Notes on old Gloucester County, New Jersey, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Stewart, Frank H., 1873-1948, ed; New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania; Gloucester County (N.J.). Freeholders board; Gloucester County Historical Society (N.J.); Mickle, Samuel, 1746-1830; Archut, Raymond
Publication date: 1917-
Publisher: [Camden] New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania
Number of Pages: 362


USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > Notes on old Gloucester County, New Jersey, Volume I > Part 15


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2/23. Dan'1 J. Packer married to Eliza Jones widow, of Noah Jones this eve'g. Her maiden name Cole.


2/27. Was up stairs in ye Court House this P. M. and had several shocks of electricity in ears, neck, shoulders, arms, etc. for rheumatism etc. by Doctor - Crane.


3/ 2. Took another electric treatment minutely de- scribed.


246


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1827.


3/ 4. At Cousin Sam'l Websters to see Beulah Snow- den and also met there with Rachel Mickle daughter of Isaac Mickle late dec'd; was also at Dan'l J. Packers.


3/21. Thos. Carpenter here today.


4/ I. Went to see poorly, Reuben Jennings at his son in law Aaron Pauls, late ye farm of Thos. Scott dec'd now Wm. Coopers farm.


4/ 6. This P. M. at ye widow Elizabeth Dawsons who is in trouble over ye marriage of her son John on 15th ult.


4/II. Todays Herald says Wm. Mickle was married in Phila ye 3rd inst to Charity Turner.


4/12. Sam'l Sterlings wife Martha deceased this morn- ing.


4/18. Woodbury Herald of this day proclaims Josiah R. Andrews married 12th inst. to Achsah daughter of David Cooper at Haddonfield.


Same day at Woodstown Wm. Carpenter, Jr. of Mannington to Hannah daughter of Gid- eon Scull deceased.


5/ I. Susannah widow of Wm. Tatum deceased in 88th year, born 10 mo. Oct. 1739.


5/13. Caroline daughter of Jno. Cade Jailor dec'd in her 17th year.


5/18. John G. Whitall, Red Bank, deceased last night aged 44-10-10.


5/23. Eliza widow of Charles Ward daughter of Thos. Clark deceased at her fathers this morning aged 29-0-25.


5/27. Ann Reeves on visit and t'd in her 87th year.


6/16. Cooper Wells brother of and partner with Rich- ard M. Wells (they occupying ye store be- longing to cousin Sibyl Rulon) deceased this morning buried Friends Burial Ground 17th.


247


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1827. 6/17.


Mickle Whitall on short visit arrived in Phila 13th inst from Canton in China.


6/24.


Nathan Bassets wife Sarah deceased last 9th month, this from Margery M. Hopper.


7/ I.


Describes Canal Phila to Reading and Maiden Creek 84 bridges and 37 locks fare $5.00 one way besides diet lodging at tavern 1212 cts. Trip made by M. M. Saunders.


7/ 4. Favored in Woodbury with stillness but not so favored at Sweedesborough this frolicking day.


7/14. Wm. Yarnall to follow his Brig to New Castle bound to the Brazils South America. His wife continues with us yet.


7/17. Joseph Garwood and brother John arrived here to day to whitewash.


8/13. Uncle Timothy Matlacks daughter Catherine Murray residing with her father about II miles from Phila accompanied by Hester Matlack daughter of Ab'm Matlack residing about I mile this side of Moorestown said C. Murray aged 60 yrs. last 4 mo. grand daughter of Timothy Matlack of Haddonfield visited today.


8/15. Herald says on IIth inst Margaret Treadway aged nearly 90 years dec'd I Ith inst.


8/17. Sam'l Johnson (my tenants) wife Minerva de- ceased yesterday. Interred at Presby Burial ground.


8/20. Deborah wife of Mark Brown at Swedesboro deceased this A. M. Interment at Wood- bury said Deborah was daughter of Jas. Whit- all Jr. and formerly widow of Aaron Hewes Middleton.


8/21. In Phila at Jno. Townsend, Jr. where father Jno. Townsend Sr. deceased 3 mo. 8 last in his 80th year.


248


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1827. 8/28. Letter from Matilda Yarnall says her brother Charles Alberti dec'd last week aged 35 years. 9/ I. Jos. Saunders child Rebecca Ann dec'd aged a little over I year.


9/ 3. Cousin Sam'l Mickle Jr. and wife Rachel gave us a visit thence to his fathers.


Engrossed my will.


9/ 4. Visited ye P. M. by Nathan Burnett and wife Rachel daughter of cousin Sam'l Mickle Jr. who T'd.


9/ 7. Cousin Sam'l Mickle Jr. and wife left us ye A. M. on their way homeward about 45 miles from Phila said S. Mickle born 12 mo. 4- 1780.


9/13. At a fire in Woodbury ye roof of Jos. Saunders Blacksmith shop formerly Isaac Ballengers part burned off.


9/23. Heard Sam'l Richards brother of Sarah Saun- ders dec'd in his 66th year. Also John Lan- casters wife Hannah dec'd about 2 weeks since.


9/25. Was ye P. M. at Capt. Benj. F. Baches to which place my stove was now removed from my lot No. 4 and but 6 joints of pipe including the elbow.


Mentions Deptford school house yard : "the desolate forlorn deserted house affected me sorrowfully. I some years ago never expected to see it in such a deplorable con- dition."


10/ 5. Two of the daughters of Nathan Bassett viz. Elizabeth and Beulah being home on a visit say their mother Sarah deceased 9 mo. 15 1826 aged nearly 56 years.


N. B. She was the daughter of John Saunders dec'd.


249


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1827.


10/ 8. Doctress black Rhoda Mann belaboured my rheu- matic right shoulder and arm.


10/10.


Election yesterday at Squancum and today at Woodbury and I gave my vote ye P. M. for such candidates in council and assembly as I judged were not favorable to General Andrew Jacksons being promoted to the Presidency of the U. S. next year.


10/10. Richard Wells married Ann M. Laycock. Jno. V. Clark of Paulsboro dec'd the 22d inst. Elizabeth and Lydia Reeve daughters of Peter


10/25. II/25.


Reeve dec'd and Sarah Stephens daughter of Isaac Stephens tutoress in ye dwelling house of Josiah Tatum and Mary and Ann Cooper daughters of Cous. Wm. Cooper in Co. at John Tatums.


II/27. With Michael Carpenter and Brother Sam'l this A. M.


12/ 2. Benj. Sheppard and wife Mary and child Letitia Miller Sheppard aged 8 weeks this day. (Letitia being ye name of my mother) called about IO A. M.


12/12. Moses Watson who come to live with me in 1783 now resides about 2 miles distant from Haddonfield says he was born 5 mo II 1772. Jno. Comly seceeder preacher appeared in lengthy discourse.


12/13.


12/20. Benj Dunham residing about 8 miles beyond Carpenters landing will deliver 40 m. plaster- ing in about 2 weeks at $2.25 per M.


1828


I/ I. Ann wife of Henry Roe dec'd last night aged 67-2-27.


I/ 7. In P. M. at fire Co. meeting and Fire Assn meet- ing being ye Ist fire association meeting since 16


250


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1828.


said association was incorporated. Appoint- ing officers etc of ye association.


I/26. Cousin Josiah Tatum with a petition or remon- strance against opening of ye navigation of Woodbury Creek. In or about 1754 (1764 over 1754) a dam was erected and navigation stopped about which this neighborhood was in a great ferment on the said occasion.


Much about seceders and separatists at this period of his diary.


2/ 5. Dr. Jer. J. Fosters wife dec'd this morning.


3/ 2. Cousin Esther wife of Wm. Miller dec'd yester- day aged 50-4-4.


3/ 6. A seceder wedding at meeting today viz. Sam'l Ogden and Martha daughter of Sam'l B. Lippincott Orthodox Friends withdrew.


4/26.


3/27. Chas. Hopkins and Lucy Hugg married today. In ye Friend of this date is an acct of decease of Pattison Hartshorn aged 84 years with whom under ye firm name of Hartshorn & Large I when following store keeping used to deal for dry goods. Also an acct of decease of John Morton in ye 89th year of his age.


6/ 2. Biddle Reeves dec'd this P. M. aged 61-7-28 born IO mo 4-1766 interred in family burying ground.


6/16. Keturah 2nd wife of James Matlack, and sister of his first wife Elizabeth, deceased she being from home on a visit to her sister ye widow of John Kelly. Buried in Presby. B. ground. 8/19. Executed deed for Susanna Sin grandmother of Thos. Schumo.


8/26. Sarah wife of Amos Peaslee dec'd about 5th day morning. Her husband in ye state of Ohio. 9/ 3. Joseph V. Clark and David Whitall's wife Ann deceased.


25I


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1828. 9/10. Sarah Wood widow of Jas. Wood dec'd this morning aged 70-3-6.


9/12. My birthday commencing my 83 yr.


Mary Caldwell daughter of James B. Caldwell deceased this day.


9/20. A meeting today at ye Court House for ye pur- pose of forming a Society to be called A Moral Society I suppose chiefly designed to discourage horse racing. A race ground of a mile in circumference being made near Swedesboro as I was this day informed.


9/24. Lydia Brown daughter of Jonathan dec'd aged 30-10-29.


9/26. In Phila. Cousin Geo. Fox deceased about IO days ago aged 69 years.


IO/II. Big tavern near Court House sold at my suit to Peter Rambo.


10/18. Sarah Cresson and Sarah Folwell dr of Wm. Folwell arrived from Phila in stage and lodged.


Complains often of inability to hear.


Mahlon Skill and Elizabeth Dawson married.


10/19. Deborah Cooper daughter of Wm. and grand daughter of Benj. Cooper interred at Wood- bury.


10/22. Job. Coles deceased at Mt. Holly on 9th inst 80 yrs. old according to Herald.


II/ 2. Read Dr. Sam'l Emlens Jr. diary in Friend Vol. 2. (S. M. was one of the original subscribers to the Friend. F. H. S.).


II/17. Hannah daughter of Josiah Stokes deceased at Howard Abbots aged 17-6-20 buried from her fathers house.


II/22. Howard Abbott deceased last night. (He in- variably gives the cause of death. F. H. S.). II/28. Mary Wescott deceased yesterday 27th in 72 year of her age.


252


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1828.


12/ 2. Jno. Ladd Howell buried Friend B. grd. 1829


I/ 2. A large congregation (said to be) to hear Elias Hicks hold forth.


I/ 6. Champion Atkinsons wife dec'd.


2/ 2. Mary daughter of Cous. Jno. and Ann Mickle dec'd age I-4-8d.


2/II. Barzilla Jeffries, Peter Townsend, Mary wife of Jos. Brown and Elizabeth Reeve lodge.


2/19. Hope Stokes wife of Josiah dec'd age 57-1-9.


3/ 5. Wm. Paul and Mary Ann daughter of Thos. Thorn married today at Hicksite Upper Greenwich.


2/25. Sam'l Wilkins moving from Haddonfield to Woodbury to ye tavern lately occupied by Jno. Dunham.


4/20. Elizabeth Mickle going with Wm. Armstrong and wife and Hester Jones to Ohio to see her sister Hannah wife of Charles Stratton.


4/22. Herald says deceased on 4th inst. Timothy Mat- lack in his 99th year.


5/15. Cousin Sophia 2nd wife of Cousin Sam'l Mickle deceased 3rd day last 12th inst. aged 76-3-1I.


5/27. Herald says dec'd on 22 Sam'l Wood, Esq.


6/ 4. Great noise by militia parading down and up street.


6/ 5. Mary Ann wife of Tilly Brown died at her fathers Ephm. Millers aged 31.


6/ 8. Francis Howell wife of Benj. Howell at her mothers Ann Howell died in 38th year. Rebecca Powell of Phila maiden name Milnor grandmother of Thos. Schumo's wife up- wards of 50 years an undertaker in Phila visited me.


6/II. Heard Sam'l Carpenter of Phila deceased.


253


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


1829. 6/26. On looking over our grave yard fence toward ye grave of my beloved wife brought to my mind what she told me that as she and Amy Hun- ter were riding past the Presbyterian Burial ground in which Andrew Hunter's wife Ann lay interred "Ah Nancy you lay quietly there while I am racked with anxiety for your chil- dren" which caused ye following soliloquy Ah my beloved wife thou lays quietly there while I am racked with pain and indisposi- tions.


6/29. Stubbed his toe and dropped ink stand and ink. 7/ 3. Juliann wife of Jno. Moore White deceased this morning.


7/ 4. Sam'l Hopper in his 17th year son of Wm. Hopper dec'd and apprenticed to a silver smith in Phila called to see me.


7/II. Ann wife of Richard French of Ohio 2 miles from Chas. Stratton stopped on her way to Salem, N. J. her native place.


7/13. F. Davenport on his way by stage to Camden to take steam boat to Trenton to attend to my chancery business there.


7/14. Geo. Wards daughter Edith deceased last night. 7/19. On my way to sil't meet'g stopped short time at James Saunders, his wife poorly and not at meeting. Rainy between 3 and 5. No thun- der.


This is the last entry in the wonderful diary of Sam'l Mickle. A strong unshaking hand straight and clear, despite all the infirmities he mentions and the medi- cal concoctions he took and the physical falls off chairs, down stairs, etc., Sam'l was a wonderfully clever old Quaker. Liberal and honorable, faithful and true, active and industrious, may his weary bones and restless spirit have the peace he craved while on this twirling globe.


F. H. S., July 25, 1917.


ANCIENT TREE AT GLOUCESTER


The West Jersey Proprietors for the County of Gloucester have met annually on this spot since 1688, when the Council of Proprietors of West Jersey was organized. This tree is standing (1917) on the river bank about 50 feet south of the foot of Market Street.


SKETCH BY FRANK H, TAYLOR 1917


Job Whitall's Diary *


Job Whitall, son of James and Ann Cooper Whitall, was born I mo .- 27-1743, and died 9 mo. - 11-1797.


Job Whitall was a son of James and Ann Cooper Whitall, who lived in the old brick mansion still stand- ing near the Red Bank monument visited by our Society last June. His diary, now in possession of Louis W. Whitall, contains a great deal more of interest than is mentioned here, especially genealogical data, and is another example of history that has never been copi- ously copied or published.


Job had the patience of Job of Old and the extracts made here from his diary certainly fail to show the slightest exasperation at the confiscation of his things by British and Continental soldiers alike. Harassment from all quarters was his portion, and while he ignores the famous battle of Red Bank he throws a great deal of light on the doings of the soldiers and the military con- ditions prevalent in Old Gloucester in 1776-7.


On Feby. 7, 1776, he received of Joseph Whitall one hundred Continental dollar bills.


Feby. 24 he mentions that The people began to muster this day.


May 6. The alarm guns were fired betwixt twelve and one of the clock which occasioned great commotion amongst some of the people.


On May 8th he heard a cannonading with the row gallies and a man of war or two which lasted three hours or better. The people getting in arms as fast as possible. The next day he heard the cannon firing the most of the afternoon and evening.


Oct. 8th. Brother John Whitall and Thomas Saun- ders set off for New York to see Brother Benjamin Whitall at ye Camp.


* By FRANK H. STEWART.


256


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


Benj. Whitall made application to Committee of Safety Jan. 10, 1776, for a command in Col. Maxwell's regiment. Benjamin Whitall was a Second Lieutenant in Artillery Co. formed March 2, 1776. He was subse- quently promoted to be a First Lieutenant and later Cap- tain Lieutenant.


Oct. 18th. He gave Barbara Down four dollars that brother John Whitall brought from Charles Spen- cer at ye Camp.


Nov. 29. He records: Bob Taylor came here to strain our goods and because he could not go all over our house he got in a passion and went away without anything, he threatening to fetch a file of musketeers to scare us I suppose.


Dec. 10. I got a good deal of pork of ye market people, they being scart and turned back by accounts that ye English soldiers were coming to Philadelphia or near it. I paid them all. On Dec. 14 he went to the Phila- delphia Market and got to Austins ferry (Arch St.) be- fore daylight and sold his marketing when market open- ed.


Jan'y 20th, 1777. Thomas Denny and John Sparks sent for cousin Thomas Redman and committed him to gaol, but he had his liberty to go home and come next morning, which he did. /


Jan'y 21. Squires sent for Cousin Mark Miller again and I went to see how it went. They wrote his mittimus and ordered Ellick Mitchell to take him to gaol but Ellick gave him liberty to stay to dinner and when over he took Cousin Thos. Redman and Mark Miller to gaol.


April 16, 1777. Went down to Father Whitalls to make a haul with his seine but there being three or four hundred soldiers there we thought not to fish but we made one haul and caught one shad and two or three other fish.


257


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


April 19. Some of the soldiers went away and more came this day.


Aug. 8. A number of ye militia came in to Wood- bury and took possession of our meeting house.


Aug. 15. Ye soldiers came back this day and went into our meeting house again.


Aug. 16. While I was at Fathers, John Porch ye Constable came there and demanded a fine from Brother John Whitall, and I had an opportunity to see what mine was. There were two against me, one fine was


£ S D


I 2


6


Costs


2


6


Ye other fine I


O


0


Costs


2


6


And against my man John were two more, one


17


6


Costs


2


6


Ye other


I5


0


Costs


2


6


£


S


D


Ye whole


4


5


0


Aug. 19. Jehu Ward came here in a passion and demanded me to go over to brick house tavern before Sparks and Denny or I should be sent for by ye author- ity. After a little pause I went over to the Squires and they not being in Jehu and I walked into a private room and by having some conversation his passion began to cool and he concluded to go no further in it and he seemed to be very friendly when we parted.


Sept. 2, 1777. I went to Gloucester Gaol to see Thomas Edgerton whom Sparks had put in for not taking ye test.


Sept. 5. Militia had their discharge this morning and ye bigger number went home. A number of girls went to washing and cleaning ye meeting house.


258


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


Sept. 13. Ye Militia had filled our meeting house and school here and several other houses ye fore part of week.


Sept. 20. Jehu Wood drest a number of horses and wagons today.


Oct. 2. Capt. Sam'l Hugg had our wagon for am- munition. Ye Militia took our light covered wagon without leave and have not returned it.


Oct. 6. While I was at fathers Capt. Jos. Blewer took my little brown mare without leave to ride up to Washington's Camp, as he said.


From Oct. 7th to the 22nd he was busy moving furniture, produce and stock first to his father's place, and thence again to his Uncle David Cooper's, at Woodbury. On the 10th he writes: "The Militia turned us out of our kitchen ye largest room upstairs and the shop and took our hay to feed their horses."


On the 12th Capt. John Blewer brought his brown mare home and on the 17th he got his wagon back, which he loaded with a chest full of clothes, a tub full of china and crockery, a half barrel of wine; another tub full of pewter and one walnut box, and sent the lot to his uncle David Cooper's.


On the 2Ist he took another load of goods away.


On the 22nd of October, the day of the battle of Red Bank, he says: "Ye Boys and myself hung a gate in ye meadow and John and I went to finish ye stacks (hay) and our women blowed ye horn and we went home and got our horses and wagon and loaded it with goods. Ye reason was because ye English troops were close by. We ate some dinner and my wife, children and myself went off in our wagon. Father, mother and ye boys stayed. We got to Uncle David Coopers and stayed awhile and I went back again on horse back. Uncle David and James Cooper each sent a boy down to fathers to help me away with some cattle. I went over the Dam to fathers and got ye boys and we drove


259


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


away 21 head, 8 fat, 4 cows, one pair oxen, 3 steers, I heifer and 3 calves to Uncle David Cooper and stayed all night. This same day ye people in ye Fort drove from Father and me 47 sheep into ye fort."


This record showing that his mother, Ann Cooper Whitall, did not leave the farm after dinner on the day of the famous battle should forever kill the suspicion created by certain writers that she was not at home during the battle, and therefore could not have been en- gaged in knitting or spinning when the cannon ball went through one end of her home.


Oct. 23. The day after the battle, which is not men- tioned by Friend Whitall, he records: "The Americans had filled the kitchen, shop, big room, the long room up- stairs and two other rooms down stairs which forced us to move out." The next day he got several teams and loaded them with his fathers goods and took them to Woodbury to John Murdocks.


Oct. 25. He and his wife took his mother down and were loading goods when the soldiers took his mare out of harness by order of Col. Greene. This prevented the removal of the goods and he locked four rooms filled with articles. The following day he brought away his father's hogs and sheep, also Joseph Low's. Four out of 37 were missing.


On the 27th he went to his father's house and found the soldiers had broken open three of the doors. He got six more sheep and one pig.


On the 29th he got a few of the potatoes the sol- diers had left and found the other door forced and the things chiefly gone out of it. This day he got his brown mare back. On the 3Ist the soldiers took a young mare colt away out of the meadow. At this time he sent a valuable horse down to Salem to his Uncle Richard Wood's.


On Nov. 4, while several teams were hauling, the soldiers took a yoke of oxen and his sorrel horse away.


260


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


Nov. 7. He went to Woodbury meeting and the soldiers had made a hospital of the meeting house, and a meeting was held out of doors and when over a Prepar- ative meeting was held in Mark Miller's house. He said it was a matter of satisfaction and comfort to him.


On the 9th another meeting was held out of doors. On his return home the soldiers had stolen two of his pigs in the night. His Uncle David Cooper while on the way to meeting saw two soldiers, one of whom had a pig. He shouted to them and they dropped the pig and ran as fast as they could through the corn. This would make a good subject for some artist.


Nov. 18. The sick soldiers were all ordered away.


Nov. 21. I stayed at home on account of ye English soldiers coming here today. They took two mares from me, one sorrel horse out of the stable, the other out of the lot, a brown mare, both with foal, and while ye army was passing they came in and took our bread, pie, milk, cheese, meat dishes, cups, spoons and then took shirts, sheets, blankets, coverleds, stockings, breeches and drove our cattle out of ye brick shed and they all came back but one big brown ox that we worked while here. They broke open two doors and ransacked ye house all over but ye cellar.


Nov. 22. He stayed at home all day. The soldiers took one of his pigs and cut and hacked several others with their swords. We were pretty peaceable this day- only came and got some potatoes and milk. There was a great number of soldiers who went by this day and while passing they took off my gears with them.


On the 23rd he went to Uncle David Cooper's and found the soldiers had been there and broken open many doors and two drawers in his desk. Took nearly a whole barrel of sugar leaving only a few pounds and also took ten sheep of his father's and Joseph Low's. Towards night he went home and some soldiers were there taking as much hay as two horses could carry strung on each side with ropes.


26I


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


Nov. 24. Ye English soldiers all moved off this morning and left Woodbury. I walked to where they had their camp and we found our big kettle but not our little pot. Found ye brown oxes hide belonging to father that they had killed, and took it to Aaron Hews for him to tan for me. It weighed 50 lbs. Father found a Windsor chair in the woods. I walked to Woodbury to see my friends and the soldiers had stolen out of our smoke house in Woodbury 4 or 5 flitches of bacon. They had taken over a thousand feet of 114 inch boards and 2 or 3 thousand barrel staves.


Nov. 25. Sailors came ashore and took Brother James' hogs.


Nov. 30. Went to Woodbury meeting for the first time since the soldiers had left it.


Dec. 15. Went to Red Bank to spread Flax that ye soldiers had made tents of. It was very much tangled.


Spelling of Family Names


It is a curious fact that many of the first settlers would not recognize their names as now spelled by their grandchildren's grandchildren.


Covenover is now Conover.


Van Immen is now Vanneman.


Maffet is now Moffett.


Eslick is now Eastlack.


Pronunciation has had a great deal to do with the changes in spelling. In Salem Co., where I was born, the Steward family was a large one and there was no trouble with my name. When I went to Philadelphia everybody called me Stewart, and I, boy-like, thought it would be all right to make the spelling conform to the practice. When I started in business for myself I did


262


NOTES ON OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY.


not have the courage to correct the error on my business stationery. It is now necessary for me to go along under a slight alias, using a t at the end of my name instead of a d, as was used by my ancestors as far back as I have been able to trace them. I also adopted the middle letter H. to distinguish myself from others of the same name.


FRANK H. STEWART.


First Quakers in Old Gloucester


Thomas Sharp wrote in the Haddonfield Friends Meeting records a short account of the settlement of Newton Township in Old Gloucester by Irish Quakers in I681.


His narrative has been frequently copied in various histories.


The first settlers were William Bates, George Gold- smith, Thomas Thackara, Mark Newby and Thomas Sharp. They arrived at Elsinburg in Salem County, Nov. 19, 1681, from Dublin, Ireland, which they left Sept. 19, 1681. They were entertained by the Thompsons (John and Andrew) of Elsinburg who had left Ireland several years before (1677). After visiting the Thomp- son families the party went to Salem and used several vacant houses of the first settlers of Fenwick's Colony who had moved to their plantations in the country. A boat was purchased from the Swansons (Swedish people) and a trip was made to Burlington where a warrant for land was obtained from the Surveyor General, Daniel Leeds. After considerable search the party selected New- ton and in the beginning of the spring of 1682 the party, with Robert Zane, another Irish Quaker of Salem, re- moved from there to Newton, where a Meeting was estab- lished in the home of Mark Newby who soon became one




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