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 18
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As the oldest son, Samuel inherited the landed estate of his father, and had his residence on the tract of land purchased of James Wood in 1699. This he re-surveyed in 1733, which survey discloses the title and the number of acres contained in the same.10 He was neighbor to the Spicers, the Woods, and Humphrey Day, all of which families and names have long since been lost sight of in that region.
Samuel Nicholson deceased in 1750, leaving the following named children; but how distributed among the several wives, there is no means at this time of discovering.11 Joseph, the first son, married Catharine Butcher, of Burlington, in 1738; in 1749, he purchased half an acre of land of John Gill in Had- donfield, at which place he at that time resided. This piece of land is situated on the west side of the main street, and is now owned by Joseph B. Tatem. He probably built the house now standing on the lot; but of this there are no certain data. Abel married Rebecca Aaronson, daughter of Aaron ; Abigail married Daniel Hillman in 1743, and John Gill in
9 Files of Gloucester Wills.
10 Lib M, 159, O. S. G.
1z Lib. No. 7, 02.
٠
222
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
1767 ; Hannah married John Hillman; and Sarah died single in 1756. Abel deceased in 1761, and before his first child was born. This proved to be a son, who was named for his father, and subsequently married Rebecca, a daughter of Isaac Ellis. The widow of Abel married Isaac Burrough, and deceased in 1768. From the last named Abel, the family in this imme- diate neighborhood has descended. A few of the name reside in Salem county, but the family is not large. In tracing this family, care should be taken not to confound it with that of George Nicholson, who came from Borton Stathers, in Lincoln- shire, England, and settled in Burlington county, N. J.12 His wife's name was Hannah, and their children were Grace, born in 1677; Samuel, born in 1679; George, born in 1680; Joseph, born in 1684, and Mercy, born in 1687. Samuel died at Ches- ter, Pennsylvania, in 1684. Joseph and Mercy were born at the same place, the other children being born before the coming of the parents to America. They probably came among those designing to remain in Pennsylvania under the patronage of William Penn, but finally settling in New Jersey.
12 Friends' Records, Cherterfield Meeting, Burlington Co.
THOMAS HOWELL.
T HOMAS HOWELL was an Englishman, and lived in Staffordshire previously to his removal to New Jersey.1 It is somewhat uncertain whether he was a creditor of Edward Byllynge, although the record would seem to show that he was; yet, if so, he did not have his debts discharged directly by that man.
Benjamin Bartlett (or Braclett, as it is sometimes written,) married Gracia, a daughter of Byllynge,2 through whom many of the sales of proprieties were made, and who, surviving her husband and father, in 1728,3 sold all the remainder of her interests in New Jersey, derived as the only heir and surviving child of her father, to Daniel Coxe, of London, whose son Daniel came here to look after his father's estate, and made so much trouble in the political affairs of the colony.4 .
The first estate that Thomas Howell acquired in New Jersey, was through Benjamin Bartlett and wife, in 1675, who conveyed him the one-half of one-ninetieth part of one whole share; under which he proceeded in 1685 to sever his interest from the common stock in land.3 Although his name does not appear among those who first arrived here, yet he, no doubt, came among the earliest adventurers, and brought some con- siderable personal property, consisting of household goods and
I Lib. G2, 33.
2 Lib. A, 24.
3 Lib. EF, 370.
4 Lib. A, 24.
5 Lib. G2, 33.
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FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
money. It is probable that his immediate residence in Staf- fordshire was at Tamworth, a town in the western part of that county,6 about one hundred and ten miles northeast of the city of London, for, in a division of his estate among his children in 1687, his son Daniel received that property as part of his share.7.8 In a subsequent agreement between Daniel and Mor- decai, the estate passed to the latter, who, in all probability, retained it during his life,9 it being the ancestral residence of the family, and for this reason deserving his adherence thereto. It does not appear that Thomas Howell was a Friend; if such, he did not participate much in the religious affairs of that society. The short time that he lived after his settlement here may account for this, as he deceased in 1687, only a few years after his arrival. He was, however, a member of the Assembly in 1683, but only served a single year.10
The survey he made, fronting on the north side of Cooper's creek, in Waterford (now Delaware) township, included what is generally known as the Jacob Troth farm, on the east, and extended down that stream nearly one mile, and back into "the woods" about the same distance. This tract of land is, at the present day, divided into many valuable farms.11 It was located for six hundred and fifty acres, but doubtless contained within its bounds a much larger quantity of land. Thomas Howell erected a dwelling on the same, and there resided for the little time that he lived after his settlement. Without any tradition as to where his house stood, the probability is that it was near the creek, and perhaps where the buildings on the "Barton" farm have been erected. He called his place "Christianity." 12
The will of Thomas Howell has no date, but is undoubtedly a genuine document. It discloses some matters of interest which deserve notice here.13 Reference is made to his wife's not coming to America, of whom he appeared to know nothing at the time of making his will. He makes provision for her, however, which shows that he had some regard for her comfort, although she did not choose to participate in his adventure.
6 Lib. G2, 42.
7 Lib. G2, 62.
8 Lib. G1, 42.
9 Lib. G1, 42.
10 Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
II Revel's Book, 68.
12 Lib. B, 140.
13 Gloucester Files, 1693.
225
THOMAS HOWELL.
The will is not signed by the testator, but is subscribed to by three witnesses, who appeared when the same was offered for probate. The court allowed, and the devisees accepted the will as valid. It doubtless conformed to the custom of the Dutch courts in like cases, prevalent in New York at that date and for many years after. He made other locations in Gloucester county, which showed him to be a man with means to buy, and of good judgment in the location of his land. His family con- sisted of a wife, three sons and three daughters, namely: Samuel ; Daniel, who married Hannah Lakin, of Philadelphia, in 1686; Mordecai; Priscilla, who married Robert Stiles; Marion, who married Henry Johnson; and Catharine.14 Before his death in 1687, Thomas Howell sold Richard Wright one hundred acres of his land on Cooper's creek, where the family of the latter lived for several years thereafter.15
Of the son Samuel, nothing appears to indicate that he was in New Jersey as he did not join in any of the conveyances of real estate after his father's death, nor is his name mentioned at all, except in the will of his father. The son Mordecai was one of the witnesses in the controversy between the Penns and Lord Baltimore. In this, he says that he came to America about the year 1682, and ascended the Delaware river in company with the ship that brought William Penn to Philadelphia. This evidence was given by him in 1736, which proves that he did not decease before that date.
After Thomas Howell's death, his son Mordecai returned to the paternal estate at Tamworth, England, and there remained about three years.16 Afterwards, he returned and lived on the homestead property on Cooper's creek.17 In 1697, he sold to Henry Franklin, a bricklayer of New York, a part of the origi- nal tract, which the latter sold to John Champion, in three years after.18 Perhaps Franklin never came thither, but sold to Champion, who then resided at Hempstead, in the same state ; from which place he removed soon after, remaining until his death. He called his place "Livewell," being situated on that
14 Gloucester Files, 1687. Friends' Records, Phila. 16 Lib. Gr, 42. Lib. G2, 42. Lib. G1, 42. Lib. G3, 17.
15 Lib. G1, 14. Lib. G2, 114, 117, 120. 121.
17 Lib. G2, 114. Lib G3, 03, 08. 18 Lib. G3, 122, 465.
15
m
226
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
part of the estate now known as the "Champion farm," which name has much significance, and perhaps originated with those who enjoyed the hospitality and good cheer of the owner. 19
Previously to this sale, Mordecai Howell had erected a saw mill on a small branch near the easterly part of the tract, where that stream emptied into Cooper's creek. This mill was kept in use many years after it came into the hands of John Champion. In 1687, Thomas Howell (the father) erected the dam; but he was indicted by the grand jury of the county for stopping the water of the stream contrary to law, and consequently aban- doned the work.
It is probable that Catharine, the widow of Thomas Howell, came to America with the son Mordecai upon his return, as she was a resident of Philadelphia in 1693, and conveyed eighty- eight acres of land to Henry Johnson, then about to marry the daughter Marion.20 This was part of the estate on Cooper's creek, on which the son Mordecai at that time lived. Henry Johnson subsequently took up his abode there with his wife, and through their family, the property passed to other names.
Robert Stiles, who married the daughter Priscilla, settled on the north side of the south branch of Penisaukin creek on land now owned by Samuel Roberts. He deceased in 1728, leaving two sons, Robert and Ephriam ; from whom have sprung the family of that name in these parts.21
Gabriel Thomas, the first historian of West New Jersey, thus speaks of the head of this family. "The trade of Gloucester county consists chiefly in pitch, tar and rosin, the latter of which is made by Robert Styles, an excellent artist in that sort of work, for he delivers it as clear as any Gum Arabick."
Thomas Howell, in his will, gave his daughter Priscilla one hundred acres of the homestead property. This herself and husband, in 1690, conveyed to her brother Mordecai.22
The minute book of the supreme court of New Jersey-still in good preservation, commencing 1681, and now in the vaults of the office of the supreme court, at Trenton-presents a curious trial of Daniel and Mordecia Howell in 1685, for
19 Lib. G3, 03.
20 Lib. G3, 17.
21 Lib. G2, 94. 22 Lib. B, 94.
227
THOMAS HOWELL.
shooting and carrying away the hogs of William Cooper. They were indicted, tried and convicted, the court sitting at Burling- ton, and were fined five pounds each. The trial, which was a protracted one, discloses the peculiar manner of our ances- tors in conducting such cases. The identity of the porkers was the turning point in the case, as the ears had been cut off, and the marks destroyed. But when Daniel Cooper, son of William, testified to having seen a dead hog on the back of one of the defendants, before its ears were cut off. and identified it as one of his father's swine, there was no room for further doubt, and hence the conviction. There was much of that kind of litiga- tion among the old folks hereabout, as the neglect to enter the "ear marks" in the court records was often a means by which persons escaped punishment.
In 1687, Daniel sold his brother Mordecai two hundred and fifty acres of land with the buildings on Cooper's creek, prob- ably the farm on which their father deceased.23 In 1688, Daniel sold one hundred acres of the homestead to Moses Lakin, bounded by the stream before named." This person was, probably, a brother of his wife; but it does not appear that he ever occupied it. He subsequently disposed of a great amount of proprietory rights to various persons, showing that his landed estate in New Jersey was large and valuable. 25
In 1690, Daniel Howell sold sixty acres, part of the original tract, to Josiah Appleton, which joined other lands owned by John and Richard Appleton, at a place then called Apple-town. This was a village which stood near the most westerly boundary of the original tract fronting the navigation of Cooper's creek, and, no doubt, deriving many advantages therefrom.26 What tradition and ancient records have done for the faithful searchers after the curious and the true among the almost forgotten stories and neglected books that attract the attention of antiquarians, has escaped the notice of such seekers, in order to bring down to the present generation the site and history of Apple-town,-a place that had a name and a locality in 1690, but, at the present day, has left no trustworthy memorials.
23 Lib. G2, 62.
24 Lib. G1, 83.
25 Lib. G2, 104, 108.
26 Lib. B2, 442.
228
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
In the year 1691, he removed from Cooper's creek to a new residence near Philadelphia, which he called Hartsfield; and, after a short stay at that place, he removed thence to "Stacy's Mills," at the falls of the Delaware ; around which place now stands the city of Trenton. 27 Mahlon Stacy, who came over with the first emigrants, made a large survey on both sides of the Assunpink creek at this place, and erected a corn mill thereon. A Friends' meeting was established, and the buildings erected thereabouts soon began to assume the proportions of a town. In 1714, Mahlon Stacy, son of Mahlon who deceased in 1703, sold this property, which his father called Bathfield, to William Trent, from whom the present name of the city was derived ; previously to this sale, however, considerable of the land had been purchased in small parcels, whereon to erect dwellings.
Among the first and most prominent of the settlers there, the name of Daniel Howell occurs, who may have been a son of Thomas, before named. His religious proclivities were Presby- terian, as he was an active man in that denomination, and resided there when the first church was erected. If these sug- gestions are correct, then the descendants of Daniel Howell in and about the city of Trenton can make the connection' with their emigrant ancestors complete, and can know where he lived the little time in which he remained in the forests of New Jersey, as well as his place of nativity in England, where, no doubt, the lineage of the family can be traced for many gen- erations beyond his departure.28
Mordecai Howell was quite a land jobber, and dealt largely in real estate in Gloucester county. In 1702, he purchased the Lovejoy survey of Henry Tredway. This included all that part of Haddonfield, lying east of Main street, as far south as Ellis street, and the "corn mill" built by Thomas Kendall, which stood near the present mill, now owned by the heirs of Josiah B. Evans, deceased.29 While he held this property, he located fifty acres of land on the opposite side of the stream, bounded on the north by Buckman's run, which falls into Cooper's creek,
27 Lib. G2, 138, 140.
28 Lib. No. 3, 382.
29 Basse's Book, 239.
229-230.
THOMAS HOWELL.
at a short distance below where the present mill stands. By this survey, the place then called Uxbridge, but having long since lost its identity, is clearly defined. It may be said to have been where the Salem road crossed the creek, before the King's high- way was laid by law, nearly in its present position. This point was about one-fourth of a mile above the mouth of the run before named, and, no doubt, above the head of the pond as the flow then stood ; which pond was a diminutive affair, in comparison to the beautiful sheet of water that now covers the same and much larger premises. The name, however, was not confined to the particular place, but was applied generally to the sur- rounding neighborhood; yet, as the road was changed and the bridge went to decay, the name, in like manner, was, in the lapse of time, forgotten.
Near the head of the south branch of Cooper's creek in Gloucester township, he purchased several adjoining tracts of land of different persons; part of which was sold to Joseph Thorne in 1706, 30 who sold part to Joseph Bates in the same year.31 This property adjoined the estate of John Hillman, including several farms around where the White Horse tavern now stands. The deed made by him to Joseph Thorne included the homestead estate on Cooper's creek, and, perhaps, extin- guished his title to land in West New Jersey.
At the time of the last sale he had removed to Chester county, Pennsylvania; previously to which he had visited the home of his ancestors in England to look after the interests given to him by his father.32 His residence being beyond the bounds of New Jersey, there is no means of tracing him to the time of his decease. He was probably a bachelor, as his signatures to the various conveyances made by him stand alone, conclusive that, however large his estate, he did not halve his sorrows and double his joys by taking to himself a helpmate in the days of his youth. Alas, for him !
30 Lib. G3, 3.
3z Lib. A, 84.
32 Lib. A, 84.
WILLIAM MATLACK.
W ILLIAM MATLACK of the county of Burlington in the Province of West Jersey, aged about seventy-two years, came before me the underwritten, being his Majesty's Judge of the Common Pleas for said county, and, upon his solemn affirmation. did declare that he, the said William Mat- lack, about the latter end of October in the year (1677), came to Burlington along with his then master Daniel Wills, who was one of the commissioners for laying out the lands in the West- ern Division of New Jersey, and several others in the first boate that came there to settle the said Towne of Burlington; and that, as soon as he and the rest were landed, he was present and saw the lots fairly drawn for the nine acre lots mentioned in the next page and on the other side of this leaf in this book; which lots were surveyed by Richard Noble; and that the said lots fell to the ten persons mentioned in said page, and in the three following pages, and in the same order as they are there set down. And further, this deponent says that he is well assured and very well knows that the said Richard Noble was appointed surveyor by the commissioners, and did soon after survey all the remaining part of the Island on the west side of the High street, and bounded by the river and creek; and when it was divided, it was lotted to the said ten persons according as in the said two pages it is particularly described.
"Attested before me, this tenth day of December, in the seventh year of the reign of King George of Great Britain, Anno Domini 1720. "JOSHUA HUMPHREYS."1
I Basse's Book, 216.
232
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
From the foregoing declaration much information may be gathered beside that which pertains to the subject in question. It discloses the age of William Matlack in 1720; it shows that he had attained his majority before his arrival in America. According to an agreement then common among the emigrants, he was to serve Daniel Wills for four years after his coming hither ; in which service he worked as a carpenter. They came in the ship "Kent," Gregory Marlow, master; after having touched at Sandy Hook, they found their way into the river Delaware, and, from some unknown cause, the passengers were landed near the mouth of Raccoon creek.2 Their destination was evidently higher up the stream, as the commissioners soon left the vessel, and proceeded in a small boat to Chygoe's island (afterwards Burlington), and, according to a tradition in the family, William Matlack "was the first person that put his foot upon the shore." It is also shown that the island referred to was not that in the river, but the piece of land on which the city of Burlington stands, nearly surrounded by the Assiscunk creek, which, Samuel Smith says, procured its name from an Indian sachem who lived there. The first "boate" men- tioned was the little craft in which the commissioners and a few other persons came from Raccoon creek, and not the ship Kent, which was probably injured, and did not proceed to the end of the voyage. The passengers, after suffering many privations, mostly found their way to Burlington, and settled in the neigh- borhood.
William Matlack came from a small village in Nottingham- shire, England, called Cropwell Bishop, which lies about seven miles southeast of the city of Nottingham. As a mechanic, he worked upon the first houses built in Burlington, and helped to erect Thomas Olive's corn mill, the first of that kind in West Jersey. He saw a town rise up in the midst of the forest, surrounded by a thriving population, busy in clearing the land and enjoying the reward of their labor. His leisure hours were spent among the natives, watching their peculiarities and striv- ing to win their good will. Following the advice and example of the commissioners, every promise made by him to the abo- rigines was faithfully kept, and every contract strictly adhered to.
2 Smith's History of New Jersey, 93.
233
WILLIAM MATLACK.
In 1681, there came from Brayles, a small town in the southern part of Warwickshire, a young man named Timothy Hancock, accompanied by his sister, who was about fifteen years of age. Without friends or means, they lived in a very humble manner among the settlers, but the demand for work- men soon found Timothy employment, and the demand for wives did not leave Mary long without a suitor. She was married to the subject of this sketch the next year. They then removed to a tract of land which he had located between the north and south branch of Penisaukin creek in Chester township, Burlington county. 3 Her brother also located a survey adjoining, and, in 1684, married Rachel Firman. These surveys contained one hundred acres each, and were generally known as "head lands," being the quantity to which each male person coming as a servant was entitled under the regulation established by the proprietors. Many young men were styled "servants" and received their one hundred acres of land, who were persons of education, and who afterwards became promi- nent citizens in the colony.
This was near the Indian town of Penisaukin, where the natives for many years after had a village, and where may yet be seen the remains of the graveyard ; which burial places they held in so much reverence and respect, that long journeys were made to visit the remains of their departed friends and connections. Within the memory of those now living. have these burial places been visited by this peculiar people, around which they would remain for a few days, and then mysteriously disappear from the neighborhood. This sacred regard for the dead formed a strange contrast with other characteristics of their savage natures; it showed a tenderness of feeling and a degree of refinement, not always found in civilization.
This stream (Penisaukin creek ) bears one of the few Indian names that have come down to the present generation, and, although much corrupted, it has enough remaining to detect its origin.
In 1682, when John Roberts, William Matlack, and Timothy Hancock located the land, they called it Pen-is-au-kin-giving
3 Basse's Book, 35.
-
.
!
1
234
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
the stream the same name as that by which the Indians styled their village then adjoining. This word has been spelled in various ways, with as many definitions, one of which is that William Penn reserved a hawking privilege in the sale of lands there, and thence called the stream Pennshawking creek. This idea is at once demolished upon an examination of the records, for there it may be found as obtained from the natives, and as by them pronounced.
The corruption, or rejection of the Indian names of streams and localities in America, is to be regretted; for their signifi- cance and beauty have no parallel in the English tongue, and they are passing away like the people that gave them character and expression, almost without a history or a kindly remem- brance. The yielding of the weaker to the stronger race, of savage life to the progress of civilization, has left but a remnant of this people among us. Being without a written history, their . legends, their language, and their names, will soon be among the things that have passed beyond the possibility of restoration. It is remarkable that, in the development of literature and the advancement of education, so little has been done to collect and arrange the language of the aborigines of our land. But a single record of their language is known to have been made in West New Jersey, and that by the authorities of Salem county ; it is contained in one of their first books, now on file in the office of Secretary of State at Trenton, in which much care has been taken, and from which much information may be had.
William Matlack and Timothy Hancock soon found their `neighborhood was a desirable one; for new settlements were made there in a short time, and went on increasing until a meeting of Friends was established at the house of Timothy Hancock by the consent of Burlington Friends in 1685. This was held on alternate first-days with one at the house of John Kay, on the north branch of Cooper's creek, for the accommo- dation of Friends at Penisaukin and Evesham. These were continued until about the year 1707. At these places many marriages were solemnized during that time, the knowledge of which would add much to the early history of this section of the State.
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