144 
 85 S8 
 
 py 1 
 
 I A Brief Account 
 
 of 
 
 I Woodbury Creek Dam 
 
 I 
 
 t^^ 
 
 By 
 
 FRANK H. STEWART 
 President of the Gloucester County Historical Society ' 
 
 Woodbury, N. J. 
 

 /^-^t->*'^ 
 
 ^/ /f/f 
 
Woodbury Creek Dam 
 
 By Frank H. Stewart President of the Gloucester County 
 Historical Society. 
 
 The ancient Indian name of Woodberry 
 Creek, as it is spelled in our earliest 
 records, meant the place of black burrs 
 (Peskozackassing). It would not re- 
 quire much imagination to infer that 
 Wood berries and black burrs were one 
 and the same thing. It has also been 
 suggested that Woodbury was named 
 after Woodbury, Connecticut, but the 
 commonly accepted tradition is that an 
 early settler, Henry Wood, senior of 
 Bury, County of Lancaster, England, 
 who with his sons bought land of 
 Bylling, April 3, 16S3, and who settled 
 at the mouth of Woodbury Creek soon 
 afterwards, is responsible for the name 
 now perpetuated by the City of Wood- 
 bury, and the famous creek over which 
 there has been so much contention. 
 
 Samuel Mickle. of Woodbury, who kept 
 a wonderful diary of the years 1792 to 
 1829, recorded on December 26. 1820, 
 that he "read after candle light ye manu- 
 script papers respecting ye wars about 
 Woodbury Dam in 1754." Unfortu- 
 nately, these manuscript papers are now 
 missing, but they, without a doubt, be- 
 longed to his uncle, John Ladd, Jr., 
 whose papers he then had. 
 
 In the iSeptember 1754 sealing in dock- 
 ets of the Gloucester County Courts, we 
 find the entry of a suit of James 
 Whitall and Joseph Low, versus John 
 Ladd, Fisher Hopper, Habakuk Ward, 
 Joseph Jaggard, Savil Wilson, Thomas 
 Clark, Corneling Clark, Stephen Clark, 
 James Ward, Joseph Ward, and Moses 
 Ward, Jr. Judging from the facts now 
 before me, I think that this suit had 
 something to do with the so-called Ward 
 Dam that stopped off the waters at the 
 
 head of Woodbury Creek, and which in- 
 terferred somewhat with the plans of 
 Whitall and Low, and others, to dam 
 Woodbury Creek at its mouth. It was 
 very unusual for one Quaker to sue an- 
 other, and nothing but a defiance of the 
 rules of Friends' Meeting can now be 
 seen in this litigation record. 
 
 The bitterness of the contest is re- 
 flected in the words, "wars about Wood- 
 bury Dam." The following pages show 
 that it was not only a source of con- 
 flict then, but continued so for seventy- 
 five years and more. 
 
 The dam across the mouth of Wood- 
 bury Creek was built about four years 
 prior to the twenty-fourth of April, 
 1760, when .Ann Whitall wrote in her 
 diary: "Hab. Ward and Mos. Ward 
 came here to the dam there has been so 
 much quarreling about, and brought two 
 axes, two mattocks, and two spades to 
 cut the dam down, and to work they 
 went, and Sparks brought the Sheriff, 
 and there was miserable work, but they 
 tied them and took them to Joseph Har- 
 rison, and from there to jail." (See 
 Notes on Old Gloucester Co.) 
 
 Ann Whitall, afterwards known as the 
 Heroine of Red Bank, lived on the farjn 
 where the battle of Red Bank was 
 fought, in a red brick house still stand- 
 ing a few hundred feet north of the 
 bank that dammed Woodbury Creek. 
 Across this dam the Whitalls drove their 
 live stock the day of the battle. After 
 the defeat of the Hessians, Count Donop 
 was taken across the dam to Joseph 
 Low's, and then died in a brick house 
 long since torn down, but the old trees 
 that shaded it still survive, and the prop- 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 erty is still owned by a descendant 
 named Low. 
 
 Benjamin "Whitall, the son of Ann. 
 was a captain of artillery. Her brother, 
 John Cooper, was a member of the Pro- 
 vincial Congress of New Jersey, and a 
 delegate to the Continental Congress. 
 His term with the other New Jersey 
 delegates expired a few days before the 
 first of July, 1776, and their successors 
 signed the Declaration of Independence 
 on behalf of the people of New Jersey. 
 He undoubtedly took part in the discus- 
 sion on the resolution of Richard Henry 
 Lee. 
 
 Joseph Low was a member of a pat- 
 riotic committee, and was disowned by 
 Friends Meeting because of his activi- 
 ties, the same as John Cooper. When 
 I first be'.ime interested in Gloucester 
 C'»unty history, I often wondered why 
 the British and American troops, both 
 alike, stole from and perset^uted the 
 family of James and Ann Whitall. The 
 P'nglish knew, of course, about John 
 Cooper and Benjamin Whitall. The 
 Americans knew they were Quakers, and 
 opposed to force. They were truly be- 
 tween the two millstones. 
 
 The following advertisement appeared 
 in Franklin's newspaper, the "Pennsyl- 
 varaa Gazette," of June 29, 1758: 
 
 Notice is hereby given. That the Pe- 
 titioners of Woodbury Creek, in the 
 County of Gloucester and Province of 
 West New Jersey, have leave to bring in 
 the Bill ihey pray for the first Monday 
 of the next sitting of the House of As- 
 sembly of said Province at Burlington, 
 for clearing out of said creek above the 
 Dam for keeping the freshets from 
 overflowing the meadows above said 
 Dam, and for maintaining the said 
 dam and waterworks. If any persons 
 have any objections to make, they are 
 desired to offer them. Dated June 5, 
 1758. 
 
 April 24, 1760, an advertisement was 
 printed in the same newspaper by Wil- 
 liam and Ruth Wood to the effect that 
 on May 7th following, a plantation of 
 the late Henry Woods, situated in the 
 township of Deptford, Gloucester 
 County, N. J., would be offered for sale. 
 The plantation was located about five 
 
 miles from Gloucestei'. and one and one- 
 half miles from Woodbury, and con- 
 tained a pretty large new brick house, 
 and one hundred acres of the best 
 meadow grounds our country affoi'ds, be- 
 ing made dry by stopping a creek where- 
 on it lies. 
 
 When the dam was first erected at the 
 mouth of the f'reek, it was done without 
 the consent of some of the meadow- 
 holders at the very head of the creek. 
 Four years after the bank was erected, 
 and much exertion made to have it taken 
 away by the owners at the head of the 
 creek, both sides appeared before the 
 Legislature. A compromise was made, 
 and all of those at the head of the creek 
 opposed to the dam a.sjreed to accept 
 100 pounds (one hundred pounds), to be 
 divided among them, and gave up their 
 privileges and opposition to the dam. 
 
 The remaining meadow-holders who 
 made the dam owned the principal part 
 nf the meadow on the creek, to wit: 
 .Tames Whitall and Joseph Low. who 
 lived dire;'tly at the mouth of the creek, 
 together with two or three families of 
 the Woods. The remaining owners 
 agreed and purchased the right to dam 
 the creek, and paid the 100 pounds. On 
 the north side, the meadow was owned 
 by Whitall, Wood and Andrews up to 
 Habakuk Ward, who was one of the men 
 who sold his right for 20 pounds. On 
 the south side, the meadow was owned 
 by the Lows and Woods, parties to the 
 project. They made the dam and sup- 
 ported it. 
 
 THE FIRST LEGISLATION 
 
 The first legislation we find about 
 Woodbury Creek Dam was an act passed 
 in the first year of the reign of King 
 (ieorge III (December 5. 1760), en- 
 titled "An act to continue the Dam 
 across Woodbury Creek in the County 
 of Gloucester." 
 
 "Section 1. Whereas James W^hitall, 
 William Wood, John Sparks and others 
 ■)wning and jtossessing meTdows on 
 Woodbury Creek in the County of 
 <Tloucester. esteeming it for their inter- 
 est, did erect a dam across the said 
 creek from the land of Benjamin Wait 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 to the land of the said James Whitall, 
 whereby the navigation of the said <Teel< 
 became and still remains obstructed, as 
 alleged to the great damage of Moses 
 Ward, Habbakuk Ward, James Ward, 
 and other persons which has occasioned 
 much controversy." 
 
 This act, which was very voluminous, 
 gives the idea that the dam was built 
 without process of law, and that it 
 worked damage to owners of meadow 
 laud further up the creek where the 
 Wards had erected a dam years before. 
 The Legislative act specified a commit- 
 tee of John Wetherill. Andrew Smyth, 
 John Hart, Joseph Skeleton, Azariah 
 Hunt, William Lowrie, and John Ander- 
 son, of Freehold, or any four of them, to 
 assess benefits and damages in case 
 those interested in the contention did 
 not select seven arbitrators to agree on 
 a settlement. 
 
 Section 2 of the act required the set- 
 tlement or assessment to be filed in the 
 office of the Clerk of the Supreme 
 Court at Burlington. 
 
 Section 6 provided that Whitall, Wood 
 and Sparks should remove the dam if 
 they were opposed to the award of the 
 arbitrators. 
 
 Section 9 said it was the true design 
 of the act to put a final end to the many 
 disputes that had and still existed. 
 
 Section 10 gave the right for the 
 owners of meadow land between Wood- 
 bury Creek dam and the Wards dam to 
 meet yearly the first Monday in Septem- 
 ber at the dwelling house of Joseph 
 Tatham, and appoint managers and an 
 asse.ssor to repair, maintain and uphold 
 Woodbury Creek Dam. 
 
 This act designed to cover every lit- 
 tle detail that might arise after its pas- 
 sage, as usual witjj such attempts, did 
 not fully answer the purpose, because a 
 few years later, May 10, 1768, another 
 act was passed to remedy the defects in 
 the first act. The second act provided 
 for a concern henceforth to be called 
 the Lower Meadows Co., owning mead- 
 ows and swamps below Moses Ward's 
 dam on Woodbury Creek, so far as the 
 tide used to flow. This Company was 
 to meet yearly in March and elect two 
 
 overseers, two managers, and a clerk, 
 and an assessor to regulate the mead- 
 ows for the common good of the owners. 
 James Whitall and Joseph Low were ap- 
 pointed first managers; James Cooper 
 and John Wood overseers; John Es- 
 taugh Hopkins assessor, and James 
 Whitall, Clerk, who was to provide him- 
 self with a book wherein entries should 
 be made and minutes kept of all meet- 
 ings of the Company. Mr. John G. 
 Whitall told me that he at one time had 
 these books. It is hoped they will be 
 found and deposited with the Gloucester 
 County Historical Society. The second 
 act repealed the first one, and gave per- 
 mission to erect flood gates at or near 
 Ward's dam, and in Tredway's branch at 
 or where the public road from Woodbury 
 to the Delaware River crossed it. The 
 flood gates were to be so made as to 
 prevent the tide waters from flowing up 
 the creek and branch, but not so as to 
 prevent a free passage for the back- 
 water through them. It is the idea of 
 John G. Whitall that the flood gates 
 here and at the mouth of Woodbury 
 Creek swung on hinges, or their equiv- 
 alent. 
 
 The Meadows above Ward's dam were 
 evidently known as the Upper Meadow 
 Co., and it is probable they obtained a 
 right to dam the creek before the year 
 1760, because their rights were specifi- 
 cally protected as follows: "Provided 
 always that nothing herein contained 
 shall divest the owners and possessors 
 of the meadows on the head of said creek 
 of any power or authority they had or 
 enjoyed befoi'e the passing of this 
 act," etc. 
 
 Samuel Mickle wrote in his diary un- 
 der date of August 6, 1813, that he "on 
 invitation of James Saunders, went ye 
 P. M. with him and his son, Isaac, fish- 
 ing at Woodbury Dam. I caught but 
 three small oldwives." 
 
 TIDE WATER LEVELS 
 
 On January 26, 1828, Amos Campbell, 
 James Sterling, Joseph Scott and 
 Ephraim Miller certified that in the 
 month of February, 1824, the tide water 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 from the river Delaware was let iuto 
 AVoodbury Creek in consequence of a 
 breach or breaches in the river bank — 
 that at high tide, the water rose at the 
 town of Woodbury so as to overflow the 
 top of the arch of the old stone bridge 
 across said creek a few rods below the 
 main road or street. That so long as the 
 tide continued to ebb and flow in the 
 said creek, the arch as aforesaid was 
 overflowed at high tide, and that being 
 citizens of Woodbury, residing near the 
 creek, they had daily observation of the 
 fact. 
 
 On the same day. two of them, viz.: 
 Amos Campbell and James Sterling, 
 both architects of Woodbury, certified 
 that they had measured the height of 
 the arch of the old stone bridge across 
 Woodbury Creek a few rods below the 
 then, main road, and that from the sur- 
 face of the water, as it then was, to the 
 top of the arch, the height was three 
 feet eleven inches, and that the present 
 depth of water at the said bridge was 
 three feet, so that whenever the water 
 was high enough to overflow the said 
 arch, the depth of the water in the creek 
 would be six feet eleven inches. 
 
 While the contest was on concerning 
 the Woodbury Creek dam, it is of in- 
 terest to mention that a scheme was on 
 foot to dam the Delaware River above 
 Trenton, which was objected to by the 
 shad fishermen. 
 
 February 4, 1828. William Strickland, 
 of Philadelphia, wrote the following let- 
 ter to Messrs. James Matlock, Glover 
 Smallwood, Foster and Armstrong, 
 Committee on the Navigation of Wood- 
 bury Creek: 
 
 "At your request, I have examined 
 the ground along the margin of Wood- 
 bury Creek from the Dam at its mouth, 
 u|) to the stone bridge at the town of 
 "\A'oodbury. 
 
 I find from a course of levels taken, a 
 copy of which accompanies this report, 
 that by raising an embankment on each 
 side of the creek, the average height of 
 which may not be more than 4 feet 9 
 inches above the surface of the mead- 
 ows, the high water of the river Dela- 
 ware may be made to flow at the town 
 of Woodbury to the depth of 5Vo feet. 
 
 and that it will be quite easy and practi- 
 cable by clearing out the bed of the 
 creek to produce a good navigation to 
 the town for sloops and small craft of 
 every description." 
 
 The act to restore navigation of Wood- 
 bury Creek under that title was passed 
 by the Legislature at Trenton, February 
 12, 1829. On May 1.3th, of that year, 
 and for one year afterward, and possi- 
 bly longer. James Matlock, Jacob 
 Glover and Ephraim Miller, Commission- 
 ers, ran an advertisement in the "Vil- 
 lage Herald." a weekly newspaper of 
 Woodbury, to the effect that in accord- 
 ance with the legislative act to restore 
 navigation from Woodbury to the Dela- 
 ware River, that at 10 o'clock A. M. on 
 April 1, 1831, they would proceed to 
 cut, remove and clear away the dam at 
 or near the mouth of said creek, and 
 let in the tide to make it navigable. 
 
 The dam was cut, and it was not long 
 before there was a clamor to have the 
 dam replaced, which, if anything, was 
 more vociferous than that to have it de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 EFFORTS TO REiPLAOE THE DA.AI 
 
 A short time ago. Miss Elizabeth Mat- 
 lack presented me with some legal pa- 
 pers that belonged to her grandfather. 
 James Matlock, that shed some light on 
 what actually happened after the dam 
 was cut. and the meadows covered with 
 tide water as they are to-day. 
 
 Accompanying the papers is a map 
 showing every house near Woodbury 
 Creek, west of Broad street On the 
 north side, in the vicinity of the present 
 home of Dr. Underwood, was M'Callas: 
 then going toward the river were Wm. R. 
 Tatum's, Andrews', and Wilkins'. On 
 the dam road north side of the creek, 
 opposite the tavern and ferry, was a 
 building unnamed. 
 
 On the south side of the creek, going 
 to the river, are marked the Court 
 House, George Mickle's* William 
 Cooper's, Joseph Stokes'. Thomas 
 Clark's; across the road from it was 
 James Mickle's, and below him at the 
 corner formed by the intersection of the 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 Woodbury Dam and the Pivot Bridge, 
 or Crown Point Road, was a house 
 marlied Osborne's; across the road 
 towards the creek was Amos Campbell's; 
 below it a house lately owned by Jere- 
 miah Wood; further down Low's house. 
 On the road leading from the north side 
 of the dam are the houses marked Tacy 
 AVhitall, Charles Whitall, James Jessu;;. 
 and Snowden around the hook in the 
 Red Bank road, and west of the Crown 
 Point road was the house of Ann Roe. 
 directly north of the Wilkins' house 
 The various owners of the meadow lands 
 are enumerated, but would now add 
 nothing of interest. The ferry house 
 located on the river side of the dam and 
 south side of the creek, and the un- 
 named building opposite have long since 
 disappeared. Probably some reader of 
 this article may be able to tell us how 
 long ago. 
 
 On the map ot tne creeK, forty-five 
 chains from the west side of the road, 
 about in front of the contemplated post- 
 office building, another "Old Dam" is 
 marked, but no reference is made to it 
 in the papers — probably Ward's Dam. 
 A proposed dam is marked on the map 
 about four or five chains up the creek 
 to the eastward of the Camden-Crown 
 Point Road, or what is now known as 
 Paulsboro Road. The proposed dam 
 was about one half way in a straight line 
 between the former dam at the mouth 
 of the creek and the present Broad 
 street. 
 
 PETITION TO LEGISLATURE 
 
 To the Honorable, the Legislative 
 Council and General Assembly of the 
 State of New Jersey. 
 
 The Subscribers, residents of the 
 County of Gloucester, and State afore- 
 said, respectfully showeth: 
 
 That some of your petitioners with 
 others for the purpose of improving the 
 meadows on Woodbury Creek, and to re- 
 store the navigation thereof, applied to 
 the Legislature of the State aforesaid in 
 the year 1829 for a law appointing com- 
 missioners to remove the. Dam and 
 Water-works at the mouth of said creek; 
 that in pursuance of the law then passed, 
 the said Dam and Water-works were re- 
 
 moved in the month of May, 1831. But 
 most unfortunately for your petitioners, 
 and the surrounding neighborhood, five 
 hundred acres of good meadow ground 
 be;ame inundated with water, and ren- 
 dered entirely useless to the owners, and 
 as many as four hundred acres more 
 lessened in value about one half. Nearly 
 three years have elapsed since the re- 
 moving of the said Dam, and the con- 
 tinual overflow of the tide over the 
 meadows. 
 
 Your petitioners are well nssured that 
 the greater part of the meadows bound- 
 ing upon said creek are forever lost to 
 the owners unless a dam and water- 
 works be again established by law. at or 
 near the place where the old law placed 
 them. 
 
 Your petitioners are further convinced 
 that in consequence of the current of 
 water having left the chpnuel of the 
 creek, and spread itself over the surface 
 of the meadow, the creek will continue 
 to fill up and the navigation become use- 
 less. 
 
 Your petitioners would further beg 
 leave to state that the aforesaid creek 
 having remained banked off for more 
 than seventy years had become filled 
 with mud. and the meadow settled so low 
 that it is impossible to restore them to 
 their former value without resorting to 
 the mode adopted by our forefathers 
 
 Your petitioners therefore sin^-erely 
 pray that your Honorable Bodies will be 
 pleased to pass a law authorizing them 
 to erect a Dam and water-works at ^r 
 near the mouth of the creek aforesaid, 
 and your petitioners will ever pray. 
 
 Dated at Deptford Township, Novem- 
 ber 20. 1883. 
 
 Joseph Stokes I'aul Bowers 
 
 Benj. C. Tatem Wim. D. Richards 
 
 Samuel R. Sauulera Joel D. Lawrance 
 ^nccheiis T)niic,in Peter Snyder 
 
 Thomas Schnmo Michael Aires 
 
 Benjamin Wilkins .Tosliua Mullen 
 Joseph Doron Daniel Lamb 
 
 Joseph riilkes James W. Lamib 
 
 Joseph Shuster John W. Lanub 
 
 Charles Kniarht David Rose, .Tr. 
 
 I. Cheeseiran, .Jr. James Mntlnck 
 Jiiseph Curts Aaron M. Wilkins 
 
 Sam Webster Jol) W. Wilkins 
 
 Henry ()s'>orn Aaron Paul 
 
 Thomas Willson William Cooier 
 
 Benjamin Cloud Thos. Clark 
 
 Charles Roe .Tames J. Lord 
 
 Jos. Lodge, Jr. Thomas Glover 
 
 Joseph D. Pedrlck Geo. M. Paul 
 David B. Leslie George Ward 
 
 David Carney Nathan Cozens. Jr. 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 M.ihlon Skill 
 Win. Carsoii 
 IsiiMc Clieesemnn 
 Isaac Doughteii 
 Sam'l B. Liiiiiiiu-ott 
 Wii-. S. Dou^hteu 
 Josiah Stokes 
 Tlios. Kuisht 
 Will. E. Kay 
 Henry lU'adsliaw 
 Beiij. B. Sinister 
 Clias. F. Wilkius 
 Levin Deiiiten 
 Sam'l Kenible 
 S. Sailor 
 Win. Porch 
 John Estell 
 John Godfrey 
 Chas. French, Jr. 
 William Haines 
 Arttur Brjwn 
 Williani C. Sparks 
 Joseph Willsou 
 Henry Jackson 
 James Cooper 
 William E. Cooper 
 Ptichard >I. Cooper 
 Charles Kaighn 
 Bbenezer Toole 
 Wim. R. Kai.ijhn 
 (ieorge P. Bender 
 John Thorne 
 Benjamin Allen 
 Ephraim Bee 
 Nathaniel Chew 
 Joseph Shernir 
 Joseph Johnson 
 Joel Wood 
 James Graham 
 Marmaduke Beckley 
 Jos. T. TaLereeu 
 Jonathan Packer 
 Thomas S. Dyos 
 Jesse C. Cox 
 Levi C Campbell 
 Cornelius Boys 
 Handel iNicholson 
 Sam'l W. Estlock 
 Joseph W. Paul 
 Thomas Thomson 
 Champneys Ranibo 
 Dan'l €. .Cozens 
 Isaac Thomson, Jr. 
 Eli Thomson 
 George Bowers 
 Wni. Feni.more 
 Elias England 
 Asher Borden 
 Jeremiah Adams 
 Jonathan Heritage 
 Kichard Moffett, Jr. 
 Joseph Henry 
 James Jaggard 
 Peter S. Kerns 
 Malachi H. Lodge 
 C. V. Clark 
 William Mickle 
 Thomas Ford 
 Isaac H. Wood 
 Jeh. Wood 
 John S Lord 
 Isaac Derickson 
 Charles Lock 
 Elijah Bowen 
 
 Philip E. M - 
 Richard Scull 
 Jose oh J. West 
 Peter Huews 
 Joel Parker 
 tlarrot Clark 
 David Wood 
 James Jessup, Jr, 
 Wni. Madora 
 Isaac Wanier 
 John Hews 
 David Whitall 
 Mark Clements 
 Peter Sigars 
 Joshua Lord 
 Theophilus Hillman 
 John Kerns 
 Bowman Sailer 
 Charles Brown 
 Sam'l R. Chardon 
 William Murphy 
 John R. Tonkin 
 Win. Thorne 
 John B. Hilyard 
 Charles Hoipkins 
 John Brown 
 Joseph Kaighn 
 I. C. Dilkes 
 Jones Keen 
 Benj. WhitaU 
 Samuel Kirby 
 John L. Cooper 
 Amos Clark 
 Charles Reeves 
 Edimund Weatterby 
 .John B. Jessup 
 Charles Fisher 
 Benjamin I'erkins 
 Joshiah R. Andrews 
 Stille Chew 
 Thomas Russell 
 Reuibin Haines 
 Johu W. Cloud 
 Charles R. Cloud 
 Robert Howey 
 Joseph Skill 
 James Saunders, Jr. 
 Benj. W. Mickle 
 T. C. Humphreys 
 Richard Clark 
 Joshua E. Webster 
 W. C. Fifer 
 George Loudenslager 
 Sam K. Chardon 
 John Lord 
 Benh. D. Andrews 
 Benjamin Lord 
 .Tames H. Lord 
 Isaac Lord 
 Wesley Miller 
 Joseph J. Currie 
 John M. Richards 
 William Caffrey 
 Joshua Cozens 
 Wiu. Stevenson 
 Geo. T. Atkinson 
 Nathan Folwell 
 Thomas Iredell 
 Jonathan Colson 
 Samuel Weatherby 
 Samuel Gaunt 
 Amasa Garwood 
 P. Ferriman Leddon 
 Jesse Rice 
 
 D. C. Ogden 
 Abel Peterson 
 Jacob Howey 
 S iniuel Ogden 
 Samuel C. Allen 
 John B. Siiode 
 Jos. Fullerton, Jr. 
 Felix Smith 
 Enoch Allen 
 Joshua Eiigle 
 Joshiah Lipriincott 
 Jr. Jose;. h Chatha.m 
 Israel Pancoast 
 John Atkinson 
 Samuel Atkinson 
 
 Enoch Aggings 
 .\bel Knight 
 M;irtiii W. Rulon 
 Charles Starr 
 John Peters 
 James Hornor 
 John S. Leonard 
 Jacoli Seeds 
 Jacob Sigars 
 Jos. C. Pancoast 
 John Shivers 
 Jonathan Colson, 
 Thomas Hardikiu 
 Benjamin Colson 
 t'Lalkley Moore 
 Charles Wilkins 
 
 Ai^parently notliing resulted from the 
 attempt to again dam Woodbury Creek 
 at its mouth. I consider it quite prob- 
 able tliat the petition was presented to 
 the T.egislature. but it is evident that ob- 
 .iection was made, because the following 
 year another i etition was circulated and 
 generously signed, asking for a dara 
 about half wav up the creek between 
 the river and Woodbury. The map de- 
 scribed probably accompanied this peti- 
 tion. 
 
 ANOTHER PETITION 
 
 To the Honorable, the F-egislative Coun- 
 cil and General Assembly of the State 
 of New Jersey. The I'etitioners of 
 the Inhabitants of the County of 
 Gloucester respectfully shovveth: 
 That near four years hath elapsed 
 since the dam and water works at the 
 mouth of Woodbury Creek was removed 
 for the restoring the navigation of the 
 said creek, and for the improvement of 
 the meadow thereon, but in consequence 
 of such removal five hundred acres of 
 meadow are de.stroyed. and the naviga- 
 tion of the upper part of the creek of 
 but little advantage compared with the 
 entire loss of the meadow. 
 
 Your Petitioners therefor pray a law 
 may be passed authorizing commissioners 
 to erect a dam and water works on said 
 creek where the Crown Point Road 
 crosses the same. Your Petitioners will 
 ever pray. 
 
 12th. 12mo., 1834. 
 David B. Cooper David Cooper 
 
 Paul Cooper Samuel Kemble 
 
 James Matlack Joseph Ogden 
 
 Josiah R. Andrews Joseph D. Pedrlck 
 Isaac Cheesman, Jr. Geo. M. Paul 
 John B. Jessuip Nathan Cozens, Jr, 
 
 Charles Stokes Jesse Smith 
 
 Sam'l Webster Nicholas Pidgeon 
 
 Thos. Clark Thomas (ilovei 
 
 Samuel Ogden John Redtield 
 
WOODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 7 
 
 William Scott 
 James Jessup, Jr. 
 Thomas Russell 
 Geo rife Allen 
 Elijah Chew 
 John (J. Shivers 
 Benjamin Madara 
 Thomas Keou^h 
 Michael Morgan 
 Benj. Wilkins 
 Thomas Ford 
 Isaac Hi'nchiman 
 W. E. Cooper 
 Gabriel Davis 
 Josejih Stokes 
 James Mickle 
 Win. Cooper 
 Benh. D. Andrews 
 James Dilks 
 James H. Lord 
 Amos Campbell 
 Jno. R. Sickler 
 C. V. Clark 
 John Mickle 
 Thos. Schnmo 
 Joseph Biddle 
 David Whitall 
 Thomas Medara 
 Aaron M. Wilkins 
 Firman Layman 
 William Heppard, Jr. 
 James Hinchman 
 B. P. Lippincott 
 Benjamin Perkins 
 7ebulon Pierson 
 Richard Fetters 
 Charles Reeves 
 Philip Emmel 
 Richard Scull 
 Arthur Brown 
 William Haines 
 Abraham Linpincott 
 Bowman Sailer 
 Francis Carson 
 Thos. L. Sharp 
 Abel Knisrtt 
 Jacob Wilkins 
 Joshua E. Campbell 
 John B. Hilyard 
 Joseiih M. Cooper 
 Chas. F. Wilkins 
 Sam M. Stephens 
 Robert Cooper 
 John Bud 
 Peter Curts 
 
 Charles Whitall 
 William R. Tatum 
 James Roe 
 Josiah Linipincott 
 Felix Smith 
 William Elkins 
 Reuben M. Stiles 
 James Giibson 
 Joseiih Ashbrook 
 David Jaggard 
 Henry Rulon 
 Sam'l C. Allen 
 Joseph A. Chatham 
 Josept Chatham 
 Sam'l A. Coles 
 Enoch Aggiugs 
 Richard Matlack 
 Joseph Doron 
 .Tosei)h C. Pancoast 
 Jesse Rice 
 Stacy French 
 George Ward 
 Charles Brown 
 Ameriah Pierce 
 Thomas Doron 
 Amaza Garwood 
 Martin W. Rulon 
 Sam'l H. Weatherby 
 William Ward 
 Thomas Sailer 
 .Pennimeno Leddre 
 Jacob G. Tiirner 
 Nathan T. Stratton 
 William Holmes 
 Edward Wallace 
 Charles Wilkins 
 .John Moone 
 Joel Packer 
 Jonathan Colson 
 Robert Davis 
 Peter Stetser 
 Henrv Burt 
 Job W. Wilkins 
 Charles Stetser 
 Josept L. Ste"hens 
 Tobias Casperson 
 Sam'l Whovo 
 Isaac Hews 
 Henry Osborn 
 Henry Osborn. Jr. 
 William Wilkins 
 Aron Wallace 
 Richard Parker 
 .Tose'ih Willson 
 James Cox 
 
 On November 25, 1834, according to 
 George E. Pierson. an advertisement was 
 placed in the "Woodbury Constitution" 
 signed by George Mickle, Charles Knight. 
 James Mickle, Josiah R. Andrews, James 
 Matlack, Thomas Clark, William Cooper, 
 •Joseph Stokes and Isaac Cheeseman to 
 the effect that a petition would be made 
 to the Legislature on January 14. 1835. 
 for a law appointing commissioners to 
 erect a dam and water works on Wood- 
 bury Creek between the pivot bridge on 
 the Crown Point Road, and the mouth 
 
 of Matthews' branch. The proposed lo- 
 cation corresponds with the sp.K on the 
 map referred to before, but the l.i'gisla- 
 ture did not look on the proposition with 
 favor, and no action was t^ken. A few 
 years ago Woodbury Creek was deep- 
 ened and straightened, and its waters 
 ebb and flow twice in eve.-y twenty-four 
 hours as they did when Hog IsUud. on 
 the opposite side of the Debiwa; e. was 
 called Quistconck. 
 
 Accompanying the petition is a state- 
 ment to the New Jersey Legislature 
 signed by the owners of the meadows 
 lying on Woodbury Creek who were citi- 
 zens of Gloucester County. They were 
 Wm. Cooper. James Matlack, Charles 
 Knight, Thomas Clark, Joseph Stokes, 
 James Mickle. Aaron M. Wilkins, Zac- 
 cheus Duncan. Benjamin Cloud. Josiah 
 R. Andrews, Charles Whitall. Henry Os- 
 born. Isaac Cheesman. Jr., Joseph Shus- 
 ter. .James Jessup, and Benjamin Lord. 
 The statement itemized the different es- 
 timated losses such as crops, taxes, em- 
 bankment expenses, causeway losses that 
 amounted to four thousand dollars an- 
 nually. 
 
 Another list gives the names of thirty- 
 one owners of meadow land on Woodbury 
 Creek, and its bran 'hes, aggregating 
 four hundred and fourteen and one-half 
 acres overflowed by the tide. 
 
 iFrom a memorandum, we find that 
 
 Samuel Webster was County Col- 
 lector. 
 
 John Mickle. boat builder. 
 
 Thomas Schumo, watchmaker. 
 
 •John R Sickler, physician 
 
 Joseph D. Pedrick, wheelwright and 
 farmer. 
 
 Geo. M. Paul, storekeeper and farmer. 
 
 Jesse Smith, mechanic and weaver. 
 
 Nathan Cozens, tailor. 
 
 Nicholas Pidgeon, shoemaker. 
 
 Thomas Glover, blacksmith. 
 
 Thomas Madara, carpenter and far- 
 mer. 
 
 James Roe. storekeeper. 
 
 Sam'l Kemble. constable. 
 
 Ephraim Miller. Justice of the Peace. 
 
 Jesse Smith, innkeeper and fa>-mer. 
 
 Joseph Fithian, physician. 
 
W^OODBURY CREEK DAM 
 
 Daniel J. il'acker, blat-ksmith and far- 
 mer. 
 
 John C. Smalhvood. County Clerk. 
 
 There were aiJpnrcMitly two .lesse 
 Smith's living in Woodburv in 18.34. 
 
 From a recapitulation of the build- 
 ings in Woodbury in 1S34. we find there 
 were one hundred and three dwelliiis^- 
 thirteen stores and twenty-three offices; 
 printing and work shops, all figured as 
 separate buildings, but probably in most 
 cases on the same lots as the dwellings. 
 The owners of fifty-four of the buildings 
 favored the "stopi)ing" of the creek. 
 The owners of thirty-two buildings were 
 opposed. The owners of twenty-two 
 buildings were neutral or indifferent. 
 Thirty-one buildings were owned by 
 widows and non-residents. Those op- 
 posed to the dam were: Ephraim Miller, 
 Daniel J. Packer, Jesse Smith. Josiah 
 iS. Franklin, John Simmerman. Simon 
 Sparks, Samuel- Cole, Joseph Saunders, 
 Jacob Glover, John Hannah, Joseph 
 Fithian and Joseph Franklin. Those 
 who were indifferent were Joseph 
 Curtts, Michael C. Fisher. Samuel Ladd, 
 John 'Moore White, Andrew Eacritt, 
 William Fletcher, Samuel Kemble, Sam- 
 uel Hudson, Martha Saunders, Clement 
 Daniels, Aaron Cade, and John Fletcher. 
 
 From the list of property owners, we 
 learn that James Matlack owned more 
 property than any other person in Wood- 
 bury ,namely six houses, one store, and 
 one shop. Nancy Roe owned four 
 houses, and one store. Joseph Fithian 
 four houses and one shop. Jacob Glover. 
 Thomas Madara, and a person named 
 Dickerson owned three buildings each, 
 and Samuel Webster owned a school 
 nouse. 
 
 In an article read before the Glouces- 
 ter County Historical Society at Red 
 Bank by John G. Whitall, he said that 
 in 1S2'9 the Legislature passed an act 
 for the removal of the dam, giving the 
 
 property owners along the creek two 
 years to erect banks to prevent the tide 
 from overflowing their meadows. The 
 dam was removed in 1S;^1, causing great 
 bitterness on the part of the farmers 
 injured, who for years afterwards re- 
 fused' to trade with Woodbury stores. 
 His own father. Charles G. Whitall, dis- 
 continued the professional services of 
 Dr. Fithian, of Woodbury. One of the 
 reasons put forth for the destructi m of 
 the dam was that it caused malarial 
 chills and fevers. 
 
 In the winter of 1849-.'")fl. a high storm 
 tide washed away so much <>f the lower 
 side of the dam bank that the road lead- 
 ing to Leven Densten's, who kept the tav- 
 ern, became imi)assable. He put in a claim 
 for damages because the dam road was 
 not kept up, which was allowed by the 
 township, and the rcrad vacated. The 
 tavern, being below high water mark, 
 was flooded, and soon ruined. 
 
 Woodbury dam in its |)rime was a ship- 
 ping point for Woodbury twice a week; 
 on Tuesdays and Fridays, packets sailed 
 to Philadelphia. Mr. Whitall remembers 
 an old woman, Mercy Fowler, who grew 
 acres of lavender which she* sold in 
 Philadelphia, also other things, on com- 
 mission for her Thorofare neighbors. 
 John G. Whitall says that Thorofare and 
 vicinity was formerly known as Flyatem 
 town. 
 
 January 26. 1828. Samuel Mickle 
 wrote in his diary: "Cousin Josiah 
 Tatum ye P. M. came with a petition or 
 remonstrance against opening ye naviga- 
 tion of Woodbury Creek. Also John 
 Reeve a few days ago presented to me a 
 memorial and petition for opening said 
 navigation, but I signed neither of them. 
 N. B.' — In or about ye year 1754, a dam 
 was erected and navigation stopped about 
 which this neighborhood was in a great 
 ferment on the said occasion." 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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