USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 18
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 18
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 18
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An important trade has been long had in marl, with which the northern portion of Mannington abounds. It was discovered in 1838 by Joseph Bas- sett, who began to dig and sell it to the farmers around about. His trade kept pace with the increase in confidence with which the marl was regarded by those who need it, gradually growing to important proportions, and the marl pits, now the property of Mr. Bassett's heirs, constitute one of the most valua- ble business interests in this section. Another marl- bed is located on the Richard Hiles property, and is owned by William Slape.
A limekilo, now the property of Clarkson Lippin- cott, has been some years in operation on Fenwick's Creek, near the bridge connecting Mannington with Salem. Ilere is also a landing and a coal-wharf be- longing to Dunn & Zerns. Henry B. Richman has a second limekiln and landing, established a few years ago on Salem Creek, and known as Webber's Hill landing. Two steam-barges stop there daily during the season of navigation.
Maunington has long been noted for its fruit. which grows luxuriantly, and for the fine varieties of bearing and ornamental trees cultivated there. Sam- nel Reeves had an early nursery near Mannington IFill, from which fifteen thousand peach trees werr sold in one season as long ago as 1832. The cele- brated " Centreton Nurserie," of Mr. Clark Pettit were established by David Pettit in 1837, and by him owned and cultivated successfully most of the time until 1867. Frank Pettit became the proprietor about ten years ago, and soon sold them to the present owner. These nurseries are very extensive and of wide-spread reputation, and Mr Pettit is also well known as a brerler of " Jersey Bed" hogs and
The first water-power grist-mill in the county was . fancy poultry, which he ships to all sections of the
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1.1%-47. Pavil Vann. man.
1-37-39. Joshnh Thompson. 1858-62. William C. Sheppard.
1-63. Samuel l. Alleu.
439
TOWNSHIP OF MANNINGTON.
United States and Canada. II. T. Shoemaker, of now lives. It closed its doors upon the publie in 1$24.
this township, is also a prominent nurseryman, his business being of recent establishment.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
Mannington Hill .-- The principal village in Man- nington in point of historie interest is Mannington Hill, which is situated on a slight elevation near the centre of the township. It contains within its some- what uncertain boundaries a goodly settlement, com- prising among its inhabitants many persons of thrift . 1834, and whose widow soll the store to Richard Du- and enterprise.
The most prominent and interesting feature in the history of the village is an episode which occurred during the Revolutionary war, and which is this re- lated in the " Historieal Collections" of Messrs. Bar- ber and Howe:
" During the American Revolution, a small party of the enemy, at night, broke into a house occupied by a Mr. Ambler, in this village. The family con- sisted of the old gentleman and wife and two daugh- ter». The party, on entering, commanded them to keep perfectly quiet, and not to lift their hands from under the bed-clothes on pain of being murdered. After rifling the rooms of the valuables and such articles as they could conveniently carry, they de- camped."
This house was rebuilt, and was afterwards long Joseph Sheppard's residence.
Vessels carly landed at Mannington Hill, and there was a store-house, probably two hundred years ago, on the farm now owned by the heirs of David Pettit.
On the James J. Pettit farm the Bine- sisters, four maiden ladies, kept a store for many years, as is sup- posed, until 1826. They are said to have dealt in a great variety of merchandise, including about every- thing demanded by the people of those days, and to have dispen-ed whiskey wholesale and retail in such quantities as paid them right royally. Later mer- chants at "the hill" were Joseph Nicholson, John Lawrence, and Mrs. David Bassett.
From time immemorial Mannington Hill has been the scene of the labors of the blacksmith and the wheelwright. Among local blacksmiths during the past sixty years may be mentionel Jacob Frea-, Ebenezer Lott, David S. English, Furman Wood- eides, Richard Robinson, Joseph K. Chew, and the Foxes, Mark, Minor, and Elwood, the latter being the present blacksmith. Enoch Allen, Isaac Wood, David Peterson, Howell Hoffinan, Samuel Barnet, George Sheppard, and George Fox, the latter now carrying on business, are mentioned as among the most prominent wheelwright- during a like period.
Up to twenty years ago several shoemakers succes- -ively located at Mannington Hill, remaining for a greater or less time respectively. The last of the-e was Samuel Snellbaker. His predecessor was Jacob Curlin.
Welchville .- This is a hamlet southwest of Man- nington JJill, on the road to Claysville, containing a store, a blacksmith-shop, and a wheelwright-shop. : few dwellings, and a building known as "the town hall."
Welebville was named in honor of Morris Welch, who opened a store there about 1846. Six years later he was succeeded by Wood Van Meter, who died about bois, who was succeeded, in 1850, by Benjamin Bowen, who sohl out to J. Harvey Robinson in ISSI.
The building occupied by the wheelwright- and blacksmith-shop- was erected by Joseph C. Sheppard in 1848. About 1849 he sold the wheelwright-shop to Samuel Barnett, and the blacksmith-shop to Charles Seagrave. Both shops had other occupants later, and about twenty-five years ago were purchased of John Armstrong, the then ocenpant, by Willian: Fox. the present owner.
Halltown .- This is an old handlet, in the north pant of the township, and it was the locality of the residence of the HIall family, of Mannington, a well- remembered representative of which was John Ilall. It was formerly known as " llall's Corners."
One of the early residents there was a Dr. Dixon. who built a house, which is still standing, at a date too remote to be named by the best-informed inhab- itants. The school-house lot is a part of the prop- erty once owned by him.
A store was built there in: 1840 by Jeremiah Fox, who kept it until 1849. He was succeeded by Thomas J. Casper, Holmes Wright, Samuel Benner, John Casper, Lynn & Patterson, and John Layton, who became proprietor in March, 1856, and not long thereafter the building was burned. Mr. Layton re- built the store, and kept it until his death. Dayton Riley then purchased the property and for a time kept the store, but it soon passed into the possession of Samuel P'. and Collins Allen, who were bis backers in what proved to him an unsuccessful enterprise. William and Furman Mattson later kept the store. The present proprietor is William Payton.
In 1840, Thomas Fousburg built and opened a wheelwright-shop. Thomas Wright removed to Hall- town in 1851, and in 1853 built a wheelwright-shop, and in 1855 bought the Fousburg property, leasing a blacksmith-shop belonging to the "store property," then owned by Thomas J. Casper, which he occupied until 1875, when he erected his pre-ent shop. From 1875 to 1878 John Ballinger and William Wilson successively occupied the blacksmith-shop vacated by Mr. Wright.
Marlboro .- Marlboro is a hamlet largely popu- Inted by colored people, which grew up near the marl- pits in the northwest part of the township as the result of the trade there established in marl, as else-
There was long ago a taveru where Elwood Fox , where stated. Thomas Marshall, a colored man,
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440
HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
opened a small store there in 1$39, and upon his death was succeeded by one Scott, also colored. Samuel J. Moore, a colored man, succeeded Scott, and continued business there until ISSo.
Benjamin Abbott became proprietor of this stand in 1850, and sold out to Edward Kiger in 1881. A post-office was established in 1880, with Abbott in charge. Edward Kiger is the present postmaster. Another store was established by Thomas F. Lippin- cott in 1878.
Marlboro is scattered over considerable territory, and contains two colored Methodist Episcopal Churches, the two stores referred to, and several dwellings, most of them small and all of them un- pretentious. This place was formerly known as Marshallville, in honor of Thomas Marshall.
Claysville .- Claysville is an unimportant hamlet, across Fenwick Creek from Salem, and until 1882 de- rived some distinction from the fact of its being the . was standing at a kitchen window at Mr. Bilder- terminus of the Salem Railroad, recently extended into the city.
It is inhabited chiefly by colored people, though several respectable white families also reside and own i property there.
It contains three stores, a blacksmith-shop, a wheel- wright-shop, a school-house, a Methodist Church (col- ored), and about twenty-five dwellings.
One store wa- opened, about 1852, by Lizzie Nickens (colored), who still keeps it. The store of John Noble was opened by the present proprietor about 1856. The building which has been occupied since 1870 by Daniel Burton (colored) as a store was built about that time by Burton & Reynolds (colored), with a view to open- ing it as a hotel ; but failing to obtain a license, Rey- nolls withdrew from the enterprise and Burton estab- lished the store he has since kept.
The blacksmith-shop was established by Furman Wood-ides about 1832. Richard Ernest took pos- session in the spring of 1832. The wheelwright-shop was opened many years ago by Joseph R. Chew, and has been ocenpied by Joseph Harrison since the spring of 1882.
Acton Station .- By this name is known a flag- station on the Salem Railroad, in the southern part of this township, whence much milk is shipped by farmers to Camden and Philadelphia.
Public Schools .- The earliest schools in this town- ship were established at Mannington Hill and at Ifall- town. They and some of those established later in other neighborhoods were "pay-schools," organized on the basis of a stated tuition per scholar, payable by parents to teachers.
Under the public school laws of New Jersey, Man- nington is divided into nine school districts, known and numbered thins: Claysville, No. 15; Wyncoup, No. 16; Red School, No. 17; Haines' Neck, No. 18; Halltown, No. 19; Concord, No. 20; Centreton, No. 21; Swedey' Bridge, No. 22; Mount Zion, No. 23. The number of children of the school age in the
township is six hundred and eighty-one, and f. .. male and seven female teachers are usually employ :
A Well-Remembered Murder. - A most diahey! cal and brutal murder was perpetrated near Hallton; in this township, on Nov. 11, 1852. A woman nats 1 Mary Treadway, about thirty-two years of age, w ... the victim, and upon circumstantial evidence of , strong character, her husband, Samuel Treadway was charged with the murder. She had been living about two months previous to her death in the fami !; of Edward Bilderback as a servant, having separat. ! from her husband, owing to his bad temper and vio. lent treatment. He had been convicted and . tenced to a short term of imprisonment, some ti !!! previous to the murder, on the charge of assault and battery and threatening the life of his wife. Il .. sentence expired about two weeks previous to the murder. On the evening of the day mentioned. she back's, washing dishes, when a shot was fired from without, which took effect principally in her len breast. She immediately exclaimed, "Oh, I am shot!" and staggered through the sitting-room inte the parlor, where she died in about twenty minutes.
A coroner's jury was summoned, and a post-mort .. m examination was made. Forty-four large shot wer. found in and on the body, one of which had penetrated the right ventricle of the heart, and was the imme- diate cause of death, although sufficient other inja- ries were made to have produced that result. T !.. deceased was enceinte at the time of death. The jury rendered their verdict that the deceased came to her death by gunshot-wounds, believed to have been in- tieted by her bushand, Samuel Treadway.
In the mean time the husband was arrested and lodged in prison. He was fully committed for trial and was tried in December following, condenmed, and sentenced Jan. 1, 1$53, to be hanged March Ist ensu- ing. He made a confession of his crime January 11th, which was published soon afterwards, and he was hanged as sentenced, after making a statement of the circumstances which led him to the commission of the crime.
A Mastodon Unearthed .-- In August, 1869, while Mr. Joseph R. Hackett was digging marl near Swedes Bridge, in Mannington township, on what was for- merly the Lewis Bradway farm, he unearthed part of the skeleton of a mastodon, the head alone of which weighed over four hundred pounds, and measured across two feet ten inches, and in length six feet. The other parts found were in proportion. The following fall Mr. Hackett exhibited the remains at several agri- cultural fairs, and subsequently sold them to the State of New Jersey.
Burial-Places .- Mannington enjoys one distinction which must long make it a point of great interest in West Jersey, and especially to all thoughtful residen'> within the borders of Fenwick's colony : it contain- the last earthly resting-place of the great Propri tor.
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CASPAR WISTAR.
TOWNSHIP OF MANNINGTON.
John Fenwick died at his son-in-law, Samuel Hedge's, in Upper Mannington, late in 1683, and at his own request his body was interred in the Sharp family burying-ground, now included in the Elmer Reeve farm, near the county alin-house. The grave is un- . in the immediate neighborhood. marked by any monument, and is known to but few persons.
Early interments were made here and there on farins. Many interments, especially among Friends, are made at Salem. There are small burying-grounds in Ilaines' Neck and at Marlboro, in the yards of the colored churches, and at the almshouse is a lot where paupers are buried. There is no cemetery of note or importance as such in the township.
Religious .- Mannington depends on Salem and other points outside of its limits almost entirely for church privileges, there being no place of worship in the township belonging to white residents. This township was the first point of settlement in the county for free negroes, and in the early days ahnost every farmer had black servants or slaves. The col- ored race in Mannington has been as prolific as it is found to be elsewhere, and at this time it is not an in- significant portion of the population, numerically. In different sections several colored churches have grown up, and have been sustained through varying fortunes. The members belong to different sects of colored Methodists.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CASPAR WISTAR.
Pennsylvania was Caspar Wistar, the ancestor of the present Wistar family. He was born in the Elector- ate of Heidelberg, Germany, in the year 1696, and arrived in Philadelphia in 1717, where he married Katharine Johnson, of Germantown, in 1726. He carried on the business of button-maker, and some specimens of his handiwork are still preserved by his descendants. His surplus profits were jndiciously in- vested in real estate, on what is now North Broad Street, Ridge Avenne, etc., Philadelphia, which with the extension of the city rapidly increased in valne. Some of these lots still remain in possession of the family.
Their son Richard, who was the oldest of seven children, was born 1727, and married Sarah, daughter of Bartholomew Wyatt, a resident of Mannington township, Salein Co., N. J., in 1751. Richard residled in Philadelphia, but purchased numerous tracts of land in the township of Upper Alloways Creek, Salem Co., amounting in all to between two thousand and three thousand acres. Some of these old deeds re quite curious, being, in most cases, accompanied with a regularly-executed lease for the tract pur- chased, dated one day previous to the deed. He es- tablished a glass-factory about one and a half miles
above the present village of Allowaystown, which was one of the first, if not the first in the country, and was successfully carried on for many years, having an abundance of timber and excellent sand
The children of Richard and Sarah Wyatt Wistar were Caspar, Bartholomew, Richard, John, Caspar (a second son), who became a very eminent physician in the city of Philadelphia; Thomas, Elizabeth, and Catharine. John, who was born in 1759, married Charlotte, danghter of Cleayton and Mary Newboki, of Mansfield, Burlington Co., N. J., and settled on the farm in Mannington township recently owned by the late Thomas S. Bacon, and which was a por- tion of a large traet owned by his grandfather, Bar- tholomew Wyatt. He was a man of sterling integrity and uprightness of character, and very useful in his neighborhood. He had eight children who lived to maturity and married,-Mary, who married Isaac Davis, of Philadelphia; Bartholomew, whose wife was Susan Lawrie, and who resided in Philadelphia, where he became a successful merchant; Cleayton, whose first wife was Mary Stevenson, and who after- ward married Martha Reeve; Caspar, our subjeet, who married Rebecca Bassett; Hannah, who married Dr. Theophilus E. Beesley, who afterward removed to Philadelphia; Charlotte, who married Jonathan Freedland; Catherine, who married Thomas Evans. of Philadelphia ; and John, whose wife was Margaret Newhold.
Several of the children of Caspar and Rebecca Wistar died young, five of them living to maturity, viz. : Sarab, who married Samuel Abbott, and now W. Thompson, of Salem, N. J .; Katharine, who is the wife of Job Bacon, of Greenwich, Cumberland Co., N. J .; Caspar, who married M. Emma, daughter of Aaron A. Fogg, and who now resides in Philadel- phia; and Joseph B., who married Annie, daughter of James Brown, formerly a resident of Salem.
Caspar Wistar was born in Mannington township, on the farm now occupied by George Acton, on Feb. 4, 1795. He received an ordinary English education, and after the death of his father succeeded him on the old Wyatt homestead. About 1825 he built the house now occupied by Andrew Griscom, where he resided until his removal to the city of Salem in 1861. successfully pursuing the business of a farmer, his place being a pattern of neatness and comfort. He was a man of decided convictions, a warm and sym- pathetic friend, exerting a strong influence in the locality in which he passed a long, useful, and exem- plary life; plain in his habits and tastes, and an earnest and consistent member of the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends.
The remainder of his days were spent in Salem in peaceful retirement, dying in the fullness of years, and amid the general regrets of his friends, Jan. 31. 1872. His widow is still living in 1X53.
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Among the early emigrants to the province of living in Salem, N. J .; Mary, who married Caspar
412
HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
SAMUEL ABBOTT.
George Abbott, with his two brothers and sister Mary, emigrated from England to New England, and after a short sojourn there, with his wife Mary and sister Mary, took up a residence in the township of Elsinboro, Salent Co., N. J., in the year 1690. In the year 1600 he purchased of Joseph Nicholson one hundred and thirty-six acres of land, lying on the north side of Monmonth River, now known as Alloways Creek, it being the lowest farm situate on the north side, to which were added various pieces and parcels of land in succeeding years. In 1704 he erected a brick house, and in 1724 an addition also of brick. This house is still standing in good repair. It re- mained in the Abbott family to the fifth generation, a period of one hundred and fifty years.
The children of George and Mary Abbott were Benjamin, Hannah, George, Sarah, Rebecca, Samuel, and Mary. The will of George Abbott, which was admitted to probate in 1729, devised his real estate to his son, Samuel Abbott, and divides his personal property between his two daughters, Hannah and Rebecca Abbott, the other children having died be- fore their father. Mary, his widow, survived him eighteen years, and died in 1747. Rebecca married into the Howell family of Gloucester County. Han- nah died before her mother.
Mary Abbott, sister of George, the emigrant, mar- ried William Tyler, Jr., whose father emigrated from England in 1655, and had a family of six children. Samuel Abbott, sixth child of George, the emigrant, born 1712, and the only male descendant, married in 1733, Hannah Foster, born Oct. 21, 1715, daughter of Josiah and Amy Foster, of Burlington County, N. J .. and had three children,-George, William, and lic- becca. He died Nov. 25, 1760. He was a minister in the Society of Friends, whose exemplary and Christian life gained him a good report among men. Hannah, his widow, married Samuel Nicholson, of El-inboro, and died in 1793. William Abbott, second child of Samuel Abbott, born April 4, 1737, married Rebecca, daughter of William and Elizabeth Tyler, of Salem County, N. J., and had three children,- Samuel, George, and Josiah.
William, their father, after an active life as a farmer, died in January, 1800, aged sixty-three years. Re- bles abundantly. There is very little unimprove. becca, widow of William Abbott, died July 28, 1806, aged sixty-four years.
Samuel Abbott (21), elilest son of William and Re- becca Abbott, born Nov. 27, 1763, married Marcia Gill, daughter of John and Amy Gill, of Haddonfield, V. J., and had four children,-William, Rebecca, . $218, 10; number of voters, 375; amount of poll-tss, Hannah, and Sarah. His wife died Jan. 2. 1798. On Jan. 10, 1:09, he married his second wife, Martha, Near Pedricktown, in this township, is a valuable bed of shell-morl, which has yielded large quantiti. - . of that excellent fertilizer. It has been employed as- vantageously in neighboring townships, having been daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Ogden, of l'itts- grove township, Salem Co. Of this union were born five children,-Mary Ann, Lydia, Samuel (8), , George, and Martha, who became the wife of Samuel S. Willetts, of Haddonfield, N. J. Samuel Abbott
(2) was a successful business man, a consistent mem- ber of the Society of Friends, identifying himsen firmly with its interests. He died April 14. 1891 aged seventy-two years. Ilis widow diedl May :. 1848. Samuel Abbott (3d), whose portrait appear- in this work, was born on the 14th of March, 1815. He was brought up on the home farm, obtaining much of his education at the Salem Academy, and afterwards at Westtown Boarding-School, Chester County, Pa .; also at a school taught by John Bul- lock at Wilmington, Del. After the death of his father, in 1835, he assumed the responsibilities of the business of the farm, and for a period of near fifty years made agriculture the main business of his life. In May, 1879, he removed to Salem, N. J., and le- tired from business. When the construction of the Salem Railroad, to connect with the West Jersey, was agitated in 1857, he took an interest in its accom- plishment, and upon the organization of the company was elected a director, and in 1881, after the death of Benjamin Acton, was chosen president. He married, May 6, 1846, Sarah, eldest daughter of Caspar and Rebecca Wistar, and has four children, viz. : Mary Ann, wife of Josiah Wistar ; Samue!, who is now re- siding in Florida: Rebecca W., wife of Charles W. Warrington, of Philadelphia; and Katharine W. Abbott.
CHAPTER LXX.
TOWNSHIP OF OLDMAN'S.1
Situation and Boundaries .- Oldman's is the most northerly township in salom County, und the latest organized. It is bounded north and northeast by Woolwich (Gloucester County), et-t by Pilegrose, south by Upper Penn's Neck, and west by the Dela- ware River.
Descriptive and Statistical .- Oldman's contain. eleven thon-and seven hundred and eighty-two neres. The surface is level. The soil is a dry sandy toam, which yields good results if properly cultivated. The principal products are rye and Indian corn, though all the cereals grow profusely, and fruits and veget land, and none not susceptible to redemption.
The statistics of property valuation, indebtedne -- i and taxation, as returned by the assessor in 198!, er: here presented : Valuation of real estate, $58 :. 755; valuation of personal property, >351,200 ; total d. b :. 8930; school tax, $1716 ; county tax, $1057.
1 Ry .d. O. kulc.
Samuel Alberto
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413
TOWNSHIP OF OLDMAN'S.
found most beneficial to light and sandy soil, in the eulture of grass and grain, when applied in quanti- ties of about ten two-horse wagon-loads to the aere. In opening the pits, a bed of oyster and other shells at irregular distances from the surface (varying from three to twenty feet ) presented itself, measuring about three feet in thickness. Beneath it is a considerable mass, composed of black earth and shells, known as gunpowder marl, which is not in as high repute as the stratum before alluded to, which when exposed to the air disintegrates rapidly, and is considered in its pul- verized form nearly equal to guano for the purposes of artificial fertilization.
The Delaware River washes the township on the west, receiving several tributaries which rise in the central part. Oldman's Creek flows along the north- vastern, northern, and northwestern borders, from the eastern extremity of the township to the point where the stream is lost in the Delaware. 1-h Creek is a tributary in the northern part, which has its source in some small streams rising north and west of Ped- ricktown.
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