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 22
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Mercy Clement, who married Joseph Bates, settled with her husband on land which he had purchased of Joseph Thorne, which lay on the south side of the south branch of Cooper's creek, about where the White Horse tavern now stands. None of the estate has been in the name or family for many years, and it would be difficult to trace the maternal blood in that line at the present day.9 The family name of Clement is sometimes confounded with that of Edward Clemenz, who purchased a tract of land lying in the forks of the north and the south branch of Cooper's creek, near Haddonfield. There is no question of the distinction; as the first is English, and terminates with t, while the last is German and ends with s. In 1684, Edward Clemenz, who was called "captain," removed from Long Island to a tract of land which he had purchased in Middlesex. county, N. J., on the south branch of Raritan river ; whence he came in 1692, and settled on the land first named. He established a landing where the two streams came together, which, at that time, was the head of navigation and, for many years after, a place of much business. In his will he gave the landing and a few acres of land to his daughter Hannah Axford, whose name was attached thereto and has ever after so remained.
Edward Clemenz deceased in 1715, leaving five children,10 namely : Edward, who married Elizabeth Allen, a daughter of
7 Lib. HH, 98.
8 Lib. L, 35.
, Lib. A, 84.
.
276
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Judah and Deborah, (which Deborah was a daughter of John Adams, one of the first settlers at Moorestown, Burlington county) ; Hannah, who married Jonathan Axford ; Sarah, who married Thomas Cheeseman ; Rachel ; and Mary, who married Thomas Bates. Edward removed to Chester township, Bur- lington county, where he died in 1746, leaving his widow and three sons, Benjamin, Judah, and Ephraim.11 In 1764, Judah purchased a tract of land of John Burrough, Jr., (late part of the estate of David D. Burrough, deceased,) near Ellisburg, whereon he settled. This was sold from him by the Sheriff in 1785 to Jacob Haines, who conveyed part to Esther Clemenz, the wife of Judah and, perhaps, the daughter of the grantor, in 1789. Some portions of this branch of the family still reside in this neighborhood. By the marriage of Jonathan and Han- nah Axford there was one child, who deceased before the mother. The landing and surrounding property they sold to John Gill in 1763; these have been out of the name for many years.
The descendants of Thomas and Mary Bates reside in this section of the country, intermarried with many of the old families, but not occupying any of the estate coming from their German ancestor, and having scarcely enough of the native blood to make it traceable.
Io Lib. No. 2, 2.
II Lib. No. 5, 283.
HENRY STACY.
R OBERT STACY was one of the persons who came to West New Jersey in 1678, to represent the interests of the Yorkshire owners of the land that they had taken of Edward Byllinge, in consideration of moneys which he owed them, and which he was otherwise unable to pay.1 Joseph Helmsley and William Emley were his associates, together with Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, John Penford and Benjamin Scott, who represented the London owners, and who also became seized of these lands from the same person and for the same reasons. Robert Stacy first settled at Burlington in discharge of his duties imposed upon him as commissioner; he here became a leading member in the Society of Friends, and took part in the political affairs of the colony. His occupation was that of a tanner; this business he did not resume until his removal to Philadelphia, which occurred a few years after his arrival; he there remained until his death.2 Among his chil- dren was a son Henry, who, together with his wife Mary, came to New Jersey soon after his father, and also settled at or near Burlington. Besse, in his "Sufferings of Friends," mentions that Henry Stacy was taken, on two different occasions, from religious meetings at Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, to prison, and there detained for some time. This was in 1660 and 1662; the subject of this sketch was, doubtless, the same person.
I Gordon's History of New Jersey, 39.
2 l.ib. G3, 122.
7
278
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
During his stay here he was appointed to a membership in the governor's council, a position at that day given only to persons of talent and strict integrity, and a station which was one of the most responsible and difficult to fill.3
In addition to the inducements offered by his father's coming here, he was perhaps tempted to try his fortunes in the new colony by letters sent to him from those already settled, whose representations of the country and its productions were cer- tainly very flattering. A letter from John Cripps to Henry Stacy will show in what light New Jersey was held by those already here, in early times; and how they wrote to their friends still in England, whom they sought to induce to follow them to a country that had so many advantages. It is as follows:
"FROM BURLINGTON IN DELAWARE RIVER, The 26th of the Eighth Month, 1677.
"DEAR FRIEND :- Through the mercy of God we are safely arrived at New Jersey ; my wife and all mine are very well, and we have our healths rather better here than we had in England ; indeed the country is so good that I do not see how it can rea- sonably be found fault with. As far as I perceive, all the things we heard of it in England are very true, and I wish that many people (that are in straits) in England were here. Here is good land enough lies void that would serve many thousands of families, and we think if they cannot live here they can hardly live in any place in the world ; but we do not desire to persuade any to come but such as are well satisfied in their own mind. A town lot is laid out for us in Burlington, which is a conven- ient place for trade. It is about one hundred and fifty miles up the Delaware; the country and air seem to be very agreeable to our bodies, and we have very good stomachs to our victuals. Here is plenty of provision in the country; plenty of fish and fowl, and good venison very plentiful and much better than ours in England, for it eats not so dry, but is full of gravy like fat young beef. You that come after us need not fear the trouble that we have had, for now is land here ready divided against you come. The Indians are very loving to us, except here and
3 Leaming & Spicer's I .v .
٦
279
HENRY STACY.
there one, when they have gotten strong liquor in their head, which they now greatly love. But for the country, in short I like it very well, and I do believe that this river of Delaware is as good a river as most in the world. It exceeds the river Thames by many degrees.
"Here is a town laid out for twenty proprieties, and a straight line drawn from the river side up the land which is to be the Main street, and a market place about the middle. The York- shire ten proprietors are to build on one side, and the London ten on the other side, and they have ordered one street to be made along the river side which is not divided with the rest, but in small lots by itself, and every one that hath any part in a propriety is to have his share in it. The town lots for every propriety will be about ten or eleven acres, which is only for a house, orchard, and gardens; and the corn and pasture grounds are to be laid off in great quantities.
"I am thy loving friend, "JOHN CRIPPS."
Many such letters as the above were written by the new comers to their friends in England and Ireland, some of which were published as circulars among the people, and aided much in the settlement of the colony. In 1698, Gabriel Thomas published a History of West New Jersey, where, as he says. he "resided about fifteen years;" it is a small book of thirty- four pages, part of which is taken up with a glossary of Indian names and translations. This curious old document was lost sight of and remained out of print for many years. until a copy was secured by Henry A. Brady, of New York city, who had the same faithfully lithographed and a few copies reprinted. most of which found their way into the various public libraries of the country. Gabriel excels all in his praises of the land and climate in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is only equaled by some of the papers put forth by sharp land-speculators of the present day, by which many verdant folks are sadly cheated.5
Henry Stacy did not remain here many years; he returned with his family to England in 1683, and settled at Stepney,
w Smith', History of New Jersey : Leaming And spicer', Laws.
0
280
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
near London, where he deceased in 1689.6 He had four chi- dren, namely: Samuel, who died young; Elizabeth, who mar- ried William Burge in 1705, and settled in Philadelphia; Mary. who married Jonathan Wilson, and resided in London; and Sarah, who married Robert Montgomery, and lived in New Jersey.8
In 1683, and before his departure for England, Henry Stacy made a location of four hundred and ninety acres of land in Newton township, near the head of the middle branch of Newton creek, and east of the Graysbury land.9 By his will all the real estate was given to his children ; and, by division of the same effected in 1711, the tract of land above named became the property of Sarah, the wife of Robert Mont- gomery.10 About the year 1715, Robert Montgomery built a house on this tract of land, and removed thither from Mon- mouth county, where he had previously resided.
On April Ist, 1715, Robert Montgomery and Sarah, his wife. conveyed forty acres of land to Jonathan Bolton and Hannah, his wife, being part of the survey before spoken of. The deed is a curious document, the purpose being to secure some means by which the children of the grantors might have an opportunity for education.11 Jonathan was a shoemaker, and came from Burlington county together with his wife Hannah, who appears as an important personage in the transaction. The lot con- veyed adjoined Thomas Miller's and Joseph Hinchman's land, "to be laid out proportionately in one entire square tract until it amount to forty acres,-to the said Jonathan and Hannah, his wife, for ninety-nine years, if the said Jonathan and Hannah shall so long live, or either of them during their natural lives." The consideration was the "paying of one ear of Indian corn yearly ; and that the said Hannah shall, at any time hereafter- as soon as the said Bolton shall get a house built fit to live in- teach or instruct, or cause to be taught or instructed, to read English and to do seamstry work, or any other act or parts of acts that she, the said Hannah, is capable to perform, or inform
6 Lib. AAA, 128.
7 Lib. CH, 80.
8 Lib. A, 33.
9 Revel's Book, 37.
10 Lib. A, 33.
II Lib. A, 90.
1
281
HENRY STACY.
or direct all the children of the said Montgomery and Sarah his wife, or either of them, or their children, as it may happen, or any child belonging to their family that they shall think fit to send to learn." Whether the said Hannah possessed any quali- fications to discharge the duties thus imposed, does not appear ; and whether the said Jonathan was to assist in the intervals of his " making and mending," is also in obscurity ; yet it may be assumed that this was the first institution of learning established in the eastermost part of Newton township; and it shows the liberality of the founder to have been applied in a commendable direction. The covenants on the part of the said Jonathan and Hannah were equally curious. They were not to put any other person in their place or stead ; were not to take more than one crop of winter corn off the premises in each three years ; nor to sell, steal or waste any timber, except for rails or fire wood. The agreement on the part of Jonathan and Hannah that they would not steal the timber, would imply that Henry and Sarah ques- tioned their honesty, but were forced to entrust the education of their children to them by reason of the few persons suitable for such a purpose. The contracting parties appear to have understood each other in this matter, and considered it best to use plain terms, not susceptible of double meaning or contro- versy. On what part of the survey was laid out this proportion- ately square tract of land, or, on what part of the same, Jonathan and Hannah erected their seminary, no means are at hand to discover ; a regret that all must feel, in view of its being the spot where commenced the intellectual development of our country, at least in this particular section. Jonathan and Han- nah's house, "fit to live in," was nothing more than a log cabin, of one room. The furniture was in keeping, and the accommodation of the scholars may well be conjectured. Little patience and plenty of birch were part of the system of instruc- tion in those days, and lessons in "reading, writing and cyphering" were frequently enforced in this way, and thus made a lasting impression upon the mind of the pupil. With the approbation of parents, the pedagogue became the terror of the rising generation in general, and of evil-doers in par- ticular.
282
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
" Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace The day's disasters in his morning face. Full well they laugh'd, with counterfeited glee, At all his jokes ; for many a joke had he ; Full well the busy whisper, circling round, Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd. Yet he was kind, or, if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault.
.
But past is all his fame. The very spot Where many a time he triumphed, is forgot."
This survey lay east of, and adjoining the Graysbury land, bounded partly by Newton creek and extending to John Had- don's estate; now owned by Rhoda Hampton, the Websters, and others. The house erected by Robert Montgomery stood near the late residence of John M. Whitall, deceased, at a short distance east of the old Philadelphia and Egg Harbor road, which then crossed Newton creek at Atmore's dam. After residing here for a few years, the owners of the land broke up their establishment, and returned to Monmouth county, leaving no one of the name within the limits of Old Newton. Of the Montgomery family, Thomas H. Montgomery, of Philadelphia, has published a valuable genealogical history, showing a com- mendable industry, of much credit to the author and interest to the reader.
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JOHN HUGG.
T HERE is no one thing that interferes so much with the connecting of events in the early history of the settlement of New Jersey with the adventurers who originated them, as the loss of the names of the passengers that came over in the first ships. This was one of the difficulties that Samuel Smith sought to overcome in the first history of the State; but the fewness of the names which he secured, and the meagreness of the sketches given in his book, show that he has failed in this particular. In isolated cases a family of emigrants may be traced beyond the sea; but this is the case only when litigated estates find a record among the archives of the Commonwealth, involving the particular family before such emigration took place. It is remarkable that correct and complete records were not kept by the proprietors, in whose interest most of the early settlers came, and from whom the title to their land had to be derived. If such were now in existence, much valuable and interesting information could be obtained. The number and the names of the vessels that arrived here have but a vague and uncertain account rendered of them, while the families and individuals which they brought, in very many instances, have been lost sight of altogether. The first record of Salem colony, in 1675, gives the names of most of the persons that came over with John Fenwick; but there doubtless were many names of heads of families, and of those who afterwards became such, that were left out of these lists ; and the connection of such with their settlement at home has thus been entirely destroyed.
284
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
The court minutes of Burlington, commenced in 1680-a curious volume in its way, also give the names of most of the free- holders that arrived; but they are silent concerning such as neither held land, nor fell into litigation with their neighbors, constituting a large number, perhaps, a majority of those that made up the community.
Through this kind of neglect, it is impossible to trace the history of persons whose participation in the affairs of the colony rendered them prominent during their day and genera- tion ; of whose antecedents as well as those of their ancestors, it would be desirable to know something. The subject of this sketch is in this category.
John Hugg was probably an Irishman, coming from the parish of Castle Ellis, in the county of Wexford, Ireland.1 Although not a partner in the Newton settlement, he had some dealings with those adventurers, and was acquainted with them in the mother country. He was a Friend, since, in 1669, he was imprisoned for not paying a tax to repair the church at Rosan- ellis, Queens' county, Ireland .? He was a man of considerable estate, but was not a partner in the enterprise that brought his wife's family to New Jersey, neither does his name appear in any of the proceedings in relation to the title of their land. His first residence stood upon the Browning estate, where Little Timber creek falls into Great Timber creek, but a short distance from the river Delaware, commanding a view of both streams, as well as of much of the river before his house. For the pur- poses of a landing, and for the accommodation of the immediate neighborhood, none better could be procured; this made it a public place for many years after the death of the first owner, as a wharf for wood and lumber to be taken away, and for hay brought thither from the river islands, to be consumed among the farmers in that region.
His first location included five hundred acres, which he pur- chased of Robert Zane in 1683; the property was bounded by both streams, extending more than a mile up the same, and by a line running nearly south from one to the other.3 At this writing,
I Lib. EF, 245.
2 Friends' Writing -.
3 Revel's Book, 55.
285
JOHN HUGG.
it is probable that very little of the old head-line is in existence, as the exchange and division of real estate adjoining the same, since its first running, have destroyed its identity.+ For some reason, the owner devised part of said tract of land to his great- grand-son William Hugg, who did not come into possession of the same for nearly a half century,-showing the desire on the part of the donor to keep his estate in the name and family.5 During that lapse of time, a bridge was built over the Great Timber Creek, and a highway established between Salem and Burlington, which has also been changed and improved since the first laying out. What was then an unbroken forest, has in these latter years been brought into cultivation, and is now among the most valuable of our real estate.
The place where John Hugg's house stood has much of his- toric interest about it from the fact of its being claimed as the spot where stood Fort Nassau, which was built by the Dutch in 1623, and was the first attempt at settlement by the Europeans on the shores of the river Delaware. This, for many years, has been a mooted question among historians without any approach to a conclusion, and it may always so be. Of the existence of such fort, called by that name, built by the Hollanders and near that place, there can be no doubt ; yet the exact spot where it stood will always remain an open question, and a fruitful subject of controversy among antiquarians. On Van- derdonck's map of 1656, it is placed below the mouth of Great Timber creek. The map found in Campanius's history has the fort in the same place, and Gabriel Thomas marks it upon his map as a Dutch fort above the mouth of Cooper's creek. Upon a map of the Dutch and Swedish settlements along the Delaware, attached to Ferris's history, this point of dispute is placed where the city of Gloucester now stands, and is stated to have been erected twenty years before the fort at Elsinburg was built, or a settlement attempted to be made at that place. Other maps made in the interest of the various claimants, extending in date from 1656 to 1702, put the fort in different places, but always within a few miles of the mouth of
4 Dividend Book, 21, O. S. G.
5 Bull's Book, 106, O. S. G.
286
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Timber creek ; but as none of these were published until after it was destroyed by the natives, such authorities may themselves be questionable upon this subject.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, being much inter- ested in the settlement of this question, in 1852 appointed a committee to institute inquiries touching the location of Fort Nassau, in which Edward Armstrong, of Philadelphia, took an active part, and visited several places near Gloucester for that purpose.6 From what was collected, this gentleman prepared and read a paper before that Society, and also before the New Jersey Association ; this paper was exhaustive and interesting, yet he leaves the difficulty about where he found it, to be pursued by some ambitious person determined to accomplish that in which all his predecessors have failed. The attention of Mr. Armstrong was called to the particular spot above named by John Redfield, a gentleman who has for many years resided in the neighborhood, and taken much interest in the discovery of the site of the old fort.
A daughter of this gentleman having upon one occasion brought home a rare flower from the river shore, one which, he suspected, was not indigenous, he visited the spot where it was plucked, and found pieces of Dutch brick and ware near by, and portions of a wall surmounted by a few logs, indicating the remains of a redoubt or building erected for defence. This evidence is certainly very strong, and, in the absence of better, will go far towards settling this much vexed question. The interval of two hundred and forty-six years leaves a wide gap in the history of events ; and a careful preservation of interme- diate occurrences must happen, or else the corroding hand of time will destroy every trace.
Whether the house of John Hugg stood upon the site of the old fort, partly built of Dutch brick and surrounded by Dutch flowers, cannot be settled at this writing, but it is certain that he remained there until his death, which occurred in 1706.7 His children consisted of four sons: John, who married Priscilla Collins ; Elias, who married Margaret Collins (both daughters of Francis) ; Joseph, who married Sarah -- ; and Charles.
6 Proceedings of N. J. His. Society, Vol. 6, 100, 102, 157, 185.
7 Lib. No. 1, 166.
287
JOHN HUGG.
He was probably a middle-aged man when he came to New Jersey, and his children of marriageable age, for they soon set- tled around him and became prominent citizens. Excepting as a member of the colonial Legislature in 1685, he does not appear to have participated in political affairs, and but little is known of him beyond his buying and selling of real estate in the section where he lived." Among that which he disposed of, was a lot in Gloucester, sold to Henry Jennings, of Salem, in 1703.9
This is probably the individual about whom so much inquiry has been made, as being the connecting link between a large number of descendants scattered through this region, and a fabulous amount of money held in abeyance in the strong government chest in old England, seeking for an owner through his blood. He was a son of William and Mary Jennings, of the parish of Clemond-deane, in the county of Surrey, Eng- land. He was born 7th month, 21st, 1642, and married Margaret Busse, of the parish of St. Bartholomew, London, Ist month, 18th, 1666, a daughter of Paul Busse of York city.10 Their last abode before emigrating was at Kingston-near-on-the-Thames. They came to Salem in the ship Kent, and arrived 6th month, 23d, 1677. By occupation, he was a tailor. He became the owner of considerable estate in Salem and the neighborhood, where he remained several years after his settlement there.11 His name frequently occurs among those of the first settlers; but whether he was the prospective heir to the immense estates which his descendants claim for him, may appear in the future. He removed to Philadelphia, where he deceased in 1705, leaving but a small family and a limited amount of property. 12
His widow survived him, and in her will made mention of his family, and thus did much to connect her husband with those of that name in these parts, with which, with but little trouble, the relation could be made complete.13 In that writing she gave a portion of her real estate to Isaac Jennings and Sarah Jennings, "reputed son and daughter of my husband, Henry Jennings,"-a significent expression, and one that may clear up a long con- tinued difficulty.
8 Lib. G3, 470.
Basse's Book, III.
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