USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 16
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
The village is compactly built, principally on a single street, with a slight elevation to the southeast, of which the annexed view, taken near the store of R. H. Woolston, is a representation. It contains 4 stores, a grist, saw, and turning mill, an extensive tan- nery, a select school, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist church, and a Friends meeting, 90 dwellings, and about 600 inhabitants. In this vicinity
.
119
BURLINGTON COUNTY.
1
Central View in Vincent-town.
& cellent surana tions is found. There was anciently a settle- n.snt of Indians about a mile west of Vincent-town, on Quakeson creek, where stood a log church, in which the Rev. John Brainard, a brother of the celebrated missionary, occasionally preached. This clergyman lived at Mount Holly during the American revolu- tion, in a dwelling now occupied by John Gibson, in the E. part of Brainard-st., where he died. The Presbyterian church in which he officiated at Mount Holly, was burnt in the war ; whether by acci- · dent cr design is unknown.
The following account of a hermit, residing near the western line of the township over 60 years since, is extracted from a news- paper of the time.
On the 19th inst. (Jan. 1778) died, in the 66th year of his age, Francis Furgler, the hermit, who existed alone twenty-five years, in a thick wood about four miles from Bur- lington, through all the inclemencies of the seasons, without fire, in a cell made by the side of an old log, in the form of an oven, not high or long enough to stand upright in, or lie extended. His recluse manner of living excited the curiosity of strangers, by whom he was often visited. His reasons for thus secluding himself from human society we believe he never communicated to any person in these parts, but it is thought he meant by it to do penance for crimes committed in his own country ; for he was a man subject to violent passions. He subsisted upon nuts, and the charity of the people in the neighborhood. From whence he came, or who he was, nobody could find out, but appeared to be by his dialect a German, yet he spoke that language imperfectly, either through design, or from some defect in his intellects. The evening before his death a friend carried him a little nourishment, of which he partook, earnestly praying for his dissolution ; and would not suffer himself to be removed to a more comfortable dwelling. Next morning Le was found dead in his cell, with a crucifix and a brass fish by his side ; and on the 20th he was decently interred in Friends' burying-place at Mount Holly.
SPRINGFIELD.
Springfield s triangular in form, its longest side measuring 10, and the others 7 and 9 miles in length. It is bounded N. by Mans-
120
BURLINGTON COUNTY.
field, SE. by Hanover, and SW. by Northampton and Burlington. There are in the township 3 stores, cap. in manufac. $6,320 ; 7 schools, 411 scholars. Pop. 1,630. The surface is mostly level, and soil sandy loam, and generally very fertile. The township was settled by Friends, between the years 1682 and 1695, principally emigrants from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the adjoining counties in England. Some of the early settlers, however, were from Long Island, and the state of Rhode Island. The Assiscunk and Barker's creek, and also North run, formerly called Tomlinson's run, one of the principal tributaries of Crosswick's creek, rises in the town- ship. The two first head on the marl region, and have on them large tracts of superior meadow. The farms of the township are large, with substantial dwellings and barns, and are well adapted to the culture of grain and grass. Large numbers of live-stock are raised, particularly in the mark district. Juliustown, the largest village, named from Julius Evans, is 7 miles NE. of Mount Holly, and contains about 30 dwellings, and a Methodist church. Jobs- town, 6 miles from Mount Holly, on the road to Freehold, contains a few dwellings. It is named from Job Lippincott, who owned a chief part of the land in the vicinity, and built a tavern there about the year 1798. Jacksonville, in the NW. part of the township, has 2 stores, a Methodist church, and about 12 dwellings. There are in Springfield 3 Friends meeting-houses,-one of brick, built at Up- per Springfield in 1727, about 3 miles E. of Jobs-town ; one of brick at old Springfield, half a mile E. of Jacksonville ; and one of stone at the Mount, about a mile westerly of Juliustown ..
WASHINGTON.
This township was formed in 1802, from Northampton, Evesham, and Little Egg Harbor. It is nearly triangular in form ; its north- ern line measuring about 21. its eastern 15, and its southwestern 23 miles. It is bounded N. by Northampton and Evesham, E. by Little Egg Harbor, and SW. by Mullica and Galloway, Atlantic co., and Waterford, Gloucester co. The surface is level; soil generally sandy and covered with pines. It is thinly settled and has few in- habitants, excepting such as are employed in the glass and iron works. The vicinity of the Quaker bridge, in this township, is a remarkably interesting botanical region, there being there many rare and beautiful flowers.
There are large quantities of bog iron ore in the township. It is an interesting fact, that after being dug, the deposit is in time re- newed. In some places the period does not exceed twenty years. The renewal of the ore arises from the circumstance that the soil in which it is formed, is incessantly washed by springs containing much iron in their composition. The Wading river and its branches drain the central part of the township, and the Little Egg Harbor river forms its SW. boundary. These are never-failing streams,
=
121
BURLINGTON COUNTY.
and furnish more natural water-power than is to be found in any other township in this part of New Jersey. The township contains 4 stores, 2 furnaces, 5 grist-m., 8 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $76,000; 8 schools, 470 scholars. Pop. 1,630.
At M'Cartyville, on Wading river, about 28 miles from Mount Holly, is one of the largest and best paper-mills in the state, owned by an incorporated company, and erected at a great expense. There are there twenty or thirty houses. Green Bank, on the Little Egg Harbor river, 3 miles below Batsto, contains 1 saw, 1 grist-mill, a glass factory, and about 20 dwellings. Lower Bank, 6 miles below Batsto, on the same stream, has a Methodist church and about 30 dwellings. Martha, Speedwell, and Union Works, are furnaces on Wading river, at present not in operation. Bridge- port, at the head of navigation on Wading river, has a few dwellings. Hampton, in the NW. corner of the township, contains a forge, saw-mill, and 10 dwellings. The well-known Batsto furnace is on Batsto river, near the forks of Little Egg Harbor river, on the SW. line of the township, 28 miles SE. of Mount Holly. The name is supposed to have been derived from an Indian word signifying Bathing, this having been a favorite resort of the natives for that purpose. It contains a large grist and saw mill, and the furnace of Jesse Richards, Esq., where are usually employed about 125 men ; and it is estimated that 700 or 800 persons derive their subsistence from these works. Batsto was founded in 1766, by Charles Reed. In the American revolution it was owned by Col. John Cox; at which time the furnace was employed in casting cannon, shot, and bomb-shells, for the American army. The workmen were organ- ized into a military corps ; but were excused, by act of legislature, from actual service, unless in case of an invasion of the county. Atsion is on Atsion river, a branch of the Mullicas or Little Egg Harbor. It lies at the angle of Burlington, Gloucester, and Atlan- tic counties, 18 miles SE. of Mount Holly, and contains 15 or 20 dwellings, a Methodist church, and a furnace employing about 120 workmen.
.
Edgepelick is the name of a locality about 3 m. N. of Atsion, where was the last Indian settlement in the state. The remnant of the tribe, consisting of about 100 souls, emigrated to the West nearly half a century since. There is, however, a single family- but of mixed breed-residing in the vicinity, in a log hut. Brain- ard, the missionary, for a time resided among the Indians at this place. His dwelling stood about 8 rods S. of the saw-mill of God- frey Hancock, on rising ground, the site of which is still marked by a depression, showing the precise spot where the cellar was. Within a few rods is the spring from which the family obtained water. The natives had a saw-mill on the site of Nicholas S. Thompson's mill, a quarter of a mile NE. of Brainard's house. Their burying-ground was on the edge of the pond, about 40 rods NW. of the same dwelling. In the vicinity stood their church,
16
3
122
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
built of logs, and destroyed about 35 years since. After the Indians left, it was used by the whites for public worship.
WILLINGBORO.
This township is about 5 m. long, 3 wide ; and is bounded NE. by Burlington, E. by Northampton, SW. by Chester, and NW. by the Delaware river. Its surface is level ; soil fertile, and, in the eastern part, productive in grain and grass, and in the western, in vege- tables. The railroad between New York and Philadelphia passes through the W. part of Willingboro. The township was early set- tled by Friends. It contains 4 stores ; cap. in manufac. $3,100 ; 2 schools, 73 scholars. Pop. 900.
Cooperstown is on the Camden and Burlington road, 3 m. from the latter place. It contains a Methodist and a Free church, and a few dwellings. Dunks Ferry, a noted crossing-place on the Delaware in the war of the revolution, contains a few dwellings and an Episcopal church. Rancocus, 4 m. W. of Mt. Holly, on the line of this and Northampton township, is a new and handsome village, grown up within a few years, and containing a Friends meeting and about 30 dwellings.
On the site of the Franklin Park Academy, on the bank of the Rancocus, formerly stood the mansion of William Franklin, the last of the colonial governors of New Jersey. It was destroyed by fire a few years since. "Within sight of the academy was the first Rancocus meeting-house of Friends-now down. An ancient tree near there, of imported and unknown character, now shows the graveyard, close to the tumulus formed by the graves of the In- dians. There they used to be brought on wickers, on men's shoul- ders, and were interred in sitting postures, surrounded and defend- ed by upright wickers "
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
CAPE MAY COUNTY is bounded N. by Atlantic co., E. and S. by the ocean, and W. by Delaware bay and Cumberland co .: length, 30 miles ; greatest breadth, 14 miles. This county is level, and its formation alluvial. Along on the seaside, several beaches, known as " Two-mile Beach," "Five-mile," " Leaming's," " Ludlam's," and " Peck's," unitedly extend the whole length of the county. They are covered with grass, and afford excellent pasturage. West of this is a marsh, from 2 to 3 miles wide, broken by many small salt- water lakes, communicating by inlets with the ocean. There is a similar marsh, though not interspersed with lakes, on the western, and one on the northern boundary of the county. The soil of the
16114
123
CAPE MAY COUNTY
soil of the county is composed generally of sand, loam, and gravel, which in many places is covered with oak, and in the northern part pine is found. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture ; wheat, rye, oats, and Indian corn being the principal crops. Large quantities of timber are annually exported to market. Nearly all the hay is obtained from the salt-marshes.
This county derives its name from Cornelius Jacobse Mey, who, in 1621, was sent out by the Dutch West India Company, with a number of settlers; and explored the coast, from Cape Cod to the Delaware, and gave his own name to its northern cape .* In 1729, the Dutch Company sent out three ships, with agents to purchase lands of the natives; one of which entered the Delaware, and bought, the succeeding year, of nine Indian chiefs, for Goodwin and Bloemart, 16 square miles, on the peninsula of Cape May. Noth- ing definite can be gathered of its first settlement, previous to 1691; yet it is not improbable it was settled as early as 1640. A large proportion of the original settlers came from Long Island, the whale- fishery then holding out strong inducements for them to visit its shores. Cape May was first made a county by a proprietary law, in 1692; by another, in 1694, it had its bounds better ascertained : and by the act of 1710 they were definitely fixed.
Cape May co. is divided into 4 townships, viz :
Dennis, Lower, Middle, Upper.
Its population, in 1726, was 668; in 1738, was 1,004; in 1790, was 2,571, (of whom 141 were slaves;) in 1810, was 3,632; in 1830, was 4,936, (slaves 3;) in 1840, was 5,324.
DENNIS.
This township was formed in 1826. It is 13 miles long, with an average width of about 6. It is bounded N. by Upper Township, E. by the ocean, S. by Middle Township, and W. by Maurice river, Cumberland co. Dennis creek runs through an extensive cedar swamp. The whole township, except that part cultivated, or meadow, is covered with oaks, pines, and cedars. There are in the ' township 7 stores, 2 grist-mills, 6 saw-mills ; 4 schools, 205 scholars. Pop. 1,350.
Dennisville is a post-village, extending on both sides of the creek for a mile. It is 8 miles north of the courthouse, 8 south of Tucka- hoe, and 28 from Bridgeton. It contains 5 stores, about 70 dwell- ings, a neat academy-the upper story of which is used for a ly- ceum, and for religious meetings. Ship-building and the lumber- trade are carried on here. The Methodist church, at this place,
* Mey must have possessed a due share of egotism, as he named the bay of New York "Port Mey ;" the Delaware, "New Port Mey ;" its north cape, " Cape Mey ;" and its south cape, " Cape Cornelius." Only one of his designations has been handed down to posterity, and that has undergone some change in its orthography ; the e being changed to a.
1
124
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
was the first erected in the county. It was finished in 1803. The trustees were Constantine Smith, James Ludlam, Christopher Lud- lam, Nathan Cresse, J. Tomlen. John Goff is believed to have preached the first sermon. The members of the class were Nathan Cresse and wife, R. Woodruff, William and John Mitchell, John Townsend, jr. and wife, Jeremiah Sayre and wife, Sarah Wintzell, Mrs. Enoch Smith, and David Heldreth, who was a local preacher. The number of members of the Methodist denomination in the county is now upwards of 1,100. There is a Baptist church in the eastern part of the township. West Creek, 4 miles NW. of Den- nisville, is a thickly-settled agricultural neighborhood.
The following is from a manuscript of Thomas Leaming, who died in 1723, aged 49 years; and wwas buried in the old burying ground on the place of Humphrey Leaming, on the sea-shore. A rough head-stone marks the spot.
" In July, 1674, I was born in Southampton, Long Island. When I was 18 years of age, (1692,) I came to Cape May ; and that winter had a sore fit of the fever and flux. The next summer I went to Philadelphia, with my father, (Christopher,) who was lame with a withered hand, which held him until his death. The winter following I went a whaling, and we got eight whales, and five of them we drove to the Hoarkills, (Lewistown, Del- aware;) and we went there to cut them up, and staid a month. The first day of May we came home to Cape May, and my father was very sick ; and the 3d day, 1695, departed this life, at the house of Shamgar Hand. Then I went to Long Island, staid that summer, and in the winter I went a whal- ing again, and got an old cow and a calf. In 1696 I went to whaling again, and made a great voyage ; and in 1697 I worked for John Reeves all sum- mer, and in the winter went to whaling again. In 1698, worked for John Crafford, and on my own land; and that fall had a sore fit of sickness, at Henry Stites's-and in the year 1700 I lived at my own plantation, and worked for Peter Corson. I was married in 1701; and in 1703 I went to Cohansie, and fetched brother Aaron. In 1706 I built my house. Samuel Matthews took a horse from me, worth £7, because I could not train. [Leaming was a strict Quaker at this time.] In 1707 we made the county road."
It has been supposed by many, that the number of aborigines in this state, when first visited by Europeans, was inconsiderable. That they were very numerous in this county, there cannot be any doubt, from the great quantities of shells found contiguous to the seaboard. Many hundreds of bushels are to be seen, in numerous places, in one mass : and the soil in many places abounds with them, and is enriched thereby. There is a singular and, perhaps, unaccountable fact, respecting these deposits : the shells are, uni- versally, so broken that seldom a piece is found larger than a shil- ling. Many Indian relics have been discovered, such as isinglass, medals, stone-hatchets, arrow-heads, earthen-ware of a rough de- scription, beads, javelin-heads, &c.
Annexed is a copy of the oath of allegiance taken and signed, by those friendly to the revolution, with the names of all the sign- ers in this county :
مجـ
125
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Oath of Allegiance .- " I do sincerely profess and swear, I do not hold myself bound by allegiance to the King of Great Britain-so help me God. I do sincerely profess and swear, that I do and will bear true faith and alle- giance to the government established in this state, under the authority of the people-so help me God. May 27th, 1778."
"John Taylor, Humphrey Stites,
David Corson,
James Hildreth, Jr., .
Ellis Hughes,
John Stites,
Elijah Ganetson,
Abner Corson,
Elijah Shaw,
Silas Swain,
Rem. Corson, David Hildreth,
Levi Hand,
Constantine Foster,
Joseph Ludlam,
Jacob Crowell,
Aaron Swain,
Daniel Hewitt,
Jonathan Townsend, Jeremiah Richardson,
Reuben Swain,
William Schellenger, Memucan Hughes,
Ezra Hand, John Goof,
Henry Schellinger,
Aaron Eldredge,
Ellis Hughes, Jr.,
David Cressee,
Nathan Hand,
Constant Hughes,
Benjamin Ballenger,
Jesse Corson,
Josiah Crowell,
Henry Stevens,
Richard Stevenson,
James Godfrey, Jr.,
Daniel Johnson,
Matthew Whillden,
Uriah Gandy.
Zebulon Cressee,
Richard Matthews, Isaac Matthews,
David Johnson,
Thomas Hand,
Lewis Cressee,
Samuel Peterson,
George Campbell,
Stephen Foster,
George Taylor,
George Norton,
Jacob Richardson,
John Nickleson,
Philip Godfrey,
Arthur Cressee,
Daniel Crowell,
David Townsend,
Israel Stites,
John Foster,
Ezekiel Eldredge,
Joshua Ganetson,
Christopher Leaming, Richard Edmonds,
Jonathan Eldredge,
Samuel Townsend,
William Yates,
Absalom Hand,
Abner Periman,
John Goldin,
John Izard,
Jacob Stites,
Simeon Izard,
Peter Corson,
Daniel Ganetson,
Jesse Hughes,
Gideon Kent,
John Baker,
John Holmes,
Jonathan Leaming."
George Hollingshead, Jacob Smith,
Jonathan Hildreth,
The aged people of the county can recollect, in the dark days of the revolution, when the army was barefoot, and provisions so exceed- ingly scarce, that their people boiled out, dried, and strung large quantities of clams, and transported them to the army. No doubt they were esteemed a luxury by the half-starved soldiery, and sub- stituted, in some measure, beef and pork. Salt was then manufac- tured, in considerable quantities, by the inhabitants. The remains of a large establishment are yet apparent, near Townsend's sound, on the James Townsend place. It was owned by a Dr. Harris, who was odious to the British, because he sold gunpowder. They offered a reward for him, and threatened the destruction of his works ; but never dared put their threat in execution.
LOWER.
This, the most southern township in New Jersey, was incorpo- rated in 1798. Its length, N. and S., is 8 m. ; width, E. and W., the same. It is bounded N. by Middle Township, E. and S. by the Atlantic ocean, and W. by Delaware bay. A great portion of its surface is covered with a salt marsh and sea-beach. On the ocean shore the soil is loamy ; the bay shore is sandy, and the central part sandy loam. There is much young timber in the township. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture, or maritime pursuits. There are in the township 6 stores, 3 saw-m. ; 6 schools, 240 scholars. Pop. 1,133.
Among the early settlers of this township, who came here about
Levi Eldredge,
Thomas Gandy,
Nezer Swain,
William Shaw,
Daniel Cressee,
126
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
1691, principally from Long Island, were Christopher Leaming and his son Thomas, Cesar Hoskins, Samuel Matthews, Jonathan Osborne, Nathaniel Short, Cornelius Skellinks, (now Schellinger,) Henry Stites, Thomas Hand and his sons John and George, John and Caleb Carman, John Shaw, Thomas Miller, William Stillwell, Humphrey Hewes, William Mason, and John Richardson. Very soon, quite a business was done here ; as a town called Cape May Town sprang up at Bay shore, for the accommodation of whalers, which was probably the first town built in the county. From the Journal of Aaron Leaming, Esq., who was born in 1715, we extract the following : " In 1691, Cape May was a new country, and, begin- ning to settle very fast, seemed to hold out good advantages to the adventurer. I never saw any East India tea till 1735. It was at the Presbyterian parson's, the followers of Whitefield, that brought it into use at Cape May about 1744-5-6 ; and now it impoverish- eth the country. . Christopher Leaming's remains were interred at the place called Cape May Town, which was situated above New England Town creek, and contained about 13 houses ; but on the failure of the whale-fishery in Delaware bay, it dwin- dled into common farms, and the graveyard is on the plantation now owned by Ebenezer Newton. At the first settlement of this county, the chief whaling was in Delaware bay ; and that occa- sioned the town to be built there. But there has not been one home in that town since my remembrance. In 1734 I saw the graves. Samuel Eldredge showed them to me. They were then about 50 rods from the bay, and the sand was blown up to them. The town was between them and the water. There were then some signs of the ruins of the houses."
Below is a copy of the inventory of John Story, who died in this township in 1687. It is an interesting relic, showing the prices of various articles at that time. The original spelling is preserved :
£ s. d.
" A chest, and small things,
0 16 0
A gon,
0 10 0
2 bras citles an on frying-pan,
0 10 0
2 axes an on shobel,
0 5 6
On sadell,
0 10 0
On blanket,
0 2 6
On hous an improvments, 10 0 0
On stier, 4 yer ould, 5 00
2 stiers goin to yer ould, 4 00
On bull,
2 10 0
On helfer whit calfe,
3 10 0
-
Prased by us,
JOHN BRIGGS, ALEXANDER HUMPHRIES."
The village of Cape Island is a favorite watering-place in the southern part of this township, 13 m. S. of the courthouse. It be- gan to grow into notice as a watering-place in 1812, at which time there were but a few houses there. It now contains 2 large hotels, 3 stories high and 150 feet long,-and a third lately erected, 4 sto- ries high and 100 feet in length ; besides numerous other houses
C
U
127
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Cape May Island.
for the entertainment of visitors. The whole number of dwellings is about 50. In the summer months the island is thronged with visitors, principally from Philadelphia, with which there is then a daily steamboat communication. It is estimated that 3,000 stran- gers annually visit the place. The village is separated by a small creek from the mainland ; but its area is fast wearing away by the encroachments of the sea. Watson, the antiquarian, in a MS. journal of a trip to Cape Island in 1835, on this point says : "Since my former visit to Cape Island in 1822, the house in which I then stopped, (Capt. Aaron Bennett's,) then nearest the surf, has been actually reached by the invading waters ! . . The distance from Bennetts house to the sea bank in 1822, was 165 feet ; and in 1804, as it was then measured and cut upon the house by Com- modore Decatur, it was 334 feet. It had been as much as 300 ft. further off, as remembered by some old men who told me so in 1822." A large portion of the inhabitants of the village are Dela- ware pilots, a hardy and industrious race. About 2 m. W. of the boarding-houses is the Cape May lighthouse.
·
In the late war, when the British fleet were blockading Dela- ware bay, a boat was sent ashore from the 74-gun-ship Poictiers, with a flag of truce to Gape Island, with the request to Capt. Hughes, commander of a small body of men stationed there, to al- low them to obtain a supply of water. On his refusal, the boat returned ; and shortly after, another was sent ashore. with the threat that unless allowed peaceably to get water, they would bombard the place. Capt. Hughes, with the advice of his officers, discreetly acceded to their demand. He was, however, arrested on a charge of treason, for giving supplies to the enemy, and narrowly escaped severe punishment.
Cold Spring, 10 m. S. of the courthouse, is a thickly-settled agri- cultural neighborhood, containing about 40 houses within the circle of a mile. It derives its name from an excellent spring of cold water flowing up from the salt marsh, which is much frequented by
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.