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 17
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128
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
sojourners at Cape Island. It contains an academy, a Methodist church, (the second built in the county,) erected about 30 years since, and a Presbyterian church, erected in 1823 on the site of an old one. The history of this church is thus given by Johnson. in his history of Salem :
" It is to be regretted that the records relating to the Presbyterian church in the county of Cape May were lost, and we have to begin their date from the year 1754, when the Rev. Daniel Lawrance officiated there, and lived on the parsonage which had been pur- chased of the Rev. John Bradnor, (in 1721,) who was a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and resided there, preaching for the people in that part of the county. The Rev. Samuel Finley, (who some years after became the president of Princeton college,) resided there, and officiated for the Cape May people. He, no doubt, was made instru- mental in producing that extraordinary revival which was had among the Presbyterian and Baptist churches, from the year 1740 to about 1743.
The parsonage was purchased by the following named constituents :
Humphrey Hughes,
Barnabas Crowell,
Nathaniel Rex,
George Hand,
Jehu Richardson,
Yelverson Crowell,
John Parsons,
George Crawford, Josiah Crowell,
Col. Jacob Spicer,
Benjamin Stites,
William Mulford,
Shamgar Hand,
Jeremiah Hand,
William Matthews, Samuel Bancroft,
Joshua Gulicksen,
Samuel Eldridge,
Samuel Johnston,
Recompence Jonathan Furman, Eleazer Nocault,
Constant Hughes,
Ezekiel Eldridge,
Joshua Crofferd,
Cornelius Schellenger, Jehu Hand,
Eleazer Newton,
Samuel Foster,
Nathaniel Hand,
Nathaniel Norton,
The present supporters of the Presbyterian church are principally the descendants of the above-named persons. . . . . The Rev. James Watt succeeded Mr. Lawrance. Abijah Davis was succeeded by David Edwards, who had removed from Salem county, and became the pastor in 1804-continued until his death in 1813. Mr. Ogden suc- ceeded Edwards, and resigned his charge in 1825, and was succeeded by Rev. Alvin H. Parker, who was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Moses Williamson.
The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in an old graveyard, now overgrown with timber, at Cold Spring. They commemorate a father and a son who occupied prominent stations in society in their day :-
In memory of Col. Jacob Spicer, who died April 17th, 1741, aged 73 years-
Death, thou hast conquered me, I, by thy darts am slain, But Christ shall conquer thee, And I shall rise again.
Jacob Spicer, Esq., departed this life, Sept. 17th, 1765, in the 49th year of his age-
If aught that's good or great could save, Spicer had never seen the grave.
His wife, who lies by his side, has upon her monument --
Judith Spicer departed this life, Sept. 7th, 1747, in the 33d year of her age.
Virtue and piety give way to death, Or else the entombed had ne'er resigned her breath.
Fishing Creek, on the bay shore, 6 miles SW. of the courthouse, is an agricultural vicinage similar to Cold Spring. A survey has been made for a breakwater, at Crow's shoal in this township, near the mouth of Delaware bay. When the wind is NE., a good har- bor is afforded at this place ; and sometimes as many as 100 ves-
John Matthews.
Joseph Wilden,
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CAPE MAY COUNTY.
sels are anchored off here. On a sudden change to the NW. vessels are frequently driven ashore. The breakwater will be an effectual protection against winds from this direction.
MIDDLE.
Middle Township was incorporated in 1798. It is 12 miles long and 10 broad ; and is bounded N. by Dennis, E. by the ocean, S. by Lower Township, and W. by Delaware bay. About half the township is salt marsh or sea-beach; the remaining portion is mostly sandy loam. The township contains 12 stores, 2 grist-m., 2 saw-m .; 5 schools, 328 scholars. Pop. 1,624. Goshen, 5 miles NW. of the courthouse, has a handsome Methodist church and about 20 dwellings. The village of Cape May Courthouse is in the central part of the township, 110 miles from Trenton, and 36 SE. of Bridgeton, and contains a courthouse, a jail, and the county offices, (shown in the accompanying view,) a Methodist and a Bap-
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View in the Village of Cape May Courthouse.
tist church, and 30 or 40 dwellings in the vicinity. The Methodist church at this place is of recent origin, but the Baptist is very ancient.
"The Baptist church at Cape May took its origin from a vessel which put in there from England, in the year 1675. Two persons, to wit, George Taylor and Philip Hill, though not ministers, officiated as such in private families, until the Rev. Elias Keach ordained one Ashton to be a deacon. After him, the Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins took the oversight, and a church was constituted by Rev. Timothy Brooks, of Cohansey, in 1712. The elders were Dickison Sheppard and Jeremiah Bacon. The names of the male constituents were, Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins, Arthur Cressee, Seth Brooks, Abraham Smith, William Seagreaves, Jonathan Swain, John Stillwell, Henry Stites, Benjamin Hand, Richard Bowns, Ebenezer Swain, William Smith, John Taylor, Abraham Hand, Christopher Church, Charles Robinson, and their wives. In 1714, the settlement had well-nigh been depopulated by a grievous sickness, which swept off a vast number of their people. Jenkins had by his wife, whose name was Esther Jones, nine children, viz : Hannah, Phebe, Nathaniel, (his successor,) Tabitha, David, Jonathan, Esther, Abinadab,. and Jonadab ; these married into the families of the Shaws, Serleys, Downeys, Harrises, Pooles, Lakes, and Taylors. Nathaniel Jenkins succeeded his father in the ministry, and died in 1769, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Heaton, and he by the Rev. John Sutton, and he by Rev. Peter Peterson Vanhorn, and he by Rev. David Smith, and he
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CAPE MAY COUNTY.
by Rev. Artis Seagreave, who took the oversight of the church in 1785, and resigned in 1788."-Johnson's Hist. of Salem. In 1789, John Stancliff came and remained until his death in 1802. That year came Jonathan Germain, who died in 1808; then Jen. kins David, and continued until 1822; then Mr. Robinson, till 1831; Samuel Smith, until 1833; and Peter Powell, until 1843. The present brick Baptist church was erect- ed on the site of that built in 1719.
The following, relating to land titles, &c., in this county, was communicated by Dr. Maurice Beesley, of Dennisville, to whose industrious researches the compilers are indebted for most of the materials introduced respecting the county.
In 1688, the 95,000 acre tract was granted to Dr. Daniel Coxe, of London, one of the West Jersey proprietors. The line com- mences at the hammocks below Goshen creek, on the bay shore, and in its passage across the county comes between Joseph Falken- burge's and John M'Crea's, and thence on a direct line NE. by N. over the head of Dennis creek to Tuckahoe river, including in the tract all the lands SE. of this line. In 1691, Dr. Coxe conveyed this tract and all his other lands in the state, to the West Jersey Society, from whom the land titles of the county have mostly ema- nated. This line, called the "Society's line," was first run in 1691.
Between 1740 and 1750, the cedar swamps of the county, then very extensive, were mostly located; previously they were not considered of sufficient value to survey. In 1756, Jacob Spicer the second, bought the interest of the West Jersey Society in all the lands of the county, constituting what is called the " vacant right," now owned by Jacob Leaming, John Moore White, Esq., and heirs of Spicer Leaming. Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer were competitors in this purchase of the right of the society ; but the latter overreached the former. Although these personages, perhaps two of the most popular men of that time. were opposed to each other at home in consequence of their land speculations, yet when at Trenton, as representatives of their county, where they served for about 30 years, they united their energies, and were faithful and efficient public servants. The fact that the legislature intrusted them to make a collection of state papers, termed " Leam- ing and Spicer's Collections," which must have been an arduous duty, is proof of the high estimation in which they stood.
The first-named of these gentlemen was buried in the old Leam- ing burying-ground, two miles above the courthouse. The follow- ing is the inscription on his monument :-
· In memory of Aaron Leaming, Esq., who represented this county in assembly, 30 years. Died Aug. 28th, 1780, age of 65 years, 1 mo., 11 days.
Beneath this stone, here lies a name That once had titles, honor, wealth, and fame :
How loved, how honored, now avails thee not, To whom related, or by whom begot ; A heap of dust alone remains of thee, 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be.
EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNTY RECORDS
The first meeting for public business in the county was held at the house of Benjamin Godfrey, in the year 1692.
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CAPE MAY COUNTY.
In the second suit on record, " George Taylor accuseth John Jarvis for helping the In- dians to rum. William Johnson deposeth, and saith, that he came into the house of the said Jarvis, and he found Indians drinking rum, and one of the said Indians gave of the said rum to the said Johnson, and he drank of it with him ; the said Jarvis refusing to clear himself, was convicted."
1693. " The grand jury upon complaint made by Elizabeth Crafford, and we have taken it into consideration, and we find that no fariner ought to rate ale or other strong drink to ye inhabitants of Cape May, except they have a lysence for so doing. So the court orders that no person shall sell liquor without a license, and that £40 be raised by tax to defray expenses, with a proviso that produce should be taken at 'money price in payment.' "
1698. " We the grand jury order that if any person will hang a gate anywhere be- tween Joshua Carmans and old Elizabeth Carmans, and clear the old road to the gate, and from the gate to the mill, they may do it, and that shall be the road; and if that wont do, let them hang a gate in the old road." Same court presents John Coston for being drunk, and Henry Stites for breach of Sabbath in driving cattle and slaughtering a steer. Joseph Ludlam admonished in court, " that for time to come he be careful in taking an oath, and to mind to what it doth relate to."
The following is a specimen of the manner of tying the matri- monial knot in olden time :-
"These may certify that on the 15th day of February, 1693, then and there came be- fore me, Henry Stites and Hannah Garlick, and did each take the other to be man and wife, according to the law of this province, being lawfully published according to order, as witness their hands the day and year abovesaid.
SAMUEL CROWELL, Justice.
HENRY STITES, HANNAH GARLICK.
" Witnesses-John Carman, Jonathan Pine, John Shaw, Jonathan Osborne, Caleb Carman, Shamgar Hand, Ruth Dayton, William Harwood, Jacob Spicer, Ezekiel El- dredge, Timothy Brandith."
1705. " The grand jury agree to have a prison built 13 feet by 8, and 7 feet high in the first story, upon the Queen's highway, eastwardly of Gravel- ly run." Stocks and whipping-posts were ordered at the same time.
A license was granted this year, from Gov. Cornbury to Capt. Jacob Spicer, of the sloop Adventure, owned by John and Richard Townsend ; burden 16 tons. She traded from Cape May to Philadelphia and Burling- ton, and no doubt was considered a vessel of some magnitude in those days.
1706. This year Shamgar Hand and Wm. Golden, commissioners for the purpose, laid out the road from Egg Harbor to Cold Spring, and thence to Town Bank, as follows, viz : " Beginning at a bush near the water's edge on Great. Egg Harbor river, and from said bush along Wm. Golden's fence to the gate-post ; from thence along the fence to the corner thereof ; thence by ' a line of marked trees to the first run ; thence to the head of John Coston's branch ; thence to the head of dry swamp; thence to the head of Joseph Ludlam's branch ; thence around the head of John Townsend's branch, to the going over the branch between Abraham Hand's and Thomas Leon- ard's ; thence to the bridge over Leonard's branch ; thence to the bridge over the branch towards the head of Wm. Johnson's land, so on to the bridge over the fork branch ; thence to the bridge over John Cressee's creek ; thence to the bridge over crooked creek, so by a line of marked trees to the bridge over Gravelly run; thence to the bridge over Cressee's creek ; thence to the. oli going over at John Shaws; thence to the old going over at Wm. Shaw's branch ; thence to the head of John Taylor's branch ; thence to the turn- ing.out of Cold Spring path, so on by a line of marked trees, partly along the old road down to the bay side, between George Crawford's and the hollow."
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CAPE MAY COUNTY. -
Fifteen shillings a head bid by the court for wolves and panthers, and half price for young ones.
1707. "John Townsend and Shamgar Hand, commissioners, laid out the road from the head of John Townsend's creek to the cedar swamp ; so through the same to a place called Ludley's bridge, and towards Maurice river as far as the county goeth." Thus, after 14 years hard talking, for it appears nothing else had been done until now, the road through the cedar swamp, lying between the head-waters of Cedar Swamp creek and Dennis creek, (then called Cedar creek, Sluice creek being named Dennis,) was laid out, and according to records of the first Thomas Leaming, completed this year. It is a question by what route the inhabitants had communication with the other parts of the colony, as they appear to have been completely isolated until this road was made.
1716. The old county road from Long bridge to the head of Tuckahoe, and from thence to Gloucester Point, was made this year.
1740. This year Jacob Ludlam, jr., took license, and opened a house of entertainment on the sea-shore. In 1750, Nicholas Stillwell at Egg Har- bor. Both of these were in Upper Township. In 1752, Jacob Spicer at Cold Spring. In 1761, Aaron Leaming on the sea-shore, two miles above the courthouse. In 1763, Christopher Leaming where Humphrey Leaming and Nathaniel Foster now live. In 1764, Daniel Hand at the courthouse. In 1768, Memucan Hughes and James Whillden at and near Cape Island. In 1790 a law was passed to build a bridge over the N. and S branches of Dennis creek, and to lay out a public road from Thomas Leaming's ship- yard, on the S. branch, to the road leading from the Long bridge to John- son's mill. Daniel Townsend, Christopher Smith, Henry Ludlam, and Jacoks Swain, were the surveyors.
UPPER.
This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 10 miles long, with an average width of 7; and is bounded N. by Great, Egg Harbor bay and Tuckahoe river, separating it from Atlantic co., E. by the ocean, S. by Dennis, and W. by Maurice river, Cumberland co. Pop. 1,217. Its surface is level ; soil sand and loam, and well timbered with cedar, oak, and pine. It contains 4 stores, 1 grist- m., 4 saw-m. ; 5 schools, 219 scholars.
The -village of Tuckahoe is situated on both sides of Tuckahce river, on the county line, 18 miles from the courthouse, 11 from the sea, 28 from Bridgeton, and 13 from May's Landing. It contains 3 taverns, several stores, about 60 dwellings, and a Methodist church. There are besides, in the township, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist church, and a Friends meeting-house. Wood, lumber, and ship- building, constitute the business of the village. As early as 1692 a ferry was established at Beesley's Point, over Great Egg Harbor river ; a proof there must have been inhabitants upon both sides of the river at that early period. The rates were Is. for passengers, 2d. a bushel for grain, 4d. each for sheep or hogs, and Is. for cattle per head. The toll-bridge over Cedar Swamp creek was not built until 1762. Joseph Corson, James Willets, Isaac Banner, and John
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CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Mackey, were petitioners for it. Wagons were charged 6d., pas- sengers ld. John Townsend, ancestor of all in the county of that name, and of many in Philadelphia and elsewhere, emigrated with three brothers to Long Island previous to 1680. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. One settled in New England, one in New York, John and the other came to Leeds Point, near Little Egg Harbor. About or previous to 1690, John (the other brother having gone to Pennsylvania) travelled to Somers' Point, crossed the Egg Harbor river, and followed the seaboard down about ten miles, until he came to a stream of water that he thought would do for a mill. He returned to Egg Harbor, bought a yoke of oxen, got them across the river, took the yoke on his back, as there was not room for the timber to drive his oxen abreast, and drove them before him down an Indian path to'the place of his future residence. His wife's name was Phebe. They cleared land, built a cabin and a mill on the site of Thomas Vangilders. He died in 1722, and left three sons, Richard, Robert, and Sylvanus. John and Peter Corson were the first of the name that came to the county, and were here as early as 1692. The second generation was Peter, jr., John, jr., Christian, and Jacob. This family became numerous. There were 52 families, in 1840, of that name in this township.
All the Townsends in the county descended from the John Townsend above mentioned ;
All the Corsons
from Peter and John Corson
Leamings
Christopher Leaming
Ludlams
66
Joseph Ludlam
Schellingers
Cornelius Skellinks
Hughes
Humphrey Hughes
166 Whilldens
Joseph Whillden
Hewitts
Randal Hewitt
.
Stites
Henry Stites
Cresses
6€
‹Arthur Cresse
Willets
John Willets
Goffs
66
John Goff
Youngs
Henry Young
Eldredges
Ezekiel Eldredge
Godfreys
Benjamin Godfrey
"
Matthews
66
Samuel Matthews.
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Henry Young was a man of some note in the county about a cen- . tury ago. He was impressed in England, his native country, when very young, on board of a man-of-war, from which he made his es- cape to a vessel bound to Philadelphia. Here, to elude pursuit, he was secreted in a hogshead, in the hold of the vessel ; and as soon as they put to sea he was relieved ; but not until nearly exhausted for want of fresh air. He was justice of the peace from 1722 till his death in 1767, and member of the legislature for 8 sessions.
There was an Indian killed on Foxborough Hill, at Beesley's Point, in 1736, by old Joseph Golden, who got into a quarrel and probably unintentionally killed his opponent. It is said the Indians were so enraged against Golden, that he was for a long time obliged to secrete himself to avoid their vengeance. A suit was insti uted against him in this county, which was removed to Bur- lington, where he was tried and acquitted ; but its great cost
מוריתניתוח
134
CAPE MAY COUNTY.
obliged him to dispose of that part of his place NW. of the main road to the Point, to Nicholas Stillwell.
In the American revolution the inhabitants of Cape May, to pro- tect themselves from the incursions of the British and refugees, armed and manned a number of boats and privateers. They manifested great bravery and address, and were successful in taking prizes. They had the most to fear from the refugees -- as their names were synonymous with burglary, arson, treachery, and murder. Only two, as far as is known, were from this county. They were finally taken prisoners. The following, chiefly extracts from the New Jersey State Gazette, relate to incidents of the war, principally off this coast :
" June 23d, 1779. An open boat, called " The Skunk," mounting 2 guns, and 12 men belonging to Egg Harbor, sent in there, on Wednesday last, a vessel with a valua- ble cargo-which makes her nineteenth prize since she was fitted out."
Upon one occasion this boat had quite an adventure, when commanded by Capt. Snell and John Goldin. They thought they had discovered a fine prize, off Egg Harbor, in a large ship wearing the appearance of a Merchantman. The boat approached cautiously, and, after getting quite near, the little Skunk was put in a retreating position, stern to the enemy, and then gave him a gun. A momentary pause ensued. All at once, the mer- chantman was transformed into a British 74, and in another moment she gave the Skunk such a broadside that, as Goldin expressed it, " the water flew around them like ten thou- sand whale-spouts." She was cut some in her sails and rigging, but by hard rowing made good her escape,-with Goldin to give the word, " Lay low, boys ! lay low for your lives !"
" June 2d, 1779. The brigantine Delight, Capt. Dawson, on the 20th ultimo, from Tortula to New York, mounting 12 guns, with 29 hands, came ashore on Peck's beach, in a fog, at Cape May. Her cargo consisted of 80 hhds. of rum, some sugar, &c. Soon after she came ashore, our militia took possession of both vessel and cargo, and sent off the crew under guard to Philadelphia."
A few years since, the tide being very low, one of the cannon thrown overboard in the attempt of the British to get her off, was found by Mr. Uriah Smith, and placed at the corner of his yard for a fender. There were 3 balls in it.
" Oct. 6, 1779. On Friday last, Capt. Taylor, of Cape May, sent into Little Egg Harbor a transport from New York to Halifax, with a quantity of drygoods, and 214 Hessians, including a colonel, who are properly taken care of."
" Aug. 7, 1782. John Badcock took the Hawk, when commanding the Rainbow : her cargo consisted of spirits, tar, flour, coal, and iron,-which was sold at James Wil- let's, (who kept tavern where Capt. John S. Chattin now does,) for the benefit of those concerned."
" Capt. Hand, of the Enterprise, and Capt. Willets, of another boat, on the 5th of May, 1782, chased ashore, near Egg Harbor, the refugee boat Old Ranger, mounting 7 swiv- els and 1 three-pounder, commanded by one Fryan, with 25 men, bound to the capes of the Delaware, and up the same as far as Christiana, with orders to take prisoners whom they pleased. They afterward fell in with a schooner laden with corn, and another with lumber, which they took."
"Jan. 3, 1782. William Treen and Joseph Edwards, commanders of the whale-boat Unity, captured the Betsey, which lately sailed from Jones's creek, Delaware, loaded with wheat, Indian corn, and flour,-which was taken in the Delaware by a British cruiser, and retaken by said Treen and Edwards."
" Feb. 7, 1781. The brig Fame, Capt. William Treen, of Egg Harbor, about 10 days ago took the privateer schooner Cock, Capt. Brooks, bound from New York to Chesapeake bay, and sent her into a port in New Jersey." "On the night of the 22d of the same month, the brig Fame, while at the anchoring-point near Egg Harbor inlet, in a heavy gale from the NW. with some snow squalls, on the flood tide, was tripped and upset-by which sad mishap some 20 lives were lost."
Capt. Treen, Wm. Lacke, and three others, were on shore. Thomas Adams, Eleazer Crawford, Jacob Corson, and Steelman
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CAPE MAY COUNTY.
succeeded in landing on the point of the beach. The cold was in- tense. Steelman, who was most active in cheering his companions and freeing the boat, perished when near land. Four only of the crew left on board were rescued in the morning, the rest having perished by the cold ; these kept alive only by constant and unre- mitting exertion-that being the only method of shaking off. the sleep of death.
Capt. Wm. Treen (above mentioned) was bold and fearless, and very successful in taking prizes. He was, however, run down on one occasion by two frigates, for not immediately answering their summons to surrender. Both frigates passed quite over his vessel. Treen and a boy, only, caught to the rigging of one of the frigates, and were saved. Others made the attempt, but had their fingers and arms cut off by cutlasses. Treen implored for the lives of his crew-among whom was a brother of Jesse Somers, now (1842) living at Somers Point. This being refused, he boldly upbraided them for their cruelty. They could not but admire his heroic bear- ing, and, while with them, he was well treated ; but on their arri- val in New York he was placed in that den of horrors, the New Jersey prison-ship, and was one of the few that escaped with life. In 1806 he went to the west. Nathaniel Holmes, who lived at the courthouse, (a highly respectable man, who died about 9 years since,) was, at one time, also confined on board this prison-ship.
In the latter part of December, 1815, the brig Perseverance, Capt. Snow, bound from Havre to New York, with ten passengers, and a crew of seven men, was wrecked on Peck's beach, opposite the residence of Thomas Beesley, in this township .*
"On Friday, the day before she was cast away, a ship from New York was spoken, which deceived them, by stating they were 200 miles east of Sandy Hook. It was with great gratification that the passengers received this joyous news; and, elated with the hope of soon resting on 'terra firma,' gave themselves up to hilarity and merriment- whilst the captain, under the same impulse, spread all sail to a heavy northeaster, with high expectations of a safe arrival on the morrow. Delusive hope ! To-morrow too many of them were destined never to see.
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