The Township of Haddon

Early History of Old Newton Township - Notes from Township Records - Thomas Sharp’s Account of the Newton settlement -

Old Newton Friends Meeting - Schools - Camden and Philadelphia Race Course - Collingswood - Westmount.

THE old township of Newton, the centre of which is the present township of Haddon, was erected in the same year the counties of Burlington and Salem were formed, at which time (May, 1682) Burlington and Salem were the only towns in West Jersey. There was surveyed to Francis Collins, October 23d following, a tract of land lying partly in and south of what is now Haddonfield, which was described as being "situate in Newton Township." The settlers who resided on the creek now known as Newton, named the creek, the town they built, the Friends’ Meeting-house and ground and the township "Newton;" which name continued as long as they were in existence, and of which only the creek remains. The boundaries of this township were not closely defined until several years later, and, on the 1st of June, 1695, the grand jury returned the boundaries of the townships of Gloucester County, under an act of Assembly of 1694, for dividing counties into townships. This return declares that "from ye lowermost branch of Coopers Creek to ye southerly branch of Newton Creek, bordering Gloucester, shall be another constablewick or township." This was called Newton township, and Jeremiah Bates was appointed constable and William Bates and Thomas Sharp for regulating highways. Officers were appointed, but no effort was made to keep township records until 1723, when Thomas Sharp was instructed to buy a book for that purpose.

No change was made in the limits of Newton township from the time of its erection until November 28, 1831, one hundred and forty-nine years after, when, by an act of the Legislature, the city of Camden (having been erected as a city February 23, 1828, within the township of Newton) was established as a separate township. The territory taken from Newton by this act lay between Coopers Creek and Kaighns Run. The township of Newton, for over one hundred and fifty years, had two voting places, one at Newton and one at Haddonfield when, on February 23, 1865, by an act of the Legislature, the eastern part of Newton was organized into a separate township and named the township of Haddon. The western part of Newton township retained its name and corporate powers until five years later, when, by legislative enactment, February 14, 1871, the old township of Newton was annexed to the city of Camden, and as a civil, organization ceased to exist and has since been known only to history.

Camden soon after was again sub-divided into wards, and the remnants of old Newton became the Eighth Ward of that city. Six years later, April 5, 1878, the northern portion of the Eighth Ward was annexed to Haddon township and so remains. In 1870 the township, as it then existed, contained a population of eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven and had within its limits thirty-five industrial establishments.

The first settlers within the territory of Newton, soon after their arrival took an important part in the provincial government of West Jersey, and on the 2d of May, 1682, only three months after their settlement, William Cooper, Mark Newbie, Henry Stacy, Francis Collins, Samuel Coles, Thomas Howell and William Bates were chosen to represent the Third or Irish Tenth (of which Newton formed a part) in the, Legislature of New Jersey, which body then met at Burlington. The persons chosen, with the exception of Samuel Coles and Thomas Howell, were residents of Newton township. Samuel Coles resided at the mouth of Coopers Creek, in what is now Stockton township, and Thomas Howell in what is now Delaware township. The Third or Irish Tenth included all the territory now embraced in Camden County, extending from Pensaukin Creek to Timber Creek. The Fourth Tenth extended from Timber Creek to Oldman Creek, and what is now Gloucester County, although more thickly settled, had no representation then in the Legislature, as most of its inhabitants were Swedes.

NOTES FROM NEWTON TOWNSHIP RECORDS. - From 1682 to the year 1723 no record of the proceedings of the people in their corporate capacity was kept. Thomas Sharp, in 1723, was appointed township clerk and ordered to purchase a record-book for the use of the township.

The records as contained in this book were begun on the 12th day of First Month (January) 1723, and were closed March 14, 1821. The first town-meeting of which record was made was held at Newton March 12, 1723, when Joseph Cooper and John Gill were chosen overseers of the poor and Thomas Sharp, clerk. At the next meeting, March 9, 1724, Joseph Cooper and Thomas Sharp were chosen freeholders; John Eastlack and John Gill, overseers of the poor; Joseph Cooper, Jr., assessor; William Cooper, collector; Jacob Medcalf Samuel Shivers, Joseph Kaighn and Thomas Dennis, commissioners of highways.

At this meeting it was "agreed yt Jonathan Bolton Give some Hay and Corn to Ann Morrises horse, in order to make him capable to carry her to ye place from whence she came, and yt she stay here but untill the seventeenth day of this instant, and after that the Overseers of the Poor fforce her away. If she refuse to go and yt what charge is expended in ye perfecting of it shall be allowed by this Meeting. What remains in the hands of John Gill off the poor tax, as ye case is stated, amounts to the sum off ffive pound, ffive shillings and ffive pence."

For many years a list of the officers appointed had to be laid before the Court of Quarter Sessions, then held at Gloucester for approval. An interesting feature of the old records is the many names of the original families of the township, the descendants of some of whom now reside in it. Many of the early settlers whose names appear on record have now no descendants living within the limits of Camden County. The small amount of tax collected contrasts strongly with the amount now collected from the inhabitants of the same territory. In 1733 the assessor was directed to extend his assessment to the mills, taverns and ferries in the township. Sarah Norris’ shop was taxed twenty shillings, and the mill of John Kay, ten shillings.

In 1737 the town-meeting was more specific, and named the mills, shops, taverns and ferries. On March 8th, in that year, Timothy Matlack was assessed ten shillings; Sarah Norris, 6s. 8d.; they each kept at that time a shop in Haddonfield. October 24th Isaac Kay’s mill was assessed ten shillings, (it stood on the south branch of Coopers Creek, in what is now Haddon township, opposite the Joseph G. Evans mill, near Haddonfield); John Breach, eight shillings, fulling-mill located on the middle branch of Newton Creek; Sarah Norris’ shop, 6s. 8d., on site of Aaron C. Clement’s residence, in Haddonfield; Thomas Perrywebb’s blacksmith-shop, ten shillings, on the site of Alfred W. Clement’s store, on Main Street, in Haddonfield; Humphrey Day’s ferry and tavern, twenty shillings.

In 1749 there was assessed Isaac Kay’s mill, Thomas Redman’s drug-store, Mathias Aspden’s store, all at Haddonfield; John Breach’s fulling-mill, Jacob Albertson’s grist-mill and Daniel and Benjamin Cooper, as operating ferries at the site of Camden, and in this year boats and flats were taxed.

In 1754 Josiah Harvey was assessed with a fulling-mill, probably John Breach’s, as his name does not appear for the same year; Thomas Redman, Mathias Aspden and Thomas Champion were store-keepers; Kay’s and Albertson’s mills were still in operation; and Hugh Creighton was operating a fulling-mill.

In 1770 the Legislature passed an act to prevent swine from running at large in the streets of Haddonfield. This act does not appear to have been very popular, as at the town-meeting of 1775, by a majority of two, a resolution was passed not to enforce the law in the future.

The town-meetings were held generally in the old Newton Friends’ Meeting-house until the erection of the meeting-house at Haddonfield, in 1721, at which place it was held until 1787. At the meeting in March, 1787, a resolution was passed that the next annual town-meeting be held at the school-house (which was built on the Friends’ Meeting-house lot) in Haddonfield.

Elections were held at the Newton Friends’ Meeting-house and at other places in the township. In the earlier years elections were conducted by the sheriff of the county, who carried the box from place to place, where designated, and received the votes. An incident in this connection is given, which shows the law and custom governing the election, -
     "Upon the meeting of the Legislature in 1716, Daniel Coxe was returned as member of the State Assembly in place of John Kay, and was chosen Speaker. The proceedings of that body, however, show in what way this occurred, for William Harrison, sheriff of Gloucester County, was arrested and brought to the bar of the House, by the Sergeant-at-arms, and reprimanded for adjourning the election poll from the great field’ near John Kay’s house to William Cooper’s, several miles distant, without the consent of the candidates, which was contrary to the law. By this transaction, the defeat of John Kay was brought about, which led to the censure of the chief executive of the county.
     "John Kay, at that time, resided at the corn-mill, and the ‘great field’ was part of John Haddon’s estate, bounded by the King’s Road and part of the village of Haddonfield."

The town house of Newton was built at Haddonfield in the summer of 1854, since which elections have been held in that building.

THE NEWTON COLONY’S SETTLEMENT. - The causes of the settlement of West Jersey and the action of the proprietaries in reference to the division of the territory, are given in the first part of this book. By this division, the proprietors, on the 14th of January, 1681,* set off a tract of land along the Delaware River, which extended from the river eastward, between the Pensaukin Creek and the Timber Creek, "so far into the woods as to embrace sixty-four thousand acres."**

This tract was designated by the proprietors as a place of settlement for a company of immigrants from Dublin, Ireland, and was named the Third or Irish Tenth.

It will be noticed in the early history of Gloucester City (found elsewhere in this book) that as early as 1677 attention was drawn to this section of country by the London commissioners, who were strongly inclined to settle at what is now Gloucester City. They were persuaded, to locate at Burlington, but still determined to advocate the selection of this locality as a good place for settlement. Robert Zane, of Dublin, who probably came over in the ship with John Fenwick, was in Salem as early as 1675, as he was one of the founders of the Friends’ Meeting established at that place in the year named. He does not appear, in the first few years after his arrival, to have attempted to make a permanent location, but was evidently examining the country with a view to finding a site for himself and others who were still in Dublin. Soon after the arrival of the London and Yorkshire commissioners they described to him the locality and their favorable impressions of the region of country along the river. It is evident that a company was formed for the purpose of emigration before he left his native land, as on the 12th of April, 1677, a deed for one whole share of propriety was made out by Edward Byllynge and his trustees to Robert Turner, linen draper, of Dublin; Robert Zane, serge-maker, of Dublin; Thomas Thackara, stuff weaver, of Dublin; Wm. Bates, carpenter, of the county Wicklow, and Joseph Slight, tanner, of Dublin. In the course of a few years Joseph Slight disposed of his interest to Anthony Sharp, Mark Newbie and others.

Thomas Sharp, a nephew of Anthony Sharp, came to this country to settle and to act as agent for his uncle in locating lands. He was a surveyor, and was the first clerk of the county of Gloucester. He wrote several accounts of the first settlers, one of which is as follows:
     "Let it be remembered, it having wrought upon ye minds of some friends that dwelt in Ireland, but such as formerly came thither from England; and a pressure having laid upon them for some years, which they could not gett from the weight of until they gave upp to leave their friends and relations there, together with a comfortable subsistence, to transport themselves and family into this wilderness part of America, and thereby expose themselves to difficulties, which, if they could have been easy where they were, in all probability might never have been met with; and in order thereunto sent from Dublin in Ireland to one Thomas Lurten, a friend in London, commander of a pink, who accordingly came, and made an agreement with him to transport them and their famelys into New Jersey, viz.: Mark Newbie and famely, Thomas Thackara and famely, William Bates and famely, George Goldsmith, an old man; and Thomas Sharp, a young man, but no famelys, and whilst the ship abode in the Dublin Harbor, providing for the voyage, said Thomas Lurten was taken so ill that he could not perform ye same, so that his mate, John Dagger, undertook it. And upon the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 1681, we sett saile from the place aforesaid, and through the good providence of God towards us, we arrived at Elsinburg in the county of Salem upon the 19th day of November following, where we were well entertained at the houses of the Thompsons, who came from Ireland about four years before, who, by their industry, were arrived at a very good degree of living, and from thence we went to Salem, where were several houses yt were vacant of persons, who had left the town to settle in ye country, which served to accommodate them for ye winter, and having thus settled down their famelys, and the winter proving moderate, we at Wickacoa among us purchased a boate of the Swansons and so we went to Burlington to the commissioners, of whom we obtained a warrant of ye surveyor-general, which then was Daniel Leeds; and after some considerable search to and fro in what then was called the Third or Irish Tenth, we at last pitched upon the place now called Newton, which was before the settlement of Philadelphia, and then applied to sd surveyor who came and laid it out for us and the next spring, being the beginning of the year 1682, we all removed from Salem together with Robert Zane, that had been settled there, who came along from Ireland with the Thompsons before hinted, and having expectation of our coming, only bought a lott in Salem Town, upon the which he seated himself untell our coming, whose proprietary right and ours being of the same nature, could not then take it in Fenwick’s Tenth, and so began our settlement, and although we were at times pretty hard bestead, having all our provisions as far as Salem to fetch by water, yett, through the mercy and kindness of God, we were preserved in health, and from the extreme difficulties.
     "And immediately there was a meeting sett up and kept at the house of Mark Newbie and in a short time it grew and increased unto which William Cooper and famely that lived at Poynte resorted, and sometimes the meeting was kept at his house, who had been settled some time before. Zeal and fervency of spirit was what, in some degree, at that time abounded among Friends in commemoration of our prosperous success and eminent preservation, both in our coming over the great deep, as allso that whereas we were but few at that time and the Indians many, whereby itt putt a dread upon our spirits considering they were a savage people, but ye Lord who hath the hearts of all in his hands, turned them so as to be serviceable to us and very loving and kinde, which cannot be otherwise accounted for. And that the rising generation may consider that the settlement of this country was directed upon an impulse by the spirits of God’s people not so much for their care and tranquillity, but rather for the posterity yt should be after and that the wilderness being planted with a good seed might grow and increase to the satisfaction of the good husband-man. But instead thereof, if for wheat it should bring forth trees, the cud of the good husbandman will be frustrate and they themselves will suffer loss. This narrative I have thought good and requisite to leave behind, as having had knowledge of things from the beginning."

Another account Thomas Sharp wrote in Book A, page 98, of Gloucester County deeds in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton. After reciting the facts nearly as given above, he continues, -
     "The Surveyor-General was instructed to survey unto every one of us so much land as by ye constitution at yt time was allotted for a settlement being five hundred acres, or yt we had a right to for a taking it up under, which we accordingly obtained. At which time also Robert Lane, 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 Newbie 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 Coopers 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 be chosen for the head of the creek, Thomas Sharp the forks or lower end of the land next toward 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 tract 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, least 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, where it is reasonable to suppose he had a right, but brought nothing with him to make it appear, and ye commissioners 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 circumstances, he writ several times to Thomas Starkey giving him to understand 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 a 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 . . . whereupon George 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 up 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 be recorded in George Goldsmith’s name, who had no right at any time to take up any land in yt province, agrees to survey it for himself, and accordingly did, and records it as such in the 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 3d month 3rd 1718.

"THOMAS SHARP,

"Allowed by John Kay, the 3d month 4th 1718."

In addition to the tract of seventeen hundred and fifty acres, these persons located a tract of one hundred acres of meadow land at the mouth of Kaighns Run, on both sides of it and fronting the Delaware River, now in the city of Camden. This was done for the purpose of procuring hay for their cattle, and was divided into smaller tracts in 1684. Robert Zane, in the allotment, took a tract on the Delaware south to the stream and Robert Turner took the part south of it also on the Delaware. The other tracts were up the Run and were long and narrow, with the Run passing through each, Thomas Sharp adjoining Zane and Turner, and in order above were the lots of William Bates, Thomas Thackara and Hannah Newbie, the widow of Mark.

It has been mentioned that William Bates located on the south side of the middle branch of Newton Creek. In the division of the large tract lying south of the middle branch, Thomas Sharp’s portion hay on the main stream and up the south branch. Next above was Mark Newbie, Thomas Thackara, Robert Zane and the Robert Turner (Starkey) tract.

William Roydon, a grocer of London, located the first tract of land, four hundred and fifty acres, at the site of Camden, September 20, 1681, and a little later William Cooper located a survey of three hundred acres (which bears date June 12, 1682), at Pyne Point (now known as Coopers Point), where there was a large Indian settlement under the chieftain Arasapha. Cooper came from Coles Hill, England, in 1678, and settled at Burlington, from which place he removed to Pyne Point upon the location of the land above alluded to.

Francis Collins, in October, 1682, located a tract of five hundred acres of land, a part of which is now the site of Haddonfield.

Samuel Coles and Thomas Howell settled in the limits of the present townships of Delaware and Stockton. A few other settlers followed in the same year. The land on which Lane, Thackara, Newbie, Sharp, Bates and Goldsmith settled was surveyed to them March 10, 1681, and soon after that time it was divided.

EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. - Robert Zane, who was the pioneer in the movement, had in the division selected five hundred acres on the upper course of the creek, which extended from Newton Creek to Coopers Creek, and which now includes the property of Edward C. Knight and others. He was elected to the first Legislature of the province in 1682, re-elected in 1685, and was constable of the township in 1684-85.

In Sharp’s map of 1700 his house is marked as being along the middle branch of Newton Creek, a short distance above where the Camden and White Horse turnpike crosses that stream. He was married, in 1679, to Alice Alday, of Burlington, supposed to be an Indian maiden, and had several children, of whom nothing is known. His second wife was Elizabeth Willis, of Hempstead, L.I. She died in 1700, leaving five children. The family emigrated to the West, where the name became noted in the early settlements about Wheeling, Va., and Zanesville, O.

EDWARD C. KNIGHT, long and prominently identified with the internal improvements of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was born within the present territory of Camden County on the 8th day of December, 1813. Giles Knight, his paternal ancestor, was a native of Gloucestershire, England, came to America in 1683 with William Penn in the "Welcome," and settled in Byberry, where he died in 1726. Jonathan and Rebecca Collings Knight, the parents of E.C. Knight, were members of the Society of Friends. His father died in 1823, before E.C. Knight was ten years old, and his mother followed in 1867, at the age of seventy-eight.

Jonathan and Rebecca Knight had seven children; four sons died young; those living are - E.C., Martha W. (wife of Jas. H. Stephenson) and Sarah C. (widow of Aaron A. Hurley). E.C. Knight was married to Anna M. Magill, July 20, 1841, by whom he had five children, three of whom are dead, - Jonathan at the age of twenty-five, Anna, six years, and Ed. C., Jr., twenty months. Those left are Annie C. and Ed. C. Knight, Jr., who was married, June 31, 1886, to Miss Clara Waterman Dwight, daughter of Edmund P. and Clara W. Dwight of Philadelphia.

In 1830, Edw. C. Knight entered mercantile life as a clerk in a store at Kaighns Point, now the southern part of the city of Camden, and continued in that position two years. In 1832 he went to Philadelphia and was engaged as clerk in the grocery store of Atkinson & Cuthbert, at the South Street wharf on the Delaware River. In May, 1836, he established a grocery store on Second Street, giving his mother an interest in the business. A few years later he obtained a share in the schooner "Baltimore," and was engaged in the importation of coffee and other products of the West Indies to Philadelphia. In September, 1846, he removed to the southeast corner of Chestnut and Water Streets and there carried on the wholesale grocery, commission, importing and refining business, first alone, and subsequently the firm of E.C. Knight & Co. was formed. In 1849 this firm became interested in the California trade, and owned and sent out the first steamer that ever plied the waters above Sacramento City. This firm also originated the business of importing molasses and sugar from Cuba to the United States and has since been extensively engaged in the refining of sugar. Two large molasses-houses and one extensive refinery at Bainbridge Street and one at Queen Street wharf; Philadelphia, have been operated by E.C. Knight & Co., and have been for the past twenty-five years. The size and capacity of the refinery can be comprehended when it is stated that it is usual to turn out from one thousand to fifteen hundred barrels of sugar per day.

But while for many years Mr. Knight has been looked upon as one of Philadelphia’s most prominent and most honored merchants, he has of late been mainly recognized as one of the leading railroad managers of the Quaker City. Years ago he was a director in the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg, the West Jersey and other railroad companies. Finally he became a director in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. It was largely through his instrumentality, as chairman of a committee of the latter corporation, that the American Steamship Line, between Philadelphia and Europe, was established, and Mr. Knight was president of the steamship line in question. He finally withdrew from the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and thereafter his interests were centred elsewhere. He was a director in the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and was from 1876 to 1880 its president. In 1874 Mr. Knight was chosen president of the Bound Brook Railroad Company, a position which he now holds. He was a director in the Philadelphia and Reading and in the North Pennsylvania Railroad Companies.

Mr. Knight has at various times been connected with a number of institutions of high standing in this city. He has, however, withdrawn from all banking and trust companies except the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company, of which he is at present the vice-president.

While not an office-seeker, Mr. Knight is in every sense of the word a public man. In 1856 he was nominated by the American, Whig and Reform parties for Congress, in the old First District of Pennsylvania. In 1860 he was an elector on the Republican Presidential ticket from the same district. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1873, his sound opinions and advice as a business man having material weight in the formulation of much of the best material in the present organic law of the Commonwealth. In December, 1883, he was appointed a member of the Park Commission by the judges of the Court of Common Pleas.

In semi-public affairs Mr. Knight has likewise been a prominent factor. He is, and has for years been, one of the directors of the Union League and is now one of its vice-presidents. He was also the president and one of the most active, promoters of the Bi-Centennial Association of 1882.

Mr. Knight is in every sense of the word one of Philadelphia’s most public-spirited citizens, and a man whose name is a synonym for integrity and honor.

On the evening of May 7, 1886, a banquet was given to E.C. Knight, and the Evening Bulletin of that date has an article in reference to it, a part of which we quote, -
     "FIFTY YEARS IN BUSINESS. - A TESTIMONIAL BANQUET TO MR. E.C. KNIGHT THIS EVENING AT THE UNION LEAGUE. - Fifty years ago to-day Edward C. Knight, who, in the last half century, has developed into one of the most prominent of Philadelphia’s citizens, entered the grocery business on Second Street, opposite Almond. He was then but twenty-three years of age, but he soon evinced a remarkable tact and commercial energy, and in a short time became the head of the firm of E.C. Knight & Co., which conducted the wholesale grocery, commission, importing, shipping and sugar refinery business on a large scale. Some weeks ago a number of citizens conceived the idea of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Mr. Knight’s business career, and as a result of the movement then started, a banquet will be given this evening in his honor at the Union League. The Committee of Arrangements was organized a month ago, with Mr. John Wanamaker, chairman; Mr. Wm. H. Rhawn, secretary; and Mr. Geo. S. Fox, treasurer; the chair named the following sub-committees:
     "Committee on invitations - Messrs. Thos. Cochran, Henry Lewis and Benj. Reiff. Committee on Distinguished Guests - Messrs. Clayton McMichael, E.H. Fitler and J. Wesley Supplee. Committee on Banquet - Messrs. Joseph F. Tobias, Wm. H. Hurley and Geo. S. Fox. Committee on Speakers - Messrs. Alex. P. Colesberry, Chas. H. Cramp and Hamilton Disston. The price of subscriptions to the banquet was fixed at ten dollars per head end the number limited to two hundred, the capacity of the banqueting hall of the League.
     "Among the more prominent gentlemen who have been tendered invitations and who are expected to be present are: President Garrett and Vice-President King, of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company; ex-Senator Cattell, of New Jersey; Governor Pattison, Attorney-General Cassidy, Chief Justice Mercur, ex-Governor Bedle, Chancellor Runyon and Chief Justice Beasley, of New Jersey, Mayor Smith and Geo B. Roberts.
     "The toasts and addresses will be as follows: ‘Our Guest,’ responded to by Mr. Knight; ‘The State of Pennsylvania,’ Attorney-General Cassidy; ‘State of New Jersey,’ A.G. Cattell; ‘Judiciary of Pennsylvania,’ Chief Justice Mercur; ‘City of Philadelphia,’ Mayor Smith; ‘Grocers of Philadelphia,’ John Hough; ‘Our Manufacturers,’ Jas. Dobeon; ‘The Press,’ Colonel Clayton McMichael; ‘Commercial Association of Philadelphia,’ John Price Wetherill."

The banquet was a great success and a well merited compliment to an honorable business career of fifty years.

THOMAS SHARP, one of the party who came over in September, 1681, was the nephew of Anthony Sharp, of Dublin, a wealthy merchant, who became possessed of several shares of the propriety and conveyed to Thomas a part, who, upon his arrival, acted a the agent of his uncle in the sale and location of the remainder. He was then a young man and soon gained, the confidence of his companions and became the leader in many directions. His records of the events of the time are unquestioned authority. He became constable of the Irish Tenth in 1682, and acted with the same authority as sheriff. He was active in the organization of the county of Gloucester and has left the account of that action in the court records. He was made clerk of the new county and was also a surveyor. The maps, surveys, memoranda and other papers are of much value, both for historical purposes and for determining land titles. In 1685 he was chosen member of Assembly. In 1689 he laid out the, town of Gloucester and in the same year was appointed one of a commission to run the boundary line between Gloucester and Burlington Counties. In 1700 he was appointed one of the judges of the county of Gloucester, and was also one of the trustees of Newton Friends’ Meeting, and no doubt assisted in the erection of the first house of worship. He surveyed the lot and wrote the deed for the Haddonfield Meeting in 1721. His name appears upon the records of Burlington, Salem and Woodbury oftener than that of any other man of the time in which he lived.

In the division of the large tract of land he says, "I took the forks, or lower end of the land next towards the river." Upon this he built, cleared part of it for farming purposes and improved some meadow land. On the map executed by himself; his house is marked as being on the bank of Newton Creek. In 1708 he was made ranger of the county, and in 1723 began to keep the records in the town-book of Newton, which he continued till 1728, when his son Samuel succeeded him. He died the next year, 1729, and was probably buried in the old Newton burying-ground. He married Elizabeth Winn in 1701, by whom he had eight children. In 1723 he gave to his son Samuel part of the homestead property and part to his son John, who, in 1731, sold to his brother Samuel and moved to London, where he carried on the business of a weaver. Samuel sold the land to Tobias Holloway. The property was known as the Burroughs Farm and later was owned by the Champions. A daughter, Elizabeth, married John Hollowell, of Darby, Pa., where her descendants are numerous.

Mark Newbie’s tract in the division is marked by Thomas Sharp as lying opposite to William Bates’, and his house as being nearly opposite that of Bates. He was an Englishman, a resident of London and a tallow chandler and a member of the Society of Friends. The persecutions against the Society had led him, with many others, to remove to Dublin, with a view of emigrating to America. He joined Sharp, Bates, Thackara and others, and came with them. It was at his house the first religious meeting of Friends was set up and continued until the meeting-house was built, in 1684. He also was the founder of the first bank in the State of New Jersey.

A charter was granted to him at the session of the Legislature in May, 1682, which provided "that Mark Newby’s half-pence called Patrick’s halfpence, shall from and after the eighteenth instant pass for half-pence current pay of the Province, provided he give sufficient security to the Speaker of the House, and provided no person or persons shall be obliged to take more than five shillings in one payment."

He died in 1683, and his bank was discontinued. The half-penny was struck in Ireland after the massacre of Roman Catholics in 1641, simply to commemorate the event, and did not circulate as coin in the old country. It, however, was brought here in quantities, and being recognized by the Legislature in the charter to Mark Newby, it answered their purpose for several years. Mark Newby was a member of the Assembly in May, 1682, and was selected a member of the Governor’s Council. He was also one of the commissioners for the division of land in the province and one of the committee of ways and means to raise money for the use of the government. He left a widow, Hannah (who, in 1685, married James Atkinson), two sons, Stephen and Edward, and two daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth, all of whom came to this country with their father.

Stephen Newby, in 1703, married Elizabeth Wood, daughter of Henry, and settled on the homestead and died in 1706, leaving two children, - Mark and Hannah; the former died in 1735, and Hannah married Joseph Thackara. Edward Newby, in 1706, married Hannah Chew, and settled on the north of the fork branch on three hundred and fifty acres of land his father owned. He died in 1715 and left several children, of whom Gabriel married and left a son John, who, March 14, 1764, conveyed all the unsold land to Isaac Cooper, in whose name and family it still remains.

Elizabeth, a daughter of Mark Newby, in 1714, married John Hugg, whose first wife was Priscilla Collins. They resided near Gloucester, where Little Timber Creek falls into Great Timber Creek. It is through the families of Hugg and Thackara that the family is now represented in the county. Rachel Newby, a daughter of Mark, probably the eldest child, married Isaac Decou, in 1695, and settled in Burlington County, where part of the family still resides.

Thomas Thackara, who settled above Mark Newby, went from near Leeds, England, to Dublin, to escape persecution, as did many of the Friends. He was a "stuff’ weaver," and, in 1677, was one of the grantees of the deed made to Robert Turner, William Bates, Mark Newby and others, for real estate in New Jersey, and in 1681 he came to this country with the party of emigrants who had decided to settle upon the Third or Irish Tenth. He was the first to separate his interest from the others, and took two hundred and fifty acres as his share; and in 1695 he purchased two hundred acres of land of Isaac Hollingsham, part of the Robert Turner tract, which extended his estate from Newton Creek to Coopers Creek. The tract of two hundred and fifty acres first taken up embraced the old Newton graveyard, near which the old meeting-house stood. His house was situated on the site of the present farm buildings on the John Campbell farm, where he continued until his death, about 1702. The land, except sixty acres, descended to his son Benjamin, who conveyed fifty acres to his brother-in-law, John Eastlack, and devised the remainder to his son Joseph, who resurveyed it in 1760. It passed to his son Stephen, and from him to his sons, Joseph, James and Thomas, and from them to strangers.

Thomas Thackara became a member of the first Legislature in 1682, and in the same year was appointed, with Mark Newby and William Cooper, one of the judges of the court for the Irish Tenth, and there continued until 1685. He was appointed one of the land commissioners of the province and was, with William Cooper, selected by the Society of Friends to sign the address of the Newton Meeting to the Yearly Meeting of London, protesting against the conduct of George Keith. His first wife died in a few years, and in 1689 he was married to Hepzibah Eastlack, a daughter of Francis Eastlack, at the house of James Atkinson. His children were Benjamin (who, in 1707, married Mary, a daughter of William Cooper, who settled at Coopers Point), Thomas, Hannah, Sarah and Hepzibah. Benjamin died in 1727 and left three children, - Joseph, Hannah and Mary. Hannah Thackara, daughter of Thomas, married John Whitall, at her father’s house, in 1696, at which time her father presented her a deed for sixty acres of land, part of the homestead estate. It is now included in the Decosta property.

William Bates, a carpenter, in 1670, lived in the county of Wicklow, Ireland, and was a regular attendant at meetings of Friends, at one of which he was, with others, seized, taken to jail and confined several weeks. The persecution of Friends continued, and many were discussing the question of emigration. In the grant from Edward Byllinge and trustees and others to Robert Turner, linen draper, of Dublin; Robert Zane, serge-maker, of Dublin; Thomas Thackara, stuff-weaver, of Dublin. William Bates is also mentioned as carpenter and of the county of Wicklow. It will be remembered that Robert Zane preceded the others to this country and selected a site on which they were to settle. William Bates, for some reason unknown, located two hundred and fifty acres on the south side of the middle branch of the stream, while the others were on the north side. Two years later he made another survey adjoining, and of the same number of acres, and also purchased a tract of Robert Turner adjoining, which is now known as the Ridgeway and Eldridge lands. His house was located on the Ridgeway farm, near the mouth of Bates Run. He, as a carpenter, doubtless planned and constructed the old log meeting-house at Newton, in 1684. In 1683 and 1684 he was a member of the Legislature from the Irish Tenth. He died in 1700, and left children who had reached maturity, - Jeremiah, Joseph (who, in 1701, married Mercy Clement), Abigail (married Joshua Frame, in 1687), William and Sarah. The latter became the wife of Simeon Ellis. Jeremiah married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Spicer, settled on part of the original tract, and left it to his son William. The greater part of the estate is now owned by Joseph C. Hollinshead, Edward and William Bettle. It was on the Bates tract the Camden and Philadelphia race-course was built, in later years, an account of which is here given.

George Goldsmith, who Thomas Sharp describes as "an old man" came over in the pink called "Ye Owner’s Adventure," with the other settlers, and was the last of the six who formed the early settlement of Newton. He was a poor man, and had no rights to property. It is evident, however, that he was authorized to locate five hundred acres for one Thomas Starkey, as he was allowed to do so, and, his right was included in the tract of seventeen hundred and fifty acres. In the division of this tract his survey extended from Newton Creek to Coopers Creek. Upon close investigation it was found Starkey failed to complete the title, and Goldsmith induced Robert Turner to take out a title to the survey and to give him one hundred acres for his trouble, as was the custom. This was done, and Turner granted to Goldsmith one hundred acres, in two tracts -eighty acres on the north branch of Newton Creek, and twenty acres evidently at the mouth of the same, as is shown by Thomas Sharp’s map. This last tract was of the land located by Sharp, but, in 1700, appears to be Turner’s. The deed passed from Turner to Goldsmith 30th of Ninth Month, 1687, and was sold by him the next day to Stephen Newby. He purchased eighty acres of land, adjoining his upper lot, of Francis Collins. This increased his tract to one hundred acres, and it is marked on the creek "about as high as the tide flows." The place is still known as Goldsmith’s Field. He built a grist-mill at the place where the present mill of J.J. Schnitzius is located. The land is known as the James Dobbs farm. The remainder of the Goldsmith-Starkey tract of five hundred acres Robert Turner sold, in 1693, to Isaac Hollingsham, whose son Isaac later sold it to Sarah Ellis, widow of Simeon. Her son Joseph settled upon it and in time it passed out of the name, but still remained in the family, and was bought by Jacob Stokes, who, in 1749, married Priscilla Ellis.

Goldsmith appears to have owned other lands, as, in 1693, he sold rights to William Albertson, and, in 1694, land to Nicholas Smith, in 1695 one hundred acres to John Iverson, and in 1697 one hundred acres to Margaret Ivins. This land was all in Newton township, and near the place of his first settlement. He evidently moved from this region, as his name disappears soon after.

Robert Turner, although never a resident of New Jersey, was interested with the first settlers of Newton, and was one of the grantees of the deed made, in April, 1677, for real estate in New Jersey. He was an Irish Quaker, and engaged in merchandising in the city of Dublin. After the grant of the territory of Pennsylvania to William Penn, with whom he was intimately associated, he closed his business in Ireland and removed to Philadelphia in 1683. Mention has been made of his dealings with George Goldsmith; he also purchased other and large tracts of land in the township, parts of which are now in the city of Camden. The land of the Graysburys, on the south side of the main branch of Newton Creek, was located by him, and during the first five years of the settlement he was probably the largest landowner. In 1685, although not resident of the colony, he was chosen a representative of the Third Tenth in the Legislature of West New Jersey. His lands in the township were gradually sold to others, who settled upon them.

In the year 1692 James, Joseph and Benjamin Graysbury, brothers and ship carpenters, came from the Island of Bermuda to Philadelphia, and the next year purchased five hundred acres of land mentioned above of Robert Turner. James died in 1700, and left his share of the estate to his son James and two sisters, who, in 1722, sold their interest to James, who had settled upon it. Joseph, one of the brothers, died without issue, and his interest passed to James, his nephew. In 1720 the children of Benjamin sold their interest in the tract to James. Before the death of the brothers, and in 1696, John Willis, a ship carpenter of Philadelphia, bought fifty acres of the tract. It was at the head of navigation of the branch, and the locality was later known as Atmore’s Dam. John Willis built at the place a small brick house, one and a half stories high, with a hipped roof, small windows and low, narrow doors. The main, road leading from Philadelphia to Egg Harbor, crossed the stream at the place, and the house was used as a tavern by Joseph Kirlee, whose son John, in 1718, sold the property to Thomas Atmore, by whom it was owned until his death, in 1773, when it passed to Caleb Atmore, who, in 1783, sold it to Benjamin Graysbury. The original Graysbury tract includes the late Joseph Few Smith (now William Bettle) estate on the east and other lands westward. The old Graysbury graveyard is on this tract. The Atmore Dam is mentioned in old records and papers, and was built to protect the meadows in the vicinity from overflow by the tides.

Francis Collins, who came to this country about 1678, was a bricklayer of London and a Friend. He was married in 1663, and conducted his business in that city. For his adherence to the principles of the Friends he was imprisoned with many others. The Friends’ Meeting-house in the parish of Stepney, in the city of London, was destroyed by a mob, and in 1675 Francis Collins rebuilt it. In 1677 he, with Richard Mew, of Ratliff and John Bull, of London, both merchants, purchased of Edward Byllynge, certain shares of propriety in New Jersey. He came to this country soon after with his wife and family, composed of a son Joseph and several daughters. He appears to have resided near Burlington, and in 1682 erected the Friends’ Meeting-house in that place, and in the next year built the court-house and market-house, for which he received one thousand acres of land and two hundred pounds in money. The first land taken up by him was in Newton township, and embraced five hundred acres. The survey bears date October 23, 1682. Two days later four hundred and fifty acres adjoining was surveyed in his right. The first tract was located on the west side of the King’s road, and the new part of Haddonfield is built upon it. The next survey was adjoining to the southwest and extended to the south branch of Newton Creek. To secure a landing on Coopers Creek, he located one hundred and seventeen acres, which later he sold to Richard Gray, whose son John, in 1746, conveyed it to Ebenezer Hopkins. It is now mostly owned by the heirs of John E. Hopkins and Joseph C. Stoy. He settled upon the tract, and first located and built a house on the hill south of the village of Haddonfield, and named the homestead "Mountwell." It afterward passed to his son Joseph, by the first wife, and later to Samuel Clement, who erected the house that was destroyed by fire in 1874. The site is now occupied by Reilly’s Seminary. The house when first built was isolated and about five miles from the Newton settlement, and even in the year 1700 Thomas Sharp marked on his map but five houses between Mountwell and Newton.

Francis Collins was active in the political affairs of the colony, and in 1688 was chosen a member of the Assembly to represent the Irish Tenth, and returned in 1684. Upon the election of Samuel Jennings as Governor of the State, in May, 1683, Francis Collins was selected by him as one of his Council. He was in this session also appointed a commissioner to divide lands and to regulate lines.

Upon his return to the Assembly, in 1684, he was selected as one of the judges of the courts of West Jersey, which position he held for several years.

On the 21st December, 1686, Francis Collins married, as his second wife, Mary Goslin, a daughter of Thomas Budd, and at that time the widow of Dr. John Goslin, of Burlington; later he removed to Northampton, Burlington County, where he died about 1720. His first wife died soon after his settlement in this country, leaving him six children - Joseph, Sarah, Rebecca, Priscilla, Margaret and Elizabeth. He owned large tracts of land and, from time to time, conveyed portions to his children. Sarah married Dr. Robert Dimsdale and settled on Dimsdale Run, a branch of Rancocas Creek, in Burlington County, where her husband erected a large brick house. In 1688 he returned to England and died in 1718, after which his widow returned to Haddonfield and lived until her death, in 1739. In 1714 her father deeded her a tract of four hundred and sixty acres, extending from near Haddonfield southwesterly to the south branch of Newton Creek. April 1, 1725, Sarah Dimsdale sold the tract to Simeon Breach and Caleb Sprague, who, the next year, divided it. It is now the estate of the Hinchmans, Nicholsons, Willits and others.

Of the other daughters of Francis Collins by the first wife, Rebecca married Thomas Briant, Priscilla became the wife of John Hugg and settled on Timber Creek, near Gloucester, Margaret married Elias Hugg and Elizabeth married Josiah Southwick. Joseph, the only son by the first wife, became the owner of the homestead by conveyance, and died in 1741, leaving a son Benjamin and daughters Sarah (married to Simon Ellis), Catherine (married Thomas Ellis) and Rebecca (married to Samuel Clement). Benjamin was a carpenter and resided in Haddonfield and died in 1756. A part of the Mountwell tract was conveyed to him by his father, who, in 1785, conveyed the remainder of the estate, now in the village of Haddonfield, to Samuel and Rebecca Clement.

John Haddon was a Friend and a resident of the parish of St. George, in the county of Surrey, England, a suburb of London, on the east side of the Thames. He was a blacksmith and made anchors. By his industry and economy he accumulated a large estate and became interested in the little colony forming in New Jersey. He purchased, in 1695 or 1696, a right of propriety of Richard Mathews, and in 1698 bought of Thomas Willis, son of John, a tract of five hundred acres lying on the north side of Coopers Creek, embracing Coles Landing, two miles below Haddonfield, which was located 26th of Sixth Month, 1686, by John Willis, which was resurveyed for John Estaugh, attorney for John Haddon, 6th of Twelfth Month, 1707. He also purchased a large tract now lying in the townships of Delaware and Waterford, which is marked on Sharp’s map as containing eight hundred and thiry-eight acres and known as "King’s land." Two hundred acres of this tract was sold in 1717, to William Matlock, and subsequently passed to Richard M. Cooper, and is now owned by his son, Alexander Cooper.

John Haddon had two daughters - Sarah and Elizabeth. The former married Benjamin Hopkins and settled at home. Elizabeth Haddon, however, when nineteen years of age, and in 1701, left her home and friends and came to New Jersey with power of attorney from her father to become his agent in the location, purchase and sale of lands. Francis Collins, a friend of her father, who lived at Mountwell, extended to her the hospitalities of his home. To reach his residence she went to Philadelphia, crossed the river at Daniel Cooper’s Ferry (now Camden) and passed the Willis place, which was to be her future home. It is evident from Thomas Sharp’s map that John Willis had erected a house on the tract, as one is there marked. This house stood at Coles Landing, on the brow of a hill near Coopers Creek, to which she moved in 1701, and gave the place the name of Haddonfield. Before her departure for this country, and at her father’s home, she formed the acquaintance of a young man, John Estaugh, who was then attracting considerable notice as a public speaker among the Friends. He was born at Kelvedon, about fifty miles northeast from London, Second Month 28,1676, and when young embraced the principles of the Friends and was admitted to the ministry when eighteen years of age.

In September, 1700, he was permitted to come to America on a religious visit, and was accompanied by John Richardson. They traveled together through Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania and met at Philadelphia, Elizabeth Haddon at the home of her friends, before she removed to her place at Coles Landing, when the acquaintance formed at home was renewed. She made preparations to occupy her new home, and doubtless enlarged and improved the house in accordance with her means, while John Estaugh, feeling it to be his duty, requested of the Meeting permission to go back to Virginia, which was granted, and he spent some time in that province.

It is probable that John Estaugh ministered to the Friends at Newton Meeting, and his previous acquaintance with Elizabeth Haddon, led him to accept the hospitality of her home, when the association of home and friends in England brought to them many subjects of conversation. It is evident, from subsequent events, that threads of a more subtle power were slowly and gradually winding round him, which impelled him to return to this region, a captive; and, although romance says he was slow in accepting his bonds, he was aided by the fair damsel, Elizabeth Haddon, as beautifully told by the poet, Longfellow, in the story of John Alden and Priscilla, the story told by Longfellow in "Aftermath," and by Mrs. Lydia Maria Child. Whatever the manner of the courtship, the marriage was celebrated on the 1st of the Eighth Month, 1702, at her residence, in the presence of friends and other invited guests. Soon after this event John Estaugh became the attorney of John Haddon, and took charge of his landed interest in New Jersey, which at this time required much time. He also became agent for the Pennsylvania Land Company of London. In 1713 a brick house was built on the Richard Mathews survey, a short distance from the site of the village of Haddonfield, where Samuel Wood now resides, and the new place called "New Haddonfield." The house was larger and much more conveniently arranged, than the first, and better suited to the wealth of the occupants, whose house was open to all. The brick wall now standing is part of that which surrounded the garden, and the large yew-tree in front of the present mansion is said to have been transplanted by Elizabeth Estaugh. The house was destroyed by fire the morning of April 19, 1842.

The father of Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh made a deed of gift to John and Elizabeth, in 1722, of all the Mathews’ survey. John Haddon died the next year, 1723, and left his estate to his children, Benjamin and Sarah Hopkins, and John and Elizabeth Estaugh, his wife having died the year before. John Estaugh was a writer of considerable ability, as in 1744 his writings were printed by Benjamin Franklin. He was also skilled in chemistry and medicine. While on a religious visit to Tortula, in the West Indies, in 1742, he died, and his remains were placed in a brick tomb, which has long since gone to decay. His wife survived him twenty years, and died March 30, 1762, in the eightieth year of her age. She left no children, but adopted Ebenezer Hopkins, a son of her sister Sarah, who came to this country, was educated by, and resided with, Elizabeth Estaugh. He married and settled on a tract of land fronting on Coopers Creek, which his aunt conveyed to him in 1752, known as the "Ann Burr" farm. He died in 1757, and left a wife and seven children, all of whom married in this region, and Elizabeth Estaugh left the bulk of her estate to the children of her nephew, Ebenezer.

About 1799 the tract on which Elizabeth Estaugh first, settled passed to Job Coles, in whose family it still in part remains, and is now owned by Jacob Stokes Coles. The children of Ebenezer and Sarah Hopkins were John E. Haddon, Ebenezer, Elizabeth E., Sarah, Mary and Ann. Ebenezer settled near Haddonfield, on Coopers Creek. His brother, John E., succeeded him, and left the estate to his son, William E. Hopkins, who, in 1795, married Ann, daughter of Griffith Morgan. A dam was built on the run that traversed the tract, and a grist-mill was built in 1789, which has long since been out of use. The property is now in possession of the widow of John E. HopkinS, who was the son of William E. Hopkins.

John Gill was the cousin of Elizabeth Estaugh, and came to this country under her patronage, soon after her arrival, as in 1709 he was appointed administrator of an estate in Newton township. After the death of John Estaugh he became adviser and manager of her estate. In 1714 John Haddon conveyed to him a tract of land containing two hundred and thirty acres in Waterford and Delaware townships, where he is said to have lived. He next resided in Waterford township, at the place where the King’s road crossed Coopers Creek, and near the place which, after 1715, and to the present time, is known as Axford’s Landing. In 1728 John Estaugh deeded to him two tracts of land, one of which, containing eighty-seven acres, was in Haddonfield. It was on the west side of the King’s road, and extended from Coopers Creek to the Methodist Church. In 1732 three other lots were deeded in Haddonfield, the largest of which joined the other land on the southwest, and is about equally divided by Grove Street. The next is now owned by the estates of Rennels Fowler and the devisees of John Clement. The third lot passed to his daughter Hannah, who married Thomas Redman, on which the old Redman mansion formerly stood. Part of this estate remains in the family, and is now owned by the devisees of John Gill, a descendant of the emigrant by that name, who is lately deceased. John Gill came into Newton township to reside about 1722, and lived on the site of the present Gill mansion, and it was on this land that elections were sometimes held. In 1740 he was selected as attorney for the heirs-at-law of Joseph Elkinton, and went to England to prosecute their claim. This occupied his time for several years, and he died in London about 1748. In 1746 he bought of John Cox, also of London, a tract of land on the south side of the south branch of Coopers Creek, about two miles from Haddonfield, and the next year deeded it to his son John, part of which is still in the family and the name.

The Hinchmans were very early settlers in the township, as May 18, 1699, John Hugg and Priscilla Collins, his wife, sold to John Hinchman, of Long Island, one thousand acres of land in Newton township, which extended from near the head of Newton Creek northeasterly toward Haddonfield. His house stood on the north side of the stream, near where the Hurley house now stands. He died in 1721, and John, his son, settled on part of the homestead, now mostly owned by the Willits family. Joseph Hinchman, also a son, settled on part of the estate, and died in 1731. James, also a son, lived on part formerly owned by James S. Hurley. He died in 1750. In 1733 he was appointed one of the judges of the courts of Gloucester County. His sons intermarried with the Thornes, the Harrisons, the Kaighns, the Smiths and the Bisphams, and their descendants are scattered and numerous. Joseph Hinchman, a brother of John, the first of the name to settle in this county, came from Flushing, L.I., in 1708, and purchased a part of his brother’s estate. His house stood on the west side of the King’s road. He died about 1737, and left several children, of whom Thomas, the son, married Sarah Clement, and inherited the estate. He died in 1758, and his property passed to his son Joseph, who was born February 18, 1751, in the old log cabin. The new house was in process of erection when his father died, and is now, after the lapse of more than a hundred years, still used, and is the residence of William C. Hinchman.

The Albertsons were represented in Newton township first by William Albertson, who, May 2, 1682, located a tract of land in Newton township, between the south and middle branch of Newton Creek, and to the junction of the said branches, below the land of William Bates. In 1685 he was a member of the Legislature. In 1692 he purchased a large tract in Gloucester township, where a branch of the family still reside. He resided there but a short time, and moved to Byberry, Pa., and finally to Bucks County, where he died about 1709. In 1698 he deeded the homestead farm in Newton to his Son William, who lived upon it until his death, in 1720. He erected a brick house, which is still standing; a deer park, which covered many acres, was laid out and surrounded by a ditch and bank, which may yet be seen. A race-course also was upon the place. The land passed through four generations of the name to a daughter, Sarah, who married David Henry, in whose descendants a part of the estates is still vested.

Henry Stacy, who lived in Newton township only a few years, came to or near Burlington, soon after 1678, with his father and his wife. In 1683 he located four hundred and ninety acres of land near the head of the middle branch of Newton Creek, east of the Grayburys’ land, and the same year returned to England, where he died in 1689. He left the real estate to his children. It was divided in 1711, and the Newton tract was allotted to a daughter Sarah, the wife of Robert Montgomery.

In 1715 he built a house upon it, and removed from Monmouth County, where he had previously resided. The house stood at a short distance east of the old Philadelphia and Egg Harbor road, which then crossed Newton Creek at Atmores Dam. This survey is now owned by Rhoda Hampton, the Websters, the Nicholsons and others.

Joshua Evans, a public Friend, resided for many years on the farm now owned by Joseph O. Cuthbert. About 1818 this farm was leased to Amos Coxe, who resided there two years, in which time several deaf mutes, with a teacher, were sent from Philadelphia and boarded with him during the summer. For several years after, the place was a resort for them, and many amusing incidents of the unfortunate are related by the old people. In 1824 the Deaf and Dumb Institution of Philadelphia was chartered, and a building was erected on the corner of Eleventh and Market Streets, where the Bingham House now stands, and sufficient room was obtained for comfort.

There are many other families, who, by intermarriage and by purchase, were residents a century ago in what is now Haddon township, but space will not permit us to record them all here. The sketches given above embrace all of the families who settled here before 1700, and from whom the land descended in large part by inheritance. There are very few land-marks left in existence to remind us of those early settlers.

 

AUTOGRAPHS OF EARLY SETTLERS OF NEW TOWNSHIP.

Robert Zane. A first settler. Died 1694. He was one of the most prominent Newton settlers.

Thomas Sharp. The surveyor and chronicler of the first settlers. Died 1729. Had sons Thomas, Isaac and John.

John Gill. Only son of John the emigrant. Died 1794, leaving one son, John.

William Alberson. A first settler. Died 1709. Had sons William, Abraham, Benjamin and Josiah.

Thomas Thackara. A first settler. Died 1702, and left sons, Benjamin and Thomas.

Richard Matthews. Large landed proprietor in old Newton Township. He died in 1696.

Archibald Mickle. A first settler. Died 1706. Had sons John, Samuel, Daniel, Archibald, Isaac, Joseph and James.

John Keighns. A first settler. Died 1724. Had sons John and Joseph.

Elizabeth Estaugh. Daughter of John Haddon and wife of John Estaugh.

John Estaugh. A minister among the Friends. He married Elizabeth Haddon. Died 1742.

John Eastlack, son of Francis the emigrant. Died 1736. Had sons John and Samuel.

John Hinchman. A first settler in Newton. Died 1721. Had sons John, Joseph, Jacob, James and William.

Thomas Hinchman. Son of Joseph the emigrant, who was brother of the above John. Died 1758, leaving one son, Joseph.

Henry Stacy. A first settler. Son of Robert, one of the Yorkshire Commissioners. He returned to London, and died 1689.

THE LOST VILLAGE OF NEWTON. - The first settlers came up Newton Creek and built cabins near together, forming a small village, to which they gave the name Newton. From this the creek and the township took their names. After a little time, finding the Indians in the region peaceable, they each built houses upon their own land, and in consequence the village was soon abandoned, but is mentioned as a town by Gabriel Thomas in 1698, and by the clerk of county much later. The latter recorded a license to keep a tavern "near Newtown." In 1684 the Friends’ Meeting-house was built. The village after this time become practically unknown, and its very site is lost, though it is supposed to be on the north side of the middle branch of Newton Creek, a short distance from its mouth and near the old grave-yard.

THE OLD NEWTON FRIENDS’ MEETING. - Among the first Friends to settle within the precincts of old Newton were William Cooper and Richard Arnold. At once Friends’ Meetings were held in the house of one or the other of them. At Burlington Monthly Meeting, held Seventh Month (September) 6, 1681, it was "ordered that Friends of Pyne Poynte (Cooper’s Point) have a meeting on every Fourth Day, to begin at the 2d hour, at Richard Arnold’s house." At a General Meeting held at Salem, Second Month (April) 11, 1682, it was ordered "That a six weeks’ men’s and women’s meeting for the ordering of the affairs of the Church be kept the 24th of the 3d Month (May), at Wm. Coopers, at Pyne Point, and the next six weeks’ meeting at Shackamaxon and So in Course." It was also ordered at the same time that a Monthly Meeting for worship be held alternately in the same way; the first one to be at William Cooper’s. Thus was established the Newton Meeting. In the spring of 1682 a few Irish Friends, who had spent the winter in Salem, moved up to and settled about Newton Creek. Thomas Sharp, one of their number; in his account of their early settlement, says: "In 1684 the Friends in the vicinity of Newton, desirous of erecting a house of worship, selected a lot of land on the bank of the middle branch of Newton Creek, containing about two acres, it being on the bounds of land of Mark Newby and Thomas Thackara, which was laid out for a burial-ground, and at the west end a log meeting-house was erected." William Bates, who, it will be remembered as mentioned heretofore, was a carpenter, also planned and executed the work.

The burying-ground was used many years, and many of the first families are at rest within its limits. It is inclosed by a brick wall, and is overgrown by low trees and vines. The first trustees of the meeting and property were Benjamin Thackara, William Cooper and William Albertson, who continued until 1708, when they were succeeded by Thomas Sharp, John Kaighn, Joseph Cooper and John Kay. In this old meeting-house the town-meetings and elections were held for several years. A part of the Thackara estate passed to James and Joseph Sloan prior to 1790, and much trouble arose between them and the Friends in relation to boundaries of the meeting-house property. In 1811 Joseph Sloan abandoned his claim, and in 1819 James Sloan released his interest to the trustees of the meeting. The erection of other meeting-houses and the removal of Friends from the vicinity gradually withdrew interest in the society, and little attention was paid to the old house and grounds where the first meeting of Friends in Gloucester County was held, and according to Joseph Hinchman’s journal, on the 22d of December, 1817, the meeting-house, around which clustered many interesting associations, was destroyed by fire, and no effort was made to rebuild it.

In 1791 James Sloan, a Friend, laid out one acre of ground north of the old burying-ground, and inclosed it with a low wall. A stone with the following inscription is placed in the wall:

"Here is no distinction, 
Rich and Poor meet together,
The Lord is maker of them all.
By James Sloan, 1791."

For many years roads were few and almost impassable, except on horseback, and carriages and wheeled vehicles were not in use. The streams were used for travel, and all the early burials were made in Newton burying-ground. The funeral party moved from the house to the nearest stream, where they took barges and boats and floated to Newton Creek and up to the burying-ground. In the "Early Settlers of Newton," an account is given of a funeral in 1708, which is of interest in this connection. Esther Spicer, the widow of Samuel Spicer, resided on the homestead property, in what is now Stockton township. She was killed by lightning on the 24th of Seventh Month, 1708. "The funeral occurred the night after her decease, the family and friends going in boats down Coopers Creek to the river, and by the river to Newton Creek, and thence to the Newton grave-yard, the place of interment. Each boat being provided with torches, the scene must have been picturesque indeed. To the colonist it was a sad spectacle when they saw one so much esteemed among them borne to her last resting-place. To the Indians it was a grand and impressive sight. Arasapha, the chief; and others of his people attended the solemn procession in their canoes, thus showing their respect for one the cause of whose death struck them with awe and reverence. The deep dark forests that stood close down to the shores of the streams almost rejected the light as it came from the burning torches of pine carried in the boats; and, as they passed under the thick foliage, a shadow was scarcely cast upon the water. The colonists in their plain and unassuming apparel, the aborigines clad in gaudy and significant robes, and the negro slaves, as oarsmen, must have presented from the shore a rare and striking picture. Here, all undersigned, was the funeral of a Friend, in which ostentation and display are always avoided, made one of the grandest pageants that the fancy could imagine, a fertile subject for the artist and well deserving an effort to portray its beauty."

Interments were made in this yard for many years, but when the Friends’ Meeting was established at Haddonfield and a burial-ground there laid out, many families changed to that place.

The following is a list of the marriages of Friends who were members or who married members of the old Newton Meeting -extending from 1684 to 1719:

1684. - James Atkinson, of Philadelphia, to Hannah Newbie widow of Mark, of Newton.

1686. - John Ladd to Sarah Wood.

1686. - Walter Forrest to Ann Albertson; Thomas Shable to Alice Stalles; Samuel Toms to Rachel Wood.

1687. - Joshua Frame, of Pennsylvania, to Abigail Bates; William Clark to Mary Heritage.

1688. - John Hugg, son of John, to Priscilla Collins, daughter of Francis; Joseph Cooper to Lydia Riggs.

1689. - Thomaa Thackara to Hepsibah Eastlack; Thomas Willard to Judith Wood, daughter of Henry.

1691. - John Butcher to Mary Heritage.

1692. - Simeon Ellis to Sarah Bates, daughter of William.

1693. - Daniel Cooper to Abigail wood, daughter of Henry.

1695. - Daniel Cooper to Sarah Spicer, daughter of Samuel; William Sharp to Jemima Eastlack, daughter of Francis; Joseph Nicholson, son of Samuel, to Hannah Wood, daughter of Henry; Isaac Decou to Rachel Newbie, daughter of Mark.

1699. - Thomas Thacksra to Ann Parker, of Philadelphia.

1701. - Joseph Bates to Mercy Clement, daughter of James.

1702. - John Estaugh to Elizabeth Haddon.

1703. - Stephen Newbie to Eliiabeth wood, daughter of Henry.

1704. - John Mickle, son of Archibald, to Hannah Cooper, daughter of William, Jr.

1705. - Josiah Southwick to Elizabeth Collins, daughter of Franis.

1706. - Joseph Brown to Mary Spice; daughter of Samuel; Edward Newbie to Hannah Chew.

1707. - Benjamin Wood to Mary Kay, daughter of John; Benjamin Thackara to Mary Cooper, daughter of William, Jr.

1707. - John Hallowell, of Darby, to Elizabeth Sharp, daughter of Thomas; John Kay, son of John, to Sarah Langstone.

1708. - Samuel Mickle to Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of Joseph; Ezekiel Siddons, son of John, to Sarah Mickle.

1709. -Simeon Breach to Mary Dennis; John Harvey to Sarah Hasker; Robert Braddock to Elizabeth Hancock, daughter of Timothy.

1710. - Thomas Bull to Sarah Nelson; William Harrison to Ann Hugg, daughter of John; Thomas Middleton to Mercy Allen; Joseph Stokes, son of Thomas, to Judith Lippincott, daughter of Freedom; Thomas Sharp to Catherine Hollingsham.

1711. - Thomas Smith to Sarah Hancock, daughter of Timothy; Jonathan Haines, son of John, to Mary Matlack, daughter of William; Daniel Mickle to Hannah Dennis; Samuel Dennis to Ruth Lindall; Thomas Lippincott, son of Freedom, to Mary Haines, daughter of John.

1712. - Abraham Brown to Hannah Adams, Jr.

1714. -Joseph Dole to Hannah Somers; John Hugg to Elizabeth Newbie; John Cox to Lydia Cooper, daughter of Joseph.

17l6. - John Adamson to Ann Skew: Francis Richardson to Sarah Cooper; Thomas Robinson to Sarah Lowe; William Sharp to Mary Austin, daughter of Francis.

1717. - Alexander Morgan, son of Griffith, to Hannah Cooper, daughter of Joseph.

1718. - Benjamin Cooper, son of Joseph, to Rachel Mickle; Thos. Rakestraw to Mary Wilkinson, daughter of Thomas; Samuel Sharp to Martha Hall; John Gill to Mary Heritage.

1719. - John Sharp to Jane Fitchardall; Thomas Eyere to Priscilia Hugg; Joseph Gibson to Elizabeth Tindall.

SCHOOLS. - The first school in the limits of Haddon township was, without doubt, held in the old Newton Meeting-house, built in 1684, and the next was in the Haddonfield Meeting-house, built in 1722. The first authentic record of a schoolhouse is found in a road record bearing date March, 1783, wherein mention is made of a schoolhouse as being situated on land of William Bates. The old William Bates tract was on the south side of Newton Creek, opposite lands of Mark Newby and Thomas Thackara and the Newton Meeting-house.

The school-house on the "Meeting-house Lot," in Haddonfield, was built in 1787. In 1794 a school-house was situated near Camden, on the Haddonfield road, near Marmaduke Cooper’s house. A school-house was built near the Newton Meeting-house before 1807, as mention is made of it in that year.

On Hill’s map of 1809, surveys for which were made from 1801 to 1807, three school-houses are indicated. One stood on the Ferry road, near what is now Collingswood, and was known as the Barton School; another was on the Salem road, a short distance east of the spot where that road crosses the south branch of Newton Creek; another was represented as being on the road from Camden to Chews Landing, a short distance below the middle branch of Newton Creek, on the old Thomas Sharp survey. In 1809 the Grove School-house was built at Haddonfield.

There are at present in Haddon township four school districts, - Champion, No. 10; Westmont, No. 11; Haddon, No. 12; and Mt. Ephraim, No. 13. The last-mentioned is largely in Centre township, and the school-house is within its limits.

The population of Haddon township, exclusive of the borough of Haddonfield, for 1885 was one thousand three hundred and twenty-one. The account of the railroads that intersect the township will be found in the article on "Public Internal Improvements of the General History," in this work.

THE CAMDEN AND PHILADELPHIA RACE-COURSE. - In the year 1835 William R. Johnson, Andrew Beime, John D. Kirby, Otway P. Hare and William N. Friend, sporting gentlemen, residing in the State of Virginia, purchased of Samuel C. Champion a farm in Newton township, about three miles from Camden, preparatory to establishing a race-track on the same. Measures were at once taken to this end, and during the next year the whole work was finished. A large hotel, a grand stand, stables and other necessary buildings were built. The track of one mile was carefully laid out, graded and graveled, and a high board fence put around the whole. It was known as the "Philadelphia and Camden RaceCourse," and, being between Baltimore and Long Island, drew together the best horses in the country. The spring and fall meetings were great events among gentlemen of the turf, and stables met there from Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, as well as from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Thousands of people crossed the ferries from Philadelphia, and many were attracted there from all the country round. Colonels William B. Johnson and Bailey Peyton, Doctor McClellan, General Irvine, William Gibbons and the Van Marten, with many others of like reputation, were always present at the races, and their opinions of the merits of a horse were eagerly sought after by betting men. A hint from one of these, especially Colonel Johnson, as to the condition or merit of a horse, generally showed itself on the field or in the betting-rooms, and those interested were seldom deceived. Fashion, Peytona, Lady Clifton, Atlanta, Boston, Mingo, Blue Dick, Decatur, Bennetts o’ Blue and some others were among the first class, with any number of fillies and colts to fill the second and third classes.

The "four-mile" day always filled the grandstand, and covered the field with carriages and vehicles of every kind. Ladies were never scarce, and entered into the sport and betting with as much zeal and spirit as their escorts. Occasionally some steady-going farmer of the neighborhood would lose his head, bet his money on the race, and leave the ground a wiser man, thinking that among the uncertain things of this world horse-flesh might be included.

The cups and ball man, or "the boy with the little joker" generally drew about him a wondering crowd, and industriously plied his calling "between the heats," fleecing the verdant, ones who stood around and thought it was the easiest thing in the world to win. The player would occasionally lose a small amount to a confederate, only to entrap some unsuspecting one and defraud him of his money.

Every appliance for gambling could be seen, attended by drunkenness and debauchery to the last degree. The argument that the improvement of the breed of horses was the object had no weight when morality and good government were considered.

Very soon the better class of citizens took the necessary steps to abate it, and meetings were held to express public opinion on this subject. Petitions were largely signed and efforts made to procure a general law against horse-racing in the State. This met with a determined opposition, but was at last brought about, much to the relief of the people in this vicinity.

Being found unprofitable to the owners, evidence of decay was already seen in the buildings and grounds, and it gradually lost its popularity as a place of resort. The rowdy element at last predominated, and lowered the standard of respectability which at first surrounded the place. The original proprietors withdrew and rented the premises to others less careful of its reputation, which made it still more unpopular.

The sporting community of 1845 was greatly excited at the meeting of two celebrated horses - Peytona and Fashion - at the Long Island race-course, and where Fashion, "the queen of the turf" was beaten. Within the next month the same animals were again brought together on the Camden and Philadelphia track, when and where Fashion won back her laurels, so unexpectedly taken from her.

The great contest of years ago between Eclipse and Sir Henry (the North against the South), at Long Island, created no more interest than this match, and the admirers of the "little mare" were glad of a chance for a second race. The event filled every available space with anxious spectators, and during the first heat the grand stand gave way, and many persons were injured.

But little racing took place there after that time, and in January, 1847; William R. Johnson conveyed the property to Samuel Bettle, who, during the next year, removed every building devoted to the previous uses, and restored the land again to agricultural purposes. The hotel stood fronting the Camden and White Horse turnpike, and near the site of the present residence of the Hon. Edward Bettle, and was a large and imposing edifice. The track lay to the east of the hotel, with two circular and two straight "quarters," and extended to the residence of William Bettle, Esq. The estate is now divided between and occupied by the two last-named gentlemen.

COLLINGSWOOD. - Collingswood is on the Robert Turner tract, which some time later came to Jacob Stokes. The old Ferry road, or Camden and Haddonfield turnpike, passes through it. The houses standing on or near the site prior to its beginning were the old Barton house and the Barton school-house, and about one mile from it, on the Collings or Gloucester road, formerly stood a Baptist Church, which was built in 1843 and dedicated November 30th, Rev. J.E. Welch preaching the dedicatory sermon, and the congregation was served first by Rev. John Sisty, of Haddonfield. Rev. Charles Sexton was pastor for several years and was succeeded by Rev. Walter Potter, who was the last regular pastor. Services were abandoned several years ago and the building is now used as a dwelling-house. About three-quarters of a mile away stand the Newton Mills, now owned by J. J. Schnitzius. The old Barton schoolhouse was built before 1809 and was abandoned many years ago. The present school-house was built about five years ago.

Stonetown, a hamlet on the turnpike near by, is a collection of twenty dwellings, built by Isaiah Stone, who about 1850 purchased a small tract of land of the Cooper estate and built a few dwellings. A meeting-house was built at this place under the auspices of the Methodists, about 1858, by the Rev. Mr. Felty. It was used several years and then abandoned for regular service and is now the property of Edward C. Knight. A Sunday-school has been kept for several years by Richard T. Collings. The old Barton house, about 1860, was changed into a tavern and kept by Theodore Zimmerman, who, in 1861, enlisted in the army. The tavern was then kept for a time by a Mr. Woods and later by Mahlon V. Van Voskirk for many years, and who is yet in possession of it. Collingswood was made a station in 1871 and a fine depot was built in the spring of 1885. A store building was erected in 1882 by J. Stokes Collings and a store opened, which is still kept by him. In the fall of 1885 another was erected by Elmer E. McGill, in which he established business and soon after sold to H.T. Tatem and T.H. Ashton. A drug store has been recently opened. A tract of forty acres of land was recently purchased by Richard T. Collings, Elmer E. McGill and others of William T. Tatem, lying south of the railroad and fronting on the Collings or Gloucester road, which has been laid out into streets and lots. Fifteen or twenty lots are now sold and a number of cottages will be erected the present season (1886). A post-office was established a few years ago, with J. Stokes Collings as postmaster.

WESTMONT. - The village of Westmont lies between Collingswood and Haddonfield, and was formerly called Rowandtown, from the family of Rowands, that over a hundred years ago owned the farm on which it is situated. John Rowand was a blacksmith and had a shop at the place, and Jacob Rowand later opened a store, which after a few years was closed, and later opened by Dayton Deval. It was made a flag station on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad and named Glenwood, and later the name was changed to Westmont. Thomas Anderson kept a wheelwright shop at the place many years. A school-house is situated in the town. A religious society was organized in 1883 under the name of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Rev. T.W. Wilkinson was the first pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. T.W. Bromley, the present pastor. Dr. J.N. Hobensack, son of Dr. J.B. Hobensack, is laying out lots in the town, which is growing quite rapidly and bids fair to be a thriving village.

A short distance from the town of Westmont James Flinn & Co., in 1872, established the Crystal Lake Paint and Color Works, for the manufacture of white lead, zinc, ready-mixed paints and all colored paints. The works are in operation, under the name of the Westmont Paint Works.

About twenty years since, David U. Morgan ventured in a new enterprise of manufacture, and established himself in Haddon township about one mile from Cuthbert’s Station on the line of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad in the preparation of the finer qualities of paper for use by photographers, which has developed into a success. He imports from France the quality of paper needed, and by a chemical preparation of albumen - known to himself - produces a material popular among that class of artists. His reputation for this kind of goods is extensive, and he competes with the German producers. Previous to this he had, while residing in Philadelphia, made a series of experiments which culminated in the business now pursued by him.

He has reclaimed the marsh land bounding on Coopers Creek, by banking, and secured many acres of valuable meadow, a thing seldom done in these days. He is a son of David B. and Hannah (French) Morgan, and was born at Chews Landing.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

J. OGDEN CUTHBERT. - The family of Cuthbert trace their origin from the county of Northumbria, in the north of England. The name is variously known as Cubbert, Colbert and Quivert in the Erse language. The bishop of Lindisfern, in the time of King Alfred, was of the family, and by reason of revolution about the time of the death of the bishop, the family and kindred were obliged to seek refuge in Inverness, Scotland, where they were under the patronage of King Alfred. For their services they were granted the freedom of being burgesses and the rights of the lands of Drakies in vassalage, which they still possess. This influence induced the Baron of Dacies to give the vassalage of the lands of Mackery, which also they hold. It was long after and about 950 that they obtained from the King, in recompense for their constant and distinguished services, the lands that comprise the barony of Castlehill, which they obtained as a royal holding, in fee with a fortified castle under the burden of a subject to military service.

Prior to the eleventh century the family was known simply by the name of George, such surnames only being used in the Highlands. In the time of the invasion of Edward I. the family chose for an armorial bearing a "Quiver in pale azure, armed Gules in a field Or," as being the most expressive symbol of their wisdom.

After peace was declared, the family took for a crest a naked hand, holding an olive branch, and for a motto "Perit and Recte," and in the twelfth century the family were known as Quivert or Quibert, with, for the chief, the patronymic MacGeorge.

Upon the union of the Highland clans under the name of Scots, the Pict language became the language of the court, state and Parliament. The family then obtained the name of Cuthbert or Cudbert, from cuth, which signifies skill, and bert, illustrious, which name the bishop of Lindisfern received in the Erse language as Quivert.

Part of the family went to England and France, and passed under the name of Colbert. One of the family came to Cork, from whom, the family in this country descended. In the early part of the eighteenth century Thomas Cuthbert emigrated from Ireland and settled in Philadelphia; other members of the family, who emigrated about the same time, settled in the South and Canada, where their descendants are numerous. Thomas had a large family of children, one of whom, Anthony, was born in Philadelphia in 1750. He was educated in that city and married there. He joined the army in the Revolution and was lieutenant in Captain Moulder’s Company of Artillery and received a captain’s commission April 15, 1780, and was placed in command of the Smith Company of Artillery. While absent in the army his property in the city was destroyed by the British. He was one of the committee appointed to build the Market Street bridge. He received as his reward for faithful performance of this duty a silver pitcher and resolution of thanks. He was for many years a member of Select Council and chosen by the united action of both parties, so faithful was he to the interests in his charge.

He was one of the committee chosen to erect Fairmount water-works. He was twice married, and his last wife was Mary Ogden, daughter of Joseph Ogden. He died in 1832. Their children were J. Ogden, Allen, Samuel, George, Elizabeth Mary and Lydia. J. Ogden, now of Haddon township, is the only surviving brother. Elizabeth, married Algernon S. Roberts; Lydia became the wife of Joseph M. Thomas, both of whom resided in Philadelphia, and are deceased.

J. Ogden Cuthbert was born in Philadelphia, September 23, 1800. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to Joseph and Samuel Keen to learn the trade of currier. After serving his time his father purchased for him a farm in West Philadelphia, which he still owns. In 1850 he bought the farm on the Old Ferry road, Haddon township, Camden County, on which he now lives. He was married to Elizabeth S. Coles; daughter of Kendall Coles, April 3, 1823. Their children were Mary C., Anthony (deceased), Joseph Ogden, Jr., Allen and Henry C. The children are settled in the county and are all well-known and respected. J. Ogden Cuthbert has always been of a retiring disposition, preferring the quiet of home to the more stirring events of political life. He has followed farming since the close of his apprenticeship, and is now, at the age of eighty-six, hale and vigorous. A golden wedding was celebrated in 1873, and a few months after Mrs. Cuthbert died. He is in religion an Episcopalian, and has held the position of warden of Grace Church, Haddonfield, for over thirty years. His son, Henry C., was a member of 32d Regt., Pa. Vols, Starr’s Battery, Co. "L," during the late war.

 

* The date here given is in the old style, and in accordance with the present calendar the date is January 14, 1682, as the year 1681 did not end until March 25th.

** The east line of this tract was not definitely settled until 1705, when Samuel Clement ran the head-lines of the old townships of Gloucester County, which eventually became the boundary line of Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester Counties.

SOURCE:  Page(s) 636-654, History of Camden County, New Jersey, by George R. Prowell, L.J. Richards & Co. 1886
Published 2010 by the Camden County Genealogy Project