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 69
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 69
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 69
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his energie -. Mr. Gandy, on the Ist of January, 1853, married Miss Pleasant, daughter of Sammuel and graveyard now is was given to them by Noah Burt, Rhoda Smith. Their children are Oliver S. (who
and this house was erected in the summer of 1851 and dedicated in the following winter. The lumber was given to them, and carted by some of the members. Its seating capacity is about two hundred and fifty. It was made a station at the same time as Newport, and has been served by the same preachers, except as follows: 1872, Dickinson Moore ; 1876-77, Jolın Price.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
JAMES G. GANDY.
The parents of Mr. Gandy are Miles and Abigail Gandy, the former having been a sca-captain, ship- rigger and corker, who achieved a considerable de- gree of success in his calling.
Their son, who was born Nov. 6, 1827, after a lim- ited time spent at school, determined to follow the life of a sailor, and at the age of nineteen went be- fore the mast. Here he remained for three years, and
leaving the coast engaged in the oyster business, which, was continued for a period of eighteen years. In Ise? he became a popular landlord at Fortescue. N. J., and continued thus employed until 1872, when farming pur. suits engaged his attention, and to which hestill devote-
James of gandy
married Elsie, daughter of Hoenshead Peterson), Abigail G. (who is the wife of Thomas Bow, and has one child, Elmer G.), Henry P., Charles G., and Samuel (who died in infancy).
CHAPTER XCVI.
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
Incorporation .- Fairfield was one of the original townships, the bounds of which were made definite by the act creating the county. By that act it included not only its present limits, but also what is now the townships of Downe and Commercial, and all that part of the city of Millville west of the Maurice River. It was reduced to its present limits by the creation of Downo township in 1772, and of Millville in 1802. It was originally created, but with no defi-
€63
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
nite bounds, by an act of the Provincial Assembly passed in May, 1697, which enacted that
" the Tract of Land in Cubansey, purchased by several people lately in- habitants of Fairfield in New England, Ve from and after the date hereof, erected into a Town-hip, and to called l'airfield, which Is hereby om- powered to the same privileges as any other Townships in this Province are or have been, that are not Towns incorporate."
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Settlement .- These settlers were those who came from Fairfield, Conn., and from Long Island, within a few years previous, and established the settlement at New England Town. No definite bounds wore as- signed to this township, but it is probable that it in- eluded all the settlements east of the Cohansey. When a few years later, in 1701, officers were appointed for the different precinets of Salem County, the east side of the Cohansey was called " Fairfield, and the lower side of Cohansey." After 1718 the portion along the east side of Maurice River wa- included in the ap- pointment of constables for Maurice River.
These settlers probably established a local township government such as they had been accustomed to in the towns of Connecticut and Long Island, but there are no records preserved of their town-meetings. Their enterprise and thrift made them prosperous, and the descendants of the first-comers peopleof other portions of the county. This township bas contributed to the county many of her leading men in former years, and has held a prominent place in the history of the county.
Soil .- The township contains a large quantity of sait marsh along the shore of the bay and skirting the various creeks, but bordering on that the soil is a sandy loam, well suited to the raising of fruits and produce, large quantities of which are annually raised. The eastern portion of the town-hip is mostly covered with oak and pine in various stages of growth.
Villages .- The principal places, and the only post- offices in the township, are Cedarville and Fairton. The population of the township by the last census was three thousand two hundred and fifteen.
Cedarville is situated on both sides of Cedar Creek, about four miles from Fairton and eight from Bridge- ton. It is mostly built along the main road, which passes through it from Bridgeport to the lower part of the county. The mill was probably the first build- ing erected, and the others gradually grew up around it. It became a place of some local importance after the Revolution. A number of the lending citizens of ' the county lived there, and its relative importance in the county was much greater than now. It was called Cedar Creek until the establishment of the post- office, since which it has been called by its present name. Its inhabitants are largely engaged in oyster- ing. Cedarville Landing is about one-third of a mile from the main street, and vessels of three hundred tons come up Cedar Creek to that point.
adjoining the Baptist Church, on the same ground where formerly stood the old Friendship school- house. The present house is a large, well-arranged two story house, containing four rooms, all of which are filled. It was built in 1872, and cost about four thousand five hundred dollars. The Central school- house, situated about three-fourths of a mile north of the mill-dam, at the corner of the main road and the road leading to James' Island, is also a fine two-story building, adapted to the purpose, and was built three or four years after the other one. Excellent schools are kept in these buildings. There is a small one- story school-house, old and poor, at the Factory, as the neighborhood of the old woolen-factory pond is called, which will hold about twenty-five scholars.
At the Landing is the vessel-building yard of Clay- poole & Parsons. Years ago vessels were built here, but it ceased during the Rebellion, and was revived hy the present firm about three years ago. They also have a marine railway for the repairing of vessels. The canning-works were first established as the " South Jersey l'acking Compans," but were sold out during the last summer, and were bought by the present owners, John E. Diament and Charles Dia- ment. During the busy season they afford employ- ment to a large number of people, and produce about two hundred and fifty thousand cans yearly. A steam saw- and planing-mill has been in operation several years, and is owned by Phoenix Cosier. The steam sand-wash of William O. Garrison, along the line of the Cumberland and Maurice River Railroad, abont a mile below the Cedarville Station, washes and pre- pares for glass-house use about thirty tons of sand a day. It was established in the spring of 1883, and such is the demand that it is run day and night part of the time.
A post-office was established here Jan. 1, 1806, and Amos Westcott was appointed postmaster. The present officer is C. Howard Bateman, who was ap- pointed May 25, 1877. The population of Cedarville by the census of 1830 was one thousand and seventy- seven.
Fairton is the next largest village in the township. It is four miles from Bridgeton, and is situated on Mill Creek and Rattlesnake Run, which unite and run into the Cohansey a few hundred yards below the village. The old name of the place, used as early as 1779, which could still be heard until within a few years past, was Bumbridge, a name which, according to Judge Elmer, was said to have originated from the circumstance of a constable, who was then often called a bum-bailiff, a corruption of bound-bailiff, or a bailin bound with security, having fallen through the bridge over Rattlesnake Run while attempting to arrest a person. This caused the bridge to be repaired and gave it a name. The name of Fairton was not given it until the post-office was established. Mill Creek was called the North Branch of the Cohansey when
Cedarville has two of the handsomest school-houses .in the county. The one on the south side of the mill- pond stands in the forks of Main and Franklin Streets, the first settlements were made in the vicinity. Like
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664
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
the other towns and villages in the lower part of the county, a large part of the inhabitants of Fairton are engaged in oystering.
A fine school-house furni-hes accommodations for one hundred and titty scholars. It was built in 1860, and it is a two story building, with the modern im- provements, surmounted with a belfry containing a fine-toned bell. Its cost was about three thousand five hundred dollars.
The beef- and pork-packing house of Furman R. Willis is the principal industrial establishment in the village. In connection with James MeNichols, the business was started with a capital of fifty dollars, in September, 1870. They first ,lid an ordinary butcher- ing business, selling their meats from house to house in the surrounding towns and country, but the same fall began putting up mince-meat for market. The first batch was a thirty-eight-pound bucket, but this branch of the business increased until they sold seven tons in one week. Mr. MeNichols died in the fall of 1879, since which time the business has been carried on by Mr. Willis alone. A large business is now done in packing beef and pork, amounting to sixty thousand dollars a year, and employing thirteen hands. The goods packed are sold at wholesale and retail, mostly in the counties of Cumberland and Cape May.
The post-office was established Jan. 1, 180G, with James Clark as postmaster. He held the office until September, 1813, and was then succeeded by Lemuel Hoyt. The present postmaster i- Theophilus Tomlin- son, who has held the office since Sept. 24, 1861. The population of the village was four hundred and nine in 1850.
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Centre Grove, in the extreme eastern end of the township, is a neighborhood of ten or twelve houses, within half a mile of the school-house, which is a good one-story building.
Rockville .- The neighborhood now called by this name was called Kill-pig-hole as early as 1732. In March, 1870, the inhabitants of the neighborhood held a meeting, and changed the name to the inore euplio- nious one of Rockville.
Fairton Mills .- The mills at Fairton were prob- ably erected soon after the arrival of the New England Town settlers. Samuel Fithian came to Fairfield between 1698 and 1700, and was n leading man among those settlers. He settled at the Cross-Roads, and died there between July and November, 1702. In his will, dated July 3, 1702, he devised to his son John "the Eight part of ye Saw Mill & Griss Mill Standing on ye forke Creek." The inventory of his property in- cludes " ye Saw Mill & ye Dam & all materials 265." His son John died intestate soon after his father, when his estate was appraised, " An Eight part of a . Saw Mill, £20," and " An Eight part of a Grisse Mill, £25." Who were the other owners is unknown, but it is probable that several of the principal settlers united to build these much-needed institutions, and were owners in common of the property. They soon
passed into the possession of John Ogden, who wa- probably one of the former part-owners, and were known as Ogden's mills for a century. He died De. 22. 1745, aged seventy-five years, and the mills pa -- el to his son. Thomas Ogden. The saw-mill was taken away before this time. Previous to 1763 the site of the mill-dam was changed, and it was built on it- present location, and at that time was owned by do. seph Ogden, who retained the property to his death, July 27, 1772, aged forty-eight years. At high water the tide formerly flowed up to the mill, but in 1759 David Ogden, son of John, put up the dam along where the present road crosses, so as to keep out the tide. This mill property afterwards passed into the hands of David Clark, who sold the same to John Trenchard in 1843. He removed the mill to its present position on the main road, at Fairton, and brought the water from the pond by a race to the mill. After his death it became the property of Theophilos Trenchard, who now owns it.
Cedarville Grist-Mill .- The New England Town settlers doubtless utilized the water-power of Cedar Creek soon after their arrival. The earliest record. however, now known concerning it is when it became the property of Henry Pierson, partly from William Dillis, March 10, 1753, and partly froin John Barns. Henry Pierson retained the ownership of this mill property, and carried on the grist-mill until the Revo- lution, about the beginning of which he sold it to John Daniels, by whom it was conveyed to Je-se Carey, May 12, 1779. MIr. Carey carried on the busi- ness until becoming involved, and the saw-mill above having first been sold from him, the grist-mill was sold by Sheriff David Potter to James Harris, April 7, 1792, and by him to John Trenchard, Nov. 20, 1794. Trenchard entered into partnership with Dayton New- comb, and conveyed to him a two-thirds interest in the property, and on Jan. 28, 1800, they each sold their interests to Amos Fithian and Norton Lawrence, and Oct. 10, ISOI, Lawrence quit-claimed. his interest to Fithian. MIr. Fithian was one of the leading citizens of Fairfield, and the mills did a large business while owned by him. Upon the death of Mr. Fithian the grist-inill and pond was set off, one-quarter to each of his sons, Joseph and Joel, and one-half to his son Amos; but the title soon became united in Joseph and his sister Hannah, the wife of Dr. Charles Garri- son, who sold the same to Lewis Rice and William Mounce, Jan. 24, 1833, and on May 30th Mounce quit- claimed his interest to Rice. Oet. I, 1844, it was sold by Sheriff Levi B. Davis to the Salem Banking Com- pauy, a creditor of Rice, by whom it was conveyed to Adrian Bateman and Richard Curran. May 30, 1848. They sold to HI. C. Trenchard, Dec. 5, 1865, and he conveyed to the present owner. Charles O. Newcomb, June 16, 1877. During the summer of 1883 Mr. New- comb tore away the old mill and erected a large and well-arranged new one in its place, with the best of machinery, making it one of the best in the county.
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665
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
Lummis' (formerly Ogden's) Saw-Mill .- This wards used for several purposes for short times, and, after being empty for several years, was taken down about twenty years ago and removed to Bridgeton, and is now the planing-mill of Norton L. Paulin. The pond and water-right passed again into the pos- session of the owners ot the grist-mill property, and the pond is now drawn otf. mill is situated on Cedar Creek, about a mile above the grist- mill pond. The early ,leeds of this prop- erty, previous to and during the time of the Revo- Intion, call it the " Iron-Works tract," and the dam the "Iron-Works dam." Diligent inquiry has failed to give any more light as to the character of these iron-works, but there was probably a furnace Lummis' Grist-Mill .- This mill is also situated on Cedar Creek, about half a mile above the saw- mill. It was erected by David Pierson about 1790. A road was laid out from the Presbyterian meeting- Westeott's Station, to this mill in June, 1791, at which time it was called " David Pierson's new grist- mill." It soon passed to Isaae Preston, who sold, March 7, 1798, to William Conner and Jeremiah Nixon, and Nixon sold his half to Conner, March 20, 1804. Conner carried on the mill for many years, but he made a failure, and the mill property was sold by the sheriff and bought by Josiah Ray, April 11, 1822, who sold the same to Lewis Rice, Feb. 2. 1839. It shortly became the property of John O. Lummis, who has continued its owner to the present time. for the smelting of the bog iron ore, deposits of which were found in that day in the swamp, of Downe, and probably of Fairfield also. During the Revolution the furnace at Batsto, Burlington Co., in the in- ; house, now the Old Stone Church, by what is now terior of the pine region, beyond the incursions of the British, was engaged in the ca-ting of cannon and other materials of war for the supply of the Ameri- can army, and it may be that this furnace was used for a like patriotic purpose. The supply of ore having probably been exhausted, a saw-mill was erceterl here previous to 1789. The property had been sold by John Burt to John Daniels, Feb. 14, 1779, who owned the grist-mill on the same stream at Cedarville, by whom the saw-mill was probably built. Daniels retained the saw-mill until May 14, 1789, when he sold it to Jesse Carey, to whom he had previously conveyed the grist-mill. But Carey being Freeholders .- The following is a list of chosen frecholders from Fairfield : involved in debt, it was at onee levied upon by the sheriff, Eli Elmer, and sold June 20, 1789, to Alexau- der White. From him it passed to John Elmer and 1718. Ebenezer We-teolt. 1778-79. Thomas Harris. Dayton Newcomb, who conveyed the property to Jeremiah Buck. Thomas Uglen. 1749. David Westcott. 1780-81. Silas Newcomb. David Page, and in the division of his land in 1803. Jeremiah luck. Charles Howell. after his death, the saw-mill property was set off to 1761-51. Jeremiah Buck. 1782. John Hower. his daughter, Ruth Hunt, who, with her husband, Hrmy Pierson. William Newcomb. 1252. David Wtalcott. 1784. Col. Sunnel Ogden. Garner A. Hunt, sold it to Richard Burt, and he to Abraham Smmtbı. 1,83. Charles Howell. Amos Fithian, Jan. 30, 1807. When his property 1:53. Abralmm Smith. John Bower. was divided in 1819 it was set off to his son Joel, 1751. Jmadah Shepherd. 1785. Amarinh Hucris. and was sold from him by Sheriff Robert S. Buck, 1735. Jonadab Shepherd. Joseph Hoeves. Col. Samuel Opleu. 1786-85. Samuel Westcott. Ephraim Newcomb, Feb. 10, 1810, and bought by his brother Joseph. It afterwards became the property of J. F. Ogden, and 1757. 1753. Ephralın Newcomb, then of Richard P. Ogden, and was conveyed by his 1,3%. Joseph Ogden. 1790. Ephraim Newcomb. Thomas Bnich. Stephen Clark. tru-tce to John O. Lummis, Er., and others, who are 15.3. Joseph Ogden. Henry Westcott. 1701. Thomas Burch. Dr. John T. Hampton. the present owners.
Cedarville Woolen-Factory .- Feb. 10, 1810, Amos Fithian, who owned the grist-mill at Cedarville and the saw-mill above, together with the land lying be- tween the same, conveyed to the Fairfield Manufac- turing Company a small lot of land, with the right to ereet a dam, and flow the swamp at the head of his grist-mill pond up to the saw-mill poud above. The pond was raised, and a building built for a woolen-factory, which was carried on for a number of years. It passed. into the possession of Dr. Ephraim Bateman and the late Fudge Lucius Q. C. Elmer, and they in IS18 associated with them- selves John E. Jeffers, who had been engaged in the business in New York State, but the next year the partnership was dissolved. Bateman and Elmer continued the business for some years, but the · woolen business at Cedarville not proving remu- nerative, was discontinued. The building was after-
1760. Thomas Ogden.
1792-97. Thomas Burch ..
1701-62. Joseph Oglen. Thomas Oglen.
1798. James Harris.
I.CJ. Thomas Ogden.
Ephraim Buck.
Theophilus 13mer.
1793-1803. James Harris.
1764-65. JJoseph Daton. David Weslevlt.
1804. John Trenchard.
Ephraim Back.
1708-03. David Westcott.
Muses Bateuin.
Ephrahn Harris.
1804. Ephraint Buck.
Thomas Burch.
1771. .
1772. Theophilus MImer. Ephraim Harris.
Daniel Parvin.
1773. lsaac Preston.
1809-11. Thomas Burch. Sheppard Westcott.
17;1. silas Nowcomb. Abial Shaw.
1812-11. Fr. Ephraim Batenmu.
1775. Thomas Ogden.
John Oglen.
1 snac Prestens. 1815-17. Daniel Parvin.
Sheppard Westcott.
1776. Thomas Ogden. Timothy Ehner.
1818-20. Dr. Danis I C. Pierson. John Trenchusd, Jr.
1777. -
Thomas Burch.
1,66-67. Theophilus Elmuer. Thomas ogden.
1605. James Diament.
1770. Thomas Harris.
1807. Amos Firhiau. David Clark.
1808. David Clark.
Theophilus Elmer.
James llarris.
66G
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
1-21. Auns Weste tt.
1$1345. John Trenchard.
Moses Batman.
David Whitaker ..
1-22. John Trenchard, Jr.
1-48-17. John Trenchard.
1823. John Trenchard, Jr.
William Westcott.
Moses Biteman.
1$4 -- 30. Kenben Warc.
1$24. John Trencharı, JF.
George M. Swing.
Dr. Daniel C. Pierson.
1- 11. George M. Swing.
1$25-26. Dr. Daniel C. l'ierson. David Clark.
1827. David Clark.
1852-54. George MI. Swing. Benjamin I. Moore.
Leonarl Lawrence.
1855-50. George M. Swing.
1s28. 1.conari Lawrence.
Dr. Benjamin Il. Acteman.
Danlel L. Burt.
1561-61. Dr. Ephraim Ilasteman.
1529. Daniel L. Burl.
George S. Whiticar.
Iluni-1 l'anin.
1565- 67. Jehlel Westcott, Jr.
Robert T. Whitaker.
1530. Daniel 1. Burt. Nurtun O. Lawrence.
Isos. Harri- Ogden, Jr.
1831-32. Nuiton O. Lawrence.
John Whitaker.
David Clark.
1869-12. Ilarris Ogden, Jr.
Josias M. Cubb.
1$33. l'arfd Clark. David Whitaker.
1873-75. Josias 31. Cull.
1834-05. David Whitaker.
Dr. Ephraim Bateniau.
Norton O. Lawroure.
ISTG. Jinina MI. Cobb.
1636-28. William Westcutt.
Robert Howell.
Jul.n Tienchard.
1877. losjas 31. Col.b.
1530. Leonard Lawrence.
George E .. Ehner
Juseph Daston.
IS.s. Jogias MI. C'olb.
1810. I.conanl Lawrence.
William H. W. stcult.
Willieto D. Battel.
187241. Juslas )1. Cobl ..
1841-42. William D. Barrett.
Je$2-83. Charles S. Ilusted.
Charles Wheaton.
CHURCHES.
The Fairfield Presbyterian Church . Old Stone Church ) .- The organization of this church is be- lieved to have been a few years previons to the crec- tion of the township of Fairfield. The records are very meagre in regard to the early settlement of this region of country. The provincial law of 1607 enacts " that the tract of land in Cohan-ey purchased by
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OLD STONE CHURCH.
several people lately inhabitants of Fairfield, in New England, be from and after the date hercof erected into a township, and be called Fairfield." The origi- nal meeting-house was built of Ings in the log cabin . period, and was crected doubtless at the place then known as New England Cross-Roads, on the lot situate on the south bank of the Cohansey, where the ancient graveyard still remains. The first minister was the Rev. Thomas Bridge, born at Hackney, England, in
1057, a graduate of Harvard, became a minister » ... England, and in consideration of his settling here he obtained from the West Jersey Society of England the right to locate a thousand acres of land wherever he should please to take up the same. He selected the lands known as the Indian Fields tract, which we I have elsewhere described, and remained pastor of "Christ's" or "Cohansey Church" until about 170". He died while pastor of the First Church of Boston, Sept. 26, 1715, aged fifty-eight years. Dr. Epher Whittaker. of Sootholl, L. I., a descendant of one of the earliest settlers, in his admirable historical dia- course on the occasion of the bi-centennial celebra- tion of the Old Stone Church, Sept. 29, 1880, enter- fully into a description of the origin and growth of the primitive church.
The records of the early church are all lost. The Presbytery of Philadelphia, with which it became united in 1708, was first established in 1705. Early in the former year, at the instance of Jedediah Andrews, -who came to Philadelphia in 1698, and became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church there,-Jo- seph Smith, a graduate of Harvard, who had been licen-ed as a preacher, came to Cohansey. Smith met the Presbytery in May, 1708, and was ordained and installed in May, 1709; but complaining of negli- gence in making up his support, he soon returned to New England.
In 1710, Samuel Exall came to Cohansey, but he was soon deemed unsuitable. Howell Powell, who had been ordained in Wales, came in 1713, and was installed pastor, continuing until 1717, when he died. About this time or a little before the old log meeting- house was superseded by a comfortable frame build- ing, shingled on the sides, as was then the fashion. This structure, by the way, remained until 1775, when it became so dilapidated as to be unsafe to preach in, and the benches were taken out and placed under a large oak-tree which stood hard by, and there in good weather the pastor preached.
Henry Hook, from Ireland, came to Cohansey in 1718, and was installed pastor. For some trouble in the church he was suspended. He removed to Dela- ware in 1722.
Noyes Parrish, a graduate of Harvard, preached to the congregation from 1724 to 1729, when, having fallen under serious imputations, he withdrew to New England.
In 1729, Rev. Daniel Elmer came from Connecti- cut, and was ordained and installed pastor. He was a graduate of Yale College, and for some time taught a grammar school at West Springfield. He soon built himself a comfortable house, near the church, which was burned down shortly before his death, and the church records were thus unfortunately destroyed. lle died Jan. 14, 1755. Ilis descendants are very numerous and highly re-pectahle.
William Ramsay, of Irish descent, who had grad- uated at Princeton in 1754, was induced to go to
William Westcott.
667
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
Fairfield, and wa- licensed and ordained and settled there by the Abingdon Presbytery, to which he be- longed. le was a man of ardent piety and elo- : quenee, and succeeded in producing harmony, the church having been rent more or less, like all others of the denomination, by the prevailing schism. In 175S the breach in the Presbyterian Church was healed, and the two hostile Synods united. In that year he married the eldest daughter of Col. Ephraim Seeley, of Bridgeton, his congregation including per- sons residing there and at the Indian Fields. Upon the occasion of his marriage his people purchased a parsonage, consisting of a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Sayres' Neck, about a mile southwest of where the Old Stone Church now stands, and he here resided until his death, in 1771. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. William Hollinshead, who was quite a distinguished preacher, and who was installed pastor in 1778.
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