USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 13
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 13
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His first wife, Frances, must have died before fifth month 30, 1688, as on that day he and Margaret Denn declared their intention of marriage, and one month later the meeting "left them to accomplish their purpose." Again, third month 10, 1692, he laid before the meeting his intention of marrying Susannah, daughter of Robert Ashton, of New Castle, then in the province of Pennsylvania, now State of Delaware; and in 1693 he married Martha Farin, the wealthy widow of Simon Charles Farm, of North- ampton, in the county of Burlington.
He called himself "felt-maker," from his business in England, but his designation in all legal documents was "Gentleman," except where his official titles were used. In the Society of Friends from 1677 to 1624 he was frequently committeeman, trustce, and deie- gate to conventions at Newton and Philadelphia.
He was one of the signers of the "Grants and Con- cessions," and at an early period was president of the Board of Proprietors. From 1682 to 1685 be was a representative of the General Free Assembly of the province, and also a justice for Salem. In 1685 he was commissioner for laying out highways, and also a representative for Salem Tenth. In 1696 he became king's attorney, and in 1701 provincial judge. The last position was one of considerable honor.
George Deacon was one of the counselors of Lord Cornbury and Gen. Hunter while Governors of the province. He died in 1725, and was buried in Friends' ground at Burlington, he having removed from Salem County to Northampton township about 1704. His widow, Martha, was left with four children and a large estate. Many relics still exist of this old pio- neer. His transactions prove him to have been an upright, intelligent, and frec-minded " Quaker."
DEACON .- George Deacon, born in the latter part of the sixteenth century, of a family of Church Walt- ham, in the county of Essex, England, is supposed to have been a lineal descendant of Walter, the Deacon, a follower of William the Conqueror. In the distri- John, second son of George and Martha Deacon, bution of lands in the Domesday Book Walter is , born in 1698, married Esther, granddaughter of Daniel Wills, physician, of London. From this union many large families, such as Wetherill, Ridgway, Gummere, etc., trace lines.
William, seventh child of John and Esther Deacon, married Elizabeth Rogers, granddaughter of Revell Elton.
Daniel, fourth child of William and Elizabeth Dea- con, married Martha Ridgway, danghter of Joseph and Prudence Borton.
Daniel, late of Bordentown, second son of Daniel and Martha Deacon, married Beulah Haines Wool-
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HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
ston. Their eldest son is Henry W. Deacon, of Bor- dentown.
Jolin Deacon, of Bordentown, who married Debo- rah Anna Woodworth; William Deacon. late hus- band of Caroline Deacon, of Bordentown; Elizabeth, wife of Jolin Woolston, and mother of Martha Vir- ginia Hilliard, of Bordentown, are also children of Daniel and Martha Deacon.
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Mrs. Caroline Deacon, widow of William, is de- seended from two of our wealthiest and most respected old families. Her father, Capt. Jacob Ridgway, was the nephew of Jacob Ridgway, the rival millionaire of Stephen Girard, and was consequently first cousin of Madame Roehe and the wife of Dr. Rush, of Phil- adelphia. Her mother was a Coates.
Mrs. Martha Virginia Hilliard, wife of Dr. William H. I. Hilliard, and Henry Woolstan Deacon, all of Bordentown, are the deseendants of John Woolstan, born 1640, a man of high consideration and useful- ness, whose first wife, their progenitor, was the sister of Governor Thomas Ollive. His second wife, whom he married in 1681, was Hannah, only daughter of William and Hannah Cooper, of Coleshill, in the parish of Amershaw, Hertfordshire, England, who moved from Burlington to Cooper's Creek, Camden, about 1682.
Jolin Woolstan, son of John, married Lettiee New- bold in 1683. This John's son John was the ancestor of Mrs. Hilliard; his son Samuel was her aneestor also, and that of H. W. Deacon. This Samuel mar- ried Susannah Budd, granddaughter of William Budd, brother of Thomas, the historian.
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Samuel, son of Samuel and Susannah, married his cousin, Cyllania Woolstan.
Samuel, son of Samuel and Cyllania Woolstan, married Hannah, daughter of Robert Haines.
Bulah Haines Deacon, widow of Daniel, is a daugh- ter of Samuel and Hannah.
"Constitution." and in the West Indies captured two British armed vessels. During his second cruise in the "Constitution," on the 15th of February, 1815, he fell in with the British ships "Cyane" and " Le- vant." Reducing sail to fighting trim, he gradually luffed to starboard and ranged along the windward side of the sternmost ship until he reached the de- sired position, which was at the apex of the equilateral triangle, the British ships forming the base line. The "Constitution" maintained the same position through- out the fight, as a nearer approach would have thrown one of the ships out of the line of fire, and exposed her to being raked. The battle continued for about forty minutes, the "Constitution" raking both her opponents, taeking and filling in the smoke, and forcing her antagonists down to leeward when they were endeavoring to cross her stern or forefoot. The "Cyane" was the first to strike hier flag. The " Le- vant" attempted to escape. Being overtaken by the "Constitution," the two ships exchanged broadsides, and she too hauled down her flag. The Americans had three killed and twelve wounded, three of the latter mortally. The "Cyane" lost twelve killed and twenty-six wounded, the " Levant" twenty-three killed and sixteen wounded, total British casualties seventy- seven.
Capt. Stewart proceeded with his prizes to Port Praya, in the island of St. Jago. The next day a heavy British squadron, under Sir George Collier, was discovered approaching. Stewart, although in a neu- tral port, instantly recognized the danger of liis posi- tion. Beating to quarters, eutting the eable, and making all sail. he stretched out of the harbor to windward of the enemy's fleet, followed by the two prizes. The British fleet followed immediately in pursuit. Stewart signaled the "Cyane" to separate from him, which she did, and arrived safe in New York. Being hard pressed, the "Levant" was sig- naled to separate, but she was foreed into the harbor of Port Praya, from which she was taken by the British, not the slightest attempt being made by the forts to preserve the neutrality of their waters invio- late. Stewart, in the "Constitution," returned to Boston, and the news of this remarkable victory was received with enthusiasm throughout the country.
REAR-ADMIRAL CHARLES STEWART was born in Philadelphia, July 28, 1778, of Irish parents. At the age of thirteen he began his oeean life as a eabin- boy. Before he was twenty years of age he rose to the command of an Indiaman. This at that time in Ameriea was the height of a sailor's ambition. But the inspirations of glory penetrated young Stewart's soul, and he sought to enter our country's serviee. The war having terminated with Great Britain, Capt. Stewart never again met the enemy in battle, yet his aetive career of usefulness in the service of his eountry was not ended. Intrusted with impor- tant commands, he discharged his duty faithfully and to the satisfaction of his government. During the war of the South American Republics for independ- ence, by his address he raised the paper blockade of the whole eoast, and by his prompt action he >up- pressed the depredations of the almost piratical Spanish bueeaneers .upon our commerce. In ISS> the Democracy of Pennsylvania sought to bring ont the connnodore as a candidate for the Presideney. In 1798 he was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States navy. In 1800 he was assigned to the command of the sehooner " Experiment," of fourteen guns, and while eruising in the West Indies, after a smart action, captured the French sehooner " Diana.' Soon after, at night, he captured the privateer " Ber- muda," of eight guns. In 1802, in command of the "Siren," of sixteen guns, Stewart rendered important : and gallant serviee off the coast of Barbary, and upon his return home was promoted to the rank of master commandant. In 1806 he was made a post-captain, then and for many years the highest rank in our ser- viee. In 1813 Stewart sailed from Boston in frigate ! An earnest and formidable movement was made in
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BORDENTOWN.
this direction in 1841, but the fates and the old foxes were against him. His commission as rear-admiral, the first sent out under the new law, bears date July 16, 1862. On a high blutf of the Delaware, just below
its grand hall and staircase; its great dining-rooms, art gallery, and library ; its pillars and marble man- tels, covered with senlpture of marvelous workman- ship; its statues, busts, and paintings of rare merit ; Bordentown, is the old country-seat of Admiral Stew- ' its heavy chandeliers; and its hangings and tapestry, art, called by him " Montpellier," but now generally known as "Ironsides." Before Stewart purchased it, in 1816, it belonged to François Frederici, "General of Surinam," who settled there some eighty-five years ago.
His death took place on the afternoon of Nov. 6, 1869, he being in the ninety-second year of his age. Bordentown did reverence to the departed hero, watching with sadness the vessel which bore his body to its resting-place by the Schuylkill River. Admiral Stewart married Delia Tudor, daughter of Judge Tudor, of Boston. He left two children,-Delia Tudor and Charles Tudor Stewart. Delia married John Henry Parnell. Their son, Charles Stewart Parnell, is the leader of the Irish Home Rule party in the British Parliament. His widowed mother now owns the old homestead, and resides at Bordentown .. Miss Fanny Parnell, the leader of the Irish Home League in America, who lately died, was her daughter.
BONAPARTE'S PARK AND THE MURATS .- The emi- gration to this country of Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of the great Napoleon, who possessed sue- cessively the erowns of Naples and Spain, his long, contented, and munificent residence among us, and the esteem entertained by all who formed his aequaint- anee eannot fail to prove a subject of deep interest to all, and to awaken curiosity for a long time to come. ! The emperor, unrolling a map of the United States in the presence of Joseph, placed his finger upon a spot in New Jersey, and said in substance, "If I am ever forced to fly to America I shall settle somewhere be- tween Philadelphia and New York, where I can re- ceive the earliest intelligence from France by ships arriving at either port." In 1816, Pennsylvania re- fused and New Jersey gave permission to Joseph, Count de Survilliers, to hold real estate without be- coming naturalized. The same year Dr. William Burns, of Bordentown, was accosted in French by two gentlemen riding in a elose carriage. They made inquiries as to what land was for sale in the neighbor- hood. The strangers were Joseph Bonaparte and James Carret, and their visit resulted in the purchase of Point Breeze, subsequently known as Bonaparte Park. The count's real estate in America consisted of ten farms on the border of Crosswicks Creek, ex- tending up to opposite the village of Groveville, and the park near Bordentown of about one thousand aeres. The park was at once improved by the erection of numerous stately buildings, the laying out of several miles of carriage drives, and the planting of many trees. This building was destroyed by fire on the 3d of January, 1820. Many paintings and sculptures : crown and ring he wore when king of Spain, also of rare merit were destroyed. A new house of brick, covered with white plaster, was soon built. It had
' fringed with gold and silver. With the large and finely-earved fokling-doors of the entrance, and the 1 liveried servants and attendants, it had the air of the residence of a distinguished foreigner. A fine lawn stretched on the front, and a large garden of rare flowers and plants, interspersed with fountains and chiseled animals, in the rear. A broad lagoon sepa- rated the point from the wood-erowned height at the western extremity of the park. Through this the creek ebbed and flowed as far as the Trenton road, where it was fed by a little brook. The count threw an arch over the stream, and built an embankment at the lower end of the lagoon, separating it from the ereek. This formed a picturesque lake, some two hundred yards broad and nearly half a mile long. On the bank of this lake Joseph built a large white house, known as the Lake House, the residence of' Prince Charles and his wife Zenaide. An underground passage from the count's mansion to the lake came out at a point where the bluff rose but a few feet above the water-level. There the end wall, overhung by a broad stone arch, was piereed with three entrances, one leading to the first floor of the house, another to the cellar, a third to an adjoining iee-house. From the mouth of the tunnel a covered walk, faced with lattice-work, ran along the side of the bluff, and thence to the door of the lake-house. Through this Prince Charles and Zenaide made their daily trips to the dining hall without annoyance from the weather. It was also intended as a shelter for boating parties caught out in summer showers. The gossips of the village whispered that the exiled king lived in eon- stant fear of abduction by British or Spanish spies, and had built a system of labyrinthine passages with many iron doors for coneealment in the hour of dan- ger. There were scattered about other dwellings and out-houses, and beyond was an inclosure well stocked with deer. Around were thousands of forest-trees arching over the drives and bridle-paths, filling the ravines with dark dense foliage, and sheltering the hillside down to the border of the creek.
Joseph's mansion was elegantly furnished, and con- tained many rare paintings and sculpture. The jewels, which had been saved, were guarded with great care. Few visitors were admitted to the room where they were concealed. In " A Sketch of Joseph Bonaparte," by Miss Helen Berkeley, she wrote as follows : "Several elusters looked like jeweled handles of swords, others like portions of crowns, rudely broken off, others still like lids of small boxes ; many were ornaments entire. He (Joseph! showed u- the the erown, robe, and jewels in which Napoleon was erowned. When our eyes had been sufficiently
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HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
dazzled with the display of diamonds and emeralds, he touched another concealed spring, which gave to view another set of drawers, and displayed to ns many of Napoleon's valuable papers. His treaties and let- ters were carefully bound round with ribbons and fastened with jeweled elasps." The count admitted them through a seeret door to his sleeping apartment. " The curtains, canopy, and furniture were of light- blue satin, trimmed with silver. Every room con- tained a mirror, reaching from the ceiling to the floor. . . . The walls were covered with oil paintings, prin- cipally of young females. . . . The count next con- ducted us to his winter suite of apartments. They were much in the style of his summer ones, except that the furniture was in erinison and gold."
The count was a great benefit to Bordentown, and gave the first great impulse to the place. He was very kind to the citizens, and allowed them all the privileges of his park, and in winter of the lake. When the skating was fine, he and his household would come down to the shore to see the sport, and it was one of his greatest pleasures to roll apples and oranges over the iee to see the skaters seamper after them. The count hospitably entertained all who visited the park. Lafayette, Moreau, Bernard, Web- ster, Adams, Clay, Seott, Stewart, and many other distinguished foreigners and Amerieans were enter- tained by him. Joseph's household consisted of Prince Charles and Zenaide, France' La Coste, Mme. La Coste, William Thibaud, and M. Louis Mailliard. In 1839, Joseph left America never to re- turn. He died at Florence, July 28, 1844, aged sev- enty-six years.
Napoleon François Lucien Charles, our Prince Murat, lived for a time near Columbus, and then on a farm near the park. Afterwards he lived in a row of houses on Park Street, near Second. He was a wild blade, and, although capable of putting on the manners of a polished gentlemen, he generally pre- ferred the society and rough manners of the bar- rooms. He was always ready for a game of cards, no matter with whom, would borrow a shilling from a negro, and give the boy who held his horse a half- eagle, if he had one. He married Miss Caroline Georgina Fraser, an accomplished and beautiful young lady of Bordentown. Having squandered his own fortune, he in due time spent that of his wife and her sisters. His ever-faithful wife then opened a boarding-school for young ladies, which proved a per- fect success. The revolution in France of 1848, proved a godsend to Murat. After the coup d'etat he was appointed a senator of France. His cousin Napoleon III. made him a prince, paid off his debts, and bestowed large sums of money on him. After Sedan, and the restoration of the republic in France, he crossed to England, where, in April, 1878, at the age of seventy-five, he died.
CHAPTER XLIII.
WESTAMPTON TOWNSHIP.1
Geographical and Descriptive .- This is one of the several interior townships of the county, and was named Westampton, in contradistinction to the town- ship from which it was taken, viz. : Northampton.
Its organization dates March 6, 1850, and in the early part of 1880 it was reduced in area by an aet of the Legislature, which formed from this township the township of Eastampton. The township is bounded on the northeast by Springfield, on the southeast by Eastampton and Northampton, on the south by North- ampton and Lumberton, on the southwest by Mount Laurel, on the west by Willingboro', and on the north by Burlington township.
Natural Features .- The surface of this township is sufficiently undulating to admit of drainage proper for successful cultivation of the soil, which is mostly of a sandy loam, with a elay subsoil, with the clay eropping out in several places, and of sufficient quan- tity and of the best quality for briek-making purposes.
The north branch of the Raneocas Creek flows along the south side of the township, from Mount Hoily to the southwest corner of the township, with its small tributaries draining that portion of the town- ship, while tributaries of the Assanpink drain the northeast part. The soil is very fertile under the present system of agriculture, and returns large profits for the money invested.
Early Settlers and Pioneer Incidents .- This township being a part of old Northampton, and bor- dering on Burlington township, would naturally be settled soon after the landing of the pioneers of old Burlington, which was actually the case, as we find by reference to the writings of the late Charles Stokes that Daniel Wills, if not the first, was one of the few pioneers that located in what is now Westampton township.
Daniel Wills located five hundred acres of land on the north side of Raneocas River, and having enii- grated from Northampton, in England, and being conspicuous in the early settlement as commissioner to locate land, as one of the Governor's Couneil, it is thought he contributed to give the name to North- ampton township, where he lived, and the river upon which he located, the latter being for many years known as "Northampton River." About 1698 he went to Barbadoes to look after the estate of his de- ceased brother William, where he died, and was interred in the Friends' burial- grounds on that island.
The oldest son, James, married Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of William Cooper, of Pyne Point. John Wills, another son, settled on Rancocas Creek, on the location before named, and had eleven children. John and James, two of his sons, settled in the northern
1 By W. H. Shaw.
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WESTAMPTON TOWNSHIP.
part of this State; Hope married Freedom Lippin- cott, Jane married Samuel Eves, Elizabeth married Samuel Lippineott, Ann married Jonathan Ladd, Sarah married Joshua Lord, Rebecca married Wil- liam Tomlinson, and Mary, who also married, but to whom it is not known. Daniel, another son of John, is the person through whom the Wills who reside on the original location on the Rancocas trace their lineage, being the sixth generation in the name, and the land transferred but once by decd.
Thomas Harding located two hundred and fifty acres of land on the north side of the Rancocas River. He was conspicuous as a Friend, was imprisoned in England for his religion, and the first meeting estab- lished at Rancocas for worship was held at his house. There is no account of the family he left. After his decease his executor, John Wills, sold his farm to John Stokes, son of Thomas Stokes, this being the only deed for a large part of the farm to the present day, it having descended by will from father to son.
John Paine located two hundred acres on the north side of the Rancocas for Thomas Green, between lands of Daniel Wills and Thomas Harding, which was first settled by John Stokes, whose wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Green, and where a son of Thomas afterwards owned and resided.
Adjoining Daniel Wills' survey of five hundred acres on the Rancocas River and up the river, or easterly, John Borton located one hundred and twenty-five acres. John Woolman located one hun- dred and fifty acres adjoining. Walter Humphreys located about four hundred acres, and Barnard Dev- onish located four hundred acres, and John Stokes, an English proprietor who never came to this coun- try, located one hundred and fifty acres, conveyed to and settled by Thomas Stokes, his brother, and the common ancestors of the Stokes family. Thomas Gardner also located two hundred and twenty-nine acres, and then another location not known; and then Anthony Elton, who adjoins Gardner's survey, but the dimensions of Elton's is not known.
Adjoining Anthony Elton, and about forty chains from the creek easterly, Walter. Clark and Anthony Cook located one thousand acres; and adjoining Clark and Cook on the north Samuel Jennings located a survey; to the east of Clark and Cook, and extending partly to the north branch of Rancocas River, a sur- vey of five hundred acres was taken up for Mary Per- kins. Easterly and southeasterly of Mary Perkins' survey, and bounding on the north branch of Ranco- cas, Richard Fenimore located ninety acres. In the same direction, but not extending to the Rancocas, Lawrence Morris located fifty acres, and easterly of the two last-named surveys John Cripps took up his Mount Holly survey.
Civil Organization .- This township was formed by " Act of Assembly," March 6, 1850, from the township of Northampton. The act defining the boundaries is as follows :
"Beginning at bridge across Rancocas Creek in line of Willingboro' township; thence up said creek to the forks thereof; thence un the north brauch thereof to a stake at place called Cox Landing : thence north 25º east until it intersects Mount Holly ou Lane road (so called ;; thence np the middle of said road to a lane leading to Moumouth road; thence southi 6º 36' east to a stone in line of Northampton and Southampton : thence along the division liue between said two townships to the middle of the road from Shreveville (now Smithville) to Jacksonville; thence along said road to liue dividing townships of Northampton and Spring- field; tbence down the Springfield and Burlingtown townships lines to the line of Willingboro' township; thence along said line to the place of beginning."
The above boundary includes also the township of Eastampton, which was taken from this township in 1880 by act of the Assembly, which see.
The following is a copy of the proceedings of the first township election :
" At an annual Town meeting of the inhabitants of Westampton, Bur- lington County, State of New Jersey, held at Pine Grove School-house, Tuesday, 12th of 34 mo., 1850, to elect Justice of the Peace, and other township officers to serve for the ensuing year.
" William Clothier elected clerk pro tem.
" Philip Bowne judge of election pro tem.
" At 8 o'clock the poll was opened to elect justice of the peace, time appointed by law.
" Ballot box furuished by Philip Bowne. At 11 o'clock P.M. the meet- ing was called to order by the presiding clerk, Mr. Clothier, Levi H. Rogers elected moderator.
" Resolved, That each Dog should be taxed 30 cents. and Bitches $3.00.
" Resolved, That all moneys to be raised for all purposes should be left to the township committee, and how said money shall be disbursed. " Resolved, That the surplus fund to be appropriated to school pur- poses.
" Resolved, That the next annual election be held at Samuel Parker, Turpentine.
" Resolred, That at the next annual Town meeting that the pole open at 2 o'clock P.M.
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