The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 117

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

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" Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high, Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye, Low lies that bouse where nut-brown draughte inspired, Where gray-heard wirth and smiling toil retired ;

Where village statesmen talked with looks profound, And newe much older than their ale went round."

The houses these villagers occupied when living have all passed away, but the resting-place of their dead remains. They established a grave-yard on the hill, near by, which has been kept up to the present time and is reasonably well preserved. It was formerly called Wallan's grave-yard, but is now better known as Powell's. The descendants of the Arthur Powell mentioned heretofore en- larged the ground and put the yard in good con- dition. Interments are yet occasionally made by families whose ancestors had once resided at Up- ton.

CHEWS LANDING is on the north branch of Tim- ber Creek, now the head of tide-water navigation on that stream. By direct turnpike from Camden it is distant nine miles. Though antedating the Revolution, and being at one time a place of con- siderable importance as a shipping point, the place has never grown beyond the proportions of a strag- gling village. There are two churches, several stores and about thirty dwellings. The name of the place was derived from Jeremiah Chew, who was a descendant of the Thomas Chew living at Upton. He made some of the first improvements, including a wharf, or landing, for the flat-boats plying between this point and Philadelphia, and opened the first tavern. A part of this house is still standing on the hill, which is also one of the original buildings Before the Revolution, Aaron Chew, the only son of Jeremiah, became the owner of the former building. It was kept as a tavern, in 1780, by John Hedger, and John Lewis had charge of the landing.

An Incident of the Revolution .- A few years be- fore, this it was the scene of a stirring incident. Aaron Chew and a number of his neighbors had espoused the patriot cause, and, being in the neighborhood of their homes, made a visit to their friends. Their presence was reported to the British who dispatched a party of dragoons to capture them. They surrounded the tavern, where Aaron Chew and some of his companions were, firing a number of bullets into the building, some of which are yet imbedded in the cedar logs, of which its walls are constructed. The inmates took refuge in the cellar of the house, and, thinking they had a favorable opportunity to escape, Aaron Chew and Josiah Albertson attempted to run across a small field into the woods, but were seized as they were passing over the fence. The latter eluded his cap- tors, but Chew was taken to New York and was confiued as a prisoner on Long Island. In 1780 he was at New Lott, on parole, but being a high- spirited man and chafing under the restraint those in charge placed upon him, resented some of the indignities to which he was subjected. This caused him to be reported to the commandant, who wrote him the following letter :

"NEW YORK, August 15, 1780. " Sir :

" Complaint 18 brought against you from your Landlord, that you have ahused him and his wife. I hope you will be careful to cou- duct yourself in such a manner as becomes a prisoner, and that you will not give your Landlord any further cause of calling at this office to remonstrate against you, which will prevent any further tronble.

"I am, sir, your hnmhle servant,

"JOHN WINSLOW, D. Com. Prisoners.

" Lieut. Aaron Chew, Prisoner or parole at New Lott, Long Island."

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THE TOWNSHIP OF GLOUCESTER.

Not long after, Chew was allowed to return home, in good health, and survived the war a num- ber of years. But he was always outspoken in his hostility towards the British and rejoiced that he could live to see his country independent and prosperous. He died in 1805 at the age of fifty- four years and is interred in St. John's burial- ground.

His son Aaron was the father of Samuel P. Chew, who was born in this village August 19, 1816. He was carefully educated, studied law, but adopted surveying as his profession. On account of his poor health his work was confined princi- pally to his own neighborhood, where it gave good satisfaction, as he was careful and methodical. His delicate constitution predisposed him to con- sumption, which ended his life October 13, 1875. As he had no sons, he was the last male member of the Chew family in this part of the county.

Hannah, a daughter of Lieutenant Aaron Chew, the Revolutionary soldier, was married to George Hand, of Wilmington, Del., but becoming a wid- ow, had for her second husband John Clement, of Haddonfield.

The elder Chews were in business at Chews Landing, and had, as early neighbors and business contemporaries, Christopher Sickler and family. He lived at the upper bridge, where his son Chris- topher was born in 1774. After attaining man- hood the latter built the house now at that place and also conducted a store there for some time. Of his sons, John R., born September 20, 1800, became a physician and later the editor of a Cam- den paper. Jazer and Joshua, his brothers, engaged in business at Chews Landing. The latter began merchandising near the centre of the village in 1839, selling out to Jazer Sickler and began hotel- keeping near by. This public-house is still con- tinued, but the old Chew tavern was converted into a residence about forty years ago.

In 1855, Joshua Sickler opened another store and was appointed postmaster, continuing in busi- ness until 1882, when his son, Edward P., succeed- ed him, being the present postmaster.

Near the old Chew tavern the North family has - been engaged in merchandising the past fifty years, John North, Sr., being the postmaster from 1872 until his death in 1885.

Chews Landing lost its importance as a shipping point after the country was cleared up and there was no longer any wood or lumber for market, but an occasional barge still lands here, loaded with coal or manure from Philadelphia. The filling up of the stream has lessened the flow of the tide, which is now no more than four feet at the highest. Be-

fore the building of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad all the eastern section of the township and much of Waterford shipped their heavy pro- duce from the Landing. Several wharves were maintained, and in addition to this shipping inter- est, boat-building was carried on, principally by John North, Joseph Wolohon and Edmund Brewer. The latter built a boat of about three hundred tons capacity for Samuel Merrill, all the work being done here except the rigging, which was fitted up at Philadelphia. Usually the capac- ity was from fifty to sixty tons and there was but one small mast. No boats have lately been built, and when this interest was discontinued many in- habitants removed and Chews Landing thenceforth became an ordinary country trading point.

THE VILLAGE OF BLACKWOOD, the oldest and largest village in the township, is delightfully sit- uated on the main branch of Timber Creek, eleven miles southeast from Camden and six miles north- east from Woodbury, being connected with both places by good turnpikes. It contains half a doz- en business places, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Churches, a good graded school and a number of neat residences. The village proper has about three hundred inhabitants. Including the hamlets of Mechanicsville and Good Intent, which are in the immediate locality, the popula- tion is considerably increased.

EARLY SETTLERS .- At the latter place, which is partly in Gloucester County, the first improve- ments of a husiness nature were made. In 1701 George Ward, of the town of Upton, bought a tract of two hundred and fifty acres of land of Thomas Bull, of the same place, and soon after improved the water-power, which was on this land, by erecting small mills at what is now Good Intent, the buildings being just below the present bridge. On the 16th of July, 1705, George Ward conveyed to John Royton two acres of the above tract, "together with one-half of the grist-mill and the fulling-mill ; also one-half of the stream and bank-race belonging to said mills, and the houses, buildings, press, coppers and the other utensils proper and necessary to be used for carrying on the said works of grinding, fulling, dyeing and pressing." On the 18th of April, 1741, George Ward sold ninety-five acres of the aforesaid tract . of land to John Blackwood, and on the 24th of the same month, in 1752, Blackwood bought one hundred acres more, which included what is now the site of the village, which was known many years as Blackwoodtown. It is probable that Blackwood settled here about the date of the first purchase, for in 1750 he was the chief supporter

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

of and contributor to the building of the Presby- terian Church on part of his lands.

Meantime, Charles Read had become the owner of the old Ward mills, having purchased the same at sheriff's sale. In 1759 he conveyed them to John Blackwood, and some years afterward his son James became the owner of at least part of the property. Thomas Wharton subsequently owned the mills and other changes of ownership took place. In 1800 they were called Kay's Mills, and before 1820 the fulling-mill had been abandoned, the only improvements being a small saw and grist-mill.

INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS .- About this time Garrett Newkirk, of Philadelphia, became the owner of the property, and in 1829 erected the first Good Intent cloth-mill, which was gotten in operation the following year. Jonas Livermore was placed in charge of the weaving department and also started the first circular-saw mill a year or so later. The factory building was three stories high, forty by sixty feet, and the mill was operated npon satinets. Some time before 1840 it was de- stroyed by fire, but was at once rebuilt in much the same form as at first. About eight years later it was again burned down, when, after a brief per- iod, it was erected in the form that it now appears. The main building is sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, one story high, and is a stone struc- ture. The finishing-house is thirty by one hun- dred feet and two stories high.

The plant also embraces a flouring mill and twenty-two tenements. The property is owned by a company in which Jonas Livermore has a one- fourth interest, his associates living outside of the county.

Since the war of 1861-65 the works have been operated, under leases, by a number of parties, in the manufacture of woolen goods, oil-cloths and last upon horse-blankets. All but the grist-mill have been inoperative the past few years, and, in consequence, many of the former employees have removed, and the place has lost its busy aspect.

OLD HOTELS :- At the centre of the village of Blackwood, opposite the grave-yard, is the oldest building in the place, which has, since its erection before the Revolution, been used as a public-house. In 1790, Samnel Blackwood sold it to Samnel Cheeseman ; and nine years after, the latter con- veyed it to Robert Chew. At this time John Sharp, Richard Cheeseman, Samnel Strong and John Morgan appear to have been the owners of the contignous property, embracing, in the main, the village as it then was. Richard Tice, David Eldridge, John Jones, John Wilkins and David

Morgan were successive landlords before 1831, when Edward Middleton took charge of the place. His son-in-law, Uriah Norcross, then established a line of daily stages to Camden, since which period the village has had a slow and nneventful growth, but each year making a little advancement.

NORCROSS STAGE LINES .-- The stage lines estab- lished by Norcross were not confined to the county. He had a line from Philadelphia to Cape May, and interests in lines to the south, the east and the west. Having his headquarters at Blackwood, it was, in consequence a busy place, as he had large stables of horses, numbering at times more than thirty. In the course of years an opposition line was established, from the "village to Camden," which the old driver regarded as an encroachment upon his rights, and determined to resent at any cost. The fare was reduced to a merely nominal sum, runners were employed to solicit patronage and the stages once started, reckless driving was indulged in. It was no unnsnal thing for Nor- cross to fasten a large brush, formed out of the branches of cedar trees, to the rear of one of his vehicles, and then dash ahead of his rival, giving him the full benefit of all the dust, and often en- abling the indomitable Jehn to come in first at the finish. Collisions were frequent, and, in con- sequence, many cases of litigation ensued, which' caused some diversion in the courts of that day.

A well-equipped line of stages to Camden is still maintained, and a daily line is also run to Wood- bnry. Some of the Middletons returned to Phila- delphia, where Edward P. Middleton amassed great wealth. He died, April 1, 1869, and was buried at Blackwood, where a very elegant and costly monument was erected to his memory, and a mar- ble tomb placed over his grave.

In 1845 George Cheeseman built a brick house, in the southern part of the village, which was kept some years by him and Charles Sharp as a temper- ance hotel. In 1852 it was converted into a board- ing school, which was successfully carried on by Professors Hinds, Stratton, Bngbee and Hamilton, each having the principalship several years. The attendance was nsually good and embraced among the students several young men from Cuba. In 1872 a public school was kept there a short time, when the house was remodeled, and is now the residence of Richard Stevenson.

STORES .- Opposite the old tavern is an old store standing, where a number of persons have been engaged in trade, including Arthur Brown, Edward Turner, Richard and Joseph Williams and Joseph and Josiah Wood. David Lamb opened another store which was destroyed hy fire. A third store

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THE TOWNSHIP OF GLOUCESTER.

was opened by Arthur Brown, near the present Samuel Hagerman stand. The latter is a large, new store, well appointed and fully stocked. A fourth store was opened by Thomas Ashburner, in the building which had been erected as a hall by the Sons of Temperance, where Edgar J. Coles is at present in trade.

A complete list of the physicians who practiced at Chews Landing and Blackwood may be found in the general medical chapter. At Blackwood, Doctor Henry E. Branin has been a physician of successful and extensive practice since 1858, hav- ing as his contemporary, at this time, Doctor Joseph E. Huoff.

MECHANICSVILLE is on the Camden turnpike, a mile from Blackwood, and contains fifteen houses. There were formerly several small stores, and a few mechanic shops are yet maintained, from which circumstance the hamlet took its name. Its situa- tion between Blackwood and Chews Landing is unfavorable to its becoming a business point.

CHURCHES.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT BLACKWOOD.1 -The early history of the Presbyterian congrega- tion of this village is somewhat obscure, but judging from a minute in the records of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, at its session held in Philadelphia, November 7, 1750, it must have been in existence at that date, as a call was then extended to Benjamin Chestnut to become the pastor, in connection with the congregations at Penn's Neck and Woodbury. He had been received by the Presbytery the preceding year and was the first minister whose pastoral connection with these churches is recorded. But there are no means to determine who composed the Congregation at the head of Timber Creek, nor is it known where the first meetings were held. On the 22d of May, 1751, Mr. Chestnut formally accepted the call which had been extended to him, and, on the 3d of July, the same year, was ordained to the ministry.

In the mean time the people of this place felt the necessity of having a house of worship and "pro- posed to use their joint endeavors to erect a house or Presbyterian Church for public worship in some convenient place," and accordingly obtained from John Blackwood, October 18, 1751, one month after Mr. Chestnut's ordination, one acre of land, upon which to build the house, this acre being a part of the present burial-ground. Mr. Blackwood being a Scotchman and a stanch Presbyterian, was foremost in this good work. He gave the people the lot for a merely nominal consideration,

two shillings and sixpence, and undertook the work of building the church. The trustees were Michael Fisher, Esq., Joseph Hedger, Peter Cheesman, John McColloch, Lazarus Pine and Henry Thorne. The people subscribed toward the enterprise, but some were slow to pay their subscriptions (a fault not confined to those early days), as we learn from the records of Presbytery that "Mr. John Black- wood, of the congregation of Timber Creek, repre- sented to the Presbytery," May 12, 1756, nearly five years afterward, "that being employed by the said congregation to carry on the work of building their meeting-honse, he has suffered much in his worldly interest by the refusal of many persons to pay their subscriptions for that purpose, and having no way to be relieved in that case, requested the assistance of the Presbytery. Presbytery therefore recommended to the congregation of Timber Creek to consider Mr. Blackwood's case, and by their subscriptions, or otherwise, to help make up his loss according to their ability, and especially as said meeting-house is for the public use of the society, and erected at their desire; and the Pres- bytery does appoint Mr. Lawrence to preach there on Thursday next and endeavor to inculcate the same."

This action of the Presbytery, in appointing Mr. Lawrence to preach, was made necessary on ac- count of Mr. Chestnut's leaving the congregation, in 1753. Soon after he began his ministry here trouble arose between him and some of the mem- bers, which caused the Presbytery to dismiss him, at his request, May 17, 1753. He continued to supply the congregation a few months after this, but, in November 1753, removed to New Prov- idence, where he remained a period of fourteen years.

During this time the congregations were supplied with preaching a few Sabbaths each year by Mes- srs. Greenman, Lawrence, Hunter, Marten, Ram- sey, Beatty, Williams and John Brainerd. In Oc- tober, 1766, an unsuccessful effort was made to se- cure the latter as pastor, and the following year Benjamin Chestnut moved to Blackwood and be- gan supplying the pulpits of that church and those of Long-a-Coming and Woodbury. A few years later a difficulty arose with the congregation at Woodbury on account of the congregations not having separate church organizations, which be- came a matter of consideration for the Presbytery, November 7, 1769, on the petition of the following thirty-three members of the congregation at Tim- ber Creek : Lazarus Pine, Peter Cheesman, Samuel Perce, Randal Morgan, Isaac Flaningam, David Morgan, Richard Cheesman, Richard Cheesman,

1 Compiled from sketches by Bev. F. R. Brace and Dr. Everitt.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Jr., John Walling, Uriah Cheesman, Christopher Sickler, John Hedger, Jonathan Wilkins, Peter String, Richard Chessman, younger, Richard Smallwood, Israel Williams, John Williams, Rob- ert Maffat, William Jolly, Randal Marshall, Thom- as Nightingale, Patrick Flaningam, Isaac Dilkes, George Morgan, Abraham Morgan, Benjamin Brown, John Rodgers, James Perce, William Perce, Jacob Burch, Samuel Wild and William Kidd.

In answer to which, Presbytery could only say that as there were no commissioners from Wood- bury, and the minutes of the committee appointed to settle the matter were not present, they would defer it to their next meeting. The whole differ- ence was afterwards amicably adjusted by the two congregations on the following basis :

"1st. That the congregations at the head of Timber Creek and Woodbury he considered as separate congregations under the pastoral care of one minister.

" 2d. That Timber Creek and Woodbury, though separate congregations, have but one session.

"3d. That each congregation choose their own officers and keep separate subscriptions, and have equal service of the ministerial labors of their minister.

"4th. That the parsonage entirely belong to the congregation at the head of Timber Creek, and what money Woodbury people have given or may give towards the parsonage land or building a house thereon, shall be repaid by the Timher Creek people again when Woodbury people shall purchase a parsonage or build a house."

This was in November, 1770.

The parsonage property was sold by David Morgan to Michael Fisher, Esq., David Roe, Laz- arns Pine, Peter Cheesman, Randal W. Morgan, Samuel Blackwood and Abraham Roe, October 18, 1765, for the sum of one hundred and sixty-five pounds proclamation money, "under this trust and confidence, that these men shall and will from time to time, and at all times hereafter, permit and suffer the Ministers and Elders of the Presbyterian Church of Timber Creek, to receive and take the . rents, issues and profits of the said estate, to and for the use, support and maintenance of such min- ister, who shall be duly approved of and appointed by the First Presbytery of Philadelphia; and also to sell and convey the same."

Mr. Chestnut lived in the parsonage until his death, July 21, 1775, when he was interred in the grave-yard connected with the church. In 1851 the congregation at Blackwood erected a plain tomb-stone over his grave, which has since mark-

ed his resting-place. His later labors were more successful than the first, and it is said that the whole region was under Presbyterian influence.

After Mr. Chestnut's death, dark days of adver- sity overtook the church. Most of the male mem- bers left their homes to engage in the patriotic struggle of the Revolution, and no doubt many of them laid down their lives in defense of the glor - ious principles of liberty for which the people fought.

Dr. Everitt writes : " In 1776 John Brainerd preached on the text : 'Blessed be the Lord, my strength, which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight!' He appealed to the people to enlist and fight for their country. His congrega- tion was deeply impressed. Tears flowed freely. Stout hearts and strong wills that day resolved to join the American army. Randal Morgan and his two sons, Lazarus Pine and his sons, John Hedger, David Morgan, Richard Cheeseman and his son all served in the war, and others no doubt enlisted."

The ministers who occasionally supplied the church from 1775 to 1786 were Messrs. Grier, Ea- kin, Hunter, Greenman, Duffield and Dr. Sproat, giving the people two or three services on Sab- baths between the semi-annual sessions of Pres- bytery ; and this was all that could be furnished to keep alive the congregation in this place.

" By the end of the war there was a sad decline in the church. Lazarus Pine, of all the leading men, was alone left to look after its interests. No new members had been received and the church build- ing had become dilapidated. The old church was without windows and doors and served as a play- house for boys by day and a stable for sheep at night. The tavern on the opposite corner fur- nished, at times, a drunken rabble that held fiend- ish orgies about the holy ground, and the burial- place of our fathers was rooted over by swine and pastured over by drovers' herds. The communi- ty had sunken to a very low depth of degradation, and drunkenness, rioting, profanity and debasing sports abounded. As an instance of the state of the morals at that time, it is said that a sleighing party was holding a midnight danee at a tavern in the neighborhood, when one of their number fell down dead. His comrades stopped their revels only long enough to remove the corpse to the side of the room and cover it up with a blanket, aud then went on with their carousals."

Mr. Hunter, who also served as a chaplain in the Continental army, preached at Blackwood more frequently than any other supply, continuing until 1797, when he removed from this part of the

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THE TOWNSHIP OF GLOUCESTER.

State. In the spring of 1799, Thomas Picton was called by the foregoing congregations, and was ordained to the ministry June 13th of that year. On the 4th of June, 1801, a meeting of the session of elders was held at Blackwoodtown (the records for the first time calling the church by that name), and church work was again practically hegun. Charles Ogden was present as the ruling Elder, having been ordained to that office Novem- ber 20, 1799. He served in that capacity until his death, in 1824. On the 12th of September, that year, Henry Roe and William Tatum were or- dained elders, the former only serving any length of time.

Mr. Picton labored in this field until 1804, when, on account of inadequate support, he requested the Presbytery to release him from his charge. The congregation was cited to show cause why this should not be done, and on November 12th, at an adjourned meeting, the commissioners of the united congregations declared that they were not able to give Mr. Picton the support he deserved, and so were obliged to acquiesce, though with regret, to the dissolution ; whereupon the relation was dis- solved.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 117

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