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 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
In this connection the historian of the banking system of America, in his researches to discover where it originated, will fall upon the act of the Legislature of New Jersey, of 1682, and at once seek to discover where this institution was situated, how constructed, what its success, and what its end.
The action of the Legislature showed the foresight of our law-makers, even at that early day, in securing the people against imposition or fraud, and proves that they had a correct view of banking privileges, when they required a specie basis with real-estate security. To emulate this in these latter days would have saved much loss that has fallen upon innocent persons, and would have prevented the scandal now surrounding this class of corporations.
Within the same township, therefore, on the same spot, and in the same building, originated the first religious denomination according to the order of Friends in Old Gloucester county, as well as the first banking corporation in New Jersey,-perhaps, in America.
If the early associations of the settlement of a neighborhood have any interest ; if the wide spread good of any institution, be it religious, political or financial, can be felt in a community and traced to its beginning, be that beginning ever so humble and unpretending ; such associations, such incidents, and such history deserve some record, so that those who make inquiry hereafter, may not consider this an ungrateful generation.
" Here, the dawn of reason broke Upon the trampled rights of man ; And here a moral era woke- The brightest-since the world began."
44
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
The selection of Mark Newbie's house in which to hold the first meetings of Friends, shows him to have been a leading man in the church, and one who had much influence in matters ecclesiastical. In the political affairs of the colony he took a prominent part, and filled several positions of trust and respon- sibility.11 At the May term, in 1682, of the Legislature, he appeared as a member, and was selected by the Governor as one of his council. He was made one of the commissioners for the dividing of land, and one of the committee of ways and means to raise money for the use of the government, at the same time. The amount of money assessed upon the third tenth for that year, which consisted of what is now Gloucester, Atlantic and Camden counties, was forty shillings, a sum of money that contrasts strangely enough with the large amounts paid for taxes by the people in the same territory at the present time.
At the September session of the same year, he again appeared and sat as one of the Governor's council, and participated in the making of many important laws, and was again appointed one of the commissioners to divide land.
In this year, the question whether the Proprietors had the right of government seems to have been mooted ; a question of serious import to the purchasers of the soil, and one which they considered as involving their success as a colony, and materially affecting their privileges in religious toleration.12 It assumed such a shape that a committee was appointed to draft a number of queries touching the question, to be submitted to the home government, and to Edward Byllynge, in order to know whether any difficulty in this regard really existed. Mark Newbie was one of the persons selected to discharge this important duty, but he died many years before the question was settled.
In the proceedings of the May term, 1683, the minutes say that Thomas Olive was appointed as one of the Governor's Council, "in place of Mark Newbie, Dead," thus showing that he deceased between the two terms of the Legislature ; and this corresponds with many of the records relating to his real estate.
II Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
12 Leaming & Spicer's Laws.
45
MARK NEWBIE.
He died intestate, but no steps were taken to settle his estate until the 4th of the 7th month, 1684, when administration was granted to his widow, who proceeded with the appraisement, which amounted to one hundred and eighty pounds together with a large real estate.13
So far as can be discovered, his family consisted of two sons and two daughters, all of whom were born before the parents' settlement here.14 They were Rachel, who married Isaac Decou, in 1695 ; Stephen, who married Elizabeth Wood, in 1703 ; Edward, who married Hannah Chew, in 1706; and Elizabeth, who married John Hugg, in 1714 ..
Hannah, the widow of Mark Newbie, married James Atkin- son in 1685. After this marriage it is probable that meetings continued to be held at the house in which Mark had deceased ; as the records refer to several marriages that were consum- mated there. It does not appear there were any children by this marriage.
Stephen and Elizabeth Newbie had but two children, 15_Mark } who died single, in 1735, and Hannah, who married Joseph Thackara.16 Stephen deceased in 1706.17
Edward and Hannah Newbie's children were Nathan,18 Gabriel, Rachel, and a child unborn at the time of Edward's death in 1715.19 Nathan died single; Gabriel married and deceased, leaving one child, John.20
It will, therefore, be seen that, after two generations, the family name was confined to one person, perhaps the last in this region of country. Hereabout, the blood may be traced through the Huggs and the Thackaras, although in some lines with trouble and doubt.
Among the children of Joseph and Hannah Thackara21 were two sons, Stephen and Benjamin.22 Stephen deceased in 1767, having lived on part of the original estate.23 He had three sons, Joseph, Thomas and James, and perhaps other children.
13 Gloucester files 1683. 19 Lib. No. 2, 104.
14 Lib. B1, 126.
20 Lib. Y, 78.
15 Lib. Y, 78. Lib. No. 1, 169.
21 Lib. No. 11, 106.
16 Lib. No. 4, 129.
22 Lib. No. 4, 129.
17 Lib. No. 1, 169.
18 Lib. Y, 78.
23 Lib. W, 22, O. S. G.
46
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Benjamin owned and lived on that part of the property lately held by Samuel C. Champion, and there he died in 1785. His wife Mary and twelve children survived him. They were Isaac, Abigail, Ann; Hannah, who married Joseph Jones ; Mary, who married Joseph Elfreth ; Mark ; Margaret, who married John Tuft ; Benjamin, who married Hannah Horner; William; Rachel, who married Francis Bilderback; Jacob; and Elizabeth, who married Abraham Reeves."
Persons of this and other branches of the family settled in Salem and Cumberland counties, but among them the name of Newbie has never been known. The fatality that seems to have attended the Huggs, has left but little opportunity to follow the line in that direction, yet full access to the papers of the family might develop the whole connection of the descent to the present day.
The tracing of genealogies, or the knowledge of families, has not yet, in this country, become an attractive feature in its history ; and the meagre scraps that happen to be gathered already can only be hoped to make the beginning of a more careful and successful research. Labor under endless discour- agements, is the only means of attaining the proper end in this regard ; and, until better compensated, it will not enter a field where profit is so seldom known to follow. As, among the descendants of Mark Newbie, there are many with whom the name has become extinct ; so, in others, it has spread so rapidly that quite as much trouble attends the arrangement of the one as the other ; a difficulty seldom appreciated and never repaid.
24 Lib. No. 17, 461.
-
.
WILLIAM BATES.
TN the year 1670, this person lived in the county of Wickloe, Ireland, where his occupation was that of a carpenter.1 The county town, which has the same name, is situated on the coast of the Irish sea, about thirty miles south of the city of Dublin, at which place considerable trade is carried on with other parts of Great Britain.
Here, also, all the courts are held for that district, and here may be found the common jail for the security and punishment of offenders within its limits.
In this, and in several different previous years, Parliament passed acts to prevent and suppress conventicles within the kingdom. These acts were made especially oppressive toward the Quakers, and under them many outrages were committed upon their persons and property .? If the policy of the govern- ment, the administration of its laws and the condition of its people, be any evidence of the progress of civilization ; then England stood in no enviable light, during the few years before and after the date above named, in respect to religious toleration within her borders.
Loathsome prisons crowded to suffocation, courts busy with the trials of unoffending citizens, and arrogant officials robbing the people of their hard earnings to sustain a voluptuous and wicked clergy, are dark spots scattered through the history of a nation that boasts of the rights of her citizens.
I Lib. B1, 52.
2 Besse's Sufferings, Vols. r and 2.
48
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
During these days a meeting of the religious Society of Friends was held at the house of Thomas Trafford, in the town of Wickloe, at which place William Bates was a regular attendant.3 Neither the small number that assembled there, nor the sanctity of a private residence, saved them from annoyance by the soldiery, for they were soon dragged to the jail, and there confined for several weeks, away from their homes and families. At the next sessions they were indicted, and, upon refusing to enter into bonds for their subsequent appearance at court, were sent immediately to prison. No regard was paid to sex or condition in life while under confinement, and so obnoxious were the dampness and foul air, in which they were forced to exist, that many died and the greater number suffered in health. In 1671, a declaration suspending the penal laws in ecclesi- astical matters was signed by Charles Second, at that time king. This was a great relief to this class of citizens; but, on account of jealousy towards the Papists, the declaration was withdrawn the next year, and Friends again felt the displeasure of those in authority." Laboring under these disabilities, it was most natural that all such as sympathized with George Fox and his doctrines, should seek for a new country where tolera- tion, to a degree at least, existed, and where they could enjoy their religious opinions in quiet.
During these persecutions the settlement of the land in America was much talked of, and some few colonies had been successful in getting a foot-hold, and had sent back to their friends in England flattering accounts of the country and climate. In the adjustment of the trouble between Edward Byllynge and John Fenwick, the attention of William Penn and other prominent men in the Society of Friends, was attracted to the territory, through which the river Delaware flowed, and very soon the initiatory steps were taken to secure a title for the same, and,-which was most desirable,-to have the right of government to follow in the same channel.
The books of record of that date are full of the deeds made from Byllynge and his trustees to persons wishing to get away
3 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. 2, 479.
4 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. 1, 27.
49
WILLIAM BATES.
from the abuses that surrounded them, and to remove to a wild and unknown land, rather than to remain.
Among these is a deed, dated April 12th, 1677, from William Penn and others to Robert Turner, linen draper, of Dublin ; Robert Zane, serge maker, of Dublin ; Thomas Thackara, stuff weaver, of Dublin ; William Bates, carpenter, of the county of Wickloe, and Joseph Slight, tanner, of Dublin, for one whole share of Propriety in West New Jersey.5
Touching William Bates, it is very safe to say that his conclusions in regard to this step were reached in the common jail at Wickloe, where many dreary days were passed while his family was suffering at home. However vague and indistinct his ideas of the rights of persons were. in the form of govern- ment under which he lived, or how much such rights could be abused by authority of law, we cannot at this time judge; but we may suppose that they had come to be practical questions with him, placed beyond discussion and without the chance of amendment. The decision to remove to New Jersey was made under much deliberation, and after considerable inquiry in regard to locality, since it was important that the colonists should be near each other for fear of the Indians.
This deed shows the place of residence and the occupation of each grantee, and doubtless is a faithful record of these facts at the time therein named, which, taken in connection with the memorial left by Thomas Sharp, shows conclusively who were the persons that originated the settlement at Newton. Mark Newbie became a subsequent owner, while Thomas Sharp and George Goldsmith represented the interests of others, which six persons were the founders of that settlement.
During the four years that elapsed between the date of the deed and their coming, Joseph Slight disposed of his interest, and Robert Turner, having acquired a large amount of property in Pennsylvania, turned his attention to that in preference to his West Jersey estate, and did not become a direct partner in this enterprise.
It is readily seen that Robert Turner was the merchant through whom Robert Zane and Thomas Thackara disposed of
5 Lib. B1, 52.
4
50
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
their manufactured goods, and that their business relations brought them frequently together, whereby the partnership here presented was created.
Although the county of Wickloe is some distance south of the city of Dublin, yet William Bates had business or religious intercourse with Robert Turner, and was influenced by him . to be a participant in this novel and important movement. Of all the callings, his was likely to be the most useful, and his services to be the most in demand, when once they had arrived at their place of destination, for the first thing to be done was to provide some kind of shelter for their families.
This was in the shape of rude huts made of poles, placed partly in the hill side, and covered with the skins of animals or the bark of trees. Without any other floor than the earth, with no windows, a stick chimney and a single apartment, it needs no sketch of fancy to see how inconvenient and uncom- fortable the habitations of these first comers must have been.
On March 10th, 1681, being the time of the survey made to the other partners on the north side of the middle branch of Newton creek, for some unexplained reason, William Bates took his two hundred and fifty acres on the south side of the same stream, opposite the upper end of that tract, and there he built his house.6 Two years after he made another survey adjoining the first and of like number of acres, and made a subsequent purchase of Robert Turner of other adjoining land, which extended his estate from the Graysbury line to William Albertson's boundary. Much of this is included in the farms now owned by Jeremiah Ridgway and the heirs of Joseph Eldridge, deceased. His habitation stood by the creek, just below the mouth of Bates's run, and near the house on the Ridgway farm.
In common, however, with the other owners, he had an interest in the meadow land at the mouth of Kaighn's run, whence he obtained the hay for his cattle for the winter months, a necessary provision, as no other means of sustaining their stock was obtainable at that early day.8 As the master
6 Revel's Book, 25.
7 Revel's Book, 53.
¿ Revel's Book, 25.
WITTLET
51
WILLIAM BATES.
mechanic, there can be no doubt, who planned and built the first meeting house at Newton, in 1684; who constructed the rude seats and erected the plain unpretending galleries, in which sat the forefathers of this people, who were faithfully carrying out the belief and the form of religious worship as brought with them across the sea.
To the descendants of William Bates this is a reminiscence worthy to be remembered, and to be told to their children, becoming more interesting as the lapse of time increases.
In 1683, he was one of the representatives from the Irish tenth in the Legislature of the Province, and was the same year appointed constable." The next year, he was again returned as a member, and was appointed one of the commissioners for laying out highways, which last office he held for two years. That he was a useful man, both as a mechanic and a private citizen, is evident, and in each position he commanded the respect of those around him. He died in the year 1700, leaving a will, now on the files of the office of the Secretary of State, but never placed on record. His children were born in Ireland, some of whom were married in a few years after their arrival here. They were Jeremiah, who married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Spicer: Joseph, who married Mercy Clement in 1701; Abigail, who married Joshua Frame in 1687; William, who married an Indian girl: and Sarah. who married Simeon Ellis in 1692.10
Jeremiah settled on part of the original tract, as conveyed to him in 1693 by his father, who occupied it as a farmer.11 Although his father left a will, yet the records say that he died intestate as to another part of his real estate, of which Jere- miah, as the oldest son, became seized. This is possible, but a closer inquiry may explain the difficulty, if necessary, and show that the will covered all the real estate. This last named tract, however, was given by Jeremiah Bates in his will to his son William, who re-surveyed the same in 1731; and upon this land the said William lived at that date.1?
· 9 Leaming & Spicer's Laws. 11 Lib. G3, 348.
10 Lib. G3, 257, and Newton Meeting Records. 12 Lib. No. 6, 331. Lib. MI, 155, O. S. G.
52
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
Jeremiah and Mary Bates were the parents of four daughters and one son :13 Martha, who married James Wall; Abigail, who married Thomas Thackara; Mary; Sarah, and William.14
William Bates married and had three children-two of whom died in infancy-leaving but a daughter, Mary, who married William Harry, of Philadelphia. 13 Jonathan Zane was her guardian in 1750, her father having died two years before that time. 16
In 1759, Mary and her husband conveyed to Daniel Cooper a part of the land of which her father died seized, intestate; in this deed her connection with the first William Bates is . apparent. In this branch of the family, the name was lost in the third remove from the first comer.
Jeremiah Bates deceased in 1723, leaving a will, in which document he named his progeny, and disposed of his landed and personal property." He sold part of his land in 1700 to Elias Toy, a Swede, who probably settled on the same. 13
In the year 1706, Joseph Bates settled on a tract of land which he purchased of Joseph Thorne. This lay on the south side of the south branch of Cooper's creek, in Gloucester township, near where the White Horse tavern now stands. Part of this is now owned by Jacob Lippincott.19-20 His home was, in all probability, a cave in the hill fronting the creek, where his children were born and his family reared. At that time, he was beyond the line of settlements that were extending from the river towards the east and south, but was not far from the trail that went on the south side of the creek past where Long-a-coming (or Berlin) now stands, towards the sea coast. His wife was a daughter of James and Jane Clement, who had come from England and settled on Long Island. She was the first of the name within the bounds of Gloucester county; at the time of her marriage she lived with the family of John Hinchman, in Newton township, with whom she doubtless had come from Long Island. This marriage took place according to the order of Friends, at John Hinchman's house, as was
13 Gloucester Files of Wills.
14 Lib. S, 275.
15 Lib. S, 274.
16 Lib. No. 6, 375. Lib. No. 7, 97.
17 Gloucester Files of Wills. .
18 Lib. G3, 321.
19 Lib. A, 84.
20 Lib. A, 47, of Divisions, Woodbury.
53
WILLIAM BATES.
sometimes the practice in those days, owing to the distance from meeting houses and the bad condition of the roads.
The difficulty in tracing this branch of the family is the same that often occurs in others; it arises from the continuance of one Christian name from father to son and grandson, compli- cating the distinctions beyond the possibility of solution.21 The records show that Joseph Bates died in 1731, and that Elizabeth Bates became his administratrix.
Among the children was a daughter Abigail, who married Samuel Lippincott, a son of Freedom and Elizabeth.22 They resided in Pilesgrove, Salem county, N. J., with the following children: Joseph, Samuel, Joshua, Mercy, Abigail and Eliza- beth. Many of the descendants of this branch of the family still reside in that section of the State.
In 1734, another Joseph Bates died, leaving a will; but which of these was the subject of this sketch, it is difficult to determine.23 The last named had a daughter, Abigail, who married John Hillman, and other daughters.
His sons were Benjamin, Thomas and Jonathan. Jonathan's wife, Elizabeth, survived him, and died in 1765, leaving several children. The estate passed out of the family in 1767, by deed to Jonathan Aborn, and, after several conveyances, became the property of John Cathcart in 1794, who built the present brick mansion standing on the premises." He had also a park for deer on part of his estate, for deer-hunting was one of the manly pastimes, fashionable at that day. The advance of agriculture has done much to change the habits, amusements and prejudices of our people, for, where once the hunter's horn and the music of the hounds were heard at nearly all seasons of the year, now the generous soil may be seen yielding its fruits to the husbandman. Where once were the' well known haunts of bears and burrows for foxes, are now spread out green pastures and growing crops, the assurance of reward to thrift and industry.
Abigail Bates, who married Joshua Frame, removed to Penn- sylvania with her husband, whose descendants at this day have
21 Lib. A, 47. of Divisions, Woodbury. 23 Lib. No. 3, 432.
22 Lib. No. 3, 140.
24 Lib. A, 47, of Divisions, Woodbury.
54
FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. .
no knowledge of the pedigree of their maternal ancestor ; neither is anything known of her in this region of country.
William Bates settled on the east side of a tributary of the south branch of Cooper's creek, known as Tyndall's run, about two miles east of Haddonfield. His house was near the resi- dence of Joseph Browning, and within the bounds of a small survey which he made in 1687.25 In March of the same year, he purchased of Robert Turner an adjoining tract of land containing two hundred and fifty acres, and increased his bound- aries by subsequent purchases.26 His place was near an Indian settlement, where this people raised their corn and pumpkins, and made their homes through the winter, when not away upon their hunting expeditions.
It is possible that William Bates married an Indian girl, like many of the early settlers: this would account for his making his home in one of the villages of the nation, and thus securing the title of the land to himself.
It is unfortunate that the records of the marriages of the first comers to West New Jersey, with the native females have been lost, in so many instances. and that so few are now known, and they only through a vague and uncertain tradition. Like John Randolph of Roanoke, those who are sure of this kind of connection with the aborigines, boast of the purity of their lineage, and are proud of this line of ancestry. In very many families, even at this late day, may be discovered the strain of Indian blood thus originated, unmistakably crop- ping out in feature or form, and showing the peculiarity so distinctly as to place it beyond controversy.
-
As in all newly settled countries, the scarcity of females among the emigrants made it rather a necessity than a choice to seek marriages among the natives. At the same time there were among these many comely and attractive maidens, who, being to "the manor born," were much better suited to the situation than those unused to the hardships and trials of a frontier life. In these marriages the consent of the swarthy girl was not the only difficulty to be overcome, for she stood
25 Lib. G1. 23
26. Lib. 62, 131
55
WILLIAM BATES.
in all her native beauty, without a name known to the English language, and this defect had to be supplied before the cere- mony could be performed in accordance with the law, then, as now, in existence.
Our ancestors being Friends, and using the language as they wore their clothing, pure and simple, would very naturally cast aside all romantic or suggestive names, and attach to the bride one after their own style, thus increasing the difficulty of discovering her nativity.
The enchantment lent by distance, has much to do with the romance that has always surrounded these associations, and, although the hand of the artist may favorably impress us with the beauty and grace of the female aborigines, yet an intro- duction into real life has invariably changed the notions of such as have thus ventured.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.