The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 61

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

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ductive and easily worked farms to be found in this county. Some of the moist soils are especially adapted to the growth of straw- berries and other small fruits, and have been taken advantage of for such purposes. With constant changes as to selected varieties, seasonable care in tillage, the use of proper stimulants and a near market, he has shown what can be done in this direction, which has induced others to the same endeavor.

With seven acres under strawberries in 1883, the yield was about fifty thousand quarts, and gave employment to sixty pickers. This is the result of experiment, observation and experience, the selection of soil, of situ- ation and of other minor details needful to success. With the same attention given to other crops, like results follow : the farmer repaid and the products of the earth increased.

Ezra C. Bell is of that class of men who strive to emulate each other in a friendly way, and assemble themselves together to talk over their losses as well as their gains, who regard education as applicable to farm- ing as to mechanics, to merchandising as to the arts or to the sciences ; that, although the cold, the heat, the drought and the rains have much to do with the success in crops, yet good farming in its broadest sense, in a measure, overcomes all these, and is sure to yield its reward.

In 1856 he married Esther E., daughter of Reuben and Rachel Roberts. Their chil- dren are John H., Edwin R., Margaret C. and Caroline R. Bell. Esther deceased in 1877, and in 1883 he married Priscilla Evans, widow of Joseph B. Evans, and daughter of Zebedee and Elizabeth Haines. Like his ancestors, he adheres to the religious faith and doctrines of George Fox, and is a useful man in his day and generation. Without being a politician, he is a firm adherent to his policy of what is best for the people, and he does not avoid his duty as a good citizen, by refusing to participate in township or county affairs.

JOHN RUDDEROW was a leading agricul- turist within the present limits of Stockton township for half a century after the Revolu- tionary War. He was the great-grandson of John Rudderow, an English lawyer, crown surveyor and adherent of the Established Church. In 1680 he settled in Chester town- ship, Burlington County, N. J., on a tract of land he had located between the north and south branches of Pensaukin Creek. He was active in the affairs of the township, and was known in the colony as a man of edu- cation. He was contemporary with George Keith, and influential among his adherents in organizing St. Mary's Church at Coles- town. The great-grandson, John, was born at the old homestead February 17, 1759, but his maternal grandfather, Thomas Spicer, dying during his infancy, entailed him the "Spicer tract," where Merchantville now stands. His parents-William and Abigail (Spicer) Rudderow-removed to what was then, and for many years after, known as the "Cherry-tree Tavern," which stood by the road going from Burlington to Coopers Point, near Merchantville. John Rudderow devoted himself to agriculture, and was among the first to introduce the culture of the peach and tomato into West Jersey. In 1804 he built his residence where is now the centre of Merchantville, and resided there for many years. November 16, 1812, Governor Aaron Ogden tendered him the appointment of associate judge of the several courts of Glon- cester County, which he declined. His father had been a warden of St. Mary's Church, at Colestown, from its organization, in 1752, and was succeeded by his son John, who held the office until his death. He died May 1, 1840, leaving a large estate.

EDWARD Z. COLLINGS, one of the success- ful cranberry growers of West Jersey, is a lineal descendant of Richard Collings, who married Esther, daughter of Joseph, a grandson of Robert Zane, Joseph Zane died in 1759, and left the estate to his daughters-Esther

& Elorthings

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OLD GRAVE-YARDS.

and Rhoda ; the last-named sold her interest to Richard Collings in 1762, who then be- came the owner of the original Robert Zane survey. Richard Collings, who married Esther Zane, had by her seven children,- Abigail, Esther, Mary, Lydia, Richard, Ed- ward Z. and Joseph (who were twins). Ed- ward Z. was married to Sarah Thomas, of Philadelphia. Their children were Rebecca, who married Jonathan, father of E. C. Knight; Elizabeth, who married John Thackara, of Salem, N. J. ; Sarah, who be- came the wife of Levi Judson, of New York ; Isaac, who died young ; Edward Z. and Joseph C.

E. Z. Collings was married to Elizabeth H., daughter of Amos and Ann Cox, who was the daughter of William Zane, of Chews Landing. His family were Rachel (wife of Elwood) and Ann (wife of Charles Braddock, of Haddonfield, N. J.), Richard S. (who died in infancy) and Edward Z.

Edward Zane Collings was born in New- ton township January 16, 1837, on the old homestead property. This farm was situated on the Gloucester road, leading to Haddon- field from Gloucester, and now comprises the larger part of the tract set apart by its owner, E. C. Knight, for a park. His father died five months before his birth, and to his mother was left the care of three children. She was a woman of great force of character, and in order to keep the family together, car- ried to the city market the farm products, and sold them, as was the custom then. She was faithful at home, and guided and educated her children by her example and personal in- fluence. The subject of this biography worked upon the farm until he was sixteen years old, in the mean time attending the Champion School, going also to Fellowship Boarding-School, kept by Samuel Smith, for two years, and completing his education by a year's course at Bridgeton West Jersey Academy. At the age of twenty he taught the Horner School, near Glendale. Becoming

of age, he took charge of the farm, which he managed successfully for four years ; in the mean time he purchased a farm in Salem County, planting and successfully raising fruit on it. When the war broke out, in 1861, Mr. Collings became the sutler of the Thirty- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (afterward Ninety-ninth Regi- ment). He also received a commission as military store-keeper from Hon. Simon Cameron. He was in the service three years, taking vessel-loads of goods to sutlers at the front, disposing of the same at a handsome profit. At one time he was too far in advance and was nearly made a prisoner ; at another Colonel Mosby cut the train in two, captur- ing many wagons, but the property of Mr. Collings escaped through good fortune. After the war he purchased a farm in Montgomery County, Pa., and engaged in the dairy busi- ness, and now devotes much of his time to the cultivation of cranberries on his property in the lower part of New Jersey, and is reaping large profits on his investments. In 1866 he was elected to the Legislature from the Second District on the Republican ticket, and by his vote aided in making Hon. T. F. Freylinghuysen United States Senator. His children are William T., Edward Z., Sallie F., Annie Z. and Francis F. His two oldest sons are engaged in cattle-raising in Nebraska, have large ranches and are prospering. Mr. Collings is now a resident of Camden.

CHAPTER XXI.

OLD GRAVE-YARDS.

MANY of these places of burial were re- garded as family yards, and nearly every large land-owner had his own, yet members of other families were interred there. These were no doubt in many instances beside the places already selected by the Indians, and had been so used for many years before the

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

emigrants settled here. These the aborig- ines always held sacred, and made visits to them long after they had abandoned the ter- ritory and left the soil. Many, unfortu- nately, are at this time lost sight of and for- gotten, while others are neglected and with- out any inclosure about them. Monuments were seldom placed to the graves, save, per- haps, a rough native stone, with the initials of the interred person's name rudely cut thereon and without date.

The oldest burial-place in the county is the old Newton yard, situated in Haddon township, about midway between Haddon- field and Camden, It was established by the first persons who transported themselves into this part of the territory, in 1681. Here, for many years, were all the deceased per- sons interred, the funerals often coming in boats to the yard. The site was badly chosen, for the ground is low, and often filled with water nearly to the surface.

If it had been consistent with the rules of the Society of Friends that small, unpretend- ing monuments had been allowed from the beginning, how much of history and information might be gathered therefrom at the present time. Yet a visit there is with- out results, and no one can discover where his or her ancestors lie. This is a universal regret, for so much is lost that might in this simple way have come down to this genera- tion.

Next in order of time is the Henry Wood grave-yard, on the farm now or lately owned by Lemuel Horner, and near the site of the Camden City Water-Works. The few fam- ilies settled about the mouth of Coopers Creek and on the river-shore used this place. The Woods, the Spicers, the Nicholsons, the Willards and Days, and, later, a few of the Cowperthwaites, Folwells and other families, were buried there. It was abandoned for that purpose many years since, and is now scarcely known.

Gloucester was laid out in lots in 1686,

but had been occupied before that date by a few settlers, and a place of burial selected. Thomas Bull, in his will (1722), makes men- tion of a grave-yard at that place, but nothing is now known of its locality or who lie interred there. It may be in one of the most traveled thoroughfares, or covered by some dwelling or factory so numerous there. In it probably rest the remains of parts of the Reading, the Harrison, the Hngg and Bull families-some of the pioneers who first ad- ventured into this region of country.

The Watson grave-yard dates back for many years. It is situated in Wiuslew township, near the road going from Blue Anchor to May's Landing, about one mile south of Winslow. As early as the year 1710 Daniel Coxe made a survey of one hundred acres at that place, and tradition had it that a house was built and a tavern kept there. Although in the depths of the forest, it was a comparatively public place, for here crossed the two Indian trails-the one going from Egg Harbor to the Delaware River, and the other from Burlington County towards Cape May. The first of these was the road traveled by the Indians in their excursions to procure fish and clams for their winter use, and the other by the Atsionk and Tuckahoe Indians in their friendly visits to each other. On these same paths the settlers made their first roads, and gradually the importance of the old hostelry increased. This may account for and fix the date of the beginning of this burial-place, and may have been where the Indians buried their dead who died on these long journeys. It took its name from Benjamin Watson, who, after the tavern-keeper and his family, was the first white person settled there. He pur- chased a large tract of land, cleared several acres about his house, and reaped some ben- efit from the soil. Himself and wife and some of his family are buried there, and also Oliver Beebe and wife and family, some of John Camel's family, and a few others of

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OLD GRAVE-YARDS.

that region. Years ago there stood several marked stones, and a few graves could be seen, but since then all have been removed, and nothing remains to show the spot.

What was known as the Graysbury grave- yard was a short distance west of the White Horse and Camden turnpike road, on a farm formerly the Graysburys, but later owned by Joseph Fewsmith, and now by William Bettle, Jr. Simeon Breach, Joseph Low and Caleb Spragne, who were the first settlers in that section, and their families are buried there, and later the Graysburys and Hinchmans, and some other families. This yard is entirely lost sight of, and the Phila- delphia and Atlantic City Railroad passes through it.

The grave-yard at Blue Anchor was one of some pretensions and among the oldest in the county. In 1740 the tavern was estab- lished there and a few dwellings sprang up around it, and this place of burial may date from that time. About 1850 a new yard was opened near by and no more interments were made in the old one. In former days it had many lettered "head-stones" at the graves, but the inclosing fence was removed and cattle allowed to trespass thereon and de- stroy the monuments. Here were buried the families of John Hider, John Bryant, Robert Mattox, Thomas Fry, the oldest settlers there; later, the Albertsons, the Beebes, the Sicklers and others were brought there and laid away. Now it is "farmed over," and the spot is scarcely to be recognized. It was on the high ground a short distance west of the hotel and frequently visited by relatives and friends of persons lying there.

Woos' burial-place, about one mile south of Waterford and near where Shane's Castle formerly stood, dates back to the middle of the last century. It is where the Indian trail crosses Clark's Branch, and is possibly where the aborigines of that section buried their dead.

Zabastian Woos and his brothers settled

there, followed by their descendants, who kept a fence about it and placed several tomb- stones in the inclosure. But few are interred there now.

There is a small yard at Bates' Mill, about one mile south of Waterford, in Winslow township. It was first opened when Thomas Cole built the saw-mill, about the middle of the last century. Some of the Cole family, the Bates family, the Kellum family and others are buried there. Care is taken of this spot, the fence kept up and the few stones are cared for. Benjamin Bates, who was an officer in the New Jersey Line during the Revolutionary War, and did mucli active service, lies there in a neglected grave. He was especially useful in watching the refn- gees, to prevent their stealing horses and cat- tle from the people along the coast. These marauders were the terror of the inhabitants, generally going at night on their expeditions ; but when they found that Captain Bates was on their track, took to the timber and would be seen no more for some time.

The Hopewell grave-yard was probably founded by Friends, as a meeting-house owned by that denomination formerly stood there. It is on the old Egg Harbor road, about two miles southwest from Tansboro', in Winslow township. The fence abont it is still kept in repair and care taken of the graves and stones. The house was erected about the middle of the last century, and the beginning of the burials may date from that time. Here were interred the heads of the meeting-John Shinn, Urialı Norcross, Joseph Peacock, Jo- seph Boulton and many others-but their children removing from that region found other places of sepulture.

The cemetery at Berlin (Long-a-Coming) has been in use for many years, and may be dated back to near 1714, when the place was named Long-a-Coming, with a tavern and a few dwellings. In 1765 Samuel Scull kept an " inn " at that place, where the Presby- terians erected a small meeting-house on the

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ground now used for burial lots, and attached to the cemetery. Although the meeting- house fell into decay and was taken down, yet the interest in the yard was kept up and sufficient fence always kept around it to pre- vent cattle trespassing to the injury of the graves and grave-stones. As the neighborhood improved and became more thickly settled and no other burial-place established, the grounds were enlarged from time to time and laid out with avenues and lots. Some few stones may be seen in the old parts, where lie buried the Scull, the Budd, the Bodine, the Zigler, the Rogers and other old families. Under the present management there is no danger of neglect, much to the credit of those in- terested.

Burden's grave-yard was ou the brow of a hill near where the turnpike road from Ber- lin falls into the Clementon and White Horse road, in Gloucester township, and is now en- tirely overgrown with timber. It was prob- ably founded by Thomas Webster, who owned the land in 1742, and who, with part of his family, were buried there. He had two sons, Lawrence and Samuel, but they re- moved to other parts. Richard Burden be- came owner of the soil in 1789, hence the name as known in modern times. David Hurley's and Joab Hillman's families may be there, as they owned land and lived near by. Andrew Newman owned the land in 1742 where the " Clementon " Mills stand and built the first mill there, about one mile from the yard in question, and it may be that he and his family rest there, and his brother John and family and Benjamin Richards and Henry Lake as well, with their families; and later, Moses Branson and Richard Bur- den and their families.

If this be so, then this forgotten spot was once an important place and commanded the care, the respect and the protection of those about them, where now no vestige of a stone or grave can be seen.

But a single grave and grave-stone is

left to show where the people about Clemen- ton buried their dead. It is on a hill not far from the railroad station, in Gloucester town- ship, and will in a few years be lost sight of. It was established when the glass-works were built there, which brought together many workmen and their families.

On the farm of Alexander Cooper, Esq., in Delaware township, near Glendale, is a small inclosed spot in one of the fields known as Matlack's grave-yard. It contains but few bodies, yet they are the ancestors of the pres- ent owner in the maternal line. The fence is carefully maintained and it is contemplated to erect there a marble tablet to commemo- rate the place and secure it from encroach- ments or neglect.

Tomlinson's grave-yard, near Lanrel Mills, in Gloucester township, is strictly a family yard. Many of the ancestors of the family lie buried there and interments occasionally take place. It is well cared for, but, belong- ing to a Friend's family, but few monuments can be seen. Its origin runs back many years, for Joseph Tomlinson settled in that section as early as 1690, he being the first emigrant of that name.

What is generally known as the Zane's grave-yard is in Gloucester township, near Clements Bridge, and was established by the first George Marple, who settled there about 1740, and it was one of the largest in this section of country. Many of the neighbor- ing families buried there and many stones with names and dates stood there. No in- terments have been made there for many years. The Marples, the Zanes, the Troths, the Chews, the Hillmans and others lived in that region. The estate having passed in- to the hands of strangers, it has been much neglected of late years. It has no inclosure about it and many of the graves are leveled with the ground and the stones defaced or removed. The remains of Colonel Isaiah Marple are interred at this spot, the grave being shown by a plain marble slab. He

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OLD GRAVE-YARDS.

was an officer in the New Jersey Line during the Revolutionary War and rendered much service in that memorable struggle. The re- mains of a few Hessian soldiers may rest here, as the troops crossed Great Timber Creek at this point on their going to and re- turning from the battle of Red Bank. In the retreat there was much trouble in trans- porting their wounded, not having means to that end, and some were left by the way to die or to be cared for by the inhabitants. The army was completely demoralized, its com- manding officer being in the hands of the enemy and others lying dead upon the field. In the hasty retreat tradition says two brass field-pieces were thrown into the creek and there remain to the present.

Sloan's burial-place is a neglected spot on the south side of Irish Hill, in Union town- ship, and a short distance east from the Blackwoodtown and Camden turnpike road. There is no fence about it and it is entirely covered with timber and underbrush. Jo- seph Sloan intended it for his family alone, but others are buried there. It is possible that John Stafford was buried there, he being connected with the family by marriage. He was a soldier in Washington's body-guard and was wounded at the battle of German- town while serving in the artillery, after which he retired from the service. John Ware, John Batt, Jacob Bendler and others lived near this place, and themselves or part of their families may lie there.

The few graves that formerly appeared by the road leading through Guineatown from Snow Hill to Gloucester, in Centre township, is the resting-place of many of the slaves of the Hnggs, the Glovers, the Harrisons and others, who, after they were free, built houses and settled them at this place. No vestige of the graves or stones is left.

The law required that they should not be- come a county charge ; hence this means was taken to keep them from want when too old to work. There is a like place, known as

Hurley's grounds, on the farm now owned by Benjamin and Joseph Lippineott, a short distance east from the Mount Ephraim road. This was the burial-place of the Hinehman slaves and their descendants, and was used until within a few years.

John Mapes' grave-yard joins the house where he lived, and is where himself and his family lie buried. It fronts the turnpike road leading from Camden to Kirkwood, in Centre township, and contains but few graves. John Mapes was a soldier in the partisan corps of Colonel Henry Lee, and did the enemy "mueh hurt and mischief " in that memorable conflict. He had great ad- miration for his commander, "Light Horse Harry," and loved to recount their many adventures in watching the movements of the British army. Nothing but a plain marble slab marks the place of his burial.

On the south side of and near the road from Mount Ephraim to Woodbury, in Centre township, formerly stood a large brick farm-house, which was taken down by Jesse W. Starr, Esq., while he owned the farm. Near the house, and in part of the garden, were a few graves, with head and foot-stones indicating that a branch of the Harrison family was buried there. Samuel W. Harrison at one time was the owner of the estate, and a prominent and representa- tive man in Gloneester County affairs during his active life. He was descended from the Harrisons, who settled at Gloucester in the beginning, and whose names may be found among the leading men of the county and State for several generations. Samuel W. Harrison, his family and some of his anees- tors lie in this spot, but no man can now find the place of their sepulchre. A branch of the Ellis family had a small burial-place on part of the estate near where Samuel Heulings re- sides, a short distance east of the Haddonfield and Moorestown road, in Delaware township. No care has been taken of it for many years and the graves are scarcely noticeable.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

On the farm now owned by Joshua Pea- coek, in Delaware township, aud on the east side of the Haddonfield and Berliu road, and close beside the old Egg Harbor road, is said to have been an Indian burial-place. There is no doubt that a large settlement of aborigines was near by, which gives color to the tradition. The Kays, the Bateses and the Matlaeks owned the lands adjacent, and there may have been some of these interred there. No trace of the graves can now be seen.

Within the bounds of Camden City were two or three grave-yards, now entirely lost sight of. The progress of improvement crowded them out several years since, and but few of this generation can point out their locality. Some bodies were removed, but many, whose friends had left the neighbor- hood, still remain. Streets and buildings now cover these burial-places, and but few years will pass away when not a tradition will be remembered by the oldest inhabitant of their locality, or who was there buried. The aggressive and uneasy spirit of the American people allows nothing to hinder its advancement, not even those associations and memories that may surround the graves of our ancestors.

On a farm in Delaware township, and near the county line between Camden and Burling- ton, are a few graves with monuments, known as the Inskeep grave-yard. The estate was formerly owned in part by Abraham Inskeep, one of that family, and where some of them

and others of the neighborhood were buried. It is inclosed and is well cared for.

In early times the Inskeeps, the Hootens, the Wills, the Eves and the Evanses inhabited that region, and their dead may have been buried there. Under the regulation in the Society of Friends regarding grave-stones, graves and even " family rows" were event- ually lost sight of.

Owing to some neighborhood difficulty about burials in the old yard not necessary to be recounted here, James Sloan founded a burial-yard in 1790 adjoining the old New- ton grave-yard. It has many graves and grave-stones within the walls, but much neglected, and the gates being broken, is open to cattle and other marauders. Portions of the Shivers, the Hinchman, the Eastlack, the Heritage, the Collings, the Cooper and other families lie buried there.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 61

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