USA > New Jersey > Salem County > Salem > History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony > Part 35
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Henrietta, the daughter of Jolin and Eleanor Hancock, mar- ried Lewis P. Smith, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania ; they had four children-Henry, Louisa, Genovie (who is now deceased) and Sarah M. Smith. The latter married Clement Hall Sin- niekson. He is a lawyer, and has an extensive practice in Salem. He was elected to Congress from the First District of New Jersey in 1874. Clement and his wife had issue-M. L. Sinnickson, deceased. Thomas Y., second son of John and Eleanor Hancock, married Rachel, daughter of William and Elizabeth Thompson Nicholson, formerly of Mannington. Rachel's mother was a first cousin of Thomas Y. Hancock's father, John Hancock; they had issue-Elizabeth, Ellen, Wil- liam, Cornelia and Thomas Hancock.
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Y. and Rachel Hancock, was twice married ; her first husband was David, the son of Andrew and Hannah Stretch Smith, of Elsinborough. David and Elizabeth Smith had issue-Morris and Sarah M. Smith. Mor- ris died young, and Sarah married Nathan, the son of Belford M. Bonham, of Cumberland county. Elizabeth H. Smith's second husband was Samuel, the son of William and Ann Fowser. Elizabeth has been deceased several years. Ellen, the second daughter of Thomas Y. and Rachel Hancock, mar- ried Dr. Henry Childs, the son of John and Rachel Childs, of Philadelphia. They have three sons-William, Edward and Thomas. William, the son of Thomas Y. and Rachel Han- cock, married Beulah, the daughter of William and Ann Fow- ser ; they have issue-Anna F. and Ellen M. Hancock. Cor- nelia, daughter of Thomas Y. and Rachel Hancock, has great energy of character. During the recent rebellion, directly after
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the battle of Gettysburg, she hastened there, and rendered great assistance in caring for the sick and wounded in the hospitals. She continued in the army hospital until the final overthrow of the rebellion, after which event she volunteered in the praise- worthy undertaking of teaching school for colored children, near Charleston, South Carolina, where she is still in the same employment. Thomas, the youngest son of Thomas Y. and Rachel Hancock, was drowned whilst bathing in Alloways creek, when he was about seven or eight years old. Maria, daughter of John and Eleanor Hancock, married Richard P., the eldest son of Hedge and Mary Ann Parrott Thompson ; they had issue-Isabella Thompson.
Louis Yorke, second son of Andrew and Eleanor C. Yorke, married Mary, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Jones, of Salem. Thomas was of those men that made his own fortune, beginning with small means at his disposal, by industry and close application to his business acquired a competency ; lived to an advanced age, and was greatly respected by his fellow citi- zens. Louis and his wife, Mary J. Yorke, left Salem soon after their marriage and located in the village of Hancock's Bridge. Louis kept store with Lewis Panllin as partner in John Hancock's store house, near the bridge, now occupied by Carll & Brother. Louis and his wife had issue-Andrew, Thomas Jones and Louis S. Yorke. Their father died in Philadelphia in 1809, and was buried in Christ Church burying ground in that city. Andrew, the eldest son of Louis and Mary Yorke, died young. Their second son, Thomas J. Yorke, was twice married. His first wife was Mary, the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Smith, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Mary died a young woman, leaving one son-Louis Eugene Yorke. The second wife of Thomas J. Yorke was Margaret Johnson Sinnickson, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jacobs Sinnickson. She was from Chester county, Pennsylvania, and her parents were consistent members of the Society of Friends, descendants of the Jacobs' and Brinton's being among the first Quaker families of Chester county. Thomas and his wife, Margaret J. Yorke, have issue- Mary A., Elizabeth S., Thomas J., Jr., Margaret and Caroline P. Yorke. The eldest daughter, Mary A., married De Witt Clinton Clement, son of Samuel and Eliza H. Clement ; they have issue, one daughter-Eliza H. Clement. Margaret J. Yorke married Dr. J. B. Parker, a surgeon in the United States Navy, and their issue is Mary S. Parker. Caroline P. Yorke married William F. Allen, editor of the "Travelers' Official Guide ," their issue is Yorke and Frederica W. Allen.
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Thomas J. Yorke, early in life, went in the store of his grand- father, Thomas Jones, in Salem. In 1817 he removed to Phil- adelphia, and was clerk in one of the dry goods stores until 1821, when he returned to Salem and entered into the mercan- tile business with his unele, Thomas Jones, Jr., in the same store house that his grand-father, Thomas Jones, formerly ocenpied. It is now known as the Star Corner building, corner of Market and Broadway streets. The building is one of the oldest store houses in the city of Salem. It was built by Wil- liam Cattell, and his son, Elijah Cattell, occupied it as a store during the greater part of his life, and soon after his death it was sold to that eminent philanthropist, Isaac Moss, who, in a short time afterwards, conveyed it to Thomas Jones, Sr. Thomas Jones Yorke continued in business with his unele until 1847. He was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1835, and in the succeeding year he was elected to Congress, taking his seat in 1837, and continued a member of that body up to 1843. In the year 1853 he was elected a Director and Secretary and Treasurer of the West Jersey Railroad Company, which offices he held until 1866, when he was elected President and continued in that position until 2d month, 1875, when, on account of his failing physical strength, which is incident to old age, he resigned the office. The Company, however, retained him as one of its Directors. His eldest son, Louis Eugene Yorke possessed more than ordinary abilities. He was educated as a civil engineer at the Renselar Institute, in the State of New York, and early in life he entered the service of the Penn . sylvania Railroad Company, and assisted to locate the tunnel through the Alleghaney mountains. He was a resident engineer of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and soon afterward was employed with the Hoboken Land Improvement Company, and also had charge of the Bergen tunnel in 1860. At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion the martial spirit he had inherited from his ancestors was aronsed, and in 1861 he entered the army as a private in the Seventh Regiment of the New York Volunteers. By his great energy and bravery he was soon promoted to Captain in the Fourteenth Regiment of the Regular Army. He was on General Sherman's staff, and later, chief officer to General Logan. He was wounded at Arkansas Point, and made the march with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He resigned at the close of the war with a commission as Brevet-Colonel in the Regular Army. His wife was Mary Miller, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Eugene died in that city in 7th month, 1873, aged forty- one years. Thomas
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Jones Yorke, Jr., second son of Thomas J. Yorke, by his second wife, Margaret J. Sinnickson, assisted his father several years in the Railroad Company, and was appointed Secretary and Treasurer of the West Jersey Marl Company. He subsequently entered into the coal business with his uncles, John and Charles Sinnickson, in the city of Philadelphia, under the firm name of Sinniekson & Co. Louis S. Yorke, the third son of Louis and Mary Yorke, married Adelaide Patton, of Philadelphia ; their issue was two sons and one daughter-Patton Jones, Louis A. and Adelaide P. Yorke. Patton J. Yorke, their eldest son, married Rebecca Coleman, of Louisana ; their issue is Catharine C. and Louis S. Yorke. His second wife was Lizzie Little, of Albany, New York. Louis A., second son of Louis and Adelaide Yorke, married Emma M., daughter of Robert Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia.
Adelaide, the daughter of Louis and Adelaide P. Yorke, mar- ried Charles King, of the United States Navy; they have one daughter-Adelaide King. Louis S. Yorke, the son of Louis and Mary Yorke, in early life had an inclination to follow the sea. Accordingly in 1818 his first voyage was in a brig, com- manded by Captain Woodhouse, of the United States Navy, from Philadelphia to Rio Janeiro and the river La Platte, in South America. Afterwards he made frequent voyages to Monte Vidoe and Buenos Ayres as mate and master. After- wards at different times he commanded several large ships in the European and East Indian trade, going to India by the Cape of Good Hope and returning through the Pacific by the way of Cape Horn. He returned from the sea a number of years ago, and resided in Salem and Philadelphia. When the war of re- bellion broke out, he again went to sea and entered the United States Navy as paymaster. At the end of the war he went to Louisiana to reside with his eldest son, Patton. Patton Jones Yorke, his eldest son, entered the service of the United States as a volunteer before he was twenty-one years of age. He con- tinued in the army through the war, and was promoted to Co- lonel of the Second Regiment of New Jersey Cavalry. After the war he married Rebecca Coleman, of Carroll Parish, Louisiana, and there he settled. He has been several times a member of the Legislature of his adopted State, and is a member of that body at the present time. Louis A., the second son of Lonis A., and Adelaide Yorke, is paymaster in the United States Navy, and is now in the East India squadron.
Thomas, the third son of Andrew and Eleanor Coxe Yorke, was born at Salem. When young he went to Philadelphia in
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the dry goods store of M. Herbenton, in South Second street. In the war of 1812 he joined the privateer Shadow as purser, the ship being commanded by his relative, Captain Taylor. When the war was ended Thomas traded to the West Indies as captain of a merchant vessel. He afterwards went into the European and East India trade as captain of a merchantman, and contin- ued in that business a number of voyages. When he left the sea he came back to his native county, and made his home with his sister, Eleanor Hancock, at Hancock's Bridge. He lived but a short time afterwards, and was buried in the Episcopal church yard at Salem. Nature had done much for Thomas Yorke. He was blessed with good abilities and above the ave- rage of mankind, was prepossessing in looks, and dignified in his manners and address-the latter being characteristics of the Yorke family.
Martha, the second daughter of Andrew and Eleanor C. Yorke, soon after her father's death, removed from Salem to Hancock's Bridge, and resided at the latter place most of her life. I think she never married.
The third wife of Thomas Yorke, the emigrant, was Mary Robeson, as before mentioned ; they had four children. Their eldest son, Robeson Yorke, died without issue. Their second son, Samuel, married Tabitha Keen, of Dover, Delaware, and had issue, Thomas Yorke, who married a young woman by the name of Cox, by whom he had five children-Mary, Samuel, Anna, Emma and William Yorke. Martha, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Robeson Yorke, married James Humphreys ; they had issue. Susan Humphreys, their eldest daughter, died without issue. Their son, James Y. Humphreys, married Louisa McAuley, and had one daughter-Sarah Humphreys. Mary Y. Humphreys married Captain Graham, by whom she had one child, Ella, who married John Armstrong, and had issue - Mary Armstrong. Lewis Yorke Humphreys died without issue. His sister, Martha Y. Humphreys, married a man by the name of Madara ; they had issue, one child-Mary Madara.
Margaret, the youngest daughter of Thomas and Mary R. Yorke, married Ludwig Sprogell, and had issue. John, their eldest son, died single. Their daughter, Mary Sprogell, died young. Louis Sprogell was Captain in the United States Army. Thomas Sprogell married Mary Stretch, and had issue. Georgianna, their daughter, married Dr. J. Peaco, of the United States Navy ; they had children. Their eldest son, John Peaco, died young, and their daughter, Virginia Peaco,
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married Dr. J. Henderson, of the United States Navy. Dr. J. Henderson and his wife, Virginia P. had six children-John Augustus, George, Virginia Mary, Sylvanus and Caroline.
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LOCKE AND ROCKE FAMILIES.
There have been many of the African race born and raised in Fenwiek's Colony, that have shown considerable mental intel- lect. Among those, there were two young men in modern times, who grew up among us, manifesting uncommon abilities, con- sidering their opportunity. Ishmael Locke was one of them ; being born of poor parentage he was bound out to John Bal- linger, a farmer residing in Upper Alloways Creek, near Quin- ton's Bridge. Ishmael was sent occasionally to a common coun- try school, during the winter season, but even with that limited opportunity, he applied himself closely to his studies. Being an excellent and careful workman, as a farm laborer, he found no difficulty in procuring good places, and likewise the highest wages. Soon after he arrived at the age of twenty-one, he hired with the late William Carpenter, of Elsinborough, at which place he continued several years ; by his orderly conduct and close attention to business, he endeared himself to the family, always studying in his leisure hours. Upon leaving Elsinbo- rough, he taught the colored school at Salem for some time. From Salem, he went to Camden, and there taught the colored school. Subsequently he went to Liberia for the purpose of educating his raee in that distant land. The climate was not congenial to his health, and he returned to the United States, after being absent a few years; he again opened a school in Camden, but his health being much impaired whilst in Liberia, he did not live long after his return. As a mathematician he was seldom equalled by any one that was ever raised in Salem county, and in the other branches of learning, there were very few his superiors. His application was wonderful. The late Richard P. Thompson, when he was State Attorney, remarked to me once-" If I had when young, the indomitable application " that Locke possessed, it would have been incalculable advantage " to me in my profession."
John Rocke, Jr., possessed a fine intellect. He was born in Elsinborough. His father, John Rocke, was a good eitizen and an honest laborer. Ile had a natural turn for reading, and
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was above the ordinary men of his race in intelligence. His wife was Maria Willetts. The Willetts were formerly slaves to one of the ancient Quaker families in this county. Their son, the subject of this sketch, showed in early life a thirst for knowledge, and was by nature an eloentionist, being very fond of reading. His parents, though poor, gave him every oppor- tunity in their power for an education ; but as soon as he was able to work he labored for a livelihood among the farmers in his neighborhood, but when an opportunity afforded he was always found endeavoring to improve his mind by reading and also in mathematics. When Ishmael Locke left the colored school at Salem, John Locke, Jr., succeeded as a teacher. He remained in that situation a few years, and then left his native county and State, and went to Boston, Massachusetts. In a short time after that event he studied medicine with one of the noted physicians of that city. After due course of study he received his diploma. There was a disease lurking about him, for which he had to undergo a surgical operation, but without success. He was induced by Charles Sumner to go to Paris, to the celebrated surgeon that had operated on him a short time previous with such good results. He accordingly went and was operated upon. Rocke informed the writer, after his return to this country, when on a visit to his parents, that the surgeon told him "he had better turn his attention to some other call- "ing, that his physical disease was against his being a prac- " titioner in medicine." He studied Law, and was admitted to practice some two or three years afterward. He was a pleasing and interesting speaker ; his oratory was not declamatory. He showed great learning in his speeches, was cool and deliberate in his address, so much so, that he attracted the attention of the lawyers of his adopted city. He was a great favorite of the eminent statesman, Charles Sumner, to such an extent, that by his intercession he was admitted to practice in the United States Courts, thereby being the first of his race that ever received such a distinguished honor. Through all his high attainments, he was not unmindful of filial duties. He employed in Salem county an agent, and furnished him funds to assist his parents in procuring the necessaries of life. Soon after the death of his aged father, he took his mother to Boston with him, and main- tained her in a comfortable manner, until her death. He sur- vived her but a few years, being a victim of that insidious disease, pulmonary consumption. He was a credit to his race, and an honor to the State and county of his birth.
٠
HISTORY
OF THE
RELIGIOUS BODIES OF FENWICK'S COLONY.
Comprising Sketches of their Places of Worship, and the Lives of their most Prominent Members, carefully prepared by the Author, and arranged in their seniority.
(389)
FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE. Salem, N. J. Built 1772.
FRIENDS SOCIETY.
I will endeavor to give an account of the first religious organ- izations within Fenwick's Colony, and a short notice of the con- spicuous members of the different societies when they were established.
The Swedes no doubt were the first, but their place of wor- ship appears to have been at Christiana until about 1746, when the Swedes and a few French Hugeunots, Jaquetts, Philpotts, and others, built a church in Penn's Neck, at the place now known as Church Landing. The principal families who were members of the church were the Joansons, Wolversons, Hen- dricksons, Tonsons, Hans Jeansons, Nielsons, Wolleysons, Sin- nicksons, and several others. In all probability the first house erected in West Jersey for Divine worship was at Maurice River, where there was a settlement of Swedes. Being zealous Protestants, and a long distance from their mother church, they built a place of worship near Mauricetown about 1640, more than thirty years before Fenwick, with his Colony, arrived at Elsinborough Point, which was on the 26th of 8th month, 1675, according to the present computation of time. Fenwick ascended the Assamhocking up to the place where Salem is now, and at that point of land he and the emigrants that were with him permanently landed. The greater number of the persons who accompanied him from England to his possess- ions in New Cassaria were members of his own religious Society.
At that place he determined to lay ont a town to be the seat of government for his colony. He named the town New Salem, as he observed the name signified Peace. He chose from the number of emigrants Richard Noble as his Surveyor General, and directed him to lay out a street ninety feet in width from the creek, which he named Salem, to run in a south-eastern course. The street was called Wharf street, but afterwards called Bradway street, and at the present time it is known as Broadway street. There was another street laid out start- ing from Fenwick creek, a branch of the Salem creek, also to
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be ninety feet wide, until it reached the town marsh, but for some reason it was never opened further than Bradway street. It was then called Bridge street, but is now known as Market street. Probably the canse that Fenwick's plans were not car- ried out, is that he died at an early date of the history of Salem, and left the direction of the improvement of the town to his favorite son-in-law, Samuel Hedge, particularly respect- ing the streets. He died in a few years after the death of Fen- wick (which event took place in the year 1693) before he could consummate the proprietor's plans upon these two main streets. The emigrants first settled upon Wharf street, where the first religious organization took place of the English Colonies in West New Jersey.
Samuel Nicholson, one of the wealthiest emigrants who arrived with John Fenwick, and his wife, Ann Nicholson, with their five children, came from Northamptonshire, England. Soon after their arrival he purchased a lot on Wharf street containing 16 acres, also a tract of land in Elsinborough con- taining 2,000 acres, and built himself a house on his lot in Salem, principally of hewn logs. At his house, in 1676, the first religious organization in Fenwick's Colony took place, and it is interesting to examine the records of that early time to see the difficulty which the Friends had to find a permanent place for public worship. On 2d of 4th month, 1979, Richard Guy, Edward Bradway, Isaac Smart and Edward Wade were ap- pointed to select a place for a meeting honse and burying ground. It appears they were not successful, and at a meeting held 5th of 11th month, 1679, Edward Wade, James Nevell, John Maddox and George Deacon were appointed to treat with Samuel Nicholson and William Penton for their houses and plantations in Salem, and also to see Ann Salter, widow of Henry Salter, about her lot of ground.
At a meeting held in 12th month, 1679, George Deacon, John Maddox and Henry Jennings were appointed to take a view of Edward Bradway's house, and see whether it was suitable for a meeting house. A minute was made at that time fixing upon the 1st and 4th days of the week for religious worship, the meetings to be held first at Samuel Nicholson's, next at Robert Zane's, and next at Richard Guy's house.
In the 9th month, 1680, there was another committee ap- pointed to endeavor to purchase a lot of ground of Edward Champney to build a meeting house upon and for a burying ground. They did not succeed in getting a lot to suit them, and finally in 1681, in the 6th month, Samuel Nicholson and
FRIENDS' GRAVE YARD. Salem, N. J. First used in 1681.
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his wife Ann deeded the whole of the 16 acres of land situated on Bradway street, in Salem, for the use and benefit of Salem Monthly Meeting forever, for a meeting house and grave yard and other purposes. As soon as the deed was given, John Thompson, of Elsinborough, and Robert Zane, of Salem, were appointed by the meeting to repair the house, and get it fit for Friends to meet in. About a year afterwards the same persons were directed to enlarge the meeting house by adding sixteen feet in length, and height equal to the old frame build. ing, with a chimney and a pair of stairs. For some reason this was not done until the next year, in 1683, at which time Ben- jamin Acton was employed to build the addition. There was a proposition to have the floors of the house made of boards, but that failed, and on 27th of 12th month, 1687, Benjamin Aeton and Thomas Wood were appointed to have the old and. new house floored with a good clay floor, and have it ready before the Yearly Meeting should convene.
The first Yearly Meeting was held at Salem 15th of 2d month, 1684, and included the Friends of Haddonfield and Burlington. It was held at Salem and Burlington alternately, and was known as the Half Yearly Meeting. These meetings were continued several years.
At the Yearly Meeting held at Salem in the 2d month, from the 27th to the 31st, 1693, George Keith appeared with his friends and laid before the meeting their proposals for the settlement of the differences among them. These were in the shape of several propositions covering the points at issue, and discussing the reasons for their adoption, which led to much controversy, and final separation of many members from the Society. These proposals were signed by Jeremiah Colbert, John Penrose, Nathaniel Sykes, Anthony Taylor, Samuel Cooper, Isaac Tause, James Shattock, Samuel Adams, George Keith, Thomas Budd, Henry Furness, Nicholas Pierce, Thomas Withers, Andrew Griscom, and others. Thomas Sharp, member of Newton Meeting, was Clerk of the Yearly Meeting at that time. The Friends who adhered to George Keith, had great influence in the Society, and most of them after Keith returned to England became members of the Baptist Church. Andrew Griscom became reconciled with his former friends, and died a member of the Society, and many of his descendants have been active and useful membersthereof.
The account I have of George Keith fully proves that he possessed an uncommon intellect, was a forcible writer, and a pleasing and interesting speaker. The nature of the proposition
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that he and his followers offered to the Yearly Meeting at Salem, I have never fully understood, but it appears there was no fault found of church discipline, the matter of dispute being on religious dogmas. Keith advocated his peculiar views so ably that he drew forth the ablest minds in the Society of Friends in England and in this country to confute his views. After his return to his native land he joined the Church of England.
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