The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 121

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

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and Panl H. Sickler. The latter has been a local preacher the past twenty years. The membership of the church is small, the entire number not exceeding twenty-five, and the pastoral service is in connection with churches in Gloucester County, but for many years it was joined to Tansboro' in forming a charge. A Sunday-school of sixty mem- bers has Sears W. Sickler as its superintendent. It was organized soon after the class was formed by Panl H. and John J. Sickler.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WINSLOW .- In 1840 Wm. Coffin and A. K. Hay deeded a lot of land in the village of Winslow to the Methodist Episcopal Society, who erected a small frame meeting-house thereon the same year, but before this time an organization had been effected, the first religious services being held in the school-house, on an adjoining lot. The original church building has been repaired and was en- larged by the addition of a pulpit recess. In 1886 its trustees are C. P. Westcott, H. M. Jewett, William D. Haines, William Brayman and George H. Long. Being, for a number of years, the only church in the village, the member- ship was correspondingly large, and for the past twenty years Winslow has sustained the relation of being a separate charge, the appointment at Elm being added the present year. Under this arrange- ment the Rev. Thomas Wilson was the first pastor, the Rev. Samuel S. Belleville being the present. The church has a membership of sixty-five, in- cluding probationary members, and maintains a Sunday-school which has eighty members. The proprietors of Winslow not only encouraged the building of the church, but they also set aside a fine building, which is nominally the parsonage, and contribute freely to the support of the religions work. This liberal policy has had a wholesome effect upon the morals of the community.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT ELM is a new edifice, having been erected in 1884, mainly by the efforts of the Rev. Alexander Gil- more, of the United States army, a resident of this place, assisted by J. Christie, H. L. Ferris, Charles E. Albright and others. It is a small but neat frame building, and well accommodates the congregation which occupies it. There are about thirty members, having the same ministerial ser- vice as the church at Winslow.

In the latter village a small Catholic chapel was fitted up, in 1884, by Mrs. A. D. Squires, for the accommodation of those entertaining that faith, numbering about twenty communicants. Monthly services are held by a visiting priest, the Rev. Father Von Riel, of Egg Harbor City. The

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chapel has neat surroundings. In connection with the Methodist Church at Winslow is a public cemetery, in which are interred most of the deceased who formerly lived in this part of the township.

THE GREENWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, of Blue Anchor, was incorporated January 12, 1885, with Trustees Henry Poland, William Maxwell. William Hagan, Joseph Wilson, Timothy Thomp- son and John I. Brick, to control a small cemetery which was opened near the Blue Anchor tavern. The association is non-sectarian.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ANDREW K. HAY was of German extraction, his ancestors in the maternal line being among the Hollanders who settled on the shores of the Dela- ware River before the English emigrants arrived. He was born in Massachusetts, and after receiving what education could be obtained at that time, was employed in the manufacture of window-glass, then but a limited industry in the United States. In 1829, and when quite a young man, he came to New Jersey and was engaged at the Waterford Works, then owned by Porter, Shreve & Co. He soon removed to Hammonton, then owned by Wil- liam Coffin, and, in 1832, married Ann, a daughter of the proprietor. William Coffin withdrew, and the works were managed by his son, Bodine Coffin, and his son-in-law, A. K. Hay.

Three years after the death of T. Jefferson Perce (1838), who, with William Coffin, Jr., were operat- ing the window-glass works until 1835, Andrew K. Hay purchased an interest, and, with William Cof- fin, Jr., continued the business until 1847, with the addition of Tristram Bowdle as another partner. In the last-named year Edward W. Coffin became the owner of William Coffin, Jr.'s share, and con-

tinued until 1851. In that year Andrew K. Hay, with his nephew, John B. Hay, acquired the entire interest, and the firm of Hay & Co. was in existence until the death of A. K. Hay, in 1881.

The firm kept pace with every improvement in the manufacture of glass, and enlarged the busi- ness by the addition of steam mills for grain and timber. The idea that the land in the pine bar- rens could not be made available for farming pur- poses was exploded at Winslow, where some five hundred acres were under cultivation, supplying all the hay, grain, corn, potatoes and other needs of the people about the factory in that direction.

Bottle furnaces were introduced, which increased in number with the demand for that kind of ware, and employing many other men and boys about the establishment. In 1849 he was elected a member of Congress, serving one term, but refused a second election, as his extensive business at home required his personal attention. He was offered other po- litical promotions, but always declined for the reasons before stated.

The first suggestions as to the building of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad met his approval, and the project had no more faithful supporter from the beginning to the completion. The ad- vantage it would be to his own landed estate was worth some risk, which he met as the work pro- gressed.

Andrew K. Hay was truly a self-made man. Being familiar with every detail of his business, he was never dependent on others in matters of judgment or experience. His success in life may be traced to these material points, and illustrate the benefits thus to be derived. He was popular among those he employed, and had the confidence of all who knew him. He died February 7, 1881.

THE TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE.

CHAPTER XVI.

Surface and Soil-Early Settlers and Descendants-The Huggs, Brownings, Hillmans, Hinchmans, Thornes, Glovers and later Comers-Civil History-Village of Snow Hill-Societies-Churches -Magnolia -Guinea Town-Mount Ephraim.

TOPOGRAPHY .- This township is bounded as follows : On the north, by Haddon township, from which it is separated by the south branch of New- ton Creek; on the northeast by Delaware town- ship, separated in part by a branch of Coopers Creek ; on the east and south by Gloucester town- ship; on the south and west by Deptford town- ship, in Gloucester County, being separated there- from by Great Timber Creek ; and on the west by Gloucester City.

The general surface of the township is level, though elevated in some localities to have the ap- pearance of hills, chief among which are Mount Ephraim and Irish Hill. The latter was used be- fore the era of telegraphs for signal purposes, be- ing one of a number of places in a chain of com- munication from Wilmington to New York. On Irish Hill a tall oak-tree was used as the base of a station, which was supplied with colored lights at night and shutters in daytime to communicate the news of the owners of the line. It is said to have been used chiefly by sporting men, who took this means to apprise their friends of the result of a lottery or a horse-race, often reaping large sums by reason of having the earliest news. At this place is a valuable deposit of clay, which has been only partially developed.

The soil of Centre township, generally, is a sandy loam, and, with careful cultivation, is very productive. The drainage is afforded by the boundary streams and Beaver Branch and Little Timber Creeks, both flowing into Great Timber Creek, which is a tidal stream. Valuable meadows

have been made along these streams (where the first settlements were made) by means of dykes and dams, and here are found some of the most de- sirable farms in Camden County. In some local- ities are areas of porous sand, making the soil non- productive for some crops, but the same section has been made to yield rich returns in the hands of the fruit-grower and market-gardener. Much at- tention has been directed, within late years, to those interests, and the value of the lands has been pro- portionately increased. The township has good roads, being traversed by the Blackwoodtown and White Horse turnpikes from north to south, and old highways from east to west.

EARLY SETTLEMENT, EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS .- None of the early settlers within the area now embraced in the township of Centre had more landed possessions or enjoyed greater prominence than the Huggs. At one time all the land lying between the Little Timber Creek and the main creek of that name, for a dis- tance of three miles, was owned by members of the Hugg family. The name Hugg is of Irish origin. John Hugg, one of the early settlers, came from the parish of Castle Ellis, in Ireland. He was a Friend, and, though not a partner in the enter- prises which brought many Friends to this country at that period, was yet a person of consid- erable means. His first settlement was on five hun- dred acres of land (lying at the junction of the two streams) which he purchased of Robert Zane in 1683, and a part of which he then devised to his grandson, William Hugg, who did not come into possession of it until some fifty years later. His first residence stood where the Little Timber Creek flows into Great Timber Creek. From it a view of the Delaware River was afforded, as well as much of the stream before his house. He es- tablished a landing, which had the character of a

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THE TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE.

public place for many years, and where consider- able shipping is yet done. The place where the house of Jolin Hugg stood is regarded by some antiquaries as the site of old Fort Nassau, which was built by the Dutch in 1623, when they first at- tempted a settlement on the Delaware. It is said that some pieces of Dutch brick and pottery were here found after the lapse of more than two hun- dred and forty years, which iudicated this spot as the possible site of that historical fortification. Whatever doubts may attach to such a belief, it is well known that John Hugg lived there until his death, in 1706. He had four sons, namely, John and Elias, who both married daughters of Francis Collins, Joseph and Charles being younger. They were also of adult age when John Hugg took up his home here in Centre township, as they soon after settled around him and became prominent citizens.

John Hugg, Jr., was very active in public affairs. "For six years, from 1695, he was one of the judges of the courts of Gloucester County, and, for ten years, was a member of the Governor's Council, which is evidence of his worth as a just and upright man."

From 1726 to 1730 he was sheriff of the county, which was probably his last service in a public capacity. Between 1696 and 1710 he located sev- eral tracts of land between the Great and Little Timber Creeks, extending nearly to the head of the latter and across to the former, including what was lately known as the Crispin Farm. It is believed that he resided in that locality, where he had the advantages of navigation, and a great breadth of meadow lands could be secured by building a bank along the stream to prevent their overflow by the tide. This place was called "Plain Hope," but, in 1811, when Samuel L. Howell was the owner, the name was " Marlboro' Farm," which title it retained for years.

William Crispin, an Englishman, became the owner of this place in 1846, and added to its im- provements. He was also the owner of the ad- joining farm, known as the "Parker Place," each having about two hundred acres. The meadows on these lands cause them to be among the most valuable farms in the township.

John Hugg was noted for the number of slaves he owned, many of the colored people in this town- ship having descended from those who were for- merly in his service. From all accounts he must have been a kind master, as his slaves considered it a great honor to be servants in the Hugg family. In 1709 he sold one of his negro boys (Sambo), to John Hinchman, as is elsewhere noted.

The death of John Hugg occurred in 1730 and is thus described by Smith, in his "History of New Jersey," --

" In this year died John Hugg, Esq., of Glou- cester City. He was about ten years one of the Council. Riding from home one morning, he was supposed to be taken ill about a mile from his house, when, getting off his horse, he spread his cloak on the ground to lie down on, and having put his gloves under the saddle and hung his whip through one of the rings, he turned his horse loose, which, going home, put the people upon searching, who found him in this circumstance speechless ; they carried him to his house and he died that evening."

He died respected by all who knew him, leaving to survive him a second wife and the following- named children : Mary (married to Thomas Lip- pincott), Sarah, Priscilla, Hannah, Joseph, Gabriel, John, Elias and Jacob. John died when yet young and Elias without children.

Elias Hugg, the brother of John and son of the emigrant, lived in the house occupied before him by his father and probably kept a store to supply the wants of the people of those days, whiskey and tobacco being staple commodities. As many of his customers were watermen, " his premises, no doubt, furnished the scene of many carousals among them when detained by wind and tide."

The large landed estates of the Huggs in this township, after passing to the second and third generations, eventually ceased to be owned by any of the lineal descendants of the family and for many years no male members by the name have remained in the vicinity.

In the course of years part of the original Hugg tract became the property of Isaac Browning, the youngest son of George Browning, who emigrated to this country from Holland before 1752, and who settled in what is now Stockton township. There Isaac was born, December 1, 1775, and at the time of his death lived at the mouth of Timber Creek. He had three sons and two daughters, namely : Joshua P., George Benjamin, Cooper P., Mary and Catherine. The first-named son lived on the homestead of his father several years, when he moved to Haddonfield. He was married to Amelia, a daughter of John Clement, and was an influen- tial man in the interest of public improvements: In Centre township the Brownings were progres- sive citizens and the landing on the creek is still known by their name.

In 1697 John Hillman purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land of Francis Collins, adjoining the estate of John Gill, where he set-

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

tled. His land lay on both sides of the Haddonfield road to Snow Hill, and his house stood near the present Chapman residence. As the old Egg Har- bor road passed by his house, he kept a tavern, but his place did not become noted as a resort, in the sense that attached to some of the taverns of that period, since the travel was comparatively light. A short distance below this house two roads di- verged, one going to Salem hy way of Clements Bridge, and the other towards the shore.

The soil here is light and the place was no doubt selected on account of the ease with which a clearing migbt he made, as the growth of timber in these sandy places was never very heavy.

In 1720 John Hillman devised this tract of land to his son John, who, however, settled in Glouces- ter township, near the White Horse Tavern. His son Joseph lived on the homestead some time, but in 1760, sold to Daniel Scull, of Egg Harbor. Thus, for more than a hundred years, this proper- ty has been out of the name of Hillman, and, being now thesite of the hamlet of Snow Hill, has been disposed of to many owners.

Daniel Hillman, a brother of John, who settled in Gloucester, located on a tract of one hundred acres of land which had been surveyed for William Sharp in 1701. He gradually extended his estate towards the south, while it joined the lands of the Clarks on the west, and those of the Albertsons on the cast. His house stood on what became the Howell estate and was a plain log building. In 1754 Daniel Hillman died and gave this tract to his four sons, James, John, Daniel and Joseph, who improved the same, erecting dwellings thereon. In 1734 Joseph sold his interest to Jacob Jennings, who had the same resurveyed the following year. In this purchase the greater part of the hundred acres, located in 1701, was included, and as the older members of the family had died or moved, the lands thus became the property of stran- gers. Many descendants of the Hillmans still reside in the township, but on lands not of the original estate.

It may have been noted that before the discov- ery of fertilizers, the farmers in this section soon exhausted the natural richness of their lands, which thereafter afforded them but scanty subsist- ence, making it impossible to put up good im- provements out of their earnings of the soil. The use of marl and other fertilizers has changed all these conditions.

John Hinchman, the oldest son of John Hinch- man, of Newton township, located on part of the paternal estates, now mostly owned by the Willitses and Coopers, extending from the old Salem road to

the head of Little Timber Creek, and adjoining the Jennings property. This land was part of the tract which had been conveyed to John Hinchman in 1699, by John Hugg and his wife, Priscilla, who had inherited some of the same from her father, Francis Collins.

The dwelling-house of John Hinchman was a small, hipped-roof brick building, which, in its day, had some pretension to style and comfort. Its shape has been entirely changed and it now forms a part of the modern residence of the late Charles L. Willits.

John Hinchman had a sort of a military career, having been appointed an ensign in one of the de- partments of the county in 1705. He was sheriff of the county after 1722, and in his day was quite prominent. As his second wife he married a grand- daughter of John Kay. His son, John, settled in Gloucester.

John Thorne, was a brother-in-law of John Hinchman, having married his sister Ann. He came from Flushing, N. Y., following the Hinch- mans in their migration from that State. In 1702 he purchased a tract of land of John Read- ing, lying between the south branch of Newton and Little Timber Creeks, his tract including the farms known as the "Stokes Brick Farm " and the John D. Glover Farm. By his will, made in 1768, he gave his property to his son-in-law, John Glover, in fee. The latter married his daughter, Mary. . In his day he was a man of marked influence. A few years before his death, in 1769, he removed to Haddonfield, where his widow continued to reside. His son Thomas died in 1759, leaving a daughter who was married to William Harrison. The latter owned and lived on a farm south of Mount Ephraim, known in later years as the property of Jesse W. Starr. He was a man of considerable prominence, serving as sher- iff in 1716. In this capacity he was instrumental in causing the defeat of John Kay, by ordering the election to be held at a point more favorable to Kay's opponent, Dr. Daniel Coxe.

He was buried in a small family grave-yard, near the old brick house, which was demolished some years ago.

John Glover, who lived on the John Thorne place, also came from Long Island and was a brother of William and Richard Glover. The for- mer settled in Newton township, the creek divid- ing his lands from John's. He was a bachelor and died in 1798, but much of the estate which he owned is still in the Glover name. John Glover, the husband of Mary Thorne, reared a numerous family, some having descendants who still remain

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THE TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE.

in the township. Near the residence of John T. Glover, on Newton Creek, his grandfather, John T., had a fulling-mill which descended thence to James Glover. It was abandoned many years ago.

On Little Timber Creek, in the neighborhood of Mount Ephraim, was another power, in the early history of this section, where William Eldridge put up grist and fulling-mills. In 1805 he sold this property to Hezekiah Shivers, who disposed of it to John T. Glover, whence it passed to John O. Glover. The mills were near his residence. They have been unused for a long time.

A hundred years after the general settlement of the territory now embraced in this township the principal owners were persons bearing the follow- ing names : Gill, Wilson, Brown, Chapman, Brown- ing, Atkinson, Glover, Budd, Zane, Willits, Cris- pin, Starr, Bell, Eastlack, Budd, Mather, Thackara, Clark, Kinsey, Haines, Lippincott, Kay, Davis, Strang, Rudlow, Rowand, Mickle, Webb, Brick, Harrison and Brazington. Many of these have de- scendants remaining in the township.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION .- By legislative enact- ment, November 15, 1831, all that part of the township of Gloucester contained within the fol- lowing described bounds became a new township : " Beginning at the mouth of Beaver branch where it empties into Great Timber Creek ; thence up the said creek to Clements Bridge; thence along the middle of the Evesham Road to the bridge over Coopers Creek; thence down said creek to the corner of the township of Newton ; thence by the said township of Newton and Gloucester Town to the beginning, together with all that territory known by the corporate name of the Inhabitants of Gloucestertown in the county of Gloucester, hereafter known as the township of Union."

The people in the territory described, sustained that township relation twenty-four years, when another division took place whereby the town- ship of Centre was created March 6, 1855,'as follows: " Beginning in the middle of Great Timber Creek at the mouth of the southerly branch of Little Timber Creek; thence along the middle of Little Timber Creek to a point where the old King's Highway crossed the same ; thence northerly along the highway to the southwest corner of Cedar Grove Cemetery and corner of James H. Brick's land; thence along said line and by the lands of Aaron H. Hurley, crossing the Mt. Ephraim Road to the corner of the lands of John Brick, deceased ; thence along the lands of Brick and John C. Champion and John R. Brick to New- ton Creek, on the line of Newton Township; .

thence eastwardly by Newton Creek, on the line of Union and Newton, until it strikes the line of the townships of Union and Delaware; thence up the same to Burrough's Bridge; thence on the middle of the highway and on boundary line be- tween the townships of Union and Gloucester to Clements Bridge, on the Great Timber Creek; thence down the middle of the said creek to the place of beginning."

The name of Centre was suggested by the intermediate position which the new township would occupy, with reference to Gloucester and the township of Newton, north and south of it.

Under the act authorizing the erection of the township, the first aunual town-meeting was held at the public-house at Mount Ephraim, March 14, 1855. Chalkley Glover was chosen moderator and Jehu Budd clerk.

" It was voted that the township borrow $100 to pay the current expenses; that a tax of $2.00 he levied for school purposes, for every child re- turned between the ages of five and eighteen years ; that the township be divided into two dis- tricts for the overseers of the highways."

Since 1863 the township meetings have been held at the public hall at Mount Ephraim, and the following have been the principal officers selected each year : Zebedee W. Nicholson, Chas. L. Willitts and David A. Shreve, school superin- tendents until the county superintendency was es- tablished.

Township Clerks,

1855. Jehu Budd.

1867-68. Isaac G. Eastlack.

1868. Isaac Kay. 1869. George F. Howell.

1857-60. Jebu Budd. 1870-75. George T. Hainee.

1861-63. Benj. A. Starr.

1876-78. John D. Glover, Jr.

1864-66. David A. Shreve. 1879-81. John Hutchinson.

1866. Jehu Budd. 1882-84. Wm. H. Turley.

1885-86. Jared B. Chapman.

Assessors.

1866-58. Joseph Budd. 1869. George Broadwater.

1869. John North, Jr.

1870. Joseph G. Davis.

1860. Benjamin Shivere.

1871-75. Jolin Hutchinson.

1861-62. Jehu Budd.

1876-80. George T. Haines.

1863. Isaac Brasington.

1881-82. Hiram E. Budd.

1864-65. Jehu Budd. 1883-84. Nathaniel Barton.

1866-68. Joeeph Budd Webb.

1885-86. W. H. Turley.

Collectors.

1855. Champion Goldy. 1866-68. George F. Howell.

1866-67. Joseph M. Atkinson.

1870. Joseph B. Webb.

1859-60. Simon W. Mitten.

1871-73. Henry Charman.

1861-62. John P. Curtis.

1874-81. Nathaniel Barton.

1863. Joseph M. Atkinson. 1882-84. David A. Shreve.

1864-65. Champion Goldy.

1885. Samuel Bacon.

1886. Henry Charman.

Justices of the Peace.

1855. John W. Chester. Joseph Fieh.

1856. John P. Curtie.

John W. Hay.

1856. Joseph Budd.

T. Oliver Goldsmith.

Joseph C. Zane.

Henry Charman.

Frederick Lieter.

Hiram . Budd.

Abraham Rowand.

John P. Curtie.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 121

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