History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony, Part 46

Author: Shourds, Thomas
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Bridgeton, N.J. : G.F. Nixon
Number of Pages: 606


USA > New Jersey > Salem County > Salem > History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony > Part 46


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).


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1686-To Samuel Carpenter, by an order of James Harrison, £20; to four barrels of pork at 2s. 15d., £11; to 50 skipples of Indian corn, by Seth Hill, £5; freight to Pennsbury, £1 8s. Total £200 7s.


1685-Gov. William Penn, Cr., by Hance Oulson, for land, £14 10s .; by John Grice, do., £15; by John Vanjining, £16; by Hance Shehere and Lucas Johnson, £13 10s .; by Yeallis Gill Johnson and Garret Vanjining, £17 1s. 8d .; by William Gill Johnson, £18 12s .; by John Lecroy, £12 8s .; by Michael Le- croy, £18 12s .; by John Hendrickson, £36 11s .; by David Hen- driekson, £5; by Lucas Peterson, £18 13s .; by Joseplı Erigson, £12; by Powell Powelson, £14 13s .; by Isaac Savoy, £10; by Abraham Vanhest, £10; by Henry Jeans, £16 17s .; by Fopp Johson, £11 14s .; Johanes Shays, £3; by Andre Johnson, £12 5s .; by Richard Pitman, £5 5s .; by Woolly Tauson, £14 10s. Total, £295 1s .; Joshua Gillet, £10; William Hanby, £5; Ed- ward Bradway, £10; Martin Shehere, £10; Peter Bilderback and Andrew Anderson, £12 10s .; Richard Wilkinson, £5 6s .; Isaac Savoy, £3; Michael Barran, quit-rent for 500 acres, £1 10d. Total, £62 16s. 10d.


1687-Gov. William Penn, debtor-George Hutchinson and James Budd, £5; John Harding, by order of J. Harrison, £4; tax on his land in Salem Town, 1s. 6d .; Samuel Carpenter, by an order of James Harrison, £20; 11 barrels of beef, sent by Seth Smith, £27 10s .; freight to Pennsbury, £1 13s .; Samuel Carpenter, by order of Capt. Markham, £10.


1688 .- Sent by Seth Smith 100 bushels of Indian corn, £10 ; 1 barrel of beef, £2; 6 flitches of bacon, 201 lbs. £5 6d .; freight £2 5s .; S. Carpenter by John Cornelius; £10; John Worlidge, surveyor, by an order of James Marshall and Thomas Gardiner, for running a plantation, £13 10s .; James Atkinson, 1 barrel of pork for Samuel Carpenter, at Philadelphia, £2 15s. Total, £115 3s.


1688.


£ sd


Governor William Penn, Cr.,


358 18 06


Governor William Penn, Dr., 315 10 10


Balance due,


43 07 08


Dr. for my stipend from 1682 to 1688, 60 00 00


Tax on his 60 acres of land in Salem,


00 02 00


16 14 10


504


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


1689 .- William Penn, Dr., to balance, £16 14s. 10d .; six flotchers of bacon, 178 pounds, £3 14s. 02d .; 20 bushels of wheat, @3s ? bushel, £3; Richard Russell, order of Captain Markham, £10 6s .; to re-survey Barron's land, 1,000 acres, there being 200 acres surplus, £3 7s. ; to re-survey Bout town land, and found 549 acres overplus, £5; surveying and laying out 469 acres of orphans' land near Fopp Johnson's, and mak- ing an equal division in two parts, £1 10s. ; Henry Taylor, for going with the survevor running the Picton line, by order of Thomas Gardiner, £4 15s. ; the expenses at Barrons and the Governor's tenants summoned by me to agree on a certain place where they should pay their quit rents, £1 4s. ; 6 barrels of beef, by George Haslewood, £12; freight to Philadelphia, 13s. 4d. ; making a ditch in William Penn's town marsh within Salem township, £2 05s .; to my stipend for one year, £10; summoning the Swedes of Penn's Neck to meet William Penn Salem, £1 08s. 09d. Total, £76 10s. 07d.


1689 .- Governor William Penn, Cr .- By John Erickinson, £2 13s .; William Hanby, £5; Thomas Dunn, £5 09s. 07d .; Widow Hendrickson's land at Finn's Point, £3 04s. 06d .; Wooly Tourson, £3 06s. : Richard Wilkinson, £4 14s. ; Henry Cornelius, £4; Samuel Wade, for 37 acres of marsh, £3 14s .; Steven Yearns, £3 10s .; William Shute, £4; Lucus Peterson, £4; 8 bushels of barley, from Widow Hendrickson, 16s. ; Wil- liam Hewes, for quit rent, 05s. ; Richard Wilsonson, quit rent, 06s. ; wheat, Mary Hendrickson, £2 05s .; Steven Yearns, £6 05s. 07d. : Jacob Hendrickson, £2 17s. 09d .; William Hanby, £3 15s. ; Jacob Saroy, 2 years quit rent for 450 acres, due 29th of 7th month, 1686, £1 05s. 06d. ; 8} bushels wheat by David Hendrickson, £13 15s .; do, to 4 bushels of wheat, and quit rent due 1686, 12s .; William Hanby, 3 bushels of wheat for quit rent, 09s. ; Jacob Henderson, his purchase, £4; Lucas Pe- terson, his purchase, £3 10s .; Richard Pitman, by Thomas York, £5; received of Steven Yearns by Edward Champney, £2 06d .; received from Joseph Erickson 6 bushel of wheat for three years' quit rent 29th of 7th month, 1688, 18s. ; John Hen- driekson, six bushels of wheat for quit rent, 18s.


6th of 7th month, 1691 .- William Penn, Dr .- To my stipend for one year, £10; 10 barrels of beef, to Samnel Caapenter, £20; freight to Philadelphin, by William Hall, £1; a year's salary, £10.


1691 .- Governor William Penn, Cr .- Joshua Gillett, 100 acres of land, £5 10s. ; Steven Yearns, £2 19s. ; Lucas Peterson, £1 14s, 06d, ; Mary Hendrickson, £1 05s. 11d. ; Steven Yearns,


505


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


quit rent, 04s. 11d. ; Richard Wilkinson, quit rent, 06s. ; Tobias Gillet, £2 10s. ; Joel Bailey, £S; Mary Hendrickson, £+ 05s. 11d .; Ephraim Herman, for the widow of Dick Albertson, called Orphans' land, £11; Matthias Johnson, for Isaac Savoy, £2 10s .; Edward Goodwin, £3 10s .; Thomas Galipeng, for Joel Bailey, £2 10s. ; Lucas Peterson, quit rent, 15s. 06d.


Deeds signed by William Penn's heirs, being proprietors for lands in Salem county, the principal part of the land being laid out in Penn's Neck and Gloucester county.


Gloucester county .- 650 acres to Thomas Spicer, dated 1st of 9th month, 1734, £ -; 550 acres to Joseph Coles, same date, £320; 50 acres to Jeremiah Baker, same date, £15. Salem county .- 41 acres to Edmund Weatherby, same date, £10, 07s. 06d. ; 150 acres to Samuel Linch, 1734, £37, 10s .; 60 acres to Thomas Miles, same date, £12; 350 aeres to John Dunn, 1734, £105.


1688-A warrant to Richard Tindall and his deputy, to lay out for Henry Cornelius 100 acres of land lying next to the creek, bounds of Finn's Point, running from thenee toward Cranberry Swamp; lay it out not prejudicial to the proprietor, and make a return in six weeks. James Nevell.


19th of 2d month, 1688-To Richard Tindall, Surveyor General, and John Worlidge, his deputy: At the information of Thomas Arnold, Michael Barron hath more than one thou- sand acres of land and marsh in the bounds he elaimeth on that side of Salem creek where he now liveth : This is to authorize you to resurvey the said one thousand acres of fast land and marsh, beginning at the side of Delaware river and up Salem creek, and backward in the woods as convenient for length and breadth as may not be prejudicial to the proprietor and make a return of the survey to me at my office in Salem within three months from date. For your so doing, this shall be your war- rant, at the charge of said Thomas Arnold. Signed by James Nevell.


1689, 20th of 11th month .- A warrant to Richard Tindall and John Worlidge to survey for Joshua Gillet 100 acres of fast land and marsh, as it is most convenient for him and not prejudicial to the proprietor, and make a return of your doings at my office in Salem within three month's date. Signed, James Nevell.


18th of 7th month, 1688-A warrant to Richard Tindall and his deputy, John Worlidge, to lay out 100 acres of fast land and marsh lying between the line of Finn's Point and Thomas Budd's Island, not already taken up, nor to be prejudicial to the


64


506


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


proprietor, and make a return of your doings at my office in Salem. Signed, James Nevell.


22d of 11th month, 1688 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall and John Worlidge, his deputy, to resurvey for Steven Yearans, at his request, all that land that lies within the old bounds of the 1,000 acres of land and marsh formerly surveyed by Rich- ard Hancock for the Finns, at Finn's Point, and make a return of your doings at my office in Salem Town, within three months after date. If a vacancy happens between 1,000 acres, if it is not convenient to the former owners, but beneficial to the pro- prietor, to make a plantation for others, then crave such land at my disposal. Signed, James Nevell.


7th of 11th month, 1688 .- Order from John Fenwick's exec- utors: A warrant to Richard Tindall, Surveyor General for the county of Salem, and John Worlidge, his deputy, to lay out one acre of land in Salem Town, given by John Fenwick, on which to erect a court house and prison.


1689 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall, Surveyor General for the county of Salem, to lay out for John Worlidge a lot 200 feet front, adjoining the lot laid out in Salem Town for Edward Champneys, and running back to the marsh. Fenwick's exec- utors.


May 2d, 1689 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall, and John Worlidge, his deputy, to resurvey for Thomas Bubb 500 acres of land, formerly laid out by Richard Hancock, beginning at the first bounds.


1686, January 10th .- A warrant to Richard Tindall to lay ont a piece of vacant land for John Snooks, lying next to his town lot in Salem Town.


20th .- A warrant to lay out for John Worlidge, the deputy Surveyor, a piece of vacant land lying between John Smith's and John Pledger's lands, at Alloways Creek or Monmouth Precinct.


1687, 18th of 6th month .- A warrant to Richard Tindall, to lay out 16 acres of land for a house and lot in Cohansey for John March.


1687, 16th of 9th month .- A warrant to Richard Tindall, Surveyor for Salem Tenth, and John Worlidge, his deputy, to lay out for William Wilkinson 10 acres, part of the vacancy be- tween Gov. William Penn's 60 acres in Salem Town which he bought of John Fenwick and Strickly Marshall's land.


1690-A warrant to Richard Tindall to lay out 200 acres of land for Wolly Wagson, being part of the manor of Fenwick's Grove.


507


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


1691, 15th of 3d month .- A warrant to Richard Tindall to lay out and survey 16 acres of land in the town of Greenwich for John Ketcham, late of New York Colony, out of the estate of John Fenwick, deceased.


1691, 20th of 8th month .- A warrant to Richard Tindall and his deputy to resurvey, regulate and subdivide all the tracts of land formerly surveyed by Richard Hancock, on Shrewsberry Neck, south side of Cohansey, excepting John Gillman's 400 acres, which is to be left as formerly, and to make a return within three months at my office in Salem. Signed, James Nevell.


1st of 2d month, 1690 .- There being a common report that Governor Penn had never any interest in land in Salem county, I desired the inhabitants of Penn's Neck, to whom I had sold lands, to give me a meeting at Barron's, where I gave them a dinner and explained to them; they appeared to be satisfied, and it stopped the current report. James Nevell.


23d of Ist month, 1690 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall, surveyor-general of Salem county, to lay out for Powell Ja- quette 15 acres of land or marsh, as allowance for roads through his 300 acres purchased from John Fenwick, beginning on the north-east side of Henry Jeans, his bounds next to the river Delaware, so as to be convenient to the purchaser, not prejudi- cial to the proprietor, and make a return of your doings to me at my office in Salem. Signed, James Nevell.


May 12tlı, 1691 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall and his assistant to survey and lay out for Edward Godwin of land and marsh, allowance for roads in Penn's Neck, as convenient 100 acres as the purchaser shall direct, not prejudicial to the propri- etor, nor already taken up, and make a return at my office in Salem, of his doings three months after date. Subscribed, James Nevell.


June 20th .- A warrant to Richard Tindall and his assistant to survey and lay out all the vacancy of fast land and meadow that lies between William Hanley and Lucas Peterson, and make return to me, at my office in Salem, within three months from date. Subscribed, James Nevell.


May 13th, 1691 .- A warrant to Richard Tindall to lay out 4000 acres of land for Roger Milton, attorney for William Milton, his brother, who purchased 4000 acres of Francis Hard- ing, and to lay the same out as follows : 100 acres joining lands taken up by John Tirack, including cedar swamp; 600 acres, joining on Joshna Berkstead lands, and the remainder where it is not already taken up. James Nevell.


508


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


7th of 8th month, 1691 .- Whereas, I granted a warrant to Roger Milton, as above mentioned, for the laying out 4000 acres, and to make a return thereof to me at my office, in Sa- lem, within three months, and no return is yet made. At the request of said Roger Milton, these are to authorize Richard Tindall to lay out and survey the said 4000 acres of land and marsh as convenient as may be, not already taken up, nor pre- judicial to the proprietor. If it may be convenient let the 4000 acres be joined upon the lands of Joseph Berkstead, George Ha- zlewood, Robert Hutchinson and John Mason, leaving no lands nor cripples between, so the 4000 acres may be as entire as may be, and make a return of your doings here to me, at my office in Salem, within three months from date. Subscribed, James Nevell.


29th of 4th month, 1692 .- A warrant to John Worlidge to re-survey all of the 500 acres of land laid out by Richard Hancock for Roger Huskins, to begin at the bounds of land formerly laid out for Richard Hancock, now in possession of William Tyler, and to run the old courses as near as may be, without coming into other lands, until you complete 468 acres, there being two 16 acre lots allowed out of the 500 acres.


1692 .- A warrant to John Worlidge to survey for Benjamin Clark, son and heir of Thomas Clark, deceased, beginning by and joining Thomas Hutchinson's land, near Gravelly Run or Stoe Creek, and make a return to me, at my office in Salem, within three months. Subscribed, James Nevell.


18th of 1st month, 1712 .- An order from James Logan to Benjamin Acton, to survey 150 acres of marsh for William Hall, adjoining his plantation. The land formerly belonged to Michael Barron, for which William Hall pays £25 clear of quit rents.


18th of 1st month, 1713 .- An order from James Logan to Benjamin Acton to divide the 500 acres formerly granted to Michael Barron, into several parcels, to William Hall 100, to John Smith 100, to Joseph Gregory 100, to Abraham Vanhest 200 acres, the said 500 acres having never been confirmed to Michael Barron, the several persons before mentioned, who all derive a right from him are now to pay respectively £25 of current money per hundred acres, excepting William Hall, to whom £5 are abated clear of quit rent.


The point or neck of land bounded on the west by the Pau- tuxet river, as it was called by the Indians, now known as the Delaware river; on the south by Asamahocking creek, now Sa- lem, was called by the natives Obisquahosit. When John


509


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


Fenwick arrived in this country with his English colony, to take possession of his tenth of West New Jersey, he found a settle- ment of Finns and Swedes, who had emigrated from their fatlı. erland, as early as 1638 or 1640, in company with a number of their countrymen, who had settled on the opposite side of the river, about the mouth of the Christiana, and along the said river, as far as where the city of Philadelphia now is. Many of the Finns and Swedes had purchased their lands of the na- tives and taken deeds from the Indian chiefs, but they early acknowledged that Fenwick was the rightful owner, and had their land re-surveyed and deeded to them. For this they were to pay to the proprietor, or his heirs, certain sums for quit rents, to be paid yearly according to the number of acres each owned. Samuel Hedge, Jr., in 1690, made out a duplicate, or role as he called it, of what each landholder should pay quit rent for that year. The said lands, I presume, were part of the reserved 150,000 acres, made by John Fenwick when he sold his pro- prietory right to William Penn, 1682.


The following are the names of the inhabitants of Penns Neck who paid quit-rents : Matt Neilson, Fopp Neilson, Peter Onson, 1,040 acres, 2s. 1d .; Steven Yearneans, Stacy Hendrick- son, Matthias Spacklesson, 1,040 acres, 3s .; Evick Yearneans, 300 acres, 3d .; John Yearneans, 300 acres, 3d. ; Matt Joanson, 150 acres, 3d .; Andrew Anderson, 150 acres, 3d .; Stacy Cor- neillinson, 250 acres, 5d .; An Hendricks, 150 acres, 3d .; An- drew Seneca (now Sinnickson) 226 acres, 1s .; Hance Shershell, 100 acres, 3d .; Claus Joanson, 100 acres, 3d .; Jones Scoggin, 200 acres, 23 .; Woley Woolson, 200 acres, 20 shad, or 2s .; Roger Pedrick, 140 acres, 1s .; Barce Jacobson, 200 acres, 4s .; Peter Halter, 200 acres, 2s .; A. C. Bronson, 250 acres, 1s .; Jarvis Bywator, 200 acres, 2s. 2d .; Richard Tindall, 230 acres, 3d .; Thomas Waltson 200 acres, 1s. ; James Vickory, 300 acres, 2s. 1d .; Peter Wilkinson, 400 acres, 1s. 1d .; Andorcas Barley- son, 400 acres, 1s .; Richard Marcy, 150 acres, 1s .; Renier Vanhyost, 400 acres, 33 .; John Cullin, 200 acres, 1s. 2d. ; Barn- ard Webb, 250 acres, 2s .; Mary White, 500 acres, 5s; John Perkins, 300 acres, 3s .; George Garrett, 300 acres, 3s.


Lands in Pilesgrove township: Richard Tindall, 195 acres, 1s .; Mary Holman, 2,000 acres, £1; Nicholas Winton, 500 acres, 2d .; John Derickson, 500 acres, 2d .; Thomas Potter, 500 acres, 1s .; Richard Lippincott, 1000 acres, Is. 1d .; William Shotlock, 500 acres, 1s. ; William Worth, 500 acres, 1s. ; Thomas Smith, 250 acres, 1s .; William Jonson, 250 acres, 2s .; Lewis Morris, 1,000 acres, 2s.


510


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


Lands in Alloways Creek subject to quit-rents: Edward Wade, meadow 100 acres, 1s .; John Hancock, 100 acres, 1s .; Thomas Smith, 300 acres, 3d.


Lands at Cohansey : Obadiah Holmes, 4 acres, 1d. ; Anthony Woodhouse, 80 acres, 5d .; Samuel Hunter, 80 acres, 5d .; Rich- ard Tindall, 100 acres, 2s .; John Clark, 16 acres, 2d .; John Clark, 16 acres, 2d .; Alexander Smith, 16 acres, 2d .; Thomas Watson, 16 acres, 2d .; Mark Reeves, 16 acres, 2d .; John Mason, 16 acres, 2d .; Thomas Smith 16 acres, 2d .; William Bacon, 32 acres, 4d .; Joseph Bronson, 16 acres, 2d .; Samuel Bacon, 16 acres, 2d .; John Bacon, 16 acres, 2d .; Edward Hurlbert, 32 acres, 4d .; Job Holmes 22 acres, 4d. ; Joseph Dennis 32 acres, 4d. ; Enoch Moore, 16 acres, 2d .; Francis Alexander, 32 acres, 4d .; Peter Craven, 2 acres, 1d .; Thomas Stuthem, 2 acres, 1d .; Jo seph Bacon, 16 acres, 2d.


The quit-rents of Salem town were as follows: William Mil- ton, 10 acres, 1d .; William Milton, 10 acres, 1d .; Thomas Smith, 6 acres, 1d .; Christopher Saunders, 10 acres, 1d .; Wil- liam Wilkinson, 8 acres, 3d .; C. Lumbley, 10 acres, 1d .; Rich- ard Daniel, 10 acres, 1d .; Joseph White, 10 acres, 1d .; R. John- son, 10 acres, 1d .; Anthony Dixon, 10 acres, 1d .; James Nevil, 20 acres, 3d .; Thomas Woodruff, 10 acres, 1d .; John Harden 16 acres, 1gd .; John Snooks, 10 acres, 1d .; Edward Champ- neys, 10 acres, 1d .; John Rolph, 10 acres, 1d .; William Wilkin- son, 10 acres, 1d .; Thomas Johnson, 10 acres, 1d .; Thomas Woodruff, 17 acres, 12d .; John Snooks, 16 acres, 1}d .; 2d lot of William Wilkinson, 10 acres, 1d .; Joseph Cauloyd's lot, 20 acres, 2d. ; John Worledge, 20 acres, 2d .; Thomas York's lot, 5 acres, 4d .; Eleazer Dovberry, 22 acres, 2d.


It appears the emigrants that came with Fenwick, and a num- ber of others, that did not arrive until two or three years after- wards, who had purchased land of him before he left England, were exempted from paying quit-rents to the proprietor, or his heirs. Such men as Robert Windham, John Pledger, Samuel Nicholson, Isaac Smart, Robert and Edward Wade, James Sher- ron, the two John Smiths, Richard Guy, Christopher White, Edward Bradway, William Hancock, and several others, to- gether with William Penn, who bought sixty acres of the pro- prietor at the same period. The said land was surveyed for him by Richard Hancock, in 1676. It was situated within the precincts of the town of Salem. The reader will perceive by the role of the quit-rents that were collected by Samuel Hedge, about the year 1690, for the heirs of Fenwick, it being eight years after William Penn purchased the so much talked of


.


511


QUIT RENTS AND WARRANTS.


twelve mile circle of land and water of James, the Duke of York. There is no reliable evidence that William Penn ever attempted to claim any lands in West New Jersey except by purchase of the Jersey proprietors. It would be derogatory to his great name to think otherwise.


SURVEYORS.


Names of the most eminent surveyors in Fenwick Colony from the time of the first English settlement :


Richard Noble was the first surveyor appointed by the pro- prietor. It appears by the most reliable record that he died a short time afterwards. Richard Hancock succeeded him. He surveyed large tracts of land for different individuals, but owing to his incompetency John Fenwick, in 1680, removed him, and appointed Richard Tyndell as surveyor-general of the province and John Worlidge as deputy-surveyor. After the death of John Fenwick (which event took place in the autumn of 1683) they were continued in office by his executors; and James Nevell, of Salem, was appointed by William Penn as his agent to dispose of his lands in the Salem Tenth. Nevell employed Richard Tyndell and John Worlidge to do the surveying, like- wise to re-survey large tracts of lands that had previously been surveyed by Richard Hancock. After the death of Tyndell and Worlidge, which took place in the early part of last cen- tury, Benjamin Acton was the principal surveyor in the colony ; likewise was appointed by James Logan, agent of William Penn and heirs, to survey large tracts of land that remained unsold within the Salem Tenth. Joseph Miller, and his son, Ebenezer Miller, who had recently come from the state of Connecticut, settled at the town of Greenwich, in North Cohansey precinct, were both land surveyors. Joseph, however, died in a short time afterwards. His son, Ebenezer, became eminent in his calling and did an extensive business in surveying, both in Sa- lem and Cumberland counties. He died at Greenwich in 1774, aged 72 years, leaving a large family of children.


Thomas Miles, of Penn's Neck, was an eminent surveyor, and became conspicuous as such as early as 1725. He also did con- siderable surveying for the heirs of Penn, lands lying within the bounds of Penn's Neck, Mannington, and the lower part of Gloucester county. It is probable he died about 1760. I have not seen any of his publie acts as surveyor after that time.


George Trenchard, Sr., by tradition, came from East Jersey,


513


SURVEYORS.


and settled in the township of Alloways Creek, in this county, as early as 1725. He soon became an active and useful man ; was assessor for the Monmouth precinct for some years, and did a large amount of surveying throughout Salem and Cum- berland counties. In regard to his penmanship it has seldom been equalled in this section of country. He left children- his son George Trenchard, Jr., married a daughter of Andrew Sinnickson, of Penn's Neck; he and his wife resided in that township. Their daughter married James Kinsey. James Trenchard, the surveyor, residing at Bridgeton at this time, is a lineal descendant of George Trenchard, Sr.


Elnathan Davis, of Shiloh, was considered in his time the *" Captain General of the public surveyors," both in Cumber- land and Salem counties. He did a large amount of surveying, not only in his own county, but in all West Jersey. It was done so accurately that it was seldom or ever doubted by future surveyors. He left three sons-Jedediah, Jeremiah, and Ebe- nezer Davis, all three of whom were practical surveyors. After the death of the Davises they were succeeded by Hosea Moore, who was the leading practical surveyor of Cumberland county.


William White was born at Pilesgrove about the year 1751. He became an eminent surveyor in Salem county, particularly in the upper part, and the lower section of Gloucester. During the great land trial some fifty or sixty years ago, he was gener- ally subpoenaed to attend the courts at Salem to point out the different lines laid down on the maps, showing conclusively that the courts had full confidence in his practical abilities as a sur- veyor. That peculiar talent in that branch of mathematics, it seems, was transmitted to some of his descendants. His son, Samuel White, was a surveyor, as was also his grandson, the late William Haines, of Gloucester county. The latter was considered in his native county a very good mathematician and surveyor. His son, Job Haines, has now taken his place. Jo- siah Harrison, late of the town of Salem, was a lawyer, but during a part of his life he did a large business in surveying. Edward, the son of John and Temperance Keasbey Smith, was a public surveyor in Salem county for a number of years. He afterwards removed with his family to one of the western States, and was succeeded soon after by Joseph E. Brown, who soon became conspicuous in the profession. The maps of his surveys are considered by the best judges to be equal if not superior to any of his predecessors. His health, however, declined, and


*So styled by the late venerable Josiah Harrison, Esq., of Salem. 65


-


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SURVEYORS.


John N. Cooper, of Salem, took his place. He has done a large amount of business in that line for a number of years. He was employed about eight years ago as one of the Com- missioners, and also surveyor, to survey all the meadows and low lands above John Denn's canal, up to the head tide waters of Salem creek, for the purpose of taxing the same to defray the expense of cutting the canal. There was included in the survey seven or eight thousand acres. His map of the meadow and the several courses and distances of Salem creek, from the before men- tioned Denn's canal, in accuracy and workmanship (as deposited in the Clerk's office) is of a superior order. Belford M. Bonham, of Cumberland, has a mathematical talent of a superior order. He commeneed as a public surveyor in early life ; his surveying has been very extensive, not only in his native county, but also in Salem; and has frequently been called on in difficult cases in other sections of the State, the publie having confidence in his accuracy, particularly so in running ancient lines, he having in his possession most of the surveys of the renowned Elnathan Davis, that alone giving him a great advantage in his line of business. The late Ellis Ayares, who resided in Upper Alloways Creek, did quite a considerable business as surveyor for several years. George R. Morrison, son of the late William Morrison, resides at Salem and does an extensive business in surveying. He, in early life, manifested a mathematical turn of mind, which he inherited from his grandfather, on his moth- er's side, the late Dalymore Harris, of Hancock's Bridge, who had also been a surveyor. I have been informed by those that knew him when young that his memory was so reliable that when surveying small tracts of land he made no field notes.




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