USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 6
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Mulliner was captured by the scout, convicted and hung as a spy. Their leader gone the renegades left this section of the country. Jack Fenton was transferred to the Southern division and was killed in the battle of Camden, S. C.
Thus the first settlers of Atlantic County suffered the loss of their homes, their cattle and provisions. Only three rebuilt at the Neck, the others moved back to Gravelly Landing, on Nacut creek, and built the first dwellings, where now is the village of Port Republic.
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY.
After the close of the War of the Revolution, when the English army had been withdrawn; when peace had been declared; when the young Republic had been established; when Washington had been elected and inaugurated President, an era of great prosperity dawned upon the hitherto struggling colonists. They were now a free and independent people and stimulated by the advantages of a liberal government, they went to work with a will and an ambition which only a people living under a free, independent Republic possess. The forests were con-
E. H. MADDEN, M.D.
95
SKETCH OF PORT REPUBLIC
verted into fertile farms, streams were dammed, saw mills erected and the timber converted into lumber. New settlers came in and towns were built-not towns composed of frail shanties, but substantial dwellings of the spacious and attrac- tive colonial style of architecture. Many of these buildings stand to-day, monu- ments to the prosperity and comfort of the people a century ago. The old brick dwelling, built by John Endicott at the drawbridge, the old mansion on Main street, built by Nicholas Van Sant, and the brick store at the dam, built by Jonas Miller at Port Republic are among the colonial buildings a century old that are still tenanted and have been preserved as landmarks of a more substantial age.
The vast swamps of cedar along the Mullica river and its tributaries were valuable for house building, and the giant oak forests were valuable for ship building. Lumbering became an important industry, and a line of trading schooners made regular trips between Gravelly Landing and Manhattan (now New York City). Many vessels were built here at the Van Sant ship yards, of which there were three, and some of the finest and fleetest in the coasting trade were built here.
Farming paid well in these days, and the agriculturists found a ready sale for their produce, potatoes, wheat, corn, rye, barley, beef, pork, and wool among the lumbermen, carpenters. fishermen and hotel proprietors. Clothing was made from home-spun wool, woven by the fair hands of the village daughters. There was then no tariff and no shoddy clothing. Silver was coined free the same as gold, both were freely circulated. Money was plenty, times were prosperous. So the village of Gravelly Landing grew into a town. and an important trading post. After the burning of Chestnut Neck by the British, in 1777. the residents, fearing a recurrence at some future time, moved back on the Nacut creek and were new residents of Gravelly Landing. A post office was established, with James Hat- field as the first postmaster. He was succeeded by James Endicott. A stage line was established to Philadelphia and the mail arrived and departed once a week. The arrival and departure of this overland mail coach, with its driver in braided hair, cocked hat, knee breeches and buckled shoes, loudly blowing a trumpet to herald his approach, was an event in the annals of the town. The coach was large and seated twelve passengers, and was drawn by four horses. The start was made at 4 o'clock in the morning from the hotel of Japhet Leeds (now Leeds Point), stopping at the Gravelly Landing post office. Franklyn Inn at the dam, Clark's Mills hotel, Indian Cabin, Blue Anchor and Long Coming (now Berlin). Usually the whole populace gathered on the arrival of the coach, greetings were exchanged and refreshments partaken of at each stopping place.
Daniel Mathis, who built and kept the hotel at Chestnut Neck, which was looted and burned by the British in 1777, built the old Franklyn Inn, which still stands near the dam at Port Republic. Jonas Miller, a young brick mason and builder, married a daughter of Daniel Mathis, and afterwards became proprietor of Franklyn Inn, which he conducted successfully for several years. Ilis four daughters, all of whom married hotel men, grew to womanhood here and were noted for their personal beauty and force of character. They were leaders of th"
RODMAN CORSON, ESQ.
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THE OLD FORT AND ITS DEFENDERS.
society of the village, and in after years frequently returned to visit the scenes of their girlhood days. Jonas Miller removed to Cape May and built Congress Hall, when that resort was at its zenith of popularity, before the Civil War. His son, Burroughs Miller, served Cape May County in the State Legislature as Senator for several terms, and held several municipal offices in Cape May. For years he was the leader of his party in Cape May, and under his leadership the county was always Democratic. He was a man greatly beloved by the people of Cape May, and was identified with its best and most progressive interests.
THE OLD FORT AND ITS DEFENDERS.
S HORTLY after the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain, in 1812, John R. Scull, of Egg Harbor township, living near Somers Point, formed a company of infantry, known as the "First Bat- talion, First Regiment of the Gloucester County (Atlantic County at this time was not formed) Brigade, New Jersey Militia, Volunteers," for the protec- tion of the maritime frontier ..
The following persons were commissioned or enrolled as officers of this company on May 25, 1814.
John R. Scull, Captain; Samuel Scull, Ist Lieut .; Levi Holbert, 2d Lient .; Job Frambes, 3d Lieut. : Zachariah Dole, Ist Sergeant; Israel Scull, 2d Sergeant; Samuel Lake, 3d Sergeant, and Richard I. Somers, 4th Sergeant. John Pine, Ist Corporal; Thomas Reeves, 2d Corporal, and Isaac Robinson, 3d Corporal. Robert B. Risley, drummer, and James M. Gifford, fifer.
The following are the names of the privates found in the company: James Adams, Jeremiah Adams, Jonas Adams, Solomon Adams, Jacob Albertson, John Barber, David E. Bartlett, John Reaston, Andrew Blackman, Andrew B. Black- man, Thomas Blackman, Derestins Booy, Joseph H. Booy, James Burton, Jesse Chamberlain, Jesse Chambers, Enoch Champion, John Champion. Joseph Cham- pion, Joel Clayton, Jolin Clayton, Absalom Cordery, Samuel Delancy, Daniel Doughty, Enoch Doughty, John Doughty, Daniel Edwards, Daniel English. Hosea English, Aaron Frambes, Andrew Frambes, Stephen Gauslin, Andrew . Godfrey, Andrew Hickman, Ebenezer Holbert, Clement Ireland, David Ireland, Elijah Ireland, Job Ireland, Thomas Ireland, Andrew Jeffers, Daniel Jeffers, Evin Jeffers, Nicholas Jeffers, John Jeffers, William Jeffers, Enoch Laird, David Lee, Jesse Marshall, Daniel Mart, John Mart, Richard Morris, David Price, John Price, Sr., John Price, Jr., John Reggins, Jeremiah Risley, Sr., Jeremialı Ris- ley, Jr., Nathaniel Risley, Peter Risley, Richard Risley, John Robarts, John Robinson, Andrew Scull, David Scull, John S. Scull. Joseph Scull, Richard Scull, Damon Somers, Edmund Somers, Isaac Somers, James Somers, John J. Somers, John S. Somers, Joseph Somers, Mark Somers, Nicholas Somers, Samtiel Somers, Thomas Somers, Abel Smith, Enoch Smith, Isaac Smith. Jacob Smith, Jesse
JAMES D. SOUTHWICK.
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THE OLD FORT AND ITS DEFENDERS.
Smith, Zophar Smith, David Steelman, Elijah Steelman, Francis Steelman, Fred- erick Steelman, James Steelman, Jesse Steelman, Peter C. Steelman, Reed Steel- man, Samuel Steelman, Daniel Tilton, James Townsend. Japhet Townsend, Joel Vansant, Joseph Wilkins. Martin Wilsey, John Winner and Joseph Winner, making one hundred and two privates.
This company was discharged on February 12. 1815, and notwithstanding more than eighty-five years have passed away, yet to-day, through the veins of some of our most energetic, enterprising and patriotic citizens of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, flows the blood of some of these men.
During the short time this company were in service, they were not idle. Selecting a spot near the Great Egg Harbor river, one that not only gave them a full view of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet, but absolute command of the harbor. here they erected a fortification in the form of a semi-circle fifty feet in diameter. with a base of twenty feet and fifteen on the top, with a height ranging from six to ten feet. This they mounted with cannon capable of carrying a ball from four to six pounds; and woe be to the British Lion should he attempt to intrude on these waters.
After the erection of this fortification. Captain Scull had his men ever stand- ing guard both night and day, watching, as it were, with an eagle eye, for their dreaded foe, the British Lion, should he be seen prowling near, and horsemen ready to mount swift steeds and hasten to inform the sturdy yeomen of approach- ing danger. Patriotism caused him to leave his plow in the field, hasten to the house, seize his trusty flint-lock gun, powder horn and shot pouch. Thus equipped he impressed one kiss on the lips of the one near and dear to him, then hastened to this little fortification to wait for the unwelcome visitors, and treat them to the repast prepared for them, iron balls and lead pills.
So much respect had the land holders for this little historic spot, that it remained untouched only by the hand of time, for a period of more than seventy years, when the progress of improvements demanded its removal. 'Twas then that workmen found mounds of balls remaining in the same position as they were placed by our forefathers in 1814. Now the iron horse treads where the boys of 1814 tramped to and fro, and with a lynx eye pierced the darkness over the waters of the Great Egg Harbor, to catch the first glimpse of their dreaded foe. The first obscure object seen thereon caused them to more firmly grasp their trusty fire-arms, silently pledging their lives anew, to the protection of the homes of their loved ones.
Well may the American nation feel proud over the bold and daring acts of "Rear Admiral Dewey" at Manila, and Hobson at Santiago, as their acts of heroism were sent with lightning speed from nation to nation, and their names enrolled high on the honor of fame, in the annals of the navies of the world. Yet let us forget not. that Somer's Point, in all of its obscurity, is the birth place of one of the bravest of the brave officers that ever trod the deck of an American man-of-war; future naval histories may record his equals, the past cannot: this is no other person than that of "Master Commander Richard Somers," who sac-
ARTHUR H. STILES.
101
BOUNDS OF OLD GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP.
rificed his life on the 4th day of September. 1804. in the harbor of Tripoli. in an attempt to rescue his fellow countrymen who were thought to be barbarously treated by their captors.
Less than a half mile from where Captain John S. Scull erected his fortifi- cation, in 1814. this brave man, Richard Somers, was born, on the 15th day of September, 1778; still nearer this spot he received the first rudiments of his edu- cation; yet still nearer he received his first lessons in seamanship. From this port he first shipped as a sailor. In the summer of 1803, at his birth place, we find this noble commander bidding his friends, relatives and birth place the last adieu.
The monument erected at Somers Point, to perpetuate his memory, marks not his last resting place, but reminds the one that reads the inscription thereon of the heroic acts of this brave man.
BOUNDS OF OLD GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP.
EORGE THE THIRD, by the grace of God. of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King defender of the faith, etc., to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Kxow YE, That we of our special grant, certain knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant. for tts and our successors, to the inhabitants of the north-east part. of the township of Great Egg Harbor, in the county of Gloucester, in our Province of New Jersey, wherein the following boundarys, to wit: Beginning at a pine tree stand- ing on the head of the North branch of Absequan creek, marked on four sides: on the south-west side lettered E. G., and on the north-east side N. W., and from thence running north forty-five degrees eighty minutes west (the eighty minutes must be an error in the records), sixteen miles a quarter and a half-quarter to a pine tree standing south-west, sixty chains from the new road, and near a small branch of Penny Pot, and in the line of the former township aforesaid, and marked as aforesaid: and thence running by the aforesaid line north forty-five degrees east, nine miles to Atsion branch, thence down the same to the main river of Little Egg Harbor; thence down the aforesaid river, by the several courses thereof to the mouth; thence south thirty-five degrees east, six miles and a quarter through the Great Bay of Little Egg Harbor, to the south-west end of the flat beach at Brigantine Inlet; thence southwesterly, crossing the said Brig- antine Beach and the sea to Absequan Inlet; thence north sixty degrees west. five miles, crossing the sounds and Absequan Bay to Amos Ireland's Point, near the mouth of Absequan creek; thence bounding by the several courses thereof up said creek, and north branch of Absequan to the pine first named, and place of beginning, to be and remain a perpetual township and community in word and deed, to be called and known by the name of the Township of (. Galloway.
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
And we further grant to the said inhabitants of the township aforesaid, and their successors, to choose annually a Constable, Overseer of the Poor, and Overseer of the Highways of the township aforesaid, and to enjoy all the rights, liberties and immunities thus any other township in our Province may of right enjoy. And the said inhabitants are hereby constituted and appointed a township by the name aforesaid, to have. hold and enjoy the privileges aforesaid, to them and their successors forever. In testimony whereof, we have caused these letters to be made patent, and the Great Seal of the Province of New Jersey to be here- unto affixed. Witness our trusty and well beloved William Franklin, Esq., Captain General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New Jersey and territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice- Admiral of the same, etc., the fourth day of April, in the fourteenth year of our reign, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.
N. B .- The first line was run from the head of Absequan to the head of Gloucester township line, June the first. 1797.
January 27th. 1899.
WM. LAKE.
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P leasant ills.
ITH the exception of Clarks Landing, several miles further down the river. Pleasant Mills is the oldest settlement in Atlantic County. As early as 1718 the site of the present village was a collection of log huts where hardy pioneers found a free and exciting life with but few enervating lux- uries and lived by hunting, fishing and farming. Indians were numerous in Jersey at that time and had their villages in this locality, but these white men early distinguished themselves from their red neighbors by erecting a cabin of rude, square logs, roofed with rough boards and dedicated to the Great Spirit, who made the white man and the red man friends, for in truth it can be said that in this State they were always at peace; there never was any strife or bloodshed between them.
The site of the first rude church, which was known for many years as Clarks Meeting House at the Forks of the Little Egg Harbor, is still pointed out as being near the present edifice, in the pine grove, on the margin of the old ceme- tery, where sleep several generations of the villagers.
THE AYLESFORD MANSION.
Few in our day can appreciate the unlettered teachings of the itinerant preachers, and the plain manner of living of those whose race was run in rougher paths than ours. Rev. Simon Lucas, a Revolutionary soldier, was one of these
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WILLIAM E. FARRELL.
10.
PLEASANT MILLS AND THE "OLD BUTTONWOODS"
primitive Methodists who officiated in this old church twenty years or more be- fore it gave place to a larger and more sightly edifice, in 1808. He. Lawrence Peterson and Simon Ashcroft were three of the trustees who built the present church, which was dedicated in 1809 by the Rev. Francis Asbury, America's first Methodist Bishop. The Bible used on that occasion is still kept as a precious relic and is used by the present worshippers. It is of the same age as the church, having been printed in 1808. In these the closing days of the nineteenth century, but few gather in this temple of worship, compared with the large and fashionable congregations that gathered here thirty, forty, fifty years ago.
MILL RACE AND PAPER MILL.
Sweetwater was the first name of the village taken from the Indian name of what is now the Jackson stream, whose wholesome waters drive the paper mill. The first industry to be established was a saw-mill, which for fifty years helped to advance civilization at the head of what is now Nesco pond. A cotton factory followed within the memory of persons still living, and was operated till it was destroyed by fire. Since 1861 the paper mill has been the main industry of the village.
The plant of the Pleasant Mills Paper Company is almost a solitary survivor of the many industries which thrived in the interior of Atlantic County before the advent of the locomotive. While other enterprises have struggled and finally yielded to the changed conditions. Pleasant Mills has steadily flourished and forged ahead, and is to-day one of the leading paper mills of its kind in this
CHARLES F. WAHL.
10,
PLEASANT MILLS AND THE "OLD BUTTONWOODS."
country. From Monday morning to Saturday evening, night and day. the hum from the busy wheels can be heard echoing through the ruins of what fifty years ago were busy communities in this vicinity. Raw materials are bought in our new possessions, the Philippines, and some are raised by our antipodes in India. Other materials come from England and Germany, and after being shipped to this obscure spot in the interior of Atlantic County, are transformed into paper whose market is the world. This process of manufac- ture employs and is the sole support of some twenty families.
During the Revolution a battalion of soldiers under the command of Major Gordon occupied barracks at Sweetwater, just below the old button- wood trees on the bank of the Mullica. Nearby stood the old Washington tavern, where mer- OLD BUTTONWOODS. chants, brokers, sailors and teamsters made this quite a prosperous and at times an exciting place. Vessels captured by American privateers and brought into Little Egg Harbor were unloaded here, and the sup- plies that were intended for the British army were transported from the midst of South Jersey forests over sandy roads by the invincible colonists to the suffering patriots at Valley Forge. The Delaware was crossed at Burlington and Bristol, and the distress of those memorable winters of 1777 and 1778 was made more tol- erable by the supplies thus obtained.
Refugees and Tory sympathizers who defied authorities had their head- quarters in neighboring swamps, near what are now Elwood and Egg Harbor City, and made murderous raids upon defenceless people. Two such leaders of Tory gangs, Giberson and Mulliner, visited the house of a widow Bates and insulted and tortured her by burning down her home before her eyes. She re- sisted and fought the fire so successfully that they tied her to the fence and re- newed the torch. They were pursued and overtaken, but Giberson escaped by swim- ming the river at Green Bank, and was shot and killed later at Cedar Creek. Tra- dition says that Mulliner was captured at Columbia, court-martialed in short order and hanged from a limb of one of the old buttonwood trees on the bank of the river, which have since been monu- OLD BUTTONWOODS. ments of this exciting event. Another story is that Mulliner was captured, tried as a spy and disloyal person at Wood- bury and hanged there, and that two other spies were strung up with but little
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
ceremony from one of the limbs of the three old buttonwood trees. However this may be, his grave may still be seen not far from these old trees on a knoll
just back from the river. For many years a fence inclosed it, and the inci- dent has been an inspiration to many a school boy who has been led to shun the fate of this heartless refugee.
What in the days of the Revolution was the old Aylesford Mansion, or home of the owner of this estate, still stands on its original site on the shore of Nesco pond, the oldest, most histor- ical and interesting structure in the vil- lage. Large shade trees shade the lawn opposite the mill, and from the spacious THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH. porch a beautiful view is presented of the pond and the village. This mansion was the American home of Kate Aylesford, the heroine of Charles Peterson's pop- ular novel celebrating local history and Revolutionary events. She was married in the historical Episcopal Church, on Second street above Market, Philadelphia. in the presence of Gen. Washington, to Major Gor- don, who was in command of the battalion of patriot troops stationed at Sweetwater, and who had rendered her invaluable services when in peril. For some years it has served as the residence for the manager of the paper mill, which together with the Aylesford Man- sion is now owned by Mrs. L. M. Cresse, of Ocean City.
A STATE SENATOR'S HOME.
Walker's Forge.
S ITUATED on South river. in Weymouth township, three miles from Mays Landing, was founded by Lewis M. Walker, about 1816. Walker was born in Oley township, Berks County, Pa., August 16, 1791. He came to New Jersey in 1811, and became one of the first superintendents for Joseph Ball and others of the Weymouth iron works. When he resigned to establish a plant of his own at South River, he was succeeded by John Richards. He built a saw mill and iron forge and prospered for many years, employing in his coal- ings, mill and forges as many as one hundred hands.
married
HOUSE AT WALKER'S FORGE
He married Charlotte Pennington, of Mays Landing, who was born April 25. 1780, and died May 25, 1872. They had five children: John P., b. February 8, 1820: d. March 26, 1853, who was the first Sheriff of Atlantic County; George, who -, and was the father of Samuel. John P., and Emma: Joseph B .. who married Mary Drummond, of Freehold, and had two children, both dead: Amelia, who married Joseph Humphries, and was the mother of two children. Mary and Lewis; and Re- becca, who became the sec- ond wife of Simon Han- thorn. So far as known. John P., the son of George. is the only surviving mem- ber of the family. The es- tate is owned by him, and the fine stone house, built in more prosperous days, is his summer residence.
POND AT WALKER'S FORGE.
It is a tradition that the first iron pipes used in Philadelphia, in place of log aqueducts, were cast at Walker's Forge.
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
HOW BAKERSVILLE WAS NAMED.
Daniel, son of John Baker, a well educated and well-to-do descendant of Nantucket whalers, who settled and prospered in Cape May County in the last century, settled at Bakersville and gave the place its name in 1815. He was a surveyor and civil engineer, magistrate and executor of estates. He married Mary Babcock, of Cape May County, and lived on a place purchased of George, father of the noted Joe West. He persuaded Pardon Ryon, a Yankee peddler from Connecticut, to settle at Bakersville and start a store there, which he did and prospered. Ryon married Elizabeth, a sister of the late Israel S. Adams. Emeline Ryon, a school teacher from Connecticut, married John Barnes, the shoemaker, and that made another family in the village. William B. Adams, the blacksmith, married Rebecca Cordery, and Joseph Way, the tailor, married Cath- erine Steelman, and Bakersville became quite a village.
In those days the wood and charcoal business with New York kept many men and teams employed along the shore. Fish, oysters and clams were wonder- fully plenty in the bays, where vessels from New York were nearly always ready to buy, spot cash, from the baymen. An empty basket run to the topmost peak was the signal to the bay men to come alongside with what they had to sell. There was plenty of money and prosperity in every home in the township.
Daniel Baker, for many years was one of the Lay Judges of Atlantic County. He was a particular friend of Dr. Jonathan Pitney, and was with him one of the commissioners to divide Atlantic from Gloucester County, in 1837. It was Daniel Baker who suggested and insisted that the name of the new county be called Atlantic, after the ocean on which it borders. Mr. Baker was the father of eleven children: John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Huldah, Jeremiah, Daniel. James, Mary, Frazier, and Hannah Ann C. Baker. The last, who is the widow of the late Captain Barton Frink, is the only survivor of the family.
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