USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88
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(signed) " Jos. READING, " THOS. READING,
"CORNS. HOPPOCK,
"DERRICK HOAGLAND."
CIVIL ORGANIZATION, ETC.
West Amwell township was formed out of the for- mer township of Amwell, by act of the State Legisla- ture, early in 1846. It was entitled “ An Act to Divide the township of Amwell, in the County of Hunterdon," and was approved Feb. 27, 1846. The portion relating to this township was in the following terms :
" Be it enacted," etc., " That the township of Amwell, in the county of Hunterdon, be, and the same is hereby, divided into two separate and in- dependent townships ; and all that part of the said township of Amwell which lies west of the middle of the great road leading direct from Woodsville, by New Market and Rocktown, to the village of Ringos, in said county, shall he, and is hereby, set off into a separate township, to be called and known by the name of ' the township of West Amwell.'"*
Section 3 of the above-mentioned enactment pro- vides that the inhabitants of the township of West Amwell shall hold their first annual town-meeting at the inn of John Menagh, in the village of Mount Airy.+
In 1854 that portion of Ringos which lay in West Amwell-south of the Old York Road, and west of the road from Rocktown to Ringos Station-was, by legislative enactment, annexed to East Amwell.
EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS OF WEST AMWELL.
March 16, 1850 .- " Pursuant to an act to divide the township of West Amwell into the township of West Amwell and the town of Lambert- ville, this is to certify that wo, the joint committees appointed to settle the matter of division and all linbilities, have this day settled all mattere according to the minutes of the clerk of the town and township, except the matter of roads and Hannah Akers, a Innatic, which are deferred."
Signed by George A. Kohl, George B. Holcombe, commissioners of Lambertville ; Gideon Phillips, Nel- son V. Young, commissioners of West Amwell.
* Session Laws, 1846, p. 81. + Ibid., p. 82.
April 14, 1851 .- Decided that the York Road he kept free. No plank-road on any road in said town- ship that is a publie road.
1851 .- Amount of duplicate was $1487.34. "Paid James N. Reading counsel's fees $5."
1854 .- The township of West Amwell paid $42.10 to East Amwell, being the balance due after deduct- ing the debts of the township.
CIVIL LIST OF WEST AMWELL.
The following persons have served as the principal officers of the township from its organization to the present time :
John H. Wilson was the first assessor of West Am- well (1846), he having served the two preceding years as assessor of the former township of Amwell. He continued to fill the office until the spring of 1848, when, Lambertville having been set off from West Amwell and incorporated into a town, he was again chosen, and served one year in the township as at present constituted.
George B. Holcombe was the first collector of the township, and served two years, when, Lambertville heing set off, and he residing therein, he was chosen as its collector, and Israel Higgins was elected col- lector of West Amwell.
The first township committee of West Amwell was composed of the following gentlemen : George A. Kohl, Israel Higgins, Caleb F. Fisher, Jacob B. Smith, and John Sehold; first township clerk, John S. Drake ; first constable, John C. Todd.
In accordance with a usage at that time existing, the assessor and collector of the township were also elected overseers of the poor; consequently, John H. Wilson and George B. Holcombe were overseers until Lambertville was set off, and then Israel Higgins in the place of George B. Holcombe.
Following is a list of the principal officers of this township from its organization to the present time :
CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
1846, Charles Holcombe, Joseph Phillips; 1847-48, Thomas B. Carr, Joseph Phillips; 1849, Alexander P. Holcombe, Joseph Phillips; 1850-51, Alexander P. Holcombe, Joseph Mathews; 1852-54, Jos. Mathews; 1855, Charles Wilson ; 1856-50, Isaac Mathews ; 1860-62, Cornelius H. Rose ; 1863-65, Joseph Q. Taylor ; 1866-68, Charles Wilson ; 1869- 71, George H. Mathews; 1872-74, Peter S. Pidcock ; 1875-77, Bloom- field Blackwell; 1878-80, James C. Fackenthall.
ASSESSORS.
I846-40, John H. Wilson ; 1850-54, Edward G. Phillipa; 1855-58, Joseph Phillips; 1859-62, Samuel IIolcomhe ; 1863-66, John S. Drake ; 1867- 70, Nelson V. Young; 1871-72, Isaac Mathews; 1873, James J. Fisher ; 1874, Isaac Mathews; 1875-77, William II. Drake; 1878-80, Jacob F. Larison.
COLLECTORS.
1846-47, George B. Holcombe; 1848-52, Israel Higgins; 1853-55, Daniel Skinner; 1856-59, Joseph Mathews; 1860-63, George M. Holcombe ; 1864-66, Caleb Fisher ; 1867-69, Isaac Mathews; 1870-72, Alexander Mathews; 1873-75, Charles Wilson ; 1876-78, Alexander Mathews; 1879-80, Edward B. Ilolcombe.
TOWN CLERKS.
1816-49, John S. Drake; 1860-54, George M. Holcombe; 1855, Noleon V. Young ; 1856-60, Edward G. Phillips ; 1861-65, Edward B. Holcombe;
CALEB FARLEY FISHER.
Caleb Farley Fisher was born May 6, 1809, on the estate where he now resides, in West Amwell, Hunterdon Co., N. J. The following history of this place was given hy Dr. George II. Larison, son-in-law of Mr. Fisher, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of the occupants. The land was purchased of the Indians, in 1703, by John Mills, William Bid- dle, Jr., and John Reading, on the part of the province of West Jersey, and the two Indian chiefs, Himhammoe and Copounoe- kous, on the other part. The tract contained one hundred and fifty thousand aeres more or less, and was purchased for seven hundred pounds. It was then divided into proprietary shares of five thousand aeres each, of which Benjamin Field took his portion in two lots,-one of three thousand acres fronting on the Delaware from Lambertville southward, thence east, and the other two thousand acres in and around Ringos,-of which said Benjamin Field conveyed a smaller traet of two hundred aeres to certain land speculators in succession, Marmaduke Horsman, John Arney and his son Joseph, and Thomas Eaman, who sold the same to Peter Fisher in 1729, where he lived and died at an old age, and his children's children down to Caleb F. Fisher have followed him.
.
On a site near the present dwelling, hy a spring of never- failing water, formerly stood an Indian wigwam, and at the foot of the hill, near the dwelling of Charles Wilson, was an Indian burying-ground, which is visible to this day.
Mr. Fisher married, Dec. 2, 1829, Rebecca A. HIoleomhe, hy whom he has had the following named children : Jacob, horn Ang. 23, 1830; Ann Elizabeth, born Dee. 8, 1831; Martha Re- beeen, born Dee. 23, 1833; James J., horn Oet. 18, 1835; Sarah Q., born Dee. 29, 1837 ; Emma, horn Sept. 9, 1839; Farley, born Nov. 1, 1841; Robert II., born Oct. 17, 1843; Lewis C., horn Aug. 21, 1845; John, born Sept. 28, 1847; Alida, horn April 29, 1850; Maria L., horn Oct. 11, 1853. All these lived to maturity.
After fifty years of married life, with its varied experiences, they celebrated their golden wedding on the 2d of December, 1879. The children were all present, as well as numerous grandchildren. Dr. George II. Larison, of Lambertville, gave the history of the old homestead. Hon. Joseph G. Bowne, who had been groomsman at the marriage in 1829, made a very appropriate andl touching address, in which he alluded to the changes of half a century since he stood with the young bride and groom at the marriage altar, and witnessed the solomn ceremonies pronounced by that eminent minister, Jacob Kirk- patrick, D.D., of Ringos. He was among the few survivors present on that occasion. The grandchildren then present sig-
nalized the occasion by presenting Mr. Fisher with a handsome gold-headed cane, and Mrs. Fisher with a large easy rocking- chair, accompanied by the following card :
"WEST AMWELL, N. J., Dec. 2, 1879.
"We, the undersigned grandchildren of Caleb F. Fisher and Rebecca A. Fisher, at the fiftieth anniversary of your marriage, present you, our grandfather, Caleh F. Fisher, with a cane, and you, our grandmother, Rebecca A. Fisher, with this ehair, as remembranees of this semi-centennial anniversary of your marriage.
"Children of Jacob F. Fisher : Edward G. Fisher, Wm. L. Fisher, Laura M. Fisher, George L. Fisher, Fred Fisher, Minnie J. Fisher, Harry Fisher.
"Children of Wm. F. Holcombe : Farley F. Holcombe, Theo- dore F. Holeombe, Solomon H. Holcombe.
"Children of Charles Johnson : Sarah F. Johnson, Fisher C. Johnson, George Johnson.
"Children of James J. Fisher: Charles H. Fisher, S. Harry Fisher, Farley F. Fisher, Anna F. Fisher.
"Children of George H. Larison : Francis W. Larison.
"Children of John N. Golden : Kate S. Golden, W. F. Golden.
"Children of Farley Fisher : Bertha Fisher, Edwin Fisher, Otis Clifford Fisher, Lizzie II. Fisher.
" Children of Robert HI. Fisher : Clinton W. Fisher.
"Children of Lewis C. Fisher : Laura W. Fisher, Lizzie Fisher, Lula Mand Fisher."
The auniversary was closed by an invocation and benediction by Rev. C. S. Converse.
Mr. Fisher has pursued the occupation of a farmer on the old homestead all his life, and has taken but little active part in polities. He was the efficient collector of his township during the war, when more than ordinary labor and responsibility de- volved upon that officer, and his services were sought hy his townsmen. Ile has served on the committee, first and last, for a period of twenty years, and at present holds the office of justice of the peace. It is, however, his policy to make the duties of this office as light as possible by advising his neigh- hors to settle their difficulties among themselves without resort to litigation. He joined the First United Presbyterian Church of Amwell in November, 1831, and was appointed ruling elder in Muy, 1836, which office he still holds. Ile has always lived on the homestead on which ho was born, and during his life- time his church has passod under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Newton, then Raritan, and now New Bruns- wiek.
Jacob Read
JACOB REED was born at New Market, Hunterdon Co., N. J., July 4, 1806, and has resided there ever since. His great-grandfather, Richard Reed, was born June 30, 1711, and his wife, Mary, Nov. 9, 1713. Hle purchased the property of Achsa Lambert, of Trenton, the deed bearing date April 20, 1747. The estate passed from him to his son John, and from John to Jacob Reed, the subject of this sketch, and hence has had but three owners in a period of one hundred and forty-one years. His father, Levi Reed, being a young man of twenty-six when he died, did not inherit the property.
John Reed, son of Richard, was born July 6, 1742, and was a lieutenant of militia in the Revolutionary war. Ile married Leah Golden, who was born April 19, 1757, and had eight children, five of whom reached maturity. Of these, Levi Reed, father of Jacob, was born July 29, 1784, and married Lena, daughter of John Quick and Mary Schenck, both of Hunterdon County. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy ; the other, Jacob Reed, the subject of this notice, was born July 4, 1806, as above stated. He inherited from his grandfather the farm on which he now resides, consisting of one hundred and fourteen acres, portions of the original three hundred and thirty-four aeres having been sold by his grandfather at an earlier date.
Mr. Reed was brought up on the farm, and re- ceived his education at the common schools. He has followed the occupation of farming from boyhood, and may be regarded as a successful man in that primitive and honorable callin Ile has been twice married.
He married, first, Ann, daughter of Thomas Stout and Elizabeth Burrows. She died Sept. 3, 1834. By this marriage there were three children, two of whom reached maturity, and one is still living,-viz., Ellen, wife of John C. Quick. The other, Margaret, was born March 16, 1833, married Horatio N. Ege, of Hopewell township, Mercer Co., and thence moved to Jersey City. She raised a family of five children, -- one son and four daughters. She became a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life, and was a Christian woman and a friend to the poor. She died Oct. 17, 1875. Her last words were, " Hark ! I hear the sweet music of the skies! Bright ! Bright !" Iler remains were deposited in Greenwood Cemetery, New York, lot No. 22,889.
Ellen Quick has two children,-Sarah and Mary.
For his second wife Mr. Reed married Maria, daughter of John Wyckoff, of West Amwell, Oet. 31, 1837. They have three sons living,-viz., John W., who married Sarah F., daughter of Nathaniel and Maria Hunt ; Levi H. Reed, who married Ann Sarepta, daughter of Nehemiah and Ann Blackwell, who reside on the farm ; and Abraham G. Reed, of Jersey City, who married Jennie, daughter of Schenck and Elizabeth Moore.
In polities Mr. Reed is a Republican. IIe has held several township offices, such as collector, overseer of the poor, member of the town committee, etc., and has sustained the reputation of a man of honesty and integ- rity. Ile has also held the office of commissioner of deeds. In all his business transactions he has avoided litigation, having never sued auy ouo nor been sued.
349
WEST AMWELL.
1866-69, Richard H. Wilson ; 1870-72, William H. Drake; 1873-76, Edward B. Holcombe; 1877-79, Philaader H. Hartwell; 1880, Seeley S. Phillips.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.
1846, George A. Kuhl, Israel Higgins, Calob F. Fisher, Jacob B. Smith, John Scholl; 1817-48, Caleb F. Fisher, John Sebold ;* 1819, Gideon Phillips, David W. Wilson, Caleb F. Fisher, John Sebold, Nelson Y. Young; 1850, Gideon Phillips, John H. WUNon, Caleb F. Fisher, John A. Abbott, Nelson V. Young; 1851, Gideon Phillips, John II. Wilson, Caleb F. Fisher, John C. Holcombe, Nelson V. Young : 1852, Gideon Phillips, John II. Wilson, Daniel Skinner, John C. Holcombe, Nelson V. Young; 1853, John S. Drake, John II. Wilson, Cornelius II. Rose, Lewis Drake, Jacob Reed; 1854, John S. Drake, John H. WIlson, Cornelius II. Rose, Peter Lnrew, Jacoh Reed; 1855, John S. Drake, Isaac Mathews, Jr., Cornelius H. Rose, Peter Larew, Jacob Reed ; 1856, John S. Drake, George Muirhend, Cornelius II. Ilose, Tunie Fisher, Lewis Haguman ; 1857, John S. Abbott, George Muir- hend, Houry R. Dilts, Tonis Fisher, Lewis Hagumnn ; 1858, John S. Drake, Vincent R. Mathews, Heury R. Dilts, Tunis Fisher, Andrew Holcombe; 1859, John S. Drake, Jonathan Phillips, H. R. Dilts, C'has. Wilson, Andrew Ilolcombe: 1860, John S. Drake, Peter S. Pidcock, George E. WHson, Charles Wilson, Andrew Holcombe ; 1861, John S. Druke, l'eter S. Plicock, Geo. E. Wilson, Clins. Wilson, Isaac Mathews, Jr .; 1862, John Cray, Peter S. Pidcock, Joseph Sebold, Charles Wilson, Isaac Mathews, Jr .; 1863, George II. MInthews, Henry R. Dilta, Lemuel Phillips, Caleh F. Fisher, Isaac Mathews, Jr. ; 1861, George II. Mathews, Henry R. Dilts, Lemuel Phillips, Charles Wil- Hon, Isaac Mathews, Jr. ; 1865, George HI. Mathews, Jacob Reed, Lommel Phillips, Charles Wilson, Isanc Mathews, Jr .; 1860, George II. Mathews, Jucol, Reed, Lemuel Phillips, Andrew Holcombe, Isine Mathews, Jr .; 1467, George IT. Mathews, Jacob Reed, Lemuel Phil- Ups, Andrew Holcombe, Caleb F. Fisher ; 1868-69, John S. Drake, Hiram Wilson, Israel Wilson, Andrew Holcombe, Caleb F. Fisher; 1×70, John S. Drake, IHrum Wilson, Ellas Lambert, Andrew Hol- combe, Calsh F. Fisher ; 1871, John S. Drake, HIram WHson, Elias Lambert, Richard H. Wilson, Caleb F. Fisher ; 1872, John S. Drake, Hiram Wilson, Elias Lambert, Richard 11. Wilson, Alfred Buchaoan; 1873, Caleb F. Fisher, Hiram Wilson, John G. Muirhend, Richard HI. Wilson, Asher Ego ; 1>71, Robert HI. Smith, Jacob A. Wilson, Sanmel R. Vanbuskirk, Alfred Buchanan, Asher Ege; 1873, John S. Drake, Jacob A. Wilson, Samuel R. Vanbuskirk, Alfred Buchanan, Theo- dure HI. Smith ; 1876, John S. Drake, Jacob A. Wilson, Sommel R. Vanhuskirk, Hiram Wilson, Theodore IT. Smith; 1477, John S. Drake, Isaac Mathews, Robert 11. Fisher, HHram Wilson, Theodore 11. Smith ; 1878, John S. Drake, Isaac Mathews, Robert II. Fisher, Hiram Wilson, Peter S. Pidcock ; 1879, Peter S. Pidcock, Robert II. Fisher, John II. Wilson; 1880, Lemnel Phillips, John S. Drake, Charles Wilson.
VILLAGES.
There are no villages of any importance in this township, nor any post-office, Lambertville, Ringos, ete., affording postal facilities.
Mount Airy contains a church, a school, a black- smith- and wagon-shop, a store (kept by A. B. Hol- combe), aml a grist-mill, owned by James Fackenthall, and about a dozen dwellings. The hotel formerly kept here has gone down.
Rocktown und New Market are partly within East Amwell. At the former there was early, and for many years, a tavern, now occupied as a store (see an necount of New Market, in history of East Amwell ).
CHURCHLES.
The only churches in West Amwell are the small Methodist Episcopal church at New Market, supplied
by the pastors of that denomination located at Lam- bertville, and the feeble Vinitarian Society. "on the mountain." But Lambertville, with its numerous and fine houses of worship, as well as the several churches at Ringos and other adjacent points, afford the people of the township ample religious privileges.
SCHOOLS.
The four school districts of this township are num- bered 104, 105, 106, and 107, and are known by the appellations of Rocktown, Mount Airy, High Valley, and Mount Range, respectively. Each district has a very good school-house, particularly that of Mount Airy, which is valued at about $2000, the others at from $500 to $600 each. These schools have three male and one female teacher, who taught last year an average of nearly ten months, giving instruction to 106 scholars. As the buildings will comfortably seat 200 pupils, the facilities and accommodations seem to be equal to the present demand or the needs of the immediate future,-unless the 323 children of school age in the township should all become imbued with a desire for knowledge and attend at the same time. In 1879 there were 62 children in the township who did not attend either public or private schools.
The following history of the schools is compiled, by permission, from the "Centennial Report of the Schools of Hunterdon County," 1876, by the then officiating county school superintendent, Rev. L'orne- lius S. Conkling.
In the Rocktown district, No. 104, the first school- house, built of logs, stood in Hagaman's woods, near C. F. Fisher's farm. When it was erected cannot be learned. John Mountain taught there very early, but it is doubtful if he was the first teacher.
The second school-house was a frame one, and stood on the corner of the lot where the present building stands. It was built about eighty-five years ago. The oldest teacher in this building that i- now remembered was Joshua Jones. The house now in use was built in 185-1. It is a frame building.
District No. 105 is known as "Mount Airy." In 1798 there was a school-house on the farm now owned and occupied by Hon. I. G. Bowne; in 1800 there was a school-house on the farm of Hon. F. S. Hol- combe, near the station. There were also school- buildings on the farms respectively of Joseph Hop- pock, west of Mount Airy station, and Samuel Barber, near Dilts' Corner. The last-named house, when rebuilt, was removed to Van Dolah's, and is now the school-house of District 96, and both were in what. are now the bounds of " Van Dolah's." Master Moun- tain also taught in the Mount Airy district.
The first house of which any very clear knowledge can be ascertained was 20 feet square, of stone, and octagonal in shape. Judge Holcombe says, "I com- meneed going to school in this house in 1823, and Joshma Jones was my first teacher." Nelson V. Young, now of Lambertville, taught here for fifteen
* Notwithstanding a diligent search was made by the writer, and many of the citizens of the township, for some of the missing town records, these two years were not satisfactorily filled. The two persons named evidently served in 1847-48, having been elected in ISJe, and bring still In office In 1839.
350
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
years. The old school-house was still standing in 1877, when the present one was erected on its site.
High Valley district, No. 106, has a neat but small school-building, but we can give no data of their early schools or houses.
In Mount Range, No. 107, the first house was of stoue, 20 by 22 feet, but when built or where located is not known. The present building was erected in 1858; it is 21 by 28 feet, and has good seating accom- modatious.
SOCIETIES, ETC.
The only incorporated company (outside of Lam- bertville and its industrial interests) of which we find any mention is the "Lambertville and Rocky Hill Turnpike Company," iucorporated by act of the Legislature iu 1860. Ingham Coryell, Charles A. Skillman, Alexander B. Holcombe, Bloomfield Black- well, David O. Larue, Jacob V. Young, Joseph B. Dalrymple, John L. Case, and John Riley were the corporators, with a capital stock of $20,000. Their charter of incorporation empowered them to "con- struct a plank or turnpike road from Lambertville to Rocky Hill, in Somerset County, with a branch from the same at or near Ringos to Ringos Station, on the Flemington Railroad."*
"The Mount Airy Vigilant Society" was organized on the second Wednesday in January, 1873, with the following officers: C. F. Fisher, President; Isaac Mathews, Vice-President; Edward B. Holcombe, Treasurer; F. S. Holcombe, Secretary. Its first di- rectors were John S. Drake, John H. Wilson, Ander- son Wilson, Horace Runkle, and Bloomfield Black- well. The officers and managers remain much the same at the present time.
There are no secret societies in the township, al- though Lambertville has a fair representation of the various orders.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS AND PERSONAGES.
Capts. Cornelius Hoppock, John Phillips, and Robert Sharp were Revolutionary worthies from this section. Samuel Holcombe was a scout during the war, and two of his relatives, Elijah and Maj. George, were soldiers in the patriot army. The latter is said to have been a most daring officer. He was once cut off from his command by a party of British soldiers, and escaped by swimming a stream amid a shower of bnl- lets from the enemy. Emanuel, Charles, and Philip Pidcock, sons of the pioneer Jonathan, went into the militia and served valiantly through the war. On one occasion a company of British and Tories came up from Trenton to "hunt rebels." Charlest was at home, disabled from hard marching. He tried to es- cape by the front door, but that was guarded. He went to the back door, and there too stood two armed men, but, taking advantage of the darkness, he sprang past the guard and fled up the steep sides of Goat Hill, the rocks cutting his feet at every step. A sharp volley of balls fell around him, and the soldiers rushed up the hill after him. Young Pidcock found a hiding-place uuder a large rock; his pursuers even stood upon it, but, failing to find him, gave up the search. During the affair the officer in command of the party lost his chapeau. Charles became its pos- sessor, and was proud of his trophy.
We refer the reader to the history of Lambertville, in this work, for incidents connected with the Revo- lution, particularly those events which happened at Coryell's Ferry and vicinity.
No noteworthy incident has recently occurred to excite the quiet of this peaceable, industrious people. A memorable occasion, however, was the golden wed- ding of the Rev. Dr. Jacob Kirkpatrick, Dec. 13, 1859, and another, although of a mournful character, was the death of that venerable pastor.
EAST AMWELL.
SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, ETC.
EAST AMWELL is located in the southeastern cor- ner of Hunterdon County, bordering upon both Som- ersct and Mercer. As a remnant of the territory of ancient Amwell, it yet is noted as one of the finest agricultural districts in the county. It now contains 27 square miles of territory, or 17,248 acres, and is larger than the portion from which it was severed in 1846, known as West Amwell.
It is bounded on the north by Raritan township;
east by Hillsborough and Montgomery, in Somerset County ; south by Hopewell, of Mercer County ; west by West Amwell and Delaware townships.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The surface of East Amwell is that of undulating hill and dale, except in its southern portion, which is quite hilly and rough. Its soil, save in the small dis-
¡ Charles Pidcock-known to the older citizens as " Uncle Charles"- tended the mill at Wells' Falls, and lived in a long narrow house at the foot of Goat IllIl.
* Session Laws, 1860, pp. 575-83.
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EAST AMWELL.
triet mentioned, is very fertile and suited to a mixed husbandry.
Sourland Mountain is a range of high hills which follow along the south line of this township, crosses its southeast corner, and runs well into Hillsborough in a southwest by northeast direction.
The principal streams are the Neshanic River and Back and Rocky Brooks. The former heads in Dela- ware township, flows nearly easterly, crosses the north part of this township, and empties into the South Branch of the Raritan, in Somerset County. Mal- lard Brook,* commonly known as Back Brook, rises west of Ringos, flows nearly the whole length of the township, and joins the Neshanie at a point about a mile from the castern line of the town.
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