History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830


USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 3
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 3


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 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157


FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP'


been as a Democrat Interested in local political measures, and for ten years acted as treasurer of the township of Franklin. His interest in the cause ot education has prompted him to serve for fifteen years as tru tee of the schools of the township. He is a member of the Reformed ( Patch Church of Frank- lin, and superintendent of the Sunday-school of that church.


in 1738, removed to New York at the house of the Revolutionary war an I came to Fase x County in IT . The second Joseph was born in New York in 1799, and at an early period of li'e was engaged in m lling enterprises. In 1512 he embarked in the manufacture of hand- made paper at the okl Madison Mill, and in 1536 erected the Passaic Mills, which were managed by him until his retirement, in 1856. Hi -, Joseph


Henry 2 Jimcan ican


THE UNDERHILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S WORKs are situated on Thard River, and were built in 1840, and known for many years as the Harrison Mills. They were originally built and operated by Sebastian, Wiliam and John Duncan The old buildings were burned down, and rebuilt in IS75 by Mr. Charles F. Underhill, who is now the manager of the concern. The goods produced here are chiefly articles of gentle- mens underwear of cotton and wood.


and Richard, were both engaged with him in the business, and on his relinquishing an active lite they united in partnership, and have since carried n tos manufacture, enlarging the facilities by subling te the buildings and adding improved machinery by which they are enabled to produce a superior quality of goods. The mill, including the machinery, is cabrel at sixty-five thousand dollars, and bas a capaci y uf two tons of paper per day, giving employment to an average of sixty person -.


THE: PASSAR MILLS, on the porth bank of Yantacaw (or Third) River, is devoted to the manufacture of fine The old mill in which their father commene I bu - new was destroyed by fire in IST3. In the sender of 1 %4 a capacious store house was created. a stone-building, twenty-five by sixty Cet and two writing-paper, fleet, bond and check papers of the various grades. The proprietors are Joseph and Richar 1 Kingsland, sons of Joseph Kingsland, whose father, Joseph, was born in Kingsland, Bergen Co. stories high. This mil is in Acquackanonk township.


HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.


but its proximity to Franklin, affording employment to Franklin people, renders it virtually a local enter- prise.


THE YANTICO MILLE are a fine mass of brick build- ings, four and five stories in height, which were built in logo by Mr. John W. Stitt, and were operated by him in the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods until 1875, when they came into the possession of the late Alexander T. Stewart, of New York. Mr. Stewart kept these mills actively at work until his death, after which they were operated by Judge Hilton, but were shut down by him in love, and have since remained idle When in full operation they gave employment to from two hundred and fifty to three hundred per- sons. The building- were put up in time of high prices, and were very costly. All the machinery, en- gine- and boilers are retained in their places, and care is taken of them by the superintendent, Mr. Martin Gripel.


An old mill stood years ago at the foot of the large mill-pond north of the road running up Povershou hill. Some forty years ago it was occupied as a grist mill by John Duncant. It was afterwards converted into a turning shop by a man named Topping. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1868, and has not been rebuilt. The property is owned by Mr. John Rushy. The water which supplies the mill comes chicfly from a spring at the upper end of the mill-pond, which boils up about three feet in diameter, besides several small springs furnishing a continuous supply of water.


THE AVONDALE GREEN-HOUSES. in Walnut Street, were built in October, 1878, by ti. 1. Riker. They are covered by about twelve thousand feet of glass, and consist of several separate houses for the growth of various kinds of flowers, bulbs, etc., the business con- wisting wholly in cut flowers for the New York market. In 1879 the concern passed into the hands of Mr. C. R. Fllis, of New York, who is now the owner, and Mr. Elward Salyer was appointed as superintendent in April, 1884 Improvements to the amount of one thousand dollars were made on the property during the year 1884.


THE WASHINGTON AVENUE NURSERY is a new enterprise, started by Mr. William Conover in the fall "cilor; R. W. Booth, Recorder; G. W. Symonds, of 1883. The property consists of two acres of land under cultivation, two green houses, each sixteen by one hundred feet, with a two-story office building. six- teen by thirty two feet. Mr. Conover raises plants and hardy shrubs, and makes a specialty of out flowers.


THE YANTACAW ICE COMPANY-Another import- ant industry is the cutting. harvesting and subsequent transportation of the ice crop, from the large pond cast of the Passaic Mills. The company was incorpo- rated in 1865, but the business and property have been controlled for six or seven years past by the Messrs. Kingsland. The pond has an ice surface of about sixteen aeres, and will yield twenty thousand tons of ice annually, giving employment to a large number of hands.


Societies .- THE FRANKLIN ARCHERY CLUB WAS organized June 16, 1878, with Mrs. J. S. Condit as president; Miss Satterthwaite, secretary and treas- nrer: Mr. J. R. Hay, superintendent. Soon after the organization the interest in archery began to de- cline, and the club took hold of the new and favorite game of lawn tennis. Spacious grounds on the Satterthwaite estate, adjoining Stitt's Station, were placed at the disposal of the club, and tennis courts were laid ont. The club grow in membership. in- cluding on its roll the names of nearly all the society families of Franklin, Avondale and vicinity. In 1544 the grounds were greatly improved, and a new dirt court was constructed, making five courts in all. The club has a membership of sixty-four, many of whom are expert tennis players.


The present officers are Mrs. L. Y. Hopkins, president; John Greenough, vice-president ; Rev. W. R. Nairn, master of grounds; W. Il. Boardman, master of games ; Ilarry D. Carryl, treasurer; Man- agers. Mrs. W. H. Boardman, Mrs. J. S. Condit, Mrs. Joseph Kingsland, Mrs. J. Roger Kingsland, Mrs. H. G. Prout. Miss M. L. Storey, and the officers ex-officio ; secretary, H. G. Prout.


GRANITE COUNCIL, No. 51, ORDER OF UNITED FRIENDS .- The only lodge or secret society for mu- tual benevolent purposes in the township is this council of the comparatively new order of l'mited Friends. It was projected by Messrs. C. M. Oxford and A. M. Halladay, both of whom were already con- nected with the oder. On the evening of Dec. 9, 1882, at the residence of one of the brethren, the council was formally instituted, with a membership of twenty-six, as follows : R. W. Booth, Henry A. Con- nolly, Cormbus Crager, William H. Crager, John Corb, Amzi Coeyman. William T. Coeyman, Dr. S. Dailey, John Dooley Francis George Fyens. P. F. Guthrie, A. P. Garrabrant, Martin Geipel, L. G. Hampton, Jacob Kierstead, Henry Knab, Jr., V. P. Metrath, A. II. Mandeville, Leonard Rusby, Joseph Stirratt, G. W. Symonds, C. F. Underhill, J. P. Van Winkle, J. H. Van Winkle.


The first officers were L. G. Hampton, Chief Coun-


Financier ; Dr. S. Dailey, Treasurer ; J. P. Van Winkle, Prelate; Richard W. Booth, Marchal ; Anzi d'oxyman, Guardian ; A. P. Garrabrant, Sentinel; C. F. f'nder- hill, J. P. Van Winkle and Martin Geipel, Trustees ; (. F. Underhill, C. M. Oxford and A. M. Halladay, Past Chief Councilors. The two last named were admitted by card. At the December election the same officers were elected, with the exception of the re- corder, who was Leonard Rushy. At the last annual report of the financier the total membership in the three classes was fifty-eight, the amount of insurance covered being one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, or an average of two thousand one hundred and fifty-five dollars each member.


The officers of the council for 1884 are as follows :


CLINTON TOWNSHIP.


1. (. Hampton, (' C .; Jacob Kierstend, V. C .; John Jonathan T. Squier; Collector, David Tichenor P. Van Winkle, P'relate; Dr. Dailey, Treasurer; George W. Symonds, Financier; C. M1. Oxford, Re- corder ; William H. Van Riper, Marshal ; William 11. C'rager, Guard an ; David Whitehead, Sentinel, and Messrs. Vuderhill, Oxford and Halladay, P. P. ("s. The trustees for 1884 were C. F. Underhill, George S. Coe and Jacob Kierstead, and the Medical Examiner, Dr. S. Dailey, who has acted in that capacity since the first steps were taken to organize the council.


Meetings are held at Rusby's Hall on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.


Mercurial Well .- \ curiosity exists on the prem- ises of John Sandford, in Franklin Street, in the shape of a well which freezes or thawy uniformly with the temperature on the surface. The well is about forty feet deep, and its freezing every time a cold snap came on caused so much inconvenience to the family that Mr. Sandford had it inclosed and a pump set in it. This, however, had but little effect. The water in the well still froze, and the pump was at such times useless, and was taken out. In summer the water is of the ordinary temperature. The well has been dug over twenty years, and has always ex- hibited this peculiarity, while other wells on adjacent property are not so capricious.


Valuation and Appropriations .- The valuation of taxable property returned by the assessor for 1884 was as follows : Real estate, $493,650 ; personal estate, $28,150; deductions for indebtedness, $6,800; total valuation assessable, $515,000.


The appropriations voted for at the town election in 1884 were: Road tax, $100; side-walk tax, $300; for support of the poor, $900; incidentals, $500; and other incidentals to be paid out of funds held by the treasurer, $500.


CHAPTER LIV.


CLINTON TOWNSHIP.


Location, Boundary, Derivation of Name and First Officers .-- This is one of the south border town- ships of Essex County, and was organized as such by act of the State Legislature, April 14, 1835, and is bounded on the north and west by South Orange township, on the cast by the city of Newark, and on the south by Union County. The township was named in honor of De Witt Clinton, the great Erie ! Burwell, and my loving son, John Brown, to be my Canal Governor of the State of New York. The Loverseers." township officers clected in accordance with the act of the Legislature were as follows ; Moderator, Moses Osborn; Town Clerk, Nathaniel R. Brown ; Assessor,


Township Committee, Alvah Sherman, Oba liah Mer- ker, Lewis Pierson, Ezra Durand and Jantes Van Houten ; C'hosen Frecholders, Samuel Baldwin and John S. Osborn ; Overseers of the Poor, Dan el squier and Samuel H. Garduer.


Topography .- The topography of the township is varied and pleasant. The land slopes south and east until it reaches the Newark meadows. The surface is also broken by an agreeable succession of hills, of sufficient elevation to afford pleasant landscape views from their summits. From the western side of the township can be seen, some two and a half miles dis- tant, the long range of the First, or Orange Moun- tains, and from an elevation near the centre of the township, Newark Bay, New York, Brooklyn and Long Island is presented to view in a beautiful land- scape. The roadways of the township are mostly Telfordized, affording pleasant and beautiful drives. Elizabeth River flows through the township from north to south, near the beautiful village of Irving- ton, and on it are three lakes, or ponds, the water of which was formerly utilized for driving machinery, and are known as Belcher's, Durand's and Drake's Ponds, and the dams are now kept up for ice harvest during the winter -cason.


Previous to the occupation of the town hip by white settlers, this territory was an undistinguishal le waste in a trackless wilderness. A thick growth of timber covered the hills and valleys of what are now the fair fields and beautiful garden-spots of Clinton township. As late as 1809 wild beasts were quite plenty, and relies of those hunting days are still to be found in the Chapman family.


Pioneer Settlers, Land-Owners and Incidents. To Daniel T. Clark, Esq., of South Orange, we are indebted for a search of the original records, which has brought to light the names, location and quantity of land of the pioneers of what is now the township of ('liuton,-


John Brown, senior, had, among other lands, " Forty acres of upland beyond Elizabeth Town River, 40x20 ch., Robert Dalglish, north ; Common land, west an Ì south ; East branch of Elizabeth River, east."


The will of John Brown, dated Dec. 17, Jis! shows that he gave to sons, Joseph Brown an & Thomas Brown, forty acres beyond Elizabeth River, as " bounded in my Patent, equally to be divided between them." He also names daughters Mary l'irrson, Hannah Riggs (wife of Joseph), Phebe Dodd. Elizabeth Freeman and Esther, unmarried His son, Daniel Brown, executor, and " loving brother Ephraim


John Brown, Jr., laul, in addition to other tracts, Twenty acres beyond the two-mile Brook, joining to his first and second division, 19x18 ch., bounded with John Curtis, north ; Two-mile Brook, east ; his own land, north ; and Thomas Pierson, south.


1 By Her John Is Chomun.


44


690


HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.


His Home lot contained six acres, and was bounded by Edward Riggs, south, Samuel Harrison, north ; Common fence, east; Highway, west. He also had Twenty-eight acres "beyond the two-mile brook, be- ginning on a swamp side (Wolf Harbor Swamp?), thence up the Hillside 15 ch., and the length Is ch., to a stake that parts Thomas Pierson and John Brown, John Curtis, north, Seth Tompkins, west; Thomas Pierson, south; and swamp. cast." This last boundary indicates that this and the other properties were located in the present limits of Clinton township.


John Curtis had thirty-four acres upland beyond the two-mile brook, on south side 34 ch., on north side 23 ch., bounded by Nathaniel Wheeler and the Brook, east; common land. north ; John Brown, Jr., south ; and common land, west.


Martin Tichenor had a Home lot containing eight acres, bounded by William Camp, north; by High- ways, cast, west and south. llis will bears date 1681.


Thomas Pierson, Jr., had a Home lot containing six acres, hounded by the llighways, northwest and southwest ; Common fence, southeast; and Samuel Lyon, northeast. He also had thirty aeres beyond the two-mile brook, forty-one chains in length at the south end, twenty-nine chains at the north end, ten chains in breadth, bounded by common land, west ; Thomas Johnson and Highway, cast ; and John Brown, Jr., north.


Ilugh Roberts had for his Home lot six acres, hay- ing commons on the south and west; the common fence, cast ; and Edward Riggs, north. He died 1670. (His will is in the library of the New Jersey Histori- cal Society.) Note-"Stephen Bond, in 1672, mar- ried Hugh Roberts' widow, and died in 1677." Conyar Record.


Flward Riggs had a Home lot containing six acres, being bounded by Hugh Roberts, southwest ; by John Brown, common land and Ilighway. In 1676 he purchased of his brother, Joseph Riggs, a part of the original Riggs homestead, being "Ten rods in breadth and so through the length of my home lot, bounded by William t'amp, south; my own land, north; and Highways, east and west."


In 1691, Edward Riggs and wife, Mary, conveyed his home lot, containing six and one-half acres, to John Brown, Jr. It was bounded by the Home lot of John Brown, northeast ; Ilome lot of Mrs. Mary Bond, southwest ; Highway, northwest ; and Mrs. Mary Bond, southeast.


Samuel Lyon had for his Home lot six acres, bounded by Thomas Pierson, Jr., west ; Highway, north; common fence, sonth; and common lands, east. Also sixty-five acres beyond the two-mile brook, twenty-five chains on the southeast, fifteen chains on the northwest, in length forty-two chains, with llighway, north; llighway to Elizabethtown, east; Henry Lyon, southwest ; Thomas John, north- west.


Thomas Lyon, by the general Surveyor, "one House


lot, Five acres and a half, Beginning at Thomas l'ier- son, Jun'., thence cast and by north eight chains to stake by the Highway ; thence north four chains; thence northwest by west ten chains; thence, as the front of the (lots) on the Hill did, to Thomas l'ierson, Jr., eight chains; thence south southeast four chains to beginning ; bounded by Highways, northeast and south; northwest, with the front of the other lots; and Thomas Pierson, Jr., southwest. Also Forty arres in (on) "Stout Buck Plain " (where was this ?), 20x22 ch., bounded southeast, southwest and north- west by common land; and Thomas Staples, north- east."


William Camp had a Home lot containing six and a halt acres, besides forty poles, bounded with Eliza- beth Riggs, widow of Sergeant Edward Riggs, north, Martin Tichner south, and Highways east and west.


"March 25th, 1685, William Camp hath adjacent to his second division beyond the two mile brook, on the south side forty-eight rods; bounded with the land of Martin Tichenor on the west side forty-eight rods, bounded by Joseph Johnson west, on the cast side seventy-two rods, bounded by his own land east, containing ten acres and three roods, be it more or less, lying for four acres."


De. Micha Tompkins (Deacon?) had a Home lot containing six acres, bounded by his own swamp east, John Baldwin north, Highways south and west ; also Fifty-four acres adjacent to the lands he pur- chased of Mr. Treat, "Beginning at the southeast cor- ner of his land and running as the River runs nine- teen chains to tree; thence westerly thirty-nine chains, to Zachariah Burwell's corner ; thence north- erly thirty-four chains to William Muer's corner ; thence along his line thirteen chains, to his other corner, casterly; thence southerly fifteen chains so that his land forms an L; Elizabeth River east, John Denison's gutter south, common land west, William Muer and his own land north."


Thomas Luddington had a Home lot containing six acres; bounded by John Brooks south, Ephraim Burwell north, Highways east and west. He also had nineteen acres, three roods and thirty-two poles, beyond the two-mile brook, on the east nine chains and a half, on the north fourteen chains, on the west fourteen (or nineteen) chains, on the south fourteen chains. "Common land and two-mile brook cast, Francis Lindsley and Mr. Crane north, Edward Riggs also Joseph Riggs, and George Day west, Common land and two-mile brook south."


On March 26, 1686, by Town Surveyor, "Three aeres -by llighway north, fifty-six rods; The two-mile brook and his own land west, thirty-two rods; Mr. Pierson south, fifty-six rods; Samuel Lyon and John Treat cast, thirty-two rods." All of the property owners above named (excepting John Curtis) were living in the same neighborhood, at the extreme south, and southwest end of Newark. As their fam- ilies increased they naturally required more land


691


CLINTON TOWNSHIP


upon which to erect new homesteads, and, quite as naturally, they spread out in their immediate locality ; this is shown by the above surveys, in the vicinity of the two-mile brook. And further we find families of the same name in our present limits of Clinton town- ship.


On April 3, 1712, a survey for lands was made to John Brown, in the right of George Willocks-one of the Lords Proprietors-on Elizabeth River ; "Begin- ning on Bushy Plain brook, where the path that leads to the saw-mill crosses said brook ; thence ( U) north, along the path, 20 chains, to the Highway ; (2) west and by north, 4º westerly, 10 chains along the High- way to Elizabeth River ; (3) down the River one and a half chains, crossing the same west and by north, I' northwesterly, 12 chains ; (4) southwesterly to the beginning; bounded by the Saw-mill path south- easterly, Highway and his own land northerly. Common northwest and southwest, containing twenty- two Heres."


In 1718, James Brown had a deed from John JJohn- ston, a Proprietor, for "twenty-five acres on Logg hill, on the westward side of Elizabeth River; Beginning at a corner of Jonathan Pierson ; thenee (1) N. Go, W. 21.56; (2) N. 54.30, E. 21.50; (2) 5. 50, E. 1.50; (+) S. 31.20. W. 4.10; (5) 5. 44, E. 13.30, to Eliza- beth River; (6) to beginning."


Derd : (1713,) Sonman to Roberts .- On July 20, 1713,Peter Sonmans gave a deed for seventy-one acres of land to Ilugh Roberts.


Beginning of a tree ou a small rocky hill ; thence (!) booth 70° e. 32 to a tree ; (2) youth 150 wert 281g ch. lo William Camp; (3) along Camp north WY w. 5; (4) north 600 w. 7 ; (5) north 790 w. 9 to the side of Brush Plain brook, just by the road that goes to the mountain ; (6) up said road w. 55 w 8 to a tree ; (7) north 42 east 22 to beginning, bounded north- west by unsurveyed land ; cast, unsurveyed land aml Theophilus l'icreon, derrund southeast, John Ward, southwest, William Camp and said road.


Deed : Arents to Roberts .- On Jan. 10, 1720, Dr. Jacob Arents conveyed to Hugh Roberts, Sr., fifty acres and one hundred and fifty rods.


Beginning it a certain road crowing Brushy Plain brook ; thence (1) north 55 west, 8 ch. ; (2) north 42 cut, 22 ch. ; (3) south ~~ ~ 25.20; (4 mouth 450 west 28.25 ; (4) north 60º west 6, (6) to beginning 7.75.


Deed: Tompkins to Roberts .- On Oct. 20, 1724. Micah Tompkins quit-claimed to Hugh Roberts, Sr., fifty-five acres of land adjoining the land I purchased of Mr. John Treat.


Beginning at the southeast corner thereof, and running as the river runs, 19 ch. to a tree , (2) westerly to the land formerly claimed by Zach- arlah Durwell, 39 ch. , (3) motherly 34 to the corner of land formerly clalined by William Muer, lato of Newark, deceased ; (1 along hls line 13 to his easterly corner. I'm moutherly 15. The maid tract is in form of an 1 ; bounded cast by Elisabeth River ; wouth, John Denton's gutter , un- surveyod land, west ; William Muer and my own, n rtb.


In 1720 and 1724, Hugh Roberts conveyed lands to Hugh Roberts, Jr., nt a place called the Great Swamp by the mountain road, partly on Brushy plain.


The will of Ilugh Roberts, May 7, 1737, "being. aged and infirm " names, wife, Mary, sons JIugh, John


and Samuel, daughters, Hannah Smith, Abigail and children of daughter, Rebecca Tompkins, decca ed.


On March 6, 1718, Thomas Lyon and wife Han- nah conveyed to Hugh Roberts, Jr., ten acres, on Brushy plain and Flaggy Swamp.


Beginning at the mountain rod as it runs, 21 13, from Elizabeth Kaver; 1) n. 20 € 2.68, (2) 4. 61, 45 €. 2.58, 19 w 8. 7.9, 14 " " (6 1 6; G) w. 15, (7) I to beginning.


THU MAS LONGWIRTH THOMAS 1.104 HANNAH LTUNS.


1 KLEI V'ANFIELD.


On April 9, 172%, "John Tompkins formerly of Newark, now near Passaic River, 'on the roads on highway to Hanover,'" quit-claimed, in consideration of £17, 10s, paid by my Honored father-in-law, Ilugh Roberts, Ycoman, nineteen and twenty-four one-hundredth acres, adjoin to the plantation of my Itonored father, Michael Tompkins."


Beginning at the orner of the lands of my father, Michart Tompkins, un the west bank of Ellzabeth River. 1) No. 46 & odd ? ; . muth 1.3 or 44 w 4.20 (3) south + 1 east 37 chains more or tem to Elizabeth River , 4 up the river to the beginning.


In 1732-33, Zachariah Hall entered into a bond with Hugh Roberts, Jr., conditioned for the making and maintaining a line of fence between the lands which he had purchased of John Baldwin, and Hugh Robert's, "said fence lying between Wolf Harbor brook and Brushy Plain brook, which lines run from the mountain road on Highway to the land formerly James Brown."


On Dec. 16, 1746, Joseph Roberts, carpenter qui - claimed to Ilugh and Daniel Roberts, one styled Yeomanand the other 'soper ·All right in the one- eighth part of the appurtenances priveledge and ( un- modities, belonging to a saw-mill which was lately built in conjunction. between Ezekiel Crane, Samuel Conger, and Israel Crane, on Elizabeth River, bound- ed by Ezekiel Crane, Job Foster and Jonathan Pierson."


On Oct. 21, 17 -- , (endorsed on back 1751, part of the homestead), Hugh Roberts made a deed of gift "to son, Moses Roberts, one-half of my dwelling-house in which I now live; one-half of an orchard; also forty acres on the west side of the Elizabeth River on west end of the tract."


On July 1s, 1745, Thomas Lyon of " Short Hills," conveyed "a traet on Elizabeth River and the Road." In this deed the names of Benjamin Parkhurst, Josiah Beach, Thomas Johnson, Robert Hayes. Israel t'an- field and Nathaniel Camp appear as adjoining owners.


On Aug. 15, 1747, Ezekiel Crane, joiner, quit- claimed an interest in the mill above-mentioned to Moses Roberts, carpenter.


The following document illustrates the truthfulness of an old adage that troubles may arise in the best- regulated families.


" We, the suberribery, being apprehensive that our wn, Pan ! Roberts, will, after our death, produce some instrumants of writing for the landa




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.