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 2
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 2
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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Natural Features .- The surface of Washington township is undulating, with a few hills in the north- ern part. The soil is sandy and gravelly except in the southern part, where are alluvial deposits. A large portion of the township is sterile and barren, and covered with a dense growth of sernb-cak and pine. The township is abundantly watered. The Atsion or Mullica River flows along its western bonndary line. The Springer's Creek, which rises in Shamong township, with its tributaries flows in a southerly course through the township and empties into the Atsion River at Crowleytown. Mill Creek waters the southern part of the township, and flows in a westerly course, and empties into the Mullica River at Green Bank.
The principal roads running through the township are the stage-road leading from Tuckerton to Lower Bank (Randolph township), thence along the
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southern boundary of Washington to Batsto. The others, beginning at the forks of the Washington road, in the eastern part of the township, running in a northwesterly course to Atsion, Shamong township : another road beginning at the same point running due west to Batsto.
class. Charcoal-burning is carried on to some extent in the northern part of the township. Ship-building is also one of their more important industries ; many schooners and smaller vessels are yearly constructed at Green Bank, a small hamlet located on the south- western border of the township.
Early Settlement .- As to the time when the town- ship of Washington began to be inhabited by the whites, and who the first families were that removed within its borders, no accurate account can be given. It is extremely improbable that there were any civil- ized men here one hundred and fifty years ago, though this fact cannot be stated with positive certainty. Some few families came into the township about 1770, among which were the Sooys, Johnsons, Coxs, and Reeds, perhaps also the Taylors, Evans, and Robins, though the presence of the latter families at this early date is involved in some uncertainty.
It is thought that as late as 1790 there were not more than twenty families in the township. The task which these few families had in perfecting a settlement was not an inviting one, although the road to future prosperity lay before them. When far be- yond civilization in the dense forest, they would mount some lofty tree, and from its topmost branches make a general survey, with a view of selecting their future and earthly homes, which they selected on the bank of Atsion River, which flows along the western boundary of the township. Here they were isolated from civilization. Marked trees were the only means by which they could find their way out of the forest or back to their cabin homes. A year passed by ; a small clearing in the forest was made, and the virgin soil produced a crop, and in a year or two more the elearing was enlarged, a rude barn was constructed of hewn logs, the old cabin was improved, and the air of prosperity seemed to manifest itself on all sides. In a few years these steady old pioneers had large farms cleared, which yielded them ample rewards for the hardships and privation that they had to undergo in clearing themselves up a home.
Such were the humble beginnings of the pioneer settlers of Washington township.
THE SOOY FAMILY .- Among the early settlers of Washington was Yose Sooy, a German, who settled on the east bank of Atsion River and cleared up a farm. Yose ( Joseph ) Sooy had three sons,-Nich- olas, Joseph, and Luke. Nicholas, son of To-e Sooy, married Sarah Sears and lived near his father. His family consisted of eleven children, as follows: Nicholas, Jr., Noah, William, Archelaus, Pant Sears,
I Many of the facts related here are from Leah Blackman's " History of Little Egg Harbor" and vicinity.
450
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Josephus, Elizabeth, Hannah, Sarah, Jemima, and Parnell.
Nicholas Sooy, Jr., married Esther Weeks. Their children were Samuel, William, Ephraim, Josephus, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Sophia, and Esther.
Noah Sooy, Sr., married Sarah Weeks.
William Sooy, Sr., married Rebecca Weeks.
Archelaus Sooy, Sr., married Bethiah Cranmer. Paul Sears Sooy, Sr., married Elizabeth Caviler.
Josephus Sooy married and lived on the old home- stead.
Elizabeth Sooy married Arthur Thompson. Their offspring were Sooy, William, John, Alexander, Ar- thur, Hannah, Sarah, and Elizabeth.
Hannah Sooy married a man by the name of Pettit. Sarah Sooy married James Bodine.
Jemima Sooy married Alexander Thompson. Their children were Mary, Sarah, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Han- nah, Margaret, Anna, Amelia, and others whose names conld not be aseertained.
Parnell Sooy married Samuel Bodine.
Josephi, son of Yose Sooy, was the father of Phoebe Sooy, who was the mother of Capt. Ebenezer Sooy, of Bass River. Ebenezer Sooy married Catharine, daughter of Samuel Loveland (2d). Their children, --- Benjamin, Reuben, Josiah, Cowperthwaite, Ebenezer, Samuel, Daniel, Phoebe, Ann Eliza, and Jemima.
Benjamin Sooy . married Margaret Haunsley, of New York.
Josiah Sooy married Catharine Johnson, of Long Island.
Cowperthwaite Sooy married Sarah Robins.
Ebenezer Sooy married Eliza Henderson.
Daniel Sooy married Esther Mathis.
Phobe Sooy married Maja B. Mathis.
Ann Eliza Sooy married Richard Bogan. Jemima Sooy married Josiah Johnson.
THE PENN FAMILY .- It is said that William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia, had an adopted son, and from him deseended the Penns of Cumberland, Bur- lington, and Ocean Counties.
James Penn, Sr., emigrated from Cumberland County, N. J., to Washington township, Burlington Co., N. J. He settled on the West Plains, where he lived until about the year 1814, when he died, aged eighty-eight years. Children,-William, James, Joel, Jonathan, Staey, John, Elizabeth, Rhoda, Hannah.
William, son of James Penn, Sr., married Sarah Jenkins, and had children, -Jesse, Zephaniah, James, William, Susan, and Lucy Ann.
Rhoda, daughter of James Peun, Sr., married Zachariah Jenkins.
Elizabeth, daughter of James Penn, Sr., married Lewis Russell, and among their children were James, Ridgway, Champion, and Samnel.
Jesse Penn married Rebecca, daughter of Jacob Headley.
Zephaniah Penn married Hope, daughter of Jacob Headley.
The posterity of James Penn, Sr., is quite numer- ons, most of which have moved to the Western States.
Civil Organization .- This township was set off from Evesham, Northampton, and Little Egg Harbor in 1802. Its original limits have been changed or curtailed to a considerable extent, and over one-half its territory has been taken away. In 1852 a part of Shamong township was taken from the northwest part. Bass River took another portion on the east in 1864. Woodland, on the northeast, in 1866, and in 1870 Randolph was set off, which took nearly half of the remainder. The following eivil list of the town- ship from its organization, 1802, to 1882 is as com- plete as could be made from the mutilated records :
Civil List.
CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
William Salter, 1803-4.
! Bodine Coffin, 1844-48.
Jesse Evans, 1803-5. Thomas H. Richards, 1848-53.
Thomas Taylor, 1805.
N. S. Thompson, 1850-52.
John Servies. 1806-10.
Joseph Sooy, 1854-55
Joseph Walker, 1806, 1SOS-9. William Sooy, 1856, 1875.
Jonathan Johnson, 1810, 1815. Christopher E-tlow, 1857-38.
Edward McBride, 1811. M. W. Sooy, 1859-60, 1865.
Jesse Richards, 1811-14, 1820-24, 1826-45.
Samuel Crowley, Jr., 1861-64, 1871, 1873-74.
Joseph Doran, 1812-18.
Edward B. Johnson, 1872, 1873-77,
Nicholas Sooy, 1815, 1829-30. 1881-82.
Richard Campion, 1816-17, 1819- 28.
Watson Cale, 1877-80. Isaac H. Brown, 1878.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
Moses Robins, 1803-5.
Samuel P. Richards, 1838.
William Weatherby, 1806.
Joseph C. Parsons, 1842-19. 1815.
Joseph Evans, 1807, 1810.
Richard B. Naylor, 1846-49.
John Richards, 1808, 1812-15.
Nathaniel Moore, 1850-52.
Jesse Richards, 1809, 1811, 1840- 41. Charles Cline, 1816-18.
William Woolston, 1-56-75.
Edmund S. Sooy, 1859.
M. Powell, 1818-20.
Jolin A. Johnston, 1860.
John C. Briggs, 1821.
Theodore Woodland, 1861-66.
David Beamer, 1822-26.
Frank P. Cale, 1807-74.
Jo-iab Hall, 1628-36.
William Sooy, 1875-82.
William H. Sooy, 1837, 1839, 1844.
ASSESSORS.
William Salter, 1803-4.
Augustus S. Johnson, 1850.
Lewis Wilson, 1805.
John Hall, 1851-52.
Thomas Taylor. 1806, 1809, 1811- 15.
Timothy Henderson, 1853-55, 1864 -70. Christopher Estlow, 1856.
Joim Lane, 1507-8, 1810.
James Maxwell, 1814. 1836, 1839.
William Sooy, 1857-58.
Noah Sooy, 1815.
Peter Lane, 1859.
Jesse Evans. 18!6-23, 1826, 1828, Joseph Wilson, 1860-63. 1840.
Joseph Townsend, 1926-57, 1830.
Charles Brown, 1875.
Joseph B. Brick, 1829-35.
Caleb Ford, 1877.
John Foreman, 183%.
Augustus E. Kaster, 1878-82.
William: H. Sooy, 1841-49, 1876.
COLLECTORS.
Jonathan Johnson, 1803, 1804.
Jonathan Cramer, 1841, 1512.
John Cramer, 1805.
Joseph Sooy, 1843, 1811.
Samuel Crawley, Jr., 1545.
Ephraim Cline, Iru6. Andrew Bush, 1:07-11. Nicholas W. S.w. y, 1912-51, 1871.
Asi Cramer, 1-46-53, 1535. Ist.c 1I. Brown. 1:56-49.
William H. Sony, 1-32.
Wars di Cale, 1-37-62.
Samuel B. French, 1933, 1834.
Hugh Johnson, 1-35.
; Daniel W. Corning, 1836-30, 1810.
Stephen D. Johnson, 1871-74.
Angustos E. Krster, 1973-5C. Edward B. Johnson, 1877-82.
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Samuel B. French, 1832-13.
John Little, 1853-55.
451
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
CONSTABLES.
Jolin Cramer, 1803-6.
Arthur Tomson, 1805.
Nicholas Sooy, Jr., 1807-9, 1511.
Henry Brown, 1833.
Isaiah Johnson, 1810.
Lauson White, 1833, 1834.
William Emley, 1:11. Reuben Evans, 1$12.
Joseph Allen, Sr , 1835, 1836, 1841 -43. Samuel Weeks, 1837-39. Asa Cramer, 1844, 1845.
Thomas Taylor, 1812.
Richard Sooy, 1813.
Nathaniel Shinn. 1845, 1846.
Joseph Allen, 1846-48.
Noah Sooy, 1814.
Alexander Peacock, IS14.
Daniel P. Cramer, 1815, 1816.
Jacob T. Lewallen, 1815.
John Johnson, 1817, 1820.
Nathaniel D. Vansant, 1853.
Jolin Gale, 1818, 1819.
Jonathan Cramer, 1854-58, 1860.
William Sovy, 1821.
William F. Cramer, 1861-68.
Jesse Bodine, 1822-24.
William MI. Ford, 1869-81.
Jonathan Cramer, 1825, 1826, 1828. Samuel Brown, 1852.
JUDGES OF ELECTION.
Joseph Walker, 1803-7. William Walker, 1808.
' William H. Sooy, 1839-41, 1849, *1850.
Bodin Coffin, 1843.
John Ilall, 1844. Jonathan Cramer, 1845-47, 1851, 1852, 1857, 1858.
Joseph Doran, 1812.
Jesse Evans, 1813-15, 1817, 1830 1835, 1836, 1842.
Angustns S. Johnson, 1848, 1854, 1855, 1859, 1861-63.
Joseph McIlvain, 1852.
Nicholas W. Sooy, 1856.
J. E. Brown, 1860.
Towns Sooy, 1870-74.
Benjamin Cramer, 1875.
James E. Allen, 1876, 1878, 1879, 1881.
Peter J. Woolston, 1877, 1880, 1882.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.
Jesse Evans, 1803-7, 1809, 1810, 'John L. Lloyd, 1833, 1835, 1836. 1812-14, 1817-30, 1837-47.
John Bodine, 1803, 1804, 1807.
Joseph Walker, 1803-7.
Jonathan Jolinson, 1803, 1804, 1808, 1809.
Thomas Richards, 1803, 1804. Moses Robins, 1805.
Nicholas Sooy, 1805, 1808, 1810-14, 1820, 1822. Ephraim Cline, 1805, 1826-28, 1833, 1838.
Edward McBride, 1806, 1807, 1810- 12.
Benjamin White, 1806. Pater Caviler, 1806, 1808.
William Weatherby, 180€.
Thomas Taylor, 1807-13, 1:16-20.
James Richards, 1808, 1812-14, ' William H. Richards, 1851, 1852.
1817-20, 1823-25, 1830-33, 1835- 39, 1842-50.
John Evans, 1809.
Jacob Branhart, 1810.
Joseph Doran, 1811, 1814, 1817, 1818.
John Cramer, 1813.
Charles Cline, 1815. Jonathan Johnson, 1815. Andrew Brush, 1815.
. John Richards, 1815, 1816.
John Caviler, 1616-22, 1826-31. Ilugh Johnson, 1820, 1821, 1530. Archill Belts, 1821.
William H. Sooy, 1822, 1850, 1831, 1840-42, 1851-53, 1850. Richard Champion, 1822-28.
Samuel McFields, 1824, 1825.
Samuel B. French, 1806-9, 1832, 1835-43.
Isaac I. Brown, 1x79. Charles G. Nicholas, 1880-82.
Schools .- Washington township, in point of edu- cational facilities, is somewhat limited, having but two school districts within its present boundaries, that of Crowleytown District, No. 98, and Green Bank, No. 99. District No. 98 received from State appropriations, 8287.55; amount of apportionment from surplus revenue, $26.83; total amount received from all sources, $328.13; present value of school property, $400; whole number of children between the age of five and eighteen residing in the district, 90; average number of months the school is kept open, 10; average number who have attended school during the time it has been kept open, 23 ; number of female teachers employed, 1; average salary per month paid to female teachers, $27. District No. 99, amount of apportionment received from State appro- priations, 8286.45 ; average amount of apportionment from surplus revenue, $15.21 ; total amount received from all sources for public school purposes, 8525; present value of school property, 8400; whole num- ber of children between five and eighteen years of age residing in the school district, 51; number of months the school has been kept open, 9; number of male teachers employed, 1 ; average salary per month paid to male teachers, $33.33.
Villages and Hamlets .- There are many small towns scattered over Washington township. Batsto, the principal one of these, was formerly a busy, thriv- ing plaee, and is located on the western border of the township, on the Atsion River. This small village was founded, in 1776, by Charles Reed. A large for- nace and foundry was built here, which, when in full operation, employed one hundred and twenty five men, and furnished support to over eight hundred persons. During the Revolutionary war, Batsto ( In- dian name for bathing) furnace was owned by Col. John Cox, who cast numbers of cannon, shot, and shell for the army, and was kept busy during the entire war. Later Jesse Richards purchased the prop- erty and carried on the business for several years ; but within the past few years, owing to the great de- pression in the iron trade, neither it nor any of the neighboring furnaces have been in operation, and the once thriving village of Batsto is now comparatively deserted.
GREEN BANK .- The hamlet of Green Bank is lo- cated in the extreme southwest part of the township; on the Mullica River. It contains one store and post-office, school-house, hotel, grist-mill, blacksmith- and earpenter-shop, and one hundred dwellings. The mercantile business has been carried on at Green Bank by William Sooy, present merchant, for a number of years. The post-office is also in the store of Mr. Sooy.
The Herman City Hotel, which is located about one mile north of the post-office. was formerly used as a private dwelling, and in 1870 it was purchased by Augustus E. Kaster, and converted into a public- house, and he has carried on the business since.
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Jonathan Johnson, 1809. .
Jesse Richards, 1810, 1811, 1821, 1831.
Samuel Taggers, 1816, 1817.
Richard Campion, 1818-20, 1829.
Hugh Johnson, 1822, 1829, 1833, 1834.
Jolin Caviler, 1822-26.
Samnel Harris, 1832. Josiah Hall, 1837, 1838.
. Isaac II. Thorne, 1833, 1835, 1836.
Augustus Johnson, 1833, 1834, 183C.
Isaiah HIall, 1837-39.
Thomas H. Richards, 1838, 1839, 1841-43, 1846-53.
William II. McCarty, 1840.
William Woolston, 1841, 1833, 1855 -58.
Bodin Coffin, 1842, 1844-47. Samuel Weeks, 1844.
Charles Brown, 1845. James L. Allen, 1846.
Nicholas S. Thompson, 1847-50. William B. French, 1848-30. Nathaniel Moon, 1849-50. William II. Keeler, 1851, 1852.
William Sooy, 1833-55.
Christopher L'etlow, 1854, 1835, 1858. Samnel Crowley, Jr., 1854, 1856- 60.
Joseph McIlvain, 1856, 1857. Samuel T. Brown, 1858.
Isaac 1I. Brow, 1859-66, 1876. Nathaniel b. Vansant, 1860-65. N. W. Sooy, 1861-63. R. L. Rumford, 1861-67. William Maxwell, 1861-64. Sammel Taylor, 1878-74. Isaac II. Boggs, 1868-70. Watson Cale, 1875, 1876. J. Il. Cramer, IoTT.
H. Birdsall, 1877-52. Edward Varant, 1878-82.
Josich Hall, 1828. Job Weeks, 1>29, 1831. 1832.
David Caviler, 1813.
Josiah Wells, 1847-50. Lorenzo D. Caviler, 1851, 1852. Daniel Spider, 1851, 1852.
452
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
The blacksmith-shop has been carried on by Mark R. Sooy for the past few years. Hazelton Birdsall carries on the carpenter business. The grist-mill is operated by E. B. Johnson. Among the business men of Green Bank are William Sooy, general store and post-office ; Charles Bowne, justice of the peace ; Elwood Vansant, Joel Vansant, Joel Vansant, Jr., ship-builders ; Samuel Vansant & Son, boat-builders; A. White, mason ; Hazelton Birdsall. carpenter; 1. E. Koster, hotel ; and E. B. Johnson, grist-mill. The farmers are Hazelton Birdsall, Charles Brome, Wat- son Cole, Caleb L. Ford, Samuel Ford, George More, Charles Pharo, Henry Pool, William H. Pool, A. E. Koster, William Sooy, Mrs. Henry Sooy, S. E. Taylor, Walter R. Weeks, and A. White.
WASHINGTON is a small hamlet, located on the eastern border of the township adjacent to Randolph i Johnson for the past few years.
township, aud contains a few scattered dwellings, being situated at the cross-roads in a farming dis- trict.
Industrial. - Washington township in former times ranked among the first townships in the southern part of the county in its industrial pursuits, but for the past half-century but little has been done to develop its ore-beds. Jesse Richards owned and operated a number of furnaces in the township in former times. The principal one was the Batsto Fur- nace, which was located on the western border of the township. This furnace was established by Col. John Cox in 1776. These furnaces used mostly what is known as box ore, a sort of deposit made by the iron springs, and of excellent quality. When this ore is taken out the springs replace it. and another deposit is made in fifteen to twenty-five years.
In 1869, John HI. Rapp erected a glass manufac- tory at Green Bank (or Herman City, as it is some- times ealled) aud commenced the manufacture of flint-glass ware, which business was carried on under the supervision of Charles W. Wapler for a few months, at which time the factory was closed, and has not been in operation since. The property is now owned by the estate of Jolin HI. Rapp. In addition to the erection of the manufactory, Mr. Rapp also ereeted fifty dwelling-houses for the accommodation of his employes, of which only twelve are now oc- eupied.
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Ship-building has become one of the chief indus- tries of Washington township within the past few years. Sloops, brigs, yachts, and other sea-going vessels are yearly constructed at Green Bank by Messrs. Vansant & Co. These men have established a reputation among >eafaring men unexcelled by any Their vessels are seen in almost every part of the sea-board of the United States.
ship-builders along the southern coast of New Jersey. . the township are Bordentown and White Hill.
The large number of vessels owned in Washington township require a considerable number of men for their management, so that many of the inhabitants of the township are seamen.
The lumber business was carried on to quite an extent in this township in former times, but within the past few years the heavy timber has been hewn down and utilized for ship-building purposes, until at present (1882) nothing but the shoots, or serub- oaks, of the stately old oaks, with a limited amount of pine timber, remain to mark the once rich forest.
Charcoal-burning is carried on to quite an extent in the northern portion of the township. Large quantities of coal are yearly shipped to New York and Philadelphia from Washington.
The pioneer saw- and grist-mill, which is located at Green Bank, has been in operation for many years. Large quantities of lumber have been sawed at this mill, and shipped to other ports from Green Bank. The mill has been owned and operated by E. B.
Farming is carried on to some extent in the south- ern portion of the township.
CHAPTER XLII.
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, BOROUGH, AND CITY.1
Situation and Boundaries .- Bordentown is situ- ated in the extreme northwestern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Crosswicks Creek, which separates it from Mercer County, on the east by Chesterfield township, on the south by Mansfield township, on the west by Pennsylvania, from which it is separated by the Delaware River.
Physical Features .- Bordentown township was formed from parts of Chesterfield and Mansfield townships in 1852. Its approximate greatest width east and west is two miles, length north and south four and three-quarter miles. It is very irregular in form, and contains an area of about five thousand one hundred and ninety-eight acres. The soil is a sandy loam and very productive, and in all parts it is highly cultivated. The Delaware River flows along the western boundary, receiving in the northern part of the city Crosswicks Creek, and Black's Creek in the southern part. Other tributaries of lesser importance flow through the township. Numerous well-traveled roads traverse the township, the principal of which are those leading to Burlington, Columbus, Reckless- town, and Trenton. The Camden and Amboy Divis- ion of the Pennsylvania Railroad traverses the western border of the township to Bordentown; from thence it runs to South Amboy, a branch connecting Borden- town with Trenton. The principal stations within
Early Settlement and Distinguished Residents. -On the 2d of April. 168!, Thomas Farnsworth, by deed. acquired one hundred acres of land. April 27,
1 By Maj E. M. Woodward, author of " Our Campaigns," " The Citizen Soldiers ," " Bonaparte's Park and the Murats," etc.
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BORDENTOWN.
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1682, he became possessed of one hundred and forty acres, and subsequently three hundred and eight acres more, making five hundred and forty-eight acres in all. As the measurement of land in those days was not striet, and a liberal allowance was made for roads and waste lands, these three deeds covered about eight hundred acres. The tract thus acquired ex- tended from Crosswicks to Black's Creeks, and from the Delaware inland, covering the whole site of the preseu't city of Bordentown. It is an elevated plateau extending far back into the county, with bold bluff's upon its water-fronts.
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The name of the ship Farnsworth came over in in 1677 is not known to the writer. She landed her passengers on the present site of Philadelphia, they eoming up the river to Burlington in boats. All we know of him prior to his leaving England is the statement in Bessee's " Sufferings and Persecutions of the Quakers" that he was sent to prison on the 3d day of the 7th month, 1665, for attending a mecting of the Quakers at Tupton, near North Wingfield, Derbyshire. It is also stated that his brother, Rich- ard Farnsworth, of Tickhill, Yorkshire, was tried and imprisoned for not taking off his hat to a justice.
Thomas' wife Susanna came over in December of the : next year in the ship "Shield," the first vessel that eame up the Delaware to Burlington. She brought with her their children and two servants. Her eoming was well known among the settlers, and looked for with some interest, as she was a Quaker preacher in the old eountry of note.
The servants she brought were hardly to wait upon her and perform menial service, but more probably men who had contracted to work a certain length of time in consideration of their passage being paid and food found. From the fact of his being able to inenr this expense, his purchase of five hundred and forty- eight aeres of ground within a few years of his land- ing, and his not disposing of his house and lot in Burlington until the 19th of May, 1685, when he con- veyed it by deed to Anthony Morris, it is to be pre- sumed he was possessed of some considerable means for one in those early days and in a new country.
Their children were: Mary, who was "born the 23d of the 9th month, 1673, at Mansfield, in Old Eng- land ;" Thomas, born at the same place " the 7th day, 11th month, 1676;" John, " born at Piseatua, in East Jersey, the 14th day of 11th month, 1679;" Samuel, "at Mansfield, in West Jersey, the 2d of the 4th month, 1683;" Daniel, "born at White Hill, in Mansfield, the 7th of the 2d month, 1686;" and Na- thaniel, who " was born the 15th of the Ist month, 1089." 1
trade of shoemaking for several years before he lo- cated on his tract where Bordentown now stands. When he built his cabin there is not known, but he certainly did not reside there permanently prior to 1682-83. Careful investigation proves that Farns- worth's eabin-the first house built in Bordentown- was situated on the bluff near the northwest corner of Park Avenue and Prince Street, very near, and perhaps on the spot upon which the frame house now stands.
Thomas Farnsworth served as constable of Chester- field township in 1682. His name never again appears on the township records, and some time between that year and 1693 he died, leaving his widow, Susanna, and sons, Thomas, John, Samuel, Daniel, and Na- thaniel. By his will, dated Sth of the 11th month, January (O. S.), 1689, he left all his real and per- sonal estate to his wife Susanna, to rent or sell as she might deem best. But, in case of her marrying again, his real estate was to be held in trust for his children, aud she was to have in lieu thereof twenty pounds. She was sole executrix. The will was witnessed by William Quicksall, Elizabeth Foulks, and Francis Davenport, and proved in 1693.
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