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 9
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He died in 1739, leaving the following named family :20 Isaac; Jacob, who married Patience Chew; Abraham, who deceased without children ; Ephraim, who married Kesiah Chew ; Joseph, who married Rose Hampton; Aaron, who married Elizabeth Albertson; Levi, who married Kesiah Rob- erts; Jonathan ; Rebecca, who married - -; Beverly, and - -, who married Richard Chew.21
The estate, as held by the father in 1757, belonged to four of the sons, Jacob, Joseph, Isaac and Ephraim, among whose descendants parts of it were held for many years, but at this writing it has passed out of the name and blood.
Of Rebecca, who married Joseph Satterthwaite, nothing is known ; as families after two or three generations are apt to forget the maiden name of their maternal ancestors, and it is probable that all traces of her as the daughter of William Albertson have been lost.
Ann, the wife of Walter Forrest, settled with her husband in Salem county as early as in 1686. They were married at Newton meeting, according to the order of Friends, to which they adhered as long as they lived. Her husband, in connec- tion with his brothers Francis and John, purchased a large tract of land in that county, in 1678, on Salem creek, of
17 Lib. No. 2, 139.
20 Lib. No. 5, 136.
ยท 18 Lib. T, 355, O. S. G.
19 Sharp's Book, Lib. S6, 405, O. S. G.
21 Family Papers.
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IVILLIAM ALBERTSON.
John Fenwick, and there they erected a corn mill, called the "Brothers' Forrest," perhaps the first of the kind in Fenwick colony.22 In the same year, they purchased other lands of John Fenwick, and afterwards became the owners of adjoining tracts.
At the time of the first purchase they were residents of Bur- lington, and doubtless came over among the first emigrants. When Walter Forrest died in 1692, he was a resident of Byberry, Pennsylvania, where he had some estate.23 There was no issue by this marriage."4. About two years after his death the widow married John Kaighn, who was a carpenter - and resided at Byberry, where it may be supposed the marriage took place.25 They soon after removed to Newton township, and settled on a tract of land which he had purchased of Robert Turner, fronting on the Delaware river.26 At this place she died, leaving one child, Ann, who died in 1715, unmarried, thus ending this branch of the family in the second generation.21
By the will of his father, dated December 17th, 1709. recorded in Pennsylvania, Josiah Albertson received a tract of land in Gloucester township, bounded on the south side by Otter branch, and thereon he settled and cleared a farm.28 In 1727, he married Ann, a daughter of Francis Austin, of Evesham, Burlington county, N. J. Her father was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood; and many of this name are still to be found thereabout. There the first habitation of Josiah and Ann was built, on the land given him by his father, at a short distance south of the old Salem road, where he both plied his calling of shoemaker, and at the same time removed the timber from the soil.
He enlarged the breadth of his acres by purchase and loca- tion until his possessions were double those left him by his father. In 1743, he built a large and substantial brick house, perhaps on the site of his log cabin ; part of which is now standing and is occupied by his lineal descendant, Chalkley Albertson, who owns much of the original estate. Whether
22 Lib. B, 16. Salem Deeds.
23 Salem Wills, A, 6).
24 Salem Wills, No. 5, 98.
25 Salem Deeds, No. 6, 32.
26 Lib. G3, 127.
27 Lib. No. 2, 162.
28 Lib. MI, 75, O. S. G.
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Josiah continued his business of making shoes, tradition does not reveal, but the chances are that his farming interests and lumber operations consumed all his time, and that the business of his youth was soon forgotten.29
The children of Josiah and Ann Albertson were eight daughters and one son ; Hannah, who married Jacob Clement ; Mary; Cassandra, who married Jacob Ellis and Jacob Burrough ; Patience, who married Isaac Ballinger; Elizabeth; Josiah, who married Eleanor Tomlinson and Judith Boggs; Sarah, who mar- ried Samuel Webster; Katurah, who married Isaac Townsend, and Ann, who married Ebenezer Hopkins and Jacob Jennings.30 These daughters were remarkable for their healthy look and comely appearance. In their attendance at meeting, they rode on horseback, presenting quite a cavalcade when several were together.
Their attractive appearance abroad and substantial qualities at home, made them desirable wives for those of the same religious denomination in search of such, and the records show that such qualifications were understood and appreciated; none of those that arrived at suitable age were left as "single sisters."
In the collateral branches of this part of the Albertsons, it may be seen how many families can trace their lineage to them; and how widely spread may become the connections of a particular stock, when the families are numerous and change their names, localities and associations.
29 Lib. T, 310, O. S. G.
30 Family Papers.
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ELIZABETH ESTAUGH.
T T HE life and character of Elizabeth Estaugh are especially interesting to every resident of Newton township and its neighborhood, since her name and example will always com- mand the respect and admiration of any one at all familiar with her history. Although only the collateral ancestor of a large family in this region, yet her name in this connection is always spoken of with commendable pride and deserving reverence.
The passing away of one generation after another has not blunted the interest felt in her good deeds, nor has the lapse of time obliterated the traditions handed down from parent to child. One hundred and fifty years have not destroyed the attractions that surround the romance of her early life, and no mention can be made of the history of this neighbor- hood, that is not connected with the acts and associations of Elizabeth Estaugh.
She came to New Jersey a young, unsophisticated girl, comparatively alone. Fresh from the care of solicitous and affectionate parents, she left a home in which she had been surrounded by friends and by all that rendered life attractive, to cast her lot in the midst of an unbroken forest, at some dis- tance from her nearest neighbors-a stranger in a strange land.
Whatever may have been her youthful fancy of a life in the wilds of America, separated from her parents and friends, the realities of her situation must have occasionally pressed heavily upon her spirits, and caused her almost to regret the strange
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and responsible position which she had assumed. Perhaps at no period of her eventful life, did the leading traits of her char- acter appear to a better advantage than thus early in her career.
Self reliance and decision of purpose, based upon conscien- tious motives, were here developed, and these in the hour of trial did not desert her.
She was a daughter of John Haddon, a Friend, who lived in Rotherhithe, in the parish of St. George, borough of South- wark, county of Surrey, England, then a suburb of the city of London, and on the east side of the river Thames.1 .
The long crooked street of Rotherhithe, lying, as it does, near to and parallel with the river, remains to this day the same narrow thoroughfare as when John Haddon resided there.
The old Horslydown meeting near by, where Friends assem- bled for worship, has long been abandoned, and it is now used as a carpenter's shop. The Southwark meeting house has also given way to modern improvements, and the ground where once lay the remains of deceased members, is now occupied by the foundation of a railroad bridge, leaving no vestige of this place, of so much interest to such as care to visit the homes of their ancestors.
John Haddon was a blacksmith, extending his business to the making of anchors, and had his shop between the street before named and the river .?
Diligence and economy produced their legitimate ends, and, in the course of time, brought to him a large estate, which he used with discretion during life, and disposed of judiciously at the time of his decease.
The ancestry of this man may possibly be traced to the manor of Haddon in Derbyshire, now part of the estate of the Duke of Rutland.
The old baronial mansion of Haddon Hall is still standing, and is one of the points of interest to be visited by tourists. Although abandoned as a residence by the owner, yet every- thing remains as used and occupied many centuries since. As its name indicates, it was, perhaps, the seat of the Haddon
I Lib. AAA, 61, 245. Lib. A, 203. Lib. D, 413, 419.
2 Lib. G3, 458, O. S. G. Sharp's Book. 43, O. S. G.
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ELIZABETH ESTAUGH.
family before the conquest; but, in the arbitrary distribution of territory by William, this estate was given to his son, and the original owners were driven from the soil, or degraded by their Norman rulers.
John Haddon lived in the times of the persecution of Friends, and suffered, in common with others of like persuasion, from the tyranny and oppression of those in authority.3
His children were born during this abuse of power. They heard and, perhaps, saw much of the distress that was brought upon their friends, and had impressed upon their youthful minds the feelings and sentiments of the parents, which early impressions no doubt adhered to them through life. Whatever of forbearance and forgiveness may have been instilled into their riper opinions and judgment by the teachings of a true religion, the remembrance of these wrongs done to an unof- fending and law-abiding people could never be obliterated.
He was not among the first that became interested in the lands of West New Jersey, but no doubt knew of, and perhaps participated in, the advancement of the little colony, hoping that it might prove to be an asylum for those of like opinions who were, at home, borne down by the fanaticism of others.
. Although the plan of settlement was novel, and the system of government contained elements that were especially attract- ive to this class of professing Christians, yet it was no matter of money speculation among those who originated it, and did not in the end accrue very much to their pecuniary advantage. The inception and carrying out of the whole plan were in good faith, and, although difficulties subsequently occurred, yet these were from no fault of the principles adopted by the Proprietors.
The success of the scheme in its various phases was canvassed on many occasions at the home of John Haddon, by those already interested, and in the presence of his children; they thus became familiar with its workings, and the progress which it was making among the people. Various circulars and pamph- lets were published, and letters also were written home by those already emigrated, which attracted much attention; and the daughter Elizabeth could not have been indifferent to the move- ments made by her friends in that direction.
3 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. 1, 126, 485.
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He does not appear to have been a creditor of Edward Byllynge, and, like many others, to have accepted an interest in the land to save a debt likely to be lost; but he purchased of Richard Matthews one-eighth of a right of propriety in the year 1698, some twenty-four years after the acceptance of the trust by William Penn and others for the purpose of paying Byllynge's debts.+
John Haddon had but two children, Sarah, who married Benjamin Hopkins, a wine merchant of the city of London, and Elizabeth, who was born in 1682 and married John Estaugh.5
In the year of the purchase above named, another was made of Thomas Willis, a son of John Willis, of a tract of land in Newton township, bounded on the north side by Cooper's creek, containing about five hundred acres of land.6 In view of these purchases, John Haddon may have contemplated removing to New Jersey with his family and settling among his friends, many of whom had already preceded him, in- tending to make it their permanent home. There was some restraining influence, however, that prevented the carrying out of this purpose, which cannot be explained, except that the daughter Sarah was already married and settled in the city of her birth, whom the mother was not willing to leave behind, perchance never to see her again. If intended, the idea was abandoned before Elizabeth left her home, for her father execu- ted to her a power of attorney to become his agent in New Jersey for the location, purchase and sale of lands; this he would not have done, had he expected to come here in person.7
In 1701, being in the nineteenth year of her age, Elizabeth Haddon left the home of her parents, in company perhaps with a few friends, and came to New Jersey to occupy and look after the possessions of her father. In this act were first manifested that courage and decision of character, of which so much was seen in after years. At that age, to attempt such an adventure showed a great sacrifice on the part of the parents, and much self-reliance on the part of the child. In man nothing is so
4 Lib. G3, 458.
5 Lib. No. 3, 58.
6 Lib. A, 80.
7 Lib. G3, 347.
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much admired as high-toned moral courage, with a disinter- ested and unselfish purpose to accomplish; and no less will be accorded to this young female who assumed responsibilities that many of the other sex would avoid, even with much greater attractions than those that lay before her. Perhaps a motive, as yet undeveloped, may have had something to do with this act, a motive to be explained by what occurred within a year after her arrival and settlement in her new home.
A short time before this voyage was undertaken, a young man of much talent-a native of Kelvedon in Essex, afterwards a resident of Rotherhithe, in Surreys-had appeared among the Quakers of London, and attracted considerable notice as a public speaker. He had scarcely arrived at man's estate, yet he stood an accepted minister in expounding and defending the religious belief of the Society of Friends.
An acquaintance and frequent visitor at the house of John Haddon, an intimacy grew up between himself and the daugh- ter Elizabeth, which very naturally ripened into a stronger feeling.
This young man was John Estaugh, born upon the second month 23d day, 1676, at Kelvedon, a small town about fifty miles northeast of London. He became convinced of Friends' principles by hearing Francis Stamper of London preach at the funeral of a neighbor; and he appeared in the ministry when about eighteen years of age. He was a member of the Cogshall Quarterly Meeting, in the county of his birth.
He received a minute from that meeting, dated seventh month 28th, 1700, allowing him to go to America on a religious visit. He was accompanied by John Richardson, and arrived in the river Patuxent, Maryland, in the first month of the following year.
They travelled in Virginia together, visiting many meetings, and returned through Pennsylvania to Philadelphia. It was at this time that John Estaugh first met Elizabeth Haddon after her arrival, while she remained among her friends, and before she took up her abode on the estate of her father in New Jersey. Perchance a mutual pleasure was manifested when
8 Lib, A, 03.
8
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114 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS.
they met, that betrayed a latent feeling common to both; and, although taught from childhood to avoid expressions of joy or grief, yet, upon an occasion like this, such expressions were pardonable in those whose hopes so closely and warmly sympathized.
While in Philadelphia, on this occasion, John Estaugh thought it his duty to go back to Virginia, "not feeling his mind clear of that province."
Some doubts existed in the minds of John Richardson and John Estaugh, as to the propriety of separating, and several of the elders were convened and made acquainted with their prospects in this regard, and, after proper deliberation, the wishes of John Estaugh were granted. He therefore separ- ated from John Richardson, and spent considerable time in Virginia, preaching among the people scattered through those "wilderness countries."
In the meantime, Elizabeth Haddon was making preparations to occupy her new home; and the appearance among them of so young a female, who had crossed the ocean without her parents, attracted the attention of the hardy pioneers. The scenes before her must have contrasted strangely with those that surrounded her home in the suburbs of the great city of London. Here the prospective streets of the town were only defined by marks upon the trees of the forest, and the few scattered houses showed but little of the large city that now occupies the soil. The hill-side upon the Delaware front was yet full of caves, where lived the emigrants who had not means or opportunity to erect better dwellings; and the strange appearance of the natives must have filled her mind with misgivings as to the security of the new settlers.
Francis Collins, the friend and companion of her father, who had settled at " Mountwell," extended to her the hos- pitalities of his house, and, by his direction and advice, con- trolled her in much of her future conduct. In going to his residence, they crossed the river at the ferry kept by Daniel Cooper, and performed the remainder of the journey on horse- back, as nothing more than a bridle path led from one settle- ment to another. This road passed through a continuous
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115
ELIZABETH ESTAUGH.
forest, save the few settlements at Newton; there she was greeted by those who had preceded her to this new country, and who listened to such information as she might give them of friends left behind.
The surroundings to her were all new and strange. Every thing being in a state of nature, she at last came to realize the privations through which her associates had already passed, and the difficulties that must beset her in this novel under- taking. In passing along they turned away from the road to look at the land purchased of Thomas Willis, where this "youthful emigrant" was to make her home in the future, and where she expected to dispense the hospitalities of her household, in a manner consistent with her condition in life and her liberality of spirit.
Two miles beyond, they reached "Mountwell," where the yet single daughters of her escort gave her that welcome which she, in her lonely condition, could well appreciate ; and the kind regard for her comfort that was extended to her in their humble dwelling, was proportionate to that which she, in after years, fully and gratefully returned.
It has been generally believed that she erected the first house on this tract of land, bringing with her much of the material from England. This is an error, as a map of the land made by Thomas Sharp in 1700 (which was before her arrival), proves that buildings were already on the land; and it is supposable that she occupied those already there.9 John Willis, the locator of the survey, no doubt, put the dwelling there and lived on the premises some time, for fourteen years had elapsed between the date of the taking up and John Haddon's title. She probably enlarged and improved the house, so as to accord with her notions of convenience and comfort, and to receive her friends in a proper manner; for it is known that she never turned the stranger away from her door, or suffered her acquaint- ances to look for entertainment elsewhere.
This house stood on the brow of a hill on the south side of Cooper's creek, at Cole's landing, about two miles from Had- donfield, in a commanding situation, and near that stream,
9 Lib. A, 80.
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which in those days was much used as a means of travel; and, according to the custom of the times in giving a name to such settlements, it was called " Haddonfield."
This name was retained until the building of the new house in 1713, erected still nearer the village as it now stands; after which it was called "Old Haddonfield," in order to distin- guish it from the more modern and extensive settlement last mentioned.10
Mrs. Maria Child, in her story which she called "The Youth- . ful Emigrant," of which Elizabeth Haddon is the heroine, says that John Estaugh did not visit her until the winter following her arrival and settlement here. That John cultivated forbear- ance as one of the Christian virtues, and attended closely to his Master's work, there can be no doubt; but the fair authoress has little knowledge of human nature, if she supposed that so great a temptation as a visit to this new home of Elizabeth (which home, by the way, was not the greatest attraction to this place in the forest) could be resisted. The many associa- tions that surrounded their friends in England, furnished subjects for conversation, interesting and agreeable, to say nothing of the new and wonderful things that met their observation at almost every step in their present situation. The meeting at Newton needed some one to minister spiritual things to its few attendants; and who could blame him for being present occa- sionally at their sittings? and, after these, for accompanying his friend to her residence, to continue their conversation over her plentiful board ?
Again, in weaving together the threads of her romance, Mrs. Child presents the scene in which these two persons are depicted as adjusting the saddle girths of the horse upon which Elizabeth rode, as taking place while on their way to attend the Quarterly Meeting of Friends at Salem; and, while this is being done, she represents the fair damsel as breaking to John a subject, that she believed she .was directed in this manner to approach, regardless of the conventionalities which generally govern in like cases. Without any desire to criticise or destroy the drift of this well told story, we must
Io Lib. No. 11, 113.
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suggest that the probability that these long journeys were accomplished by water, must interfere somewhat with the romance thrown around it, and mar the certainty of the facts involved, which, there can be no doubt, the authoress designed to observe. For many years after the settlement of the country, no extended journey was attempted, except by water, where the place to be reached was near a navigable stream; and, in the case in question, the facilities for traveling from Philadelphia to Salem by packets were sufficiently attractive to avoid horseback riding for so long a distance. Upon the last point, the delib- erate conduct of Friend Estaugh may have been rather slow for Elizabeth's impulsive nature, and, although something had been evasively said upon the delicate subject, yet their probable sepa- ration for a time rendered it excusable on her part to wish to have the matter settled. It was a commendable proceeding ; and how many suitable companions by either sex might be secured, if more speed were observed by the one, and more courage by the other !
Whether John performed this part of the courtship awk- wardly, or whether Elizabeth showed her courage and good sense by acting as before mentioned, matters not, for the mar- riage was accomplished at her residence on the first day of the eighth month, 1702, in the presence of a committee of Friends, and of a few invited guests.11 Among the guests several of the aborigines might have been seen. Their knowledge of the bride was attained by hearing the story of her life from her own lips, which excited their admiration for her courage- among them a leading virtue; and she commanded their regard and respect ever after. They were dressed after their peculiar style, in garments made especially for the occasion, displaying upon these the rude taste of their people, and their interest in the present event.
Their apparent indifference to the scene before them was much like the calm demeanor of the rest of the company; yet they were keen observers of all that passed, and supposed the ceremony had but commenced, when they were told that
.11 Friends' Memorials.
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"the brave pale-face girl" and John Estaugh were husband and wife, until death should separate them.
The solemnizing of marriages in public meetings was not generally observed in early times; for what reason does not always appear, yet such was the fact, as is seen in the record referring to those dates.
Soon after this marriage had taken place, John Estaugh became the attorney of John Haddon, and took charge of his landed interests in New Jersey; which had become large by location and purchase, and required much of his time and attention. He, however, continued an acceptable minister among his people, and made many religious visits during his life.12
He was also, for several years, agent for an association in London, known as the " Pennsylvania Land Company," the last settlement with the society having been made by his widow as his executrix two years after his death.
As the country filled with settlers, mechanics became more plentiful, and building materials were more readily obtained ; the erection of a new house was contemplated, more suitable for the . accommodation of their many friends and consistent with their wealth and position in society. Another site was selected, and, in 1713, a brick house was built, a short distance from the village of Haddonfield, where the present residence of Isaac H. Wood now stands. This was on a tract of land which John Haddon purchased of Richard Mathews, and, after the house was finished, it was called "New Haddon- field.' 13 In a few years, however, the name was lost to both places, and attached to the village which stands partly on the last named tract of land.14 The house was substantially built, and bore the evidence of wealth and taste in the owner; it was designed to secure the comfort of the occupants, so far as the knowledge of architecture and convenient arrangement went at that day. 15 Among other things, and what would seem strange at this time, a distillery was attached to the premises, and the smith shop which was there before the pur- chase by John Haddon, was kept up, and the tools were
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