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 17
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Samuel Sprague, who lived in Mount Holly, and ministered in spiritual things to the people of that region of country, occasionally preached here. Andrew Fowler, next followed; in the quaint language of the recorder, "he had a wife and three children and three churches under his charge." When he was there, or how long he remained, is not known. After him came Levi Heath, of Burlington, and then Samuel Pussey, who was the cause of much trouble in the church. He was an impostor, having produced the ordination papers and their accompanying documents of a clergyman who died on the passage over with him. With these testimonials he was accepted as a minister, and so continued until the truth was discovered. In succession came Daniel Higbee in 1807, and, after him, Richard Hall.
The last named person preached there in the year 1811. Since that time, various vicissitudes have befallen the old chapel. As before stated, these facts were gathered by Asa Matlack from Abigail Rudderow, and may be relied upon as correct.
The oldest legible stone now standing in the yard is that of Philip Wallace, who was there buried in 1746, aged eighty-two years ; and dated in the same year is that of Mary Wallace, his wife, aged eighty.
These were among the first English settlers about the mouth of the Penisaukin creek, and were Friends until the schism caused by George Keith, when they became his followers and
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were identified with the church of England. The name is sometimes differently spelled, but the family is the same.
In 1760, Humphrey Day and Jane, his wife, were buried here, the first being seventy-five, and the latter, sixty-five years of age. They lived on the north side of Cooper's creek, owning part of the estate lately held by the Shivers family. He was, perhaps, a son of Steeven Deay (as he spelled it), who was a resident of Chester township, Burlington county, in 1696.
Elias Toy was here interred in 1762, aged forty-seven years. His residence was in the last named county near the river shore, where part of his land still remains in the name. He was a descendant of one of the Swedish families who settled on the shores of the Delaware long before the English came, and whose ancestors worshiped at Tinakum and Wicaco, much after the faith and forms of the Protestant Episcopal church of the present day.
Many of the rude, rough monuments erected there to point to the resting place of friends and families have yielded to time and exposure, showing at this date only parts of letters and figures, from which nothing definite can be deciphered.
If a descendant of "Old Mortality" had chanced here a hundred years ago, wandering through the country, clad in hodden gray, with black cloth leggins and strong clouted shoes, riding upon a white pony around whose neck there hung a canvass pouch containing his tools, following the bent of his ancestor with the same sincere devotion, he would have found here abundant room to gratify his strange, but commend- able vocation.
Here, day after day, could have been seen his faithful beast, tethered among the graves, to seek, as best he could, a pre- carious living, while his master sat upon the defaced tomb- stones, striving, with chisel and hammer, to restore the almost worn-out names and dates to their original freshness. Refus- ing any reward, save the bare entertainment of himself and beast, his acts would have been held in grateful remembrance by those who, but for him, might have sought in vain for relatives or friends in this long neglected spot. Considering it a religious duty and upon himself incumbent, nothing would
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have hindered him except his answers to the words of some observer curious to know his object, and then, only to clear his glasses and arrange his tools, the better to prosecute the work before him. The task completed, and his pony sad- dled for his departure, he, perchance, would have repeated the memorable language of his predecessor in view of the kind offices extended to him. "The blessing of our Master be with you. My hours are like the ears of the latter harvest, but your days are in the spring; yet you may be gathered into the garner of mortality before me, for the sickle of death cuts down the green as oft as the ripe; and there is a colour in your cheek that, like the bud of the rose, serveth oft to hide the worm of corruption. Wherefore labour as one who knoweth not when his master calleth. And, if it be my lot to return to this spot after ye are gone home to your own place, these old withered hands will frame a stone of memorial that your name may not perish from among the people."
Other associations than these are, however, around this place. Along the King's road, which passed close to the door, traveled all those going north or south to various parts of the province, when our State was in its infancy, and the dwellings of the settlers were separated by miles of forest ; while here stood the church in a lonely spot, like an oasis in the wilderness, inviting the travelers to rest under the shade of the broad topped oaks that grew near. If it were an ancient burial place of the Indians, none of the tribes but would pause, in going to their hunting grounds, to show their reverence for the graves of their fathers.
Along this highway moved the contending armies during the Revolutionary war, and, no doubt, the doors of the church were open alike to friend or foe. Here, under the protection of the standard of St. George, listened British officers to the preaching of their chaplains, resting on their way to carnage and death, to hear the persuasive eloquence of the teachers of religion. Here, likewise, may the immortal Washington have laid aside his sword, and, kneeling at the little chancel, have partaken of the Holy Communion, after the rector had preached "peace on earth and good will to men." Here, the
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representatives of the King acknowledged the same religious creed that the early teachings of a mother had left upon the then impressible memory of the great commander.
In this connection, it is gratifying to know that this relic of olden times has been preserved to the present generation, through the liberality of those who regard the days of their ancestors and hold fast to antiquated things. Would that more were like them.
Elizabeth, the widow of the first Samuel Cole, married Grif- fith Morgan, who was a mariner, and resided in Philadelphia. The license of marriage was granted by the chancellor of Pennsylvania, and bears date December 10th, 1693. In 1697, he purchased a tract of land of William Frampton, situated in Gloucester county near the mouth of Penisaukin creek, whereon he settled, and remained until his decease. He also owned other land in Gloucester county, as, in 1677, he purchased real estate of David Lloyd and Isaac Norris. The issue of this marriage was one son,-Alexander, who married Hannah, the daughter of Joseph and Lydia Cooper, and grand-daughter of William the first settler. Alexander remained on the home- stead estate, which, before his death, became valuable. The children of Alexander and Hannah Morgan were Joseph, who married Agnes Evans; Benjamin, who married Jane Roberts ; Isaac; Mary, who married Edmund Hollingshead ; Elizabeth, who married William Miller ; Lydia, who married Nathan Beeks; and Sarah, who married Josiah Burrough. Both the Coles and the Morgans that came from the same maternal ancestors are, at this time, connected with the most respectable families in the country, and have spread through all the United States.
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A MONG the few persons who ventured with John Fenwick across the ocean to make the first settlement upon the land in which he had become interested by purchase from Lord John Berkley in 1673, were Samuel Nicholson, his wife Ann, and their children. They came from Wiston, in Nottingham- shire, England, in the ship "Griffith" of London, Robert Griffin, master. They arrived in the Delaware river upon the 9th month, 23d, 1675. Their children were as follows:
Parabol, born second month, 7th, 1659; Elizabeth, born third month, 22d, 1664; Samuel, born eighth month, 30th, 1666; Joseph, born second month, 30th, 1669 ; Abel, born fifth month, 2d, 1672.1
This little company ended their voyage upon the river Dela- ware, at Elsinburg, where they found a few Swedes, some Indians, and myriads of mosquitoes, of which last they had heard but little previously, although they now were among the first to make their acquaintance. They were the pioneers of the English colonists, and, but for the sanguine temperament and deter- mined character of their leader, might have allowed the dis- couragements that surrounded them to induce an abandonment ยท of the undertaking, and a return to their homes. There could be nothing in the prospect before them that was in the least
I Friends' Records of Salem, N. J.
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inviting; to the females, especially, it must have been dark indeed. They could not expect to obtain anything from the soil for more than a year, for it was still covered with timber, and in no condition for raising a crop. The feelings of the Indians towards them were yet to be discovered, and, if their conduct towards those who had preceded them in the Massa- chusetts colony, was to be an index, they derived but little comfort in that direction.
The Dutch and the Swedes had driven off a colony of emi- grants who came from New Haven in 1641, and had made a settlement on "Varken's kill" now Salem creek; and, at the time when Fenwick came, no vestige of their habitations could be found. The jealousy of these people, as well as the suspicions of the Indians, had to be overcome, and no small degree of diplomacy was exercised to steer clear of these difficulties that surrounded them at once.
The High Court at Upland had judicial authority over the Dutch and the Swedes on the eastern shore of the river, and the church at Tinacum was the place whither they all went to attend to their religious duties, and to have their children chris- tened. These were powers and prejudices hard to overcome, and so antagonistic to the theory and practice of those who now proposed to make a settlement, that no compromise could reconcile the differences; and, to a disinterested spectator, this state of affairs would appear likely to lead to difficulty and trouble. Although John Fenwick was impetuous and hasty in much that he did when opposed, especially when his abso- lute authority over the land of which he claimed to be the owner was questioned, yet the forbearance and good counsel of those who were with him, prevented any trouble with his neighbors, so far as the management of their religious affairs was concerned.
Immediately after, or, perhaps, before they had landed, "the agreements" between the patroon and the planters were drawn up and signed by each of them. These may now be seen in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton, in a good state of preservation .? The document is dated June 28th, 1675; it embodies all the elements of a good government, and upon
2 Salem Records.
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this was afterwards established the kind of authority that made the colony a desirable place for settlement. Among the thirty- three persons who put their signatures to this paper, and who were mostly heads of families, may be found the name of Samuel Nicholson, signed by his own hand, which, by its style, shows him to have been a man of some education.
Steps were immediately taken to extinguish the Indian title; this was done for a satisfactory consideration, by three deeds from several chiefs, who held the territory bounded by several large streams, by which the grants were defined therein. This was a proper and just movement, and, although the privileges of the aborigines were not abridged in their hunting and fishing expeditions, yet their ideas of right were met and satisfied, to the avoidance of any trouble in the future.
As soon as abodes were provided for their families, which consisted of the humblest kind of habitations, a religious meeting was established after the order of the Society of Friends, and held at private houses for several years.3 These meetings took place twice in each week for divine worship, and once in each month for church discipline. It is curious and interesting to examine the records of the Friends meeting at that place, and to notice the various movements taken to secure a locality for public worship.
Upon the fourth month, 2d, 1679, Richard Guy, Edward Bradway, Nathan Smart and Edward Wade were appointed to go on the seventh instant, and select a place for a meeting house and burial ground, and to report at the next monthly meeting. Upon the eleventh month, 5th, 1679, Edward Wade, James Nevil, John Maddox and George Deacon were appointed a committee to treate with Samuel Nicholson and William Penton for their houses and plantations in Salem ; and, also, to see the widow Salter about her plantation, &c. Upon the twelfth month, 2d, 1679, George Deacon, John Maddox, George Azeheard and Henry Jennings were appointed to take a view of Edward Bradway's house for a meeting house.
At this meeting a minute was made, fixing fourth day and first day as the times for religious worship ; the first of which meet-
3 Johnson's History of Salem, 98,
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ings was to be held at Robert Zane's house, the next at Samuel Nicholson's house, and the next at Richard Guy's house. This arrangement put at rest, for a short time, the trouble about a meeting house; and not until the seventh of the fourth month, in the next year, does anything further relative to the subject appear. Then the subscription list was entered, showing who contributed, and the amount given by each person.
Upon the ninth month, Ist, 1680, another committee was appointed, to treate with Edward Champneys for a lot on which to build a meeting house and a burial lot, and to report at the next Monthly Meeting. Soon after this, some arrangement had been made with Samuel Nicholson for his property, for on the 3d of the eleventh month, 1680, John Thompson and Robert Zane were appointed to look after the repairing of Samuel Nichol- son's house ( lately by him occupied ) for a meeting house, "and forthwith get said house fit for Friends to meet in."
The next year, Samuel Nicholson and Ann, his wife, con- veyed to the trustees of the Salem meeting his sixteen acre lot, whereon stood the house aforesaid ; and the same com- mittee was directed to enlarge the house by adding "sixteen feet in length, and in height equal to the old frame, with a chimney and pair of stairs." For some reason, this was not done until the next year, when another committee was named for that purpose. Samuel Nicholson's house was, therefore, the first building set apart for public religious worship in West New Jersey. Various alterations were subsequently made in the arrangement of the galleries, and in the mode of heating. This latter was done by large, open fire places built in the ends of the house,-a method which did much to preserve a circula- tion of pure air in the room, but very little towards making it comfortably warm. Several attempts were made to have the floor constructed of boards; but they failed, as, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, 1687, Benjamin Knapton and Thomas Woodroose were appointed a committee to have both the old and the new end of the meeting house floored with a "good clay floor," and to have it ready before the yearly meeting. The windows consisted of four panes each, of thick bull's-eye glass, seven inches by nine in size,
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and set in heavy sash. The doors were clumsy and small, cut horizontally in two parts, and had long iron hinges and wooden latch. Imagine a large open fire place in each end, no ceiling under the roof, and the benches without backs or cushions, and some idea of the inside appearance of this place of worship may be had. Forty-feet in front and sixteen feet in depth, part of frame and part of brick, and, perhaps, ten feet in heighth of story-these items give a fair description of the outside of a building which, at this day, would be looked upon as an odd structure for such uses.
The first Yearly Meeting held at Salem was on the fifteenth day of the second month, 1684; but the Burlington Friends neglected to send a committee,-a matter duly noticed. The next Yearly Meeting there held was on the twelfth day of the second month, 1687; afterwards, the time for such meetings was changed to the twenty-seventh day of the second month, and so yearly, "from inconveniences and impediments being seen in the meeting falling out so early in the spring." These meet- ings were continued at that place for several years, making it clear that Friends thereabout were able to entertain, and that their place of worship had capacity to receive the strangers thus coming among them.
At the Yearly Meeting held in Salem in the second month, from the twenty-seventh to the thirty-first, 1693, George Keith appeared with his friends, and laid before the meeting their proposals for the settlement of the differences among them. These were in the shape of several propositions, covering the points at issue and discussing the reasons for their adoption. This led to much controversy, and to the final separation of many members from the society. These proposals were signed by Jeremiah Collat, John Penrose, Nathaniel Sykes, Anthony Taylor, Samuel Cooper. Isaac Jacobs, James Shattuck, Samuel Adams, George Keith, Thomas Budd, Henry Furnass, Nicholas Pierce, Robert Granna, William Budd, Benjamin Morgan, Thomas Withers and Andrew Griscom.
Thomas Sharp of Newton was clerk, at that time, of the Yearly Meeting, wherein, no doubt, much excitement existed, and many controversies were had touching the merits of the matters
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before them, which so sadly vexed the church. The persons who signed the proposals with George Keith were influential in the communities in which they lived, and were well calculated to draw many other valuable members with them to the new dogmas, as laid down by this bold and popular dissenter.
The arrival of new settlers, the frugality and industry of the old ones, and the evident success of the colony, made it neces- sary that some new and better accommodations should be had for the religious meetings held in that place. The old house met the wants of the society for several years; but, on the twenty-ninth day of the sixth month, 1698, a committee of the Monthly Meeting was appointed to "have a new meeting-house erected." In the same year they agreed with Richard Wood- nutt to do the brick work, and Robert Gillman to do the wood work. Matters did not go far, however, before the meeting decided that the house according to the plan would prove too small, and ordered it to be increased to one of forty feet in front by thirty feet in depth. Whether it was erected on the site of the old one does not appear, but the capacity of the new was not very much greater than the old house, nor were its proportion any better.
On the thirtieth day of the first month, 1702, the committee reported the building finished, and that the entire cost was four hundred and twenty-five pounds, thirteen shillings and two pence. The long list of subscribers, and the amount of money severally paid, show how rapidly the neighborhood was being occupied, and the increase of wealth among the inhabitants. Several Friends in other parts contributed; Samuel Carpenter, then a resident of Philadelphia, gave fifteen pounds; Samuel Jennings of Burlington gave five pounds, and many others con- tributed, who doubtless were frequent visitors, and felt an interest in the comfort and convenience of this religious society. .
Next after the patroon, Samuel Nicholson was, perhaps, the wealthiest man in the colony at that time, as he appears to have made several large surveys of land in the county, and also sev- eral purchases of real estate. He did not remain in Salem many years, but removed to a plantation which he owned upon
4 Salem Records No. 2.
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Alloway's creek or Monmouth river, as it was then called, where he died in 1685, intestate." He took an active part in the religious and political advancement of the colony, but does not appear to have participated very much in the difficulties of John Fenwick with the Dutch and the English authorities. They claimed that he was a usurper, and must, consequently, be driven away or imprisoned ; this latter misfortune befell him, much to his discomfiture and pecuniary loss. The oath of Samuel Nicholson to show his allegiance to the government of John Fenwick is here copied, it being the same that was taken by most of the planters upon their arrival:
"I, Samuel Nicholson, of the Town of New Salem, in Fen- wick Colony, in the Province of New Caesarea or New Jersey in America, Planter, do hereby declare and promise that I will endeavor to promote the honor of Almighty God in all my undertakings, who is the King of Kings and requires all men to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God; and, accordingly, I do further declare and promise that I will bear true allegiance to the King of England, his heirs and successors, and also that I will be faithful to the interest of John Fenwick, Lord or Chief Proprietor of the said colony, his heirs, Executors and assigns, and endeavour the peace and welfare of him, them and of his said Colony accordingly. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this July 5th, 1676, in the twenty-eighth year of the Reign of King Charles Second, &c." 5
Samuel Nicholson must have been a favorite of the patroon, for he gave him his choice of lots in the town of Salem, which contained sixteen acres with a tract of marsh fronting on the creek. On this tract of sixteen acres he built his house, which, afterwards, was used by the Friends as the place of meeting before named.
Ann, the wife of Samuel Nicholson, survived him and died in 1694. Of the children, Parabol married Abraham Strand in 1677; Elizabeth married John Abbott; Samuel died in 1694, without family and unmarried ; Abel married Mary, a daughter
5 Salem Surveys, 1676.
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of William Tyler; and Joseph married Hannah, a daughter of Henry Wood, in 1695.6
John Abbott and his wife Elizabeth deceased before Ann Nicholson, leaving three children, Rachel, Mary and Elizabeth. Abel settled in Elsinboro on the homestead property, and died in 1751.7 His children by his first wife were Sarah, Rachel, Abel, Joseph, William, Mary, John; Ruth, who married John Evans and Samuel Clement; Samuel, who married Sarah Den- nis; and Ann, who married John Brick. His second wife, Isabella, survived him.
In the Friends' meeting at Salem there was, perhaps, no more influential and active person than Abel Nicholson. The minutes show that upon almost every important committee he was named. Among the young people he seems to have been a particular favorite, as scarcely a wedding occurred in which his name may not be found among those who attended on behalf of the meeting, to see that everything was conducted in an orderly manner.
Upon the death of Bartholomew Wyatt, he was appointed to fill his place as one of the overseers of the meeting, and, in 1733, was made an elder. In 1729, he married Isabella Daniels, but by this marriage there was probably no issue. Some of his children came into Gloucester and Burlington counties ; through whom some of the present generations may trace their lineage.
Henry Wood, whose daughter married Joseph Nicholson, in 1682, purchased one hundred acres of Samuel Cole, in Waterford township, near the mouth of Cooper's creek, front- ing on the river, with the buildings put thereon by Cole; to this place he removed, and there remained during his life. He called this place "Hopewell." 9
The same year in which Joseph Nicholson married his daugh- ter, he removed from Salem county to a tract of land on the north side of Cooper's creek, that he had previously purchased ; here he built a house and made a settlement. In 1699, he purchased an adjoining tract of James, a grandson of Henry
6 Salem Wills A, 170, 143. Salem Wills No. 5 41.
7 Salem Wills A, 120. Lib. No. 7, 250.
8 Lib. BI, 66.
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Wood, which made his landed estate quite large at the time of his death.
Samuel Nicholson, the brother of Joseph, in his will gave him his entire estate ; the land of which he sold to George Abbott in 1696. The deed says, "Joseph Nicholson, late of Salem county, now of Gloucester county." This language establishes the identity of Joseph beyond any question, and connects the family hereabout with Samuel, the first comer.
Joseph Nicholson deceased in 1702, intestate,9 and leaving but two children, George, who married Alice Lord in 1717, and Samuel, who had three wives. These were as follows: in 1722, he married Sarah, a daughter of Samuel Burrough; in 1744, he married Rebecca Saint, and, in 1749, he married Jane Albertson, the widow of William, and daughter of John Engle. The last named female was somewhat remarkable in her mar- riage relations, having had four husbands and, probably, dying a widow. The husbands were John Turner, William Albertson, Samuel Nicholson, and Thomas Middleton.
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