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 2
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John Hugg subsequently became the guardian of William White, son of the said John White. He also fell into difficulty with Joseph White, the contentious executor, about the payment of money due the ward, which was in his hands. In 1698, the guardian made complaint to the Salem Meeting of this default, and, in the next year, Edward Shippen, Anthony Morris and Isaac Norris were appointed a committee to adjust the same. This committee reported against Joseph White. In 1703, the matter makes its appearance again at the Yearly Meeting in Salem. At this meeting Joseph White is rebuked for his neglect in the premises. In the twelfth month of that year, however, he appeared before the meeting at Salem, and showed that a settlement had been made between himself and William White, thus putting an end to this tedious controversy.
Robert Zane's will was executed in 1694, the year in which he departed this life. This paper is a ragged, damp-stained
19
ROBERT ZANE.
manuscript, in the files of the office of the Secretary of State, where it has probably escaped the eyes of searchers, for a century past. It contains much valuable information about his real estate, and also gives some facts concerning his family. Elizabeth, a second wife and mother of several of his children, was made executrix. She died in 1700, before a settlement of the estate was effected.11 She was a daughter of Henry Willis, of Hempstead, Long Island, who was appointed by the court to close up the executrix's accounts. The posthumous child, as named in his will, was a daughter, and was called Rachel.
Nothing appears upon the papers to show who were the children of the first wife, so that the native blood can be traced to the later generations of the family. They were Nathaniel, who married Grace Rakestraw, of Philadelphia, in 1697; Robert, who married Jane - ; Elnathan, who married -- -; Simeon, who died without children ; Mary, Esther and Sarah. Nathaniel died in 1727 ; his children were Joseph, Jonathan, Ebenezer, Isaac, William, Margaret, Abigail and Hannah.12
Robert deceased in 1744; his children were Robert, who married Mary Chattin ; Joseph ; William ; Simeon, who married Sarah Hooten ; Isaac, who married Asuba Wilkins ; Rebecca, " Rachel, Elizabeth, Esther ; and Sarah, who married James Whitall. 13-14
Elnathan died in 1732. He was a shoemaker, and resided in Haddonfield. In 1703, he, Elnathan, sold 127 acres of land to John Fisher, the same being part of the estate owned by his father, lying next to Cooper's creek. John Fisher sold to Arthur Powell in 1716, who conveyed to William Cooper, of Philadelphia, in 1730.14 The same property passed through a branch of the Burroughs family to Amos Haines, who, in 1804, devised it to his son Amos. Two of the children of Elnathan Zane, Nathaniel and Elnathan, also lived in the same place; the last named of whom married Bathsaba Hartley, in 1761, a daughter of Roger and Rebecca Hartley,
11 Gloucester files, 1700.
13 Lib. AB, 152.
12 Lib. No. 2, 510.
14 Lib. No. 3, 138. Lib. K, I.
20
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
and half-sister to Mathias Aspden. This person was a son, by a second marriage, of the widow of Roger Hartley with Mathias Aspden, in 1756. As a shipping merchant, he accumulated a large estate and, upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, sympathized with the Crown and removed to England. In 1779, he was attainted of treason, and his property sold. In 1786, the attainder was removed, and damage awarded for the waste of his estate. He never married, and died in London, August 9, 1824. His estate followed the direction of a will made by him in 1791, and went to his heirs at law.13 These few words occupied the courts for more than twenty years, at an expense of thousands of dollars; the English heirs being claimants on the father's side, and the American, being claimants in the maternal line. In 1833, Judge Baldwin decided in favor of the first named. An appeal was taken, and a new trial granted. In 1848, the verdict of a jury, before Judge Grier, in Philadelphia, was in favor of the Amer- ican claimants, which virtually put an end to the suit. The estate amounted to $600,000, and was distributed accordingly.
It will be seen that the male branch predominated in the Zane family ; but many of them, having a spirit of unrest, incident to the blood in the maternal line, wandered into the West, far beyond the line of civilization, and the original estate passed out of the name in a few decades after the death of the first owner. By his, Robert's, will, one-third of the estate went to his son Nathaniel, and the same proportion to his son Robert. Nathaniel died in 1727, and devised his part to his son Joseph, who also bought his uncle Robert's share in 1740. Joseph deceased in 1759, and gave this estate to two of his children,- Esther, wife of Richard Collings, and Rhoda, wife of Thomas Heppard.16 The last named sold the undivided half-part to Richard Collings, in 1762, whereby the latter became owner of the original estate, as before named.17 A portion of the same is still held in the family; but much the larger part has passed to other owners. 18
This Richard Collings (who was one of the descendants of Francis Collins), on account of the numerous family of that
15 Supreme Court of the United States, No. 160. 17 Lib. W., 59, O. S. G.
16 Lib. No. 9, 238.
18 Lib. B, 316, Gloucester Records.
2I
ROBERT ZANE.
name in this region, and for the purpose of distinction, changed the spelling of his name, by introducing the letter g; this has led to some confusion in genealogy; yet the tradition is generally accepted, and is looked upon as correct.
James Whitall, who married Sarah, one of the daughters of the second Robert Zane, settled on a farm which he purchased of Samuel Shivers, in 1725. This property fronted Cooper's creek, in Haddon township, and was formerly known as the "Ann Burr Farm." James Whitall must have died a few years after, for, in 1729, his executors sold the same to John Eastlack. In 1742, it became part of the estate of Elizabeth Estaugh (by her husband's will), who deeded it to her nephew, Ebenezer Hopkins, in 1752; one of whose children was the before- named Ann Burr.
Isaac Zane, a grandson of the second Robert, in his wander- ings among the early settlers of the Western States, was captured by the Indians, and remained with them for many years. The contradictory statements made in regard to this person have lead to much doubt as to the truth of the story ; and, with some, he is placed in a different family and connected with a different history. DeHass, in his history of the Indian wars of Western Virginia, published in 1851, says that the family is of Danish origin, that it first moved to France, thence to England, and finally emigrated to America ; and that one branch settled in New Jersey, nearly opposite to Philadelphia, and the other in Virginia. From the Virginia branch. this historian traces the pioneers of the Western wilds, and places Ebenezer Zane at the head of these brave men. His first cabin was built where the city of Wheeling now stands, and there he erected a stockade for the protection of his family, in 1777. He was employed by the United States government in various positions of trust and responsibility, and always discharged his duties to satisfaction. From this man the name and family have become numerous in Western Virginia. He died in 1811.19
Reference is made to Jonathan and Silas Zane, brothers of Ebenezer, who were his companions in arms against the Indians. Jonathan was considered the most expert hunter in
19 DeHass's History of Indian Wars in Western Virginia, 331.
22
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
his day, and often aided in the capacity of a spy in the troubles with the red men. Reference is also made to Isaac Zane, who, the account says, was captured when about nine years of age, and, becoming thoroughly Indian in habits and appearance, married the sister of a Wyandotte chief. By her he acquired a large landed estate, and had a family of eight children .. He remained true to the whites, and, by timely information, saved them from many bloody visitations. In consideration of these services, the govern- ment granted him ten thousand acres of land on Mad river.
The remarkable coincidence of Christian names in this narra- tive with those of the descendants of the first-comer to Newton, would suggest some error on the part of DeHass in fixing the location of their settlement, and would lead to the supposition that he had been misinformed in this respect.
Letters and other memoranda now in possession of the family in this part of our State, place the identity of Isaac beyond a question. In 1798, an account of his captivity, marriage and position among the Indians, was published, and a visit which he made to his friends and relatives about Newton, goes to show that he was of the New Jersey family, and that Robert Zane was his ancestor.20
The family is numerous in most of the Western States ; it has sprung from the hardy, brave men whose love of adventure and fondness for the solitude of the wilderness, kept them in advance of civilization. About the old homestead plantation, no one bearing the name has owned any of the soil for many years ; and, but for the titles and traditions that are inseparably connected therewith, they would have long since been forgotten.
20 Family Papers.
.
₹
THOMAS SHARP.
O F the few colonists who settled in Newton in 1681, Thomas Sharp was the master spirit. He infused his energy and good judgment into the whole company ; was their adviser and guide, and was, no doubt, as he deserved to be, their leader in all important undertakings. He was an Irish- man, and by occupation a "woolstead comber,"' but appears to have had better opportunities for education than most persons at that time, or, certainly, than those with whom he was associated.
Although, as he says, a young man, he had the entire confi- dence of his companions, and the end shows that this confidence was not misplaced or abused. He was a nephew of Anthony Sharp, a wealthy merchant of Dublin, who became the owner of several shares of propriety ; part of which he conveyed to Thomas, who also acted as his agent in the sale of the remainder. Under this conveyance he made all his locations, and took part in the government of the Province.
A faithful sketch of the life of this man, from the time of his arrival in New Jersey until his death, would be a history of Gloucester county for that period, and would be the most reliable basis upon which the writer could found his statements. His thorough knowledge of the country, his acquaintance with the settlers, and his truthful accounts of the progress of the colony, as by himself recorded, have made him an authority not to be questioned.
I Lib. G-3, 36.
24
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Touching the first settlement at Newton, no better account can be given than his own, so that future generations may have the evidence of a participant therein. Although written thirty-seven years after that event, yet it contains an exact statement of facts, and embodies everything necessary to an accurate knowledge of that undertaking. Every reader will peruse it with interest, and may thank Friend Sharp for doing so good a work for those coming after him. It is here presented entire, as copied from Liber A, of Gloucester county deeds, page 98, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Trenton, New Jersey :-
" Let it be remembered yt upon ye nineteenth day of Sep- tember, in ye year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-one, Mark Newby, William Bates, Thomas Thackara, George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp, set saile from ye Harbor belonging to ye city of Dublin, in ye Kingdom of Ireland, in a .pink called 'Ye owners adventure,' whereof Thomas Lurtin, of London, was commander, and being taken sick in ye city, his mate, John Dagger, officiated in his place ; in order to trans- port us, and yt we might settle ourselves in West Jersey, in America. And by ye good providence of God we arrived in ye Capes of Delaware ye eighteenth day of November following, and so up ye bay until we came to Elsinburg, and were landed with our goods and families at Salem, where we abode ye winter. But it being very favourable weather and purchasing a boat amongst us, we had an opportunity to make search up and down in yt which was called ye Third tenth, which had been reserved for ye proprietors dwelling in Ireland, where we might find a place suitable for so many of us to settle down together, being in these early times somewhat doubtfull of ye Indians, and at last pitched down by yt which is now called Newton creek, as ye most invitingist place to settle down by, and then we went to Burlington, and made application to ye commissioners yt we might have warrants directed to Daniel Leeds, ye Surveyor General, to survey unto every of us, so much land as by ye constitution at yt time was alloted for a settlement being five hundred acres, or yt we had a right to, for a taking up it under, which accordingly we obtained.
25
THOMAS SHARP.
"At which time also Robert Zane, who came from ye city of Dublin, and had been settled in Salem, four years before, joined in with us who had a right to a tenth. Mark Newby to a twentieth, William Bates to a twentieth, Thomas Thackara to a twentieth, Thomas Sharp (out of his uncle Anthony Sharp's right) a twentieth, and George Goldsmith (under ye notion of Thomas Starkey's right) a tenth; all which of us, excepting William Bates who took his on ye southerly side of Newton creek, we took our land in one tract together for one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres, bounding in ye forks of Newton creek and so over to Cooper's creek, and by a line of marked trees to a small branch of ye fork creek and so down ye same as by ye certificate of it standing upon record in ye Secretary office it doth appear. And after some time finding some inconveniency in having our land in common together being at ye time settled at ye place now called Newton in ye manner of a town for fear as aforesaid at which being removed we came to an agreement to divide. George Goldsmith he choose the head of the creek, Thomas Sharp the forks or lower end of the land next towards the river, by which means the rest kept to their settlements without any disadvantage to themselves.
"And so ye land was divided according to every man's right. But it is to be understood as I have so much hinted before, that by ye constitution of ye country at yt time, no person, let his right be never so great, should survey and take up above five hundred acres in one tract to make one settlement of, and yt within six months, or otherwise, it was free for any other person that had rights to land to survey it to himself as if it had never been taken up for any other person. Whereupon many were obliged in order to secure good places to themselves to give one hundred acres to secure the rest ; and many were deterred from taking up their land yt could not find means to secure it leaste they should spend money to no profit. Now ye state of ye case touching George Goldsmith (having a full and certain knowledge thereof ) is this wise. Thomas Starkey did desire and order George Goldsmith to take up some land for him in West Jersey; when it is reasonable to suppose he had a right, but brought nothing with him to make it appear, and ye com-
26
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
missioners at yt time gave way by ye credit of the report of ye rest concerned that he might take up five hundred acres, but it never was returned in Starkey's name.
"George Goldsmith being uneasy under ye circumstance he lay, writ several times to Thomas Starkey, giving him to under- stand he had taken up five hundred acres of land for him provided he would allow him one hundred acres of it for settling the same as ye general custom then was. The letters either miscarried or otherwise the demand being ungrateful to him he answered them in silence. Supposing as it may be supposed yt ye land being taken up for him could not be taken from him, it could not be allowed.
"Now this put George upon further thought what to do to secure himself, whereupon he made application to Robert Turner and layeth his case before him, signifying if he would allow him one hundred acres of yt land whereon he had made his improvements, he would suffer him to take up yt five hundred acres in his own right. Robert taking the matter in due consideration and searching the records at Burlington about it, and finding it so to be recorded in George Gold- smith's name, who had no right at any time to take up any land in yt province, agrees to survey it to himself, and accord- ingly did, and records it as such in ye Secretary's office ; conveys one hundred acres of ye same, according to agreement, to George Goldsmith, and unto his heirs and assigns forever. The other four hundred acres he sold unto Isaac Hollingsham.
"The foregoing is a true relation of yt settlement of Newton, as also a true and impartial account of ye foregoing tract of land, settled by George Goldsmith. Given under my hand the 3rd month, 3rd, 1718.
"THOMAS SHARP.
" Allowed by John Kay, the 3rd month, 4th, 1718."
In addition to the one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres located as before named, there were also one hundred acres of meadow land taken up at the mouth of Kaighn's run, and fronting on the Delaware river. This was done for the purpose of procuring hay for their cattle through the winters ; and it shows how careful they were in obtaining lawful posses-
27
THOMAS SHARP.
sion of the soil before they applied its products to their own purposes.
In many of the old papers this stream is called Little Newton creek, but, like others, this title has been lost and that of an adjacent owner substituted.
Like the larger tracts, the meadow was soon divided into lots, showing that their being held in common led to trouble among the owners .? The map here given is the only history of that transaction, but is sufficient to show the manner in which it was accomplished.
For some reason not explained, the bounds of the county of Gloucester were not defined by Legislative enactment until the year 1694, although the judicial limits thereof seem to have been recognized as early as 1682, in which year Thomas Sharp was appointed constable of the third tenth,3 which same became part of the said bailiwick. This executive office, although defined as that of constable, must have extended to that of sheriff, since, in the same year, Burlington and Salem counties each had a sheriff appointed under the same authority, yet no such action was taken in regard to the third and the fourth tenth. As suggested by Isaac Mickle, Esq., in his notice of this matter, the confusion caused by Edward Byllynge in the colony, and the long adjournment of seven years of the Legislature, may be accepted as the reasons, but nothing satisfactory appears of record in regard to the matter. The inhabitants of that region of country, however, did not wait the tardy movements of their law makers, but proceeded with all due solemnity to establish a county for themselves-a faithful record of which action, made by Thomas Sharp at the time, is still preserved in the Clerk's office, of Gloucester county, at Woodbury. It runs as follows :-
"Gloucester, ye 28th of May, 1686. By ye propyetors, free- holders and inhabitants of the third and fourth tenths, (alias, County of Gloucester, ) then agreed as followeth : Imprimis- That a courte be held for the jurisdiction and limits of the aforesaid tenths or county, one tyme at Axwamus, (alias, Gloucester,) and another tyme at Red Bank.
2 Revel's Book, 52-59.
3 Leaming & Spicer's Laws,.
28
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Item :- That the four courts for ye jurisdicttion aforesaid, be held in one year at ye days and times hereafter mentioned, viz : Upon ye first day of ye first month, upon ye first day of ye fourth month, upon ye first day of ye seventh month, and upon ye first day of ye tenth month.
Item :- That ye first courte shall be held at Gloucester aforesaid, on ye first day of September next.
Item :- That all warrants and summons shall be drawn by ye Clerk of ye courte, and signed by ye Justice, and soe delivered to ye Sheriff or his Deputy to execute.
Item :- The body of each warrant, &c., shall contayne or intimate the nature of ye action.
Item :- That a copy of the declaration be given along with ye warrant by ye Clerk of ye courte, that soe ye defendants may have the longest tyme to consider ye same and prepare his answer.
Item :- That all summons, warrants, &c., shall be served, and declarations given at least ten days before ye courte.
Item :- That ye Sheriff shall give ye jury summons six days before ye courte be held on which they are to appear.
Item :- That all persons within ye jurisdiction aforesaid, bring into ye next courte ye mark of their hoggs and other cattell, in order to be approved and recorded."4
With these novel proceedings, clerk Sharp had much to do, and, in all probability, prepared the paper as recorded ; which in after years was received as legitimate, and so recognized by the Legislature of the colony. After that time the records were regular, and, all such as had occasion to appear at courts, either voluntarily or otherwise, submitted to the action thereof without protest. Isaac Mickle, Esq., author of "The Rem- iniscences of Old Gloucester," has copied many interesting things from these ancient books into his valuable work, which show Thomas Sharp to have been an efficient recorder and master of his duties. In view of the much labor and the poor pay, our clerk facetiously gets off the following lines, doubtless after a hard day's work :
" The clerks of this county I think I may proclaim,
Will not at present the owner of it ioad with much gain.
T. S."
4 Lib. A, Court Minutes, Woodbury.
29
THOMAS SHARP.
More truth than poetry is certainly here contained, yet nothing appears to prove that any duty was neglected, or further complaint made by that worthy man. After the machinery of the new county was fairly adjusted and found to run smoothly, Thomas Sharp withdrew from the duties of clerk, and was succeeded by John Reading, who served the people for many years after.
Being the only surveyor in these parts, his time was much occupied in that kind of business. In addition to the recording of deeds for the county, he kept a private book of all his proceedings, in which he placed maps and memoranda, showing his great care in such matters and his ability as a practical man. He also made other books containing plans of houses, calcula- tions of the movements of the sun and moon, and many other things in accordance with his taste and leisure. One of these volumes was left in the hands of Hannah Ladd, after his decease, and was deemed so valuable, that an act of the Legislature was passed to have the same placed in the office of the Surveyor- General at Burlington, N. J. ; thus it was made a lawful record, and has been so recognized to the present time. His money accounts, settlements and charges, will be found scattered through them. An occasional extract from them may prove interesting. In the year 1720, he paid several subscriptions for John Estaugh, towards the building of the meeting house at Haddonfield, of fifteen pounds each ; he, at that time, having charge of much of that person's estate, in the collections of rents, &c. In the discharge of these duties, he traveled to Amboy in one direction, and to Cohansey in another, at each of which places John Estaugh had landed estate. In 1686, he appears to have paid the expenses of transporting Isaac Gooden and family from England, which he itemized in the following manner :
£ s. d.
Passage for self and wife,
00 8
Lost, - 2 03 00
For carrying goods,
00 IS 00
For burial of his wife,
I 16 00
For nursing child, -
00 06 8
Expenses from home to ship,
-
2 00 00
In shors, [chores ?] -
00 05 06
8 05 06
30
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
These charges are light when compared with like expenses of the present day, and show about the average cost of removal from the one country to the other at that time.
Perhaps the most curious part of these books is the poetry therein. Among the multifarious duties of this man as Sur- veyor, County Clerk, as Judge of the Court, weaver, dyer, and others not known, he found time to woo the muse, and has left in rhyme somewhat of the history of his times, of the trials that vexed the church, and of other things to be gathered by the reader.
Part only is here given-not to be criticised too severely- but to show the character of the man, and the various occupa- tions in which he engaged. Like many of the old records, much has been defaced, and parts entirely obliterated by damp, but, perhaps, enough has been secured to show the meaning of the author.
" By way of introduction- The settlement of Newton and its state, As then it was, and now, I do relate, Because my knowledge thereof was most true; As by what follows here doth plainly shew. An introduction doth this work begin Like silken clew for guide of strangers in, That in time to come it may plainly be, And they that know not, may be made to see. The matters here contained, as thou may find, Have been with pressure some years on my mind; But now, at last, I have thought it well, And to Posterity, its good, to tell.
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