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 17
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 17
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
-
514
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
city of Burlington on a line across the township of rapid completion. It was well made, has always been Willingbrough to the pier bridge over the Rancocas well kept, and from the improved and beautified con- dition of the country through which it passes, teem- ing with fruitful fields and handsome residences, attractive out-buildings and beautiful lawns, it is the most popular drive in the county. River. This turnpike was built and worked for sev- eral years, but owing to the distant location of good gravel and for other expensive causes the turnpike was abandoned and the charter given up.
Centreton Turnpike Company .- On Feb. 26, 1855, the Legislature of New Jersey passed a law entitled " An Act to Incorporate the Centreton Turnpike Company."
In Section 1 of said act appear the names of Ezra Haines, Daniel Wills, John C. Broome, John Borton, . selves as good citizens and successful farmers, and Joseph Hollingshead, George MI. Kelley, Henry War- . contributed most to the improved condition of the wick, Amos Cox, Charles Johnson, William H. Rog- agricultural section of the river end of the township. ers, Elton Rogers, Samuel J. Wills, Abraham W. Engle, Joseph Hilton, William Brown, Chalkley Stokes, and Charles Stokes, individuals who were prominently identified with the origin of said com- pany. Charles Stokes served the company as presi- dent to the time of his death, the 27th of the 2d mo., ยท 1882.
Section 2 of said act further says the roadway ex- tends "along the road leading from Centreton through the farm of Joseph Hollingshead and others, from a stake in said road in the village of Centreton, to its . junction with the Mount Holly and Moorestown turn- pike, and also along the road from its junction with the Centreton and Moorestown road aforesaid, in the said village of Centreton, to where it crosses the Mount Holly and Moorestown turnpike aforesaid at Five Points," which description sets forth the juris- diction of the original charter of the company.
On March 5, 1857, the Legislature aforesaid passed a law entitled " A Supplement to the Act entitled An Aet to Incorporate the Centreton Turnpike Company." Section 1 of said supplement reads as follows, viz. : : of business life. " The directors of the Centreton Turnpike Company shall have power to build a turnpike road along the road leading from the Mount Holly and Beverly turn- pike road in the village of Rancocas to a stake in said road five feet north of the abutment of Centreton bridge," which is now the township line between Willingborough and Westhampton townships, under the same rights and privileges set forth in the original charter.
. has been splendidly kept, and from its central loca- tion it contributes much to the attractions of Bur- lington County. Albert and Richard Hansell, of Willingborough, are prominently identificd with the company and its successful management.
Prominent Families of Willingborough Town- ship .- Among the prominent families in the lower end of old Willingborough in 1858 were the Perkinses, Marters, Fenimores, Vanscivers, Heislers, Joneses, Weigands, and Adamses. They distingnished them-
The Perkinses trace their ancestry to William Per- kins, who sailed for America with the first commis- sioners in the ship " Kent," Gregory Marlow, master, in 1677. Smith, the early historian, in speaking of him says, " Perkins was early in life convinced of the principles of Friends, called Quakers, and lived well in Leicestershire, but seeing an acconnt of the country wrote by Richard Hartshorne, and forming views of advantage to his family. tho' in his 52nd year, he, with his wife, four children, and some servants, em- barked in the ship. Among the latter was a one Marshall, a carpenter. particularly servicible in fitting up habitations for the new-comers." William, the head of the family, died on shipboard; Mary, his widow, located five hundred acres of land adjoining John Cripps' and R. Fenimore's surveys at Mount Holly. Here tradition says the children grew to ma- turity, and afterwards settled in old Willingborough township, with which section they have been identi- fied from its earliest history, having distinguished themselves in most of the active and honorable walks
Jacob Perkins, a direct descendant of William, and of the fourth generation, distinguished himself as an officer in the Revolutionary war, or war of the colo- nics, in the service of West New Jersey. He bore the rank of major. His name is prominent in the historical records entitled " The New Jersey Officers in the American Revolution," and " Minutes of the Council of Safety of New Jersey in 1777.".
Abraham Perkins, a direct descendant of Maj. Per- kins, distingnished himself in public life. He was an
William Parry did the civil engineering. The company built the road in a finished manner. It . intelligent and popular man, and enjoyed the reputa- tion of being a sure candidate for election. He was a Jeffersonian-Jackson Democrat in principle, and was never known to suffer a defeat at the polls. He was elected the first mayor of the city of Beverly. IIe was elected city treasurer for nine successive years. He served his county for four years in the board of freeholders, and represented his district in the Legis- lature of the State during the sessions of 1870 and 1871. He married Anu Vansciver, and had -even children, namely, Dr. Jacob, Henry, William, Martha, Sarah, and Harriet. Dr. Jacob Perkins resides in the
Burlington and Beverly Turnpike Company .- On the 16th of March, 1858, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the " Burlington and Beverly Turn- pike Company," the road-bed running in a course parallel with and near the Delaware River from a point in the Burlington and Willington turnpike to the city of Beverly. This turnpike was pushed to i city of Beverly ; when a young man he distinguished
515
WILLING BOROUGH TOWNSHIP.
himself in the war of the Rebellion. He entered the United States service as first lientenant in Company G, Twenty-third New Jersey Regiment. from which position he was promoted and made the adjutant of ; jointly build a house to be used and maintained as the regiment. On his return from the war he com- menced the practice of dentistry in Philadelphia, and is now prominent in the profession and is a valuable
and useful man in his home neighborhood. He married Margaret Brown, and has six children, namely, Jacob Louis, . A. Rittner, J. Ridgway, Naphy, Margaret Harriet, and Julia, who married Hillyard Stokes.
The Fenimores have been a prominent family in old Willingborough. The name of John W. Feni- more, deceased, is prominent in the history of the township, county, and State. He was active in the official proceedings of the township, was high sheriff and judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county, which last position he occupied at the time of his death. He was elected three times to the State Legislature, which body he served as Speaker. He did much other public business; was intrusted with the settlement of many estates, and always enjoyed the confidence of the business public. His son, Charles R. Fenimore, succeeds him as a valuable and useful man in the neighborhood.
The Adamses have been identified with the town- ship from a very early date ; they are the descendants of John Adams, who sailed from London in the ship . Stokes; in 1821, '22, and 23; Benjamin E. Ridgway "Griffin," in 1675, in company with John Fenwick and others, and first settled at Salem. Adams being ^a young man afterwards married one of Fenwick's daughters, from which union descend the Adamses of New Jersey.
The descendants of Charles Marter, whose name stands prominent in the past, are fine men, both mentally and physically. They are good farmers, attended well to business, and have been successful. They are among the prominent families of the pres- ent township of Beverly. They own much of the land, and occupy highly improved farms. E. Budd Marter and Edward Marter both have distinguished themselves in public life.
George, John, Peter, and Marcus Heisler were the heads of the present Heisler families in Beverly and Willingborough. Their descendants are among the industrious and good citizens of the township. The old families of Willingborough are not remarkable only for their industry and stability, but also for their physical development. With few exceptions, all are noble specimens of physical men.
expenses of their children's education. The lot of i itself was of no use for school purposes; therefore the educational authorities proposed to the township to
common property, the township to use it for govern- mental purposes, and the public for educational, which custom has been harmoniously observed to the present day.
In this rickety old school-house did our forefathers meet from the early settlement of the township to discharge their official duties as good citizens. In looking back since 1808 for the names of those who ; have served the township as officers, we see that Ben- jamin E. Ridgway served the township as clerk from 1808 to 1817; Joseph White, during 1818; Charles Stokes, from 1819 to 1843; Daniel Buzby, from 1844 to 1847; Joshua R. Moore, from 1848 to 1851 ; Jacob A. Vanseiver, from 1852 to 1853; John P. MIcElroy, during 1854; Daniel Buzby, from 1855 to 1857; and John P. MeElroy, during 1858.
From the early records of the township, it appears that previous to 1852 the township elected annually two freeholders.
In 1809, '10, '11, '12, and '13, Robert Lucas and Isaac Perkins were elected ; in 1814, '15, '16, '17, and '18, Benjamin E. Ridgway and Isaac Perkins were elected; in 1819, Benjamin E. Ridgway and Joseph Watson; in 1820, Benjamin E. Ridgway and Israel
and Isaac Perkins ; in 1824, Benjamin E. Ridgway and Richard Fenimore ; in 1825, Benjamin E. Ridgway and Paul Wilmerton; in 1826, Isaac Perkins and Israel Stokes; in 1827 and '28, Amos Buzby and Charles Stokes; in 1829 and '30, John W. Fenimore and Charles Stokes; in 1831, '32, and '33, Benjamin Ridgway and Charles Stokes ; in 1844, Charles Stokes and John W. Fenimore; in 1845, John Borton, Jr., and John W. Fenimore; in 1846, John W. Feni- more and Isaac P. Fenimore; in 1847, John E. Brown and Isaac P. Fenimore ; in 1848 and '49, Jer- vis S. Smith and Isaac P. Fenimore ; in 1850, Isaac P. Fenimore and Robert W. Haines; in 1851, Ben- jamin Buzby and Isaac P. Fenimore; in 1852, Rich- ard F. Wilmerton; in 1853 and '54, Paul Jones; in 1855, John Packer; in 1856, Samuel C. Deacon; in 1857 and '58, Isaac P. Fenimore.
About this time occurred the most important change in the history of Willingborough township. Prior to the building of the towns on the Delaware River, the township was almost entirely peopled with agriculturists. In 1858 Philadelphians and other strangers formed a majority of the inhabitants, and manifested a disposition to control township matters agreeably to their desires and conveniences. The old inhabitants of the township were compelled to sub- mit to indignities as well as injustice. The polls were removed within the limits of the city of Beverly, and the plain and unostentatious citizens who had lived
Civil Organization .- The seat of government of the township of Willingborough was held in a very . ancient structure, an old school-house standing a short distance to the northeast of the present Town - Hall, upon the same lot, one rood of land, which tradition says was conveyed to the publie for school purposes, at an early period before the institution of public schools, when parents individually bore the | iu the township all their lives and their fathers be-
33
516
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
fore them were challenged on presenting their ballots at the polls by upstarts, as they called them, who had lived in the township but a year or two. The inhab- | embarrassing than it afterwards resulted. Charles itants of Beverly, who represented nearly half of the Stokes, who had a copy of the original bill at his home, quietly dispatched a messenger after it. But a short period elapsed before a true copy of the bill was again upon the elerk's table, with no one present to oppose it. It passed both houses the same day, March 1, 1859, was placed in the Governor's hands for his signature in the evening. A copy of the act, viz. : taxable property of the township, in their recent charter had themselves exempted from taxation for the repairs, ete., of roads outside of their eity limits, thus throwing the burden of township expenses upon the farmers, and at the same time divesting them of authority in town-meeting.
Statistics of the Township to 1858 .- In 1808 the number of votes east was 93; in 1812 the number of votes was 96; in 1832, 121 votes ; in 1852, 314, and jn 1858 the number was 403, which shows the rapid increase since the emigration, which began about 1832. In 1858 the value of taxable property in Bev- erly City was $475,630. The value of all the taxable property of the township outside of the city of Bev- erly was 8586,332, which figures show the cause of dissatisfaction on the part of the old residents.
. Division of the Township .- A desire soon began to manifest itself among them for a separation, and at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Willing- borough, held at the town-house on the 2d day of 2d mo., A.D. 1858, pursuant to public notice, Benjamin Ridgway was called to the chair, and Jarrett Stokes appointed seeretary.
The call for the meeting was read, and remarks thereon were made, and the following resolutions were drawn and introduced by Jarrett Stokes. They were read, deliberated upon, and adopted, as follows :
-
" Resolved, That the Inhabitants of the Township of Willingborongh have become too numerous to transact the township business in their corporate capacity at their Annual and other Town Meetings with con- venience and good order, and with proper regard to the interests of the Township.
" Resolved, That it would be for the advantage of all concerned that Willingborongh be divided into two townships, and that the lines of the Cily of Beverly would make a suitable division.
" Resolved, That Pan! Jones, Charles Stokes, Joshua R. Moore, Benja- min Ridgway, and Andrew Manderson be a committee to have charge of the subject, and take all proper measures that an Act be passed by the Legislature of this State for a division of the Township by the lines of the City of Beverly aforesaid."
either lost or stolen ; the opposition also disappeared. The advocates at first considered their position more
" AN Act to diride the township of Willingborough, in the county of Burling- ton, into tico townships.
"WHEREAS. The inhabitants of the township of Willingborough, in the connty of Burlington, have become so numerous that it is imiprac- ticable for them to meet and transact the township business at their annnal and other town-meetings with convenience and good order in one assembly; for remedy whereof,
"1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That the township of Willingborough, in the county of Burling- ton, shall be and the same is hereby divided into two townships in the following manner. that is to say, all that part of the said township sonth of the southerly line of the Burlington and Bridgeborough turnpike road shall constitute and be known as the township of Willingborongh; all that part lying north of the sontherly side of said turnpike road shall constitute and be known as the township of Beverly.
"2. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the township of Willing- borongh are a body politic and corporate in law, and shall be styled and known by the name of ' the inhabitants of the township of Willingbor- onghi, in the county of Burlington,' and shall be entitled to all rights, anthority, privileges and advantages, and subject to the same regula- tious, government, and liabilities as the inhabitants of the other town- ships in the said county of Burlington are or may be entitled or sub- jected to by existing laws of this State.
"3. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the township of Beverly are constituted a body politic and corporate in law, and shall be styled and known by the name of ' the inhabitants of the township of Beverly, in the county of Burlington,' and shall be entitled to all rights, powers, authority, privileges and advantages, and subject to the same regula- tions, government, and liabilities as the in babitants of the other town- ships in said county of Burlington are or may be entitled or subjected to by existing laws of this State.
"4. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the township of Willing- borongh should hold their next annual town-meeting at the town-house in the said township on the second Third day of Third month (March) next.
"5. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the townshin of Beverly shall hold their first town-meeting at the town hall in the city of Bev- erly, in the said township, on the second Third day in the Third month (March) next.
"6. And be it enacted, That the town committee of the townships of Willingborongh and Beverly shall meet on the Second day (Monday) next after the annual town-meeting, in the said townships of Willing- borongh and Beverly, at the town-house, in the township of Willingbor- ough aforesaid, at ten o'clock in the forencon, and then and there pro- ceed by writing, signed by a majority of those present, to allot and di- vide between the said townships all properties and moneys on hand or ! dne in proportion to the taxable property and ratables as taxed by the assessors within their respective limits at the last assessment, and the inhabitants of the township of Willingborongh and the inhabitants of the township of Beverly shall be liable and required to pay their just proportion of the debts, respectively, if any there be, and if any of the persons comprising either of the township committees should neglect or refuse to meet as aforesaid, those assembled may proceed to make the saine division, and the division of a majority of those present shall be final and conchisive."
The committee appointed to the service draughted a bill, took it to Trenton, and had it properly pre- sented to the Legislature. A vigorous opposition to the bill visited Trenton to prevent its passage. John L. Linton was the principal opponent ; he served his constituency faithfully, he labored hard for the with- drawal of the bill. Charles Stokes, Benjamin Ridg- way, William Stokes, Charles Peart, and A. H. Nieh- ols were the active advocates. The bill after its first reading was referred to the proper committee. The opponents and advocates of the bill were heard. The committee fixed the line of division in the middle of Approved March 1, 1859. the Burlington and Bridgeboro' turnpike, and re- According to the fourth and fifth seetions of the above aet, the two townships elected three respective township committees. In compliance with the sixth i section of the aforesaid act, the two township com- ported it back favorably to the House. The bill was placed upon the elerk's table, with many others, to | be taken up in its regular order. In the mean time the bill mysteriously disappeared. It was represented I mittees met in joint session at the town-house, in the
517
WILLINGBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.
township of Willingborough, on the 14th of March, 1849. Present, Charles Stokes, James S. Hansell, and Richard Lundy, on behalf of Willingborongh, and John W. Fenimore and Charles Marter, on be- half of Beverly. John W. Fenimore was chosen chairman, and Silas Warner and John S. Mellroy clerks. In the apportionment of the assets and lia- bilities of the original township, thirty per cent. was apportioned to Willingborough, and seventy per cent. to Beverly. The old records belonging to the town- ship were placed in John W. Fenimore's custody, with directions to deposit them in the county clerk's " office at Mount Holly, to be kept there as common property, that all might have free access to them.
All business of joint character between the town- : ships being satisfactorily concluded, quiet again ex- isted in the township of Willingborough, and town- ship matters assumed their regular course.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
.1859. Silas Waruer. 1871-72. Evan Buzby.
1860-63. Samuel W. Buzby.
1873-74. Lewis C. Wylie.
1864-66. William W. Scattergood.
1875-76. R. Corson Ely.
1867-69. Isaac H. Bishop.
1877-82. Charles Stokes, Jr.
1870. Richard R. Lippincott.
i
ASSESSORS.
1859-60. Joseph Wills.
: 1869-70. Newton A. Perkins.
1861-63. William Rupel.
1871-73. Joseph E. Bishop.
1864-66. Lewis Fish.
1874. Edward R. Vansciver.
1867-68. Charles I. Wills.
1875-82. Joseph E. Bishop.
COLLECTORS.
1859-60. Daniel Buzby. 1870-71. William Rogers.
1861-63. William N. Stockton.
1872. B. Frank Bishop,
1864-66. Joseph Lundy,
1873-75. William W. Scattergood.
1867-69. Benjamin F. Bishop.
1876-82. Joseph Lundy.
FREEHOLDERS.
1859-62. Benjamin Ridgway. 1875-82. Joseph Wills.
1864-66. Jacob A. Vansciver.
-
The names of individuals who have been prominent "in the business affairs of the township, and who have served in the township committec, are Charles Stokes, James S. Hansell, Jarret Stokes, Joseph Rogers, Wil- liam Stokes, Caleb A. Vansciver, Israel L. Stokes, George Wolf, Samuel E. Stokes, Timothy M. Bishop, and Charles Stokes, Jr., James L. Kemble, Isaac F. Bishop, and Howard Wills.
POPULATION,
Population of Williugborough in 1860. 643
1870 .. 750
1875 690
1880 .. 743
Number of polls of Willingborough, 1864 155
1876 166
3
1880.
182
Amount of tax, duplicate for 1860, including polls $727.50
46
1870,
4158.95
.
=
1880,
3252.79
The first special thing to claim the attention of the township was the old town-house. At the town-meet- ing held the 13th day of 3d mo., 1860, the following resolutions were passed :
" Resolved, That the township cominittee of the township of Willing- borough be authorized to join with the Tristees of the Town-house School to build a new or alter and repair the Town-house, as may seem best in their judgment.
" Resolved, That the expenses of Building or Repairing shall be borne part by said Township, and part by said school, each to pay one-half the expense, and that the Township Committee be authorized to order a suf- ficient amount of money to be raised to pay their part of the expense."
Town-House. - Civil war breaking upon the country and heavy taxation attending it, the building of a new town-house was lost sight of until 1866, when Jarrett Stokes, Peter Keen, and Israel L. Stokes, the township committee, moved in the matter and erected the present brick building, at a cost to the township of nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Peter Keen did the carpenter-work, and Henry Haines the mason-work.
Willingborough in the War of 1861-65 .-- When the Rebellion was openly avowed, ordinances of se- cession declared by the Southern States, and after the bombardment of Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861, the loyalty and patriotism of the North was stirred to fever-heat. Young men and old men flocked to the proper offices and enrolled their names as vol- untecrs in the United States service. They were strangers to the horrors of war and the terrible reality of battle, that piled hundreds of volunteers into one grave, and sent gloom, melancholy, and desolation throughout the nation's homes.
Willingborough township joined in the patriotic excitement ; in proportion to her population she en- rolled as many volunteers as any township in the county of Burlington. In 1861, Company C of the Tenth New Jersey Regiment, in command of Col. William Bryan, of Beverly, led to the field several of Willingborough's young men, among whom were Theodore Rodman, Benjamin Rodman, William Al- loways, Joseph Hunt, Thomas Bullock, and Charles Wells. Theodore Rodman, Josephi Hunt, and Chiarles Wells were captives in the notorious Andersonville prison ; Charles Wells died thicre of starvation.
Also among the first to volunteer in their country's service, from Willingborough were Richard R. Lip- pincott, Amos, Milton, and George Hansell (brothers), John M. Wells, Reding Rogers, all of whom served throughout the war, were in most of the severe en- gagements, distinguished themselves as good soldiers, and, with the exception of Reding Rogers, escaped death, and received honorable discharges at the close of the war.
Richard R. Lippincott while in the army composed the poem " On the Shores of Termessec," which during the war liad a national popularity as a patriotie song.
Again, in the summer of 1862, in response to a call of the President for volunteers, Joseph R. Ridgway, of Willingborough, a young man of twenty-one years, of wealth, intelligence, position, and promise, joined the army, contrary to the appeals of an indulgent father and an affectionate mother. He offered his services in defense of the Union in the capacity of a captain of a company of volunteers. As soon as it was known that he was enlisting a company the young men of the neighborhood of Willingborongh, Beverly,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.