The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 104

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220

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He was a man of decided convictions, and for several years an elder in the Presbyterian Church, the obligations of which he discharged conscien- tiously and acceptably to the society. He became an active opponent of the sale and use of intoxi- cating liquors, and at a time when such sen- timents had but few advocates, and were generally unpopular. In no way discouraged, he pressed his opinions on this question on all proper occa- sions ; and, as it was shown that his precepts were no more observable than his example, and con- trolled by a disinterested and moral motive, every one admired his consistency, if they did not accept his practice. The use of liquors among his work- men was not allowed, and even during harvest he adhered to the rule, and at last convinced those employed by him that its use was not beneficial. His conversion to this belief was due to a careful and thorough study of the subject, and, as an evi- dence of his strong conviction of the harm caused by the use of liquor, it is known that he destroyed a large quantity he had in his store, believing that it would be as wrong to return it to those from whom he obtained it as to sell it himself.

In his family he was a model husband and fath- er, and while strict as to moral and religious prin- ciples, he was indulgent and lenient in a marked degree in all other matters. In politics he was a Whig, but never a politician.

Mr. Roe was married, on the 3d of February, 1825,-the ceremony being performed in Philadel- phia by Mayor Robert Wharton,-to Miss Rebecca Say Bispham, of Moorestown, who was the daugh- ter of Joseph and Susan Bispham, born in Pbila- delphia, on Market Street, between Front and Sec- ond Streets, on November 6, 1797. Mr. Roe died May 24, 1855.

The children of David and Rebecca Roe were Henry, who married Miss Clark, and is now en- gaged in farming in Missouri; Susan B., married to James Murphy, a retired Philadelphia merchant; Rebecca B., married to Charles O. Morris, of Eliz- abeth, N. J., now engaged in banking in New York; Anna R., married to Clinton Morris, of Elizabeth ; David, who now owns and resides upon the farm in Haddonfield, owned by Mr. Roe at the

time of his death. On this farm David, Jr., has resided half a century. He married Miss Ella Caldwell, of Philadelphia. Joseph B., who mar- ried Miss Mary Caldwell, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) as a physician and surgeon, and served during the Re- bellion, as a surgeon, in the Philadelphia Hospital. Like all of his brothers, he is a strong Republican, and is the only politician in the family. He has held various township offices, and represented his district in the Legislature.

SAMUEL C. ALBERTSON was born near Mount Ephraim, not far distant from where William Al- bertson, the emigrants and his ancestors settled, and within the limits of old Newton township. He was a son of Samuel and Rachel (Collins) Al- bertson, and born February 6, 1802.

He was apprenticed to Stephen Kirby, a tailor in Haddonfield, and when he attained his majority went to the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Finding the climate unhealthy, he returned to Philadelphia, and was employed by Enoch Allen until he removed to the city of New York. He was among the first to develop the ready-made clothing business in that city, which business has now grown to such large proportions. Strict atten- tion and fair dealing in the midst of a rapidly in- creasing population assured his success.

Upon the death of his brother Isaac, in 1835, he relinquished his business in New York and re- turned to Haddonfield, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He saw the increase of the metropolis in population and commerce, and in his later visits there scarcely recognized many of the places formerly so familiar to him-the march of improvement was so rapid. Although reticent about his private affairs, yet he always re- sponded liberally when charity demanded. He never married and died May 30, A.D. 1884.

FRIENDSHIP FIRE COMPANY .- On March 8, 1764, at a meeting of the male inhabitants of the town, a fire company 1 was organized. At this meeting articles of association were drawn up, the preamble of which is as follows:

"The eighth day of the third month, called March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, we whose Names are here unto subscribed, reposing Special Confidence in each other's Friendship, Do, for the Better preserving our own and our Neighbors' Houses, Goods and effects from fire, Mutually agree In Manner following, That is to say."

This is followed by ten articles which recite that each member shall provide two leather

1 The above sketch of the company was compiled from the minute- book of the company, from 1764 to 1846, now in the possession of William H. Snowden.

Samuel C. Albertson.

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THE BOROUGH OF HADDONFIELD.

buckets, marked with their name, at his own expense, and that the company shall provide six ladders and three fire-hooks. The names of mem- bers were Samuel Clement, Thomas Redman, Wil- liam Griscom, John Matlack, Jr., Isaac Kay, John Hinchman, Robert Friend Price, John Langdale, Jacob Clement, John Gill, Thomas Champion, James Davis, John Githens, Samuel Clement, Jr., Thomas Cummings, Edward Gibbs, Hugh Creigh- ton, Joseph Collins, Caspar Smith, Benjamin Hartley, Benjamin Vanleer, Thomas Redman, Jr., Thomas Edgerton, Ebenezer Hopkins, Thomas Githens and William Edgerton.

At a meeting September 6, 1764, it was agreed that the ladders of the company shall be stationed as follows: Two at John Gill's, two at the old stable and two at Samuel Clement, Jr.'s. September 5, 1765, Edward Gibbs reported the fire-hooks fin- ished, and presented his bill for fifteen shillings for the same. At a meeting May 7, 1767, John Langdale, clerk, reported that he found four of the ladders at the meeting-house, and the other two in Aspden's old loft, and that the buckets were all in good order. Joseph Collins requested his name to be "razed out," which was granted. At a meeting May 7, 1778, William Griscom reported his buckets " missing since the late fire, and are supposed to be lost."1 The company ordered them to be replaced if not found.

The members of the company in 1792 were Isaac Kay, John Gill, Edward Gibbs, Hugh Creigh- ton, Thomas Redman, Samuel Kennard, Esq., Thomas Githens, Nathaniel Clement, William Doughten, James Hartley, Jacob Cox, John Mid- dleton, John Ward, Jeremiah Elfreth, Benjamin H. Tallman, Turner Risdon, John Branson, Evan Clement, William Foster, James Davis, Samuel Clement, John Clement, Isaac Kay, John Githens and John Roberts.

New ladders were made in 1794. During the years 1795-96 no meetings were held, and a call was made for the 7th of October, 1797, which was well attended and new members admitted. On March 12, 1808, there were but ten members at the meeting; eighteen new members were admitted. Prior to this time the company met in the Friends' Meeting-house, and from this time in the school- house. A constitution was adopted on June 9, 1811, and article first provided that each member should have in his possession "two buckets and one bag, and string, consisting of three yards of

linen, at least three-quarters of a yard wide." Article seventh arranged for providing a fund for sinking wells, and the purchase of a hose and en- gine. To this constitution there were thirty-two subscribers. At a special meeting held at the Friends' Meeting-house, January 29, 1818, it was agreed that all money collected "shall be appro- priated for the express purpose of digging public wells and putting pumps in them, in such places in the town as shall be designated by the com- pany." A subscription paper was laid before the meeting for the purpose of procuring an engine by subscription. A committee was appointed to visit the citizens for the purpose and to examine and inquire the cost of a suitable engine for the town. This committee reported, at a meeting February 19th, that they had received subscriptions to the amount of four hundred and thirteen dollars, and that they had examined several engines,'and rec- ommended one of Perkins patent, which could he obtained for three hundred dollars, with a warrant for ten years, and privilege of returning within three years if not satisfactory. The committee was authorized to purchase the engine as soon as pos- sible. A committee was appointed to purchase a lot on Main Street, between the lot of Elizabeth Rowand and Jeremiah Elfreth's corner, for the purpose of erecting an engine-house. At the next meeting, March 5, 1818, reports were made that the engine was under contract to be completed April 1st, and that the Friends offered to allow the company to occupy the grounds at the end of their horse-sheds, on the east side of the street, for the purpose of erecting an engine-house. The offer was accepted, and John Roberts and Joseph Porter were appointed to build the house thereon. At this meeting it was agreed to sink three wells in the main street, fourteen feet from the line of the street,-one on the line between Rachel Hanold's and Elizabeth Hartley's (now property of Charles H. Hillman), one on the line between Sarah Day's and Samuel Champion's (now in front of the lot of George Horter), the other one to be at the small bridge below Richard Dickson's tavern, on the west side of the street. These wells are all in use and provided with suitable pumps. The one in front of Mr. Horter's was near the market-house, when that was built later, and is now covered by a flag- stone. July 18, 1818, six members were chosen as engineers, whose duty it should be to exercise the engine on the last Saturday of every month, at which time the company were to assist with their buckets. In 1828 twelve buckets were purchased, to be placed in the engine-house. In 1830 a well was ordered to be sunk on the back street. At a

1 William Griscom lived at that time in the house now Isaac A. Braddock's. It was used part of the time during the Revolution- ary War as a guard-house, and a frame building adjoining was set- on fire by the Hessians and destroyed.

618

HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

special meeting held January 16, 1841, the engine, engine-house, wells and pumps were ordered to be put in complete repair. A committee was author- ized to invite the Rowandtown Fire Company to join the company. No mention is made concerning the Rowandtown Company in later minutes, and it is presumed the invitation was not accepted. About 1846 a new fire-engine was purchased which is the one now in use.

The company kept its organization until 1851, when it was absorbed into the Haddonfield Fire Department, which was incorporated by act of Assembly dated February 21, 1851, but as the department was not organized in accordance with the provisions of the act, a supplement was passed February 7, 1854. It is evident that the depart- ment was not organized until three years later, February 21, 1857, when a meeting was held at the house of Samuel Githens, and the department was organized by the election of Richard W. Snowden, Esq., as president ; Jacob L. Rowand, secretary ; and a treasurer and a board of man- agers. It was agreed that one thousand dollars be raised by tax for the use of the department. Feb- rnary 26th a committee was appointed to make inquiries as to the best method to procure an abundant supply of water, to ascertain cost of hose, branch-pipes and other fixtures, and to have the public pumps of the town put in good repair, to procure hooks, chains, ladders, hose-carriage and suitable building in which to keep the supply of the department. March 7, 1857, a committee was directed to purchase a suction-engine and three hundred feet of copper-riveted hose. February 15, 1858, the managers recommended to the depart- ment to raise by tax three hundred dollars for the purpose of erecting a new engine-house and for other purposes. The board of managers made an annual report March 5, 1858, in which they state that there were five wells, six feet in diameter and twenty-seven feet in depth, and the old wells put in repair ; fire-engine repaired, three hundred and ten feet of hose, and necessary connections and branch-pipes, a set of new ladders, fire-hooks, chains, and a hook-and-ladder cart, and a house on the town lot voted at last town-meeting for lad- ders, etc. The board at this meeting called the attention of the department to the dilapidated condition of the engine-house, and recommended that application be made at the next town-meeting for the privilege of erecting an engine-house on the town lot next to the Friends' grave-yard, and that three hundred dollars be raised by tax for the purpose. Permission was granted, and an engine- house was built on the town lot, east of the Town

Hall, which was used until a few years since, when the present rooms were fitted for the purpose in the first floor of the Town Hall. The minutes of the department are missing from 1858 to May 1, 1872. At a meeting held on the latter date, Isaac A. Braddock, of a committee, reported the en- gine-house enlarged, and a new force-pump pur- chased for one hundred and sixty-nine dollars, which was mounted on wheels. June 9, 1874, it was reported that consent was given to dig a cistern with capacity of ten thousand gallons, and also the purchase of three hundred feet of rubber hose. On the 10th of February, 1875, proposals were made for four new wells and one cistern in the town. They were contracted for and completed May 1st following. Upon the incorporation of the borough of Haddonfield, in March, 1875, the Fire Department was placed in charge of the borough commissioners, who have kept the department in good order. The engine is available for use and supplied with hose, wells and other apparatus. The town is supplied with wells and cisterns, and the department is now under the charge of Samuel P. Hunt.

OLD TAVERNS .- The first reliable data of a tav- ern-license being granted within the limits of Had- donfield is found in the old town-book of Newton township, in which mention is made, in 1733, of Thomas Perrywebb being assessed as a tavern- keeper. He lived on the corner of Ellis and Main Streets, on the site of Clement & Giffins' store. In 1737 he was a blacksmith, and had a shop at that place. A brick building which stood on the west side of Tanner Street, near Main, owned by Eliza- heth Estaugh, was used as a tavern many years be- fore the Revolution. The house of Sarah Norris, on the site of Aaron W. Clement's house, was also used as a tavern before the Revolution. The pres- ent " American House " was built, in 1750, by Tim- othy Matlack, who purchased the property in 1732. It was sold soon after to Mathias Aspden, by whose son, Mathias, it was sold, in 1757, to Thomas Redman, who, May 1, 1777, conveyed it to Hugh Creighton, who, in 1754, was running a fulling- mill in the township. The Council of Safety and the Legislature of New Jersey met in this tavern before he became the landlord, and several times after, during that year. Creighton was " mine host". until 1790, when he sold the property to John Bur- roughs, who kept it until February 24, 1804, when he sold to Samuel Denny, who, March 28, 1805, con- veyed it to John Roberts. Denny was the landlord and continued many years. Among the landlords who have since occupied this house are Thomas A. Pearce, Samuel Githens, Theodore Humphries,

619

THE BOROUGH OF HADDONFIELD.

Samuel C. Smith, Samuel E. Shivers, Edward Brick, Steelman & Brick, John Plum and George W. Stillwell, who is the present landlord, and came into possession February 24, 1874.

The present post-office building was erected in 1777 by Edward Gibbs, for a tavern, and kept by bim during the Revolutionary War and later. In 1818 it was kept by Richard Dickson, in 1821 by Joseph C. Stafford, later by Enoch Clemens, who was also postmaster. Samuel Githens was landlord at this house before taking the American. The last to keep the house as a hotel was George Higbee. In 1873 the town and township voted " no license," since which time Haddonfield has been without liquor sold in public places, and the result proves that a town can thrive without it, despite the oft- repeated saying that the sale of whiskey gives life to a place.

. THE POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS .- The first definite knowledge of the establishment of a post-office in Haddonfield is in the fact that on the 12th of July, 1803, John Clement was appointed deputy postmaster, as then termed, by Gideon Granger, Postmaster-General of the United States. There were at that time no stage-routes through the town, and mails arrived irregularly. About 1824 a route was established between Haddonfield and Camden, on which coaches carrying mails were run twice a week. About 1828 Joseph Porter was appointed and the office was kept in his store, then on the corner of Main and Potter Streets. A route was soon after established from Philadelphia to Leeds Point. Porter was succeeded by James M. Glover, who kept store at the same place. The office next passed to Enoch Clemens, who kept tavern in the present post-office building. He was succeeded by Adrian Paul, who removed the of- fice to his store, now Clement & Giffins. Mr. Paul was succeeded by James Jobson, harness-maker, who moved the office to his shop, then in the Odd- Fellows' Hall building. He was succeeded by Alfred W. Clement in 1861, who kept the office in his store during his incumbency in office for sev- eral terms, which extended to September, 1885, with the exception of six months, when Jacob P. Fowler served as postmaster, by appointment under Andrew Johnson. Thomas Hill, the present incumbent, was appointed by President Cleveland, and removed the office to the old tavern property, where it still continues.

INCORPORATION OF HADDONFIELD .- The town was incorporated as a borough by an act of Legis- lature approved March 24, 1875.

The powers granted under this act were very limited, being confined to the election of five com-

missioners, who were vested with the powers of township officers and the right to pass and enforce ordinances to regulate and light streets, grade side- walks, take measures to suppress fires, etc. The first election was held April 6th of the same year, and the following-named persons were chosen commissioners : John H. Lippincott, Joseph F. Kay, Alfred W. Clement, Nathan Lippincott and Samuel P. Hunt. The present board is composed of Adrian C. Paul, Joseph F. Kay, Alfred W. Clement, Samuel P. Hunt and J. Morris Rob- erts.

THE HADDONFIELD LIBRARY COMPANY was organized by members of the Society of Friends on the Third Month 5, 1803. A meeting was held at the school-house on the meeting-house lot, on the date given above, in pursuance to a public notice. James Hopkins, was chosen chairman and Ste- phen M. Day secretary. A plan was proposed and considered by paragraphs and a vote of the meeting taken on each section. The preamble re- cites that the company is organized under the act of Assembly dated November 22, 1794. Article 4 declares that the trustees " shall not admit into the library any atheistical or deistical books, and as the Society of Friends advise against the reading of plays, novels and romances, for the use of this class of the members,it is further declared that in making choice of books of those denominations, care shall be taken not to admit such as are of vain, immoral or corrupting tendency."

The names of the nineteen original subscribers are Thomas Redman, Andrew Caldwell, John Blackwood, James Hurley, Joseph C. Swett, William E. Hopkins, Samuel Middleton, John Gill, Samuel W. Harrison, Jacob Middleton, Jo- seph Griffith, Josiah Matlack, Charles Collins, John Clement, Samuel Zane, Benjamin Hop- kins, Benjamin Morgan, James Hopkins, and John Roberts. The persons who soon after became subscribers were Thomas Preston, Edward Z. Collings, Jacob Stokes, John Githens, John Barton, John Branson, Matthias Kay, Robert Rowand, Dr. Bowman Hendry, Daniel Fortiner, John Burrough, Jr., John Stokes, Joseph Bates (inn-keeper), James Graysbury, Joseph Githens, Joseph Hugg, Joseph Champion, Abraham Inskeep, John Kay, Edward Collins, Wallace Lippincott, Charles French, Aaron Kay, James Hartley, Abel Nicholson, Samuel Brown, Jr., Ben- jamin Kay, Joseph Z. Collings, Samuel Hopkins, Joseph Burrough, Jr., Dr. Samuel Bloomfield, Mahlon Matlack, Samuel Ellis, Aquilla Stokes, Joshua Lippincott, Richard Snowden, David Doughten, Levi Ellis, John Est. Hopkins, Isaac

620

HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Glover, Israel Morris, Luke W. Morris, Isaac Kay and William Todd.

The shares of stock of the company were placed at eight dollars each ; the nineteen original sub- scribers took thirty-two shares. At a meeting March 8th in the same year John Clement was chosen librarian and clerk. A certificate of incor- poration was drawn up March 12th, which was filed April 4th following ; over fifty volumes were presented to the company by Andrew Caldwell, John Evans and Joshua Cresson, the last two being merchants of Philadelphia. A committee was appointed to purchase books. The library was kept and meetings held in the Friends' School- house from the date of organization until 1851. From that time until it was located in its present rooms, about 1877, it was kept at various places. It was provided in the constitution that the library should be open from 7 to 9 o'clock on each week day evening, from 3 to 5 P.M. on seventh day of every week and from 11.30 to 12.30 A.M. on every fifth day of the week. This provision has been strictly complied with. In 1817 the library had accumu- lated five hundred volumes. On the 23d of No- vember, 1854, the Haddon Institute was organized at the Grove School-house, for the purpose of es- tablishing a lecture course and literary institute. On March 17, 1855, the library company passed a resolution uniting the library with the institute. The institute was short-lived, closing in 1856, when the books were again placed under the man- agement of the original company, and so continued until the present time. In 1875 the Haddonfield Library Company was again incorporated. It at present contains over sixteen hundred volumes and the number is constantly increasing. It is now under charge of the following officers : Trustees, John H. Lippincott, Charles S. Brad- dock, Charles Rhoads, John Gill, William H. Shy- rock, Joseph G. Evans and Samuel A. Willits ; Librarian, Charles F. Redman.

THE FRIENDS IN HADDONFIELD .- The early settlement of this region of country was on the middle branch of Newton Creek, where, in 1684, a Friends' Meeting-house was built. Later, the Had- don estate, on the King's highway near Coopers Creek, became a desirable place for location, and many new-comers settled there. At the Friends' Meeting at Newton the propriety of organizing a new meeting was considered, and about 1720 a log meeting-house, larger and more comfortable than the one at Newton, was built near the King's Highway, and meetings were held there. In 1721 Elizabeth Estaugh returned to England, and pro- cured a deed from her father for one acre of land,

on which the meeting-house was built. It was deeded in trust to William Evans, Joseph Cooper, Jr., and John Cooper. In 1732 John Estaugh and Elizabeth, his wife (the Haddon property having been transferred to them), conveyed to trustees, for the use of the Society of Friends, one and a quarter acres adjoining the meeting-house lot. At that time the trustees were John Mickle, Thomas Stokes, Timothy Matlack, Constantine Wood, Joshua Lord, Joseph Tomlinson, Ephraim Tom- linson, Joseph Kaighn, John Hollinshead, Josiah Foster and William Foster. In 1763 the remain- ing trustees conveyed to John Gill, Joshua Stokes, Nathaniel Lippincott, Samuel Webster, John Glover, James Cooper, John Lord, John E. Hop- kins, John Brown, Isaac Ballinger and David Cooper, who had been appointed to receive the trust. In 1828 all the trustees last-mentioned were deceased, and Samuel Webster, as oldest son of Samuel Webster, the survivors of the trustees, continued the trust to others appointed for the same purpose. In March, 1754, the township of Newton purchased of Elizabeth Estaugh a half- acre of ground for a burial-place for the poor. This lot was found not convenient, and exchange was made with John E. Hopkins for a quarter of an acre of land adjoining the Friends' Meeting- house and burial-lot, the deed for which passed December 24, 1755. The name " Poor's Burying- Ground " after a time became objectionable, and by a vote of the town authorities March 8, 1808, the name was changed to "Strangers Burying- Ground," in obedience to a request in a memorial presented by Thomas Redman and other Friends at the Town Meeting. The plot was placed under their charge, embraced in their grounds and is at present a part thereof. In 1760 the old log meet- ing-house was removed to the opposite side of the Ferry road and a brick house, more commodious, was erected upon its site. This house was in use until 1851, when a tract of land containing about three acres, north of the meeting-house lot, was purchased and the present brick meeting-house was erected. In 1787 the brick school-house was built on the west part of the meeting-house lot and for many years it was the only school-house in the town. In it the town-meetings and elections were held for many years. A frame addition was made to it later on the west side, on which the library of the Haddonfield Association was kept many years. The old building, having been enlarged, is still in use as a dwelling and school-house.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 104

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220