History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 202

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 202
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 202

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On the 12th day of December, 1871, the missionary committee appointed by the Trenton Baptist Associa- tion convened in South Amboy for the purpose of advancing the interests of their denomination. The committee consisted of Rev. D. B. Stout, of Middle- town; Rev. F. S. Griffith, of Holmdel; and Rev. D. S. Parmlee, of Freehold, who met at the house of Mr. W. W. Cook. At this meeting nine residents, mem- bers of the Baptist denomination, associated themselves together to form a church, and in the evening service was held in the basement of Concert Hall by Rev. Mr. Stout. This little band met often for prayer at the residences of the different members, and on Jan. 14, 1872, the meetings were transferred to the base- ment of Concert Hall, where services were held morn- ing and evening by Brother Horace Waters, of New York City. On the 26th of the same month, after a sermon by the Rev. James Huggins, a meeting was held, with Thomas Baker, moderator, and R. Beman, clerk, when the articles of faith and covenant were read and adopted, and signed by twenty members.

The successive pastors have been as follows : Revs. William E. Westervelt, 1867-70; John Brash, 1871; Robert J. Burtt, 1872-79. The present pastor, Rev. Rufus Taylor, D.D., was installed Aug. 21, 1879. The present number of members is sixty, with the following officers : Elders, Moses Laird and A. V. P. Jones; Deacons, A. Blodget and A. V. P. Jones ; Trustees: President and Treasurer, A. V. P. Jones ; Enoch Bergen, John Watson, G. W. Russell, Addison On Feb. 11, 1873, a council was held, composed of Bergen, Morris Voorhis, and James Griffith ; R. | representatives of the Middletown, Bordentown, Tren-

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SOUTH AMBOY.

ton (First), Freehold, and Hightstown Churches, which organized the First Baptist Church of South Amboy. Thomas Baker and W. W. Cook were elected deacons; Isaac Van Duzen, Joseph Carman, Joseph Jackson, Thomas Lingle, and Timothy Woodruff a board of trustees; Robert Ayres, clerk; and W. W. Cook, treasurer.

The church was supplied from week to week until Oct. 2, 1873, when a call was extended to the Rev. Thomas S. Snow, which was accepted, and Mr. Snow entered upon his duties November Ist following.

A brick church edifice was commenced in August, 1875, but was not completed until 1878. The build- ing, which has a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty, was dedicated and opened for service March 27th of that year.

The Rev. Mr. Snow resigned Aug. 1, 1877, and on September 11th following the Rev. D. D. Read was called to the pastorate. He resigned April 24, 1879, and on July 10th following a call was extended to the Rev. L. H. Copeland, who entered upon his pas- toral labors August 22d. He served the church until Feb. I, 1881.

The present pastor, Rev. D. S. Mulhern, was called Feb. 10, 1881.

The present membership numbers sixty-one. The officers are: Deacons, Thomas Baker and Joseph Jackson; Treasurer, Joseph Jackson; Clerk, James Dykes; Trustees, Phineas Mundy, Thomas Blakesley, Bernard Roddy, Benjamin Green, and Samuel L. Durand.

The Sunday-school of the First Baptist Church was organized in January, 1872, with less than ten schol- ars. W. W. Cook was elected superintendent, and Miss Carrie Cook, treasurer. The library and other property of the school was carried in a wicker basket to Concert Hall, where the earlier sessions were held. At the present time there are seventy-five scholars enrolled, and the officers are as follows: Bernard Roddy, superintendent; Harry Ayres, assistant su- perintendent ; Miss M. E. Gunning, treasurer ; Henry A. Snow, secretary ; and Charles H. Roddy, libra- rian. The library contains three hundred volumes.

Lodges, Societies, and Bands .- GEN. MORGAN LODGE, No. 96, I. O. O. F., of South Amboy, was in- stituted Aug. 2, 1849, with the following officers : Peter P. Voorhees, N. G .; Letchworth Cox, V. G .; .

Alfred A. Miller, Sec. ; Charles A. Clark, Asst. Sec. ; Charles Fish, Treas.

The lodge now numbers sixty-six members, and meets every Tuesday evening in Howell's Hall. The officers in 1881 were Robert Shepherd, N. G .; George Bond, V. G .; C. P. Thomas, Sec .; James Betchel, P. S .; David Watson, Treas.

ST. STEPHEN'S LODGE, No. 63, F. AND A. M., was chartered Jan. 22, 1863, with the following charter officers, they comprising the membership: Robert Walker, W. M .; John Sexton, S. W .; J. Watson, J. W .; M. R. Day, R. Stewart, J. Capner, J. Stewart,

J. Sharp. The first lodge-room was over the store of W. C. Perrine. After the erection of Concert Hall they occupied the upper rooms of that building for several years. In 1871 the lodge returned to the hall over W. C. Perrine's store. In 1873, on the comple- tion of B. F. Howell's building, the upper floor was fitted up by St. Stephen's Lodge and Gen. Morgan Lodge, I. O. O. F., and both occupy it at the present time.

The following are the Past Masters and the year of service : Robert Walker, 1863; John Sexton, 1864 and 1865; M. R. Dey, 1866-67 and 1869; Hiram McConnell, 1868 ; John B. Vancleve, 1871-72; Am- brose Treganowan, 1873 and 1875 ; William S. Young, 1874; Rollin H. Guild, 1876-77; Bernard Roddy, 1878-79; Samuel L. Durand, 1880-81.

The following are the newly-elected and appointed officers for 1882: George R. Dingee, W. M .; Charles C. Pearce, S. W .; John V. P. Bissett, J. W .; George W. Jaques, Treas .; Richard Maguire, Sec .; Samuel L. Durand, W. M. S. D .; Charles H. Southwick, J. D .; Rev. G. S. Robinson, Chaplain ; Bernard Roddy, P. M. M. of C .; John H. Green, M. of C .; George L. Everett, Steward; William Mathis, Steward ; Sam - uel C. James, Tyler.

The lodge numbers about seventy-five members, and meets the first and third Monday evenings of each month in Howell's Hall.

ST. PATRICK'S BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, No. 2, was organized Oct. 10, 1869, with Rev. John A. Kelly, president ; John Rea, Sr., vice-president ; William Sullivan, secretary ; John F. Rea, corresponding sec- retary ; Patrick Campion, treasurer.

A charter for this society was granted April 10, 1870. The present officers are Rev. John A. Kelly, president ; William Rea, Ist vice-president ; L. Dolan, Sr., 2d vice-president ; Patrick Campion, treasurer ; William Birmingham, secretary ; Michael Welch, corresponding secretary; George Cheeseman, mar- shal; Richard Burdon, sergeant-at-arms; Patrick Torlan, Patrick Connoll, John Lyons, James Collins, and William Merrick, investigating committee; L. Goode, Thomas Shanaphy, and John Torlan, visiting committee ; Charles H. Thompson, John Sutcliff, and Stephen Lucid, auditing committee; M. P. Byrne, William Minck, and Adam Rea, trustees of the wid- ows and orphan's fund.

The present membership is one hundred. Meetings are held in St. Mary's Hall on the second Sunday in each month.

GOOD SAMARITAN LODGE, NO. 52, K. OF P., was organized June 29, 1870. The officers were installed by A. W. Mayo, D. D. G. C., of New Brunswick, as- sisted by a number of the officers of Friendship Lodge of New Brunswick, and Algonquin Lodge of Perth Amboy.

The first officers were Joseph Wooton, C. C .; William Wooton, V. C .; Levi Vooton, prelate; Ber- nard Roddy, M. of E .; Albert Roll, M. of F .; Isaac

838

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

H. Holmes, K. of R. S .; Richard H. Herring, M. A .; Robert Dykes, I. G .; Jolın M. Voorhees, O. G.

The officers in 1881 were as follows : Joseph Jack- son, C. C .; Charles H. Dey, V. C .; Arthur W. Bost- wick, P .; Thomas Baker, M. of E .; J. F. Fnlton, M. of F .; Robert Dykes, K. of R. S .; Charles Berrian, M. A .; Andrew Newman, I. G .; Garrett Hendnnte, O. G .; Trustees, Bernard Roddy, William B. Endi- cott, and J. F. Fulton.

This lodge meets every Wednesday evening in Concert Hall building, up-stairs.

SENECA TRIBE, No. 23, I. O. OF R. M., is of com- paratively recent organization, and, like Good Sam- aritan Lodge, No. 52, Knights of Pythias, meets in the lodge-room over Concert Hall. In 1881 it had a membership of fifty, and was officered as follows: James McKenna, Sachem; George Story, S. S .; Charles P. Thomas, J. S .; Aaron Culver, W. P .; Isaac Slover, K. W .; John Berlew, G. W .; Clark Mundy, G. F .; Tobias Grace, C. R .; C. B. Pearce, A. C. R.

The committee of Good Samaritan Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Seneca Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 23, recently completed the refur- nishing of their lodge-room over Concert Hall, from the proceeds of a late fair and festival, at a cost of about two hundred and seventy-five dollars. Besides a new carpet and matting, three new chandeliers were placed in the room. Four elegant walnut upholstered chairs for the officers were added, and canopies of rich material were erected over the officers' stations.

ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS, No. 1, of South Amboy, was organized Dec. 10, 1873, with the follow- ing officers : Connty Delegate, P. McDonald; Pres., S. Scully ; Vice-Pres., M. Lncid ; Fin. Sec., E. Mc- Donough; Rec. Sec., J. Murphy ; Treas., Martin Berry.

The officers in 1881 were as follows : Prest., Daniel Coyne; Vice-Prest., Philip McDonald; Fin. Sec., Daniel Duryer ; Rec. Sec., Patrick Coghlin ; Treas., Martin Berry.

The membership at that time was sixty, and the division met the second Sunday of each month.

ST. MARY'S TEMPERANCE AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY .- At a meeting called by the pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, April 7, 1872, it was re- solved to form a temperance society. The pastor was appointed president pro tem., and an election of officers was held which resulted as follows: Rev. John A. Kelley, president ; Edward Gleason, treas- urer ; Thomas Bowe, secretary ; James Manahan, Michael Mahone, Thomas Maguire, and Matthew Connell, investigating committee.

The constituent members were Michael Mahone, James Manahan, James Collins, Michael Kennedy,

Thomas Finley, Matthew Connell, Jeremiah Lynch, Michael Noland, John Powell, Michael Corbit, Peter Migher, James Migher, James Britt, Martin Duggan, William Dollton, Patrick Morris, Welton Costello, Thomas Maguire, John Wood, Timothy Burns, Ste- phen Cannon, Bernard Cannon, and Patrick McDer- mond.

This society was designed both to inculcate upon its members the principles of abstinence from alco- holic liquors as a beverage, and for their mutual benefit when deprived by sickness of the means of earning their livelihood, a funeral benefit of thirty dollars being paid upon the death of a member. It meets at St. Mary's Hall on the third Sunday in each month, and the membership is ninety-six.

The present officers are as follows :

James H. Gordon, president ; Edward H. Shana- phy, vice-president; Richard Burden, treasurer; John Sutcliff, secretary ; George Cheeseman, corresponding secretary ; Matthew McGovern, marshal ; James Col- lins, messenger ; Christopher Dole, sergeant-at-arms; Thomas Bowe, Patrick Coan, Michael Halton, John Mulery, and Thomas Mason, investigating committee; William Birmingham, Patrick Cleary, and Michael Byrnes, auditing committee ; N. Scott, Thomas Byrnes, Matthew McGovern, Neil Leary, and James Collins, sick committee.

COMMODORE CONOVER POST, No. 2, G. A. R., Department of New Jersey, was instituted March 11, 1878, with the following offices :

F. W. Reeder, Commander ; A. L. Rue, S. V. C .; John D. Cottrell, J. V. C .; John B. Morrell, Q. M .; Dr. L. O. Morgan, S .; William Dykes, C .; H. A. Snow, A .; John Ibbs, O. D .; Hugh Capner, O. G .; Jacob Buckelew, S. M .; Joseph Swift, Q. M. S.

The last annual election of officers of this post to date was held on Monday, Dec. 11, 1881, when the following comrades were chosen to the offices men- tioned :

P.C., Gideon H. Hutchinson ; S.V.C., Philip Stump; J. V. C., Walling Wainwright; Q. M., James Mattson; Chap., William L. Davis; Surg., Hugh Capner ; O. D., Hngh Hutchinson; O. G., M. B. Kelley ; Delegate to Dept. Encampment, James Mattson ; Alternate, M. B. Kelley ; Past P. C., Joseph Swift, Hngh Hutchin- son, Hugh Capner.

This organization numbers abont thirty veterans of the late war, and meets every Monday evening at Concert Hall.

CORNET BANDS .- The South Amboy Liberty Band was organized in 1869, with Jolın F. Rea as leader. It now numbers sixteen members, led hy Daniel Reagan.

The Citizens' Band was organized Dec. 1, 1880, and contains eighteen pieces. The leader is William P. Rathburne.

839

RARITAN TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER CIV.

RARITAN TOWNSHIP.

Natural Features .- Raritan was set off from parts of Woodbridge and Piscataway townships on the 17th of March, 1870.

This township has a somewhat diversified soil. In some parts, towards the Union County line (continu- ation of Short Hills), the soil is generally a stiff clay loam, while that of the plains is mostly a sandy loam, being a transition formation of the old red sandstone. All are, however, fertile under proper cultivation, and the township may vie with the neighboring townships of Piscataway and Woodbridge in the variety and quantity of agricultural products. This township is well watered by the Raritan River, which lies upon the southerly border, and also by some smaller streams, which pass through the township. The highways and roads are kept generally in good condition, and in some instances shade-trees are planted along their sides, adding much to the natural beauty of the scenery.

Early Settlements .- This territory having been parts of Piscataway and Woodbridge until 1870, the same family names appear, with few exceptions, among its pioneer settlers.

The Fitz Randolph family are supposed to be de- scended from the ancient Fitz Randolphs of York- shire, in England, mention of whom we find many centuries ago. As early as the time of William the Conqueror, the name of Count Herald Fitz Randolph is mentioned (in the Doomsday Book ordered by King William) among those nobles who accompanied him to England, and upon whom he settled various es- tates. From the " Annals of the Church of Middle- ham," a work by the Rev. William Atthill, canon and sub-dean of Middleham, we ascertain that the manor of Middleham was bestowed by William the Conqueror upon his nephew, Alan Rufus, after the conquest of England, and that Alan Rufus, dying without issue in A.D. 1089, bequeathed the manor and honor of Middleham to his younger brother, Ribald, whose grandson, Robert Fitz Randolph, of Yorkshire, Lord of Middleham, built upon it the castle of Mid- dleham ; and from Robert Fitz Randolph, Lord of Mid- dleham, it passed in regular succession to his lineal descendants (male and female) until it came into the hands of King Henry VI. of England upon the for- feiture of Robert Neville, Earl of Salisbury (the earl being a descendant in the female line of the above Robert Fitz Randolph, Lord of Middleham). In A.D. 1265 we find Lady Mary Fitz Randolph, daugh- ter of Ralph Fitz Randolph, third Lord of Middleham, married Robert Neville, Earl of Raby.

In A.D. 1450, Lady Catherine Fitz Randolph, daughter of Ralph Fitz Randolph, Esq., was mar- ried to Sir Christopher Danhy, judge of the Court of Common Pleas to King Edward IV. Notwithstand-

ing the forfeiture to the English crown (in the reign of King Henry VI.) of the estate of Middleham, the Fitz Randolphs still clung affectionately to their old domain, and we find Sir Ralph Fitz Randolph and Lady Elizabeth, his wife, as late as A.D. 1557 yet re- maining at their seat of "Spennythorne Hall," within one mile of the old " Middleliam Castle" of Sir Ralph's ancestors, the ancient Fitz Randolphs, Lords of Mid- dleham. Lady Elizabeth, wife of Sir Ralph Fitz Ran- dolph, of Spennythorne Hall, was daughter and heiress of Lord Scope, of the barony of Mesham and also of Upsal ; and Lady Elizabeth F. Randolph was heiress of the above baronies after the death of her mother ; she (Lady Agnes Fitz Randolph) married Sir Mar- ınaduke Nyvil, of Constable Barton, member of Par- liament for Ripon.

Edward Fitz Randolph, of the Fitz Randolphs of Yorkshire, England, the founder of the family in America, was born A.D. 1615. He came with his mother, the Widow Fitz Randolph (as she is styled in the records of that day), to New England in 1630, and was married May 10, 1637, to Elizabeth Blossom, of Barnstable, Mass. (daughter of Thomas Blossom, one of the " Pilgrim Fathers"). Edward Fitz Ran- dolph and Elizabeth Blossom had nine children,- Nathaniel, Hannah, Mary, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Thomas, Hope, Benjamin.

About the year 1668, Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom, his wife, with their unmarried children, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Thomas, Benjamin, and perhaps Hope, removed from Massachusetts to this township, then called Piscataway, in the prov- ince of New Jersey. Edward died shortly afterwards, and his widow, Elizabeth Blossom Fitz Randolph, was allowed in A.D. 1676, by the honorable the proprie- tors of the province, to locate land in the right of her deceased husband, which she did, as appears by patent to her for three hundred acres in Piscataway, the patent being dated March 31, 1676. There are also other patents to her and to other members of the family on record for thousands of acres of land be- sides in Piscataway, " Province of New Jersey:" Eliz- abeth Blossom Fitz Randolph deeded, June 26, 1685, a large amount of the lands which she had located to her sons, Joseph, John, Thomas, and Benjamin, and four days after she married her second husband, Capt. John Pike.

Edward Fitz Randolph was a man of note, and is mentioned in the records of Barnstable, Mass., as one of the earliest of that town. But a short account can be given of all the branches of this family, at the present but one interesting historic account of Ed- ward Fitz Randolph, seventh and youngest child of Edward and Phebe, who was born 23d day, 4th month, 1749, about three miles west of Rahway, N. J., and when Gen. Washington with his arıny was located in the vicinity, he got Edward to show him to some prominent point where he could overlook the move- ments of the enemy, and he took him to what is now

840

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

known as Washington's Rock, on the mountain back of Plainfield. Washington watched the movements of the enemy (in company with Edward) during the skirmish between the troops of Sir William Howe and Lord Stirling, near Plainfield, in the campaign of 1777, also during the retreat of his army from the swamps near Rahway.

Edward was the fifth in line from Edward of the first generation in America. He married 26th day, 11th month, 1782, Mary Webster, near Rahway, and had eight children,-Phebe, Sarah, Mercy, Hugh, Mary, Edward, Ira, and Asa.

The Stelle family, whose progenitor in this country was one Pontius Stelle, a Hugnenot, born in France, and emigrated to Staten Island with other French Hugnenots between the years 1668-75, is largely rep- resented in this township, and the beautiful town of Stelton, situated on the Pennsylvania Railroad, is named after them. The Rev. Benjamin Stelle, a dis- tingnished Baptist minister at an early day, was the elder son of Pontius Stelle, and was born in New York in the year 1683, and ordained a pastor of the Piscataway (Stelton) Baptist Church about the year 1739. He continued in this relation till January, 1759, or about twenty years, when he was called to his rest at the good old age of seventy-six years. He united the office of magistrate with that of pas- tor.

In the judgment of his cotemporaries he was a pop- ular preacher and very upright in the administration of justice. He was succeeded in the pastorate of the Stelton Church by his son Isaac, who had been or- dained as assistant to his father in 1752. He took the exclusive oversight of the church in 1759. “I need not," says Edwards, "publish the goodness of the man or the excellence of his preaching, for many are now alive who know both and who regard him as their spiritual father. He was remarkable for his travels among the American churches in company with his other self, Rev. Benjamin Miller." He died Oct. 9, 1781, in the sixty-third year of his age, after a pastorate of twenty-two years and a ministry of twenty-nine years.

Thus have we referred to the early members of the Stelle family, in order to show that this now exten- sive family in this township are not only the first who settled here, but are also the first in organizing the church, schools, and many beneficial enterprises for the improvement of this township when it was a wilderness.

The Rev. Isaac Stelle had among others two sons, Joseph and Samnel. Joseph had a son Isaac, who had five sons, namely, Samuel, who died some twenty- five years since; Lewis R., who was for some fifteen years the proprietor of the New Brunswick Times, and subsequently of the Paterson Guardian, and has been engaged in the silk business in New York State; Au- gustns and James, who are now residents of Stelton ; and Alexander, who died in youth. Isaac Stelle

lived a long, active, useful, and blameless life, and died as one who, wearied of his labors,

" Wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

He reached the age of eighty-fonr. His widow, an intelligent and worthy lady, still survives.

John Barron is made mention of in the records. He was one of the prominent movers in building St. James' P. E. Church, and for many years held posses- sion as warden. Dec. 24, 1714, he sends with others a communication from the vestry of this church. He is represented as a prominent man in Piscataway Town.

Thomas Wetherel was among the early settlers prior to 1700, and also interested in the new St. James' Church, of which he was a warden.

John Molleson was a freeholder in 1668. He took up an allotment of land. He was for many years connected with others in arranging the boundary lines, and was a vestryman in the early church in Piscataway. His brother, Gilbert Molleson, was one of the claimants under the Indian titles and the Nic- olls grant.1

William Hodgson is represented as having been connected with the building of St. James' Church and as vestryman in 1714. He was among the first settlers in Piscataway Town. Many of the name are now residents in the county.

Robert Webster is among the first named as a free- holder and as a proprietor in 1669; a member of the Episcopal Church in Piscataway Town.

Hopewell Hull was from New Haven. His father, Andrew Hull, was one of the first settlers in Connec- ticut. Benjamin and his brother Hopewell are rep- resented in a grant dated Dec. 18, 1666, in Piscat- away, and among others of the township Benjamin Hull, 30th of May, 1668, was announced as an asso- ciate. Hopewell Hull was prominent in establishing the church in Piscataway Town, and for many years as one of the vestrymen of the parish. (See Piscataway township.)

Henry Langstaff came from Piscataqua, Me., in 1666, and was a freeholder in 1682. His name is found in the civil list, holding township offices, at an early date. He was interested in the church, holding official relations thereto in 1714 in Piscataway Town. Mention is made of Mr. Langstaff in Piscataway township.

Samuel Walker was also an early settler. His name is often mentioned in relation to the affairs of township and church. The family are largely rep- resented throughout the county. John Jennings (or Gennings, as it is sometimes spelled) is mentioned in a communication from the vestry in Piscataway Church in relation to building, etc.

William Olden resided in this township prior to

1 Smith's N. J., pp. 211 to 220.

841

RARITAN TOWNSHIP.

1714, but little is now known of the family in the township.

Royce. In the early records " There were planta- tions both above and below the town of Piscataway on the Raritan River, and some lands were located on Millstone River." " John Royce, with Governor Carteret and Thirteen other Associates," had planta- tions, or were interested in the lands on the River Raritan. Their deeds were obtained in 1861.1 Mr. Royce held a patent which contained about twenty thousand acres. Samuel Royce, probably a son of John, is mentioned with others in Piscataway Town in connection with building the first church and acting as one of its officers, Dec. 24, 1714.

The following familiar names of the early settlers are still to be found as residents of the township, and in some instances still occupying and owning lands of these ancestors : Acken, Blake, Lang, Laing, Kelly, Robbins, Edgar, Compton, McPherson, Laforge, La- flower, Agen, Andross, Andrews, Stelle, Fitz Ran- dolph, Sage, Jaques, Hunt, Row, Roe, Ralph, Roth, Ellison, Lodge, Farrote, Martin, Lupardus, Meeker, Dunham, Hardy, Livingston, Whitehead, Dunn, Tap- pin, Sandford, Lambert, Hoyt, Campbell, Bloomfield, Giles, Dunn, Martin, Bonham, Manning, Mundy or Mundage, Stelle, Thomal, Ford or Foard, Talmadge or Talmage, Freeman, Hampton, Thomas, Pain or Payne, Kelley. These families came to a wilderness inhabited by Indians, and here they were compelled to build their homes, clear the lands of the first growth of timber, which was said to have been im- mense in size, "many of the stumps," as an old record affirms, being "over thirty feet in circumfer- ence.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 202

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224