The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 110

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

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Of the other daughters of Francis Collins by the first wife, Rebecca married Thomas Briant,

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Priscilla became the wife of John Hugg and set- tled on Timber Creek, near Gloucester, Margaret married Elias Hugg and Elizabeth married Josiah Southwick. Joseph, the only son by the first wife, became the owner of the homestead by convey- ance, and died in 1741, leaving a son Benjamin and daughters Sarah (married to Simon Ellis), Catherine (married Thomas Ellis) and Rebecca (married to Samuel Clement). Benjamin was a carpenter and resided in Haddonfield and died in 1756. A part of the Mountwell tract was conveyed to him by his father, who, in 1735, conveyed the remainder of the estate, now in the village of Haddonfield, to Samuel and Rebecca Clement.

John Haddon was a Friend and a resident of the parish of St. George, in the county of Surrey, England, a suburb of London, on the east side of the Thames. He was a blacksmith and made anchors. By his industry and economy he ac- cumulated a large estate and hecame interested in the little colony forming in New Jersey. He purchased, in 1695 or 1696, a right of propriety of Richard Mathews, and in 1698 bought of Thomas Willis, son of John, a tract of five hundred acres lying on the north side of Coopers Creek, embracing Coles Landing, two miles below Haddonfield, which was located 26th of Sixth Month, 1686, by John Willis, which was resurveyed for John Estaugh, attorney for John Haddon, 6th of Twelfth Month, 1707. He also purchased a large tract now lying in the townships of Delaware and Waterford, which is marked on Sharp's map as containing eight hnn- dred and thirty-eight acres and known as "King's land." Two hundred acres of this tract was sold, in 1717, to William Matlock, and subsequently passed to Richard M. Cooper, and is now owned by his son, Alexander Cooper.

John Haddon had two daughters-Sarah and Elizabeth. The former married Benjamin Hop- kins and settled at home. Elizabeth Haddon, however, when nineteen years of age, and in 1701, left her home and friends and came to New Jer- sey with power of attorney from her father to be- come his agent in the location, purchase and sale of lands. Francis Collins, a friend of her father, who lived at Mountwell, extended to her the hos- pitalities of his home. To reach his residence she went to Philadelphia, crossed the river at Daniel Cooper's Ferry (now Camden) and passed the Wil- lis place, which was to be her future home. It is evident from Thomas Sharp's map that John Wil- lis had erected a house on the tract, as one is there marked. This house stood at Coles Landing, on the brow of a hill near Coopers Creek, to which she moved in 1701, and gave the place the name

of Haddonfield. Before her departure for this country, and at her father's home, she formed the acquaintance of a young man, John Estaugh, who was then attracting considerable notice as a public speaker among the Friends. He was born at Kelve- don, about fifty miles northeast from London, Sec- ond Month 23, 1676, and when young embraced the principles of the Friends and was admitted to the ministry when eighteen years of age.

In September, 1700, he was permitted to come to America on a religious visit, and was accompan- ied by John Richardson. They traveled together through Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania and met at Philadelphia Elizabeth Haddon at the home of her friends, before she removed to her place at Coles Landing, when the acquaintance formed at home was renewed. She made preparations to occupy her new home, and doubtless enlarged and improved the honse in accordance with her means, while John Estangh, feeling it to be his duty, requested of the Meeting permission to go back to Virginia, which was granted, and he spent some time in that province.

It is probable that John Estaugh ministered to the Friends at Newton Meeting, and his previous acquaintance with Elizabeth Haddon, led him to accept the hospitality of her home, when the as- sociation of home and friends in England brought to them many subjects of conversation. It is evident, from subsequent events, that threads of a more subtle power were slowly and gradually winding round him, which impelled him to return to this region, a captive; and, although romance says he was slow in accepting his bonds, he was aided by the fair damsel, Elizabeth Haddon, as beautifully told by the poet, Longfellow, in the story of John Alden and Priscilla, the story told by Longfellow in " Aftermath," and by Mrs. Lydia Maria Child. Whatever the manner of the courtship, the mar- riage was celebrated on the 1st of the Eighth Month, 1702, at her residence, in the presence of friends and other invited guests. Soon after this event John Estaugh became the attorney of John Haddon, and took charge of his landed interest in New Jersey, which at this time required much time. He also became agent for the Pennsylvania Land Company of London. In 1713 a brick house was built on the Richard Mathews survey, a short distance from the site of the village of Haddon- field, where Samuel Wood now resides, and the new place called "New Haddonfield." The house was larger and much more conveniently arranged, than the first, and better suited to the wealth of the occupants, whose house was open to all. The brick wall now standing is part of that which

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THE TOWNSHIP OF HADDON.

surrounded the garden, and the large yew-tree in front of the present mansion is said to have been transplanted by Elizabeth Estaugh. The house was destroyed by fire the morning of April 19, 1842.

The father of Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh made a deed of gift to John and Elizabeth, in 1722, of all the Mathews' survey. Johu Haddon died the next year, 1723, aud left his estate to his children, Benjamin and Sarah Hopkins, and Jobn and Elizabeth Estaugh, his wife having died the year

and Sarah Hopkins were John E. Haddon, Eben- ezer, Elizabeth E., Sarah, Mary and Ann. Ebenezer settled near Haddonfield, on Coopers Creek. His brother, John E., succeeded him, and left the es- tate to his son, William E. Hopkins, who, in 1795, married Ann, daughter of Griffith Morgan. A dam was built on the run that traversed the tract, and a grist-mill was built in 1789, which has long since been out of use. The property is now in possession of the widow of John E. Hopkins, who was the son of William E. Hopkins.

THE ESTAUGH HOUSE.

before. John Estaugh was a writer of considerable ability, as in 1744 his writings were printed by Benjamin Franklin. He was also skilled in chemistry and medicine. While on a religious visit to Tortula, in the West Indies, in 1742, he died, and his remains were placed in a brick tomb, which has long since gone to decay. His wife survived him twenty years, and died March 30, . 1762, in the eightieth year of her age. She left no children, but adopted Ebenezer Hopkins, a son of her sister Sarah, who came to this country, was educated by, and resided with, Elizabeth Estaugh. He married and settled on a tract of land fronting on Coopers Creek, which his aunt conveyed to him in 1752, known as the " Ann Burr " farm. He died in 1757, and left a wife and seven children, all of whom married in this region, and Elizabeth Estaugh left the bulk of her estate to the children of her nephew, Ebenezer.

About 1799 the tract on which Elizabeth Es- taugh first settled passed to Job Coles, in whose family it still in part remains, and is now owned by Jacob Stokes Coles. The children of Ebenezer

John Gill was the cousin of Elizabeth Estaugh, and came to this country under her patronage, soon after her arrival, as in 1709 he was appointed administrator of an estate in Newton township. After the death of John Estaugh he became ad- viser and manager of her estate. In 1714 John Haddon conveyed to him a tract of land contain- ing two hundred and thirty acres in Waterford and Delaware townships, where he is said to have lived. He next resided in Waterford township, at the place where the King's road crossed Coopers Creek, and near the place which, after 1715, and to the present time, is known as Axford's Landing. In 1728 John Estaugh deeded to him two tracts of land, one of which, containing eighty-seven acres, was in Haddonfield. It was on the west side of the King's road, and extended from Coopers Creek to the Methodist Church. In 1732 three other lots were deeded in Haddonfield, the largest of which joined the other land on the southwest, and is about equally divided by Grove Street. The next is now owned by the estates of Rennels Fowler and the devisees of John Clement. The third lot passed to his

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

daughter Hannah, who married Thomas Redman, on which the old Redman mansion formerly stood. Part of this estate remains in the family, and is now owned by the devisees of John Gill, a descend- ant of the emigrant by that name, who is lately decensed. John Gill emme into Newton township to reside about 1722, and lived on the site of the present Gill mansion, and it was on this land that. elections were sometimes held. In 1740 he was selected as attorney for the heirs-at-law of Joseph Elkinten, and went to England to proseente their claim. This occupied his time for several years, and he died in London about 1748. In 1746 he bought of John Cox, also of London, a traet of land on the south side of the south branch of Coopers Creek, about two miles from Haddon- field, and the next year deeded it to his son John, part of which is still in the family and the name.

The Hinchmans were very early settlers in the township, as May 18, 1699, John Hugg and Pris- cilla Collins, his wife, sold to John Hinchman, of Long Island, one thousand acres of land in New- ton township, which extended from near the head of Newton Creek northeasterly toward Haddon- field. His honse stood on the north side of the stream, near where the Hurley house now stands. He died in 1721, and John, his son, settled on part of the homestend, now mostly owned by the Wil- lits family. Joseph Hinchman, also a son, settled on part of the estate, and died in 1731. James, also a son, lived on part formerly owned by James S. Hurley. He died in 1750. In 1738 he was appointed one of the judges of the courts of Glou- cestor County. ITis sons intermarried with the Thornes, the Harrisons, the Kaighus, the Smiths and the Bisphams, and their descendants are seat- tered and numerous. Joseph Hinchman, a brother of John, the first of the name to settle in this county, came from Flushing, L. L., in 1708, and purchased a part of his brother's estate. His house stood on the west side of the King's road. Ho died about 1737, and left several children, of whom Thomas, the son, married Sarah Clement, and in- herited the estate. He died in 1758, and his prop- erty passed to his son Josoph, who was born Fob- ruary 18, 1751, in tho old log enbin. The new house was in process of erection when his father died, and is now, after the lapse of more than a hundred years, still used, and is the residence of William C. Hinchman.

The Albertsons were represented in Newton township first by William Albertson, who, May 2, 1682, located a tract of land in Newton township, between the south and middle branch of Newton Creek, and to the junction of the said branches, bo-

low the land of William Bates. In 1685 he was a member of the Legislature. In 1692 he purchased a large tract in Gloucester township, where a branch of the family still reside. He resided thore but a short time, and moved to Byberry, Pa., and finally to Bucks County, where he died about 1709. In 1698 he deeded the homestead farm in Newton to his son William, who lived upon it until his death, in 1720. He erected a brick house, which is still standing ; a deer park, which covered many aeres, was laid out and surrounded by a ditch and bank, which may yet be seen. A race-course also was upon the place. The land passed through four generations of the name to a daughter, Sarah, who married David Henry, in whose descendants a part of the estates is still vested.

Henry Stacy, who lived in Newton township only a few years, came to or near Burlington, soon after 1678, with his father and his wife. In 1688 he located four hundred and ninety acres of land near the head of the middle brauch of Newton Creek, east of the Grayburys' land, and the same year returned te England, where he died in 1689. HIe left the real estato to his children. It was divided in 1711, and the Newton tract was allotted to a daughter Sarah, the wife of Robert Mont- gomery.

In 1715 he built a house upon it, and removed from Monmouth County, where he had previously resided. The house stood at a short distance cast of the old Philadelphia and Egg Harbor road, which then crossed, Newton Creek nt Atmores Dam. This survey is now owned by Rhoda Hampton, the Websters, the Nicholsons and others.

Joshun Evans, a public Friend, resided for many years on the farm now owned by Joseph O). Cuthbert. About 18IS this farm was leased to Amos Coxo, who resided there two years, in which time several deaf mutos, with a tencher, were sent from Philadelphia and boarded with him during the summer. For several years after, the place was a resort for them, and many amusing incidents of the unfortunate are related by the old people. In 1824 the Deaf and Dumb Institu- tion of Philadelphia was chartered, and a build- ing was erected on the corner of Eleventh and Market Streets, where the Bingham House now stands, and sufficient room was obtained for com- fort.

There are many other families, who, by inter- marriage and by purchase, woro residents a century ago in what is now Haddon township, but space will not permit us to record them all here. The sketches given above embrace all of the families who settled here before 1700, and from whom the

AUTOGRAPHS OF EARLY SETTLERS OF NEW TOWNSHIP.

Rebord Jane

A first settler. Died 1694. He was one of the most prominent Newton settlers.

Thomas Pays

The surveyor and chronicler of the first set- tlers. Died 1729. Had sons Thomas, Isaac and John.

John Gill

Only son of John the emigrant. Died 1794, leaving one son, John.

gilliam AlGezon

A first settler. Died 1709. Had sons Wil- liam, Abraham, Benjamin and Josiah.

Themey GThachova

A first settler. Died 1702, and left sons, Benja- min and Thomas.

Shine Matthews

Large landed proprietor in old Newton Township. He died in 1696.

In theboll mirfall

A first settler. Died 1706. Had sons John, Samuel, Daniel, Archibald, Isaac, Joseph and James.

John Weighing

A first settler. Died 1724. Had sons John and Joseph.

Elina Estaugh

Daughter of John Haddon and wife of John Estaugh.

Juni Erugh

A minister among the Friends. He married Elizabeth Haddon. Died 1742.

Johnislik

JOHN EASTLACK, son of Francis the emigrant. Died 1736. Had sons John and Samuel.

John Hinchman

A first settler in Newton. Died 1721. Had sons John, Joseph, Jacob, James and William.

Thos flinchman

Son of Joseph the emigrant, who was brother of the above John. Died 1758, leaving one son, Joseph.

Harry Stary Stary

A first settler. Son of Robert, one of the Yorkshire Commissioners. He returned to London, and died 1689.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

land descended in large part by inheritance. There are very few land-marks left in existence to remind us of those early settlers.

THE LOST VILLAGE OF NEWTON .- The first settlers came up Newton Creek and built cabins near together, forming a small village, to which they gave the name Newton. From this the creek and the township took their names. After a little time, finding the Indians in the region peaceable, they each built houses upon their own land, and in consequence the village was soon abandoned, but is mentioned as a town by Gabriel Thomas in 1698, and by the clerk of county much later. The latter recorded a license to keep a tavern "near Newtown." In 1684 the Friends' Meeting-house was built. The village after this time become practically unknown, and its very site is lost, though it is supposed to be on the north side of the middle branch of Newton Creek, a short distance from its mouth and near the old grave-yard.

THE OLD NEWTON FRIENDS' MEETING. - Among the first Friends to settle within the pre- cincts of old Newton were William Cooper and Richard Arnold. At once Friends' Meetings were held in the house of one or the other of them. At Burlington Monthly Meeting, held Seventh Month (September) 6, 1681, it was "ordered that Friends of Pyne Poynte (Cooper's Point) have a meeting on every Fourth Day, to begin at the 2ª hour, at Richard Arnold's house." At a General Meeting held at Salem, Second Month (April) 11, 1682, it was ordered "That a six weeks' men's and women's meeting for the ordering of the affairs of the Church be kept the 24th of the 3ª Month (May), at Wm. Coopers, at Pyne Point, and the next six weeks' meeting at Shackamaxon and So in Course." It was also or- dered at the same time that a Monthly Meeting for worship be held alternately in the same way ; the first one to be at William Cooper's. Thus was established the Newton Meeting. In the spring of 1682 a few Irish Friends, who had spent the winter in Salem, moved up to and settled about Newton Creek. Thomas Sharp, one of their num- ber, in his account of their early settlement, says: "In 1684 the Friends in the vicinity of Newton, desirous of erecting a house of worship, selected a lot of land on the bank of the middle branch of Newton Creek, containing about two acres, it being on the bounds of land of Mark Newby and Thomas Thackara, which was laid out for a burial-ground, and at the west end a log meeting-house was erected." William Bates, who, it will be remembered as mentioned heretofore,

was a carpenter, also planned and executed the work.

The burying-ground was used many years, and many of the first families are at rest within its limits. It is inclosed by a brick wall, and is over- grown by low trees and vines. The first trustees of the meeting and property were Benjamin Thackara, William Cooper and William Albert- son, who continued until 1708, when they were succeeded by Thomas Sharp, John Kaighn, Joseph Cooper and John Kay. In this old meeting- house the town-meetings and elections were held for several years. A part of the Thackara estate passed to James and Joseph Sloan prior to 1790, and much trouble arose between them and the Friends in relation to boundaries of the meeting- house property. In 1811 Joseph Sloan abandoned his claim, and in 1819 James Sloan released his interest to the trustecs of the meeting. The erec- tion of other meeting-houses and the removal of Friends from the vicinity gradually withdrew in- terest in the society, and little attention was paid to the old house and grounds where the first meet- ing of Friends in Gloucester County was held, and according to Joseph Hinchman's journal, on the 22d of December, 1817, the meeting-house, around which clustered many interesting associations, was destroyed by fire, and no effort was made to re- build it.

In 1791 James Sloan, a Friend, laid out one acre of ground north of the old burying-ground, and inclosed it with a low wall. A stone with the fol- lowing inscription is placed in the wall :

"Here is no distinction, Rich and Poor meet together, The Lord is maker of them all. By James Sloan, 1791."

For many years roads were few and almost im- passable, except on horseback, and carriages and wheeled vehicles were not in use. The streams were used for travel, and all the early burials were made in Newton burying-ground. The funeral party moved from the house to the nearest stream, where they took barges and boats and floated to Newton Creek and up to the burying-ground. In the "Early Settlers of Newton," an account is given of a funeral in 1703, which is of inter- est in this connection. Esther Spicer, the wi- dow of Samuel Spicer, resided on the homestead property, in what is now Stockton township. She was killed by lightning on the 24th of Seventh Month, 1703. "The funeral occurred the night after her decease, the family and friends going in boats down Coopers Creek to the river, and by the river to Newton Creek, and thence to the Newton

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THE TOWNSHIP OF HADDON.

grave-yard, the place of interment. Each boat being provided with torches, the scene must have been picturesque indeed. To the colonist it was a sad spectacle when they saw one so much esteemed among them borne to her last resting- place. To the Indians it was a grand and impres- sive sight. Arasapha, the chief, and others of his people attended the solemn procession in their canoes, thus showing their respect for one the cause of whose death struck them with awe and reverence. The deep dark forests that stood close down to the shores of the streams almost rejected the light as it came from the burning torches of pine carried in the boats; and, as they passed under the thick foliage, a shadow was scarcely cast upon the water. The colonists in their plain and unassuming apparel, the aborigines clad in gaudy and significant robes, and the negro slaves, as oarsmen, must have presented from the shore a rare and striking picture. Here, all undesigned, was the funeral of a Friend, in which ostentation and display are always avoided, made one of the grandest pageants that the fancy could imagine, a fertile subject for the artist and well deserving an effort to portray its beauty."

Interments were made in this yard for many years, but when the Friends' Meeting was estab- lished at Haddonfield and a burial-ground there laid out, many families changed to that place.

The following is a list of the marriages of Friends who were members or who married members of the old Newton Meeting-extending from 1684 to 1719 :

1684 .- Jamce Atkinson, of Philadelphia, to Hannah Newbie widow of Mark, of Newton.

1685 .- John Ladd to Sarah Wood.

1686 .- Walter Forrest to Ann Albertson; Thomas Shable to Alice Stalles ; Samuel Tome to Rachel Wood.

1687 .- Joshua Frame, of Pennsylvania, to Abigail Bates; William Clark to Mary Heritage.

1688 .- John Hugg, son of John, to Priscilla Collins, daughter of Francis; Joseph Cooper to Lydia Riggs.

1689 .- Thomas Thackara to Hepsibah Eastlack ; Thomas Willard to Judith Wood, daughter of Henry,

1691. - John Butcher to Mary Heritage.

1692 .- Simeon Ellis to Sarah Bates, danghter of William.

1693 .- Daniel Cooper to Abigail Wood, daughter of Henry.

1695 .- Daniel Cooper to Sarah Spicer, daughter of Samuel ; Wil- liam Sharp to Jemima Eastlack, daughter of Francis ; Joseph Nich- olson, son of Samuel, to Hannah Wood, daughter of Heury ; Isaac Decon to Rachel Newbie, danghter of Mark.

1699 .- Thomas Thackara to Ann Parker, of Philadelphia.

1701 .- Joseph Bates to Mercy Clement. daughter of James.

1702 .- Jono Estaugh to Elizabeth Haddon.

1703 .- Stephen Newbie to Elizabeth Wood, danghter of Henry.

1704 .- John Mickle, son of Archibald, to Haunah Cooper, daugh- ter of William, Jr.

1705 .- Josiah Sonthwick to Elizabeth Collins, daughter of Fran- cie.

'1706 .- Joseph Brown to Mary Spicer, daughter of Samuel; Ed- ward Newbie to Hannah Chew.

1707 .- Benjamin Wood to Mary Kay, daughter of John ; Benja- min Thackara to Mary Cooper, daughter of William, Jr.

1707 .- John Hallowell, of Darby, to Elizabeth Sharp, daughter of Thomas ; Jolin Kay, son of Joho, to Sarah Langstone.

1708 .- Samnel Mickle to Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of Joseph ; Ezekiel Siddous, son of Joho, to Sarah Mickle.

1709 .- Simeon Breach to Mary Denois; John Harvey to Sarah Hasker ; Robert Braddock to Elizabeth Hancock, daughter of Tim- othy.

1710 .- Thomas Bull to Sarah Nelsoo ; William Harrison to Ann Hugg, danghter of John ; Thomas Middleton to Mercy Allen ; Jo- seph Stokes, son of Thomas, to Judith Lippincott, daughter of Free- dom ; Thomas Sharp to Catherine Hollingsham.

1711 .- Thomas Smith to Sarah Hancock, daughter of Timothy ; Jonathan Haines, son of John, to Mary Matlack, daughter of Wil- liam ; Daniel Mickle to Haunah Denois ; Samuel Dennis to Ruth Lindall; Thomas Lippincott, son of Freedom, to Mary Haines, danghter of John.

1712 .- Abraham Brown to Hannah Adams, Jr.

1714 .- Joseph Dole to Hannah Somers ; John Hugg to Elizabeth Newbie; John Cox to Lydia Cooper, daughter of Joseph.

1716 .- John Adamson to Ann Skew; Francis Richardson to Sarah Cooper ; Thomas Robinson to Sarah Lowe ; William Sharp to Mary Austin, daughter of Francis.

1717 .- Alexander Morgan, son of Griffith, to Hannah Cooper, daughter of Joseph.

1718 .- Benjamin Cooper, son of Joseph, to Rachel Mickle ; Thos. Rakestraw to" Mary Wilkinson, daughter of Thomas; Samuel Sharp to Martha Hall ; John Gill to Mary Heritage.

1719 .- John Sharp to Jane Fitchardall ; Thomas Eyere to Prie- cilla Hugg ; Joseph Gibson to Elizabeth Tindall.

SCHOOLS .- The first school in the limits of Had- don township was, without doubt, held in the old Newton Meeting-house, built in 1684, and the next was in the Haddonfield Meeting-house, built in 1722. The first authentic record of a school- house is found in a road record bearing date March, 1783, wherein mention is made of a school- house as being situated on land of William Bates. The old William Bates tract was on the south side of Newton Creek, opposite lands of Mark Newby and Thomas Thackara and the Newton Meeting-house.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 110

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