USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
(VI) Thomas Moffatt, second child and son of Nathan Dunn and Sarah Ann ( Moffatt) Pancoast, was born at Mullica Hill, Gloucester county, September 5, 1834, and is now living at Moorestown, Burlington county, New Jer- sey. He was educated in the town schools of Mullica Hill and in Samuel Aaronson's school at Norristown, Pennsylvania, after which he went to farming with his father. He did a large truck farming business, driving to mar- ket with produce and drawing back from the city fertilizers. He kept up this work at
564
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
Moorestown for his father until his marriage and then he went to work farming for himself. He was appointed postmaster of Moorestown under President Arthur, and served also under his successor, President Cleveland, for four years, and then remained in the office as as- sistant postmaster under his successor for three years longer. In 1907 he retired from active life and moved into the village of Moorestown, where he now lives. Mr. Pan- coast is a Republican and a member of the Society of Friends.
In 1860 Thomas Moffatt Pancoast married (first) Sarah W., daughter of West Jessup, of Mantua, Gloucester county, who died in 1873. In 1886 he married (second) Harriet S., daughter of George S. Hulme, of Mt. Holly. In 1907 he married (third) Mary Griscom Lippincott, widow of Albert Lippincott, and daughter of David Griscom, who was president of the Moorestown Bank at the time of his death. Thomas Moffat Pancoast has no chil- dren.
TOMLINSON Of the founder of the Tomlinson family of West Jersey it has been said, "There are doubtless very many interesting incidents, which, by patient research among the musty records still extant could be brought to light, and would show much of the history of his time, in connection with the progress of the people in their social, judicial and po- litical condition. That he was a progressive man is shown by his selecting his home so far away from the first settlements, in the depths of the wilderness, surrounded only by the aborig- ines, where nothing but industry and persever- ance could procure him a farm. In connection with these difficulties he became proficient in legal knowledge. He, therefore, attracted the attention of the community, and was called to fill the responsible positions before named. These things stamp him as a man whose ca- reer through life is worthy of being traced and recorded."
(I) Joseph Tomlinson, the person above re- ferred to, coming to West Jersey from the city of London, was a member of the Horsley- down Meeting of Friends, on the Surrey side of the river Thames, which even at that day had become a part of the great metropolis, by means of the several bridges already erected. He appears to have been under the patronage of Anthony, an uncle of the celebrated West Jersey Surveyor, Thomas Sharp, but whether or no he belonged to the same family as the
Lancashire and Derbyshire families of the same name who suffered for their religious beliefs from 1654 to 1690 is still uncertain. He arrived previous to 1686, and became an ap- prentice of Thomas Sharp, who had settled on Newton creek five years before. He had received a better education than many of his day, and he was still further fitted for the part he was to play by the excellent tutelage under which he found himself. In 1686 he agreed with his master to build him a house for a specified sum and to furnish all the materials except the nails. He was also probably one of those who built the Friends Meeting house in Newton, the first building of its kind in Gloucester county and the second in West Jer- sey. For some reason the articles of appren- ticeship were set aside and "Thomas Sharp agreed to pay Joseph £5 a year for his services and four at the end of his term. In 1690 Jo- seph Tomlinson located one hundred and sev- enteen acres on the east side of Gravelly run in Gloucester township, adjoining a tract he had previously purchased of Joseph Wood on which he settled and first lived after leaving the house of Friend Sharp. He soon in- creased his possessions until they extended from Gravelly run on the north to Holly run or Sharp's branch on the south. All of this he retained and willed after his death to his sons. His abode was surrounded by miles of unbroken forest and without neighbors within half a day's travel. He had to go ten miles to attend the Newton Meeting and if he took his farm produce to Philadelphia the distance was still increased. His leisure hours in this secluded spot he gave up to the reading and studying of law, and in 1695 he was made .sheriff, and the year following became the King's attorney or as we should call him to- day the provincial prosecutor. He has the honor of being the first attorney of record in Gloucester county. In 1700 he was reap- pointed to the same position, and apparently he held it continuously until 1710. August 20, 1719, he wrote his will which was proven Sep- tember 18 following, and in it he names his wife Elizabeth and ten children, there were probably others who died in infancy and child- hood. The daughters following the fortunes of their husbands have to a great extent been lost sight of, but the family of to-day has not lost its identity with the first settler and much of the landed estate owned by him still remains in the name. His children named in his will are: I. Ephraim, married (first) 1727, Sarah Corbit, and (second) Catharine Ridgway. 2.
565
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
Joseph, married (first) 1734, Lydia Wade, and (second) 1738, Catharine Fairlamb, of Ches- ter, Pennsylvania. 3. Margaret, married, 1736, Edward Borton. 4. Elizabeth, married, 1736, Bartholomew Wyatt. 5. Mary, married, 1730, Samuel Sharp. 6. John, who is referred to below. 7. Ebenezer. 8. Othniel, married, 1744, Mary Marsh. 9. Richard. 10. William, married, 1731, Rebecca Wills.
(II) John, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Tomlinson, was born in Gloucester township, Gloucester county, West Jersey, September 28, 1699; died there in 1755: In accordance with his father's will settled on three hundred acres higher up on Gravelly run where he spent his life. In his will, written January 2, 1755, and proven March 21 following he leaves this plantation to his wife for life or widowhood and then it reverts to his son, Isaac, who also is given twenty-five acres of "Syder Swamp" on Great Egg Harbour river and fifteen acres of swamp on Hospitality branch of the same stream. His personal estate he divided equally between his wife and his two daughters. His executors were his wife his brother, Joseph, and his son, Isaac. He married, in 1736, Mary Fairlamb, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who bore him three children: I. Isaac, who is referred to below. 2. Hannah. 3. Eleanor, married Josiah Albertson, and had a son, John, who in 1784 was put under the guardianship of his Uncle Isaac.
(III) Isaac, eldest child and only son of John and Mary (Fairlamb) Tomlinson, was born in Gloucester township, Gloucester county, August 10, 1737; died there in 1817. In 1783 he was one of the executors of the estate of James Taggard, and the following year was appointed guardian to his nephew, John Al- bertson. His will written January 15, 1812. and proved March 10, 1817, leaves the planta- tion to his wife during life or widowhood and then reverts it to his son, Joshua, his other chil- dren are left money legacies and his personal estate is divided equally between his widow and his daughter, Elizabeth, also a widow. In 1766 Isaac Tomlinson married Elizabeth Shever and their children were: I. Joshua. 2. Elizabeth, married William Clark. 3. Anne, married Jeremiah Haines. 4. Isaac, Jr. 5. John, who is referred to below.
(IV) John (2), youngest child of Isaac and Elizabeth (Shever) Tomlinson, was born in Gloucester township, Gloucester county, April 15, 1781 ; died in Northampton township, Bur- lington county, February 25, 1857. John Tom- linson and his wife, Elizabeth had six children :
I. Isaac born July 4, 1812; mentioned below. 2. John H., February 3, 1815; died May 7, 1859. 3. Joshua, September 23, 1818; men- tioned below. 4. Thomas Chalkley, August 25, 1820; died September 2, 1845. 5. Evans R., April 5, 1824; now (1909) living in Mt. Holly. 6. Benjamin, November 20, 1831 ; died September 5, 1835.
(V) Isaac (2), eldest son of John (2) and Elizabeth Tomlinson, was born in Northamp- ton township, Burlington county, New Jersey, July 4, 1812 ; died in Gloucester township, Cam- den county, on the original grant of his ances- tors, July 14, 1849. He was a farmer and spent his early life on the farm near Rancocus. He married Rebecca C. Lippincott, and had four children : I. Samuel L., who is referred to below. 2. Elizabeth, born April 22, 1840; married George H. Pancoast. 3. William H., died in infancy. 4. Thomas Chalkley, died in infancy.
(VI) Samuel Lippincott, the only son to reach maturity of Isaac (2) and Rebecca C. (Lippincott) Tomlinson, was born on the old plantation in Camden county, New Jersey, September 18, 1837, on a farm near Black- wood that had been in the Tomlinson family for five generations or since the year 1787. He was brought to Mt. Holly in 1849. For his early education he was sent to the select schools of Mt. Holly and afterwards finished his education at the private school of William Collom at Mt. Holly. He then went as clerk into his uncle's store at Columbus, New Jersey, where he remained from November 3, 1852, until 1861, when he went to Meadville, Penn- sylvania, in order to accept the position of superintendent and treasurer of the Meadville Gas Company, and became interested in the oil business. He returned to Mt. Holly in March, 1866, where he went into partnership with his uncle in keeping a general store, which they conducted for four years. March 4, 1871, when the Union National Bank was organized, he accepted the post of teller to which he had been elected and which he held January 9, 1883, when he was promoted to the office of cashier, in which capacity he is still serving. For fif- teen years Mr. Tomlinson has been treasurer of the Mt. Holly Shoe Company, and for ten years he was the treasurer of the Rendell Shoe Company. Since 1902 he has also been the treasurer of the Mt. Holly Safe Deposit & Trust Company. Mr. Tomlinson has been a member of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons since 1863, first of Solomon Chapter, No. 191, Royal Arch Masons, of Meadville
566
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
Pennsylvania, and then of Boudinot Chapter in Burlington, New Jersey. In 1866 he be- came a member of Helena Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar, at Burlington, and in 1867 a member of Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 19, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mt. Holly. February 2, 1882, he joined the Order of United Workmen and has been the receiver of the lodge ever since, being one of the char- ter members and a representative of the Grand Lodge twenty different times. He is also a charter member of Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 848, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a member of Spring Garden Lodge, No. 4, Knights of Burmingham, until the lodge went out of existence. He married, Septem- ber 20, 1865, Emma, daughter of Frederick and Emily Kirby, of Meadville, Pennsylvania.
(V) Joshua, third son of John (2) and Elizabeth Tomlinson, was born in Northamp- ton township, Burlington county, New Jersey, September 23, 1818; died April 23, 1875. He was educated in the schools of Rancocus. When a young man he went to New York City and learned the trade of mason in all its branches, brick and stone, with Franklin Haines. He later formed a partnership with Chalkley Wills and engaged in general contracting and build- ing. He later formed a partnership with George D. Hilliard; they conducted an exten- sive business and were among the leading con- tractors in the city, building the first hotel on Coney Island. Mr. Tomlinson met with an accident which disabled him from active busi- ness and he removed to Princeton, New Jersey, where he resided two years, thence to Mt. Holly, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He married Sarah E. Hutchins, daughter of William and Henry Hutchins. Children : 1. Anna, died in infancy. 2. Evans H., born in New York, August 3, 1854; re- ceived his education in the select schools of Princeton and Mt. Holly, entered Swarthmore College, and later engaged as clerk for the firm of Russell & Erwins in Philadelphia in the hardware manufacturing, remaining for three and a half years ; the following eighteen years he engaged in farming. On March 3, 1902, he entered the Union National Bank at Mt. Holly as clerk and is now ( 1909) serving in the capacity of receiving teller ; he married, June 24, 1884, May H. Garrison, of Mt. Holly. daughter of Hedge and Adeline (Haines) Garrison; children: i. Marion G., born Au- gust 31, 1885, married Chester Appleton, of Mt. Holly, and has one child, Elizabeth: ii. Edna, born December 1, 1889, a graduate of
the Trenton Normal School; iii. Dorothea, born July 19, 1902. 3. William B., mentioned below.
(VI) William B., youngest son and child of Joshua and Sarah E. (Hutchins) Tomlin- son, was born in New York City, December 8, 1858. He was educated in the select schools of Mt. Holly, Princeton and at Swarthmore College. After completing his studies he was for a time clerk in the firm of Russell & Erwins, of Philadelphia, later engaged in farm- ing in Camden county, and at the present time (1909) is one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Burlington county. He married Ida Cook, born December 19, 1860, of Jack- sonville, daughter of John and Hannah (Scott) Cook. Children : 1. William I., born May 20, 1880, a physician, of Philadelphia; married Grace Maxwell, and has one child, William B. 2. Jay B., born January 6, 1893 ; an attendant of Mt. Holly high school.
The name Bard, Barde and Baird BAIRD appears in records in various parts of Europe as early as the tenth and extending to the fourteenth century. They appear to have migrated from Lorraine to d'Aosta in Piedmont, and from there to Nor- mandy, finally settling in Scotland. In his "Irish Genealogy" MacForbes treats it as a joke that the Bairds claim an Anglo-Saxon origin, his contention being that their origin is Celtic. In "Irish Pedigrees" of which work Dr. O'Hart is the author, he says : Owen Mac an Bhaird, of Monycassen, was descended from Eocha, son of Sodhan. Mac an Bhaird was anglicized Macward and modernized Ward. The descendants of Owen Mac an Bhaird rendered the name O'Bairdam, and that in turn has been anglicized Baird, Bard, Barde, Barden, Bardin, Barten, Bartin, Berdan, Purdon, Verdon and Warden. In 1066 Seigneur de Barde was among the followers of William the Conqueror. In 1178 Henry de Barde was a witness to a charter of lands made by King William, the Lion, of Scotland. In 1191 Ugone di Bard, of the valley of d'Aosta, made alle- giance to Francis I., of Savoy. He owned a castle on Bard Rock, a natural defence, and after bravely defending the place was finally driven out. He had two sons, Marco and Aymone. In 1194 Hugo de Baird was one of the subscribing witnesses to a safe conduct granted by King Richard I., of England, to King William, the Lion, and it is said that a gentleman by the name of Baird saved William the Lion from a wild beast, and he. received
567
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
for this deed large tracts of land and coat-of- arms, viz: A boar passant, with the motto "Dominus fecit." During the Scotch war for independence the Bards were able supporters of the cause with Bruce and Wallace. Robert Bard was captured by the English, held a pris- oner at Nottingham, and an order was issued January, 1317, for his removal to the castle of Summerton. His fate is unknown. A Will- iam Bard was routed and taken prisoner with Sir William Douglass in 1333, in a skirmish with Sir Anthony Lacy on the English border. Jordan Baird was a constant companion with the brave William Wallace from 1297 to 1305. General Sir David Baird was a contemporary of Captain David Baird, and held command under Sir John Moore in the Peninsular cam- paign, and after the death and burial of Sir John succeeded to the command and reported the victory at Corrunna. He was the son of Sir William Baird, the son of Sir Robert, the son of James, the son of George, who was living in 1588. That John Baird (q. v.), of Topenemus neighborhood, New Jersey, was of this stock there seems little doubt.
(I) John Baird came from Aberdeen, Scot- land, as a passenger of the good ship "Ex- change," Captain James Peacock, master, and landed at Staten Island in New York harbour, about December 19, 1683. The state archives at Trenton, New Jersey, in a list of persons who were deported from Scotland to Amer- ica, and duly registered December 5, 1684, the names of John King, four years' service ; John Nesmith, four years' service ; John Baird, four years' service, etc., etc., occur. There were forty-seven thus deported. After John Baird had fulfilled his term of service he acquired several tracts of lands at New Aberdeen, Topenemus, and on Millstone brook in East Jersey and other places. It is said that John Baird dwelt in a cave with an Indian for a time before he built a house on the Topenemus tract. Traces of the cave are said to be visible on the banks of Topenemus brook, a little back and to the side of the present Baird homestead. built by James Baird, son of Zebulon, and grandson of John Baird, the immigrant. He was a Quaker, and the Friends' church was built near his homestead, where George Keith and his followers worshipped, and where he preached. When Keith, who was originally a Presbyterian, changed to the Society of Friends, it is probable that John Baird changed with him as he did to the Episcopal faith when Keith took orders in that church and carried many members of the Friends meeting with
him. Tradition has the story of his courtship and marriage as follows: "One day he met in the woods Mary Hall, whom he afterward married. As both were bashful, they halted at some distance from each other under a tree. It was love at first sight. John, who was a Quaker, broke the silence by saying 'If thou wilt marry me say 'yea,' if thou wilt not, say 'nay.' Mary said 'yea' and proved a noble wife and mother." This tradition equals that of the courtship of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. The four children of John and Mary (Hall) Baird were born as follows, and it is quite probable there were others: I. John (2), 1707 ; probably married Avis, the story of his gaining her for a wife being as follows : He had heard of a shipwreck on the coast, and that on board the ship were several comely women. He hurried to the scene on horse- back, and there selected his wife in the woman of his choice. It is said he saw her, wooed her, won her, and was comforted. In his will dated February 5, 1747, probated July 5, 1749, he names his sons, Andrew and Zebulon ; his wife, Avis, and Peter Bowne, executors of the will, and directs that after his debts are paid the residue of his estate be given to his wife, Avis Baird, during her widowhood, and in case of her re-marriage, to be divided equally between his wife and children and family, without naming them. The children of John (2) and Avis Baird, including three sons, An- drew, Bedent and Zebulon, of whom Andrew and Zebulon, named for their two uncles, sons of their grandfather, John, the Scottish immi- grant, and with whom they are often confused by genealogists. After the probating of their father's will, July 5, 1749, at which time they must have been of legal age, as Andrew and Zebulon were with their mother executors of the will, they migrated to North Carolina, mak- ing the journey across the Blue Ridge in a wagon, and when they reached Buncomb county, North Carolina, they exhibited the wagon as a curiosity, the first vehicle of the kind seen in that mountain district. They ap- proached the house of Mr. George Swain, a native of Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he was born in 1763, through the washed-out chan- nel of the creek, there being no roads, and the future governor of North Carolina, David Lowrie Swain, then a mere lad, when he saw the wondrous vehicle thus approaching his home he was standing in his father's orchard, planted with apple trees, raised from cuttings, brought from New England by his father, and waited the approach of the thundering chariot
568
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
with wonder and awe as it rolled over the rocky bed of the creek. At its nearer approach he took to his heels and hid behind his father's house, but was brought out by the command of his father to welcome and care for the visitors who were from New Jersey. They probably were at the time prospecting as they came to Burke county, North Carolina, as early as 1760, where Andrew married Anna, daughter of Mathew Locke, whose relative, Colonel Francis Locke, commanded three hundred militia men from Burke, Lincoln and Rowan counties, North Carolina, and gained the vic- tory at Ramsoor's Mills, May 29, 1780, of Lieutenant George Locke, killed in battle, Sep- tember 26, 1780. The descendants of Andrew and Anna (Locke) Baird are numerous throughout the south. Zebulon also married and among his descendants was Zebulon Baird Vance ( 1830-1894), governor of North Caro- lina, and United States senator. John Baird (2), the father of these North Carolina pioneers, died in Topenemus, Millstone town- ship, Monmouth county, New Jersey, Febru- ary 6, 1747, and was buried in the Topenemus burial ground, where his father was buried. 2. David (q. v.). 3. Andrew, who deeded his property to his brother Zebulon, June 15, 1755. 4. Zebulon, born 1720; died January 28, 1804, aged eighty-eight years, three months and fif- teen days, and his wife, Anna, died December 28, 1794, aged sixty-three years, four months and eleven days, and both are buried in the burial ground at Topenemus, New Jersey. John Baird, the immigrant, was buried at Topenemus, New Jersey, and on his tombstone is the following inscription :
" JOHN BAIRD who came from Scotland in 18th year of his age, A. D. 1683 died April , 1755 aged about 90 years, and of an honest character."
Mary Baird was admitted to the Lord's table at the White Hill meeting house in 1736.
(II) David, second son of John and Mary (Hall) Baird, of Topenemus, was born Octo- ber 19, 1710, was married, October 27, 1744, to Sarah Compton, born April 18, 1716; died May 1, 1810. . David Baird died June 20, 1801. By this marriage there were born four children in Topenemus as follows: 1. Jacob, Novem- ber, 1745; lived on a farm in Morris county, New Jersey, owned by his father, and on the death of his father it descended to him by his will. 2. Mary, September 30, 1747; married John, son of James and Dinah Tillyer Dey
(1747-1829), and they had children : James, John, David, Elias, Mary B. and David B. Dey. Mary (Baird) Dey died 1836. 3. John, October 27, 1750; married (first) Phebe Ely, who died June 17, 1817, and (second) Eliza- beth Edwards. He was an elder of the Old Tennent Church, and had no children by either of his wives. 4. Captain David (q. v.).
(III) Captain David (2), youngest child of David (1) and Sarah (Compton) Baird, was born in Topenemus, New Jersey, July 16, 1754; died December 24, 1839. He was a private in the first regiment from New Jersey to join the American forces at the time of the rebellion against Great Britian, became ser- geant in 1776, and was promoted ensign, lieu- tenant and quartermaster. He was captain of militia in 1777, and also captain of light horse in Monmouth county militia. He was in the New Jersey line at the battle of Germantown, was called with his company to protect the salt works at Tom's River several times, and to the protection of Navesink Highlands. He also served with General Dickerson's forces during the British march across New Jersey, and was in several skirmishes and at the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. He married (first) February 27, 1777, Rebecca Ely, and by her he had one child: Rebecca, who mar- ried William Ely, and had twelve children : David B., Joseph W., Harvey, John, Isaac, George A., Mary, Sarah, Lucy, Phoebe, Eliza- beth and William. Rebecca (Ely) Baird, the grandmother of these children, died January 6, 1778, and Captain David Baird married (second) Lydia (Topscott) Gaston, a widow, and by her he had six children born as follows : I. Sarah, November 1, 1780; died April 7, 1881, over one hundred years of age ; she mar- ried Thomas, son of Anthony Applegate, and they had seven children : Anthony, Lydia, David B., Sarah D., Disbrow, Thomas and John Applegate. 2. Mary, October 15, 1782 ; married Leon Dey, January 24, 1800, and re- moved to Ohio. 3. John, March 19, 1784. 4. Jacob, December 19, 1785 ; died April 8, 1822. 5. Lydia, February 8, 1788; married William Johnson, and had four children. 6. Phebe, November 14, 1790; married David Perine, had twelve children; she died December 17, 1855. Lydia (Topscott) (Gaston) Baird, the mother of these six children, died February 5, 1791, aged thirty-six years, and Captain David Baird married (third) Mary, daughter of Lieutenant Thomas and Elizabeth (Vaughn) Edwards, November 25, 1795, and by her he had eleven children born as follows: I. David,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.