USA > New Jersey > Salem County > Salem > History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony > Part 17
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John, the son of Joseph and Ellinor Reeve, born 5th of 1st month, 1730, married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Ann N. Brick, in 1753. They had three children-John, who was born 3d of 11th month, 1754, Ellinor and Peter Reeve. John and his wife lived on and owned a large landed estate in Cohansey Neck, not far from what is now known as Sheppard's mill. He and his elder brother Mark, and his younger brother Benjamin, were recommended ministers, members of Greenwich Monthly Meeting of Friends, as was also the celebrated James Daniels, Jr., who belonged to Alloways Creek Particular Meeting .- James Daniels, Jr., traveled extensively in this country, as also in England and Ireland, in the ministry. He died in Alloways Creek township in 1776, and was considered one of the greatest ministers the society ever had in West Jersey. All four of these men were eloquent in their discourses, and their lives corresponded with their precepts, hence the Greenwich meeting was denominated the "school of the prophets." John Reeve's second wife was Jane West, of Woodbury, Gloucester county. After that event he left his native place and went to reside with his wife, and at that place ended his days at a very advanced age. He was naturally an energetic business man, and those habits of industry continued during his life. There are many persons so contracted in their views of the duties of this life, that they expect those who make a high profession of religion, must necessarily abstain from the business concerns of life, and put on sackeloth and go mourning on their way to the grave. Such was not the opinion of John Reeve, as the following well anthenticated anecdote that has been handed down by tradition proves. It took place in an aged counsellor's office in Woodbury, not long before John's death. One of the members of his own meeting remarked to the lawyer that he thought friend Reeve attended too much to the things of this
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world for his age and wealth. The attorney promptly replied that "during his long acquaintance with mankind he never knew "a person so well adapted for this world and the world to come " as Mr. Reeve." His son, John Reeve, born 3d of 11th month, 1754, inherited a large estate, both real and personal, from his father. He married and had one or more children. John Reeve, his eldest son, married Sarah, the daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth Freedland, of Mannington. They subsequently re- moved to one of the Western States. I think Ellinor, daughter of John and Elizabeth Reeve, was born 15th of 6th month, 1757, and died unmarried. Peter Reeve, John's youngest son, born 1st of 2d month, 1759, married and had issue-William, who married Martha Bacon ; they left no children. Benjamin, the youngest son of Joseph and Ellinor Reeve, was born 2d of 7th month, 1737. He was a clock and watch maker, and fol- lowed his trade in the city of Philadelphia. In 1761 he mar- ried Ruth, the daughter of John and Ann N. Brick. I have been informed they have a number of descendents living in the city of Philadeldhia at the present day.
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ROLPH FAMILY.
James Rolph, it is generally thought, first settled in East Jersey; he came to Salem about the year 1700, and was a man of considerable means. He purchased a lot on the west side of Bridge street, and erected a brick dwelling thereon, it having a hip-roof; he also purchased a large farm in the township of Mannington. He, John Vining, Alexander Grant, and Edmund Whetherby, organized the first Episcopal Church in the town of Salem. He died at Salem in 1732, leaving his estate to his son, John Rolph, who purchased some 300 acres of land in the town- ship of Elsinborough, being part of the Robert Windham estate, known in more modern times as "Richard Darkin's land ;" it was the part that was Joseph Darkin's, the son of Richard Darkin. John Rolph, agreeably to tradition, married the daugh- ter of Joseph Darkin ; they resided in Elsinborough until his death, which occurred early in life, leaving one daughter- Elizabeth Rolph. His widow subsequently married Aaron Bradway, an inhabitant of the same township. They had one daughter, who married David Bradway of Alloways Creek. (See Bradway family).
Thomas Clement, a native of Gloucester county, and a lineal descendant of Gregory Clement, of England, who was one of the Judges that tried Charles the I., King of England, married Elizabeth Rolph, daughter of John Rolph, of Elsinborough. Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth R. Clement, had three children- Joseph, Ruth, and Samuel Clement. Thomas Clement's second wife was Elizabeth Goodwin, widow of William Goodwin, Jr. ; they had no issue; her maiden name was Woodruff. Thomas' second wife also died several years before him. He resided on his farm in Elsinborough the greater part of his time; it be- longed to his first wife. He was a merchant for several years in the town of Salem. His business was on Market street, where his son Samuel Clement afterwards occupied ; he became one of the most eminent merchants that ever did business in Salem. Thomas Clement lived to an advanced age, with his daughter, Ruth Clement, who tenderly cared for him until the
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last. He could be justly styled " nature's nobleman ;" his manly deportment and his upright dealings with his fellow man fully warrants that assertion. He was born a member of the Society of Friends, but lost his right by marrying his first wife, although she was a professor. The rules of the society at that time were mich more strict than at present. He nevertheless maintained a strong attachment towards the society of his birth, and was a , steady attender of meeting during his long life. Not many years before his death, his daughter Ruth mentioned to him the propriety of his becoming a member again. He made this sig- nificant reply, " All I want in my old age is to be a member of " the Church militant." Joseph, the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth R. Clement, was born 17th of 7th month, 1777 ; he died at his son's, Thomas K. Clement, in Upper Pittsgrove, 10th of 4th month, 1861, aged eighty-three years, and was buried in Friends' yard at Salem by request, where his ances- tors were buried. He married Mary, daughter of Colonel Aaron Levering, of Baltimore. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, 23d of 11th month, 1782, and died at the residence of her daughter, Elizabeth Pratt, at Lancaster, Ohio, 25th of 1st month, 1864. Aaron Levering, her father, descended from an ancient German family of that name, who formerly belonged to the Frankford Company, that settled at Germantown in 1684. The Leverings were large landholders in Roxbury township, near Germantown. Joseph Clement and Mary Levering were mar- ried in the city of Baltimore, 17th of 4th month, 1803. Joseph was a merchant for a number of years in the town of Salem ; liis place of business, also his dwelling, was located on Fenwick street. He with his wife and most of his children, removed to the State of Ohio. They had seven children-Aaron, William, who died young, Thomas Rolph, Charles B., Elizabeth, William Lawrence and Joseph Clement, Jr. Aaron L. Clement, their eldest son, never married. Thomas Rolph Clement studied medicine, graduated in 1832, and settled in Upper Pittsgrove, and is a practicing physician up to the present time; he married in 1847, Rebecca B. Elwell. They have had seven children- Jerome, born 23d of 2d month, 1848; Mary Levering, born 18th of 6th month, 1849, died in 4th month, 1868; Annie, born 8th of 2d month, 1851; Arabella, born 23d of 9th month, 1853; How- ard born 23d of 12th month, 1857 ; Thomas Rolph, born 15th of 3d month, 1868, and S. De Witt Clinton, born 13th of 1st month, 1869.
Charles, son of Joseph and Mary Clement, married Martha Welch, of Cincinnati ; they have six children-Aaron L., Wa-
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haen, Joseph William, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah Ellen, and Charles Clement ; two of their children are deceased-Sarah Ellen and Charles. Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Clement, has been twice married ; her first husband was George Creed ; they had four children-Mary Levering, George W., Jolm M., and Charles Creed. Mary L., the eldest, married Frederick Lowe in 1857 ; they reside in San Francisco, California ; he has filled several important offices, among which are United States Senator, Governor of California, United States Minister to China; and at present he is President of the Bank of California. Elizabeth Clement's second husband is James M. Pratt; they have two children-James Arthur and Jennie Creed Pratt. William Lawrence Clement, son of Joseph and Mary Clement, married Pauline Reben ; they have four children-John R., Mary, Charles and William Lawrence Clement. Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary L. Clement, married Maria Paul; they have two children-Creed and Charles Clement. Joseph's second wife was Lucy Drake; they had two children-John and Clinton Clement. They reside in Iowa. Ruth Clement, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Clement, resided in Salem the greater part of her life, dying when she was past middle age ; she never married. Samuel, youngest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Rolph Clement, was a merchant in Salem the greater part of his useful life ; he was so upright in all his dealings that he received-and that justly-the name of "honest Samuel Clement." He was for many years in partnership with Gideon Scull, Jr .; they did a large business, particularly as grain merchants ; perhaps the most extensive ever done in the city of Salem. Sammel married Eliza, daughter of Jacob Hufty ; they had two sons-Samuel and De Witt Clinton Clement. Samuel Clement, Jr., married a danghter of David and Martha Smith ; he has been deceased several years, leaving no issue. De W. C. Clement has been twice married ; his first wife was the daughter of John Brick of Philadelphia ; she died young, leaving no issue ; his second wife is the daughter of Thomas J. Yorke, of Salem; they have children.
SINNICKSON FAMILY.
The Sinnickson family is one of the oldest in South Jersey. Originally they spelled their name Cinca, corrupted to Sinaker. There is no definite account that I know of fixing the year when Anders Seneca left Sweden and settled on the shores of the Delaware, but circumstances convince me that he and his family came in company with Minuit, the first governor of New Swe- den, in 1638; Anders Seneca had two sons born in Sweden, Broor and Anders. At what period Anders Seneca, Jr., came and settled on the eastern shore of the Delaware is uncertain, but it is safe to presine that it was soon after their arrival in this country, for Anders Nilsson, Jonas Nilsson, Michael Nils- son, Hans Peterson, Van Nemans (now Vanneman) and several other families were inhabitants of Penn's Neck as early as 1640, and the Dahlbo family were likewise residing on the eastern shore of the Delaware about that period. The mortality among the Swedes in the first settlement was very great. Ferris, who had an excellent opportunity to examine the records of the First Swedes' Church, gives a list made by Charles Springer, in 1693, of the number of inhabitants or residents of New Sweden at that time, and the number in each family. The whole number was 945, about 40 of whom were born in Sweden, and among these were Broor and Anders Seneca. The church referred to was built near the mouth of the Christine creek for the convenience of the brethren in Penn's Neck (as it was afterwards called), who had to cross the Delaware in open boats to attend service. Their parents, Anders Seneca and his wife, I suppose, were deceased at that time, as they are not mentioned in the census roll. Broor Seneca and his family, I think, made a home on the western shore of the Delaware river, perhaps near the head waters of the Christine. At the time Charles Springer took the census of New Sweden, Broor Seneca had seven persons in his family. It is reasonable to suppose that most of the number were his children. The Swedes that settled along both sides of the river Delaware believed that the lands rightly belonged to the native inhabitants, hence most of them purchased the lands
THOMAS SINNICKSON.
Born 1786. Died 1873.
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they wished to occupy of the Indian chiefs, thereby securing perpetual peace between the aborigines and Swedish settlers; so much so that there never was known any bloodshed in a contentious way between the Scandanavian and Indian races. Anders Seneca, Jr., like his brethren, adopted that humane poliey, and bought a large tract of land in Obisquahasit, now known as Penn's Neck, of the natives, and settled thereon ; that being abont thirty years prior to Fenwick's arrival with his English colony. Soon after his arrival in this country to take possession of his tenth of West New Jersey, in 1675, the Swedes, and Anders Seneca among them, acknowledged his claim, and in 1679 Fenwick deeded all of Anders' former pos- sessions that he got from the natives to him, he stipulating to pay the proprietor or his heirs the sum of three shillings yearly for quit rent. Anders Seneca, Jr., it would seem, left two sons -Sinick and John. Sinick Seneca, the eldest son, married Margaret Wigorvie, 21st of 9th month, 1718. She, too, was of Swedish descent, as the name would imply. They had one son named Andrew, and three daughters-Sarah, Anna, and the third's name is unknown at this time.
John, the youngest son of Anders Seneca, married Anne Gill Johnson. William Gill Johnson bought land in Penn's Neek of William Penn and Michael Lecroa in 1684, it being two years after William Penn purchased all of John Fenwick's right and title of Salem county. William Gill Johnson left two sons who inherited his property, Thomas and John Gill Johnson. Thomas died in 1721, leaving a widow and six daughters- Christina, Rhina, Alice, Sarah, Catharine and Rebecca. Eleanor Gill Johnson, the widow of Thomas Gill Johnson, married Thomas Miles about the year 1723. Thomas and his wife bought of Christina, Rhina, and Alice their shares of the lands inherited from their father. Thomas and Eleanor Miles had one son, Francis, to whom they left the greater part of their landed estate. He left a farm for educational purposes to the township of Lower Penn's Neck, which is a part of the land William Gill Johnson bought of William Penn. Rhina Gill Johnson married Erick Gill Johnson, supposed to be the son of John Gill Johnson. Erick and Rhina had four daughters. Alice married Erick Skeer. Mary died intestate without issue. Sarah Gill Johnson married Andrew, the son of Sinnick Sin- nickson-the first of that family writing his name Sinnickson. I think Andrew and Sarah Sinnickson were married about 1745 or 1746. They had three sons, Thomas, Andrew and John, and four danghters, Mary, Sarah, Eleanor and Rebecca. An-
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drew resided on the patrimonial estate called Fenwick's Point.
At what time the death of Sinnick Seneca, the father of Andrew and his brother John, took place, I have no means of determining-I think not earlier than 1740. In 1734 both of them purchased large tracts of meadow and woodland of the heirs of William Penn, as the following order, given to Thomas Miles, the deputy surveyor for James Logan, will show: "An " order to Thomas Miles to survey to Sinniek and John Seneca, " the marsh called Mud Island, and 100 acres of land adjoining " to their other tracts, and for William Philpot the point of land " and marsh between his plantation and Salem creek, and for " Oneifferds Stanley, Margaret Bilderback and Thomas Bilder- " back, 100 acres at a place called Hell-gate. Dated 7th of 4th " month, 1733. The price of the marsh is five and twenty " pounds and 100 acres of woodland, thirty pounds for a 100 "acres clear of quit rents." Andrew Sinnickson, 3d, held important offices in the colonial government in the town and county in which he dwelt. He filled the office of Judge of the Court and Justice under George III., and was an ardent Whig during the American Revolution. He died 20th of 8th month, 1790, aged seventy years, leaving to his heirs a large real estate, which is considered as good and productive land as there is in the county of Salem.
The Sinnicksons had a family burying ground on their prop- erty in Penn's Neck, where most of them were buried for three generations or more; whether the yard is kept in repair, or neglected as many others of the like throughout the county, the fence been removed and the plough passed over it, I have not heard. The family, like most of the Scandinavian settlers, belonged to the Swedish Lutheran Church, and were members of the church located on Christiana in the State of Delaware ; regular in attending their meetings, by tradition they were remarkably so considering that they had to cross the Delaware river, in open boats, in Summer and Winter when the ice would permit. There was no edifice for worship on the eastern shore of the Delaware nearer than the church located at Swedenbor- ough ; at what time that was erected is uncertain, but most probably in 1644 or 1645. In the year 1744, or about that time, the Swedes, inhabitants of Penn's Neck and a few French Ingenots, the Jaquetts and some others, erected an edifice for Divine worship at a place which is known at the present day as Church Landing, it being near the river. It has been said that in the latter part of the seventeenth century there was a large congregation belonging to the said church ; at the present time
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but a small number belong to it. Like other Swedish churches on the shores of the Delaware such as those at New Castle, Christiana, Wiccacoe or the church at Philadelphia and Swe- denborough, all have become Episcopal Churches. I presume their church Rituals are nearly the same.
Thomas Sinniekson, the oldest son of Andrew, 3d, and Sarah Sinnickson, took an active part in the Revolutionary war; and commanded a company in the Continental army. On account of his writings and bitter opposition to British tyranny, he was outlawed by Lord Howe, and a heavy reward was offered for him, dead or alive. At the organization of this government, he warmly approved of Alexander Hamilton's views, and hence he became the leader of the Federal party in this section of country, during the administrations of Washington and the elder Adams. He frequently represented this county in the State Legislature ; was a member of the First Congress of the United States, which met in New York City, and also a men - ber of Congress from 1796 to 1798. For a number of years, he was a Judge, and a Justice, and likewise County Treasurer. His wife was Sarah Hancock, daughter of Judge William Han- cock, who was massacred in his own house at Hancock's Bridge, in 1778 by the British troops. Thomas Sinnickson resided the greater part of his life in the town of Salem. I think he, or his father bought lands of John Mason, and he built the house where Jonathan Ingham lives at present, and made it his home. He was a merchant in the early part of his life. His place of business was where is now the Drug store of Eakin & Ballinger. He died at an advanced age, leaving a widow who survived him several years. Having died intestate, a large real and personal estate was left to be divided among his numerous relatives. . An- drew Sinnickson, 4th, son of Andrew and Sarah Sinnickson, was born 2d of 3d month, 1749. He had four wives; the first was Mar- garet, daughter of Henry Bilderback. By her he had two sons- Henry and Andrew Sinnickson, 5th. Henry Sinnickson married Elizabeth the daughter of Andrew MeCollan, by whom he had one son-John M. Sinnickson, who married Ann the daughter of Jonathan Dallas, of Port Elizabeth. They had three chil- dren, two sons and one daughter-Henry, Dallas and Elizabeth. Henry Sinnickson married Harriet Wells, of Woodbury. He was the second Mayor of Salem. Dallas, the second son of John M. and Ann Sinnickson married Mary E. Sinnickson, daughter of John and Rebecca K. Sinnickson. Elizabeth Sinnickson married John Johnson, son of James Johnson, of Lower Penn's Neck. He died in a few years after their marriage, leaving a
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widow and one son, James D. Johnson, who are both deceased.
Andrew Sinnickson, 5th, married Margaret Walker. They had four sons and two daughters-Henry, Robert, Thomas, Andrew, Maria, and Catharine Sinnickson; the oldest son Henry, died in infancy. Thomas married Clarrisa M. Stretch, daughter of Daniel Stretch, in 1821, by her there were three sons and six daughters-Hannah Ann, Margaret, Robert, Ruth, Thomas, Maria, and Jane, who died young; Andrew likewise died in infancy. Hannah Ann married Henry D. Colley, and has four children-Henry, Mary, Georgianna and Margaret Colley. Mar- garet Sinnickson married in San Francisco. Robert is unmar- ried and is a printer by occupation. Thomas married Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Lloyd. They have one son-Lloyd Sin- nickson. Maria married Wesley Stretch ; they had one daughter- Clara Stretch. Kate is unmarried.
Robert, the third son of Andrew Sinnickson, married Tabitha Burton, in Arkansas, 1846. He died in a short time, leaving one som-Andrew Jackson Sinnickson. The widow and child reside in MacDonough County, Missouri. Maria Sinnickson married Joseph B. Chew, who came from an old and respecta- ble family of Gloucester county. They had eight children- Arabella, Charles, Henrietta, Sinnickson, Edwin, Joseph R., Henry and Mary Chew. Arabella married William Penn Chat- tin ; they have one daughter-Hannah Maria Chattin. Charles married Elizabeth King; they have six children. Henrietta married John the oldest son of Calvin Belden ; they have three children, one son and two daughters. Edwin Chew's wife was Eliz- abeth Hewes; they have three daughters. Sinnickson Chew is a printer by trade, he was for a few years, a partner with William S. Sharp, in publishing the " National Standard;" but has for several years edited and published a paper in the city of Cam- den ; he was three years Clerk for the Legislature of New Jer- sey. He married Sallie, the daughter of Samuel W. Miller, of Upper Alloways Creek. Joseph R. Chew, Jr., married Corne- lia Mulford, and Mary married Thomas Dunn, of Salem. Henry Chew married Marietta Fogg, daughter of James Fogg, of Salem. Andrew Sinnickson married in Windsor, State of New York, in 1858; died without issue. Caroline Sinnickson mar- ried Eli Sharp, and had eleven children-William, (Benjamin F., and Sinnickson deceased,) De Witt Clinton, Harriet, Irene, (Maria, and Eli deceased,) Louisa G., Elizabeth R., and Kate Sharp. William's occupation is that of a printer. He was the Editor and Publisher of the Salem "Standard," for a mumber of years ; at this time he publishes a paper in the city of Tren-
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ton ; he married Indiana Leatherbury, from Maryland. De Witt Clinton Sharp, married Ann Waddington, they have two children-Kate and Eli Sharp. Harriet Sharp married William Davis; they have four children-Sallie, Clinton, Louisa, and Harriet, the others are unmarried. Andrew Sinnickson's sec- ond wife was Margaret Johnson, daughter of Robert and Mar- garet Morgan Johnson ; the latter was a native of the town of Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, a descendant of a Quaker family of that State, and was herself a member of that society. Margaret Morgan fearing the distance which would separate her from her family and friends, if she should marry and reside in Salem, at first declined the offer of Robert John- son's hand. Impelled possibly by disappointment he made a tour in Europe. On his return his ship stopped at Chester where he recognized a slave of the Morgans, who told him that his young mistress was still unmarried. Mr. Johnson renewed his addresses, was accepted and shortly afterward they were married.
The late Judge Thomas Sinnickson, a few years before his death, invited me to walk in the Friends' grave yard, in Salem, with him, to point out the grave of his grandmother, it having been the first grave there to which a marble monument had been placed. It was put there by the direction of her husband Robert Johnson, Sr., and merely mentioned the time of her death, and her age. Andrew and Margaret J. Sinnickson had four children, three sons and one daughter; their names were Mary, Robert, Thomas and John Sinnickson. Robert Sinnick- son died in Philadelphia in 1803, unmarried. Mary married John, the son of John and Millicent Smith, of Alloways Creek ; they had three children-Thomas S., Margaret J., and Mary Smith. Thomas S. Smith married Mary, daughter of Morris and Sarah Hancock ; they have two children-Maria and Thomas Smith, Jr. Margaret J. Smith married Edward G. Prescott, son of Judge William Prescott, of Boston. She was killed by a railroad accident in 1856, and left no children. Mary Smith married Oliver B. Stoughton, of Salem; they have two children-Mary and Margaret Stoughton. Her husband has been deceased several years. Thomas Sinniekson married Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Mary B. Jacobs, of Chester Valley, Pennsylvania. The Jacobs were an old family of that place; his wife, Mary Brinton, belonged to an ancient, respectable and wealthy family of that name of Chester county. Elizabeth Jacobs was a member of Friends' Meeting at the time of her marriage, Thomas Sinnickson and his wife 25
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