^- SKETCHES FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS NEWTON TOWNSHIP. OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY, WEST NEW JERSEY. BY JOHN CLEMENT, OF HADDONFIELD, N. J. "An Ungrateful Generation Neglected the Memory of its Fathe CAMDEN, N. J.: pRlNTEfi BY SiNNICKSON CheW, N. E. CoRNER FrONT AND MARKKT STREETS. 1877. ■^OPM i pn Entered, according to an act of Congress, in the year 1877, by John Clement, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. TO MY FATHER'S MEMORY THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, THE MERITS OF WHICH, IF ANY IT HAS, ARE DUE TO HIS INTEREST IN A CORRECT HISTORY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS ABOUT HIS NATIVE PLACE, WHICH INTEREST HE SO FAITHFULLY SOUGHT TO IMPART TO ^ THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THE colle6lion and preservation of fa6ls illustrative of the early history of West New Jersey have always been, to the author of this volume, a pleasing task. The little interest manifested in these events which are so rapidly * passing from memory, and which hitherto have attra6led so little attention, has prompted this purpose and given it greater importance. The arrangement of the material here presented to the public, it is hoped, may not be entirely without value, for the reason that, by this means, some fa6ts may be saved from oblivion, inquiry assisted, and new light shed upon a subjecSl too long neglected, and too much mystified by time. The method of reference which has been adopted will enable the reader to consult the authorities used, and thus any particular line of inquiry may be the more fully pursued. It is not claimed that these Sketches are a complete history of the times to which they relate, although much effort has been made in that direction ; nor that they are entirely free from error; yet, if any interest shall be excited, or any one stimulated to examine the subject still more critically, their purpose will not be wholly defeated. INTRODUCTION. THE first Dutch, Swedish and English settlements on the Delaware river have been so comprehensively considered by various writers within the last half century, except those included within the limits of Newton Township, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, now embraced in the city of Camden and Haddon Township, Camden County, and places adjacent thereto, that, to recite their history here, would be a needless repetition. Upon that subject little uncertainty now remains, since nearly all the leading facts that, for many years, appeared contradi6lory or doubtful, have been reconciled and settled, so that no reader, however particular or inquisitive, need go astray. But the persons who, separately or colleftively, made up the English colonies upon the New Jersey shore of the Delaware should not pass unnoticed; nor can they be lost sight of, however prominently the results of their undertaking may be presented. They were men of decided views and positive characteristics, of clear and discerning minds, able to consider a subje(ft in all its bearings, and endowed with courage to over- come obstacles apparently insurmountable. Feeling that the abuse of power had not only made their property insecure, but was also destroying the quiet of their firesides, they naturally looked for some other land in which these troubles could be avoided. With the warmest attachment to the fundamental principles of the government under which they lived, they were forced to seek a new home, where these 8 INTRODUCTION. principles could be enjoyed in their original purity. Adhering to their religious belief with a tenacity that could not be shaken, and in that belief finding nothing that encouraged resistance, the " Plantations in America" were the only asylum in which the proper administration of law could be assured, since these colonies were too distant, and of too little importance, to attra6l the attention of those in authority at home. Not long did it take to put these conclusions into shape, and the unan- imity with which they were accepted gave force and character at once to the movement. Here was a novel and responsible enterprise ; one new in its inception, new in its development and uncertain in its results; dependent for its success upon the business capacity and per- sistence of those who had enlisted in the cause; yet little time elapsed before such as were equal, or unequal, to the task began to appe^ar. Among the original proje6lors, the timid were soon replaced by others more sanguine, and such as hesi- tated, at once found those who were glad to accept their positions. With a common object, no radical difference of opinion delayed its consummation ; hence a general outline of procedure was soon adopted, and the leaders found themselves clothed with responsibilities hardly anticipated. Their object was a declared and open one, to be obtained without bloodshed, yet through privation, suffering and sacrifice. They were not mere adventurers in search of wealth to be procured by rapine and the sword, regardless of the rights of others ; nor did they endeavor to seduce the unsuspecting into their scheme by plau- sible or specious promises. Their purpose was to secure a new home in the wilds of America, and, in so doing, to lay the foundations of a government that would give to themselves the enjoyment of liberty in its legally restri6led sense, and would perpetuate the same blessings to their descendants. How well they did this needs no answer from the present generation, which now reaps the full fruition of the labors of these pioneers in their efforts to obtain civil and religious liberty. In this light it is proper to regard them, and to admire their fidelity in laying so broad and deep the fundamental principles of human rights, so INTRODUCTION. 9 that these have come to us, after two hundred years, as pure and inspiring as when first published to the world. Nor did they hesitate when they found themselves in a strange land, sur- rounded by difficulties even greater than they had looked for. Without a dwelling, save such as could be made of the sails of their vessels ; without an acre of land prepared for culture, and without a friend to welcome or diredl them ; they at once established their religious meetings, organized their form of government, and put in operation . their code of laws, the liberality of which is felt to the present time. Nothing shows their intention to abandon the undertaking, or to yield to the discouragements that met them; but each successive day proved the wisdom of their plans, and strengthened their belief that success must ultimately follow. The influence of female example also deserves to be com- mended. Taken from their homes and from the circle of relatives and friends where the refinements, if not the luxuries, of life could be enjoyed, and where the strongest ties of human nature exist — the courage and the faithfulness of the wives and daughters of the first comers to the soil of New Jersey must excite the admi- ration of every reader. The trials and exposures through which they passed cannot, in our day, be fully appreciated. In the midst of a wilderness where even shelter was an object, these women are found, showing by word and deed that no complaint of theirs should bring despondency upon the little company. Resolute in the discharge of every duty, and unceasing in their efforts to contribute to the comfort and encouragement of their, companions, they displayed those traits of chara6ler which belong to the sex alone, and which always accomplish so much when brought into a(5lion. Having shared every sacrifice and met every requirement, their position in the first endeavor to settle our State with English colonists should be made a promi- nent one and must ever command respe6l. From these small beginnings at Salem, at Burlington, and at Newton, can be traced the development of West New Jersey; . and to the families who made the first adventure, many of its citizens can follow their direct line of blood. The letters O. S. G., used in the foot notes, refer to the records in the office of the Surveyor-General of West New Jersey. All other references, except those specially noticed, are made to the records in the office of the Secretary of State, at Trenton, N.J. Those indicated by letters contain records of deeds, and those by numbers contain records of wills. Many of the wills, probates and letters of administration of the firsti settlers in Burlington and Gloucester counties — part of Mercer county thenl being in Burlington, and Atlantic and Camden counties being part oS Gloucester — are on file and not recorded. The like documents, however, of Salem county — then embracing what now form Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties — are entered in the Salem books in the same office at Trenton. The records of many marriages of early times will be found in the court minutes of Salem and Burlington counties ; some also will be found in the book of "Licenses of Marriages," of later date in the same office. ROBERT ZANE. ROBERT ZANE was the pioneer of the settlement at Newton. He was the first of that colony who left the shores of his native land to seek a new home in an unknown and unsettled country.^ He did not wait the tardy move- ments of his associates, but took advantage of the first opportunity by which he could become acquainted with the place in which his life was to be spent, his children to be reared and his bones to be laid. With the vigor of youth and a fondness for adventure, he entered upon his purpose with a determination that could not be foiled. He was too young to be the victim of religious persecution, yet his sympathies were with those whose estates were being wasted, and whose persons were at the caprice of unrestrained authority. While these abuses excited his indignation, riper minds than his had con- vinced him that new homes, new laws and new rulers were the. only hopes for security and peace. The records of his time follow so close upon his footsteps that he is seldom lost sight of, and, from the first to the last, no question arises as to his identity under so ■niany different aspects. Thomas Sharp, in his Memorial, refers to him as coming from the city of Dublin to Salem four years before he. Sharp, came to Newton ; and all authorities agree that he was one of the members of the first Friends' Meeting established at Salem in 1675. He probably was in the ship with John Fenwick, among many other emigrants who arrived at Elsinburg in September I Hazzard's Annals of Pennsylvania, 422 12 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. of the year named, this vessel being the first which came to Salem under the auspices of that remarkable man. There is abundant evidence that his stay at Salem was designed to be but temporary, although his name frequently occurs in the proceed- ings of the Friends' Meetings of that place, from the year 1678 to the time of his removal. His name is not among those signed to the agreements made by the planters with the chief proprietor ; nor was he of those who located lands in the Salem Tenth, and received their title from the same person with a view to permanent settlement. He does not appear to have participated in the government of the colony, or to have been a party to the troubles between Fenwick and his Dutch and English rivals. His only purchase of real estate during the four years of his residence there, was that of a town lot, which he subsequently sold to William Royden in 1689, several years after he had settled at Newton.^ Thus the whole course of his a6lions, previous to the coming of Thomas Thackara and of the others with whom he associated, shows that his departure from home with John Fenwick was made in expe6tation of being followed by them, and of their forming a united settle- ment within the bounds of the Irish Tenth, many miles from the place of his first arrival. The limits of the territory in which this settlement was to be made, were shown to him soon after the arrival of the London and Yorkshire commissioners, as lying between Penisaulcin and Timber creeks, two large and well defined streams. Beside these, but two others, at all navig- able, found their way into the Delaware within the bounds fixed ; upon any one of which the sele6lion could be made. No one can doubt that Robert Zane traversed each of these to examine locations, test the soil and discover the most eligible place "to settle down by." Opposite to where. the Swansons had made their farms, and where now stands the southerly part of the city of Philadelphia, the mouth of Newton creek opened into the river and was in full view from the spot where their houses stood. Near their dwellings a few scattered huts were already built, which gave the place some pretensions to a town, whose inhabitants, however, at that time, were all Swedes. 2 Salem Deeds No. 4, 16 ROBERT ZANE. 13 About this time William Penn arrived at Shackomaxin, and the prospe6l was that a town would be laid out, extending along the river front from the last named point down to the little Swedish village; and including it. To be near this growing place, Robert no doubt, considered desirable ; and, when his friends arrived from Ireland, he called their attention to these advan- tages, and, through his representations, the place on the north bank of Newton creek was fixed upon, and an embryo town soon built. These friends and associates, to whom reference has before been made, may be known through two separate and distin6l papers, bearing widely different dates, and made for entirely different purposes. The iirst is a deed, dated April 12th, 1677, made by Edward Bylinge and his trustees to Robert Turner, of Dublin,'' '■'■Robert Za/ie, of Dublin, Serge Maker, and others for one whole share of Propriety in West New Jersey;" and the second is the Memorial of Thomas Sharp, dated in 1718, in which a history is given of all their proceedings down to the writing of the same, covering a space of forty-one years, and until after the death of several of those in the first interested. Taking these papers together, the one as the first and the other as the last, the coincidence of names, dates and localities are remarkable, and puts at rest any question touching the persons participant in that adventure. As an artisan, Robert Zane was a worker in wool, manufac- turing a kind of material that bears the same name to this day, and which is used for the same purpose.* It is probable that he brought his looms with him, but he found no use for them here for several years after his coming, for the reason that the required material was not produced until agriculture had been somewhat advanced, and the people had made themselves farms from lands where before had stood an unbroken forest. A majority of his associates were educated to the same kind of labor, and, although producing a different stuff from their looms, yet all came under the general head of ' ' Weavers, ' ' and were thus known among their neighbors. 3 Lib. B-i, 52. 4 Lib. B-i, 52. 14 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. In 1679 he married Alice Alday, of Burlington, in the Friends' Meeting at that place. Alice was, in all proba- bility, an Indian maiden. A faithful search among the names of the early settlers reveals none similar to hers; and it may fairly be concluded that Robert became enamored of the bronzed beauty in one of his perambulations among the natives of the soil. Perhaps some hunting expedition found him at night-fall, hungry and foot-sore, near the hospitable wigwam of an Indian chief, by whom he was invited to rest and accept the good cheer set before him; and, while the assurance of welcome delayed him for the night, he may have noticed a daughter of his host, of artless ways and graceful movements. " What though the sun with ardent frown. Had slightly tinged her cheek with brown," he could see in her a comely, and, to his youthful eye, an attra(51;ive person. To the talk by the evening fire, during which the old chief questioned him about " the story of his life," the dark-haired damsel would listen, and with "a greedy ear devour up his discourse," and thus give him an opportunity to watch her interest in his words, and to draw from her, at least, a look of sympathy. In relating the sad story of the wrongs that drove him, and those who were soon to follow, from their homes, he enlisted her pity, and thus won her love. In settling the preliminaries of the marriage, a name known in the English tongue must be agreed upon ; this trouble was easily overcome by those whose hopes and wishes now so closely assimilated. A due regard for the discipline of the church required that her ideas of religious belief should conform to the notions of Friends; this being made satis- fadlory, and a name having been fixed by her parents, nothing remained but the consummation of the nuptials. This marriage doubtless brought together a strange assemblage within the tent in which the meetings at Burlington were then held. Beside the plain and unpretending dress of the Quaker might be seen the gaudy and warlike costume of the aborigines, and while the one was chara6leristic of non-resistance and peace, the other bespoke resentment and revenge. In the one, humility and a patient waiting for results were apparent; a ROBERT ZANE. 15 bold and defiant expression could be seen in the bearing of the other. The restraining influence of civilization was strikingly contrasted with unlettered barbarism. The arrival of his friends from Dublin in 1681, and their purpose to take up their abode in the Irish Tenth, made it necessary that Robert Zane should remove from Salem in order to carry out the original agreement formed before his coming to New Jersey. This may be inferred from Friend Sharp's history of that event, as well as from the deed before named. ^ In the search "up and down," he doubtless was the leader, and pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the different points, and gave them his knowledge of the surrounding country. His right was one-tenth of a whole share, and this, under the several dividends, gave him the privilege of making surveys, of which he and his sons took advantage, as appears by the records of that time. In the division of the original survey of one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres, as made in 1681,'' he took for his share, the upper part which extended from Newton creek to Cooper's creek, and which now includes the Collings estate, the Barton farm, and the plantation formerly held by Amos Haines, with other sub-divisions. He was the owner of prop- erty at Gloucester, which he disposed of previous to his death.'' With the political matters of the colony he had somewhat to do, being elected to the first Legislature in 1682, and returned in 1685.* During these sittings many important laws were passed, their necessity arising out of the new order of things, and being based upon a new charter of rights. The most of these were found to be salutary, and but little complaint arose among the people. In 1684 and also in the following year, he filled the office of constable ; but what executive duties he had to discharge when the inhabitants were so few, it is hard to understand. Each tenth appears to have had an officer of this chara6ler, appointed annually by the Legislature, whose authority was confined to the bounds of the same, while the sheriff, who was also 5 Thomas Sharp's Memorial. 7 Lib. W., 59, O. S. G. 6 Revels' Book, 52, 8 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 1 6 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. appointed by the same power and for the same time, had his duties enlarged to the vaguely defined boundaries of the coun- ties, which boundaries in after years led to much trouble and litigation. Although his name does not appear among the records of the Newton Friends, yet he was an a6live member in that meeting and sought to maintain and advance their religious principles. In his day and generation opinions were well defined upon those points, and men were advanced in accordance with their views expressed or understood. In the year 1686, Robert Zane fell into a difficulty with a female, formerly a servant in his family, touching some obliga- tions on his part not complied with. The trouble assumed such proportions that it got beyond the control of the meeting, and found its way to the courts of justice, in which it became a matter of public record. The minute book of the court sitting at Gloucester explains the dispute, and the entire copy, as found and extra6led by Isaac Mickle, Esq., is its best history.' "Upon ye complaint of Rebecca Hammond against her late master, Robert Zane, for want of necessary apparel, as also his failure in some covenants that he was by his Indenture to perform ; it was ordered yt ye said Robert Zane before ye first day of ninth month next, shall find and give to ye said Rebecca Hammond apparel to the value of three pounds seven shillings and sixpence. And also fifty acres of land to her and her heirs forever. And in case ye said Robert dislike this order, then to stand and abide by ye a6l of Assembly in ye like case provided. Whereupon the said Robert Zane did at last declare that he would comply with ye aforesaid order and answer ye same. ' ' This appears to have been an a6t within the power of the court upon complaint of the servant, under the law passed in 1682, which gave authority to examine into and settle such controversies between master and servant. ■'° The law required that the servant should have, at the end of the term, ten bushels of corn, necessary apparel, two horses and one axe. The fifty 9 Mickle's Reminiscences of Old Gloucester, 39. TO Learning & Spicer's Laws. ROBERT ZANE. 17 acres referred to were known as "head land," to which able bodied servants were entitled, and which the court dire6led to be conveyed. Friend Zane was not lessened by this suit in the good opinion of his neighbors, for his name is found in conne6lion with many positions of trust after that time. His house stood fronting Newton creek, near to, and perhaps a short distance above, the place where the Camden and White Horse turnpike crosses that stream, and on the farm lately owned by the heirs of Edward Z. Collings, deceased. Like all others of its day, no taste was displayed in its constru6lion, but, being surrounded by the primeval forest, and near a beautiful, living stream of water, its wild and romantic appearance would be attractive to an artist's eye. The clearing of the land, at that day, was a slow process, accomplished with few laborers and poor implements, while, to add to the difficulty, heavy timber had to be felled and removed ; yet these people soon began to write to their friends at home of the prolific soil, the favorable climate, and the plenty that perVaded the land. With all such flattering accounts, however, it is to be sup- posed that much of the means for the comfort and sustenance of the first settlers was derived from the forest and streams that teemed with game and fish of many kinds, which kept the wolf from the door in more than a single sense. An incident that occurred during the career of Robert Zane, showing the care with which the Society of Friends regarded the disputes among their members, and how much scandal was avoided by the settlement of such troubles within the pale of the church, may be noticed here. John White, a resident of Newton, died, leaving his brother Joseph, William Bates, Thomas Thackara and Robert Zane, executors of his will. The property which he left to be man- aged by his executors for the benefit of his children, was, for those times, considerable. In the progress of the settlement, a difficulty arose between Joseph White and the other executors, which found its way into both the Newton and the Salem Meeting, causing much discussion and ill feeling. A committee of six members from each meeting was appointed to settle the matter. This committee met at the house of Thomas Gard- 1 8 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. iner, Jr., at Woodbury creek, to hear what could be said by each party. A conclusion was reached, and an award ^signed by eleven of the committee, Richard Darkin of the Salem Meeting dissenting. This award was laid before the Salem Meeting upon the 26th day of the eighth month, 1691, and by it approved. Joseph White appealed to the Quarterly Meeting, which confirmed the a61; of the Monthly Meeting. In these pro- ceedings, Richard Darkin gave his reasons for not signing the award, which were considered by each meeting in its review of the same. In regular order, the parties took the matter to the Yearly Meeting, held at Burlington, and, on the 29th day of the second month, 1693, Richard Darkin on the one part, and Thomas Sharp, one of the signers of the award, on the other part, were heard by Francis Davenport, Alexander Brearley, Samuel Carpenter and James Fox, the committee appointed by the meeting. After due consideration, the meeting confirmed the award aforesaid in all things. Much dissatisfa6lion still existed, but, on the 24th day of the fourth month, 1695, the decision of the committee of the Yearly Meeting was reported to the Salem Meeting, and the controversy abandoned so far as regarded the trouble among the executors. John Hugg subsequently became the guardian of William White, son of the said John White. He also fell into difficulty with Joseph White, the contentious executor, about the payment of money due the ward, which was in his hands. In 1698, the guardian made complaint to the Salem Meeting of this default, and, in the next year, Edward Shippen, Anthony Morris and Isaac Norris were appointed a committee to adjust the same. This committee reported against Joseph White. In 1 703, the matter makes its appearance again at the Yearly Meeting in Salem. At this meeting Joseph White is rebuked for his negledl in the premises. In the twelfth month of that year, however, he appeared before the meeting at Salem, and showed that a settlement had been made between himself and William White, thus putting an end to this tedious controversy. Robert Zane's will was executed in 1694, the year in which he departed this life. This paper is a ragged, damp-stained ROBERT ZANE. 19 manuscript, in the files of the ofifice of the Secretary of State, where it has probably escaped the eyes of searchers, for a century past. It contains much valuable information about his real estate, and also gives some fa(5ts concerning his family. Elizabeth, a second wife and mother of several of his children, was made executrix. She died in 1700, before a settlement of the estate was effected.'^ She was a daughter of Henry Willis, of Hempstead, Long Island, who was appointed by the court to close up the executrix's accounts. The posthumous child, as named in his will, was a daughter, and was called Rachel. Nothing appears upon the papers to show who were the children of the first wife, so that the native blood can be traced to the later generations of the family. They were Nathaniel, who married Grace Rakestraw, of Philadelphia, in 1697 ; Robert, who married Jane ; Elnathan, who married ; Simeon, who died without children ; Mary, Esther and Sarah. Nathaniel died in 1727 ; his children were Joseph, Jonathan, Ebenezer, Isaac, William, Margaret, Abigail and Hannah.'^ Robert deceased in 1744; his children were Robert, who married Mary Chattin ; Joseph ; William ; Simeon, who married Sarah Hooten ; Isaxic, who married Asuba Wilkins ; Rebecca, Rachel, Elizabeth, Esther ; and Sarah, who married James Whitall."-" Elnathan died in 1732. He was a shoemaker, and resided in Haddonfield. In 1703, he, Elnathan, sold 127 acres of land to John Fisher, the same being part of the estate owned by his father, lying next to Cooper's creek. John Fisher sold to Arthur Powell in 1716, who conveyed to William Cooper, of Philadelphia, in 1730.^* The same property passed through a branch of the Burroughs family to Amos Haines, who, in 1804, devised it to his son Amos. Two of the children of Elnathan Zane, Nathaniel and Elnathan, also lived in the same place ; the last named of whom married Bathsaba Hartley, in 1761, a daughter of Roger and Rebecca Hartley, 11 Gloucester files, 1700, 13 Lib. AB, 152. 12 Lib. No. 2, 510. 14 Lib. No. 3, 138. Lib. K, i. 20 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. and half-sister to Mathias Aspden. This person was a son, by a second marriage, of the widow of Roger Hartley with Mathias Aspden, in 1756. As a shipping merchant, he accumulated a large estate and, upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, sympathized with the Crown and removed to England. In 1779, he was attainted of treason, and his property sold. In 1786, the attainder was removed, and damage awarded for the waste of his estate. He never married, and died in London, August 9, 1824. His estate followed the direction of a will made by him in 1791, and went to his heirs at law}^ These few words occupied the courts for more than twenty years, at an expense of thousands of dollars ; the English heirs being claimants on the father's side, and the American, being claimants in the maternal line. In 1833, Judge Baldwin decided in favor of the first named. An appeal was taken, and a new trial granted. In 1848, the verdict of a jury, before Judge Grier, in Philadelphia, was in favor of the Amer- ican claimants, which virtually put an end to the suit. The estate amounted to $600,000, and was distributed accordingly. It will be seen that the male branch predominated in the Zane family ; but many of them, having a spirit of unrest, incident to the blood in the maternal line, wandered into the West, far beyond the line of civilization, and the original estate passed out of the name in a few decades after the death of the first owner. By his, Robert's, will, one-third of the estate went to his son Nathaniel, and the same proportion to his son Robert. Nathaniel died in 1727, and devised his part to his son Joseph, who also bought his uncle Robert's share in 1740. Joseph deceased in 1759, and gave this estate to two of his children, — Esther, wife of Richard Collings, and Rhoda, wife of Thomas Heppard.^" The last named sold the undivided half-part to Richard Collings, in 1762, whereby the latter became owner of the original estate, as before named." A portion of the same is still held in the family ; but much the larger part has passed to other owners.^* This Richard Collings (who was one of the descendants of Francis Collins), on account of the numerous family of that 15 Supreme Court of the United States, No. i6o. 17 Lib. W., 59, O. S. G. 16 Lib. No. 9, 238. 18 Lib. B, 316, Gloucester Records, ROBERT ZANE. 21 name in this region, and for the purpose of distin61;ion, changed the spelling of his name, by introducing the letter g ; this has led to some confusion in genealogy ; yet the tradition is generally accepted, and is looked upon as correct. James Whitall, who married Sarah, one of the daughters of the second Robert Zane, settled on a farm which he purchased of Samuel Shivers, in 1725. This property fronted Cooper's creek, in Haddon township, and was formerly known as the "Ann Burr Farm." James Whitall must have died a few years after, for, in 1729, his executors sold the same to John Eastlack. In 1742, it became part of the estate of Elizabeth Estaugh (by her husband's will), who deeded it to her nephew, Ebenezer Hopkins, in 1752; one of whose children was the before- named Ann Burr. Isaac Zane, a grandson of the second Robert, in his wander- ings among the early settlers of the Western States, was captured by the Indians, and remained with them for many years. The contradi6lory statements made in regard to this person have lead to much doubt as to the truth of the story ; and, with some, he is placed in a different family and conne6led with a different history. DeHass, in his history of the Indian wars of Western Virginia, published in 185 1, says that the family is of Danish origin, that it first moved to France, thence to England, and finally emigrated to America ; and that one branch settled in New Jersey, nearly opposite to Philadelphia, and the other in Virginia. From the Virginia branch, this historian traces the pioneers of the Western wilds, and places Ebenezer Zane at the head of these brave men. His first cabin was built where the city of Wheeling now stands, and there he ere6led a stockade for the protedtion of his family, in 1777. He was employed by the United States government in various positions of trust and responsibility, and always discharged his duties to satisfaction. From this man the name and family have become numerous in Western Virginia. He died in 1811.^® Reference is made to Jonathan and Silas Zane, brothers of Ebenezer, who were his companions in arms against the Indians. Jonathan was considered the most expert hunter in 19 DeHass's History of Indian Wars in Western Virginia, 331. 22 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. his day, and often aided in the capacity of a spy in the troubles with the red men. Reference is also made to Isaac Zane, who, the account says, was captured when about nine years of age, and, becoming thoroughly Indian in habits and appearance, married the sister of a Wyandotte chief. By her he acquired a large landed estate, and had a family of eight children. He remained true to the whites, and, by timely information, saved them from many bloody visitations. In consideration of these services, the govern- ment granted him ten thousand acres of land on Mad river. The remarkable coincidence of Christian names in this narra- tive with those of the descendants of the first-comer to Newton, would suggest some error on the part of DeHass in fixing the location of their settlement, and would lead to the supposition that he had been misinformed in this respe6l. Letters and other memoranda now in possession of the family in this part of our State, place the identity of Isaac beyond a question. In 1798, an account of his captivity, marriage and position among the Indians, was published, and a visit which he made to his friends and relatives about Newton, goes to show that he was of the New Jersey family, and that Robert Zane was his ancestor.™ The family is numerous in most of the Western States ; it has sprung from the hardy, brave men whose love of adventure and fondness for the solitude of the wilderness, kept them in advance of civilization. About the old homestead plantation, no one bearing the name has owned any of the soil for many years ; and, but for the titles and traditions that are inseparably conne6led therewith, they would have long since been forgotten. 20 Family Papers. THOMAS SHARP. OF the few colonists who settled in Newton in 1681, Thomas Sharp was the master spirit. He infused his Energy and good judgment into the whole company ; was their adviser and guide, and was, no doubt, as he deserved to be, their leader in all important undertakings. He was an Irish- man, and by occupation a "woolstead comber,'" but appears to have had better opportunities for education than most persons at that time, or, certainly, than those with whom he was associated. Although, as he says, a young man, he had the entire confi- dence of his companions, and the end shows that this confidence was not misplaced or abused. He was a nephew of Anthony Sharp, a wealthy merchant of Dublin, who became the owner of several shares of propriety ; part of which he conveyed to Thomas, who also a6led as his agent in the sale of the remainder. Under this conveyance he made all his locations, and took part in the government of the Province. A faithful sketch of the life of this man, from the time of his arrival in New Jersey until his death, would be a history of Gloucester county for that period, and would be the most reliable basis upon which the writer could found his statements. His thorough knowledge of the country, his acquaintance with the settlers, and his truthful accounts of the progress of the colony, as by himself recorded, have made him an authority not to be questioned. I Lib. G-3, 36. 24 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Touching the first settlement at Newton, no better account can be given than_ his own, so that future generations may have the evidence of a participant therein. Although written thirty-seven years after that event, yet it contains an exa6l statement of fa6ls, and embodies everything necessary to an accurate knowledge of that undertaking. Every reader will peruse it with interest, and may thank Friend Sharp for doing so good a work for those coming after him. It is here presented entire, as copied from Liber A, of Gloucester county deeds, page 98, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Trenton, New Jersey : — • "Let it be remembered yt upon ye nineteenth day of Sep- tember, in ye year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-one, Mark Newby, William Bates, Thomas Thackara, George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp, set saile from ye Harbor belonging to ye city of Dublin, in ye Kingdom of Ireland, in a pink called '■Ye owners adventure,'' whereof Thomas Lurtin, of London, was commander, and being taken sick in ye city, his mate, John Dagger, officiated in his place ; in order to trans- port us, and yt we might settle ourselves in West Jersey, in America. And by ye good providence of God we arrived in ye Capes of Delaware ye eighteenth day of November following, and so up ye bay until we came to Elsinburg, and were landed with . our goods and families at Salem, where we abode ye winter. But it being very favourable weather and purchasing a boat amongst us, we had an opportunity to make search up and down in yt which was called ye Third tenth, which had been reserved for ye proprietors dwelling in Ireland, where we might find a place suitable for so many of us to settle down together, being in these early times somewhat doubtfull of ye Indians, and at last pitched down by yt which is now called Newton creek, as ye most invitingist place to settle down by, and then we went to Burlington, and made application to ye commissioners yt we might have warrants dire6led to Daniel Leeds, ye Surveyor General, to survey unto every of us, so much land as by ye constitution at yt time was alloted for a settlement being five hundred acres, or yt we had a right to, for a taking up it under, which accordingly we obtained. THOMAS SHARP. 25 ''At which time also Robert Zane, who came from ye city of Dublin, and had been settled in Salem, four years before, joined in with us who had a right to a tenth. Mark Newby to a twentieth, William Bates to a twentieth, Thomas Thackara to a twentieth, Thomas Sharp (out of his uncle Anthony Sharp's right) a twentieth, and George Goldsmith (under ye notion of Thomas Starkey's right) a tenth; all which of us, excepting William Bates who took his on ye southerly side of Newton creek, we took our land in one tract together for one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres, bounding in ye forks of Newton creek and so over to Cooper's creek, and by a line of marked trees to a small branch of ye fork creek and so down ye same as by ye certificate of it standing upon record in ye Secretary office it doth appear. And after some time finding some inconveniency in having our land in common together being at ye time settled at ye place now called Newton in ye manner of a town for fear as aforesaid at which being removed we came to an agreement to divide. George Goldsmith he choose the head of the creek, Thomas Sharp the forks or lower end of the land next towards the river, by which means the rest kept to their settlements without any disadvantage to themselves. "And so ye land was divided according to every man's right. But it is to be understood as I have so much hinted before, that by ye constitution of ye country at yt time, no person, let his right be never so great, should survey and take up above five hundred acres in one tra6l to make one settlement of, and yt within six months, or otherwise, it was free for any other person that had rights to land to survey it to himself as if it had never been taken up for any other person. Whereupon many were obliged in order to secure good places to themselves to give one hundred acres to secure the rest ; and many were deterred from taking up their land yt could not find means to secure it leaste they should spend money to no profit. Now ye state of ye case touching George Goldsmith (having a full and certain knowledge thereof) is this wise. Thomas Starkey did desire and order George Goldsmith to take up some land for him in West Jersey ; when it is reasonable to suppose he had a right, but brought nothing with him to make it appear, and ye com- 26 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. missioners at yt time gave way by ye credit of the report of ye rest concerned that he might take up five hundred acres, but it never was returned in Starkey's name. "George Goldsmith being uneasy under ye circumstance he lay, writ several times to Thomas Starkey, giving him to under- stand he had taken up five hundred acres of land for him provided he would allow him one hundred acres of it for settling the same as ye general custom then was. The letters either miscarried or otherwise the demand being ungrateful to him he answered them in silence. Supposing as it may be supposed yt ye land being taken up for him could not be taken from him, it could not be allowed. "Now this put George upon further thought what to do to secure himself, whereupon he made application to Robert Turner and layeth his case before him, signifying if he would allow him one hundred acres of yt land whereon he had made his improvements, he would suffer him to take \\\) yt five hundred acres in his own right. Robert taking the matter in due consideration and searching the records at Burlington about it, and finding it so to lie recorded in George Gold- smith's name, who had no right at any time to take up any land in yt province, agrees to survey it to himself, and accord- ingly did, and records it as such in ye Secretary's office; conveys one hundred acres of ye same, according to agreement, to George Goldsmith, and unto his heirs and assigns forever. The other four hundred acres he sold unto Isaac Hollingsham. "The foregoing is a true relation of yt settlement of Newton, as also a true and impartial account of ye foregoing tract of land, settled by George Goldsmith. Given under my hand the 3rd month, 3rd, 1 718. "Thomas Sharp. "Allowed by John Kay, the 3rd month, 4th, 1718." In addition to the one thousand seven hundred and fifty acres located as before named, there were also one hundred acres of meadow land taken up at the mouth of Kaighn's run, and fronting on the Delaware river. This was done for the purpose of procuring hay for their cattle through the winters ; and it shows how careful they were in obtaining lawful posses- THOMAS SHARP. ' 27 sion of the soil before they applied its products to their own purposes. In many of the old papers this stream is called Little Newton creek, but, like others, this title has been lost and that of an- adjacent owner substituted. Like the larger tracts, the meadow was soon divided into lots, showing that their being held in common led to trouble among the owners.^ The map here given is the only history of that transa6lion, but is sufficient to show the manner in which it was accomplished. For some reason not explained, the bounds of the county of Gloucester were not defined by Legislative enadlment until the year 1694, although the judicial limits thereof seem to have been recognized as early as 1682, in which year Thomas Sharp was appointed constable of the third tenth, ^ which same became part of the said bailiwick. This executive office, although defined as that of constable, must have extended to that of sheriff, since, in the same year, Burlington and Salem counties each had a sheriff appointed under the same authority, yet no such action was taken in regard to the third and the fourth tenth. As suggested by Isaac Mickle, Esq., in his notice of this matter, the confusion caused by Edward Byllynge in the colony, and the long adjournment of seven years of the Legislature, may be accepted as the reasons, but nothing satisfactory appears of record in regard to the matter. The inhabitants of that region of country, however, did not wait the tardy movements of their law makers, but proceeded with all due solemnity to establish a county for themselves — a faithful record of which action, made by Thomas Sharp at the time, is still preserved in the Clerk's office, of Gloucester county, at Woodbury. It runs as follows : — " Cxloucester, ye 28th of May, 1686. By ye propyetors, free- holders and inhabitants of the third and fourth tenths, (alias. County of Gloucester,) then agreed as followeth : Imprimis — That a courte be held for the jurisdi6lion and limits of the aforesaid tenths or county, one tyme at Axwamus, (alias, Gloucester,) and another tyme at Red Bank. 2 Revel's Book, 50-59. 3 Learning & Spicer's Laws,. 28 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Item : — That the four courts for ye jurisdiction aforesaid, be held in one year at ye days and times hereafter mentioned, viz : Upon ye first day of ye first month, upon ye first day of ye fourth month, upon ye first day of ye seventh month, and upon ye first day of ye tenth month. Item : — That ye first courte shall be held at Gloucester aforesaid, on ye first day of September next. Item : — That all warrants and summons shall be drawn by ye Clerk of ye courte, and signed by ye Justice, and soe delivered to ye Sheriff or his Deputy to execute. Item: — The body of each warrant, &c., shall contayne or intimate the nature of ye a6lion. Item : — That a copy of the declaration be given along with ye warrant by ye Clerk of ye courte, that soe ye defendants may have the longest tyme to consider ye same and prepare his answer. Item: — That all summons, warrants, &c., shall be served, and declarations given at least ten days before ye courte. Item : — That ye Sheriff shall give ye jury summons six days before ye courte be held on which they are to appear. Item : — That all persons within ye jurisdi6lion aforesaid, bring into ye next courte ye mark of their hoggs and other cattell, in order to be approved and recorded."* With these novel proceedings, clerk Sharp had much to do, • and, in all probability, prepared the paper as recorded ; which in after years was received as legitimate, and so recognized by the Legislature of the colony. After that time the records were regular, and, all such as had occasion to appear at courts, either voluntarily or otherwise, submitted to the a6lion thereof without protest. Isaac Mickle, Esq., author of "The Rem- iniscences of Old Gloucester," has copied many interesting things from these ancient books into his valuable work, which show Thomas Sharp to have been an efficient recorder and master of his duties. In view of the much labor and the poor pay, our clerk facetiously gets off the following lines, doubtless after a hard day's work : " The clerks of this county I think I may proclaim, Will not at present the owner of it load with much gain. T. S." 4 Lib. A, Court Minutes, Woodbury. THOMAS SHARP. 29 More truth than poetry is certainly here contained, yet nothing appears to prove that any duty was negle6led, or further complaint made by that worthy man. After the machinery of the new county was fairly adjusted and found to run smoothly, Thomas Sharp withdrew from the duties of clerk, and was succeeded by John Reading, who served the people for many years after. Being the only surveyor in these parts, his time was much occupied in that kind of business. In addition to the recording of deeds for the county, he kept a private book of all his proceedings, in which he placed maps and memoranda, showing his great care in such matters and his ability as a pra6lical man. He also made other books containing plans of houses, calcula- tions of the movements of the sun and moon, and many other things in accordance with his taste and leisure. One of these volumes was left in the hands of Hannah Ladd, after his decease, and was deemed so valuable, that an a6l of the Legislature was passed to have the same placed in the office of the Surveyor- General at Burlington, N. J. ; thus it was made a lawful record, and has been so recognized to the present time. His money accounts, settlements and charges, will be found scattered through them. An occasional extract from them may prove interesting. In the year 1720, he paid several subscriptions for John Estaugh, towards the building of the meeting house at Haddonfield, of fifteen pounds each ; he, at that time, having charge of much of that person's estate, in the colle6lions of rents, &c. In the discharge of these duties, he traveled to Amboy in one dire(5lion, and to Cohansey in another, at each of which places John Estaugh had landed estate. In 1686, he appears to have paid the expenses of transporting Isaac Gooden and family from England, which he itemized in the following manner : £, s. d. Passage for self and wife, --.... Lost, .-----.-. For carrying goods, ...--. For burial of his wife, ------- Fox' nursing child, - - - - . - Expenses from home to ship, ------ In shors, [chores ?] - 18 05 06 II 00 00 2 03 00 00 15 00 I 16 00 00 06 00 2 00 CO 00 05 06 30 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. These charges are light when compared with like expenses of the present day, and show about the average cost of removal from the one country to the other at that time. Perhaps the most curious part of these books is the poetry therein. Among the multifarious duties of this man as Sur- veyor, County Clerk, as Judge of the Court, weaver, dyer, and others not known, he found time to woo the muse, and has left in rhyme somewhat of the history of his times, of the trials that vexed the church, and of other things to be gathered by the reader. Part only is here given — not to be criticised too severely — but to show the character of the man, and the various occupa- tions in which he engaged. Like many of the old records, much has been defaced, and parts entirely obliterated by damp, but, perhaps, enough has been secured to show the meaning of the author. " By way of introdudlion — The settlement of Newton and its state, As then it was, and now, I do relate, Because my knowledge thereof was most true ; As by what follows here doth plainly shew. An introduiSlion doth this work begin Like silken clew for guide of strangers in, That in time to come it may plainly be. And they that know not, may be made to see. The matters here contained, as thou may find. Have been with pressure some years on my mind ; But now, at last, I have thought it well. And to Posterity, its good to tell. In eighty-one, in Salem we did arrive. At which time then the People began to thrive, And had in store for to supply our want. Which, otherwise, would have been rather scant. If to Burlington had gone, as we were bound. We should be lost and disadvantage found It would have been most surely unto us. And must have pinched and punished ye purse. Now being settled on this wise, I say. The winter mild, and nothing in the way. We had ye advantage for to try and find A place that was agreeing to our mind. After some time and labor spent, we agreed on The Creek, ye seat and place now called Newton. The persons yt thus had ye care to fix. Did, in ye whole, amount to number six. So in ye Spring we made our settlement. THOMAS SHARP. 31 And lived so as that we were content; Although somtimes we were hard bestead, Yet the Lord in kindness did afford us bread. In Newton then there did shine Some yt were zealous and 'divine; They largely did with care provide For those yt come from ye true guide, To diredl their minds to stand in truth. They had received in they er youth ; Yet in a while some youth did show That they in goodness did not grow. But now poor Newton is decayed ; The youth not zealous, I am afraid. Nor don't endeavor with ye care Their forfathers took a larger share. I shall be glad I live to see Their zeal increased and better be. And they endeavour to remove By real adlion in true love ; Then I am in hopes ye case will mend. And be far better in ye end ; But, if they careless do remain. Then will ensue both loss and pain. The love I have yt they may come. And with true drawings really won And settle in ye lasting truth Their forfathers set in their youth, That in ye end they may obtain That which will be their lasting gain. And leave yt odour unto theirs. As did their fathers who are in their. — By T. S., the 14th of ye 12th mo., 1718." To return to the pra(5lical regarding the subje6l of our sketch, — he may be again found in the discharge of a good work, the keeping of a town book, commenced in 1723. This contains the record of the proceedings of the town meetings of the people of Newton, the entries being made in his quaint, odd manner, with a style of penmanship peculiar to himself. This duty he continued until 1728, inclusive, when his son Samuel succeeded him. Thus, in every new undertaking, he was the pioneer, laying down the general outlines of pro- ceedings, and giving up the duties when the same went forward properly. His map of the land in Newton township, made in 1700, and here given, is a paper that must interest every resident within its bounds, not only for the information therein contained, but also as showing the labor which he was willing to bestow upon a subje6l purely for the public good. This 32 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. is but part of the valuable records of that nature which he has left, — records, extending over a large amount of territory in West New Jersey, in which he was commissioned as a deputy surveyor. The compass and protracting instruments used by him were of rude constru6lion, compared with those of our day, now so nicely and accurately adjusted by machinery ; yet, laboring as he did under these disadvantages, his field work and maps are not behind the best of the present time. In 1689, he laid out the city of Gloucester, designed, no doubt, as a rival to Salem and Burlington, which were already villages of some pretension. These towns had even start with Philadelphia, but they have, many years since, lost all com- parison in present or prospedlive importance. By appointment of the Legislature in 1684, with Henry Wood, Francis Collins and William Bates, he became one of the commission to lay out highways, which same appointment was continued the next year. In 1685, he was returned as a member of the Assembly, the session of which commenced May 12th, and sat for one day.* At the November session in the same year, his name does not appear, which would seem to imply that two ele6lions, preceding each sitting of that body, were had in each year. The trouble among the people settled about the Penisaukin creek, concerning the line between the counties of Burlington and Gloucester, appears to have existed for several years, and led to many wordy combats and considerable legislation.- The Grand Jury of each county took adion in the premises, and assumed a belligerent attitude toward each other, seeming to lay aside, for the time, the element of forbearance and non-resistance so prominent in the early days of Quakerism. In 1689, the courts of Gloucester county appointed a Com- mission to run and mark the said boundary line, and Thomas Sharp was the Surveyor.* The people of Burlington county were notified, and, if they chose, could have appeared and seen the work performed. Three years after the Legislature appointed four of its number to report upon this difficulty, but, their decision being unsatisfa6tory, the law was repealed 5 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 6 Minute Book, Woodbury. THOMAS SHARP. 33 at the next session. In 1694, an a6l was again passed, defining the boundaries of Gloucester county, but still leaving the cause of the difficulty an open question, by not fixing upon which branch of Cropwell river, or Penisaukin creek, the said boundary was to run. In 1709, however, an end was put to these differences by a law clearly naming the south branch ; and this has remained as then fixed to the present time.'' In 1700, Thomas Sharp was appointed one of the judges of the several courts of Gloucester county, and, if pra6lical knowledge has any merit, he was eminently qualified for that position. That he took an interest in the advancement and prosperity of the religious denomination of which he was a member, may be seen from the frequency with which his name occurs among the proceedings of that society. He was one of the trustees of the Newton Meeting, and, no doubt, assisted in the ere6tion of the first house that was set apart for religious worship. With Elizabeth Estaugh he selected the site for the meeting house at Haddonfield, surveyed the lot, wrote the deed, and put the same on record in his private book, after she returned from England with it, having the signature of her father thereunto attached. In this paper he has again shown his odd style of description. It reads thus : "As they shall see convenient to lay out from the tra6l of land settled by John Estaugh, lying in ye township of Newton, any where on ye north side of ye road yt leads out of ye King's road to Newton, as far from ye west corner of John Gill's fence as where ye said road intersects the same." Upon the deed he placed a map of the lot conveyed, by which all vagueness and uncertainty of description are cor- re6led. This remarkable man has left other interesting memorials and writings — generally of a religious chara6ler — not here copied for want of room. He participated in every political movement in and about the colony, and his name will be oftener found among the records at Burlington, Trenton or Woodbury, than that of any other man of those early times. 7. Learning & Spicer's Laws. 34 FIJiST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. In the division of the original survey as jointly held under the location, he says : "I took the forks or lower end of the land next toward the river."* There he settled, cleared a farm and improved some meadow. He owned property in other parts of the county, although not the holder of much real estate. Thomas Sharp was also appointed ranger for Gloucester county. The duties of this office cannot be better understood than by copying in full the commission and instru6lions to the appointee. " Province OF (- ' "^ To Thomas Sharp, of ye county of \ SEAL \ Gloucester, greeting : New Jersey, C J ^., ^ , u .i, • j i •^ -— ,— ' -I hou art hereby authorized by ye Western Division. power and order of ye Councill of Proprietors to be Ranger for Gloucester County. In all things well and faithfully discharging thy said office, and ye trust in thee reposed, according to ye instru6tions herewith sent. And from time to time and at all times, to give an account of thy proceedings in ye said office to ye President of ye Councill for ye time being, when, and so often as thou shalt by him be thereunto required, and make good to him ye effe6ls due to ye Proprietors forth of ye Royalty of rangeing. "Given under my hand and seal, ye fifth day of November, Anno Dom., 1708." Attached to the commission is a copy of instru6lions to rangers, explaining at once the purposes of the office, their duties and authority. These instru6lions are as follows : "Instructions for Rangers. "ist. All unmarked horses and mares above ye age of thirty months shall be accounted wild, and none others. "2nd. It shall be lawful for ye several rangers within their respe6live limmitts to take up such horses and mares, and shall give notice thereof, by fixing of papers ffor discovery of ye same in three of ye most publick places in ye County where they shall happen to be taken up. 8 Revel's Book, 50. THOMAS SHARP. 35 "3rd. After such publication ye same not being owned within ye space of four weeks, they shall be appraised by two honest men, indifferently to be appointed by ye Constable of that jurisdi(?lion, and after that exposed to sale by public vendue, ye one half part of ye price thereof to be paid into ye hands of ye President of ye said Councill for ye time being, and ye other halfe to ye ranger. "4th. Any such horses, mares or other cattle which shall be found unmarked and taken up, being claimed by any person, and its appearing by ye oaths or affirmations of two witnesses taken before one justice of ye peace within ye time above limited, that ye said creatures do belong to ye persons claiming ye same, and it happening yt ye owners and ranger cannot agree about ye reward, they shall choose, each of them, one indifferent and substantial man of ye same County to allot and award ye said ranger his fees and reward, ffor taking up ye same." His first wife and the mother of his children was Elizabeth Winn, whom he married in 1701. In 1729, he departed this life, and was, no doubt, buried in the old Newton grave yard. He left a will, executed in the year of his death, in which he named his children and disposed of his property.^ Five years before his death, he probably married Judith Potts, the widow of Thomas, and daughter of , Smith. From this marriage there was no issue. His children .were Thomas, who married Catharine Hollingham ; Isaac, who married Margaret Brathwill; Samuel, who married Martha Hall; Joseph, an idiot; John, who married Elizabeth Paine; Elizabeth, who married John Hallowell; Mary, who married Smith; and Sarah, who married ■ Pearce. In 1723, Thomas Sharp gave by deed part of the homestead property to his son Samuel, who settled thereon; and in the same year, he conveyed another part to his son John, who, in 1 73 1, sold to his brother Samuel. At that time John resided in the parish of Christ's Church, London, and carried on the business of a weaver.^" He was the youngest son ; but why he 9 Lib. No. 3, 56. 10 Lib. DD, 358, O. S. G. 36 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. took up his home in the mother country does not appear. Seven years after the death of his father, Samuel sold his land to Tobias Halloway, and probably removed from the neigh- borhood. In these latter days this estate is known as the "Burrough Farm," now part of the property of Samuel C. Champion, deceased." As the holders of any land, none of the name have been residents hereabout for many years. John Hallowell, who married Elizabeth, was a resident of Darby, Pennsylvania, and the ancestor of a large and respe6l- able family in that se6lion of the state. Mary and Sarah may also have left this part of the country after their marriages, as they cannot be traced with any certainty at this date. It is remarkable that the descendants of a man who played so prominent a part in the first settlement of Gloucester county, and who, more than any other, was careful to have the history of his time preserved to coming generations, should so soon be lost sight of, and not known among the families of the present day. II John Burrough's Re-survey, 1810, O. S. G. MARK NEWBIE. THIS man was an Englishman, a resident of the city of London, and a tallow chandler. He was a member of a Friends' Meeting, whose house of worship was in a street of that city, called "Barbican." Some of the antiquarians say that it derived its name as follows : "Barbican is a street near Smithfield, London.^ The Barbican, originally a Roman watch tower, lay little north of this street ; it was an appendage to most fortiiied places, and from it the street took its name." Another says: "Bar- bican is a good, broad street, well inhabited by tradesmen."'^ In 1681, the persecutions that were carried on towards the religious society of which he was a member, led many Friends to remove to Ireland, where the rigor of abused law was not so keenly felt, and where for several years this class of citizens enjoyed comparative peace and quiet. Among them was Mark Newbie, who disposed of his property in London, and had a temporary residence in Dublin, with a view to settling in America and making it his permanent home. The question of removal, was, at that time, and for the reasons before stated, very gravely considered among Friends, and, in fa6l, with some communities had already assumed a pra6lical shape. The movements of William Penn in this matter were watched with interest, for he had a controlling influence in the Society, and his steps therein were ready to be 1 Smith's Antiquarian Rambles, Vol, 2, 170, &c. 2 Murry's Hand Bookj 31. 38 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. followed. His opinions soon became known, and these influenced others accordingly. In this movement Mark Newbie saw an opportunity to assist in carrying out his previously settled purpose, for, in the same year, he joined with William Bates and a few others, to make the adventure which ended in their settlement at Newton.'' The history of this has been well related by Thomas Sharp ; it combines the reasons, fa6ls and incidents thereof, better than any other account given, or that could be gathered at this late day. There are many reasons for supposing that Mark Newbie was a man or considerable estate, and, although he lived but a short time after his arrival, yet he became the owner of several trails of land, and had valuable personal property. The situation of his house in the settlement (which was an humble and unpretending habitation, ) is a question of more than ordinary interest to antiquarians, and to all such as care to preserve the history of the times in which lived these brave men, who planted the seed of civil and religious liberty now enjoyed by the millions occupying the soil.* Upon an old map left by Thomas Sharp, designed to show the several tra6ts of land owned by Robert Turner, within the bounds of Newton township, this faithful historian has marked the position of several houses, as they were placed the year after the arrival of the settlers, and after their separation. This map fixes it near the north side of the main, or middle branch of Newton creek, opposite to where William Bates had placed his cabin, a short distance below the old grave yard, but above the late residence of Samuel C. Champion, deceased. • Upon consulting a later map made by Friend Sharp, in 1700, much change may be seen as to the situation of the dwellings of the inhabitants ; but the house designated as Mark Newbie's has the same position as on the first paper showing its locality. At the last date, Stephen Newbie owned that part of his father's land extending from the main branch to fork branch, _^nd occupied the old homestead ; while his brother Edward had ere6led buildings upon the part of the paternal estate that lay 3. Lib. A, 98, Gloucester Records. 4 File T, O. S. G. MARK NEWBIE, 39 north of the last named stream, and there lived. This division of the original property of Mark Newbie has been the cause of some doubt as to the true position of his residence, but the comparing of the two maps aforesaid places it beyond cavil. In one of the accounts of this colony left by Thomas Sharp, in his quaint manner he says : "And immediately there was a meeting set up and kept at the house of Mark Newbie, and in a short time it grew and increased, unto which William Cooper and family that lived at the Point resorted." This clearly proves not only where the house was situated, but also that within its walls was established the first Friend's Meeting in Gloucester county, and, after Salem and Burlington, the first in West New Jersey. In this dwelling, built of logs, with the earth for a floor and a bark roof for a ceiling, were the doctrines of a revealed religion first proclaimed upon our shores by those who had . left their homes and friends, to enjoy this privilege that was denied them there. The lapse of time has swept away from us every appreciation of this privilege, for no attempt has since been made to abridge the rights of citizens in the enjoyment of religious opinions. No change of government or political excitement, for the last one hundred and ninety years, (save the abortive attempt by Lord Cornbury,) has sought to -infringe this fundamental principle, so plainly and broadly laid down in the conces- sions and agreements of 1676. In this building assembled the families, in all not more than twenty persons, (attended, perhaps, by a few friendly Indians, who must have observed the similarity of these silent sittings to their own dignified and quiet assemblages,) who had come to take up their abode in the wilderness, and build for themselves and their posterity a government free from intolerance and persecution. Who among them, no matter how enlarged their views or speculative their notions, could foresee the nation which was to rise out of such imperfe6l beginnings ? That the latent powers embodied in their simple form of government should spread to the limits of a continent, and be the pride of a free and independent people ? That these elements, based in justice and founded in right, would be the centre whence would 40 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. radiate civil and religious liberty, to be enjoyed and appre- ciated by all who should come within its influence ? This was the initial point whence originated the many religious communities according to the order of Friends that are known in various parts of the country, some of which have gone to decay, and to the present generation are unknown. Mark Newbie was also the founder of the first bank in the State of New Jersey, having a charter granted to him by the Legislature, — the words of the a6l running in this wise : "And for the more convenient Payment of small Sums, be it enadled, by the Authority aforesaid, that Mark Neiobie' s half- pence called Patrick's half-pence shall, from and after the said Eighteenth Instant, pass for half-pence Current pay of this Province ; provided, he, the said Mark, give sufficient Security to the Speaker of the House, for the use of the General Assembly from Time to Time being. That he, the said Mark, his Executors and Administrators, shall and will change the said half-pence for pay Equivalent upon demand ; and provided also, that no Person or Persons be hereby obliged to take more \.\\?a\ five shillings in one Payment."^ This law was passed at the session of May, 1682, and doubtless went into effect as soon as the said Mark had entered the proper security as required under the a6l. The history of this bank may be readily followed through the records of those days, and enough gathered to show its beginning, progress and end. As security to the people of the Province, and as required by law, Mark Newbie conveyed to Samuel Jennings and Thomas Budd, as commissioners, a tra6l of land in Newton township containing three hundred acres, located by the said Mark, When a settlement was made between the administratrix and the commissioners, a deficiency of thirty pounds was discovered in the banking operations, which was, however, made good out of his personal estate, thus releasing the land before named. By request of the widow, Hannah, Samuel Jennings and 5 Learning & Spiger's Laws. MARK NEWBIE. 41 Thomas Budd conveyed the same to Thomas Hohiies, William Bates and Thomas Jenney in trust for Edward Newbie, the second son of Mark, in 1685 ; ''but, if Edward die before he attain his majority, then to his brother and sister, Stephen and Rachel. "« Edward, however, lived to become the owner in fee, and by his will gave said land to his two sons, Nathan and Gabriel. Nathan died single and intestate, and his estate was merged into that 'of his brother Gabriel, who devised the same to his son John.'' On March 14th, 1764, John Newbie conveyed all the unsold parts of said tradl to Isaac Cooper, in whose name and family the larger portion remains to this day. The deficiency before named was doubtless caused by the death of the banker, the time being too short for him to perfe6l his arrangements in relation thereto. Had he lived," its useful- ness might have been much enlarged, accommodating the com- munity around him, and proving a profitable and commendable enterprise. This half-penny was a copper coin struck by the Roman Catholics after the massacre in Ireland in 1641, and was generally known as St. Patrick's half-penny; it had the legend Floreat Rex on the obverse, and on the reverse, Ecce Grex.** In 1680, half-pence and farthings were coined by royal authority, with the national symbol (the harp) and the date.* The worth of the half-penny was about one cent of our currency, but, on account of the unsettled standard of values, varied from that according to circumstances. Struck without the authority of law, and, perhaps, only to commemorate some event in the history of that unfortunate people, this coin never obtained circulation in the old country. Through the foresight of Mark Newbie, it was bought in quan- tities at a slight discount, brought to West New Jersey, and made to answer the wants of the settlers, which wants were recognized by the Legislature in the a6l before named, and it answered their purposes for several years. 6 Lib. B, 126. 8 Humphrey on Coins, Vol. 2, 511. 7 Lib. ¥,78. 9 Vol. 2, 686. 42 FIRST EMIGRANT ^ETTIERS. In these latter days this coin is not in circulation, and can only be found in the cabinets of those that are curious in such matters, and fond of studying the progress of artistic mechanism in this particular line. Numismatics has, for many years, attra6ted the attention of persons of taste and leisure, by whom large sums of money have been paid for rare specimens of coin. Their interest and enthusiasm has done much to develop the progress of art through the various ages of the world as conne(5led with civilization, with the advance of commerce and the spread of the human race. As a legal tender among the colonists, the a6t made a strange provision, if the value was as before stated ; for, by that a61:, no person was required to receive more than a certain number of pieces toward the discharge of a debt. As a matter of con- venience, this part of the law was perhaps a nullity, since the settling of accounts and all other ordinary money transatlions would necessitate the use of various amounts. ^"Previously to the passage of the a61; regulating the value of Mark Newbie's money, the Legislature established the standard of Old England shillings and New England shillings, and also in 1693, did the same thing in regard to the Spanish coin, which by that time had come to be in circulation. For many years after the first settlements in New Jersey, there was much trouble among the people concerning the standard value of the various coins as established in the several Provinces. The colonial government attempted to remove this trouble, but it seems to have utterly failed. Paper money, the first of which was issued in New Jersey in 1709, had a double value, that in East Jersey, regulated by the worth of a guinea in New York, and that in West Jersey controlled by the worth of a guinea in Pennsylvania, thus leading to confusion and loss among the inhabitants. The chapter styled ''Currency of New Jersey," attached by Judge Elmer to his history of Cumberland county, is interesting and instru6live, being an exhaustive dissertation upon that subje6l, and showing great labor and research. It is not to be supposed that Mark Newbie had any authority under the law, to make this coin for the purpose of keeping 10 Learning & Spicer's Laws. MARK NEWS IE. 43 up the circulation, and to enlarge his credit, whereby to get gain and establish his name as a successful financier ; but he was careful to keep the amount circulated within proper bounds, for the very cogent reason that part of his estate was pledged, to make good any short-coming in this regard. Without these restraints, the influence of the church of which he was a member, and the watchful care of those around him to prevent a hazard of his credit, made him what in these days would be called a careful banker, too slow to make money and altogether behind the age. In this conne6lion the historian of the banking system of America, in his researches to discover where it originated, will fall upon the aft of the Legislature of New Jersey, of 1682, and at once seek to discover where this institution was situated, how constru6led, what its success, and what its end. The a6lion of the Legislature showed the foresight of our law-makers, even at that early day, in securing the people against imposition or fraud, and proves that they had a corredl view of banking privileges, when they required a specie basis with real-estate security. To emulate this in these latter days would have saved much loss that has fallen upon innocent persons, and would have prevented the scandal now surrounding this class of corporations. Within the same township, therefore, on the same spot, and in the same building, originated the first religious denomination according to the order of Friends in Old Gloucester county, as well as the first banking corporation in New Jersey, — perhaps, in America. If the early associations of the settlement of a neighborhood have any interest ; if the wide spread good of any institution, be it religious, political or financial, can be felt in a community and traced to its beginning, be that beginning ever so humble and unpretending ; such associations, such incidents, and such history deserve some record, so that those who make inquiry hereafter, may not consider this an ungrateful generation. " Here, the dawn of reason broke Upon the trampled rights of man ; And here a moral era woke — The brightest — since the world began." 44 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. The selecftion of Mark Newbie's house in which to hold the first meetings of Friends, shows him to have been a leading man in the church, and one who had much influence in matters ecclesiastical. In the political affairs of the colony he took a prominent part, and filled several positions of trust and respon- sibility." At the May term, in 1682, of the Legislature, he appeared as a member, and was sele6led by the Governor as one of his council. He was made one of the commissioners for the dividing of land, and one of the committee of ways and means to raise money for the use of the government, at the same time. The amount of money assessed upon the third tenth for that year, which consisted of what is now Gloucester, Atlantic and Camden counties, was forty shilU?igs, a sum of money that contrasts strangely enough with the large amounts paid for taxes by the people in the same territory at the present time. At the September session of the same year, he again appeared and sat as one of the Governor's council, and participated in the making of many important laws, and was again appointed one of the commissioners to divide land. In this year, the question whether the Proprietors had the right of government seems to have been mooted ; a question of serious import to the purchasers of the soil, and one which they considered as involving their success as a colony, and materially affecting their privileges in religious toleration.^' It assumed such a shape that a committee was appointed to draft a number of queries touching the question, to be submitted to the home government, and to Edward Byllynge, in order to know whether any difficulty in this regard really existed. Mark Newbie was one of the persons selected to discharge this important duty, but he died many years before the question was settled. In the proceedings of the May term, 1683, the minutes say that Thomas Olive was appointed as one of the Governor's Council, "in place of Mark Newbie, Dead," thus showing that he deceased between the two terms of the Legislature ; and this corresponds with many of the records relating to his real estate. 11 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 12 Learning & Spicer's Laws. MARK NEWBIE. 45 He died intestate, but no steps were taken to settle his estate until the 4th of the 7th month, 1684, when administration was granted to his widow, who proceeded with the appraisement, which amounted to one hundred and eighty pounds together with a large real estate." So far as can be discovered, his family consisted of two sons and two daughters, all of whom were born before the parents' settlement here." They were Rachel, who married Isaac Decou, in 1695 ; Stephen, who married Elizabeth Wood, in 1703; Edward, who married Hannah Chew, in 1706; and Elizabeth, who married John Hugg, in 1714. Hannah, the widow of Mark Newbie, married James Atkin- son in 1685. After this marriage it is probable that meetings continued to be held ,at the house in which Mark had deceased ; as the records refer to several marriages that were consum- mated there. It does not appear there were any children by this marriage. Stephen and Elizabeth Newbie had but two children,^" — Mark who died single, in 1735, and Hannah, who married Joseph Thackara.^*' Stephen deceased in 1706." Edward and Hannah Newbie's children were Nathan,'* Gabriel, Rachel, and a child unborn at the time of Edward's death in 1715." Nathan died single; Gabriel married and deceased, leaving one child, John.^° It will, therefore, be seen that, after two generations, the family name was confined to one person, perhaps the last in this region of country. Hereabout, the blood may be traced through the Huggs and the Thackaras, although in some lines with trouble and doubt. Among the children of Joseph and Hannah Thackara" were two sons, Stephen and Benjamin.'- Stephen deceased in 1767, having lived on part of the original estate.'''^ He had three sons, Joseph, Thomas and James, and perhaps other children. 13 Gloucester files 1683. 14 Lib. Bi, 126. 15 Lib. Y, 78. Lib. No. i, 169. 16 Lib. No. 4, 129. 17 Lib. No. I, 169. 18 Lib. Y, 78. 19 Lib. No. 2, 104. 20 Lib. Y, 78. 21 Lib. No. II, 106. 22 Lib. No. 4, 129. 23 Lib. W, 22, O. S. G. 46 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Benjamin owned and lived on tliat part of the property lately held by Samuel C. Champion, and there he died in 1785. His wife Mary and twelve children survived him. They were Isaac, Abigail, Ann ; Hannah, who married Joseph Jones ; Mary, who married Joseph Elfreth ; Mark ; Margaret, who married John Tuft; Benjamin, who married Hannah Horner; William; Rachel, who married Francis Bildei'back ; Jacob; and Elizabeth, who married Abraham Reeves.'^* Persons of this and other branches of the family settled in Salem and Cumberland counties, but among them the name of Newbie has never been known. The fatality that seems to have attended the Huggs, has left but little opportunity to follow the line in that direction, yet full access to the papers of the family might develop the whole conne6tion of the descent to the present day. The tracing of genealogies, or the knowledge of families, has not yet, in this country, become an attra6live feature in its history ; and the meagre scraps that happen to be gathered already can only be hoped to make the beginning of a more careful and successful research. Labor under endless discour- agements, is the only means of attaining the proper end in this regard ; and, until better compensated, it will not enter a field where profit is so seldom known to follow. As, among the descendants of Mark Newbie, there are many with whom the name has become extin6l ; so, in others, it has spread so rapidly that quite as much trouble attends the arrangement of the one as the other ; a difficulty seldom appreciated and never repaid. 24 Lib. No. 17, 461. WILLIAM BATES. IN the year 1670, this person lived in the county of Wickloe, ■ Ireland, where his occupation was that of a carpenter.^ The county town, which has the same name, is situated on the coast of the Irish sea, about thirty miles south of the city of Dublin, at which place considerable trade is carried on with other parts of Great Britain. Here, also, all the courts are held for that distri6t, and here may be found the common jail for the security and punishment of offenders within its limits. In this, and in several different previous years. Parliament passed a6ts to prevent and suppress conventicles within the kingdom. These a6ts were made especially oppressive toward the Quakers, and under them many outrages were committed upon their persons and property.^ If the policy of the govern- ment, the administration of its laws and the condition of its people, be any evidence of the progress of civilization ; then England stood in no enviable light, during the few years before and after the date above named, in respe6t to religious toleration within her borders. Loathsome prisons crowded to suffocation, courts busy with the trials of unoffending citizens, and arrogant officials robbing the people of their hard earnings to sustain a voluptuous and wicked clergy, are dark spots scattered through the history of a nation that boasts of the rights of her citizens. 1 Lib. Bi, 52. 2 Besse's Sufferings, Vols, i and 2. 48 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. During these days a meeting of the religious Society of Friends was held at the house of Thomas Trafford, in the town of Wickloe, at which place William Bates was a regular attendant.^ Neither the small number that assembled there, nor the san6lity of a private residence, saved them from annoyance by the soldiery, for they were soon dragged to the jail, and there confined for several weeks, away from their homes and families. At the next sessions they were indidled, and, upon refusing to enter into bonds for their subsequent appearance at court, were sent immediately to prison. No regard was paid to sex or condition in life while under confinement, and so obnoxious were the dampness and foul air, in which they were forced to exist, that many died and the greater number suffered in health. In 1 67 1, a declaration suspending the penal laws in ecclesi- astical matters was signed by Charles Second, at that time king. This was a great relief to this class of citizens ; but, on account of jealousy toAvards the Papists, the declaration was withdrawn the next year, and Friends again felt the displeasure of those in authority.* Laboring under these disabilities, it was most natural that all such as sympathized with George Fox and his doctrines, should seek for a new country where tolera- tion, to a degree at least, existed, and where they could enjoy their religious opinions in quiet. During these persecutions the settlement of the land in America was much talked of, and some few colonies had been successful in getting a foot-hold, and had sent back to their friends in England flattering accounts of the country and climate. In the adjustment of the trouble between Edward Byllynge and John Fenwick, the attention of William Penn and other prominent men in the Society of Friends, was attra6ted to the territory, through which the river Delaware flowed, and very soon the initiatory steps were taken to secure a title for the same, and, — which was most desirable, — to have the right of government to follow in the same channel. The books of record of that date are full of the deeds made from Byllynge and his trustees to persons wishing to get away 3 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. 2, 479. 4 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. i, 27. WILLIAM BATES. 49 from the abuses that surrounded them, and to remove to a wild and unknown land, rather than to remain. Among these is a deed, dated April 12th, 1677, from William Penn and others to Robert Turner, linen draper, of Dublin ; Robert Zane, serge maker, of Dublin ; Thomas Thackara, stuff weaver, of Dublin ; WilUain Bates, carpenter, of the county of Wickloc, and Joseph Slight, tanner, of Dublin, for one whole share of Propriety in West New Jersey.* Touching William Bates, it is very safe to say that his conclusions in regard to this step were reached in the common jail at Wickloe, where many dreary days were passed while his family was suffering at home. However vague and indistindl his ideas of the rights of persons were, in the form of govern- ment under which he lived, or how much such rights could be abused by authority of law, we cannot at this time judge ; but we may suppose that they had come to be practical questions with him, placed beyond discussion and without the chance of amendment. The decision to remove to New Jersey was made under much deliberation, and after considerable inquiry in regard to locality, since it was important that the colonists should be near each other for fear of the Indians. This deed shows the place of residence and the occupation of each grantee, and doubtless is a faithful record of these fa<5ls at the time therein named, which, taken in connection with the memorial left by Thomas Sharp, shows conclusively who were the persons that originated the settlement at Newton. Mark Newbie became a subsequent owner, while Thomas Sharp and George Goldsmith represented the interests of others, which six persons were the founders of that settlement. During the four years that elapsed between the date of the deed and their coming, Joseph Slight disposed of his interest, and Robert Turner, having acquired a large amount of property in Pennsylvania, turned his attention to that in preference to his West Jersey estate, and did not become a diredt partner in this enterprise. It is readily seen that Robert Turner was the merchant through whom Robert Zane and Thomas Thackara disposed of 5 Lib. Bi, 52. 4 50 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. their manufa6lured goods, and that their business relations brought them frequently together, whereby the partnership here presented was created. Although the county of Wickloe is some distance south of the city of Dublin, yet William Bates had business or religious intercourse with Robert Turner, and was influenced by him to be a participant in this novel and important movement. Of all the callings, his was likely to be the most useful, and his services to be the most in demand, when once they had arrived at their place of destination, for the first thing to be done was to provide some kind of shelter ibr their families. This was in the shape of rude huts made of poles, placed partly in the hill side, and covered with the skins of animals or the bark of trees. Without any other floor than the earth, with no windows, a stick chimney and a single apartment, it needs no sketch of fancy to see how inconvenient and uncom- fortable the habitations of these first comers must have been. On March loth, 1681, being the time of the survey made to the other partners on the north side of the middle branch of Newton creek, for some unexplained reason, William Bates took his two hundred and fifty acres on the south side of the same stream, opposite the upper end of that tra6l, and there he built his house." Two years after he made another survey adjoining the first and of like number of acres, and made a subsequent purchase of Robert Turner of other adjoining land, which extended his estate from the Graysbury line to William Albertson's boundary." Much of this is included in the farms now owned by Jeremiah Ridgway and the heirs of Joseph Eldridge, deceased. His habitation stood by the creek, just below the mouth of Bates's run, and near the house on the Ridgway farm. In common, however, with the other owners, he had an interest in the meadow land at the mouth of Kaighn's run, whence he obtained the hay for his cattle for the winter months, a necessary provision, as no other means of sustaining their stock was obtainable at that early day.^ As the master 6 Revel's Book, 25. 7 Kevel's Book, 53. 8 Revel's Book, 25. WILLIAM BATES. 51 mechanic, there can be no doubt, who planned and built the first meeting house at Newton, in 16S4; who construfted the rude seats and erected the plain unpretending galleries, in which sat the forefathers of this people, who were faithfully carrying out the belief and the form of religious worship as brought with them across the sea. To the descendants of William Bates this is a reminiscence worthy to be remembered, and to be told to their children, becoming more interesting as the lapse of time increases. In 16S3, he was one of the representatives from the Irish tenth in the Legislature of the Province, and was the same year appointed constable." The next year, he was again returned as a member, and was appointed one of the commissioners for laying out highways, which last office he held for two years. That he was a useful man, both as a mechanic and a private citizen, is evident, and in each position he commanded the respeft of those around him. He died in the year 1700, leaving a will, now on the files of the office of the Secretary of State, but never placed on record. His children were born in Ireland, some of whom were married in a few years after their arrival here. They were Jeremiah, who married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Spicer; Joseph, who married • Mercy Clement in 1701; Abigail, who married Joshua Frame in 1687; William, who married an Indian girl; and Sarah, who married Simeon Ellis in 1692.'" Jeremiah settled on part of the original tra6t, as conveyed to him in 1693 by his father, who occupied it as a farmer. ^^ Although his father left a will, yet the records say that he died intestate as to another part of his real estate, of which Jere- miah, as the oldest son, became seized. This is possible, but a closer inquiry may explain the difficulty, if necessary, and show that the will covered all the real estate. This last named tra6l, however, was given by Jeremiah Bates in his will to his son William, who re-surveyed the same in 1731 ; and upon this land the said William lived at that date.'' 9 Learning & Spicer's Laws. ii Lib. G3, 348. 10 Lib. 03,257, and Newton Meeting Records, 12 Lib. No. 6,331. Lib. Mi, 165, O. S. G. 52 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Jeremiah and Mary Bates were the parents of four daughters and one son:" Martha, who married James Wall; Abigail, who married Thomas Thackara; Mary; Sarah, and William." William Bates married and had three children — two of whom died in infancy — leaving but a daughter, Mary, wJio married William Harry, of Philadelphia.^^ Jonathan Zane was her guardian in 1750, her father having died two years before that time.^'' In 1759, Mary and her husband conveyed to Daniel Cooper a part of the land of which her father died seized, intestate; in this deed her connection with the first William Bates is apparent. In this branch of the family, the name was lost in the third remove from the first comer. Jeremiah Bates deceased in 1723, leaving a will, in which document he named his progeny, and disposed of his landed and personal property.'" He sold part of his land in 1700 to Elias Toy, a Swede, who probably settled on the same.^® In the year 1706, Joseph Bates settled on a tra(?t of land which he purchased of Joseph Thorne. This lay on the south side of the south branch of Cooper's creek, in Gloucester township, near where the White Horse tavern now stands. Part of this is now owned by Jacob Lippincott.'^''^" His home was, in all probability, a cave in the hill fronting the creek, where his children were born and his family reared. At that time, he was beyond the line of settlements that were extending from the river towards the east and south, but was not far from the trail that went on the south side of the creek past where Long-a-coming (or Berlin) now stands, towards the sea coast. His wife was a daughter of James and Jane Clement, who had come from England and settled on Long Island. She was the first of the name within the bounds of Gloucester county; at the time of her marriage she lived with the family of John Hinchman, in Newton township, with whom she doubtless had come from Long Island. This marriage took place according to the order of Friends, at John Hinchman's house, as was 13 Gloucester Files of Wills. 17 Gloucester Files of Wills. 14 Lib. S, 275. 18 Lib. G3, 321. 15 Lib. S, 274. 19 Lib. A, 84. i6 Lib. No. 6, 375. Lib. No. 7, 97. . 23 Lib. A, 47, of Divisions, Woodbury. WILLIAM BATES. 53 sometimes the pra6lice in those days, owing to the distance from meeting houses and the bad condition of the roads. The difficulty in tracing this branch of the family is the same that often occurs in others; it arises from the continuance of one Christian name from father to son and grandson, compli- cating the distin6lions beyond the possibility of solution.'^' The records show that Joseph Bates died in 1731, and that Elizabeth Bates became his administratrix. Among the children was a daughter Abigail, who married Samuel Lippincott, a son of Freedom and Elizabeth. '^'^ They resided in Pilesgrove, Salem county, N. J., with the following children: Joseph, Samuel, Joshua, Mercy, Abigail and Eliza- beth. Many of the descendants of this branch of the family still reside in that se6lion of the State. In 1734, another Joseph Bates died, leaving a will; but which of these was the subje6l of this sketch, it is difficult to determine.'^'' The last named had a daughter, Abigail, who married John Hillman, and other daughters. His sons were Benjamin, Thomas and Jonathan. Jonathan's wife, Elizabeth, survived him, and died in 1765, leaving several children. The estate passed out of the family in 1767, by deed to Jonathan Aborn, and, after several conveyances, became the property of John Cathcart in 1794, who built the present brick mansion standing on the premises.'-* He had also a park for deer on part of his estate, for deer-hunt-ing was one of the manly pastimes, fashionable at that day. The adva.ice of agriculture has done much to change the habits, amusements and prejudices of our people, for, where once the hunter's horn and the music of the hounds were heard at nearly all seasons of the year, now the generous soil may be seen yielding its fruits to the husbandman. Where once were the well known haunts of bears and burrows for foxes, are now spread out green pastures and growing crops, the assurance of reward to thrift and industry. Abigail Bates, who married Joshua Frame, removed to Penn- sylvania with her husband, whose descendants at this day have 21 Lib. A, 47, of Divisions, Woodbury. 23 Lib. No. 3, 432. 22 Lib. No. 3, 140. 24 Lib. A, 47, of Divisions, Woo ibury. 54 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. no knowledge of the pedigree of their maternal ancestor ; neither is anything known of her in this region of country. William Bates settled on the east side of a tributary of the south branch of Cooper's creek, known as Tyndall's run, about two miles east of Haddonfield. His house was near the resi- dence of Joseph Browning, and within the bounds of a small survey which he made in 1687." In March of the same year, he purchased of Robert Turner an adjoining tra6l of land containing two hundred and fifty acres, and increased his bound- aries by subsequent purchases.'" His place was near an Indian settlement, where this people raised their corn and pumpkins, and made their homes through the winter, when not away upon their hunting expeditions. It is possible that William Bates married an Indian girl, like many of the early settlers ; this would account for his making his home in one of the villages of the nation, and thus securing the title of the land to himself. It is unfortunate that the records of the marriages of the first comers to West New Jersey, with the native females have been lost, in so many instances, and that so few are now known, and they only through a vague and uncertain tradition. Like John Randolph of Roanoke, those who are sure of this kind of connexion with the aborigines, boast of the purity of their lineage, and are proud of this line of ancestry. In very many families, even at this late day, may be discovered the strain of Indian blood thus originated, unmistakably crop- ping out in feature or form, and showing the peculiarity so distin6lly as to place it beyond controversy. As in all newly settled countries, the scarcity of females among the emigrants made it rather a necessity than a choice to seek marriages among the natives. At the same time there were among these many comely and attra6live maidens, who, being to "the manor born," were much better suited to the situation than those unused to the hardships and trials of a frontier life. In these marriages the consent of the swarthy girl was not the only difficulty to be overcome, for she stood 25 Lib. Gi, 23. 26 Lib. G2, 131. WILLIAM BATES. 55 in all her native beauty, without a name known to the English language, and this defe6l had to be supplied before the cere- mony could be performed in accordance with the law, then, as now, in existence. Our ancestors being Friends, and using the language as they wore their clothing, pure and simple, would very naturally cast aside all romantic or suggestive names, and attach to the bride one after their own style, thus increasing the difficulty of discovering her nativity. The enchantment lent by distance, has much to do with the romance that has always surrounded these associations, and, although the hand of the artist may favorably impress us with the beauty and grace of the female aborigines, yet an intro- du6lion into real life has invariably changed the notions of such as have thus ventured. So far as good housewives were concerned, the little oppor- tunity for display in this regard among the first settlers, placed all upon a level, and, as the improvement in dwellings and the surrounding comforts increased, the chances were that the Indian wife and mother kept pace therewith, and at last came to be as cleanly and economical as the best. In this branch of the family somewhat more certainty can be reached, yet the knowledge of much that is desirable has been lost. William Bates, the second, died intestate, and his estate descended to his son Joseph, who also dying intestate, the same estate, by the same law, became the property of his son Thomas. It is a fair presumption that there were other children of both William and Joseph, but, at this late day, no means exist whereby they can be discovered, by reason of the law which regulated descents of land and carried the entire real estate to the oldest male heir. Thomas Bates deceased in 1783, having devised nearly all this estate to his son Jo.seph, who lived where his ancestor made his first settlement, near Tindall's run. At that time he owned about four hundred acres of land in one tra6l, extending from the farm now owned by Abel Hillman, on the west, to 56 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Peterson's mill stream on the south, now divided into several plantations. In the year 1786, Joseph Bates made a re-survey of these lands, in which his title is fully set forth." Sarah Bates, who married Simeon Ellis, resided with him at Springvvell, which place was near where Ellisburg now stands. She survived her husband several years, and dealt somewhat in real estate after his decease. Her children were Simeon, who married ; Thomas, who married Catharine Collins, in 1722; Jacob, who married Cassandra Albertson, in 1750; Jonathan, who married Mary Hollingshead, in 1737; William, who married Sarah Collins ; Joseph, who married Mary ; and Sarah, who married John Kay, in 1730. It will be seen that from Joseph and William, the sons of the first emigrant of this name, must the family be traced, which, in the lapse of one hundred and ninety years, has spread through nearly every State of the Union. 27 Lib. U, 66, O. S. G. THOMAS THACKARA. THIS man was probably a native of Yorkshire, England, where the family suffered much religious persecution, by reason of their adherence to the opinions and pradlices of George Fox. In 1656, Thomas Thackara was taken from a religious meeting at Leeds, and confined for several weeks in York Castle. In the same year, Daniel and Christopher Thackara were sent to the Wakefield prison in Yorkshire, and, in 1660, Thomas and Daniel were again confined in the same jail.* z\t a later date, in 1683, Hannah Thackara with several others was taken from the meeting at Leeds, and confined in the Moothall prison at that place, during cold weather without fire, and there kept for nine weeks. From this kind of records it can be safely concluded that in and about Leeds in Yorkshire, the family of this name may claim their nativity, and from the records thereabout may trace their origin. The first information that can be discovered of the subjeft of this sketch, is traced to Dublin, Ireland, where he was engaged as a "stuff weaver," in the year 1677, and became one of the grantees of the deed made to Robert Turner, William Bates, and others, for real estate in West New Jersey.'^ It may be too broad an assertion to say that he was the same Thomas Thackara who was imprisoned in York Castle, in 1656, although the lapse of time between that occurrence and the 1 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. 2, i. 2 Lib. Bi, 52. 5S FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. date of the conveyance may be reconciled, supposing liim to be but a middle-aged man, when a resident of that city. This is a question that can only be settled by access to private family correspondence, very little of which has been preserved through the several generations that have lived since the coming of the first adventurers ; being considered as worthless material by most of tidy housekeepers, and therefore committed to the flames. The deed before named calls him a "stuff weaver," one having something to do with the manufafture of flax; large quantities of which were cultivated in Ireland at that time, and made into the linen material so useful and so much admired, even at the present day. Robert Turner was tiie merchant who sold the manufa6lured article ; being a man of large estate, he was in intercourse with tracers in other localities. This gave him the opportunit) of knowing the inclinations and purposes of Friends in other parts, and by this means, those in his neighborhood were also advised in regard to their removal to America. Of these were the persons joined with him in the deed aforesaid, and thence their intentions may well be inferred. Thomas Thackara was a man of some estate; this is evidenced by the original purchase, as well as by the many surveys made after his coming; he was also a married man with family before he left the shores of his native land to make his home in the wilds of America. Whether he was a creditor of Edward Byllynge, or had made the purchase for the purpose before named only, and, like many of the same religious persuasion, had determined that no change could be for the worse, does not appear. Enough has been left on record, and enough therefrom written, to show where and how originated the settlement of Newton in 1681. Thomas Sharp, then a person just coming to manhood, and filled with the spirit of adventure, gives much by his memoranda, and the various writhigs left behind him. Imagination may readily carry us back to some humble dwelling in the city of Dublin, in which these persons would meet from time to time, to consult as to the best means to THOMAS THACKARA. 59 carry out their purpose, as well as to know how many were bold enough to follow their example. Anthony Sharp and Robert Turner, both Quakers, and both men of fortune, were the guides in this, and not only gave tiieir advice as to the detail of the movement, but also covered the doubtful points by contributions of their means. Friends all, thus there was but a single channel wherein ran their opinions, as to the necessity of the thing, and, as the sequel proved, all other difficulties were forced 'o give way to the object before them. These meetings of business, like many of their religious sittings, were secret, and the conclusions arrived at were known only among their own se6l. Robert Zane was the pioneer, and came with the Fenwick colonists to accomplish the necessary explorations, and to fix upon some pla^je where to make their homes. The difficulties existing between liyllynge and Fen- wick, and the period occupied in their arrangement, gave Robert Zane ample time to examine the country and write home to inform those of his partners who were to follow him, of his opinions and success therein. By some agreement among the Proprietors, and for reasons not known, the third tenth was set apart for such of the emigrants as came from Ireland, and within the limits of this tenth it is apparent that the searchings for a site for a town were made. These limits were Penisaukin creek on the north, and Timber creek on the south, extending back into the woods an indefinite distance ; and the point was not finally settled until 1765, when Samuel Clement first ran and fixed the head lines of the townships within the bounds of old Gloucester. To return with our sketch to Duljlin, where the receij^t of letters from Robert Zane was looked for with much anxiety, and where these were read before the little meeting of such as were closing up their affairs to take a final leave of liome and friends, — it can be well understood what attention was given to their import, their advice and their direction. What argu- ments arose out of their different construdtions, and how the hopes and the fears of those pre.sent predominated as conclu- sions were reached I How the sanguine temperaments were 6b FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. checked by the more prudent and older heads, and how the opinions and suggestions of some were modified and dire6led by those of more experience, but of no less decision of char- adler ! How wives, mothers and daughters attentively listened to the expressions of opinion, made on such occasions, and now and then participated, when their comforts were made part of the conversation ! How they encouraged the doubtful, and restrained the impulsive, smoothing over the rough points of the stronger sex, and healing the differences of opinion by soft words! How prolific a subjedl, and how beautiful a theme for the pen of the novelist, who desires to have his story based upon fa(5l, and conform to the truths of history ! "It was on the nineteenth day of September, 1681, from the harbor belonging to the city of Dublin, in the kingdom of Ireland, that Thomas Thackara with his family set sail in the pink "Ye Owners Adventure," with other persons of like intent for the capes of the Delaware ; where they arrived on the eighteenth day of November following, and so up the bay until they came to Elsinburg, and were landed with their goods and families at Salem, where they abode the winter."'' Their arrival was anticipated by Robert Zane, who had come four years in advance, and Avho in that time was familiar with the country and the difficulties that surrounded them. The condition of these was not so desolate as that of many others, for, upon their landing, they were welcomed by friends and provided with shelter at once. Although not at the end of their journey, yet the exposure to an American winter was avoided by this arrangement, and opportunity given for the men to pass judgment upon the aftion of Robert Zane, and to decide where to fix their permanent abode. The winter, however, was mild, and their traveling about was done in a boat which they purchased at Wickaco, of the Swansons, and with which the several creeks within the third tenth were explored before a conclusion was reached. This done, and they having submitted their title deeds to the commissioners at Burlington, Daniels Leeds, the surveyor- general, came in person to set apart their lands by metes 3 Lib. A, 98. THOMAS THACKARA. 6i and bounds, in accordance with the requirements as laid down by the Proprietors. In all these operations Thomas Thackara doubtless took a leading part, and was familiar with every step made to secure a clear estate and to have the boundaries well defined. The survey bears date March tenth, i6Si, and appears to have a discrepancy when compare«l with the time at which they set sail from Dublin, (September nineteenth), in the same year, which, according to the present chronology, would make the taking up of the land some six months before their departure from home.* This trouble is recon- ciled when it is understood that, under the old style, March was the last month in the year, and that the last day of the year was the twenty-fourth of that month, thus making the twenty-fifth of March under the old system correspond Avith the first day of January under the present. The first survey of i,6oo acres Mark Newbie, Thomas Thackara, Thomas Sharp, Robert Zane and George Golds- mith held in common ; but it was soon found that this kind of estate would lead to difficulty, and Thomas Thackara was the first to separate his interest by taking two hundred and fifty acres as his share, and receiving a title therefor from the other owners.^ In 1695, he purchased an adjoining tra6l of two hundred acres of Isaac Hollingsham, and this purchase extended his landed estate from Newton to Cooper's creek. These tracts lay between Robert Zane's share above, and Mark Newbie' s below, including the farm, now the property of John Campbell, the old Newton grave yard and some other adjoining lands. He erected his first house near where the present farm buildings of John Campbell stand, and there he continued during the remainder of his life. Excepting sixty acres that he gave to his son-in-law John Whitall, Thomas Thackara retained the whole until his death; all then descended to his oldest son Benjamin. Benjamin conveyed fifty acres to his brother-in-law, John Eastlack, and by his will gave the remainder to his son Joseph, who re-surveyed the same in 1760. Stephen, the son of Joseph, 4 Revel's Book, 25. 5 Revel's Book, 59. 62 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. inherited this estate under the will of his father, and, by his own, gave parts of it to his sons Joseph, James and Thomas. In connexion with this, Stephen held considerable land in Newton township, coming to him through his mother ; but this, like the other property, passed out of the name many years since. The ele6lion of Thomas Thackara as a member of the first Legislature that sat at Burlington to frame and adopt laws for the province of West New Jersey, shows him to have been a leading man, and one on whose good judgment his neighbors relied. It was a responsible position ; for these new comers found themselves the inhabitants of a land without law, except so far as generally promulgated through the original concessions which did not enter into detail, or through the pra6tical appli- cation of the principles therein embodied. This had to be done to put the government in operation and make it what was promised by the owners of the soil. It is needless to write of their success in this regard, for they gave to the world the evidence of sound morality, unflinching justice and a faithful regard for right, that has been the admiration of all lovers of liberty from that time to the present. Together with Mark Newbie and William Cooper, he was appointed one of the judges of the court for the third tenth in the year 1682, and was continued in that place until 1685, inclusive." The authority, in all probability, only extended to that of Orphans' Court, Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas, and was held for the judicial division as named in the law, until the year 168^ when the third and the fourth tenth were made one bailiwick by the inhabitants, and thereafter so recog- nized by the Legislature of the province. It does not appear that any records of their proceedings were kept ; if they were, some careless person has long since committed them to the flames. How great the pity, that such valuable memoranda as these are not appreciated by every one into whose hands they may fall ; so that all like papers might be saved to coming generations ! Where these courts were held ; what the business \ who the litigants, and whence the advocates ; tradition does not give any knowledge, and we are left to surmise and speculation 6 Learning & Spicer's Laws. THOMAS THACKARA. 6^, upon a point of much interest in the early history of our neighborhood. The records commence, however, in 1686, and are carefully preserved in the clerk's office of Gloucester county ; curious and instru6tive documents, to such as care to be familiar with the doings of our ancestors. Thomas Thackara was also one of the land commissioners, the discharge of which duty was important and responsible ; he had to examine titles, dire6l the deputy surveyors in locating land, and prevent the interference of adjoining surveys, which duty required discretion, good judgment and firmness, but withal very often was liable to censure, and frequently to personal abuse. Perhaps there was no one thing that proved the regard in which this person was held, in the religious denomination of which he was a member, and of the community at large, so much as his selection to sign the address of the Newton meeting to the yearly meeting of London, protesting against the condu6l of George Keith, in his differences with the Society of Friends. To defend the opinions and pra6tices of the society against the subtle reasoning, and ingenious arguments of such a man, required a thorough knowledge of the tenets upon which it stood, and much talent, coupled with forbearance, to successfully guard them against overthrow. William Cooper was his associate in this, and the paper forwarded to the Friends in London, proves them to have been equal to the occasion. The first Friends' meeting house built at Newton, stood upon lands conveyed by him to the trustees of the society, and doubtless without compensation. The original deed for this has been lost, nor is it of record, but enough remains of memoranda and recitals, to settle any doubt in this matter. Li the year 1702, administration was granted upon his estate, which is evidence of the time of his decease.^'' His first wife probably died after his settlement here, as in 1689 '"'^ married Hepzibah Eastlack, a daughter of Francis, also a resident in these parts. 7 Gloucestei Files. 64 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. His children were Benjamin, who married Mary Cooper, a daughter of William, and a grand-daughter of the first William; Thomas, who married Ann Parker, and Abigail Bates ; Hannah, who married John Whitall ; Sarah, who married John Eastlack, and Hepzibah (perhaps a child by the last wife), who died single. Benjamin married Mary Cooper in 1707, according to the order of Friends, and, the record says, at John Kay's house/ This may appear strange, but there is reliable information for asserting that a meeting was held there for several years, for the con- venience of Friends at Evesham and Penisaukin, alternating each first-day with one held at Penisaukin for the same purpose. John Kay's house stood on a farm now owned by the heirs of Joseph W. Cooper, deceased, near Ellisburg; but no vestige of it can be discovered at this day. He, Benjamin, settled on the property where his father deceased, and, being the oldest male heir, inherited the whole estate ; but, with that fairness so commendable in all like cases, Jie gave his brother and sisters a proportionate share of their parents' property. He died in 1727, leaving his widow and three children, — Joseph, Hannah and Mary. Joseph married Hannah Albertson in 1731, and Hannah Newbie, a daughter of Stejjhen and grand-daughter of Mark Newbie, the first of the name hereabouts.^'" Hannah married Peter Champion in 1740; Mary married Thomas Wright. It is through this branch of the family that the present genera- tion must trace their conne6lion with Thomas Thackara, the emigrant from Ireland. In 1699, at the Newton Meeting, Thomas Thackara and Ann Parker were united in the bonds of matrimony. She was a resident of Philadelphia, where she probably lived with her parents. Jeremiah Bates, in his will, dated 1728, mentions that his daughter Abigail is the wife of Thomas Thackara." By these records, the matrimonial affairs of this son can be understood with some certainty, and they show in what line the descendants may look for their pedigree. Thomas Thackara, perhaps a son of the second Thomas, who married Elizabeth 8 Lib. No. I, 479. 10 Lib. No. 4, 129, 9 Lib. No. 2, 462. II Gloucester Files. THOMAS THACKARA. 65 , removed within the limits of the Salem Meeting in the year 1759, where that branch of the family still remain. Their children were Hannah, born 1754; William, born 1756, and dying in 1776; Stephen, born 1760; Jacob, born 1763; Joseph, born 1765 ; and Thomas, born 1771. John Whitall and Hannah Thackara were married according to Friends' rules, in 1696, at the house of the bride's father in Newton township ; and, on the first day of March in the same year, (perhaps at the time of the marriage,) Thomas Thackara presented his son-in-law a deed for sixty acres of land, the same being part of his homestead estate. This piece of property lay in the northern part of his survey, and is now included in the estate of the late John C. Decosta, deceased. On this John Whitall made his home, and there he resided until his death in 1718. The immediate position of the house can- not at this time be discovered, but, probably, it stood near the residence of the present owner, -an unpretending, comfortless habitation. ^^ The issue of this marriage, so far as can be discovered, was three children : Mary, who married John Wood ; Hannah, who married Henry Wood ; and Job, who married Jane Siddon. Job settled at Red Bank, in Gloucester county, and from him the name may be traced, which at this time is spread through every State in the Union. He deceased in 1722. John Eastlack, who married Sarah, another daughter of Thomas Thackara, also settled on part of his father-in-law's estate. ^^ This was fifty acres, conveyed to his wife by her brother Benjamin, in 1706; it lay adjoining the land owned by John Whitall, but no vestige of the house can be traced at this time.^* Thomas Sharp, on his map made in 1700, marks one hundred acres as owned by John Eastlack, which had been previously held by George Goldsmith. Part of this tra6l is now owned by John Stoy, whereon he now resides. It was taken from the northwest portion of Richard Mathews' survey, which afterwards became the estate of John Haddon. Whether this was the land mentioned by Thomas Sharp, as given to George Goldsmith, to settle the difficulty 12 Lib. No. 2, 257. 13 Lib. No. 2, 202. 14 Lib. A, 107. 66 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. about his locating Thomas Starkey's rights, does not appear; yet its situation on Newton creek, about "as high as the tide flows," would seem to answer the calls of the deed, and fix the place of his first settlement. By an agreement with the widow of John Whitall, John Eastlack became the owner of this property in 1724, and so continued until his death in 1736, at which time his son John was seized of both tra6ts by the will of his father; and upon this estate he lived and died.^^ In 1760, he made a re-survey of the said two tratfts of land, thereby settling the boundaries and showing the antecedent title. This may, at some future day, prove to be a very important record, now spread out in the books of the Surveyor- General's office of West New Jersey. In 1718, he purchased a farm of John Wright, in Newton township, lying on the south side of the main branch of Newton creek, which estate remained in the family for many years after. ^^ John and Sarah Eastlack had six children : Sarah, who married James Mickle, in 1732; Samuel, who married Ann Breach, in 1733; John, who married Mary Bolton, in 1737, and Patience Hugg, in 1 741; Daniel, who married Mary Cheesman, in 1740; and Esther, Elizabeth and Hannah. In the immediate neighborhood in which Thomas Thackara made his first home, none of the name have lived for many years ; and the land which he sele6led as his choice of the estate, having been held in common, passed into the ownership of strangers before the third generation from himself had died. As in some other families, the female branches have pre- dominated, and the day may soon come when the blood must be traced among other names. 15 Lib. No. 5, 131. 16 Lib. A, 100, III. GEORGE GOLDSMITH. THOMAS SHARP, in his memorial of the settlement of Newton, says that George Goldsmith was one of the persons who came with him in the pink called "Ye owners adventure," of which Thomas Lurtin, of London, was com- mander. In another paper, also left by Friend Sharp, he says George Goldsmith "is an old man," — an expression rather indefinite, but supposed to mean a middle-aged person without family. It may also be inferred that he came without any estate, since, in the location of land, he represented a tenth of one whole share owned by Thomas Starkey. Although he had no written authority from Thomas Starkey, yet Thomas Sharp had knowledge of his desire that Goldsmith should make sele6lions of land for him; and, upon these representations, the commissioners allowed a survey to be made, extending from Newton creek to Cooper's creek, containing about five hundred acres of land. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Thomas Starkey did not furnish the "rights" necessary to complete the title to said survey, and, as George Goldsmith found himself in a " strait, V he (Goldsmith) induced Robert Turner, of Philadelphia, to return the location in his own name, the latter allowing Goldsmith one hundred acres of land, in view of his trouble in the premises. The one hundred acres which Robert Turner allowed to George Goldsmith, were conveyed by deed, dated the thirtieth of the ninth month, 16S7, but in separate tracts, one of eighty acres and one of twenty acres, lying some distance apart. ^ I tLib. G, 31. 68 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. The larger piece was part of the survey as made by Gold- smith ; it fronted on the main branch of Newton creek, and adjoined the upper line of the first general survey of the Newton peoples, as expressed in one of the old deeds. The exadl position of this piece of land has been lost sight of through the various alterations of boundaries, and the many changes of titles since that date. The smaller tra6l was situated near the forks of the main and the north branch of the last named stream, adjoining Thomas Sharp's and Stephen Newbie's lands. George Goldsmith made his improvements on the upper or larger piece of land, for he conveyed the twenty acres to Stephen Newbie the next day after he had procured his title. ^ On the same day on which he sold the twenty acres to Stephen Newbie, (tenth month first, 1687,) he purchased a like quantity of land of Francis Collins, adjoining the upper lot ; thus making his plantation of one hundred acres at one place on the creek, "about as high as the tide flows. "^ The map showing Robert Turner's lands in Newton town- ship marks the residence of George Goldsmith as on the twenty acres in the forks of the creek ; but this is probably an error, since the records prove the conveyance of that piece of land as before stated. This is further proved by the writings of Thomas Sharp in this relation, in which mention is made of the agreements between Turner and Goldsmith to have his land, where he had made his improvements, referring no doubt to the five hundred acres' location. But little importance, however, attaches to this, except to sho%v where the first comers ere6led their humble habitations and removed the forest to plant their crops. The instances are but few where such first settlements are known to have been made, as later generations found more eligible spots, and had little regard for the places where the old homes stood. Even with the original proprietor, such were only temporary buildings, and were changed as soon as time and circumstances would permit, — forgotten before the second generation had passed away. 2 Lib. G, 25. 3 Lib. G, 28. GEORGE GOLDSMITH. 69 Robert Turner kept the remainder of the five hundred acres' location until 1693, when he sold it to Isaac Hollings- ham, whose son Isaac, a few years after, conveyed the same tp Sarah Ellis, widow of Simeon ; and in her family, parts thereof remained for many years. Joseph Ellis, a son of Sarah, settled on these lands, which in progress of time passed to the female branches of his family, and, consequently, out of the name. Although the name of George Goldsmith enters much into the documents and papers of the times in which he lived, yet of himself or family, if any he had, but little can be discovered. He was a member of Friends' meeting, but the only notice of his participation in religious matters is the minute of the Salem Meeting in 1681, when Richard Robinson and George Goldsmith were appointed a committee to speak to Thomas Smith "about his disorderly walking," &c. This was during the first winter after his arrival from Ireland and before the settlement at Newton, showing that, although a stranger among the Salem people, yet he was soon called upon to discharge a delicate and important religious duty. If the first books of records of the Newton Meeting had been preserved, perchance his name would have occured therein, and have shown something of his standing among his neighbors and the interest he took in the advancement of the church in America. He appears to have been something of a land jobber, for, in 1693, he sold "rights" to William Albertson.* In 1694, he conveyed to Nicholas Smith twenty-four acres of land in Newton township, situated on the north branch of the creek of that name, and, in the next year, conveyed one hundred acres near the last named tra6l to John Iverson, who, in 1697, sold said one hundred acres to Margaret Ivins.^ He appears to have kept clear of the political troubles that surrounded him, and avoided all the religious controversies then being carried on in the colonies. His name is not men- tioned among the appointments of colony, county, or township officers, nor in any of the paper warfare so diligently waged among the reliarious zealots of the times. 4 Lib. G3, 199. 5 Lib. G3, 41, 242. 70 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. The records of the Friends' meeting of Philadelphia in the year 1696, show that George Goldsmith and Ellen Harrison were married according to the good order of that Society, after the several "passings" then customary on such occa- sions. As all means of identity (except the name) have passed away, some doutt exists as to whether the two names mean the same person; or whether the George Goldsmith, of Newton, in the colony of West New Jersey, is the same George Gold- smith that married Ellen Harrison in Philadelphia in 1696. Such marriages frequently occurred, and often mystify the genealogy of families, sometimes to the entire defeat of the searcher. It has happened that persons were supposed to have died single, and the family tree has so been made up, when the truth is, that such had gone from their particular meeting and contracted matrimony in other places. If, as Thomas Sharp says, George Goldsmith was an old man in 1681, the fifteen intervening years could not have added anything to his youth, or his inclinations toward matri- mony; and the fair presumption is that the subje6l of this sketch was not the person named in the records of the Phila- delphia Friends' Meeting, in connection with the aforesaid marriage. The little that is known of him in after years, leads to the inference that he removed from this region of country, dis- posed of his real estate, and left none of his blood or name behind him. In Pennsylvania, and in other parts of New Jersey, the name sometimes occurs ; but, in Old Gloucester, since the beginning of the eighteenth century, and, in fa6l, since the departure of this man, but few of like surname have resided. This, however, is speculation, and not intended to lead any one astray, for his descendants may be traced through the female branches of his own blood, as definitely and as correftly as in any other manner, if such theory be a proper one, and the starting point be beyond a doubt. Such difficulties in genealogy add much to the interest of the search, provided always that success attends the labor, and a knotty, troublesome question is solved. FRANCIS COLLINS. FRANCIS COLLINS was a son of Edward and Mary Collins of Oxfordshire, England ; he was born January 6, 1635. His father was the owner gf considerable landed and personal property in that county, which, after his decease, passed to the control of his widow. Francis was apprenticed to a bricklayer, and subsequently removed to London, where he was convinced of the corre6lness of the religious principles of George Fox, and at once became one of his followers. In 1663, he was married to Sarah Mayham, at the Bull and Mouth Meeting of Friends, and settled at Ratliff, in the parish of Stepney, county of Middlesex, which parish was, at that time, within the built up portion of the city of London. In an account book of his, still in existence, he made the following entry: "Francis Collins, his book, this 25th day of the first month, 1675, now living at Ratliff Cross, next door to the Ship Tavern;" — fixing his place of residence at that time beyond a question. His adherence to the Quakers was obnoxious to his family, as is shown by the will of his mother and also by that of his sister Elizabeth. In the book before named are many curious things, written in a style hard to decipher at this late day. Among these are the names and dates of the births of his children by the first marriage ; the names of many persons with whom he had business relations; also the account of moneys paid to him for rebuilding the Friends' meeting house at Stepney 72 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. that had been destroyed by a mob a few years previous to that time. This book also shows that he was a bricklayer and builder, and kept a store, evidently seeking for gain in various ways, yet adhering stri6lly to his religious opinions and example. After rebuilding the meeting house in 1675, no other dis- turbance appears of record in that se6tion, much to the credit of the authorities and much to the peace of Friends. The parish of Stepney, like many other ancient places in and around London, has its own legends, — told to this day among the superstitious, as no less wonderful than true. This parish being by the side of the river Thames and a resort for seafaring men, a tradition still exists among the English sailors, that all who are born upon the ocean belong to Stepney parish, and must be relieved in case of distress by the authorities thereof. Francis Collins was among those who were imprisoned and fined for their adherence to their religious principles ; and this doubtless had much to do with his coming to America, where his opinions could be enjoyed in peace. For the first two years after his arrival, his movements are somewhat uncertain ; he was employed, perhaps, in searching to and fro through the primitive forests for a suitable location for himself and family. In 1682, he ere6led the first Friends' meeting house in Burlington, and, in the next year, he received two hundred pounds, and one thousand acres of land from the Legislature for building a market house and court room at the same place. There may be another reason for his coming to New Jersey, disclosed in a deed from the trustees of Edward Byllynge, made in 1677, to Francis Collins, of Ratliff, of the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, bricklayer, Richard Mew, of Ratliff, aforesaid, merchant, and John Bull, of London, merchant,^ for certain shares or parts of shares of propriety. The deed says that Edward Byllynge was indebted to Francis Collins in the sum of two hundred pounds, to Richard Mew one hundred pounds, and to John Bull fifty pounds ; to I Lib. B2, 681. FRANCIS COLLINS. 73 discharge which this conveyance of real estate in New Jersey was made. The first taking up of any land by him was on the 23d day of 06lober, 1682, when he located five hundred acres in Newton township, bounded on the west side by the King's road; upon which land part of the village of Haddonfield now stands.'^ Two days after, he made another and adjoining survey of four hundred and fifty acres, lying on the southwest side of the first and extending to the south branch of Newton creek. ^ Perhaps no better sele6lion for soil and situation could have been made, showing that he a6led deliberately and understand- ingly in this the first step towards a settlement in a new and unknown country. "To secure a landing," he made a survey of one hundred and seventeen acres, bounded on the south side by Cooper's creek ; most of which is now owned by John E. Hopkins and Joseph C. Stoy.* Francis Collins sold this survey to Richard Gray, whose son John conveyed the same to Ebenezer Hopkins in 1746. Francis Collins built his house on the hill south of the village, where formerly resided John Gill, perhaps where he found a few acres cleared of the timber, and ready for him to cultivate his summer crop. He styled his new place "Mountwell," that being according to the English custom of having some particular name for each person's estate; which name often follows through the various conveyances from one generation to another for many years. The frequent changes in the ownership of land in New Jersey may be the cause of the disappearance of these names, yet the examination of old deeds and dilapidated records often discovers curious things in this regard. The Mountwell estate, at this day, is divided among many owners, and, if each were tenacious of the old title, much confusion would ensue. Being here some years before Thomas Sharp and his com- panions, he, in conne6lion with' others, did something by way of advice in their sele6lion of a place "to settle down by;" 2 Revel's Book, 39. 3 Lib. G2, 25. 4 Lib. GH, 360. 74 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. giving them his experience in the wild woods, and his inter- course with the aborigines, a subje6l of much interest to these new comers. His residence was isolated, some five miles from the little village at Newton, and without any intermediate settlements ; for, in 1700, Thomas Sharp' places but five houses on his map between Mountwell and Newton, thus showing how slowly the country filled up in the intervening eighteen years. The Salem road marked out as passing near where the village of Haddonfield now stands, could have been nothing more than a bridle path, and but seldom used except by the Indians. His dwelling, in all probability, was only a rude wigwam surrounded by many other like habitations, the homes of those who were becoming more and more familiar with the pale faced intruders, in whom they could discover nothing but peaceful intentions. Although of slow growth, the confidence once established was never impaired by any a6l of emigrant, or of aborigines. With the political affairs of the colony Francis Collins had much to do. In 1683, he was returned as a member of the Assembly to represent the interests of the third tenth, and at that session was appointed one of the commissioners for dividing and regulating land. In the difficulty between the proprietors and Edward Byllynge about the government having passed with the fee to the soil, he was one of the committee to adjust the matter among those interested.^ A long epistle was prepared, in which several queries were submitted to some Friends in London touching this important question ; but no conclusion was arrived at until the surrender in 1701, when all the rights of the government were given to the Queen. On the eleventh day of 'the third month, 1683, Samuel Jennings was ele6led Governor, and named Francis Collins as one of his council, showing that his Excellency, considered him worthy of that honorable and responsible position. In 1684, he was again eledled' to represent the third tenth, and, at that session, was made one of the judges of the several courts of that division of the territory of West Jersey, it being 5 Learning & Spicer's Laws. FRANCIS COLLINS. 75 before the bounds of Gloucester county were defined and settled. In 1685, ^e was appointed to the duty of laying out highways, a task which seemed to have been easily discharged, since the Indian trails were generally adopted for roads, and so remained for many years after that time. May 28th, 1686, the "Proprietors, Freeholders and inhabi- tants" of the third and the fourth tenth, agreed to call that ter- ritory the county of Gloucester, and they established all the political and judicial machinery necessary to set the bailiwick in motion. In September following, the first court was held at Arwamus, alias Gloucester, at which Francis Collins a6led as one of the judges. In this position he continued for several years, discharging his various duties acceptably to the people. Some mystery surrounds this, as he had removed into Burlington county soon after his second marriage; yet his name appears as one of the judges of Gloucester county, and as participating in all the business thereof. He was a public man in many other positions, as the ancient records conclusively show. In religious matters he doubtless took much interest. He was one of the leading members of the Newton meeting, then the only place of public worship in this region of country. Among the few marriage certificates preserved from those early times, is one stating that Thomas Shable, of Compton house, in ye province of West Jersey, was married to Alice Stalles, of Newton township, in ye same province, twelfth month, twenty-third, 1686, at 'Newton meeting. The autographs to this, prove that all the daughters of Francis Collins were present, thus displaying the curiosity of the sex, and leaving evidence that this chara6leristic is not of modern growth. Their hand writing shows them to have been young ladies of more than ordinary education, which was procured while they were residents of the mother country, since no opportunities for learning existed here at that time. Glad of any excite- ment about their quiet forest home, it was most natural that they should take advantage of such an interesting event, to break the monotony that surrounded them. Their dress, made to conform to the plainness of the sedl, did not destroy their ^6 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. graceful movements, ,or the comeliness of their persons. The only means of travel, except by water, being on horseback, they doubtless from long pra6lice were admirable equestrians, which exercise detracted neither from health nor from beauty. They drew around them many admirers, and, in the progress of time, left the parental home, and became the heads of fam- ilies, and the maternal ancestors to long lines of descendants. Mary, the wife of Francis Collins, died soon after his settlement here, leaving him six children, — Joseph, who mar- ried Catharine Huddleston of Mansfield, Burlington county, N. J., in 1698;® Sarah, who married Robert Dimsdale, M. D., of Chatteris in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1713; Rebecca, who married Thomas Briant, in 1698; Priscilla, who married John Hugg; Margaret, who married Elias Hugg; and Eliza beth, who married Josiah Southwick. Doctor Dimsdale was a prominent man in his day, and deserves notice here. He was confined in the prison in Hert- fordshire, for pra6licing medicine without a bishop's license; whether he refused or negle6ted to obtain one, does not appear. He was a man of much talent in his profession, and was the inventor of some popular nostrums that brought money to his purse and notoriety to his name.' He came with William Penn to Pennsylvania, but, in 1683, surveyed a large tra6l of land, south of Mount Holly, in Burlington county, lying on both sides of a stream that falls into Rancocas creek at Lumberton, called Dimsdale' s run.® He was owner of one-third of a whole share of propriety, bought of Nicholas Lucas, in 1682.** On this tra6l he ere6led a brick house, and, being a man of wealth, dispensed a liberal hospitality to his friends and visitors. He was somewhat interested in the political questions of the day, and sat as one of the judges of the courts of the county, wherein he lived.'" In preparing for his return to England in 1688, he appointed John Tathen and others, his attorneys to manage his estate in America. In 1699, he revoked this, and made Francis Davenport, John Shinn and John Scott, his agents. 6 Friends' Records. 9 Lib. GH, 533. 7 Burlington County files, 1720. 10 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 8 Revel's Book, 33. Basse's Book, 231. FRANCIS COLLINS. 77 with like powers." His property here increased in value, but he did not return to look after it. The records show many of the transa6lions concerning his land in New Jersey, but may never get beyond the iron doors of the building where now preserved, except as some enthusiast be curious enough to disentomb them. In 1688, he returned to England, and settled at Theydon Garnon, near Epping, in Essex, where he died in 1718. By a previous marriage, he had two sons, John and William, neither of whom came to this country. Their estate in West New Jersey passed, in 1746, to Richard Smith (the younger), and Ebenezer Large. '^ His widow, Sarah, by whom there was no issue, returned to New Jersey, and resided in Haddonfield during the remainder of her life, taking an a6live part in the religious society of which she was a member, and being frequently associated with Elizabeth Estaugh in her christian labors. In these persons, the intimacy of the ■ families, as it existed in England, was here represented, keeping alive the kindly feeling there so closely united, by reason of the trials and persecutions passed through in the early days of their religious profession. The name of Elizabeth Estaugh as a witness to her will, proves that their friendship, ended only by her death. She died in 1739, distributing her estate among the children of her brothers and sisters, by her last will and testament. ^^ By a deed from her father in 1714," she became the owner of a tra6l of four hundred and sixty acres of land in Newton township, being the second survey made by him — now owned in part by the Hinchmans, Samuel Nicholson, Jeremiah Willits and others — extending from near Haddonfield, southwesterly to the south branch of Newton creek. Upon the first day of April, 1725, Sarah Dimsdale sold the whole tra6t to Simeon Breach and Caleb Sprague, who held it in common until April 30th, 1726, at which date they made division thereof. By this deed of par- tition, Caleb Sprague took two hundred and fifteen acres in the northerly part of the tra6l, and Simeon Breach took twp hundred and forty-five acres next to King's run. None of the 11 Lib. B2, 487, 546, 66g. 13 Lib. No. 4, 208. 12 Lib. GH, 542. 14 Lib, A, 11. 78 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. papers touching this transa6lion are of record ; a circumstance which may lead to much trouble in days to come, should some sharp-scented lawyer insist on knowing the titles to these lands from the first taking up. Such difficulties must often occur in relation to the land in West New Jersey, by reason of the frequent negle6l of owners in this regard. Joseph Collins, the only son of Francis by the first mar- riage, settled on the homestead farm, and there remained during his -life. Upon the second marriage of his father, this estate was involved in a trust to Robert Dimsdale and John Budd, for the u§e of such children as might be the issue of that conne6tion.'^ This was done to guard against the operation of the law of descents in force at that day, which gave the oldest male child all the real estate of which the parent died seized. This trust was defeated in 1716,^* as the father and his second wife, in conne6lion with the trustees, conveyed Mountwell to Joseph in fee, and, in 171 7, the children by the second marriage released all their right in the same to their elder brother.'' Joseph died in 1741,'* leaving the following children, — Benjamin, who married Ann Hedger; Sarah, who married Simeon Ellis ; Catharine, who married Thomas Ellis ; and Rebecca, who married Samuel Clement.'^ Benjamin was a carpenter, and lived in Haddonfield. Joseph Collins and his wife Catharine executed to Benjamin a deed for a portion of the Mountwell tra6l fronting on the south side of the main street of the village, retaining to themselves a life estate therein. Part of this was sold by the parties interested, in 1734. Benjamin died in 1756, leaving two children, Joseph and Priscilla, both minors at that time.^" It will be noticed that the name in this branch of the family is only perpetuated by two persons, Benjamin, the son, and Joseph, the grandson. Previously to his death in 1735, Joseph Collins and Catharine, lys wife, conveyed to Samuel and Rebecca Clement a part 15 Lib. A, 76. 18 Lib. No. 4, 294. 16 Lib. B2, 572. 19 Lib. No. 8, 395. 17 Basse's Book, 138. 20 Lib. No, 8, 395, 544. Lib. No. 4, 294. FRANCIS COLLINS. 79 of the Mountwell traft, for considerations which showed them to be in favor with the parents. These were the sums of one hundred pounds, and sixteen pounds, annually, during the life of the said Joseph and Catharine and the survivors of them.*^ Rebecca, who married Thomas Briant, lived with her husband on his estate near Mount Holly, Burlington county, where he owned a large tradl of land. In an affidavit made by this man in 1733, in relation to the identity of George Elkinton, who came to New Jersey as a servant of Daniel Wills, he says that he was born at Shippen Warden, Northampshire, England, and in that year was sixty-eight years of age, and married Rebecca Collins. He was, in all probability, a servant of Daniel Wills, as Daniel appears to have brought several persons with him in that capacity, the most of whom became valuable and influ- ential citizens. ■ In the year 1704, Francis Collins conveyed to Thomas Briant and his wife Rebecca, a tra6l of land containing four hundred acres situate in the "forks" of Timber creek, a short distance west from Chew's Landing. Rebecca survived her husband and died in 1743. Her children were Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Haines ; Sarah, wife of John Fennimore; Ann, John, Abraham and Benjamin. The descendents of this woman are, at this day, connedled with some of the most respe6lable families in West New Jersey, who, with a little care, may trace their lineage to one of the first settlers of the colony.- John Hugg, who married Priscilla, had considerable estate and resided at Gloucester, (now Gloucester city,) to whom the family now scattered over the country may trace their ancestry. His death is thus noticed by Smith in his History of New Jersey : "In this year (1730) died John Hugg, Esq., of Gloucester county. He was about ten years one of the council. Riding from home in the 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 21 Liber EF, 65. 8o FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. put his gloves under the saddle and hung his whip through one of the rings, he turned the horse loose, which going home put the people upon searching, who found him in this circum- stance speechless ; they carried him to his house and he died that evening." In 1695, Francis Collins conveyed to John Hugg and his wife Priscilla a tra6l of land lying south of Haddonfield, and bounding on Little Timber creek, which they in a few years afterward sold to John Hinchman.'^- It is to be regretted that nothing conclusive can be discovered in regard to the children of Priscilla, as she had deceased, and John Hugg had married a second wife, by whom there was issue also. His children were numerous, but he made no dis- tin6lion as to their mother. In regard to the children of Margaret, a like difficulty occurs, v/hich may never be solved, except by some persevering genealogist interested in tracing his own blood. Josiah Southwick, who married Elizabeth, the youngest daughter by the first marriage, was a resident of Mount Holly, and interested in an iron foundry established at that place. He was a man of considerable estate and left some descendants, who still reside in New Jersey. The children of Josiah and Elizabeth were Josiah, James, Ruth and Maham.'^^ This family name never became exten- sive in New Jersey, and now is confined to but few persons. The marriage settlement, as before named, between Francis Collins and Mary, his second wife, bears date December 21st, 1686,^* about which time this marriage took place at Burlington iheeting. She was the widow of John Goslin, a pra6lising physician and merchant of the town of Burlington, and the daughter of Thomas Budd, one of the largest proprietors and earliest settlers in the colony, who became a prominent man in the religious and political troubles of that day. The one son by her first marriage is the ancestor of the name in New Jersey. Upon the consummation of this mar- 22 Liber A, 183. 23 Census of Northampton Township, 1709. 24 Liber B2, 572, FRANCIS COLLINS. 8i riage, Francis Collins removed to Northampton township, Burlington county, where he resided during the remainder of his life. Perhaps no more reliable information of this man and his family can be had than from a copy of the census of Northampton township, made in 1709, and pre- served by the Historical Society of New Jersey. Among those there noticed are these : Francis Collins, aged 74 ; Mary Collins, aged 44 ; John Collins, aged 17; Francis Collins, aged 15 j Mary Collins, aged II ; Samuel Collins, aged 9. John died in 1761.'^^ His wife was Elizabeth, a daughter of Benjamin Moore of Burlington county. They had a numer- ous family, of whom, according to the best data to be obtained, the following are the names and marriages : Sybilla, who mar- ried Samuel Gaskill ; Susanna, who married Daniel Garwood in 1737; John, who married Patience ; Francis, who mar- ried Ann Haines (widow), and Elizabeth (he dying, the latter afterwards married Ishmael Kent) ; Joseph, who married Diana Pritchett; Charity, who married Charles Kain ; Sarah, who married Samuel Bates . Lizzie, who married Samuel Hugg, Robert Friend Price and Daniel Smith ; Mary, who married James Budd, and Priscilla, who married Joshua Evans (his second wife). Joshua Evans was a preacher among Friends, and of that society there was no more exemplary or self-denying mem- ber. He adhered stri6lly to the spirit and letter of his belief, yet was not intrusive or objectionable in so doing. He saw the evils of intemperance, and, by his example and precept, induced many members of the same society to abandon the use of liquor, even at that early day. He resided on part of the estate now owned by Joseph O. Cuthbert, near the centre of old Newton township. A history of his labors as a public Friend, published several years after his decease, shows him to have been an acceptable member of his church, faithful in his duties and a consistent Christian. It may be seen that the blood of John Collins is distributed among so many collateral lines, that its tracing would be almost impossible. 25 Lib. No. lOj 346. 6 82 F/J?ST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Francis settled on land (which his father conveyed to him by deed of gift,) on the north side of Cooper's creek, lately Aaron Moore's.^" The house, a brick one, was burned in 1866. It had some pretension to size and style in its day, but was both small and unsightly, when compared with those of the present time. He sold part of this land to Jacob Horner in 1718. His children were Joshua, who married ; Job, who married Haines anci Elizabeth Ballinger ; John, who married Ruth Borradale ; Priscilla, who married James Mulock, M. D. ; Charles, who married Ruth Starkey, and Sarah, who married Ephraim Haines. Mary, the only daughter by the last wife, married Thomas Kendall, and settled in Burlington county. Samuel, the youngest child of Francis and Mary Collins, married Abigail Ward in 1721. Their children were Samuel, who married Rosanna Stokes ; Mercy, who married Samuel Thomas and Solomon Haines. Samuel and Rosanna settled at Colestown, where his business was that of a blacksmith. He purchased land of Thomas Cole on the west side of Penisaukin creek, and built a house and resided there during his life. This property was since owned and occupied by George T. Risdon, now deceased. Their children were Abigail, who married John Lippincott ; Rachel, who married Joseph Champion, and Hannah, who mar- ried Enoch Allen. The children of Samuel and Mercy Thomas were Samuel, who married Hannah Bishop, and Hannah, who married Clyne. Mercy's child by the last marriage was Elizabeth, who married Isaac Mullen. Much speculation has arisen in regard to the first Samuel here named, as to his being a son of Francis and Mary Collins. That they had a son of that name is beyond cavil, and his marriage appears in the proper order of time. In 1728, Mary Collins, as executrix of Francis Collins, deceased, conveyed to this person a lot of land at Gloucester and a portion of a share of propriety, part of which share of propriety Samuel conveyed to his son Samuel, the blacksmith. This, in connedlion with 26 Lib. H, 52. Lib. BB, 104. FRANCIS COLLINS. 83 other like data, seems to identify this person with Francis and Mary Collins in a manner sufficiently conclusive as to such relationship. John (the son of John) settled in Waterford township, near Glendale. His residence, a large brick house, not now remain- ing, stood upon the farm now owned by John Stafford. He had considerable real estate in that region, and deceased in 1768. His wife survived him, and his child Mary, who was then the wife of Samuel Hugg of Gloucester." He gave his land to his daughter during life, and to her children (if any she left), in fee after her death; and, in default of such issue, the same was to pass absolutely to John and Job Collins, sons of his brother Francis. The daughter Mary died without children "her surviving," and the land became the property of John and Job, who occu- pied it for several years ; but, at this present time, none of it is held in the name or blood of the family.^** In 1720, and but a short time before his death, Francis Collins executed his will (which remains on file in the proper office), expressing his desire in regard to the remainder of his property.''^' To his children, as they arrived at their majority, he conveyed portions of his land, — a circumstance which decreased the amount of property that passed by his will. He was probably a man of wealth and a(5live business capacity. Much known through the colony, he commanded the respe6l of all. He lived to see his descendants increase in a remarkable degree, and occupy much space in the land of his adoption. He took part in all the changes and troubles of the colony, from the beginning until the government was fixed upon a solid basis, and the people contented and prosperous. He could not but notice its advancement in all material interests, beyond the expe6lations of the most hopeful, and, in his declining years, observe the many changes that had been wrought since he set his foot upon the soil. Where had been but a few Indian huts, towns and cities were coming into existence; and, where miles of forests once extended, the 27 Lib. No. 13, 297. 28 Gloucester County Records, 1805. 29 Burlington County Files, 1720. 84 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. plantations of the settlers now gave evidence of progress and prosperity. The do6lrines of George Fox had spread abroad in the land, and the fruit thereof was a religious, moral, and law-abiding community. In his visits to his son Joseph at Mountwell, where he first broke the virgin soil to test its produdliveness, he could see how rapidly the country was filling up, and that already an embryo village had made its appearance, on the King's road near his place. A site for Elizabeth Estaugh's meeting house had been seledled. John Gill had fenced the land near the same, and a few mechanics had settled hard by, each extending his busi- ness as the folk increased in the neighborhood. At Gloucester also, where his daughters then lived, a marked change was observable since his first passage up the river to Burlington ; and Philadelphia was already a place of growing importance, the centre of trade for West New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Nearly two hundred years have passed away ; generation after generation has followed since that time, each increasing in numbers, and each augmenting the breadth of cultivated acres, until the primeval forests have disappeared before a teeming population, and the aggressive spirit of the age. The little companies who settled at Salem, Philadelphia, Burlington and Newton, formed but the centres from which have radiated those energies, that till the soil, fill the work- shops and crowd the cities. From these have gone out the multitudes that have made the waste places to bloom, and the generous land to yield its increase ; that have changed our rivers into great highways of commerce, and forced the mountains to give up their treasure ; that have founded a government, which has become the pride of its citizens and the admiration of the world. WILLIAM COOPER. WILLIAM COOPER and his wife Margaret, before their emigration to New Jersey, lived at Coleshill, in the parish of Amersham, Hertfordshire, England. This town lies about twenty-six miles northwest of the city of London, in which he was born in 1632. After he attained his majority, his occupation was that of a blacksmith. They were Friends and members of the Upperside Monthly Meeting, in whose minutes the records of the births of their children may be found, which are as follows : William was born ninth month, 26th, A. D. 1660; Hannah was born ninth month, 21st, A. D. 1662 ; Joseph was born seventh month, 22d, A. D. 1666; James was born third month, loth, A. D. 1670; Daniel was born first month, 27th, A. D. 1673. James probably died young, as no mention of his name appears in any papers relating to the family ; the others came over with their parents, and afterwards were the ancestors of the family in these parts. Like others of the same religious persuasion, William Cooper suffered, both in estate and person, from those who considered that they were doing God's service, in molesting such as chose to differ from them in opinion and pra6lice, — despoiling him of his horses and cattle, and dragging him to prison from the place where he was attending religious service. 86 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Samuel Smith, in his history of New Jersey, does not fix the time of the arrival of this person with his family ; which was probably not for a year after the first emigrants had come to Burlington. Neither is the name of the vessel given, the place of landing nor the names of those who came with him. Among persons tracing their family from the one continent to the other, this break in their history is always a regret; it is an omission that Samuel Smith might, perhaps, have filled, but, at that period, he did not attach much importance thereto. The time has passed, however, to remedy this defe6l, except in a few cases, a defe6l which always leaves a shade of doubt as to iden- tity, and, sometimes, a breach that nearly destroys it. In this particular case no question exists, since the documents of a religious and legal charafler follow each other so closely and so continuously, that the William Cooper of Coleshill, of 1660, was the William Cooper of Pyne point, in 1682, beyond a doubt. The first is the certificate of the Monthly Meeting at Coles- hill, which is as follows : ''Whereas, William Cooper, of Coleshill, in the parish of Amersham, and the county of Hertford, hath signified unto us that he hath an intention, if the Lord permit, to transport himself with his wife and children unto the plantation of West New Jersey, and hath desired a testimonial from this meeting for the satisfa6lion of Friends there or elsewhere, unto whom he may be outwardly unknown ; "We, therefore, whose names are here underwritten, do hereby certify all whom it may concern, that the said William Cooper and Margaret, his wife, having lived in these parts for many years, ever since the first of their convincement, have walked conscienciously and honestly among us, agreeably to the profes- sion and testimony of truth, according to the best of our observation and knowledge of them. "In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this, the fifth day of the twelfth month, 167S." This fixes his nativity (the previous record showing the names and ages of his children), and also proves that he WILLIAM COOPER. 87 contemplated coming to "the plantation of West New Jersey." He could not have arrived here before the middle of the year following, the twelfth month being February, ana not a proper season for ships to start upon long voyages. He could not, therefore, have come with the first adventurers. The next a6l of William Cooper, as the records show, was one for the purpose of locating lands in New Jersey; this, doubtless, occurred soon after his arrival here, and bears the date of October sth, A. D., 1680.^ At that date, he sele6led fifty acres within the town bounds of Burlington, and had the same surveyed and returned to himself. It is possible that there was some delay in having the bounds defined, and in putting them on record. There can be but little doubt, however, that on this piece of land he eredled his first house and made a home for his family. The troubles between the London and Yorkshire com- missioners in regard to the parts of the territory each were to take, hindered the fixing of the boundaries of individual settlers, and may account for the difference in the known arrival of some and the return of their surveys ; yet, in the the case of William Cooper, the fa6l that the time of his arrival was not exa6lly known, leaves the taking up of his first location and his coming still an open question. In a short time it was found that the lines of the fifty acres interfered with those of an adjoining tra6l, owned by the " widow '^ Perkins; this trouble was afterwards settled by John Woolstan, unto whose wife William Cooper conveyed the same in 1695,^ she being his only daughter. Whether he continued his business after his settlement here, and attended to the necessary wants of the inhabitants, which, in his par- ticular line, were important, there is no record, for the worker in iron of that day was skilled in many other branches of mechanism, now in no way conne6led therewith. He probably had knowledge of the coming of the settlers at Newton, some perhaps being known to him in the mother country, as they had secured the title to their land but fifteen I Revel's Book, 7, ■2 Lib. B2, 500. 88 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. months before he accomplished the same for his property at Pyne Point, to which place he soon removed from Burlington. The intimacy so soon established between them warrants this conclusion ; so do many other incidents scattered through the history of the times, showing that the intercourse here was but a continuation of that begun before this aciventure was under- taken. The survey of three hundred acres at Pyne Point bears the date of June 12th, 1682.^ Within its bounds was a large Indian settlement, and in this William Cooper with his family made his abode. The position was well taken, being one of the most commanding in this section of the country, and a good location for a town. The point of land made by the jun6lion of the creek (afterwards called by his name) with the Delaware river, was selected as the site for his house, this site now being under water by the encroachment of the river upon the shore. Before William Cooper sele6ted this land, however, William Roydon had made a survey lower down the river, with which the boundaries of William Cooper's tra6l was found to inter- fere. It is evident that much controversy grew out of this trouble, and that it was not settled during the life of William Cooper. In 1723, William Cooper, the son of Daniel and grandson of William, became the owner of much the larger part of Roydon's survey;* and, being seized of his father's adjoining real estate at the same time, this difficulty may be said to have ended there. William Roydon located other trails of land in New Jersey, and crossed the ocean several times between the arrival of the commissioners at Burlington and his death. In his will he styles himself "citizen and grocer of London," in which city he died during the year named. If tradition be corre6l, he was a shrewd business man, and did not always heed the precepts laid down by Friends, when his own interest was involved. Although he speaks in his will of William Cooper as "his trusty friend," yet the trouble about the bounds of their adjoining land did not make the same 3 Revel's Book, 32. 4 Lib. D, 456. WILLIAM COOPER. 89 impression upon the mind of William Cooper. Nearly one hundred years after his death a copy of his will was brought to Philadelphia and recorded in the proper office, being a necessary link to the title to some of his real estate in America. His family, if he had any, did not settle here. He had a brother Robert and a sister, Esther Wright, both of Essex, and a sister Eve, wife of Richard Crews of London. The Indians were not molested, and, although Arasapha, their king, conveyed to William Cooper all the estate that they had within the bounds of his location, yet no claim was set up by the grantee, and no trouble appears to have taken place between the old and the new inhabitants. The consideration in the deed between the aborigines and the settlers was made up of rum, match-coats, beads, guns, pots, kettles, pans, and such articles of general utility and fancy as satisfied this simple- minded people and always prevented any trouble in the future. This town was opposite a similar Indian settlement on the river called Shackomaxin ; between these places a ferry was already established, as to the beginning of which "the meniory of man runneth not to the contrary." Here the adventurers under the patronage of William Penn landed, and set up the first Friends' meeting in his colony. In the third month, 1681, a meeting was fixed at the house of Thomas Fairman ; and it was thus kept for more than a year, until the Friends united with those in Philadelphia. It is interesting to observe the religious intercourse that was maintained between the Quakers on each side of the river, an intercourse which lead to many marriages among the younger members, and to some complicity in tracing the genealogies of such. In 1682, a six-weeks' meeting of business was held alternately between Shackomaxin and Pyne Point, which was maintained for several months ; the said meetings being held at the house of Thomas Fairman of the one place and at that of William Cooper of the other. This custom appears to have been established by the yearly meeting held at Salem, for the convenience of Friends ; but it did not long continue, for a place of worship was soon built at Philadelphia, and also one at Newton, thus avoiding 90 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. the necessity of using private dwellings. The meeting at Mark Newbie's house, to which William Cooper of the Point resorted, had been kept before he removed from Burlington, showing where the principles of George Fox were first pro- mulgated in this se6lion, and making it a point of interest to such as care to inquire thereinto. The intercourse of William Cooper with William Penn and the other trustees of Edward Byllynge was frequent, by reason of the large amount of land which he purchased for himself, and also as agent for others, still residents of England or Ireland. He was present at the celebrated treaty of Penn with the Indians, and doubtless gave that great man the advantage of his experience among this strange people. The similarity of the condu6l of each toward them, and the continued and lasting amity preserved from the first, show the same element of kindness and fair dealing to have ailuated and controlled both. The same principles of justice and of right, so much extolled in the condu6l of the Patroon of Pennsylvania, were no less rigidly adhered to by the Proprietors of New Jersey, always accomplishing the same end and deserving the same measure of praise. In the progress of time, the children of William Cooper took upon themselves the responsibilities of matrimony, and set up their own establishments. Hannah married John Wool- stan in 1681, and before her father removed from Burlington. This was his second marriage, the first wife being a sister of Thomas Olive, at that time governor of the province. He came in the same ship as the commissioners, and at his house were held the meetings of worshi]j for Friends in the early settlements. He was a worthy citizen, and the ancestor of numerous and respectable descendants. By the first marriage he had a son John, who, in 1683, married Lettice Newbold. In 1698, he (the father), died, disposing of a large landed estate by will.^ His children by Hannah Cooper were Samuel, who died single ; Jonathan, who married Sarah Pearson in 1707; Hannah, who married George Nicholson in 1706; Sarah, who married Edward Borton ; Mary, who married Samuel 5 Burlington County File WILLIAM COOPER. 91 Bunting in 1713; Joshua, who married ; Michael; Elizabeth, who married Daniel Wills in 1714, and Rebecca, who married Francis Smith in 1714. Jonathan removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he resided in 1715.*^ The daughters settled in their native State, and became the maternal ancestors of some of the most respe6lable families hereabout. The name of John Woolstan occurs among the Friends in England who suffered persecution for religious opinions. His house was the first ere6led in Burlington, and in it, the first monthly meeting of Friends was held after their arrival. Hannah, his widow, married John Surkett of Burlington, as her second husband; he deceased in 1709,' and she then married John Wills, son of Daniel, one of the commissioners, and father of Daniel, who married her daughter Elizabeth. There was no issue by either of the last marriages. William Cooper married Mary, a daughter of Edward Bradway of Salem, N. J., in 1682. He died in 1691, leaving a will, in which he names his father, William Cooper, his father-in-law, his wife Mary, and three children, John, Hannah and Mary.* He probably died at Pyne Point, and perhaps unexpectedly, as Samuel Spicer and Henry Wood, both residents near that place, were witnesses to his will. The inventory of his personal property discloses that he was a resident of Salem, and a blacksmith.^ His children married as follows : John married Ann Clark ; Hannah married John Mickle, and Mary Benjamin Thackara. As may be seen, William was about twenty years of age at the time of his coming to New Jersey. He was employed by his father in his own calling; this made him a useful man among the adventurers. He died young, and by his will left the care of his children to Edward Bradway and John Kay. John deceased in 1730, leaving his widow Ann and the following children, James, John, David, Mary, Ann, Sarah, Hannah, and a child unborn.^" 6 Lib. A, 38. 9 Lib. A, Salem Wills, 65 7 Lib. No. I, 337. 10 Lib. No. 3, 118. 8 Lib. A, Salem Wills, 85. 92 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Joseph Cooper married Lydia Riggs in 1688. This female was of Irish parentage, but at the time of her marriage was a resident of Philadelphia. It is probable that, in 1695 (in which year the ferry and adjoining land were given to Daniel), William Cooper conveyed, by deed of gift, to Joseph, a tradl of land bounded by Cooper's creek, east of his father's residence, where he, Joseph, settled. On February iSth, 1708^ William Cooper conveyed two hundred and twelve acres to Joseph. The words of the deed are, "William Cooper, late of Cooper's Point, in Newton, Gloucester county, New Jersey, to Joseph Cooper, of the same place, for his house, land and farm called Cooper's Point, where he lately dwelt." " He had previously ere6led a house and out-buildings on a tra6l of land which he had located on the north side of Cooper's creek, in Waterford, now Delaware, township. A portion of this house is still standing, it being part of the homestead of Benjamin B. Cooper, deceased, about one mile from Ellisburg toward Camden ; and it is now one of the land marks of early times. To this place he removed, but not long to remain, as he died in 1710. In 1697, Joseph Cooper purchased of Abraham and Joshua Carpenter four hundred and twelve acres of land, in Newton township, bounded by Cooper's creek, — now constituting the most easterly part of the Cope estate. ^^ This he conveyed to his son Joseph in 1714, just as he had purchased it of the Car- penters. He owned much other real estate. He died in 1731, disposing of his property by will." His children were Isaac, who married Hannah Coates ; Joseph, who married Mary Hud- son and Hannah Dent ; Benjamin, who married Rachel Mickle and Elizabeth Burcham (^widow) ; Lydia, who married John Cox; Hannah, who married Alexander Morgan; Sarah, who married Joshua Raper; and Elizabeth, who married Samuel Mickle. The most noticeable of these was Joseph, who ere6led a large brick house on the Carpenter tra6l, and there lived. There were several children by his first marriage, all of whom 11 Lib. AAA, 382. 12 Lib. A, 08. 13 Lib. No. 3, 173. WILLIAM COOPER. 93 died young, except Mary (and she before her father), who married Jacob Howell. She left two daughters, Hannah, who married John Wharton, and Mary, who married Benjamin Swett in 1762. Joseph Cooper, in his will, gave a tradl of land, situated on the south branch of Cooper's creek, in Water ford, now Delaware, township, to these children, subject to the life estate of his second wife, Hannah, which, after her death in 1754, was divided between them. This tra6l of land, in the old papers called the "Wharton tra6l," many years since passed out of the family ; it is now divided into several valuable farms, among which is one owned by the widow of Charles H. Shinn, deceased; and on it stands the old mansion, built before 1728, at which time it was occupied by George Ervin, a tenant of Joseph Cooper, the son of the first settler. Hannah Dent, the second wife of Joseph Cooper, whom he married in 1735 in Philadelphia, was a minister among Friends, and came from England to New Jersey in 1723. The memorial published by the monthly meeting of Haddonfield, after her death in 1754, shows her to have been held in much esteem by that religious society. There were no children by this marriage. Joseph Cooper died in 1749." During his life he was an a(5live business man. He was a member of the Legislature of this State for nineteen consecutive years, which shows that he represented the people of Gloucester county in a manner satis- factory and acceptable, and, although more than one hundred years have passed away since that time, yet no like confidence has been extended to any representative of the constituency of this region. He held other official trusts in the county, which he discharged with fidelity ; and he seems to have been universally respected. The Haddonfield Monthly Meeting also noticed his death, and left on record evidence of the estimation in which he was held by the Society of Friends. Daniel Cooper, the youngest son of William, came to New Jersey when about seven years of age. There was no portion of his life of which his recolledlions were so vivid as that occupied in coming here. Alive to every object about him, 14 Lib, No. 6, 274. 94 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. in the novel position in which he then was, he could never forget them, and he doubtless in after years could enter more into the details of the voyage, than any other who shared it with him. Without a regret, he looked happily forward, and, amid ever changing scenes, did not share the sorrow of his seniors in parting from friends and home. Of an age to attra6l atten- tion, he doubtless made the acqaintance of all on board, ventured into every part of the ship, and was soon on social terms with the crew. Their odd dress, wonderful sea stories, and quaint ballads, excited his childish curiosity, and impressed upon his plastic mind things there to remain as long as he should live. Daniel was twice married. In 1693, to Abigail Wood, a daughter of Henry and Hannah, who lived near by his father's place, but on the opposite side of Cooper's creek. At that time he took possession of the Roydon ferry, previously pur- chased by his father, and continued the same under the license granted to Roydon by the court sitting at Gloucester. The license, as granted, is a curious document, but it embodies everything necessary to be said, either by way of explanation or for the exercise of authority in exacting tolls. No better history can be given of it than an entire copy from the record. "Whereas, at a court held at Gloucester upon ye first day of ye first month in ye year one thousand six hundred and eighty-seven it was presented to ye Bench that a constant and common ferry was very usefull and much wanted from Jersey to Philadelphia, and also that William Roydon's house was judged a place convenient, and ye said William Roydon a person suitable for that employ ; and therefore an order from ye court was then granted for ye establishment and fixing of ye same. Whereto ye bench did then and there assent, and refferred to ye Grand Jury ye methodizing of ye same, and to fix ye rates thereof, which was by them agreed and con- cluded upon as hereunder follows : "Therefore we permit and appoint that a common passage or ferry for man and beast be provided, fixed and settled in WILLIAM COOPER. 95 some convenient and proper place between ye mouths or entrances of Cooper's creek and Newton creek, and that ye government, managing and keeping of ye same be committed to ye said William Roydon and his assigns, who are hereby empowered and appointed to establish, fix and settle ye same within ye limits aforesaid, wherein all other persons are desired and requested to keep no other common or public passage or ferry. "And ye said William Roydon shall prepare and provide good and sufficient boats, with other conveniences suitable to ye said employ, to be in readiness at all times to accommodate people's a6tions, and shall take no more than six pence per head for such persons that shall be by him ferried over ye River, and not more than twelve pence for man and horse or other beast, and so not exceeding twelve pence per head for any sort of beast so ferried over, as above said: except swine, calves and sheep, which shall pay only six pence per head and no more. "Given under our hands and seals at ye Court held at Gloucester for ye Jurisdi6tion thereof, this ye first day of ye first month, in ye year of our lord one thousand six hun- dred eighty and eight. Francis Collins, Christopher Watkins, Andrew Robeson, Samuel Spicer. John Wood, "Entered, Examined and Recorded this 24th day of April, Ano 1689, per me, John Reading, Recorder.'"^ The accommodations at this ferry were nothing more than open boats fitted with oars, and occasionally with sails, which occupied much time in crossing, to say nothing of danger and exposure to passengers. A few trips each day were all that could be made in fair weather, and during a storm communi- cation ceased altogether. Abigail Cooper, the wife of Daniel, died in a short time after their marriage, and without children, for, in 1695, he married Sarah, a daughter of Samuel and Esther 15 Lib. Gi, iio. 96 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. Spicer, who also lived on the north side of Cooper's creek near Pyne Point. On the 6th day of the second month, 1695, William Cooper conveyed to Daniel, the ferry, with one hundred and fourteen acres of land attached, and by the same deed other real estate in Gloucester county/" Daniel and Sarah Cooper's children were three sons, — William, who married Mary Rawle, of Philadelphia; Samuel S., who married , and Daniel, who married . Daniel Cooper died intestate, in 1715.*' The appraisement of his personal property amounted to four hundred and fifty pounds, including two ferry boats, showing that he resided at, and kept the ferry at the time of his decease. His real estate was large, and he was, no doubt, one of the wealthiest men of his day. In 1 730, William Cooper, the son of Daniel, petitioned Lord Cornbury, then Governor, for a license to keep a ferry "where one had been kept for more than forty years;" which license was granted, "with the exclusive right of ferry for two miles above, and two miles below, so long as he accommodated the people, upon the payment of one shill- ing yearly on the fast day of St. Michael the Archangel.'"* This charter was certainly a liberal one, extending beyond the limits of the present city of Camden, without any time fixed for its termination, and with a tax that, by the face of the document, was to be but nominal. It was a monopoly so far as regarded these privileges, within the distance named, but in after time it became modified, and finally was abandoned. The exa6l position of this ferry upon the river front is not now known ; it was probably between Cooper street and Market street, as Royden's survey extended but a short distance above the first named street. The amount of business done at this river crossing may be inferred from the number of inhabitants in this region in those days. The census of Gloucester county, taken in 1737, shows a population of three thousand two hundred and sixty-seven, including one hundred and twenty-two slaves. ^^ A large pro- portion of these lived near some navigable stream, depending 16 Lib. A, 39. 18 Lib. AAA, 249. 17 Gloucester Files. 19 Lib. GH, i. WILLIAM COOPER. 97 upon boats as a means of travel ; and, in going to Philadelphia, they would use their own transportation and not cross either at Gloucester or Cooper's ferry. Also it has been seen that, in 1 715, Daniel Cooper had but two ferry boats, no doubt of ordi- nary size and without capacity for carrying many people ; which kind of evidence goes very far to prove that the means, though scanty, were sufficient for the wants of the public. Daniel, the youngest son of Daniel, in 1728, settled near the head of the north branch of Cooper's creek, on the farm lately owned by William Hooten, deceased. He was a farmer, but was sometimes called a drover. This latter occupation was only occasionally indulged in, to procure cattle from along the sea shore for himself and neighbors. These were bred upon the meadows, and in the endless forests abounding there in those days. Wild and nearly unmanageable, it required much ta6l, patience and woodcraft to control them. The first William Cooper deceased in 1710, leaving a will, in which he named his children and disposed of .the remainder of his property.'" His personal estate amounted to upwards of seven hundred pounds sterling, — a large sum for the times, but of small account in these days of wealth and pretension. Under the residuary clause of his will, parts of the estate passed to his grandchildren, who, at the time of his death, were John Cooper, Hannah Mickle, Mary Thackara, Joseph Cooper, Benjamin Cooper, Isaac Cooper, Lydia Cox, Hannah Thackara, Sarah Raper, Samuel Cooper, Daniel Cooper, Jonathan Wool- stan, Samuel Woolstan, Mary Bunting, Sarah Borton, Elizabeth Wills, William Cooper, Rebecca Smith, Hannah Nicholson, and Elizabeth Mickle. It is scarcely necessary to say that William Cooper was an eminent member of the Society of Friends, and participated in everything that went to the advancement and stability of the church whose tenets he had espoused. He was a preacher among them, and lived at a time when the expounders of such do6lrines were especially obnoxious to the mass of the people of Great Britain; he, therefore, like others, suffered much thereby ; but, before his death, he saw the success of these 98 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. do6lrines and their free development in the land of his adop- tion. He had much to do with the political management of the colony, being a member of the first Legislature that sat for the framing of laws. This was a work of great labor, but, in the end, it showed good judgment and pra6lical com- mon sense. Adopting the statutes of England as the basis, they made the new features of their system conform thereto, so far as was consistent with the rights of the settlers. Inducements were held out for emigration, and the system of jurisprudence made as liberal as possible to accomplish that end. Through the several sittings of this session William Cooper was present, and participated, no doubt, discharging his duties acceptably. He was appointed one of the commissioners to divide land, and also one of the committee to devisg.^'means for raising money for the use of the colony. The next year he was con- tinued a member. In 1684, when the trouble with Edward Byllynge in regard to the government was taken up, and Samuel Jennings and Thomas Budd sent to England as commissioners therefor,'^' the sum of one hundred pounds was allowed to each for expenses; and to William Penn was to be paid a like sum for services in the same matter. To assure the payment of these several sums, William Cooper, with nine others, joined in a bond as security therefor. In 1685, he was again returned as a member of the Leg- islature, and also continued commissioner for the division of land. In 1696, he was appointed one of the judges of the several courts of the county of Gloucester ; he also filled many other minor appointments in a township capacity. The remaining part of his original survey, being a small tra6l of land fronting on Cooper's creek and adjoining William Roy- don's survey, William Cooper conveyed to two of his grand- sons, John Cooper, son of William, and Joseph Cooper, son of Joseph f'- this Avas the last of the real estate held by him in Newton township. He had made other surveys in difi'erent parts of Gloucester county, some of which he conveyed, and some passed by his will. 21 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 22 Lib. A, 28. WILLIAM COOPER. 99 Parts of this real estate, particularly those within the city of Camden, still remain in the family, and have followed the blood of the first owner, under the proprietors, from genera- tion to generation, for nearly two hundred years. This is remarkable where the laws regulating the descent of real property are so liberal, and where the third generation seldom hold the land of their ancestors. Ability to possess, and a desire to perpetuate, family estates, are commendable traits ; they deserve emulation and should become to a greater extent chara6leristics of Americans. Yet, in our haste to get gain, all things else become secondary, and the exceptions are among those who are not willing to venture the paternal acres in fortune's lottery. WILLIAM ALBERTSON, THE name of Albertson, or Albertsen, as it is sometimes written, may be found among those of the earliest Dutch emigrants to New Amsterdam, who came here to barter with the natives for furs and the few other commodities which they had among them for trade.' As early as in 1650, the records of births and baptisms in New York, indicate that Albert Albertson had a child baptized in the church of that place, and that others of this name had the same rite administered to their offspring. Other records of that date show this family to have had several representatives in the colony, some of whom were men of considerable estate and influence. At this period a few small dwellings of the humblest char- after stood close around the fort at the outlet of Hudson river, where the Hollanders had a small garrison for protection against the natives, and where also were colle6led the articles of exchange that made the little commercial trade about that spot. It was at the time when each Dutchman had his farm or bowery, somewhere within the busiest part of the present city of New York, and drove his cow to pasture along the tortuous paths leading to his lot ; some of which same paths are now among the most crowded thoroughfares of the metropolis of America. It was in the good old times of sour-krout and wild tobacco, when a promising cabbage patch and a small quantity of smoked herring, rendered each inhabitant happy for the I Manual of Common Council, N. Y., 740, Library N. Y. His. Soc. I02 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. coming year at least ; and these were the days when the ances- tors of the Knickerbockers sought the Battery to enjoy a quiet smoke, and to listen to the merriment of the negroes at Communipaw. As the town enlarged, the family in question also increased, and their names may be found in various relations as time went on. True to their native blood, litigations and difficulties grew out of their stubbornness; and the court minutes show how tenaciously any supposable right was adhered to, and how often these troubles ended in a law-suit. The Dutch settlements upon the Delaware would naturally be the cause of more or less intercourse with those upon the Hudson river ; and persons and families can be traced from the one to the other, they, doubt- less, changing their abodes to improve their condition and advance their estate. In 1656, Hans Albertson purchased a patent for a tra6l of land at Fort Casimir, on South (Delaware) river, whereon he settled.'^ In 1672, Derick Albertson had built a mill near the same river, one-half of which was claimed by William Toms. This claim had to be settled by a suit at law.'^ This was pre- vious to the establishment of any court on South river, and, as a consequence, the parties were forced to appear before their High Mightinesses at New York, taking thereto all their wit- nesses and proofs at much expense, a pra6lice yet charadler- istic to the last degree. By this it may be seen that members of this family found their way to the colony on South river, and made permanent settlements ; yet there can be no question of their nativity, or of their arrival on the shores of America. In the progress of events William Penn became the owner of the territory of Pennsylvania, which included all the Dutch and Swedish settlements on the west side of the Delaware river. The do6lrine of ethics, laid down by him as the basis of his government, destroyed very much of the litigious element that formerly existed, and produced a new state of things among the inhabitants. Quarrels and disputes that previously had ended in court, were now disposed of in a manner much less conspicuous, and more satisfadlory to those interested. 2 Dutch Manuscripts, 383. 3 Dutch Manuscripts, 350, Library N. Y. His. Soc. WILLIAM ALBERTSON. 103 Differences of opinion that often led to estrangements between families and among neighbors, were settled within the quiet precin6ls of the church, where the outside world was prevented from meddling, and where good advice and restraining influ- ence prevailed. Gradual, 3^et positive and well defined, was the progress of the teachings of Quakerism among the older settlers ; and its footsteps may be discovered from time to time, until the new dispensation pervaded the communities within its bounds, and but slight traces of the old order of things could be seen. On May 2d, 1682, William Albertson located a tra6l of land in Newton township, between the south and the middle branch of the creek that bears that name, and settled thereon.*"^ It does not appear whence he came, but the probability is that he was of Dutch extraftion, as before named, and that his parents were among the Hollanders of New York. The house which he built — no doubt, a small one — stood by the middle branch, and nearly fronting the little settlement called Newton ; but in a few years it entirely disappeared. He was a mar- ried man with a family when he came there; shortly after he removed to Byberry, Pennsylvania, and gave the possession of the estate to his son William. This occurred before 1692, for, in that year, he purchased a tra6l of land in the town bounds of Gloucester, the deed for which names him as then a resident of the place above mentioned." Upon the setting apart of a lot of land at Newton whereon to build a meeting house, he was one of the persons who accepted the trust therefor, and no doubt took an aftive part in the ere6lion of that place of worship.' This trust was continued until 1708, when other and younger men were called to occupy the same position. He made several locations and purchases of land, while a resident here ; but his removal so soon from this neighborhood leaves but little of his history among us, yet, so far as his record goes, he was a person much respecSled in his day and generation. In 16S5, he was returned as a member of the 4 Lib. T, 355, O. S. G. 6 Lib. S6, 405, O. S. G. 5 Lib. G3, r4i. 7 Sharp's Book, 50, O. S. G. I04 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. Colonial Legislature ; he also held other minor county and township ofifices during his settlement here.** His children were William, who married Esther Willis, daughter of Henry and Mary, of Westberry, Long Island, N. Y., in 1695;** Abraham, who married Hannah Medcalf;*" Rebecca, who married Joseph Satterthwaite : Ann, who mar- ried Walter Forrest " and John Kaighn ; Cassandra, who mar- ried Jarvis Stockdale; Benjamin, who married ; and Josiah, who married Ann Austin of Evesham, Burlington county, N. J. At the time of his decease, he resided at Poquesin, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he owned grain and saw mills, and considerable other property. He died soon after the execution of his will (1709), survived by his widow Hannah, and by all his children except Ann.^'" To his son William, in the year 1698, he deeded the home- stead property, whereon he remained until his decease in 1720." This was a valuable estate, and he improved it by enlarging and banking the meadow attached to the property, which, at that time, was the only soil from which hay and pasture were derived. The artificial grasses now used upon the upland, had not then attra6led the attention of agriculturists, for which reason the meadow and marsh lands along the streams commanded much the higher price, and were considered as a necessary appendage to every farm. The meadow land on each of the branches of Newton creek, was, no doubt, the attra6lion that brought the settlers first to this place, and was, in fa6l, the only means they had for sustaining their cattle. To avoid expense and to secure the land from the overflow of the tide, William Albertson placed a dam across the south branch, and reclaimed much of the marsh above the same. In this dam there were tide gates, the constru6lion and utility of which need not be explained here." These were kept in use until the dyke was put across the mouth of the creek, at the river, in 1786, when all the improvements on the several 8 Learning & Spicer's Laws. ii Lib. No. 6, Salem Records, 32. 9 Friends' Records, Long Island. 12 Philadelphia Records. Lib. M, 75, O. S. G. 10 License Book, 25. Lib. No. 7, Salem 13 Lib. A, 104. Lib. G3, 139. Lib. No. 2, 139. Records, 156. 14 Albertson Papers. WILLIAM ALBERTSON. 105 tributaries of the same were abandoned. The utility of this manner of making meadow, in a sanitary point of view, is very questionable ; the miasma arising from the stagnant water and from exposed vegetable matter, incident to the system, is una- voidable ; it spreads disease through the entire neighborhood, and very much lessens the value of property within its baneful influence. The owner ere6led a substantial brick house, which, at the time it was built, ranked among the best in this se6lion ; but, when compared with the present system of archite6lure, it appears insignificant enough. This house still stands, and shows at a glance the many years that have passed away since its erection. In front of and at a short distance from it, may be seen the ditch and bank that surrounded the park for deer, which cov- ered many acres of land and extended to the south branch of the creek. On the bank stood a high and substantial fence, that effedlually prevented the game from escaping when once within its bounds; and there the owner and his invited friends could find excellent sport at any season of the year. Conne6led also with the place was a race course, where the speed of the pretentious horses in the neighborhood could be tested, and where, doubtless, the conceit was often taken out of various owners and backers, who resorted thither to fleece a jockey disguised as a greenhorn. All these prove not only that the owner was a man of wealth, but also that, in its enjoyment, the drift of his inclination brought around him a class of associates that had similar tastes. William Albertson was an a6live man in the affairs of the colony, and, besides holding other positions of public trust, was returned as a member of the Assembly in 1685.^^ He was for several years a member of the council of proprietors, and at a time when men of the best judgment were called upon to a6l in that capacity.^'' In the affairs of the township his name is often seen, which shows that he looked after the interests of his neighbors as well as the enjoyments of his own estate. 15 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 16 Minutes of Council, O. S. G. io6 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. He died in 1720, leaving a widow and the following named children : John ; Abraham, who married Sarah Dennis ; Wil- liam, Jane, Mary and Esther." Part of this estate descended under the name of William Albertson through four generations to a daughter Sarah, the only child of the last William, who married David Henry, in whose name a portion of the same still remains; thus continuing part of the original property in the line of blood for nearly two hundred years ; one of the rare occurrences of lineal inher- itance touching landed property in New Jersey.^® Abraham settled on the tra6l of land which his father pur- chased of Andrew Robeson in 1692, situated in the town bounds of Gloucester and on the south branch of Newton creek, which his father conveyed to him in 1698/'' He died in 1739, leaving the following named family:'^" Isaac ; Jacob, who married Patience Chew ; Abraham, who deceased without children \ Ephraim, who married Kesiah Chew ; Joseph, who married Rose Hampton ; Aaron, who married Elizabeth Albertson ; Levi, who 'married Kesiah Rob- erts; Jonathan; Rebecca, who married ; Beverly, and , who married Richard Chew.'^ The estate, as held by the father in 1757, belonged to four of the sons, Jacob, Joseph, Isaac and Ephraim, among whose descendants parts of it were held for many years, but at this writing it has passed out of the name' and blood. Of Rebecca, who married Joseph Satterthwaite, nothing is known ; as families after two or three generations are apt to forget the maiden name of their maternal ancestors, and it is probable that all traces of her as the daughter of William Albertson have been lost. Ann, the wife of Walter Forrest, settled with her husband in Salem county as early as in 1686. They were married at Newton meeting, according to the order of Friends, to which they adhered as long as they lived. Her husband, in connec- tion with his brothers Francis and John, purchased a large tra6l of land in that county, in 1678, on Salem creek, of 17 Lib. No. 2, 139. 20 Lib. No. 5, 136. 18 Lib. T, 355, O. S. G. 21 Family Papers. 19 Sharp's Book, Lib. S6, 405, O. S. G. WILLIAM ALBERTSON. 107 John Fcnwick, and there they ere6led a corn mill, called the "Brothers' Forrest," perhaps the first of the kind in Fenwick colony. '■^'^ In the same year, they purchased other lands of John Fenwick, and afterwards became the owners of adjoining tra6ls. At the time of the first purchase they were residents of Bur- lington, and doubtless came over among the first emigrants. When Walter Forrest died in 1692, he was a resident of Byberry, Pennsylvania, where he had some estate.^'' There was no issue by this marriage."''. About two years after his death the widow married John Kaighn, who was a carpenter and resided at Byberry, where it may be supposed the marriage took place. -^ They soon after removed to Newton township, and settled on a tra6l of land which he had purchased of Robert Turner, fronting on the Delaware river.-'' At this place she died, leaving one child, Ann, who died in 1715, unmarried, thus ending this branch of the family in the second generation." By the will of his father, dated December 17th, 17.09, recorded in Pennsylvania, Josiah Albertson received a tra6l of land in Gloucester township, bounded on the south side by Otter branch, and thereon he settled and cleared a farm.^® In 1727, he married Ann, a daughter of Francis Austin, of Evesham, Burlington county, N. J. Her father was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood ; and many of this name are still to be found thereabout. There the first habitation of Josiah and Ann was built, on the land given him by his father, at a short distance south of the old Salem road, where he both plied his calling of shoemaker, and at the same time removed the timber from the soil. He enlarged the breadth of his acres by purchase and loca- tion until his possessions were double those left him by his father. In 1743, he built a large and substantial brick house, perhaps on the site of his log cabin ; part of which is now standing and is occupied by his lineal descendant, Chalkley Albertson, who owns much of the original estate. Whether 22 Lib. B, 16. Salem Deeds. 26 Lib. G3, 127. 23 Salem Wills, A, 69. 27 Lib. No. 2, 162. 24 Salem Wills, No. s, 98. 28 Lib. Mi, 75, O. S. G. 25 Salem Deeds, No. 6, 32. io8 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. Josiah continued his business of making shoes, tradition does not reveal, but the chances are that his farming interests and lumber operations consumed all his time, and that the business of his youth was soon forgotten. "^^ The children of Josiah and Ann Albertson were eight daughters and one son ; Hannah, who married Jacob Clement ; Mary; Cassandra, who married Jacob Ellis and Jacob Burrough ; Patience, who married Isaac Ballinger ; Elizabeth ; Josiah, who married Eleanor Tomlinson and Judith Boggs; Sarah, who mar- ried Samuel Webster; Katurah, who married Isaac Townsend, and Ann, who married Ebenezer Hopkins and Jacob Jennings/'" These daughters were remarkable for their healthy look and comely appearance. In their attendance at meeting, they rode on horseback, presenting quite a cavalcade when several were together. Their attra6live appearance abroad and substantial qualities at home, made them desirable wives for those of the same religious denomination in search of such, and the records show that such qualifications were understood and appreciated; none of those that arrived at suitable age were left as "single sisters." In the collateral branches of thifi part of the Albertsons, it may be seen how many families can trace their lineage to them; and how widely spread may become the conne6lions of a particular stock, when the families are numerous and change their names, localities and associations. 29 Lib. T, 310, O. S. G. 30 Family Papers. ELIZABETH ESTAUGH. THE life and chara6ler of Elizabeth Estaugh are especially interesting to every resident of Newton township and its neighborhood, since her name and example will always com- mand the respeft and admiration of any one at all familiar with her history. Although only the collateral ancestor of a large family in this region, yet her name in this connexion is always spoken of with commendable pride and deserving reverence. The passing away of one generation after another has not blunted the interest felt in her good deeds, nor has the lapse of time obliterated the traditions handed down from parent to child. One hundred and fifty years have not destroyed the attra6lions that surround the romance of her early life, and no mention can be made of the history of this neighbor- hood, that is not conne6led with the adls and associations of Elizabeth Estaugh. She came to New Jersey a young, unsophisticated girl, comparatively alone. Fresh from the care of solicitous and affe6lionate parents, she left a home in which she had been surrounded by friends and by all that rendered life attra6live, to cast her lot in the midst of an unbroken forest, at some dis- tance from her nearest neighbors — a stranger in a strange land. Whatever may have been her youthful fancy of a life in the wilds of America, separated from her parents and friends, the realities of her situation must have occasionally pressed heavily upon her spirits, and caused her almost to regret the strange no FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. and responsible position which she had assumed. Perlmps at no period of her eventful life, did the leading traits of her char- a6ler appear to a better advantage than thus early in her career. Self reliance and decision of purpose, based upon conscien- tious motives, were here developed, and these in the hour of trial did not desert her. She was a daughter of John Haddon, a Friend, who lived in Rotherhithe, in the parish of St. George, boroiigh of South- wark, county of vSurrey, England, then a suburb of the city of London, and on the east side of the river Thames.^ The long crooked street of Rotherhithe, lying, as it does, near to and parallel with the river, remains to this day the same narrow thoroughfare as when John Haddon resided there. The old Horslydown meeting near by, where Friends assem- bled for worship, has long been abandoned, and it is now used as a carpenter's shop. The Southwark meeting house has also given way to modern improvements, and the ground where once lay the remains of deceased members, is now occupied by the foundation of a railroad bridge, leaving no vestige of this place, of so much interest to such as care to visit the homes of their ancestors. John Haddon was a blacksmith, extending his business to the making of anchors, and had his shop between the street before named and the river. ^ Diligence and economy produced their legitimate ends, and, in the course of time, brought to him a large estate, which he used with discretion during life, and disposed of judiciously at the time of his decease. The ancestry of this man may possibly be traced to the manor of Haddon in Derbyshire, now part of the estate of the Duke of Rutland. The old baronial mansion of Haddon Hall is still standing, and is one of the points of interest to be visited by tourists. Although abandoned as a residence by the owner, yet every- thing remains as used and occupied many centuries since. As its name indicates, it was, perhaps, the seat of the Haddon 1 Lib. AAA, 6i, 245. Lib. A, 203. Lib. D, 413, 419. 2 Lib. G3, 458, Oi S. G. Sharp's Book. 43, O. S. G. ELIZABETH ESTAUGH. iii family before the conquest; but, in the arbitrary distribution of territory by William, this estate was given to his son, and the original owners were driven from the soil, or degraded by their Norman rulers. John Haddon lived in the times of the persecution of Friends, and suffered, in common with others of like persuasion, from the tyranny and oppression of those in authority.^ His children were born during this abuse of power. They heard and, perhaps, saw much of the distress that was brought upon their friends, and had impressed upon their youthful minds the feelings and sentiments of the parents, which early impressions no doubt adhered to them through life. Whatever of forbearance and forgiveness may have been instilled into their riper opinions and judgment by the teachings of a true religion, the remembrance of these wrongs done to an unof- fending and law-abiding people could never be obliterated. He was not among the first that became interested in the lands of West New Jersey, but no doubt knew of, and perhaps participated in, the advancement of the little colony, hoping that it might prove to be an asylum for those of like opinions who were, at home, borne down by the fanaticism of others. Although the plan of settlement was novel, and the system of government contained elements that were especially attract- ive to this class of professing Christians, yet it was no matter of money speculation among those who originated it, and did not in the end accrue very much to their pecuniary advantage. The inception and carrying out of the whole plan were in good faith, and, although difficulties subsequently occurred, yet these were from no fault of the principles adopted by the Proprietors. The success of the scheme in its various phases was canvassed on many occasions at the home of John Haddon, by those already interested, and in the presence of his children; they thus became familiar with its workings, and the progress which it was making among the people. Various circulars and pamph- lets were published, and letters also were written home by those already emigrated, which attra6led much attention; and the daughter Elizabeth could not have been indifferent to the move- ments made by her friends in that direction. 3 Besse's Sufferings, Vol. i, 126, 485. 112 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. He does not appear to have been a creditor of Edward Byllynge, and, like many others, to have accepted an interest in the land to save a debt likely to be lost ■. but he purchased of Richard Matthews one-eighth of a right of propriety in the year 1698, some twenty-four years after the acceptance of the trust by William Penn and others for the purpose of paying Byllynge's debts.* John Haddon had but two children, Sarah, who married Benjamin Hopkins, a wine merchant of the city of London, and Elizabeth, who was born in 1682 and married John Estaugh.^ In the year of the purchase above named, another was made of Thomas Willis, a son of John Willis, of a tra<5l of land in Newton tov/nship, bounded on the north side by Cooper's creek, containing about five hundred acres of land.^ In view of these purchases, John Haddon may have contemplated removing to New Jersey with his family and settling among his friends, many of whom had already preceded him, in- tending to make it their permanent home. There was some restraining influence, however, that prevented the carrying out of this purpose, which cannot be explained, except that the daughter Sarah was already married and settled in the city of her birth, whom the mother was not willing to leave behind, perchance never to see her again. If intended, the idea was abandoned before Elizabeth left her home, for her father execu- ted to her a power of attorney to become his agent in New Jersey for the location, purchase and sale of lands; this he would not have done, had he expe6led to come here in person.' In 1 70 1, being in the nineteenth year of her age, Elizabeth Haddon left the home of her parents, in company perhaps with a few friends, and came to New Jersey to occupy and look after the possessions of her father. In this a6l were first manifested that courage and decision of charadler, of which so much was seen in after years. At that age, to attempt such an adventure showed a great sacrifice on the part of the parents, and much self-reliance on the part of the child. In man nothing is so 4 Lib. G3, 458. 6 Lib. A, 80. 5 Lib. No. 3, 58. 7 Lib. G3, 347. ELIZABETH ESTAUGH. 113 much admired as high-toned moral courage, with a disinter- ested and unselfish purpose to accomplish ; and no less will be accorded to this young female who assumed responsibilities that many of the other sex would avoid, even with much greater attra6lions than those that lay before her. Perhaps a motive, as yet undeveloped, may have had something to do with this a(5l, a motive to be explained by what occurred within a year after her arrival and settlement in her new home. A short time before this voyage was undertaken, a young man of much talent — a native of Kelvedon in Essex, afterwards a resident of Rotherhithe, in Surrey® — had appeared among the Quakers of London, and attracted considerable notice as a public speaker. He had scarcely arrived at man's estate, yet he stood an accepted minister in expounding and defending the religious belief of the Society of Friends. An acquaintance and frequent visitor at the house of John Haddon, an intimacy grew up between himself and the daugh- ter Elizabeth, which very naturally ripened into a stronger feeling. This young man was John Estaugh, born upon the second month 23d day, 1676, at Kelvedon, a small town about fifty miles northeast of London. He became convinced of Friends' principles by hearing Francis Stamper of London preach at the funeral of a neighbor; and he appeared in the ministry when about eighteen years of age. He was a member of the Cogshall Quarterly Meeting, in the county of his birth. He received a minute from that meeting, dated seventh month 28th, 1700, allowing him to go to America on a religious visit. He was accompanied by John Richardson, and arrived in the river Patuxent, Maryland, in the first month of the following year. They travelled in Virginia together, visiting many meetings, and returned through Pennsylvania to Philadelphia. It was at this time that John Estaugh first met Elizabeth Haddon after her arrival, while she remained among her friends, and before she took up her abode on the estate of her father in New Jersey. Perchance a mutual pleasure was manifested when 8 Lib. A, 03. 114 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. they met, that betrayed a latent feeling common to both; and, although taught from childhood to avoid expressions of joy or grief, yet, upon an occasion like this, such expressions were pardonable in those whose hopes so closely and warmly sympathized. While in Philadelphia, on this occasion, John Estaugh thought it his duty to go back to Virginia, "not feeling his mind clear of that province." Some doubts existed in the minds of John Richardson and John Estaugh, as to the propriety of separating, and several of the elders were convened and made acquainted with their prospe6ts in this regard, and, after proper deliberation, the wishes of John Estaugh were granted. He therefore separ- ated from John Richardson, and spent considerable time in Virginia, preaching among the people scattered through those ' ' wilderness countries. ' ' In the meantime, Elizabeth Haddon was making preparations to occupy her new home : and the appearance among them of so young a female, who had crossed the ocean without her parents, attra6led the attention of the hardy pioneers. The scenes before her must have contrasted strangely with those that surrounded her home in the suburbs of the great city of London. Here the prospe6live streets of the town were only defined by marks upon the trees of the forest, and the few scattered houses showed but little of the large city that now occupies the soil. The hill-side upon the Delaware front was yet full of caves, where lived the emigrants who had not means or opportunity to ere6l better dwellings; and the strange appearance of the natives must have filled her mind with misgivings as to the security of the new settlers. Francis Collins, the friend and companion of her father, who had settled at "Mountwell," extended to her the hos- pitalities of his house, and, by his dire6lion and advice, con- trolled her in much of her future condu6l. In going to his residence, they crossed the river at the ferry kept by Daniel Cooper, and performed the remainder of the journey on horse- back, as nothing more than a bridle path led from one settle- ment to another. This road passed through a continuous ELIZABETH EST A UGH. 115 forest, save the few settlements at Newton ; there she was greeted by those who had preceded her to this new country, and who listened to such information as she might give them of friends left behind. The surroundings to her were all new and strange. Every thing being in a state of nature, she at last came to realize the privations through which her associates had already passed, and the difficulties that must beset her in this novel under- taking. In passing along they turned away from the road to look at the land purchased of Thomas Willis, where this "youthful emigrant" was to make her home in the future, and where she expedled to dispense the hospitalities of her household, in a manner consistent with her condition in life and her liberality of spirit. Two miles beyond, they reached '' Mountwell," where the yet single daughters of her escort gave her that welcome which she, in her lonely condition, could well appreciate ; and the kind regard for her comfort that was extended to her in their humble dwelling, was proportionate to that which she, in after years, fully and gratefully returned. It has been generally believed that she erected the first house on this tradl of land, bringing with her much of the material from England. This is an error, as a map of the land made by Thomas Sharp in 1700 (which was before her arrival), proves that buildings were already on the land ; and it is supposable that she occupied those already there. ^ John Willis, the locator of the survey, no doubt, put the dwelling there and lived on the premises some time, for fourteen years had elapsed between the date of the taking up and John Haddon's title. She probably enlarged and improved the house, so as to accord with her notions of convenience and comfort, and to receive her friends in a proper manner; for it is known that she never turned the stranger away from her door, or suffered her acquaint- ances to look for entertainment elsewhere. This house stood on the brow of a hill on the south side of Cooper's creek, at Cole's landing, about two miles from Had- donfield, in a commanding situation, and near that stream, 9 Lib. A, 80. ii6 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. which in those days was much used as a means of travel ; and, according to the custom of the times in giving a name to such settlements, it was called " Haddonfield." This name was retained until the building of the new house in 1 713, ere6led still nearer the village as it now stands; after whicli it was called "Old Haddonfield," in order to distin- guish it from the more modern and extensive settlement last mentioned.'" Mrs. Maria Child, in her story which she called "The Youth- ful Emigrant," of which Elizabeth Haddon is the heroine, says that John Estaugh did not visit her until the winter following her arrival and settlement here. That John cultivated forbear- ance as one of the Christian virtues, and attended closely to his Master's work, there can be no doubt; but the fair authoress has little knowledge of human nature, if she supposed that so great a temptation as a visit to this new home of Elizabeth (which home, by the way, was not the greatest attra6lion to this place in the forest) could be resisted. The many associa- tions that surrounded their friends in England, furnished subje6ls for conversation, interesting and agreeable, to say nothing of the new and wonderful things that met their observation at almost every step in their present situation. The meeting at Newton needed some one to minister spiritual things to its few attendants ; and who could blame him for being present occa- sionally at their sittings? and, after these, for accompanying his friend to her residence, to continue their conversation over her plentiful board ? Again, in weaving together the threads of her romance, Mrs. Child presents the scene in which these two persons are depi6led as adjusting the saddle girths of the horse upon which Elizabeth rode, as taking place while on their way to attend the Quarterly Meeting of Friends at Salem ; and, while this is being done, she represents the fair damsel as breaking to John a subje6l, that she believed she was dire6ted in this manner to approach, regardless of the conventionalities which generally govern in like cases. Without any desire to criticise or destroy the drift of this well told story, we must JO Lib. No. II, 113. ELIZABETH EST A UGH. 117 suggest that the probability that these long journeys were accomplished by water, must interfere somewhat with the romance thrown around it, and mar the certainty of the fa6ls involved, which, there can be no doubt, the authoress designed to observe. For many years after the settlement of the country, no extended journey was attempted, except by water, where the place to be reached was near a navigable stream; and, in the case in question, the facilities for traveling from Philadelphia to Salem by packets were sujffiiciently attractive to avoid horseback riding for so long a distance. Upon the last point, the delib- erate condu6l of Friend Estaugh may have been rather slow for Elizabeth's impulsive nature, and, although something had been evasively said upon the delicate subje6l, yet their probable sepa- ration for a time rendered it excusable on her part to wish to have the matter settled. It was a commendable proceeding; and how many suitable companions by either sex might be secured, if more speed were observed by the one, and more courage by the other ! Whether John performed this part of the courtship awk- wardly, or whether Elizabeth showed her courage and good sense by a6ling as before mentioned, matters not, for the mar- riage was accomplished at her residence on the first day of the eighth month, 1702, in the presence of a committee of Friends, and of a few invited guests." Among the guests several of the aborigines might have been seen. Their knowledge of the bride was attained by hearing the story of her life from her own lips, which excited their admiration for her courage — among them a leading virtue ; and she commanded their regard and respeft ever after. They were dressed after their peculiar style, in garments made especially for the occasion, displaying upon these the rude taste of their people, and their interest in the present event. Their apparent indifference to the scene before them was much like the calm demeanor of the rest of the company ; yet they were keen observers of all that passed, and supposed the ceremony had but commenced, when they were told that II Friends' Memorials. ii8 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. "the brave pale-face girl" and John Estaugh were husband and wife, until death should separate them. The solemnizing of marriages in public meetings was not generally observed in early times; for what reason does not always appear, yet such was the fa6l, as is seen in the record referring to those dates. Soon after this marriage had taken place, John Estaugh became the attorney of John Haddon, and took charge of his landed interests in New Jersey; which had become large by location and purchase, and required much of his time and attention. He, however, continued an acceptable minister among his people, and made many religious visits during his life.'^ He was also, for several years, agent for an association in London, known as the "Pennsylvania Land Company," the last settlement with the society having been made by his widow as his executrix two years after his death. As the country filled with settlers, mechanics became more plentiful, and building materials were more readily obtained ; the eredlion of a new house was contemplated, more suitable for the accommodation of their many friends and consistent with their wealth and position in society. Another site was sele6led, and, in 1713, a brick house was built, a short distance from the village of Haddonfield, where the present residence of Isaac H. Wood now stands. This was on a tra6l of land which John Haddon purchased of Richard Mathews, and, after the house was finished, it was called "New Haddon- field."" In a few years, however, the name was lost to both places, and attached to the village which stands partly on the last named tra6l of land." The house was substantially built, and bore the evidence of wealth and taste in the owner ; it was designed to secure the comfort of the occupants, so far as the knowledge of architedlure and convenient arrangement went at that day.^" Among other things, and what would seem strange at this time, a distillery was attached to the premises, and the smith shop which was there before the pur- chase by John Haddon, was kept up, and the tools were 12 Lib. Gi, 203 Lib. AAA, 245. 14 Lib. B, 44, Woodbury. 13 Lib. Q, 460. 15 Lib. No. 11, 113. ELIZABETH ESTAUGH. 119 disposed of by Elizabeth Estaugh in her will.^" This stood near the jun6lion of Tanner street and the turnpike road, and was in existence within the memory of some now living. The garden was surrounded by a brick wall, part of which is standing at this time. In the yard are the yew trees, planted by the hands of the first residents ; they are the admiration of every visitor to this interesting spot. One hundred and fifty years leave them as almost the only monuments of the liberality and taste of those who originated this place, and, fortunately, they have stood through successive generations to conne6l the present with the past. The yard and garden show the care and judg- ment exercised by this remarkable woman ; and, what is com- mendable in the present owner, everything that is known to have originated with her, is preserved with scrupulous care. The old house was destroyed by fire in 1842. To the anti- quarian this place has much that is attra6live, for here may be found those relics of by-gone days that have escaped the too often vandal hand of progress — relics which grow more interesting with their age. The neighborhood of New Haddonfield was gradually being occupied with new comers, most of whom were Friends, when the propriety of establishing a new meeting was considered among them ; the Newton Meeting being several miles away, with miserably bad roads to travel most of the year.'' About 1720, and perhaps earlier, a meeting house was built near the King's road, and meeting was regularly continued there. The energy and liberality of Elizabeth Estaugh were again shown in putting this meeting on a permanent basis, for, in 1721, she went to England, and procured from her father a deed for one acre of land, and on this stood the new building, as a place of public worship.'* The quaint description of the boundaries no doubt originated with Thomas Sharp, who prepared the deed before it was taken across the ocean for the signature of the donor; and, as one of the witnesses to this document, stands the name of Elizabeth Estaugh, in her own peculiar style of penmanship. The trus- 16 Lib. No. II, 113. 17 The Friend, Vol. 4, 206. 18 Sharp's Book, 43, O. S. G. I20 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. tees were William Evans, Joseph Cooper, Jr., and John Cooper. In this way and at this time, originated the Friends' Meeting at Haddonfield, where it has until the present continued ; it being, until the year 1818, the only place of public religious worship in the village. By deed of gift, in 1722, John Haddon conveyed all the land which he had purchased of Richard Mathews, to John and Elizabeth Estaugh, and in the deed called the tra61; "New Haddonfield;" in 1732, they conveyed one and a quarter acres adjoining the lot where the meeting house stood, to John Mickle, Thomas Stokes, Timothy Matlack, Constantine Wood, Joshua Lord, Joseph Tomlinson, Ephraim Tomlinson, Joseph Kaighn, John HoUinshead, Josiah Foster and William Foster, as trustees to and for the use of the Society of Friends. ^'' In 1763, the trust was continued by deed from Ephraim Tomlinson, Josiah and William Foster, to John Gill, Joshua Stokes, Nathaniel Lippincott, Samuel Webster, John Glover, James Cooper, John Lord, John E. Hopkins, John Brown, Isaac Ballinger and David Cooper, as trustees for the same purpose. In 1828, all these trustees were dead, and Samuel Webster, as the oldest son of Samuel Webster (one of the trustees afore- said), continued the trust to other members of said meeting for like purpose.'" The first meeting-house was built of logs; it was much larger and more confortable than the old house at Newton, but every part of the work was scrupulously plain, and without paint or ornament of any kind. It stood upon the site of the brick house that was ere6led in 1760 and taken down in 1852, and, when the brick house was built, the old one was removed to the opposite side of the Ferry road and used as a stable. If some person, curious in such things, had made a faithful sketch of the old log meeting-house, as it appeared in its latter days, and the sketch were in existence at this time, some enterprising photographer would find for the duplicates a ready sale in this region of country. 19 Lib. B, 44, Woodbury, 20 Lib. VV, 322, Woodbury. ELIZABETH EST A UGH. 121 John Haddon died in London, in 1723. In his will he men- tions that his wife had just died, with whom he had lived for forty-seven years — a remarkable clause in such a document, but placed there to perpetuate his affe6lion for her, the companion of a life time."^ By his will he devised his entire estate (except a few small legacies) to his two children, and made them executrixes. The estate, however, was to vest as a joint tenancy ; to defeat which, Benjamin and Sarah Hopkins, and John and Elizabeth Estaugh conveyed said real estate to John Gill (who was their cousin and resided at Haddonfield), in 1726, in trust for certain uses.'-'- In this a61;, that regard for each other which existed between Elizabeth Estaugh and her husband, and which had been shown from the first, was again manifested ; for, in the deed of re-con- veyance from John Gill to them in 1727^^ for one-half of the same land, the estate was made to vest in the survivor, thus showing that any advantage that might be derived from the law regulating the descents of land, should not defeat the wishes of the owners.'^*. The husband, however, died first, and the entire estate passed to Elizabeth Estaugh in fee simple, as if the deed had not been executed. John Estaugh had some skill in chemistry and medicine, which he made useful in his neighborhood, especially among the poor. He traveled in the ministry, beside writing many letters to meetings in other parts; and, while in London in 1722, he addressed a long epistle to the Quarterly Meeting of Salem and Newton of vi'hich he was a member. His writings were colle(?ted and printed in 1744, by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. He died in Tortula, one of the West India Islands, on the sixth of the tenth month, 1742, while on a religious visit there." The brick tomb eredled by order of his widow over his remains which lay at that place, has long since gone to decay. 21 Liber No. 3, 58. 24 Liber W, 254. 22 Lib. D,4i3, 415. 25 Lib. No. 4, 357. Friends' Memorial. 23 Lib. D, 419. 122 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. he being only known by the people there as a stranger, who, in the course of events, was soon lost sight of and forgotten. No better evidence need be had of the respe6t in which he was held by the community in which he lived, than the mem- orial set forth in the minutes of the Monthly Meeting at Had- donfield, immediately after his death. While mourning his loss to themselves as a valuable member, it bears witness of his consistent religious life and usefulness among them, and added to this is the testimony of his widow, recording the confidence of a companion who knew him as a man and a Christian in the every-day walks of life. This sincere, but subdued expression, coming from a bereaved wife, proves that the traits of a true professor, had controlled and governed him in all his intercourse with jhis fellow men. By his will he gave all his estate to his widow. Elizabeth Estaugh survived her husband some twenty years, and lived in the house built in 1713, in the same manner as during his life, entertaining Friends in their visits to the various meetings in the neighborhood. Her consistent Christian pro- fession showed itself in many ways, not the least of which was her kindness toward the poor of the surrounding country, observing the Bible injunction of secrecy in this regard. The farm, of which about one hundred acres were arable land, was under her own care, and received her personal attention. Having no children of her own, she adopted Eben- ezer Hopkins, a son of her sister Sarah, who came to this country, was educated by, and resided with, his aunt at New Haddonfield, and who, in 1737, married Sarah, a daughter of James Lord, of Woodbury creek, and died intestate in 1757.^*^ In 1752, his aunt conveyed to him a tra6l of land fronting on Cooper's creek, in Haddon township, generally known as the ''Ann Burr farm," which adjoined other lands owned by him at that date, and derived from the same source." On this estate he probably resided, and, in addition to his agri- cultural pursuits, turned his attention to the surveying, the laying out and the conveying of land. 26 Lib. No. 9, 38. 27 Lib. S, No. 6, 124, O. S. G. ELIZABETH EST A UGH. 123 His wife survived him, and the following named children : John E., who married Sarah, a daughter of William Mickle; Haddon, who married Hannah, a daughter of Joshua Stokes ; Ebenezer, who married Ann, a daughter of William Albertson; Elizabeth E., who married John Mickle; Sarah, who married Caleb Cresson; Mary, who married Joshua Cresson, and Ann, who married Marmaduke Burr. From these came the Hopkins family that is now spread through many parts of the United States ; one branch of which still remains in the neighborhood of the first settlement, owning, however, but little of the original estate. After the death of her husband, Sarah Hopkins removed to Haddonfield, and occupied a house and lot, purchased in 1752 by Elizabeth Estaugh of the estate of Samuel Mickle, deceased.^* The house stood on the westerly side of the Main street, on the site of the present residence of Sarah Hopkins, the widow of a lineal descendant of Ebenezer and Sarah. It was removed some years since, and now stands on the north side of Ellis street, owned and occupied by Mary Allen. It is a small, hipped-roofed building, and, although somewhat altered, yet retains much of its antiquated appearance. No other building is now left that can be associated with Elizabeth Estaugh. Here, doubtless, she made daily visits to the widow and her children, looking closely after the comfort of the one, and the moral training and education of the others. It is evident that she took much interest in them, since in these orphans she saw the perpetuity of her large landed estate in her own blood, and the tone of her will indicates a long settled intention in this regard. In this house resided her only collateral descendants, and those who were to her the continuation of her family in America. There was perhaps no a6l of Elizabeth Estaugh during her life, that showed more of her business qualifications than her last will and testament, which bears date November 30th, \'](i\?'^ In this is exhibited a thorough knowledge of her estate, both 28 Lib. Q, 480. 29 Lib No. II, 113 124 FIJiST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. real and personal ; and in her disposition thereof is manifested consummate judgment and sound discretion. She provided for her nearest relatives, but did not forget the humblest of her servants. Her real estate was principally given to the children of her deceased nephew, Ebenezer Hopkins, while some portion of her personal property she gave to others of her connections. In disposing of some of her personal estate to the single daugh- ters of her nephew, she provided that they should marry in accordance with the order of Friends, or the legacy should follow another diredlion, a contingency that might press hard upon some of these young girls, yet it showed the bent of her mind, and the strength of her prejudices in favor of her relig- ious belief. This remarkable woman died March 30th, 1762, in the eigh- tieth year of her age.^" It is unfortunate that she did not, near the close of her life, prepare or dicJrtate her autobiography, so that the incidents of her eventful career could have been pre- served, as she would not then have left the most interesting and romantic parts of her life to vague and uncertain tradition. Of men's chara6lers much can be gathered from their partici- pation in public affairs, from their condu6l in the purchase and sale of real estate, from the more general knowledge of them in the community, and, finally, in the disposition of their property by will ; but of femalei', whose sphere of a6tion is more limited, whose duties are quite as important yet less conspicuous, and whose influence may be observed in all classes of a community, but not always acknowledged by the stronger sex, the chances of securing a faithful history are at best uncer- tain and perhaps erroneous. This may be said of the subje6l of this sketch, who, although forced to assume responsibilities that many men would shrink from, still always exhibited the characteristics of the true woman. The estimation in which she was held, appears in the notice taken of her death by the meeting of which she Avas a member; in which her valuable services are acknowledged, and by which it is shown that she was adorned with every Christian virtue. Her remains were 30. Friends' Memorials. ELIZABETH EST A UGH. 125 interred in the yard at Haddonfield, but nothing marks the spot of her burial. Who, at this day, would not be gratified if some monument, however rough the stone or rude the letters, had been erefted to show where were laid the remains of Elizabeth Estaugh, whose life was spent in contributing to the good of those around her, and whose labor in well-doing is felt and appre- ciated unto the present day. " Is it not a noble thing to die As dies the Christian with his armor on ! — What is the hero's clarion, though its blast Ring with the mastery ot a world, to this?" JOHN GILL. JOHN GILL came to New Jersey under the patronage and guardianship of Elizabeth Estaugh. The blood relationship that existed between these two persons may be inferred from expressions that occur in the various papers of Elizabeth Estaugh, in reference to John Gill, and in her will, particularly, she names him as '■'■her kinsman.'''' His parents resided jn or near London, and his mother was probably a sister of John Haddon, father of Elizabeth. Some of the name lived in Cumberland, others in Cornwall, Devonshire and Huntingdonshire ; being Friends they were subje6led to lines and imprisonments, for refusing to pay tithes, or attend the national church, and to do other things required under the laws then in existence. Henry Gill lived at Godalming, in the county of Surrey, London, in 1670, and was fined on two occasions for not attending church at Guilford. This was in the same part of that city in which John Haddon resided, and this Henry Gill was probably the father of John. This, however, is but conje6lure, and, until a faithful search be made among the records of the meetings in that part of London, may so remain. The instances are but few in which the genealogies of families in America can be properly con- ne6led with those in England, a defe6l always to be regretted. John Gill was a young man of considerable education, which was the exception at that day ; he certainly had the confidence 128 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. and good opinion of his uncle and cousin, this good opinion being assured by the gift of a tra6l of land made to him by John Haddon, which gift was bestowed, in all probability in order that he might participate in the political affairs of the colony, then in much confusion. The time of his coming over is in doubt, and that of his age at such coming; yet enough may be seen upon the records to prove that he must have followed his cousin very closely. In 1709, he was appointed administrator of the estate of William Higgs, deceased, of Newton township, — conclusive evidence that he had arrived before that date, and also had attained his majority. So far as noticed, this is the first recor,d of his name, and has much to do with settling the question here mooted.^ In connection with John Estaugh, the management of John Haddon's estate here was controlled by him, and, no doubt, many of the locations returned to John Haddon were seleifled through his advice and observation. John and Elizabeth Estaugh, and Benjamin and Sarah Hop- kins conveyed all their landed estate to him in 1726, that which was in New Jersey being large and valuable. It was done to defeat the joint tenancy created under their father's will, and to place each share within the absolute control of its owner. '^'^ After the decease of John Estaugh, he became the attorney and adviser of his widow, and managed her large estate in a proper and acceptable manner. It is needless to follow this line to prove the confidence that existed between Elizabeth Estaugh and John Gill, for, during his life, she took no step in the disposition of her estate, without some a6l of his appearing in connedtion therewith. As to his position as a church member, he may also be judged by the intimacy between his cousin and himself; for it can be accepted as a truth, that Elizabeth measured every one according to the religious tenets to which she so rigidly adhered, and which were laid down by the great prototype and leader in her belief, George Fox. 1 Gloucester Files, 1718. 2 Lib. D, 413, 415. 3 Lib. D, 419. JOHN GILL. 129 In 1723, commences the record of the proceedings of the town meetings of Newton, in a book which Thomas Sharp says that he was ordered to purchase, and for which he paid nine shilKngs. The first entry is this: "At a town meeting held at Newton for the township, the twelfth day of the first month called March, 1723, in order to choose officers for the ensuing year, Joseph Cooper and John Gill were continued Overseers of the Poor, and having made up their accounts there is found to remain in bank for ye service the sum of six pounds fourteen shillings and ten pence." The overseers of the poor appear to have had charge of all the moneys of the township at that time, paying out the same and rendering a yearly account of such disbursements. This was continued for several years, which made the office one of the most responsible and important in the township. But John Gill withdrew from that position after the next year, the reason for which appears in a minute made in the book. The discharge of this duty he, no doubt, considered outside of his office, and that the best way to avoid a repetition thereof was to resign. The entry, as made, is as follows : "At said meeting it was agreed yt Jonathan Bolton give some hay and corn to Ann Morris's horse, in order to make him capable to carry her to ye place from whence she came, and that she stay but until the seventeenth day of this instant ; and after that the overseers of the poor force her away if she refuse to go ; and that what charge is expended in ye perfedting of it shall be allowed by this meeting." What became of Ann Morris or her horse, does not appear from the record ■. but, it being a new feature in the duties of the overseers of the poor, neither Joseph Cooper or John Gill accepted the position for several years after that time. When John Gill died, in 1749,* his son John was old enough to take his place in the several positions which he, the father, had been called to fill, and, more particularly, in the manage- ment of the estate of Elizabeth Estaugh, which was constantly 4 Lib. No. 6, 231. 9 130 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. increasing, and which required his personal attention and good judgment; and, although Ebenezer Hopkins, her nephew, had married in 1737 and settled near her residence, yet John Gill, the son, appears to have had the same oversight of her estate that his father had during his life time. He was a much more a6live business man than his father; this appears by his location, purchase and sale of lands in various sections of the country, by his participation in political affairs, and by the discharge of many duties involving the con- fidence of his neighbors and the public. He was one of the persons sele6led by Elizabeth Estaugh as executors of her will, which trust, thus bestowed, evidenced her regard for his capa- bility and honesty. The first grant of land made by John Haddon to John Gill was in 17 14; it was for two hundred and sixty acres of the survey which he had purchased of Thomas Willis, a son of John, in 1698.^ This land was situated in Waterford township, now Delaware, on both sides of the Haddonfield and Berlin road, and near the head of what was formerly known as Swett's mill pond, now owned by Joseph C. Stafford, and others. The conveyance says that the land was then in the occupation of John Gill, the inference of which is that he resided thereon; if so, he lived in a small, hipped-roof frame house, which stood on the north side of the stream that falls into the mill pond — a house many years since torn down. It was surrounded by locust trees, some of which yet stand and mark the spot where his dwelling was situated. Although this place was in the midst of a forest, yet he was not entirely without neighbors. William Bates had settled on Tindall's run, about one mile west, where he was living with his Indian wife. George and Timothy Matlack, who purchased land the same year, had their plantations about two miles south ; and Joseph Cooper had cleared some of the land given to him by his father, and had built a house on the opposite side of the stream, not far from the residence of John Gill. This was before his marriage, but the comforts of his bachelor home were, no doubt, looked after bv some elderly female unknown to the present generation. 5 Lib. A, 13, JOHN GILL. 131 Previously to the year 1739, this tra6l of land passed into the possession of Bartholomew Horner, who, with his wife Elizabeth, conveyed it to their son Jacob. Jacob died intes- tate, and it descended to his oldest son, Isaac. He conveyed to his two brothers, Nathan and Jacob, and the first conveyed his interest to the last in 1771. In Jacob's family it remained for many years, but it now has passed out of the name. The next residence of John Gill in Waterford township was near the north side of the south branch of Cooper's creek, where the King's highway crossed the same, and where the road leading to Edward Clemenz's landing turned to the westward from that thoroughfare. This property is now owned by James H. Billington. It was a public place at that time, the landing being the highest on the creek; and thither all the wood and lumber in the region round about, intended for the Philadelphia market, were taken to be transported in vessels. The remains of the old wharf may yet be seen near the forks of the creek j and this place in the days of our ancestors was the scene of much business adlivity, occasioned by the teams in bringing, and the boats in taking away the only articles of sale and exchange among the people at that time. After 1715, it was known as Axford's landing, and it still retains the name; but some of the oldest inhabitants must be found, before the inquirer can know where to look for that place. In a deed from William Lovejoy to Thomas Kendall, in 1697, a tra6l of land was conveyed, situated at a place called Uxbridge, "lying on the south branch of Cooper's creek on the road leading from Salem to Burlington."" This tra6l of land was near where John Gill lived, and the name was probably given in expe6lation of a town springing up at that point, several years before there was any thought that Haddonfield, as a village, would have a name or an existence. The description in the deed is conclusive as to the locality, and, although affixed twenty-five years before the present name was attached to the village, yet it never obtained any notoriety, and seems to have no history except in the old 6 Lib, B2, 645. 132 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. conveyance above referred to. Although the name may more jparticularly apply to the land on the north side of the stream, yet, if a few houses had been built in 1697, and the improve- ments extended to the south side of the creek, the chances are that our forefathers would have adhered to the original title given at that period, and that the name of Haddonfield would never have been known, except as attached to the two residences of Elizabeth Estaugh. From this it may be inferred that William Lovejoy came from the town of Uxbridge, which is in Middlesex, England, about twenty miles* from London, and that he wished to keep the name of his native place in remem- brance, like many of his associates who came to New Jersey about the same time. In 1 7 18, Jolin Gill married Mary Heritage, a daughter of Joseph and granddaughter of Richard Heritage, — the first of that name in these parts." Richard was a carpenter, and came from Brayle's Inn, Warwickshire, England.' He purchased rights of Edward Byllynge, in 1684, and, upon his arrival here, made a location of land on the north side of the south branch of Penisaukin creek, in Burlington county, and called his new home "Hatten New Garden."* He purchased other rights, and made other locations in that region. None of the land, as originally held by him, has been owned by the family for many years; and none of the name reside in that section of the country at the present time. Richard Heritage died in 1702, without a will, and such parts of his land as he had not previously conveyed to his children, passed to his oldest son John, as his heir at law.' His children were John, who married Sarah Slocum in 1706; Joseph, who married Hannah Allen in 1697; Sarah, who married William Clark in 1687; and Mary. John died intestate in 17 16, leaving two daughters,^" — Mary, who married Hasker Newberry, and Naomi, who removed to Blanden county, North Carolina, and died a single woman. He lived on the homestead property after his father's death and until his own decease, but his descendants never occupied it. 6 Lib. No. 8, 358. 9 Lib. AL, 456. 7 Lib. G2, 6q. 10 Lib. No. 2, 82. 8 Lib. Gi^ 141. JOHN GILL. 133 Joseph's father conveyed considerable land to him, much of which he sold." It lay on both sides of the creek, and, at the present time, it is divided into several valuable farms. The part which he occupied, was in Burlington county, and was bounded by the creek. He died in the year 1756, leaving a will.^^ His children were Richard, who married Sarah Whitall and Sarah Tindall; Joseph, who married Ruth Haines; Benjamin, who married Kesiah Matlack; John, who married Sarah Hugg; Mary, who married John Gill and John Thorne; and Hannah, who married Roberts. John and Mary Gill had but two children, — John, who mar- ried Amy, a daughter of David Davis of Salem county, in 1741, and Hannah, who married Thomas Redman of Haddonfield in 1737- John Gill died in 1749, and his widow married John Thorne in 1750. In 1728, John and Elizabeth Estaugh conveyed to John Gill two tra6ls of land, one in Haddonfield, and the other (_meadow) lying in Waterford (now Delaware) township.'^ The first named tra6l was bounded by the westerly side of the King's road, and extended from Cooper's creek nearly to the Metho- dist church and contained eighty-seven acres. Four years after, the same persons granted John Gill three other lots, the largest of which joined the last named on the southwest ; it is now divided by Grove street into nearly equal parts." The second of these is owned by Rennels Fowler and the devisees of John Clement, deceased, on the front ; but nearly all the original lines have been obliterated. The third lot passed into the pos- session of his daughter, and upon it the old Thomas Redman mansion formerly stood. These grants were "for love and affe6lion," which the grant- ors bore the grantee. Part of this estate still remains in the family, and is now owned by John Gill, whose lineage can be readily traced to the first of the name in this region. The first tra6l of land, as herein named, John Gill sold in a short time. He soon after came within the bounds of Newton township, where he made his permanent residence upon the II Lib. G3, 182. 13 Lib. E, 373. X2 Lib. No. 8, 358. 14 Lib. E, 375. 134 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. estate conveyed to him for a nominal consideration by John and Elizabeth Estaugh, between whom and himself there existed the pleasantest social intimacy. This tra6l of land, or a large part thereof, was an open field, covered with wigwams and cabins of the natives. Prior to 1720, John Gill had enclosed part of it, and had the land under cultivation ; for, in the description of the lot of land conveyed by John Haddon to Friends for the meeting-house lot, John Gill's fence is named as part of the boundary, which fence stood near where the turnpike road leaves the main street of Haddonfield.^^ On this field, and perhaps at John Gill's house, were held the ele6lions for members of the Assembly, annually. The.se ele6lions were condu6led in accordance to law, but they would appear strange to us of these latter days. By the a6t of 1682, the freeholders could meet at any place which they chose, and elecSl the members in any manner thought best at the time. The time, however, fixed by law, was the fourteenth day of the second month (being the 14th day of April) of each year. This law was changed, and the sheriff, or some other person appointed by the governor, was authorized to take the ballot box from place to place within the county, with two other persons sele6led by the candidates to a6l as officers of eledlion. The consent of the candidates to remove from the place last sele6led, was required, but the rule gener- ally required two days; at the end of that time, the polls were changed to some other desirable locality, within the county and convenient for the people. To accomplish an ele6lion there- fore, several days were consumed, as the territory of Gloucester was large, Atlantic and Camden counties then being within the bounds of the old bailiwick. Another curious feature of these ele6lioriS was the few votes then polled. In 1737, there was but nine hundred and thirty white male persons above the age of sixteen, within the limits of the county ; it may readily be seen how light the canvass was, and how few the inhabitants, even after some fifty years from the first settlement. The voting was done by voice, and not by ballot, as now ; the name of the voter and that of the 15 Sharp's Book, 43, O. S. G. JOHN GILL. 135 person voted for, were recorded and copied for any person willing to pay for the same ; publicity thus being given to the a<5l of each person, — a peculiarity that would not be allowed at this time. The penalties against bribery and corruption were severe; but it is supposable that chicanery and deception were winked at among the ele6lors, and that every kind of expedient was used by one party to defeat the other, each arguing, no doubt, that, unless their opponents were defeated, the country would be utterly ruined. George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, during his travels in America in 1672, in going from Maryland to New York, passed through West New Jersey, and was, on several occasions, enter- tained by the Indians. It is well known that the Indian trail, first traveled by the whites from Salem to Amboy, crossed Gloucester county near where Haddonfield now stands, and that the same trail was used for many years after the earliest settlements. Along that path George Fox and his associates must have traveled, and it is no stretch of fancy to say that they were entertained by the natives who lived at the "Great Fields," now the town aforesaid. In his journal he says: " We came one night to an Indian town and lay all night at the king's house, who was a very pretty man. Both he and his wife received us very lovingly, and his attendants (such as they were) were very respe6lfull to us. They laid mats for us to lie on ; but provisions were very short with them, having caught but little that day." Whether the king, whose fine appearance and noble bearing attradled the attention of this remarkable man, resided here or not, cannot be known at this late day. It is, however, a pleas- ant incident in the early history of the village to associate his movements in this conne6lion. In the year 1740, John Gill, as attorney for the heirs-at-law of Joseph Elkinton, deceased, went to England to recover an estate claimed by them, and at that time remaining unsettled. This property was situated in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, where suits at law were prosecuted for obtaining possession thereof; which, after several years of litigation, proved sue- 136 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. cessful. The children of Joseph Elkinton, who was a son of George, the first comer to New Jersey of that name, were Mary, the wife of David Stratton, of Evesham, Burlington county, N. J. ; Ann, the wife of Stephen Brooks, of the same place ; Elizabeth, wife of John Lippincott, also of the same place ; Frances and Amy Elkinton. Numerous affidavits were taken here and appear on record, showing whence and when George Elkinton emigrated to New Jersey, whom he married, and many other particulars necessary to conne6l the claimants here with the family remaining in England.^® The matter was fiercely contested in the courts, consuming much time and money before its conclusion. The account book of John Gill relating to this transadlion, is still preserved in the family, showing the care and precision observed by him in rendering a statement of his proceedings in the premises. During his absence, his wife Mary and son John, a6ting by letters of attorney, sold a lot of land in Haddonfield to Timothy Matlack (1744), and had general oversight of his affairs here- about. While living there (1746), he purchased a trail of land of John Cox, also a resident of London, lying on the south side of the south branch of Cooper's creek about two miles from Haddonfield. The next year after the purchase, he deeded this survey to his son John, a part of which has remained in the family and name to the present day. The old Salem road passed through this trad, and the second John sold most of that which lay west of the same. Like many other such pieces of land, the old lines, owing to the division, sale and exchange of property, have become entirely unknown to this generation. The account book before mentioned shows that John Gill, while residing in London, frequently paid his brother William for "diet and lodging," proving that there were others of the name and family in that city. He never returned to the land of his adoption, but died in London. The children of John and Amy Gill were Mary, who married Jacob Roberts; Sarah, who married Job Whitall; Amy, who married Joab Wills ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Burrough ; 16 Lib. AAA, 229. JOHN GILL. 137 John, who married Anna Smith ; and Mercy, who married Samuel Abbott. Amy deceased, and, in 1767, he married Abigail HiUman, widow of Daniel and daughter of Samuel Nicholson. She died without issue, and, in 1781, he married Sarah Pritchett, widow of Josiah and daughter of John Cowperthwaite. There was no issue by the last marriage. John died in 1794. A noticeable feature in the genealogy of this family is that, for several generations, there has been but one son, to whom has always been given the christian name of the first comer, which has limited the surname of the branch of the family hereabout to but few persons. Thomas Redman, who married Hannah, should be noticed in this connexion. He was a son of Thomas, one of the first settlers in the city of Philadelphia, and one of the leading mechanics at that time. In 171 2, he was a member of the city council, and participated much in the affairs of the colony during William Penn's residence there. The son was apprenticed to a druggist, and, upon attaining his majority, removed to Haddonfield, and continued the same business. He was held in great respect among Friends, and traveled much as a minister in that religious denomination. Hannah, his wife, died, leaving three children, — Mary, who married Mark Miller; Thomas, who married Mercy Davis in 1747, of Salem county; and John, who married Sarah Branson. He married Mary , a second wife, and died in 1766, leaving a will, in which he disposed of a large amount of real and personal property;'' the appraisement alone amounting to more than five thousand pounds, sterling. There was no issue by the last marriage. The third Thomas Redman was also educated as a druggist, and continued the same calling, but was more of a public man, politically speaking, than his father. He was a careful business man, and, as a conveyancer, had the confidence of the entire community. Although he adhered to the detailed and elab- orate forms of English titles, yet plainness of penmanship and clearness of intention chara6lerized all his legal papers. His 17 Lib. No. 12, 363. 138 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. corre6lness in copying was proverbial, and Chief Justice Kirk- patrick of this State, on one occasion, paid him the compli- ment of not comparing documents prepared by him, saying that "papers from the hands of Thomas Redman needed no such scrutiny. ' ' He was a valuable man in the society of Friends, and did much to sustain the church in this region of country. Many anecdotes are related of him, showing that he was an upright business man, plain of speech, consistent in his profession, faithful in his trusts, and scrupulous in all his dealings. Among the several positions of public trust which John Gill was called upon to fill, was that of commissioner of loans, he being one of the three appointed for Gloucester county. The obje6l of the law, and the duty of the commissioners, appear to have been to loan bills of credit issued by the State, to such persons as could give satisfactory security for the repayment of the same ; and this security had to be in the shape of mort- gages on real estate, of the value of which the commissioners were to be satisfied by personal view. These commissioners were constituted bodies politic and corporate, in succession, in fadl, and in law, to sue and be sued, and with various other powers in the a(5l named. No greater sum than four hundred pounds, nor any less than fifteen pounds, could be loaned to one person for the space of twenty years, at five per cent, per annum. This system of supplying the country with money was in operation for several years, but at last fell into disuse, and the law finally repealed. While John Gill was thus a6ling as commissioner, and had charge of the securities during the revolutionary war, his house was pillaged by a party of British soldiers, and, among other things, these were carried off and not recovered. By an a6l of the Legislature of New Jersey, in 1779, he was idemnified from any loss concerning the same. Although many of this name may be found in New Jersey, yet they do not appear to have originated with the family herein mentioned. ARCHIBALD MICKLE. THIS man was an Irish Quaker. The records of Friends in Philadelphia indicate that he came from Lisbrun, a town in the southern part of the county of Antrim, Ireland, and that he arrived at that city on the second day of the sixth month, A. D. 1682. He probably was among the adventurers that followed Wil- liam Penn to his new colony, bringing with him considerable estate and a full supply of implements to continue the business of a cooper, in which calling he had served as an apprentice in the land of his nativity. This^was worth much to him among the settlers, who generally arrived with but little house- keeping material, and had to be supplied with their wooden ware of home manufa6lure, when a new establishment was to be set up. Coopers were also in demand along the sea coast, as whale fishing occupied much of the time of the people, and barrels were necessary to carry away the oil. This Avas the most lucrative business among them, and more capital was invested in it than in any other branch. In a letter from the West New Jersey Society to Jeremiah Basse, their agent, then residing at Cape May, dated December 24th, 1692, he is dire6led to secure the services of a French cooper at Plymouth, skilled in making casks. The letter further says: "In the season let him make a little wine and brandy, and send us the wine in casks and the brandy in bottles."^ Much is also I Lib. B2, 423. I40 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. said about barrels for the fishing season, and the quantity- required would certainly employ several persons, and among them it is possible that Archibald Mickle was one. The next notice made of him was in 1686, when he married Sarah Watts, at the same meeting at which his certificate of membership and the date of his coming had been recorded. Four years after that time, he purchased a tra6l of land of Robert Turner in Newton township, Gloucester county, con- taining two hundred and fifty acres. ^ This survey was situated near the head of the south branch of Newton creek, adjoining lands located by Francis Collins. This tra6l afterward became the property of Joseph Lowe, who occupied the same. At the date of this purchase, Archibald Mickle was still a resident of Philadelphia, but he soon after came to Newton township and settled, and there remained until his decease in 1706. In 1697, he made another purchase from the same man, of five hundred and ten acres, which survey fronted on the river Delaware and extended eastward towards Cooper's creek.* This deed excepted several meadow lots, and is valu- able as showing the antecedent title of the grantor. He did not make the first improvements there, for a man named Thomas Spearman lived in a house on the tra6l at the time of his purchase, which house stood near the river shore and near where the former residence of Isaac Mickle, deceased, is situated. He was the owner of considerable other real estate in the neighborhood, and the inference is, therefore, that he was a man of more means than most of his neighbors, and, excepting William Cooper, of any other in the township. In the political affairs of the colony, his name does not appear, but the fa6t of his being a Quaker and a stri6l adherent to his se6l, may be drawn from that clause of his Avill which diredled that any one of his children marrying without consent of Friends was to only have one-half of his or her share of his estate. This is certainly a significant expression, and places his religious proclivities beyond a doubt. 2 Basse's Book, 119. 3 Lib G3, 133. ARCHIBALD MICKLE. 141 His will was dated in 1 706 ; in which he gave his real estate to eight of his children.* His widow Sarah survived him, she being the mother of all his children. After the father's death, the estate was conveyed to the widow, and she, by her will (1718), gave the property to three of her sons, Archibald, James and Joseph,* who divided the same by quit claim in 1727. Seven sons and three daughters were the representatives of this couple, as follows: John, who married Hannah Cooper (daughter of the second William), in 1704; Samuel, who married Elizabeth Cooper daughter of Joseph, in 1708; Daniel, who married Hannah Dennis, in 1711 ; Archibald, who married Mary Wright in 1719 ; Isaac, who married Sarah Burrough, daughter of Samuel ; Joseph, who mar- ried Elizabeth Eastlack in 1723; James, who married Sarah Eastlack in 1732; Sarah, who married Ezekiel Siddon; Mary, who married Arthur Powell ; and Rachel, who married Benja- min Cooper in 1718. John Mickle, the oldest son, was an a6live man in the politi- cal matters of the colony in his day, and also dealt much in real estate. By Thomas Sharp, as his deputy surveyor, he located several tra6ls of land in different parts of West Jersey. In 1733, he was appointed one of the judges of the several courts of Gloucester county, and filled other offices of public trust and responsibility. In 1703, "for natural love and affe6lion," his father conveyed to him a farm containing one hundred and fourteen acres, bounded on the south side by the south branch of Newton creek, and being within the town bounds of Gloucester.® On this farm he settled, and there remained during his life. He deceased in 1744, his wife and the following children surviv- ing him: William, who married Sarah Wright in 1732; John, who married Mary Stockdale, of Burlington county, in 1741,' and deceased in 1765: Samuel, who married Letitia Matlack in 1742 (he having deceased in 1750, she married Thomas Hinch- man); and Hannah, who married John Ladd in 1732. 4 Lib No. I, 149. 6 Lib. A, 184. 5 Lib No. 2, 95. 7 Lib. No. 5, 63. 142 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. Samuel Mickle was one of the first settlers in the village of Haddonfield. He became the owner of a lot next adjoining the tavern property, lately belonging to John Roberts, deceased,, and there he ere6led a dwelling. Timothy Matlack, his wife's father, owned the Roberts's estate and another lot to the east, fronting on the street. Timothy was a shopkeeper, and was so taxed by the township. Of John Ladd, the father, and John Ladd, the son, much appears in the various records and traditions of their times, which proves them to have been conspicuous persons. They were prominent in the political and religious matters that sur- rounded them, and the subjedls of much hard talk, for which some of their defamers appear in no very enviable position. As early as 1690, Samuel Taylor puts himself on record, admitting that he had been uttering falsehoods about the elder John Ladd and Sarah his wife, but upon what particular subjedl these words originated, does not appear. He, however, made a clean breast, and admitted that all his assertions were slander, and, in the form common in those days, the retra6lion thereof has come down to the present generation. The entire record is copied here to show the manner of so doing, — a pradlice that has no existence now. It runs as follows: "This may certify all persons whom it may concern; that, whereas, I, Samuel Taylor, of Gloucester river, within the Province of West Jarsey, Sawyer, have of late publicly reported several false, scandalous, reproachful and detradling speeches, of and concerning John Ladd, of ye same place aforesaid. Yeoman, and Sarah his wife, which were of infamous import, and tending to prove ye said parties to be of unjust dealings and evil and dishonest lives and conversations ; therefore I, ye said Samuel Taylor, being moved to ye said report by my precipitate and unadvised passion and anger against ye parties above said, do hereby certify that I herewith repent of, and am unfeignedly sorrowful for my speaking, declaring and publishing any report of such evil tendency aforesaid, and do freely and voluntarily own and acknowledge that I have grossly abused, traduced and wronged ye said John Ladd and Sarah, his wife, ARCHIBALD MICKLE. 143 by means of ye false, slanderous and defaming reports and speeches above said. "In testimony whereof, I have hereunto put my hand this 24th day of June, Anno Domini, 1690. "Samuel Taylor. "Recorded by order of Court, this ye loth day of August, 1690. "John Reading, Recorder."® The father was a pra6lical surveyor, and assisted in laying out the city of Philadelphia for William Penn. The compass and chain used by him in this work are now in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, at its rooms in Philadelphia; they are preserved as a valuable relic of those early times. In compensation for his services, the Patroon offered him thirty pounds, or a square of land, within the limits of his town, but John decided to take the money. William Penn, surprised at this, said: "Friend John, thou art Ladd by name, and a Ladd in comprehension. Dost thou not know this will become a great city?" In measuring the distances over the rough soil, and in mark- ing the lines of the streets upon the trees, John could not realize the assertions of Friend William, and concluded that his expe6lations had gotten the better of his judgment. While wading about the swamps of Dock creek, and fixing the interseftions of Market and Chestnut streets with those of Third and Fourth streets in that vicinity, our surveyor doubtless refle6ted much upon what had been suggested, and thought the whole scheme was a huge castle in the imagination of his employer. Time, however, as in all similar cases, has shown which of these entertained the better notions ; and, although the one was considered as hazardous in his ideas, yet the other a6led as a prudent man, and was influenced by the opinions of those around him. But few of the men that accompanied William Penn to America comprehended the extent and importance of his undertaking. This may account for many of the hindrances 8 Lib. G2, 72. 144 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. which he met with in carrying out his proposed plans. Not understood in his purposes, he soon became the obje6l of censure and abuse; but, as a Christian and a philanthropist, he has long since come to be appreciated. That he was actu- ated by the purest of motives and governed by the desire to promote the welfare of his people, at this day, is not questioned. After the lapse of another half century, John Ladd the son, appears to have been traduced by one of his neighbors in some of their political or religious controversies, and, not resting very comfortable under the same, he required of William Ives a legal admission that he had said s(3Tne ugly and untruthful things about him. This admission was spread upon the records over his own signature, done in open court, and witnessed by the judges thereof. "A Knight of the Post" implied that John had been con- vidled of some petty offence, and been punished at the whipping post, or set in the stocks, a means much in use at that time to vindicate the honor of the commonwealth and to preserve its dignity. The insinuation that he could not be trusted as a sworn witness, perhaps touched John's pride quite as much as the first charge, and led to the arrest of William Ives and his admission to the falsity of the whole. This means of the vindication of the charadler has passed out of use many years since, and to the present generation is unknown. Like the first, the entire record is copied that the reader may draw his own inference therefrom. William Ives's Acknowledgment, made in open Court AT Glo'ster. "Whereas, I, William Ives, of the township of Gloucester, in Gloucester, in the province of West Jersey, yeoman, in the presence of divers creditable persons, inhabitants of the said county, sometime since did falsely and without any cause or reason, speak and say that John Ladd, of the said county was a Knight of the Post, and that I did not know but I might sue one Henry Sparks, but that I could not trust to the said John Ladd's testimony, and I acknowledge likewise, that I ARCHIBALD MICKLE. 145 spoke and said sundry false, scandalous words touching and concerning the reputation and character of him, the said John Ladd. "Now I do hereby acknowledge and publickly declare that I have wronged and injured the said John Ladd's chara6ler by the uttering and speaking the said false scandalous words and sayings, having not the least shadow, colour or foundation for the same; and I do hereby desire forgiveness of the said John Ladd, for the injury done. "Gloucester, ye 28 October, 1744. "William Ives. "Witnessed by Ja. Hinchman, one of ye Judges of the Court of Common Pleas at Gloucester, Wm. Harrison, Daniel Mestayer. "Recorded February 8th, 1744. "Charles Read, Sec.'"' Hannah Ladd survived her husband, and, being in possession of his papers, she discovered that one of the books left by Thomas Sharp was among them. It was one of his private records as surveyor and conveyancer, and was considered of such value that an a(5l of the Legislature was passed, that it might be made part of the public records of the Surveyor General's office, where it has remained since that time. Daniel Mickle deceased in 171 2, leaving a will. In that document he mentioned his wife and a child unborn.^" This posthumous child was a boy, and was named Daniel. His grand- mother, Sarah Mickle, provided for his maintenance and education ; and also anticipated the needs of the widow. Archibald Mickle died in 1735, without children; his widow survived him," and, in 1736, married Blackinston Ingledon of Philadelphia, to which place she removed with her second husband. James Mickle deceased the year following the death of Archi- bald, leaving his widow and two children, Rachel and Jacob. ^^ Ezekiel Siddon, the husband of Sarah, was a butcher, and resided upon a property which he had purchased of Jacob Cofifing 9 Lib. GH, 41. II Lib. No. 4, 52. 10 Lib, No. I, 406. 12 Lib. No. 4, 65. 10 146 FIUST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. in 1709. This fronted on the river in Newton township, and is now part of the Mickle estate. ^^ He was the owner of other real estate near his homestead. He died intestate, and but little is known of his family at this time. Arthur Powell, the husband of Mary, was a son of Arthur Powell, who first settled on Penapaca creek, in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvaiiia. He came thence from the town of Flushing, Long Island, in . the State of New York, where his name, that of his wife Margaret, and those of two sons are set down in the census list made in 1698. According. to that record he was of French ex- tra6lion. In 1692, he (the father) purchased of Thomas Chaunders, one hundred acres of land in West Jersey, at Mulberry Point, on the sea coast, near Great Egg Harbor." In the same year, he purchased a like number of acres of Robert Turner, at the same place, and thereon he probably settled. The value of the whale fisheries, which were so attractive to the new comers in that region, may have induced his removal from Pennsylvania. He had two sons, Arthur, a carpenter, and Richard, a shoemaker. He died intestate in 1718.^^ In 1716, Arthur (the son) purchased a farm of John Fisher, in Newton township, bounded by Cooper's creek, being part of the original estate of Robert Zane, the first settler, and there he, Arthur, made his home.^''' John Fisher purchased said land of Elnathan Zane, a son of Robert, in 1703, who became owner thereof, by the will of his father, and sold the same when he attained his majority. Arthur and Mary Powell had but three children (two of them daughters ) : James ; Rachel, who married Lewis ; and , who married Kent. In 1 730, he purchased a large tra6l of land on Timber creek, of John Brown, and also became the owner of other real estate.'' He died in 1749.'* In Newton township the family was never very large, yet in other parts of bid Glou- cester coimty the name often occurs. Rachel, who married Benjamin Cooper, died in a short time without children. Benjamin subsequently married Elizabeth 13 Lib. A, 144. 16 Lib. A, loo. 14 Lib. G2, 133, 134. 17 Lib, G2, 26. ■ 15 Lib. A, 178. 18 Gloucester Files, 1749. ARCHIBALD MICKLE. 147 Burcham, widow of Jacob, and daughter of Samuel Cole. The issue of this marriage was numerous, and as follows : Joseph, who married Elizabeth Haines ; James, who married Sarah Ervin and Hannah Saunders ; Samuel, who married Prudence Brown ; Benjamin, who married Elizabeth Hopewell ; William, who married Ann Folwell ; Isaac ; and Elizabeth, who married George Budd. Benjamin Cooper was a son of Joseph, and a grandson of the first William ; which William conveyed to the first Joseph, two hundred and twelve acres of land in 1709, who also conveyed the same to his son Benjamin in 1728.^^ This included the ferry at Cooper's Point, which Benjamin conveyed to his son Samuel, with about thirty-eight acres of land adjoining, in 1769.^" Of the division of Archibald Mickle's original purchase, as made between Archibald, James and Joseph in 1727, Joseph's portion passed into the Kaighn family; and Isaac Mickle, senior, in later years, became the owner of Archibald's share and James's also, and conveyed them to his nephew, Isaac Mickle, junior, in 1780. The land between the south line of the original Mickle estate and Newton creek was located by Robert Turner (in 1687), 2.nd by Richard Arnold (in 1702). Richard Arnold purchased of Robert Turner, and conveyed the two tra61;s of four hundred and twenty acres to Martin Jarvis in 1700.^^ In 1702, Martin Jarvis sold two hundred and eight acres from off the eastern part of the tra6l to John Wright, and four years after conveyed the remainder to Jacob Cofhng. After various conveyances, too numerous to name in this connexion, the larger part of the Turner and Arnold surveys became, in 1 790, the estate of Isaac Mickle, junior, who re-surveyed the same in that year.^^ In tracing the genealogy of this family, the want of heirs in the male line is constantly occurring, which frequently leads to doubt, and occasionally to error. Like the Coopers, they remained upon the original estate, and held tenaciously to the acres of which Archibald first became the owner ; in some 19 Lib, AE, 205. 21 Basse's Book, 26. 20 Lib. AE, 213. 22 Lib. U, 443, O. S. G. 148 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. generations increasing the family name, and, in others, finding it reduced to but few persons; until, within the last decade, it has passed entirely away. No portion of the land at this time remains in the blood of the Mickles; and already the old estate is in the hands of strangers, traversed by avenues, and divided into town lots. Another decade may see the fishing grounds covered with piers and docks, the busy mart of commerce, and without a vestige of its present rural beauty. Isaac Mi:kle, deceased, author of the "Reminiscences of Old Gloucester," was a descendant in the paternal line of this family. That he was a zealous and reliable antiquarian, no better evidence can be adduced than the book just named. In this work, his industry and good judgment are manifest; he has condensed and arranged many fa6ts touching the early history of West New Jersey, not before noticed. Accepted as reliable on all subje6ls there treated, no library intended to illustrate the history of our State, is complete without it, and, as the desire to become better acquainted with this subjedl increases, so will this book become more aiDpreciated. With all such as are seeking knowledge in this dire6lion, the name of Isaac Mickle will be held in grateful remembrance. JOHN KAIGHN. IN the year 1694, John Kaighn was a resident of Byberry, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was a carpenter, and the husband of Ann, the widow of Walter Forrest and daughter of William Albertson.^ Walter Forrest came to Burlington in 1678, and very soon purchased a large tra6l of land in Salem county, bounded by Salem creek; in conne6lion with his brothers, he ere6led a mill thereon, the first in that se6lion of the State. ^ Before his decease, however, he had removed to Byberry. This occurred in 1692. By his will he gave considerable property to his widow's brothers, situated in Salem, which they in a few years disposed of.^ There was no issue by this marriage. Ann, the widow, so remained for two years, when she married John Kaighn. By this marriage there was one child, a daughter, who bore the mother's name. The daughter was born June 24th, 1694, and the mother died July 6th, of the same year. The daughter, who died single in 1 715, gave by her will her property to her two half-brothers by the father's second marriage.* In 1696, John Kaighn married Sarah, the widow of Andrew Griscom and sister of John Dole, then a resident of Newton township. The blood of the Albertsons, therefore, was not connected with this family any longer than till the death of Ann, the daughter 1 Lib. No. 6, 32, Salem Records. 3 Salem Wills, A, 69. 2 Lib. B, 16, Salem Records. 4 Lib. No. 2, 162. I50 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. of Ann and John in 1715, leading those who Avish to follow the maternal line in another dire6lion. As a carpenter, John found abundant business, for every ship that arrived was crowded with emigrants, whose first purpose, after landing and sele6ling sites, was the ere6lion of dwellings. These, in most instances, were rude and unpretending, yet the services of a mechanic were necessary in some parts ; hence the constant employment of the carpenters of that early period in providing shelter for the new comers. The nativity of John Kaighn is easily traced through a letter in possession of the New Jersey branch of the family, dated August 26th, 1702, endorsed "To Mr. John Kaighn — Linener, in West New Jersey, nigh on Delaware river side, opposit to Philadelphia city, in America." It was from his mother, Jane Kaighen. It was written from her residence, at that time, in Kirk Andrew, a town in the north of the Isle of Man, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Daniel Lane. She informs her son that his father died the November previous to her writing ; that his sister Ellen, born after he left the Isle, was married and settled in the parish of St. German, on the west coast of the island ; that, for a short time after the decease of her husbaiid, she had lived with her son Charles, at Balla- cragga, on the south-east coast, but, not being happy there, had removed to Kirk Andrew. On the same sheet of paper, John Kaighn has left an unfinished letter, without date, in reply to his mother, generally of a religious character. In this she is told that he had "lost two good and loveing wives, in a few years time — and left alone with young babes;" that these were two boys and one girl, "the youngest yet at nurse." Sarah Dole came with her father's family from Wales, but from what part cannot be traced. The first purchase of real estate by John Kaighn in Newton township, was on the fourteenth day of ninth month, 1696, when Robert Turner conveyed to him four hundred and fifty- five acres of land, fronting on the Delaware river and extending from Line street to Little Newton creek. ^ 1; Lib G3, 127. JOHN KAIGHN. 151 Like many of the old English deeds, this discloses the whole of the original title as vested in the grantor, at once valuable and interesting to such as care to push their inquiries thus far. In 1699, John Dole purchased two hundred and twenty acres of this tra6l from John Kaighn, and settled thereon.® He was a shoemaker, and came from Long Island, N. Y. , where he had married Mary Jessup, of Jericho, in 1688. He died in 1 715, and by his will gave this land to his two sons, John and Joseph." Joseph Dole married Hannah Somers, a sister of Richard, in 1714, and removed to Great Egg Harbor, where he died in 1727, leaving a will.* His children were Hannah, who married Daniel Ingersoll ; Sarah, who married John Scull ; Rebecca, who married Joshua Garwood ; Mary and Servia. John Dole also removed to Great Egg Harbor, and died in 1748, without a will.® What family he left, if any, is not known. John Dole conveyed his undivided part of the tra6l of land in Newton township, devised to him by his father, to his brother Joseph, who conveyed part thereof to John Kaighn in 1723,''^ and the remainder to Joseph Cooper in the same year." Andrew Griscom was the owner of a tra6l of land adjoining that of John Kaighn's and part of Samuel Norris's survey; but from whom purchased, and the exact locality of the land, are not known. Andrew Griscom, by his will in 1694, gave the same to his wife and two children, Tobias and Sarah, and, upon certain contingencies, to John Dole in fee. At the time of John Kaighn's death, he was the owner of this land, but in what manner does not appear.^-* Tobias Griscom, a son of Andrew, married Deborah Gabitas, at Burlington meeting, in 1711, and settled in Newton town- ship, where he remained until his decease. He dealt considerably in real estate, and made several loca- tions in his own name under "rights" which he purchased in 1 716 and 1 71 7. In the last named year, he purchased of 6 Lib. G3, 240. 10 Lib. D, 52. 7 Lib. No. 2 of Wills, 08. 11 Lib. D, 436. 8 Lib. No. 2 of Wills, 430. 12 Lib. A, 83. Lib. D, 52, 54. 9 Lib. No. 6 of Wills, 331. Lib. C, 240. Lib. G3, 240. 152 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTIERS. Hugh Sharp, several tracts of land in Gloucester county, near the sea shore, valuable for the cedar swamps, some of which still retain the name of the former owner. ^* In 1721, and after his death, his widow as executrix of his will, re-conveyed the same properties to the original grantor. Tobias Griscom deceased in 1719," leaving his widow and the following children : William, who married Sarah Davis, and who was a saddler and lived in Haddonfield ; Tobias, who died a minor; Andrew, who married Susanna Hancock, and who was a blacksmith and settled at Tuckahoe; Mary, who married Tobias Halloway; and Samuel, a house and ship car- penter, who resided in Philadelphia. The latter assisted in the eredlion of Independence Hall, and lived for many years on Arch street between Third and Fourth in that city. John Kaighn had much to do with the settlement of the estate of Walter Forrest, the deceased husband of his first wife. A large part of the real property was purchased by him, among which was the mill called the "Brothers Forrest," and three hundred acres of land attached. This was conveyed to him in 1701., but he sold it the next year to Isaac Pearson.^* With this sale his interest ended in that se6lion of West Jersey, but he continued to increase the borders of his land in Newton township until he found himself one of the largest owners in this sedlion.^® On March 7th, 1708, he became one of the trustees of the Newton meeting with Benjamin Thackara, Wil- liam Cooper, William Albertson, Thomas Sharp, Joseph Cooper and John Kay. He is thus shown to have been an a6live member of the religious Society of Friends ; and his remains doubtless lie buried within the walls that now surround part of the first estate dedicated to such purposes in this region of country. In 171 2, Benjamin Thackara conveyed a small adjoin- ing piece of land to the same trustees for the same use. In 1 771, it was discovered that all the trustees had died; and to continue the property in the right channel, Josiah Kay, the heir at law of John Kay, who was the last deceased, made a deed in the same year to John Gill, Joshua Stokes, Nathaniel 13 Lib. A, 87, 208. 15 Lib. No, 6, 32, Salem Records 14 Lib. No. 2, 132. 16 Lib. No. 7, 156. JOHN KAIGHN. 153 Lippincott, James Cooper, John Brown, David Cooper, Joshua Lord, John E. Hopkins, John Evans, Isaac BalHnger, Samuel Webster and John Glover.^' In 1808 again, the trustees were dead, except Samuel Webster, who, in that year, made title to Joseph Glover, Joseph Burrough, Jr., John Albertson, Abel Nicholson, Josiah W^ebster, Joseph Kaighn, Joseph Sloan and Benjamin Cooper. From about the year 1797 to 181 1, much trouble existed between the trustees of the Newton Meeting house property and James and Joseph Sloan, in relation to the boundaries of the same. James and Joseph Sloan had become the owners of part of Thomas Thackara's estate, which adjoined the Friends' property, and claimed a portion of the land by them occupied, in fa6l, that portion on which the old meeting house stood. This particular lot, measuring sixty feet in width and forty-five feet in depth, with another lot adjoining, was conveyed by Joseph Sloan to James Sloan in 1810, and by him held until 1819, when he released his interest therein to Samuel Eastlack and others, who had charge of one part of the burial ground.^- In 181 1, Joseph Sloan abandoned his claim by his deed to the trustees of the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, which extended to the old grave yard within the brick wall, and some adjoining lands. '* The removal of Friends from the neighborhood, and the ere6lion of other places of worship, gradually decreased the interest of the society in these premises; and the destru6lion of the old meeting house by fire on the night of December 2 2d, A. D. 1817,^° was the end of any further assembling upon the spot made memorable by the many associations that surround it. The disputes before named, which at that time were considered a scandal to the church, may be the means of identifying where stood the old meeting house, where, at some future day, a suit- able monument will be placed in remembrance of its purposes, and to point out its locality. In 1699, Johi"* Kaighn was appointed by the Legislature, one of the judges of the several courts of Gloucester county, and was so continued for three years thereafter. Upon the first 17 Lib. M, 172, Gloucester Co., Woodbury. 19 Lib. O, 597, Gloucester Co., Woodbury. 18 Lib. W, 585, Gloucester Co., Woodbury. 20 Joseph Hinchman's Journal. 154 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. entry of his name, the clerk of the joint meeting, spelled it "Caliaen," which doubtless surprised Friend John, when he came to look upon the record and found the orthography of his name so sadly tortured, yet, when pronounced, so near corredl.^^ The duties of the judges of the courts at that day had not been well defined, and the minutes of their proceedings contrast strangely enough with those of the present. In township affairs he, no doubt, took part ; but, as Friend Sharp was not author- ized to buy a book until 1723, which was near the time of his decease, no record of such transactions has come down to the present generation. In 1 710, he sat as a representative from Gloucester county in the Legislature, only a few years after the surrender of the government by the proprietors to Queen Anne, and in the midst of the most troublesome times of the people. John Kaighn's will was proved June 12th, 1724, in which he gave a house and lot in Philadelphia, to his wife Elizabeth, and, after a life interest in some other parts of his property, the remainder to his two sons, John and Joseph. ^^' These sons were by the second wife, and were born as fol- lows: John, December 30th, 1700, and Joseph, December 4th, 1702, each taking the blood of the Doles, and basing the maternal origin in New Jersey upon the same line as that of the Griscom family. His third wife was Elizabeth Hill, of Burlington, at the meeting in which place they were married in 1710. By this marriage there was no children. The inventory of his personal estate amounted to two hun- dred and thirty-five pounds, sterling, showing him to have been one of the substantial men of his day. The next year after their father's death, Joseph conveyed to John all his interest in the real estate devised to them, consisting of much valuable property, with fisheries and meadows attached;-^ and, soon after, John re-conveyed the entire homestead property to Joseph, who so held the same until his death. 21 Learning & Spicer's Laws. 22 Lib. No. 2, 267. 23 Lib. C, 19. JOHN KAIGHN. 155 In 1727, Joseph Kaighn married Mary Estaugh, of Phila- delphia, a daughter of James and niece of John Estaugh, of Haddonfield. This fa6l is proved by various expressions used by Elizabeth Estaugh, in her will, wherein she names the children of Mary Kaighn, and places them among her legatees. Joseph Kaighn was an a6live man in the affairs of the town- ship. He was initiated therein by his ele6lion as one of the surveyors of highways, in 1723. His associates were Jacob Medcalf, Samuel Shivers and Thomas Dennis. What the duties of these officers could have been, may always remain a mystery, as, at that date and for many years after, the roads were simply the widening of the Indian trails, without regard to the shortest distance or the best location ; yet these officers were annually ele6led, and, no doubt, had some important labors to perform. The year of his marriage, he was promoted to the position of overseer of the poor, then the most responsible office of the township. As such officer, he received and disbursed all the funds raised for public purposes, as appears by the annual report spread out on the pages of the township book. From the year 1736 until his death (excepting the year 1738), he was assessor, and also held other minor positions among the people. His will bears date May 7th, 1749, in which year he died,"'** having carefully described each tra6l devised to his chil- dren by metes and bounds, — a precaution too often negle6led when a large real estate is thus to be disposed of. The old brick house near the Kaighn' s Point ferry, was probably the residence of Joseph. It has lost its identity with the past, as the march of improvement has destroyed its proportions, and left but part of the original building. The box and yew trees, which were planted when the dwell- ing was being ere6led, are the only land marks to show where one of the ancestors of the family had his home. The centre building was two stories high, and ornamented by various colored bricks, with a wing on each side built of stone. The site was well chosen, since a good view was had of the river, and of William Penn's "brave town," which, for many years, did not reach as far south as Dock creek. 24 Lib. No. 7, 05. 156 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. The farm and meadow land are now traversed by paved streets, and covered by the habitations of a thrifty population, separated only by such political divisions as are incident to all good governments, aiding in every respe6l the advancement of the people. Joseph Kaighn's wife survived him, and the following named children : Joseph, who married Prudence Butcher, widow of Butcher, and daughter of Rogers; John, a physician who died single, about forty years of age ; Isaac, who died in his minority ; James, who married Hannah Mason ; and Eliza- beth, who married Arthur Donaldson. In 1753, Mary, the widow of Joseph, married Robert Stevens, a resident of Newton township, who died in 1759; and before his last wife. By this marriage there was no issue. Robert Stevens's first wife was Ann Dent, whom he married in 1739. She was an English lady, and sister of Joseph Cooper's second wife. They came from Yorkshire, the last named being a minister among Friends, a testimony from Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, showing that she was accept- able as such. At the time of the death of Joseph Kaighn, all his children were minors. The real estate devised to the daughter, was to be hers, "if she married with her mother's consent," a restridlion mostly disregarded by parents as well as children. Joseph and Prudence Kaighn had four children, William, Mary, John and Joseph. The first three named died in their infancy, and Joseph married Sarah Mickle, in 1795, a daughter of Joseph. In 1732, John Kaighn married Abigail Hinchman, one of the children of John Hinchman, the first of that name who settled in Gloucester county. He deceased in 1749, leaving a will.^^ He was a blacksmith, and followed his business in Haddonfield for several years; but afterwards he removed to a farm on Newton creek, where he died and was buried in the old grave yard at the meeting house near his residence. The property in Haddonfield he gave to his daughter Sarah, subjedl to the use thereof by the mother during her life. His children 25 Lib. No. 6, 230. JOHN KAIGHN. 157 were Sarah, born 1733; Elizabeth, born 1736; Samuel, born 1737, who married Mary Gerrard; John, born 1740, and Ann, born 1744. The widow Abigail afterwards married Samuel Harrison, and resided near Gloucester. The issue of this marriage was a daughter, Abigail, born 1751, who married Richard Edwards in 1768. They had ten children, all of whom died single, excepting Samuel, who married Martha Heulings, and Sarah, who married Joseph Collins. Abigail Harrison survived her last husband, and died in 1795, at Taunton iron works, Bur- lington county, where lived her son-in-law, Richard Edwards. Like his brother Joseph, John was somewhat of a township politician, for in 1725 he was ele6led freeholder, and, at dif- ferent times thereafter, held the same position. His name is found upon the town book almost every year from 1725 to the time of his decease. He a6led as clerk from 1732 to 1741, when he was succeeded by Samuel Mickle. This family name is oftener associated with others of like pronunciation and different spelling than any other in this se6f ion ; which has frequently led to trouble and difficulty. One family writes the name Cain, another Kain and another Kane, and they are in no wise related to each other. The descendants of John Kaighn, the subje6l of this sketch, never became numerous in this part of the State of New Jersey, but some of his descendants have adhered to portions of the original landed property to the present time. The increase in the city of Camden has covered the larger portion with substantial improvements; and another half-century will find the entire estate thus occupied. THE GRAYSBURYS. IN the year 1692, James, Joseph and Benjamin Graysbury, brothers and ship carpenters, came from the island of Bermuda, to Philadelphia.' It does not appear whether they were Friends, banished from England, or whether they were natives of the said island. The opportmiity for getting ship timber to carry on their business was certainly an attra6lion in these parts, and may have been the secret of their settle- ment here. They had their place of business in Philadelphia, and probably, Joseph and Benjamin there remained during their lives. The next year after their arrival, they joined in a purchase of five hundred acres of land, of Robert Turner, which land was situated in Newton township, and on the south side of the main branch of Newton creek. ^ At that time, Robert Turner was a merchant in the city of Philadelphia, but owned much land in New Jersey, and par- ticularly in the neighborhood of the above named tra6l. From a map made by Thomas Sharp, showing his lands lying on Newton and Cooper creeks, the amount appears to have exceeded two thousand five hundred acres within the township ; he there- fore was much the largest owner of real estate in this region. This map also indicates that Robert Philips, planter, had already settled thereon ; but where his habitation was, does not appear. After this man, James Graysbury made the first 1 Lib. G2, 174. 2 Lib. G3, 426. i6o FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. improvement on this purchase; but where his cabin stood, is also in doubt. He probably cleared considerable land, looking somewhat to agriculture for the maintenance of his family. This man was the son of James, so far as the records can be digested ; yet the vague manner of expression used in many conveyances and wills, renders a proper understanding of them almost impossible. James (one of the brothers) died in 1700, leaving one son, James, his two other children being born after his decease. In anticipation of this, he made provision in his will that his share of said tra6l of land should belong "to his child or children yet to be born," and it proved that the issue was twins, named by the mother, Elizabeth and Annie. ^ In the progress of time the second daughter here named married Daniel Martin, a resident of Philadelphia. In 1722, the sisters conveyed the sard land to James, upon which he resided until his death. Benjamin (another brother) died, seized of his share of said five hundred acres, leaving two children, Margaret, and Mary, who married Richard Kelley, also a resident of Philadelphia. They conveyed their interest to James, their cousin, in 1720.* Joseph (the last brother) died intestate and without children. His undivded interest of said land descended to his nephew, James, he being the eldest son of James, who was the eldest brother of Joseph.^ The law regulating the descent of real estates in force at that time, deprived tlie children of Benjamin and the sisters of James, of all right in the property of their uncle Joseph, although standing in the same blood relationship as James. The rule of "the oldest male heir" is in this case clearly exemplified, and shows how unjust was the application of the law of primogeniture, — a law that has long since, in the State of New Jersey, given way to a more rational, just and equitable distribution of real estate. For many years the English code obtained, contrary to the progress and spirit of the age, and at variance with the liberality and intentions of our law makers. 3 Sharp's Book, 03, O. S. G. 4 Lib. D, 253. 5 Lib. M, no, O. S. G. THE GRAYSBURYS. i6i The infringements on this were gradual, but always in favor of the female heirs, until every barrier was swept away, and the daughters of an intestate had the same rights of inheritance. Immediately upon obtaining the title to his property, James Graysbury proceeded to perfe6l the same and to establish the boundaries by a re-survey; which was accomplished in 1721.® It will be noticed, that, after the death of the three brothers, there was but one person to represent the family name ; thus became centered in James, the son of James, the genealogy of future generations, as well as the title to most of the original estate, as by them purchased of Robert Turner. The only severance from the first purchase was that of fifty acres sold to John Willis, a ship carpenter of Philadelphia, in 1696; which land fronted on the creek. There John Willis eredled a house.'' This, however, after several conveyances, became the property of Caleb Atmore, and in his name it remained for many years. James Graysbury conveyed said estates to two of his sons (James and Joseph), and they immediately after conveyed the same to their brother Benjamin, who then resided on the premises. In 1783, Benjamin bought of Caleb Atmore the fifty acres that had been sold to John Willis in 1696, by his grandfather and great uncles, and became therefore owner of the original tradl. This now includes the farm lately Joseph FewSmith's, deceased, on the east, and that of Edward Bettle, on the west, and all the intermediate property, showing it to have been one of the best locations made in the township, whether soil or situation be regarded. On the farm first named is the old family graveyard, where rest the bones of the earliest generations of the Graysburys, and of some of their descendants. In the same neighborhood lived Simeon Breach, Joseph Low, Caleb Sprague, John Hinch- man, and others, who, in all probability, were also there interred, with many of their descendants. Nearly all were slave-holders, as appears by the wills of several; this part of their personal property found a final resting place in Hinchman's, now gener- 6 Lib. M, no, O. S, G. 7 Lib. A, 189. 1 62 FIRST EMIGRANT SETTLERS. ally known as Hurley's graveyard. For many years the memory of the forefathers was held in respe6l, but the presence of strangers has left no trace of the immediate locality of the old Graysbury graveyard. " Perhaps in this negle