned him about "the story of his life," the dark-haired damsel would listen, and with "a greedy ear devour up his discourse," and thus give him an opportunity to watch her interest in his words, and to draw from her, at least, a look of sympathy. In relating the sad story of the wrongs that drove him, and those who were soon to follow, from their homes, he enlisted her pity, and thus won her love.
In settling the preliminaries of the marriage, a name known in the English tongue must be agreed upon; this trouble was easily overcome by those whose hopes and wishes now so closely assimilated. A due regard for the discipline of the church required that her ideas of religious belief should conform to the notions of Friends; this being made satis- factory, and a name having been fixed by her parents, nothing remained but the consummation of the nuptials.
This marriage doubtless brought together a strange assemblage within the tent in which the meetings at Burlington were then held. Beside the plain and unpretending dress of the Quaker might be seen the gaudy and warlike costume of the aborigines, and while the one was characteristic of non-resistance and peace, the other bespoke resentment and revenge. In the one, humility and a patient waiting for results were apparent; a
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ROBERT ZANE.
bold and defiant expression could be seen in the bearing of the other. The restraining influence of civilization was strikingly contrasted with unlettered barbarism.
The arrival of his friends from Dublin in 1681, and their purpose to take up their abode in the Irish Tenth, made it necessary that Robert Zane should remove from Salem in order to carry out the original agreement formed before his coming to New Jersey. This may be inferred from Friend Sharp's history of that event, as well as from the deed before named.5 In the search "up and down," he doubtless was the leader, and pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the different points, and gave them his knowledge of the surrounding country. His right was one-tenth of a whole share, and this, under the several dividends, gave him the privilege of making surveys, of which he and his sons took advantage, as appears by the records of that time.
In the division of the original survey of one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres, as made in 1681,6 he took for his share, the upper part which extended from Newton creek to Cooper's creek, and which now includes the Collings estate, the Barton farm, and the plantation formerly held by Amos Haines, with other sub-divisions. He was the owner of prop- erty at Gloucester, which he disposed of previous to his death .?
With the political matters of the colony he had somewhat to do, being elected to the first Legislature in 1682, and returned in 1685.8 During these sittings many important laws were passed, their necessity arising out of the new order of things, and being based upon a new charter of rights. The most of these were found to be salutary, and but little complaint arose among the people.
In 1684 and also in the following year, he filled the office of constable ; but what executive duties he had to discharge when the inhabitants were so few, it is hard to understand. Each tenth appears to have had an officer of this character, appointed annually by the Legislature, whose authority was confined to the bounds of the same, while the sheriff, who was also
5 Thomas Sharp's Memorial.
7 Lib. W., 59, O. S. G.
6 Revels' Book, 52,
8 Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
appointed by the same power and for the same time, had his duties enlarged to the vaguely defined boundaries of the coun- ties, which boundaries in after years led to much trouble and litigation.
Although his name does not appear among the records of the Newton Friends, yet he was an active member in that meeting and sought to maintain and advance their religious principles. In his day and generation opinions were well defined upon those points, and men were advanced in accordance with their views expressed or understood.
In the year 1686, Robert Zane fell into a difficulty with a female, formerly a servant in his family, touching some obliga- tions on his part not complied with. The trouble assumed such proportions that it got beyond the control of the meeting, and found its way to the courts of justice, in which it became a matter of public record. The minute book of the court sitting at Gloucester explains the dispute, and the entire copy, as found and extracted by Isaac Mickle, Esq., is its best history.9
" Upon ye complaint of Rebecca Hammond against her late master, Robert Zane, for want of necessary apparel, as also his failure in some covenants that he was by his Indenture to perform ; it was ordered yt ye said Robert Zane before ye first day of ninth month next, shall find and give to ye said Rebecca Hammond apparel to the value of three pounds seven shillings and sixpence. And also fifty acres of land to her and her heirs forever. And in case ye said Robert dislike this order, . then to stand and abide by ye act of Assembly in ye like case provided. Whereupon the said Robert Zane did at last declare that he would comply with ye aforesaid order and answer ye same."
This appears to have been an act within the power of the court upon complaint of the servant, under the law passed in 1682, which gave authority to examine into and settle such controversies between master and servant.10 The law required that the servant should have, at the end of the term, ten bushels of corn, necessary apparel, two horses and one axe. The fifty
9 Mickle's Reminiscences of Old Gloucester, 39.
to Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
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ROBERT ZANE.
acres referred to were known as "head land," to which able bodied servants were entitled, and which the court directed to be conveyed. Friend Zane was not lessened by this suit in the good opinion of his neighbors, for his name is found in connection with many positions of trust after that time.
His house stood fronting Newton creek, near to, and perhaps a short distance above, the place where the Camden and White Horse turnpike crosses that stream, and on the farm lately owned by the heirs of. Edward Z. Collings, deceased. Like all others of its day, no taste was displayed in its construction, but, being surrounded by the primeval forest, and near a beautiful, living stream of water, its wild and romantic appearance would be attractive to an artist's eye. The clearing of the land, at that day, was a slow process, accomplished with few laborers and poor implements, while, to add to the difficulty, heavy timber had to be felled and removed ; yet these people soon began to write to their friends at home of the prolific soil, the favorable climate, and the plenty that pervaded the land.
With all such flattering accounts, however, it is to be sup- posed that much of the means for the comfort and sustenance of the first settlers was derived from the forest and streams that teemed with game and fish of many kinds, which kept the wolf from the door in more than a single sense.
An incident that occurred during the career of Robert Zane, showing the care with which the Society of Friends regarded the disputes among their members, and how much scandal was avoided by the settlement of such troubles within the pale of the church, may be noticed here.
John White, a resident of Newton, died, leaving his brother Joseph, William Bates, Thomas Thackara and Robert Zane, executors of his will. The property which he left to be man- aged by his executors for the benefit of his children, was, for those times, considerable. In the progress of the settlement, a difficulty arose between Joseph White and the other executors, which found its way into both the Newton and the Salem Meeting, causing much discussion and ill feeling. A committee of six members from each meeting was appointed to settle the matter. This committee met at the house of Thomas Gard-
2
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
iner, Jr., at Woodbury creek, to hear what could be said by each party. A conclusion was reached, and an award signed by eleven of the committee, Richard Darkin of the Salem Meeting dissenting. This award was laid before the Salem Meeting upon the 26th day of the eighth month, 1691, and by it approved. Joseph White appealed to the Quarterly Meeting, which confirmed the act of the Monthly Meeting. In these pro- ceedings, Richard Darkin gave his reasons for not signing the award, which were considered by each meeting in its review of the same. In regular order, the parties took the matter to the Yearly Meeting, held at Burlington, and, on the 29th day of the second month, 1693, Richard Darkin on the one part, and Thomas Sharp, one of the signers of the award, on the other part, were heard by Francis Davenport, Alexander Brearley, Samuel Carpenter and James Fox, the committee appointed by the meeting. After due consideration, the meeting confirmed the award aforesaid in all things. Much dissatisfaction still existed, but, on the 24th day of the fourth month, 1695, the decision of the committee of the Yearly Meeting was reported to the Salem Meeting, and the controversy abandoned so far as regarded the trouble among the executors.
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