USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > Newton in Gloucester County > Sketches of the first emigrant settlers in Newton Township, old Gloucester County, West New Jersey > Part 16
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8 Fields's Provincial Courts.
197
JOSEPH TOMLINSON.
He probably held the position of prosecutor of the pleas until I710; in this year he was appointed one of the judges of the several courts of Gloucester county, for which position he was well fitted, after having so much experience in the modes and procedures of that branch of the government.9 Whether he accepted the position with its observances of form and dress, or adhered to the plainness and simplicity of his religious associates, does not appear. He remained a member of the court until his death, doubtless a useful man therein, from his practical knowledge and familiarity with its uses and purposes.
Many of these formalities were adhered to until after the Revolutionary war; in fact, within fifty years of this writing, the judges were escorted from the hotel to the court room by the sheriff, and constables bearing staves, who, in the large counties, made considerable parade. All these have gradually fallen into disuse, until the true republican simplicity of our ancestors is a noticeable feature about our seats of justice.
In the year 1719, Joseph Tomlinson died, leaving his wife Elizabeth and the following named children : 10 Ephraim, who married Sarah Corbit and Catharine Ridgway; Joseph, who married Lydia Wade, of Salem, N. J., and Catharine Fairland, of Chester, Pa., (the last in 1738); Ebenezer ; Richard; John, who married Mary Fairland, of Chester, Pa., in 1736; Othniel, who married Mary Marsh, of Salem, N. J .; William, who mar- ried Rebecca Wills; Margaret, who married Edward Borton ; Elizabeth, who married Bartholomew Wyat, of Salem; Mary, who married Samuel Sharp ; and Ann, who married - Gaunt.11
Bartholomew Wyatt came from Worcestershire, England, to Salem county, N. J., about the year 1690. His name first occurs in the Salem Meeting records in 1693, when he was appointed one of a committee to attend the Quarterly Meeting at Newton, Gloucester county, N. J. In the same year (1693), he married Sarah Ashton. They had two children, namely : Bartholomew, born 1697, who married Elizabeth Tomlinson ; and Elizabeth, born 1707, who married Robert Smith. The first Bartholomew was a prominent man in the civil affairs of
9 Leaming and Spicer's Laws.
Io Lib. No. 2, 136.
11 Lib. No. 4, 122. Lib. No. 5, 308.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
the county, as well as active member of the Society of Friends, and one of the largest contributors to the fund for the erection of the brick meeting-house which once stood in the present graveyard in Salem. He died in 1726.
The second Bartholomew was also an active member of the same religious denomination. In 1730, he was recognized as a preacher, and much respected as a consistent and upright ยท man. His wife, in 1732, also appeared as a public Friend, whose preaching was acceptable. Bartholomew had two chil- dren, Bartholomew and Sarah. The latter married Richard Wistar of Philadelphia.
Ephraim, the oldest son, settled on a tract of land which his father gave him by deed, adjoining the homestead on the east, and extending towards the north branch of Timber creek. 12 In 1732, he purchased of the executors of Abraham Porter, deceased, six hundred and nineteen acres, lying on both sides of the last named stream; which extended his possessions nearly to the south branch of Cooper's creek.13 He was a preacher among Friends, and held in much estimation. A testimony from the Haddonfield Meeting is abundant evidence of his consistent and exemplary life. He was born in 1695 and departed this life in 1780, leaving a second wife, Catharine, a son, Ephraim, and two daughters,-Elizabeth, who married Aaron Lippincott and Mary, who married James Gardiner. 14
To the son Joseph, the father devised the homestead property, containing about two hundred acres of land, whereon he settled after the death of the testator. During his life he purchased considerable real estate. 15 He deceased in 1758, leaving a widow, Catharine, two sons, Joseph and Samuel, and three daughters.
By the will of his father, John took about three hundred acres of land higher up Gravelly run, upon which he settled and remained until his decease in 1755. His wife survived him, and also three children, namely: Isaac; Hannah; and Eleanor, who married Josiah Albertson.
William settled on a farm in Waterford township near Had- donfield, which he bought of the executors of John Lord in
12 Lib. DD, 200, O. S. G.
14 Lib. P, 187.
13 Lib. P, 230.
15 Lib. M2, 339, O. S. G.
199
JOSEPH TOMLINSON.
1733; he lived there but a short time, as he died in 1737. His wife and three sons survived him. They were Samuel, who married Ann Burrough; William ; and Daniel, who married Mary Bates. 16
Othniel, who married Mary Marsh in 1744, first settled in Salem county, and, in the year 1753, removed to Chester county, Pennsylvania, to a place within control of the Con- cord Monthly Meeting. Othniel died in 1756. 17
By this marriage there was but one child, Mary, who married Samuel Hibberd in 1770, and who had seven daughters. In 1760, the widow married Aaron Ashbridge. It is not known whether there was any issue by this marriage. 13
It is probable that others of the sons deceased in their minority, and the daughters, following the fortunes of their husbands, have long since been lost sight of in the genealog- ical labyrinth built up through this lapse of years. The family has not, however, lost its identity with the first settler, and much of the landed estate owned by him still remains in the name. Of the life of the subject of this sketch, there are doubtless very many interesting incidents, which, by patient research among the musty records still extant, could be brought to light, and would show much of the history of his times, in connection with the progress of the people in their social, judicial and political condition; and which would contrast strangely with such as pervade our system at the present day. That he was a progressive man is shown by his selecting his home so far from the first settlements, in the depth of the wilderness, surrounded only by the aborigines, where nothing but industry and perseverance could procure him a farm.
In connection with these difficulties he became proficient in legal knowledge. He, therefore, attracted the attention of the community, and was called to fill the responsible positions before named. These things, when viewed from a proper stand- point, stamp him as a man whose career through life is worthy of being traced and recorded, and who deserves a much better biography than the foregoing brief and imperfect notice.
16 Old Deeds, not recorded.
17 Records of Salem Friends' Meeting.
18 Goshen and Wilmington Meetings, Pa. and Del
200
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
It is perhaps proper, in this connection, to mention that John Tomlinson located and settled on a tract of land at the Indian town of Oneanickon, or Mount Carmel, in the year 1685. 19 This place was in Springfield township, Burlington county, near the old Copany meeting-house. He resided here until 1691, when he sold the same to Matthew Champion, and removed from that locality. It is likely that he was a brother of Joseph, and that he may have settled with him, on the head of Timber creek, as he sold about the time of Joseph's purchase at that place. Of his family nothing is known, and all of the above in relation to him, except the location and sale of the land, is conjecture.
19 Revel's Book, 77, 89.
SAMUEL COLE.
S AMUEL COLE and his wife Elizabeth emigrated from Cole's Hill, Hertfordshire, England, and landed on the Jersey shore above Philadelphia. His name does not appear among those given by Smith or Gordon in their histories of the first settlements of New Jersey; the reason for which may be that he came as a servant with but little estate.
He was a haberdasher and hatter, and, in all probability, plied his calling after his arrival here.1 He came among the first of the emigrants, and made judicious selection of his land whereon to seat himself, but, for some reason, soon after he had erected a dwelling, he sold his first location and removed further into the country. The return of this survey bears date 3d month, 13th, A. D. 1682. It includes five hundred acres of land on the north side of the mouth of Cooper's creek and fronting on the river .? William Cooper, who emigrated from the same place, had settled on the opposite side of the stream in the midst of an Indian village, and "over against" the Indian town of Shackomaxin, so that Samuel Cole's plantation was not far from other habitations of man, although in the midst of the primeval forest. Being a neighbor to William Cooper at Cole's Hill, he again finds himself near by; from this it may be inferred that he was governed in his choice by the
I Lib. Gz, 33.
2 Revel's Book, 63.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
advice and direction of his former associate and friend. A few settlements were made near him, bounding upon the creek and laying higher up the stream, that water course at that time being the only highway upon which the people traveled to and from the city of Philadelphia.
He was, perhaps, one of the creditors of Edward Byllynge, as, in 1676, William Penn and the other trustees conveyed to him and Benjamin Bartlet one-ninetieth part of a share of pro- priety ; under which he claimed the title to the land by him taken up.3-4 Although this was a small portion, yet it placed him upon an equal footing with the largest holders as touching the political affairs of the colony; under this right he was afterwards called to fill several important offices.
Samuel Cole cleared a few acres and built a house on the land which he had located, but soon after sold the buildings and one hundred acres of his survey to Henry Wood, who occupied the same.5 In 1687, he sold the balance of the survey to Samuel Spicer, as well as a quantity of rights, which Spicer soon appro- priated.6 He had other lands at the same place, which were disposed of to settlers thereabout.
Upon the sale of his dwelling and part of his estate on the Delaware to Henry Wood, he removed to a place called Penis- aukin and purchased five hundred acres of Jeremiah Richards (1685), who had previously erected buildings thereon and cleared some land.7 This was near the settlement of William Matlack, Timothy Hancock and others, but on the south side of the creek that now bears that name. The rights under which Richards had made his survey, he purchased of Henry Stacy, who had emigrated to New Jersey, but soon returned to England, where he deceased. Like most of the settlers, he had not been long the owner, before he gave his place the name of "New Orchard," which name was remembered for many years, but has long since been lost sight of. This plantation was near the head of the south branch of the stream before named, but has years ago lost its identity by the division and sub-division, sale and trans- fer, incident to real estate in New Jersey. Several other adjoin-
3 Lib. A, 4.
+ Lib. G2, 33.
5 Lib. B, 66.
6 Lib. G, III,
7 Lib. B, 75,
203
SAMUEL COLE.
ing surveys were made by him, and, at his death, he was the owner of more than one thousand acres of land, then in unbroken forest, but now many valuable farms.8 The direct and collateral branches of this family are still owners of much of this land.
Samuel Cole had much to do in the political troubles of the province ; among which was the settlement of the boundary line between the counties of Burlington and Gloucester, and in which he was personally interested, as his land lay on the stream of water and on both sides of the highway where the trouble existed. He was a member of the Legislature in the years 1683 and 1685, in which last year commissioners, were appointed to fix the line, who settled it to be from the forks of Penisaukin, up the south branch to the Salem road; then along the road to the north branch of the same creek; thence to the head thereof; and thence upon a southeast course to the utmost boundary. 9 With this boundary the people about Penisaukin were dissatisfied, and, in 1693, the act was set aside, and the present line was agreed upon about the year 1700.
A few years after Samuel Cole had settled at New Orchard, he returned to England to arrange some unsettled business; in coming back to New Jersey, the vessel touched at the island of Barbadoes, where he was taken sick and died. At this place there was a large settlement of Friends, many of whom had been banished from England during the religious troubles, and many others of whom had gone into voluntary exile, to join their connections and to be free from intolerance and bigotry.
Samuel and Elizabeth Cole had but two children,-Samuel, who married Mary, a daughter of Thomas Kendall; and Sarah, who married James Wild.
Thomas Kendall, above named, came to New Jersey as one of the servants of Daniel Wills. Being a bricklayer, he was a useful man in the province. He built the first corn mill in Gloucester county, in 1697 (now Evans's, near Haddonfield ), and became the owner of considerable real estate. As Samuel Cole died intestate, and his widow was appointed administratrix
8 Basse's Book, 29.
o Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
7
204
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
ninth month, 23d, 1693, the whole of his real estate descended to his son Samuel, who occupied the same until his death in 1728.10 He was a man of some political aspirations, having been appointed sheriff in 1710, in 1713 and in 1724. He left a will, 11 and the following named children: Samuel, who mar- ried Mary Lippincott; Joseph, who married Mary Wood; Thomas, who married Hannah Stokes; Kendall, who married Ann Budd; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Burcham and Ben- jamin Cooper; Mary, who married Edward Tonkins; Susanna, who married William Budd; and Rachel, who married Enoch Roberts.
In 1739, the devisees of the second Samuel Cole re-surveyed the original estate, which shows how their ancestors held it. The old house, as erected by the first Samuel Cole, is shown on the map, and is now (1877) standing, but it has been long since abandoned as a dwelling. It is built of logs, is one story high, has two windows and one door. It stands in the door yard of the farm, formerly Joseph H. Cole's, deceased. It is used for various purposes and is fast going to decay. Another generation, and it will be forgotten.
James Wild was a wheelwright, and settled on the north side of the south branch of Penisaukin creek, on five acres of land, which he purchased of John Cowperthwaite in 1712, and at but a short distance from the residence of his father-in-law. He died in 1731, leaving a will.12 His children were James, Sam- uel, John, Sarah (who married Jonathan Thomas), Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Rachel. His widow Rachel, who was a second wife, survived him. In his will he speaks of Alexander Morgan as his brother-in-law, but how such relation existed, cannot at this writing be discovered. Four years after, his widow Rachel died, intestate, but leaving some considerable estate. Of this family nothing is known at the present day, as none of the name have lived in this region for many years; and the above defective sketch is only here introduced, that something may be gathered therefrom of interest to such as search with better facilities and greater success.
Io Gloucester Files, 1683.
II Lib. No. 3, 02.
12 Lib. No. 3, 450.
205
SAMUEL COLE.
Within the bounds of the land of which Samuel Cole died, seized, on the west side of the King's road from Salem to Burlington, and about one-half mile south of Penisaukin creek, stands St. Mary's church, better known, however, as "the old Cole's Town Church," having been always under the control of the Protestant Episcopal denomination of New Jersey. The history of this church dates back into the begin- ning of the eighteenth century, and, in all probability, had its origination in the Keithean controversy, which separated many Quaker families from the religious doctrines as laid down by George Fox, and, as a consequence, drew them around the dissenter whose talent and eloquence made the tenets of his new belief attractive and acceptable wherever he preached.
After his separation from Friends, brought about by contro- versy upon doctrinal points and church discipline, both in America and before the yearly meetings of London, he came again to the colonies under the patronage of the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," established in London by a few members of the church of England. He traveled through most of the towns and villages from Massa- chusetts to South Carolina, seeking for his proselytes among the members of the society from which he had been expelled, and established churches in many places where sufficient num- bers of his followers lived in the same neighborhood. In his journal, which was published before his death, he says: "Sep- tember 15th, 1703, I preached at the house of William Heulings in West Jersey," which was but a short distance from where the old church stands, and this may be safely accepted as the beginning of St. Mary's church at Colestown. Although not all the requirements of a religious organization were complied with at once, yet the interest then and there commenced was never lost sight of or abandoned, simply for want of numbers; and the intervals of religious service at the dwelling houses of such adherents as resided thereabout, were never so widely separated as to destroy the connection of George Keith's preaching in 1703 with the ultimate success and establish- ment of the church.
206
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
The first building was erected about the year 1752, and was repaired in 1825, without any change as to the interior arrangement. In subsequent years, and after the same religious denomination had erected churches at Camden, Moorestown and Haddonfield, the old house was suffered to fall into decay, and well nigh tumbled to the ground; but a few of the descendants of the old families that worshiped there, with commendable liberality and good taste, in 1866 again repaired the old house, faithfully preserving its ancient form and anti- quated appearance.
In further connection with this matter, John Rudderow, who emigrated from England about the year 1680, and who lived in Chester township, Burlington county, N. J., between the north and south branches of Penisaukin creek, and died in 1729, inserted the following clause in his will: "I give ten pounds towards the building of a church in that place to be convenient hereaway." 13 This man, who settled at the place in which he deceased, was an Episcopalian, and was, no doubt, a participant in the religious quarrel of which George Keith was the leader ; around him most of the few families in that region collected, and formed the body of the church. His education (he having graduated as a lawyer in England), and influence in the neighborhood as an upright and conscientious man, would make him, next after Keith, the principal person in such an enterprise, and the devise made in his will shows clearly what was in contemplation even at that early day, and how desirous he was that such an enterprise should be carried out.
After the lapse of a few years, another incident occurred, that establishes an additional link in the history of this church, and that may be held quite as reliable as the devise of John Rud- derow, before named ; and is, in fact, the connecting link that unites beyond controversy its earlier and latter days. To the perseverance and care of Asa Matlack is due what is recorded of the sayings of Abigail Rudderow (widow of William, who was a grandson of the first John,) touching this matter. This lady was a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Spicer, and of remark- able intelligence and memory. She was born in 1742, and lived
13 Lib. No. 3, 308.
T
207
SAMUEL COLE.
to the age of eighty-three. She always resided in the neigh- borhood, and, doubtless, was conversant with every matter of moment which occurred in that section of the country. She was married when she was about sixteen years of age, and lived to see her descendants multiplied in more than ordinary pro- portion, and scattered through the various States of the Union. Relative to the traditions in question, her own version of it is more interesting than any other :
"At nine years of age I was baptised at the church by Dr. Jenny, which at that time was being built, the roof being on and the weather-boarding up as high as the window sills. The ground had been previously consecrated by Dr. Jenny from Philadelphia."
This gentleman, the Rev. Robert Jenney, A. M., came to New York as chaplain in the royal army stationed in that city. In 1722, he was chosen rector of the church at Rye, in West Chester county, New York, but only remained there four years. He removed to Hempstead on Long Island, and afterwards to Philadelphia as rector of Christ church. He died in 1762, aged seventy-five years.14
This baptism, which occurred in 1751, and was so likely to be remembered by Abigail Spicer, fixes the erection of the church beyond a question. Its subsequent history from that time to 1825, the year of her decease, was familiar to her; and how great the regret that some person had not saved it from loss! Being placed upon social equality with the clergy who officiated there, her knowledge of their coming, time of service and removal, was reliable, and would have made the reminis- cences of the old chapel of deep interest to such as emulate their forefathers in worshiping around its altar.
The births, baptisms, marriages and burials, were incidents that would naturally attract more or less attention in a rural district ; and, with a person whose religious feeling was centred in that spot, they would be indelibly marked upon the memory. Although many years have intervened between the incidents connected with this ancient church, yet they are so linked
14 History of Rye, 312.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
together, and relate so plainly to the same object, that its history can be traced through the times of its usefulness with- out uncertainty or doubt ; just as among the land marks of a long neglected pathway that time and circumstances have, in the lapse of years, well nigh destroyed, enough is sometimes left to trace its direction and discover its place. Events are evanescent, passing from the memory, never, perhaps, to be re-called, and, but for the care of some, to make a record thereof, would in a few decades be forgotten.
The high, boxed pulpit, the small, narrow chancel, the dark, ill arranged galleries, and the badly shaped, uncushioned benches, leave no doubt that this structure was erected long before com- fort was regarded, or convenience studied. The outside appear- ance is plain and unpretending ; without steeple or belfrey, stained windows or arched roof, it stands, the evidence of simplicity in the taste of our forefathers, and of the little means which they had to expend in such an edifice.
Around the building, and in the small burial ground origin- ally attached, lay the remains of those who worshiped within its walls from time to time, and who, in the fulness of their days, passed to the same account as those before them, strength- ening the links of fraternal regard that have connected genera- tion with generation unto the present day.
Of the ministers who have supplied this church at various periods, there is no continuous record. All, however, have acted in the capacity of missionaries, the church standing in a thinly settled neighborhood, and being several miles from any town. William Sturgeon (the assistant of Dr. Jenny, who was then rector of Christ church, Philadelphia,) visited the people once in each month while the house was in progress of building. Nathaniel Evans, a young man of finished education and great talent, had charge also of St. Mary's and the church at Glou- cester, and resided with his parents at Haddonfield. He was admitted to holy orders by Dr. Terrick of London, and came immediately to New Jersey in discharge of his duties. He was a man of much literary taste, and a volume of his poems was published after his death, a copy of which may be found in the Franklin Library of Philadelphia. He followed Mr. Sturgeon
209
SAMUEL COLE.
and took charge of the church when finished, and there he preached for six years. He died October 29th, 1767, at the age of twenty-five, and was buried at Christ church, Philadel- phia. An interval of five years now occurred, when Robert Blackwell was selected, November 19th, 1772. He married Rebecca, a daughter of Joseph Harrison, and resided in Had- donfield. During the Revolutionary war, he became a chaplain in the army, and the church was again left without regular service.
Henry Miller, president of the college of Philadelphia, was his successor, and he was soon followed by the Reverend John Wade. He died in 1799. His remains were interred in front of the main entrance to the church, the stone that marks his grave at this day being buried beneath the soil.
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