USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume III > Part 2
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
December 30, 1862, he married, at Paterson, Sarah Louise Allen, born Paterson, December IO, 1842, daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Allen) Allen, whose children were : Alpheus S., Stephen W., Sarah Louise and Emma Allen. Mr. and Mrs. May have had two children. Cora Louise, born April 2, 1864, and Edith, May 31, 1882, died 1883.
WILSON During the last quarter of the eighteenth and the first quarter of the nineteenth century there had been little immigration to this country, owing to various causes, but principally due to the effects of the revolution and the war of 1812, and the fact that Europe was also fully occupied with its own affairs. With the close of the Napoleonic wars, however, there came upon the British isles a series of famines and industrial distresses which, coupled with visions of unexampled prosperity and unprecedented freedom, drew an ever increasing number of the best yeomen and other workmen to Amer- ica. Among this number was the founder of the Wilson family at present under considera- tion.
(I) Thomas Wilson, the founder of the family, was an Irish farmer, and came over to this country with his bride about 1835. He set- tled in Gloucester county, New Jersey, where
he not only became a prosperous yeoman, but also carried on a lumbering business on quite a large scale, until his death, which occurred March 25, 1896.
His wife, Ellen J. Lawrence, who was born and married in Ireland, was a descendant of one of the old French Huguenot refugees who had fled to England and Ireland in order to escape the persecutions which succeeded the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Under the protection of the British flag the family had not only prospered but also risen to promi- mence, and one of her great-uncles was the . celebrated John Laird-Mair, the first Lord Lawrence, and a governor-general of India, being the sixth son of Lieutenant-colonel Alex- ander Lawrence. Another great-uncle was Sir George St. Patrick Lawrence, who command- ed the English forces at Rajputana, during the Sepoy mutiny in 1858. Still another great- uncle was Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence, virtual governor of Oudh and chief-commis- sioner of Lucknow when the mutiny broke out, who lost his life during the famous siege of that place.
The children of Thomas and Ellen J. (Lawr- ence) Wilson, were: I. Robert J., is now carrying on a lumber business at Franklinville, Gloucester county, New Jersey. 2. Mary, married Rev. George S. Campbell. 3. Matilda B. (Mattie), married Rev. Wilson Asdale, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. Charles, referred to below. 5. Ellen J., married Franklin B .. son of Isaiah and Lydia (Miller ) Haines, of Medford, New Jersey. 6. Rachel, died un- married. 7. Thomas K., died at the age of six years. 8. Margaret, died when two years old. 9. Victoria C., married Henry B. Shields. 10. Thomas C., a farmer, now living at Franklin- ville, Gloucester county. . II. James M., at present a member of the police force of New York City.
(II) Charles, fourth child and second son of Thomas and Ellen J. ( Lawrence) Wilson, was born near Forest Grove, Gloucester county, New Jersey, January 15, 1854. He was born in a log cabin, which at that time was the only habitation on what is now the site of the city of Vineland. He passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, and when he was only about twenty years old, in 1874, he began to manage a farm on his own ac- count, on the ground in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, which he sold in 1900- a one hundred and seventy-six acre farm near Russell's Mills. In 1905 he served as sheriff of Gloucester county. In 1897 he was one
855
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
of the freeholders of the town of Swedes- boro; and for several years he served the same town as overseer of roads and highways, and it is the common opinion that the ex- ceptionally good roads of that vicinity are largely due to his careful and painstaking efforts and supervision. He is a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen.
Charles Wilson married Anna A., daughter of Ephraim Dunham, who was born at Mon- roeville, Salem county, New Jersey, in 1858. Their four children were : I. Thomas Lawrence, referred to below. 2. Mabel C., married Ed- ward Black, and has five children: Harry, Lester, Mabel C., Charles and Edith. 3. C. Howard, married Irene Rogers. 4. Ethel R.
(III) Thomas Lawrence, eldest child of Charles and Anna A. (Dunham) Wilson, was born at Swedesboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey, July 1, 1876, and is now living at Woodbury, in the same county. For his early education he was sent to the public schools of his native county, and afterwards went to Philadelphia and entered the Pierce Business College there. He then procured a position as telegraph operator in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, being stationed at Stone Harbor, Cape May county, New Jersey. He remained until 1900, when he was trans- ferred by the railroad company to a much better position as operator at Paulsboro. Gloucester county, where he remained until 1904. In this last mentioned year he left the employ of the railroad and for a time assisted in the post office at Swedesboro, and in the following year. 1905, when his father was elected sheriff of Gloucester county, he was sworn in as under sheriff. In 1908 he became candidate for sheriff of the same county, on the Republican ticket, and when the votes were counted it was found that he had been elected by the largest majority that had ever been given to a candidate running for that office, and that moreover his popularity was such that he had run ahead of his ticket by two hun- dred votes. It should also be noted that he is the second youngest sheriff that has ever been elected in New Jersey, he being only thirty- two years old when chosen. Mr. Wilson is a member of many organizations, among which should be mentioned Swedesboro Lodge, No. 157, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is a past master ; the Knights of Pythias; and the Junior Order American Mechanics. He is also New Jersey state president of the Pa- triotic Order of the Sons of America. In re- ligion he is an independent. He married,
December 9, 1909, Elizabeth F., daughter of Alonzo P. Rambo, of Thorofare, New Jersey.
The founder of the Salem RUMSEY branch of the Rumsey family in America was Charles Rum- sey who emigrated from Wales in 1665, ar- riving at Charleston, South Carolina, whence he went to New York and Philadelphia, locat- ing finally at the head of Bohemia river in Cecil county, Maryland. He married Cather- ine , born September 26, 1675. Chil- dren : William, see forward; Prudence, Mar- garet, Elizabeth, Charles, Edward, Mary, Grace and John. To his sons William and Charles he left three hundred acres of land, the home plantation, and to Edward he left one hundred acres. Charles Rumsey died November 28, 1717, and his wife died August 28, 1710.
( II) William, eldest son and child of Charles and Catherine Rumsey, was born April 21, 1698. He became a surveyor of note, and assisted in locating the state line between Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1739 and performed other important surveying service. He also acted as collector of cus- toms, and became one of the most extensive land-owners of Cecil county, Maryland, leav- ing about thirty-five thousand acres of land to his heirs. The old Rumsey mansion was a magnificent specimen of colonial architecture, picturesquely situated on an eminence com- manding a wide expanse of beautiful country. He married Sabina Blandenburgh. Children : William, Benjamin, Charles, see forward : John, Judith and Sabina. William Rumsey died in 1742.
(III) Colonel Charles (2), son of William and Sabina ( Blandenburgh) Rumsey, was born in 1736, died 1780. He served in the war of the revolution. He was a member of the Maryland council in 1775, the Maryland council of safety in 1776, and the colonel of the Elk Battalion, Cecil county militia, the same year. He married Abigail Jane, born in 1746, died in February, 1827, daughter of the Rev. Richard and Emma (Oxen) Caner, the former of whom received his degree of M. A. at Oxford, was a minister of the Episcopal church, residing in Cecil county, Maryland. and a soldier in the American revolution. Children : Henry Caner, Benjamin, see for- ward; Thomas Ellison, Charlotte J., Harriet. Ann and Mary.
(IV) Benjamin, son of Colonel Charles and
856
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
Abigail Jane (Caner) Rumsey, was born Janu- ary 26, 1772, died April 1, 1803. He married Mary, daughter of George Clark, of Delaware, and granddaughter of John Clark, who came from England. Children : 1. Charles, married Hannah Mulford. 2. Anna Jane, married Bacon Ware. 3. George Clark, see forward. 4. Eliza B., died in 1805.
(V) George Clark, son of Benjamin and Mary (Clark) Rumsey, was born in Middle- town, Delaware, November 24, 1798. He re- moved to Salem, New Jersey, where for many years he was engaged in general merchandis- ing, continuing until about 1841. In 1835 he was elected a director of the Salem Banking Company, serving in that capacity until his death, and in 1842 was appointed to the po- sition of cashier, rendering efficient service to the institution in both capacities. He was also interested in various other business enter- prises, and was the owner of several tracts of land. He was a Whig and Democrat in poli- tics, and a member and elder of the First Pres- byterian Church of Salem. He married Mar- garet, daughter of Antrim Conarroe, a de- scendant of the Antrim and Conarroe families, the former one of the oldest and most promi- nent families of New Jersey and the latter of Delaware. Their only child was Henry Mar- tyn, see forward. George C. Rumsey died December 28, 1851, and his wife April 9, 1883.
(VI) Henry Martyn, son of George Clark and Margaret (Conarroe) Rumsey, was born in Salem, New Jersey, August 24, 1838, and is now living in the place of his birth. He at- tended private schools at Salem, Princeton, Newton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. As soon as his education was com- pleted he began the cultivation of the farm, continuing until 1867. meeting with creditable success. Four years prior to this time he was elected to the office of director in the Salen Banking Company. He was one of the in- corporators of the Salem National Bank, which succeeded the Salem State Bank, and in 187I was elected assistant cashier, receiving the appointment of cashier in September, 1881, a position which he has retained ever since, a period of more than a quarter of a century. In 1889 the bank erected the im- posing and commodious quarters in which they now conduct business. Mr. Rumsey is con- nected with several financial and business in- stitutions and interests in Salem, and is re- garded as one of the most conservative and staple financiers of Salem. He is connected
with the Salem Gas Light Company and the Salem County Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, much of the prosperity of which is due to his ability and oversight. He takes a deep and practical interest in all movements calcu- lated to advance the public prosperity of his native city. He is a member and elder in the Presbyterian church of Salem, and a charter member of the New Jersey branch of the Sons of the Revolution.
Henry M. Rumsey married, November 24, 1859, Maria Elliott, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Acton) Bassett, the former of whom was a prominent farmer of Mannington town- ship and a director in the Salem National Bank, and the latter a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Acton. She was the youngest of five children, namely : Clement; Sarah Ann, mar- ried Barclay, son of Andrew Griscom ; Rachel, married Collins, son of Samuel Allen ; Richard, married Anne, daughter of Jonathan B. Grier ; Maria Elliott, referred to above. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Rumsey : 1. Margaret Conarroe, born April 1, 1861 ; married Thomas Tatnall, of Wilmington, Delaware ; children : Marjorie Conarroe, Henry Rumsey and Thomas Jr. 2. George Benjamin, born June 7, 1865; one of the directors and a bookkeeper in the Salem National Bank, of which his father is the cashier ; he has been a member of the board of education and has served as city treasurer ; one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church ; married. December 18, 1906, Constance Du Mine, daughter of C. M. and Maria H. ( Smith ) Eakin, of Salem, New Jersey ; chil- dren: Constance Conarroe, born December I, 1907, and Eleanor Margaret, born January II. 1909. 3. Mary Acton, born September 2, 1873: married Richard Wyatt Wistar, of Salem, New Jersey.
In 1675 John Fenwick, NICHOLSON with his children, associ- ates and servants, arrived off Cape May on board the little ship "Grif- fin." Captain Griffith, master, and the ship and passengers proceeded along the eastern shore of Delaware bay and river for fifty miles and passed the Old Swedes fort located at Els- burg, near the south of the Assamhocking river, which had been built by the Swedes about 1640. At this place a party of English settlers from New Haven, Connecticut colony, undertook a settlement soon after the fort was erected, but became discouraged and re- turned to New Haven in 1642, leaving the place in the possession of the Swedes. The
857
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
"Griffin" came to anchor there, September 23, 1675 (O. S.), and the next day proceeded up the river along the eastern shore to the wide mouth of the Salem river, followed this river for about three miles until it became quite narrow, when they landed and, considering the place a favorable one for the location of a town, called the spot Salem. The passengers and their household goods were carried to the shore and the first permanent settlement by the English immigrants was made on the east- ern shore of the Delaware river. John Fen- wick was the owner of one-tenth of the entire area of West Jersey, and from the time he made his home at Salem, in September, 1675, his fortunes and those of William Penn were closely allied and William Penn, the proprietor of Pennsylvania, purchased large tracts of land in Fenwick's colony.
(I) Samuel Nicholson, a native of Orston, Northamptonshire, England, was one of the associates of John Fenwick on the "Griffin," and he had with him his wife Ann, and five children, all born in Northamptonshire, the youngest being at the time only three years of age. He and his family were notable among the passengers as being the owners of two thousand acres to be located wherever the set- tlement should be made, such a possession giv- ing them prominence as leaders, and they were as well, members of the Society of Friends. Samuel Nicholson had been brought up as a husbandman and, upon arrival at their final location on the Delaware river, he proceeded to survey outside the town limits of Salem, and south of it, his tract of two thousand acres, obtaining full title and possession in the tenth month. 1675. He also purchased a town lot of sixteen acres on Wharf street in New Salem, where he built a house of hewn logs, and in this house the first religious organiza- tion in Fenwick colony was made in 1676, and the meetings of the Society of Friends were held in the houses periodically up to 1681. when the need of a meeting house became apparent and to meet this need, Samuel and Ann Nichol- son deeded the estate of sixteen acres to "Salem Monthly Meeting forever for a Meeting House and burial ground," and the Society enlarged the building, taking out the partitions and making a firm clay floor, and the first yearly meeting was held in the house as trans- formed, the date of the meeting being 2nd month 15th, 1684. In this way the first home in New Jersey, of Samuel Nicholson became the first meeting house of the Society of
Friends in the state. Upon surrendering his home, Samuel Nicholson selected a site on his two thousand acre tract for a new home, the place becoming known as Elsinborough, and he was made the first justice of the peace in the Fenwick colony. He devised that his landed estate of Elsinborough be divided between his eldest son Samuel Jr., and his youngest son Abel. He died at his new home, Elsinbor- ough, about 1690, and his widow, Ann, died in 1693. In her will Ann Nicholson devised her estate to the three grandchildren, Rachei, Mary and Elizabeth Abbott, and to her sons, Samuel, Joseph and Abel Nicholson. Chil - dren of Samuel and Ann Nicholson : 1. Para- bol, born 2nd month 20th day, 1659 ; married at New Salem, 9th month, 25th day, 1677, Abraham Strand. 2. Elizabeth, born 3rd month, 20th day, 1664, married, 1684, John Abbott, and had children: Rachel, Mary and Elizabeth. 3. Samuel, born 3rd month, 6th day. 1666; married but had no children. Im- mediately after the death of his wife he made a will devising his large estate, consisting of one-half of his deceased father's landed estate. to his brother Joseph, and shortly afterward died, 1750. 4. Joseph, see forward. 5. Abel, born 5th month, 2nd day, 1672 ; married, prob- ably in 1694. Mary, daughter of William and Joanna Tyler.
(II) Joseph, second son and fourth child of Samuel and Ann Nicholson, was born 2nd month. 30th day. 1669. died in 1702. After his marriage he lived in the homestead on the north bank of the Monmouth river, where Allowaystown now stands. Of this property he sold one-half to George Abbott, who came from New England about 1696, and the other half to Samuel Stebbins and John Forth. George Abbott built a dwelling house upon the place in 1706, and an addition to the same in 1725, and the house was in continued use as a dwelling and in excellent repair in 1909. Jo- seph Nicholson after selling this homestead re- moved to then Gloucester county, now Cam- (len, New Jersey, where he died intestate. He married, January 3, 1695, Hannah Wood. Children : George and Samuel.
(III) Samuel (2), son of Joseph and Han- nah (Wood) Nicholson, was born in 1698, died in 1750. He married ( first ) 1722, Sarah Burrongh; ( second) 1744. Rebecca Saint ; (third ) 1749, Jane Albertson. Had a number of children, among them being a son Abel.
(IV) Abel, son of Samuel (2) and Sarah ( Burrough) Nicholson, was born between
858
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
1735 and 1740, died in 1761. He married Re- becca Aaronson, and his son was born after his death.
(V) Abel (2), son of Abel (I) and Re- becca (Aaronson) Nicholson, was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, 1761, died December 9, 1829. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Isaac Ellis; (second) Sarah, daughter of Redman, and widow of Stephen Munson Day ; had six children.
(VI) Isaac, son of Abel (2) Nicholson, was born February 18, 1790, died August 20, 1870. He married, March 24, 1814, Priscilla Wills and had six children.
(VII) Isaac Wills, son of Isaac and Pris- cilla (Wills) Nicholson, was born in Camden county, New Jersey, January 26, 1829. He was a farmer, and served in the legislature of New Jersey as a member of the general as- sembly for three terms, and as a director of freeholders for Camden county. He was also a charter member of the state Grange and served as a master in that body. He married Elizabeth Moore, born in Delaware township, Camden county, New Jersey, 1833, daughter of Joseph Kay and Keturah (Haines) Lippin- cott. Children: Joseph Lippincott, see for- ward; Keturah, twin of Joseph Lippincott, died in infancy; Herbert M., born in 1857; Virginia, 1859, unmarried: Jessie, born in 1861, unmarried.
(VIII) Joseph Lippincott, eldest child of Isaac Wills and Elizabeth Moore (Lippincott ) Nicholson, was born in Delaware township, Camden county, New Jersey, July 8, 1855. He was a pupil in the public schools of his native town and studied under private tuition, com- pleting his school training with four years at Westtown Friends Boarding School. Upon leaving the latter institution he entered the office of P. C. Garrett, a cotton and woolen manufacturer in Philadelphia, where he re- ceived a good business training. His next oc- cupation was on his father's farm, as assist- ant in the latter's extensive milk business. De- ciding to take up the study of medicine, he be- came a student in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1877, being graduated in 1890 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He supplemented this course with nine months' practice as resident physi- cian in the Cooper Hospital at Camden, New Jersey, and fifteen months at the Philadelphia Hospital, Philadelphia. In 1892 he located at Camden as a physician and surgeon, and at the present time (1909) is engaged in the ac- tive duties of his profession, with a large and
remunerative practice. He assumed the duties and responsibilities of visiting surgeon on the medical staff of Cooper Hospital in 1895, and still holds that position. His professional af- filiations include membership in the American Medical Association ; New Jersey State Medi- cal Society ; Camden County Medical Society ; and Camden City Medical Society. He is always a welcome visitor at the meetings of these organizations, and has read interesting and valuable papers at various times. His po- litical choice is the Republican party, and his religious home is at the Friends Meeting. He was elected a member of the Camden Board of Trade and of Haddon Grange.
Dr. Nicholson married, June 22, 1893, Eliz- abeth Davis, daughter of John Elkinton and Mary (Davis) Thompson, of Salem, New Jer- sey. Children: Elizabeth M., died young ; Joseph Lippincott (2), born February 19, 1898 ; Jesse Thompson, April 28, 1903.
The language of the Welsh HARRIS comes into the Cymric group of the Celtic, and Wales has al- ways formed the most important member of the group. There is no doubt of the antiquity of the Cymric tongues. Pezron, the British investigator, gravely affirms that the Welsh and Armoric (which he considered the same) had been the language of the Titans, that is, the language of Saturn, Jupiter, and the other powerful gods of heathen antiquity. The Rev. Joseph Harris, editor of the Seren Gomer, remarked in 1814 that "it is supposed by some, and no one can dispute it, that Welsh was the language spoken by Adam and Eve in Paradise!" Preposterous as the views of patriotic Welshmen may be on the subject, it is undoubtedly true that the Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe and that it possesses a literature reaching back to re- moter times than that of any modern tongue, excepting possibly Irish, and unlike Irish or Scotch Gaelic; it is not dying out. It has a genuine literary as well as oral existence, al- though the changes it has undergone are nu- merous and great since heard by Cæsar and Agricola, and it is the only living link that unites the distant past with our times. No wonder so many men of letters, authors, poets, novelists, educators and professional men have pride in pointing to their Welsh origin. They have taken in learning with their mother's milk for countless generations, and heredity has truly a just claim as helping to make Welshmen educators and educationists. The
859
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
Rev. Joseph Harris, aforementioned, has only a spiritual and racial relationship to John How- ard Harris, Ph. D., LL. D., concerning whom see forward, and his distinguished sons and daughters.
(I) Reese Harris, a man of learning both in literature and mathematics, came from his native town of Mesthyr, Tydval, Wales, to America, in 1836, and located in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in what is known as the Buffington Valley, and there was a farmer and civil engineer. He married Isabel, daughter of Thomas Coleman, a lineal descendant from Captain James Coleman, a soldier in the French and Indian war. The hardy pioneer life of the period was productive of a family of stalwart and self-reliant children, accus- tomed to the hardships and apparent disadvan- tages of farm life on the frontier.
(II) John Howard, son of Reese and Isa- bel (Coleman) Harris, was born on his fath- er's farm in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1847. He was brought up on the farm, attending the district school during the winter months, and was a pupil in the academy at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, for two years when, on reaching his sixteenth year, he felt impelled to offer his services to his coun- try as a soldier. The impression made upon the mustering officer by his well-developed body was an excellent one, and he was ac- cepted in spite of his extreme youth. On en- listing he was assigned to the Second Battalion, United States Volunteers, then serving in Western Virginia, and was transferred to Company H, Two Hundred and Sixth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, serving in Grant's cam- paign against Richmond, was made sergeant of the company in August, 1864, and took part in all the battles in which his regiment en- gaged up to the surrender of Lee and the oc- cupation of Richmond by the Federal army. On being mustered out with his regiment in 1865 he entered the University of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, which later became Bucknell University, and was graduated in 1869 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1870 he founded the Keystone Academy, at Factory- ville, Pennsylvania, was made pastor of the Factoryville Baptist church in 1880, carried on the executive duties of both academy and church for nine consecutive years, was elected a member of the board of trustees of Bucknell University in 1888, and resigned his pastorate in 1889 in order to accept an invitation from the trustees of Bucknell University, Lewis- burg, Pennsylvania, to become the president of
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.