The Township of Stockton

Its Separation from Delaware - Jurisdiction over River Islands - Early Settlement - The Coles, Spicers, Woods, Willards, Nicholsons, Morgans, Rudderows, Fishs, Horners, Brownings, Starns, Oslers and others - Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church - Old Taverns - Schools - Fisheries - Pavonia - Wrightsville - Cramer Hill - Dudley - Merchantville - Stockton - Delair -Manufacturing Interests.

 

[NOTE:  Stockton Township was a township that existed in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, from 1859 until its dissolution in 1899. Stockton Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1859, from portions of Delaware Township (now Cherry Hill Township). On March 3, 1874, the borough of Merchantville was formed from portions of the township. Pennsauken Township was established on February 18, 1892. Stockton was reincorporated as a town on May 1, 1894, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1894. On March 24, 1899, the remaining portion of Stockton was annexed by the City of Camden, thereby forming "East Camden" and its constituent neighborhoods of Cramer Hill, Pavonia, Beideman, Stockton, etc. Stockton Township was dissolved.]

 

THIS township lies on the Delaware and extends eastward between Coopers Creek and Pensaukin Creek. It was taken from Delaware township by act of Legislature approved February 23, 1859; the dividing line was declared as beginning at a point in Coopers Creek at a corner to the farms of Joshua Barton & Bro. and Hewlings Haines and following the line of Barton’s farm to a corner in the Whiskey road, near the village of Homesteadville; thence diverging in a straight line to a corner in the Moorestown turnpike in the centre of the crossing of the Sorrel Horse and Haddonfield roads; thence along the turnpike to the county line. In the spring of 1859 the committees of the two townships met at the hotel of Benjamin Martin and organized by electing Joseph A. Burroughs chairman and Benjamin W. Cooper secretary, and agreed upon the following article of settlement:

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIPS OF STOCKTON AND DELAWARE.

     "Articles of agreement made and entered into between the town committees of the townships of Stockton and Delaware, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, entitled an act to establish a new township in the county of Camden, to be called the township of Stockton. We, the undersigned town committees of the said townships of Stockton and Delaware, this fourteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, at the house of Benjamin Martin, in the said township of Stockton, having proceeded to ascertain the proportions of taxes assessed in each part of the township of Delaware, that now constitutes the townships of Stockton and Delaware, find that two-fifths of the taxes assessed as aforesaid was assessed in that part which constitutes the township of Stockton and that three-fifths were assessed in that part which now constitutes the township of Delaware, and we find and ascertain that there is an indebtedness for which the two townships aforesaid are liable amounting to the sum of seven hundred and fifty-nine dollars and fifty-six cents, of which the township of Stockton shall pay the sum of two hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ninety-one cents and the township of Delaware the sum of four hundred and forty-nine dollars and seventy-three cents; and we find that there are two grave-yards, and that the one located in the township of Stockton shall belong to the township of Stockton, and the one, located in the township of Delaware shall belong to the township of Delaware. We also find the following township property to be divided as the taxes, viz.: The town-house valued at $200.00. The pound, $10.00. Road-scrapers, $20.00. Dirt machines, $11.00. Books, $11.00. Total, $252.00. The two-fifths of the above property belonging to the township of Stockton is $100.80, and the three-fifths belonging to the township of Delaware is $151.20.
     "There are tax warrants in the hands of E.H. Fowler, Constable, on which a part may probably be collected, and such sums as may be collected are to be divided in the same proportion as the other property. The indebtedness of the township of Stockton to the township of Delaware is $299.91. The share of the above said township of Stockton in the above-mentioned property, $100.80 being deducted, leaves $199.11, to which is added the value of one road-scraper, $5.00, making the balance of the indebtedness $204.11.

"Committee of Stockton township.
"William Folwell.
Benjamin W. Cooper.
Josiah Starn.
Benjamin Horner.
Thomas P. Clement.

Committee of Delaware township.
Asa R. Lippincott.
Joseph C. Stafford.
Job B. Kay.
Joseph A. Burrough.
Isaac W. Nicholson.

"A true copy,

"SAMUEL B. GITHENS, Clerk.

PETTYS’ ISLAND.¹ - In 1848 the question of jurisdiction over the islands on the Delaware River was agitated, and the following preamble and resolutions were adopted at the annual township meeting:
     "Whereas, by an act of Legislature of this State, passed November 26, 1783, entitled an act to annex the several islands situated in the river Delaware belonging to this State, to the respective counties and townships to which they lie nearest; it is provided said islands shall hereafter be deemed and considered as part and parcels of such counties and townships to which islands or insulated dry lands do or doth lie nearest, except Petty’s, which shall be annexed to the township of Newton, in the county of Gloucester; and whereas, the said township of Newton as at present constituted, has no part on the river Delaware within two miles of Pettys’ Island, but said island lies opposite the township of Delaware. Therefore be it resolved, by the inhabitants of the township of Delaware, in the county of Camden, in town meeting assembled, that application be made to the next Legislature of this State for a law to annex Pettys’ Island to this township, where it legitimately and of right belongs.
     "Resolved, That the township committee be and they are hereby instructed to lay the foregoing preamble and resolutions before the next Legislature and use all honorable means to procure the passage of a law such as mentioned above.
     "Resolved, That the foregoing resolution and preamble be signed by the moderator and attested by the clerk.

"Attest, JOHN RUDDEROW, Clerk.

"CHARLES KNIGHT, Moderator.

Nothing further appears to have been done in the matter until the next year, when Joseph Kay, Benjamin W. Cooper and Charles Knight were appointed a committee to go to Trenton and secure the necessary legislation; in this they must have been very successful, as the jurisdiction of the township was extended over the island, and in 1859, when the township of Stockton was created, the island was conceded to it and still remains a part of that township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT. - The first settlement by the whites within the limits of Stockton township was made at the mouth of Pensaukin Creek, where Eriwomac, an Indian, was then chief over a small body of Indians. Charles I., of England, in 1634, granted to Sir Edmund Ployden the territory lying between New England and Maryland. A vessel commanded by Captain Young, a nephew of Robert Evelin (afterwards famous as the author of the account of "New Albion," published in 1642 and 1648), and thirteen traders, about the same time, went to Virginia, and in the same year, 1634, came up the Delaware and settled at the mouth of Pensaukin Creek and built there a fort, which they named Fort Eriwomac, after the Indian Chief. They remained at the place four years. In 1636 Sir Edmund Ployden sent out to the "Province of New Albion" Beauchamp Plantagenet, who sailed up the Delaware River sixty miles and did not reach Fort Eriwomac, where Captain Young and Robert Evelin had set up a fort and government and were patiently waiting for Sir Edmund to come over from England to take formal possession of the province.

In 1637, tired of waiting, Evelin and his men abandoned the settlement and went down the river and near what is now Salem, they found Plantagenet, who had settled there and had sent a glowing account of the province to Earl Ployden. The Earl came over in 1641, but the settlement of Fort Eriwomac was not again made by the English under the Earl. Soon after 1637 Bogot, a pioneer of Minuet’s colony of Swedes, settled, with a few Swedish founders, upon the site of the fort, where a few of them remained until the title passed to the proprietors, in 1664. Bogot held out inducements to settlers by insisting that a gold mine was in the vicinity, which was laid down in early maps as being near Rancocas Creek. This project failed and the settlement was again abandoned.

The first location in the limits of this township made under the proprietors was one of five hundred acres of land embracing the site of Fort Eriwomac, at the mouth of Pensaukin Creek. This was granted to Samuel Jennings (afterwards the first Governor of New Jersey). Some of the Swedish founders living farther up the stream, in what is now Burlington County, remained under the proprietors, purchased lands and some of their descendants, in after-years, drifted into what is now Stockton township. The Toys, Fishs, Stones, Wallaces and others are descendants of the early Swedish families. William Cooper, who, in 1682, settled at Pyne Point (Coopers), was from Coles Hill, England. At the same place lived Samuel Coles, a haberdasher and hatter and an old friend and neighbor of William Cooper.

In 1677 he purchased part of a share of propriety in West Jersey of the trustees of Edward Byllynge, and in March, 1682, with his wife, Elizabeth, and two children, he emigrated to America, and doubtless came at once to the home of his old friend and neighbor, William Cooper. He located five hundred acres of land on the north side of Coopers Creek, opposite the tract of his friend and extending up the Delaware River. The land was surveyed to him on the 13th day of the Third Month (May), 1682, and in that year he cleared a small tract and erected a house, where he settled, but lived in it a short time, for in the latter part of the same year he sold one hundred acres and the house to Henry Wood, who at once came there to reside. He probably built upon the remaining portion, as he remained there a few years. In 1683 he was chosen to represent the Third Tenth in the Legislature of New Jersey, and in 1685 was appointed one of the commissioners to fix the line between Burlington and Gloucester Counties.

In the year 1687 he conveyed the remainder of the tract to Samuel Spicer, and having purchased, in 1685, four hundred acres of land of Jeremiah Richards, on Pensaukin Creek, near the property of William Matlack and Timothy Hancock, now in Delaware township, which he named "New Orchard" (now Colestown) and to which place he moved and purchased other tracts adjoining. A few years later business required his attention in England and he visited his native country. On his return the vessel stopped at the Island of Barbadoes, where was a settlement of Friends. At this place he was taken sick and died.

A learned writer says: "The extended distance of the voyage and consequent delay therefrom not being known to the wife, she made frequent visits to Philadelphia to meet her husband and welcome him to his family again. Tradition says that she would stand for hours by the water’s edge looking anxiously down the river for the sail that would bring the father of her children. These visits and watchings at last attracted the attention of a young mariner who frequented the port, and who was not long in discovering the cause of her anxiety. Sympathizing with her, he extended his inquiries on her behalf and at last discovered that her husband had died on his return. Her grief for this sad bereavement entered his feelings, and finding that she was about to return home alone in her boat, he offered to accompany her and manage the same. This offer she accepted and he sailed the craft up the river to Pensaukin Creek and thence nearly to her residence, thus bearing the sad news to her children and neighbors. This man was Griffith Morgan, who, after a proper interval of time, sailed his own skiff up the creek to offer his consolations to the widow and to interest himself about her children and estate. This solicitude soon assumed another shape and culminated in the marriage of Griffith Morgan and Elizabeth Cole. Samuel Coles left two children, - Samuel and Sarah - from whom the family of the name in this region have descended."

Among the many of the name of Wood who emigrated to New Jersey about the time of the settlement under the proprietor was Henry Wood, who came to this place from Newport, R.I., and on the 4th of September, 1682, purchased of Samuel Coles a tract of one hundred acres of land on the north side of Coopers Creek, adjoining the land subsequently sold to Samuel Spicer. The deed describes the place as "situate at Arwawmasse, in West Jersey; also the dwelling-house or tenement which he, the said Samuel, inhabiteth, with the folds, yards, etc., excepting one cow-house." The farm fronted on Coopers Creek and the Delaware River, and was named by him "Hopewell." He was a member of the Assembly in 1683 -84, and in the latter year was appointed commissioner for laying out land, and in 1685 for opening highways. In 1683 he purchased three hundred and fifty acres of land on the north side of and fronting Coopers Creek, and in 1686 sold it to Mathew Burden, who was a resident of Portsmouth, R.I., and a connection of Henry Wood. In 1711 Richard Burden, a son of Mathew, conveyed the land to John Coxe, and later part of it was included in the farm of Abraham Browning. Henry Wood died in April, 1681, leaving as children Henry, James, Richard, Judith (who married Thomas Willard in 1689), Abigail (who married Daniel Cooper, a son of William, in 1693), Hannah (who married Joseph Nicholson in 1695), Elizabeth (who married Stephen Newbie, son of Mark, in 1703) and Benjamin (who married Mary Kay, daughter of John, in 1707). The homestead, in 1699, came to Joseph Nicholson, who lived adjoining from James Wood, a grandson of Henry. At the time of Henry Wood’s death he was in possession of considerable land near the homestead tract, which was divided among his children. His son Henry died in 1754, single, and left his portion to his brothers and sisters. Benjamin purchased the home farm on which Joseph Nicholson had lived, and upon his death, in 1738, left it to his son Henry, who devised it to his son Henry, who sold part of it, February 1, 1788, to Samuel Haines, who died in 1789, and John Haines and Dr. John H. Stokes, his executors, sold one hundred and eighty-four acres of it to Daniel Cooper. Henry, at his death in 1814, left three hundred and sixty-eight acres to his two sons, Henry and Zachariah. He died June 18, 1814, aged fifty-six years. His wife, Hannah, survived him and died August 23, 1856, aged eighty-seven years. Zachariah died May 5, 1847, aged fifty-four years. Other children of Benjamin Wood, who died in 1738, were Mary (who married Joseph Coles and Richard Matlack), Hannah, Abigail, Benjamin, John, Judith and Jane.

 

AUTOGRAPHS OF SETTLERS IN STOCKTON (OLD WATERFORD) TOWNSHIP.

Samuel Coles. A first settler. Died at Barbadoes, 1692 -93, and left one son, Samuel.

William Cooper. A first settler. Died 1710. Had sons William, Joseph and Daniel.

Samuel Spicer. A first settler. Died 1692. Had sons Abraham, Jacob, Thomas and Samuel.

Esther Spicer. Daughter of John and Mary Tilton, of Gravesend, and wife of Samuel Spicer. She was killed by lightning in 1703.

Thomas Spicer. Third son of Samuel and Esther the emigrants. Died 1759. Had sons Jacob, Thomas and Samuel.

John Kay. A first settler. Died 1742. Had sons John, Isaac, Josiah, Benjamin and Joseph.

Henry Wood. A first settler. Died 1691. Had sons Henry, James, Richard and Benjamin.

Thomas Williams. Married Judith, daughter of Henry Wood. Died 1734. Had sons James, Henry and Thomas.

Samuel Nicholson. A first settler of Salem. Died 1685. Had sons Samuel, Abel and Joseph, who settled in Stockton.

Alexander Morgan. Only son of Griffith the emigrant. Died 1751. Had sons Joseph, Benjamin and Isaac.

Simeon Ellis. A first settler of Ellisburg. Died 1715. Had sons Thomas, Joseph, William Simeon and Jonathan.

Robert Turner. A first settler and wealthy operator in lands sold to Kaign, Mickle and others.

The land purchased by Henry Wood in 1683, containing one hundred acres on the Delaware River, before 1790 came to Samuel Cooper, who also owned Coopers Point Ferry and other land adjoining. The house now owned by William. B. Cooper, marked S.P.C. 1790, was built by Samuel and Prudence Cooper. It came to their son Benjamin, who, January 22, 1834, had the tract surveyed by Samuel Nicholson in two parts, called the northern and southern divisions. The northern part extended along the shore of the Delaware, from Coopers Creek to the Samuel Horner farm, including the fisheries on the river-front, and also the fisheries up to the Cove road. Benj. Cooper died 26th of 4th mo., 1842, aged sixty-seven years, and his wife, Elizabeth, died 21st of 3d mo. preceding, aged sixty-six years. He, by will, devised the northern part, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres, including the flat marshes and fisheries, to Benjamin W. Cooper, his son, reserving the half-interest of all privileges and profits of the fisheries for William B. Cooper.

The southern tract, containing one hundred and sixty-seven acres, fronting on Coopers Creek, was devised to William B. Cooper, with rights in the fisheries and meadows. The repairs on the banks of the latter were chargeable to both divisions. The northern division became the property of the Pavonia Land Association, an account of which will be found under the head of Pavonia.

BENJAMIN W. COOPER was the son of Benjamin Cooper, a lineal descendant of William and Margaret Cooper, who in 1678 emigrated from England with the first settlers who located in Burlington. A few years later he took up lands and settled at the mouth of Coopers Creek, which stream was named after him. The father of the subject of this biography was a progressive farmer of Waterford township (now Stockton), and after a life of activity and usefulness both in religious and civil society he died, in 1842. By his marriage with Elizabeth Wills, he had children, viz.: Rebecca, Prudence, Benjamin W., Elizabeth W. and William B. Cooper.

Benjamin W. Cooper was born at the homestead, now owned by his brother, William B. Cooper, in Stockton township, on the 13th day of the First Month, 1805, and spent the whole of his life as an enterprising farmer in the township where he was born. After obtaining a preparatory education in the schools in the vicinity, he entered the Westtown Boarding-School, and there spent several years in diligent study, and thus laid the foundation of a liberal education, being afterward one of the best informed men in the community in which he resided. He was a constant reader of books of general literature, but devoted much of his reading to agricultural subjects, and was himself a liberal contributor to agricultural journals of his day. Having a retentive memory, he absorbed a vast amount of information, which he freely dispensed to his friends without reward. He studied agriculture as a science and practiced it as an art. He introduced all new modes of cultivating the soil, and was first in his neighborhood to use the best improved implements - needed by all progressive farmers.

In management of State, county and municipal affairs he held various places of trust and responsibility, and was possessed with a sound discriminating judgment.

He was one of the originators of the plan for the erection of Camden County by the division of Gloucester County, exerted all of his influence in that direction, and was greatly instrumental in having it eventually accomplished. After the action was taken, forming the new county of Camden, and the controversy arose about the location of the county buildings, Mr. Cooper favored the erection of them at Camden, and left no opportunity pass until the final decision, making Camden the county-seat, was rendered. He was an ardent and consistent Republican, and took great interest in the administration of State and national offices. Recognizing his efficiency as a man of good judgment, he was appointed one of the lay judges of Camden County, and served in that position from 1850 to 1855. No subject of great political moment absorbed his attention more than the freedom of the colored slaves in the Southern States. Many a refugee negro found in him a friend on his way northward, beyond the jurisdiction of slavery, and his home in Stockton township for many years was a "station" on the line of the "Underground Railroad," where many a poor escaped slave was befriended both with food and money.

Benjamin W. Cooper, like his ancestors, was a member of the Society of Friends, connected with the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting. He was married, on the 18th day of the Second Month, 1830, to Lydia, daughter of Samuel Lippincott, whose ancestors were among the first settlers in New Jersey. He died on the 23d day of 11th Month, 1863.

WILLIAM B. COOPER, the youngest son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wills) Cooper and a brother of Benjamin W. Cooper, was born in Delaware township (now Stockton), on the 11th day of the Sixth Month, 1814. The historic old mansion where he was born and which he now owns, including the farm adjoining, where he has spent most of his life, was erected by Samuel and Prudence (Brown) Cooper, his grandparents, in the year 1790.

William B. Cooper obtained his education at the Newton Friends’ School, Rancocas Boarding-School and at the well-known Westtown Boarding-School, in Chester County, Pa. He then attended to the duties of the farm with his father, and upon the death of the latter, in 1842, he succeeded to the ownership of a part of the paternal homestead. He continued his chosen occupation until a few years ago, when he retired from his farm and moved to the city of Camden, where he now resides. As a farmer he has met with great success, and, following the example of his brother Benjamin W., regularly introduced new modes of agriculture and improved machinery necessary for the progressive farmer. He has always taken a deep interest in owning the finest breeds of horses and cattle, and takes the greatest delight in having them well cared for. As a farmer he has been looked upon as a model, as a neighbor universally respected, and as a kind-hearted, noble gentleman his name is a synonym of goodness. In his plain, unassuming and unpretentious way he has continued to live a life of great usefulness. As a friend of the poor and the needy, his charities are well known, yet never made public by himself. Like his father and brother, in the days of slavery he was a devoted friend of the refugee slaves, and would do anything to comfort and protect them.

In religion he has been a consistent member of the Society of Friends and served many years as clerk of Newton Meeting, of which he and his estimable wife are members. On the 9th day of the Third Month, 1879, William B. Cooper was married to Phebe Emlen, a lineal descendant of George Emlen, who emigrated from England to Philadelphia about the time that William Penn arrived.

James Emlen, the grandfather of Phebe Cooper, was well educated, and it was designed that he should travel in Europe for his further accomplishment, but he removed to Chester County and followed the occupation of a miller. He was married to Phebe Pierce, and both he and his wife died of yellow fever. Anne, their eldest daughter, married Judge Walter Franklin of Lancaster, Pa. James Emlen, the youngest child and father of Phebe Cooper, was married in 1816 to Sarah F. Foulke, a teacher in the Westtown Boarding-School. In 1835 he became a teacher in the same institution, and resided with his family on the property for thirteen years. His wife became a minister and paid religious visits to various places in the Eastern, Western and Southern States. Her last religious visit was made to England. She was universally esteemed by all who knew her. She died in 1849. James Emlen was a highly loved elder in Friends’ Meetings. He died in 1866. Dr. Samuel Emlen, brother of James, was one of the most eminent physicians of Philadelphia, and was known throughout the United States.

BENJAMIN COOPER, son of Benjamin W. and Lydia (Lippincott) Cooper, and nephew of William B. Cooper, was born at the Cooper homestead, in Stockton township, on the 21st of Sixth Month, 1834. He was educated in the schools of his native township and the well-known Westtown Friends’ School, in Chester County, Pa. He then returned to his home, and engaged in work on the farm. Upon the death of his father, in 1863, Benjamin Cooper inherited the homestead which he owns at the present time. He continued actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he removed to Marlton, N.J. He still owns the farm and superintends its cultivation. Following the precedents established by his enterprising father, he is progressive and brings into use all the new and improved machinery necessary for successful farming. Within the past few years he has been extensively engaged in breeding thoroughbred Jersey cattle.

Mr. Cooper was one of the originators of the plan to construct and one of the incorporators of the Philadelphia, Marlton and Medford Railroad, and devoted much time and energy to the construction of the same. He was originally and still is one of its largest stockholders, and since the organization of the company has been a director. In politics Mr. Cooper is a Republican, and in religion, like his ancestors for many generations before him, is a member of the Society of Friends. Benjamin Cooper was married, in 1859; to Lydia Evans, the only surviving child, daughter of David and Sarah E. Evans, a prominent farmer of Burlington County, and a descendant of William Evans, one of the first Welsh emigrants to New Jersey, who settled at Mount Laurel, Burlington County. They have three children, viz.: David E., William B. and Samuel R., all of whom are engaged with their father in his farming interests.

Thomas Willard, who, in 1689, married Judith, a daughter of Henry Wood, settled on a tract near the Wood homestead, where he died in 1734, and left three sons - James, Henry and Thomas - and daughters. A granddaughter, Abigail, in 1743, married Samuel Spicer, son of Thomas, and died April 24, 1762, aged twenty-six years. A grandson, Benjamin, owned part of his grandfather’s estate, and left it to his son James, who, February 28, 1781, sold part of it to Thomas Stone, who sold twenty-two acres in 1783. Old citizens remember Parr Willard, in the vicinity, as being much interested in fruit and its culture. An old pear-tree now stands on the place of Abraham Browning, which bears the "Willard Pear," and is from stock originated by him.

Joseph Nicholson, the first of the name to settle in what is now Camden County, was the fourth child of Samuel Nicholson, and was born in England, Second Month 30, 1669. His father was interested in the purchase made from Lord John Berkeley, in 1673, and came to this country with his wife, Ann, and five children, from Wiston, in Nottinghamshire, England, in the ship "Griffith," with John Fenwick, and arrived in the river Delaware on the 23d of Ninth Month, 1675, and soon after settled in Salem, where he selected a tract of sixteen acres with a marsh fronting on the creek and erected a house. He purchased large tracts of land later and became one of the wealthiest men in the colony. In 1680 the Society of Friends, of which he was an active and prominent member, purchased his house and lot and refitted it as a meeting-house, which the next year was enlarged. This house was the first meeting-house in West New Jersey. A few years after the sale Samuel Nicholson removed to a plantation on Alloways Creek, where he died in 1685. Ann, his wife, removed here and died in 1694. The sons, except Joseph, settled on the homestead and in the vicinity. Joseph, in 1694, purchased a tract of land on the north side of Coopers Creek, and the next year (1695) he married Hannah, a daughter of Henry Wood, who settled at the mouth of Coopers Creek in 1682. On this place Joseph Nicholson built a house and settled. In 1699 he purchased a tract of land adjoining James Wood, a grandson of Henry. He died in 1702 and left a son, Samuel, who inherited the estate of his father and resided on the tract purchased of James Wood. This was re-surveyed in 1733. He was married three times, - first in 1722, to Sarah, a daughter of Samuel Burroughs; second to Rebecca Saint; and third to Jane Albertson, widow of William and daughter of John Engle. The last was successively the widow of John Turner, William Albertson, Samuel Nicholson and Thomas Middleton. Samuel Nicholson died in 1750, and left children, - Joseph, Abel, Abigail, Hannah and Sarah. Joseph, in 1749, purchased the lot in Haddonfield, north of the Methodist Church, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Joseph B. Tatem, and probably built the house. Abel married Rebecca, a daughter of Aaron Aaronson, and died in 1761, before his child was born. This child was named Abel, and married Rebecca Ellis, a daughter of Isaac. It is from this branch the family in this region descend. Abigail, in 1743, became the wife of Daniel Hillman, and in 1767 of John Gill. Hannah married John Hillman, and Sarah, the youngest child, died single in 1756. The Nicholson homestead was owned for many years by Abraham Browning, and is now occupied by several factories.

Samuel Spicer was a native of New England, and one of the few American born citizens that can be claimed among the early settlers of old Gloucester County. He was a son of Thomas and Michael Spicer, and was born prior to 1640. His father was one of the colony of Friends who emigrated from England to avoid persecution for their religious belief; only to meet as trying an ordeal in their new homes. Samuel Spicer, the son, on the 21st of Third Month (May), 1665, married Esther Tilton, at Oyster Bay, L.I., and settled at Gravesend. In 1684 he visited this region of country and purchased of Samuel Coles four hundred acres of land on Coopers Creek and the Delaware River, adjoining Henry Wood, who purchased one hundred acres of Samuel Coles in 1682, above and on the Delaware. In the next year he, with his wife, Esther, and eight children, moved to the new purchase and built a house near where the bridge crosses Coopers Creek at Federal Street. On the 24th of May, 1687, he purchased three hundred and fifty acres of land, and subsequently other lands adjoining. These lands extended from Coopers Creek to Pensaukin, embracing the lands on which Merchantville now stands.

This ferry was maintained until 1762, when a bridge was built at the place and the locality was known as Spicer’s Bridge many years. In the year 1687 Samuel Spicer was appointed one of the judges of Gloucester County and continued in the office several years. He was active in the Society of Friends, of which he was a prominent member, and died soon after 1792. His widow, Esther, survived him until 24th day of Seventh Month, 1803, when she, with a servant and Richard Thackara, a lad of about eleven years of age, were struck by lightning and killed. An account of her burial at night is given in connection with the old Newton burying-ground in the history of the township of Haddon. They had eight children, all of whom were born at Gravesend, - Abraham, Jacob, Mary, Martha, Sarah (who, in 1695, became the second wife of Daniel Cooper), Abigail, Thomas and Samuel. Samuel Spicer left in his will to his son Jacob one hundred and fifty acres attached to the homestead, and on the Delaware River and Coopers Creek, and to his other sons, Samuel and Thomas, one hundred and seventy-five acres each. Samuel died young, and his land passed to Jacob. Thomas inherited from his father the one hundred and fifty acres, and also purchased four hundred and ten acres in and around Merchantville of his brother Jacob. He died in November, 1759, and left the landed estate to his son, Thomas Spicer, who, in 1741, married Rebecca, a daughter of Humphrey and Jane Day, who lived on Coopers Creek, in the lower part of what is now Delaware township. He died in the May following, 1760, and by will entailed the property to his wife, Rebecca; his daughter, Abigail, who was the wife of Wm. Rudderow; and their son, John Rudderow, then a child of fifteen months old. Thos. Spicer, Jr., passed much of his time in travel and visited on business the West Indies and other places. Rebecca Spicer survived her husband until 1777, living most of the time on her own plantation. Abigail (Spicer) Rudderow was the only child living of three born to them.

Samuel Spicer, son of Thomas, Sr., who married Abigail Willard in 1743, settled on the land he received from his father. His wife, Abigail, died April 24, 1762, aged twenty-six years, and left one son, Jacob, who died September 4, 1769, aged twenty-four years; a daughter Abigail, who married John Keble, a merchant of Philadelphia. She died August 27, 1807, aged sixty years; Rebecca, who married William Folwell, also a merchant of Philadelphia; and Sarah, who married Joseph Cowperthwait. Judge John K. Cowperthwait was a son of the latter, and Spicer Cowperthwait, now a merchant in Camden, is a grandson.

Wrightsville is on that part of the Spicer property that came to Rebecca and William Folwell and to Sarah and Joseph Cowperthwait.

Jacob Spicer, son of Samuel, Sr., owned a large tract of land lying north of his father’s, and extending to Pensaukin Creek. He sold to his brother Thomas four hundred and ten acres, lying next his father’s land, and that part lying on Pensaukin Creek to Samuel Burroughs, who later built a mill upon it. A part of the Burroughs land is still in possession of the family. Jacob Spicer, in 1691, removed to Cape May County, and was a member of the Legislature from 1703 to 1723, and surrogate from the last-named year to 1741, and died in the latter year. He left a son Jacob, who was a member of the Legislature in 1744, and was appointed with Aaron Leaming to revise the laws of the State, and "Leaming and Spicer," as the collection is termed, bears witness to the faithful performance of their duties. The Spicer estate will later be mentioned in the account of the Rudderow family, to whom it in large part descended. Mention has been made of the marriage of Elizabeth Cole, the widow of Samuel, to Griffith Morgan. He was a native of Wales, and a mariner, and in 1677 purchased of David Lloyd and Isaac Norris, executor of Thomas Lloyd, of Philadelphia, a tract of five hundred acres of land, embracing the site of Fort Eriwomac, which had been located by Samuel Jennings, the first Governor of New Jersey. It was bounded on the west by Delaware River, and on the north by Pensaukin Creek, and extended about a mile up the creek and about a quarter of a mile along the river-front. He did not settle upon the place for many years, but continued his business as a mariner, and was some time in England. An account of his romantic meeting with Elizabeth Coles will be found in the sketch of Samuel Coles. The license for his marriage was granted by the chancellor of Pennsylvania on the 10th of December, 1693, and the marriage ceremony soon after was performed in Philadelphia. He then erected a stone house, two stories and a half high, with dormer windows, near the mouth of Pensaukin Creek, commanding a fine view of the Delaware River, where he settled and died a few years after, leaving a widow and one son, Alexander. His widow, Elizabeth, died in 1719. Alexander Morgan inherited the property of his father, and, in 1717, married Hannah Cooper, a daughter of Joseph Cooper, and settled upon the Morgan homestead, where he died in 1751, leaving his wife and ten children, - Joseph, Benjamin, Isaac, Mary, Elizabeth, Lydia, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel and Alexander. By this marriage the family ultimately became connected with the Mickles, Hopkinses, Ladds, Coxes, Cootes and Clements of West Jersey, and the Rawles, Riggs and other families of Pennsylvania.

Joseph Morgan, eldest son of Alexander, married Agnes Jones, and settled on the homestead. They had one child, Griffith, who, in 1766, married Rebecca, a daughter of Samuel Clement; three daughters were the result of this marriage, as follows: Agnes, who married Enos Eldridge; Rebecca, who became the wife of James B. Cooper and resided at Haddonfield; Ann, who in 1795 married William E. Hopkins and lived on the Hopkins farm, on Coopers Creek, near Haddonfield. The first wife of Joseph Morgan died young. He married a second time and had several children - Joseph, who married Mary Evans and Man Butchel; Hannah, who married Mr. Saterthwait; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joseph Reeve and Sarah, who married James Hinchman. Upon the death of this wife he, in 1758, married Mary the daughter of Joseph Stokes, by whom he had four children, - Isaac, Alexander, Mary and Benjamin; the last married Mary Champion. His third wife died and Joseph Morgan married Elizabeth Atkinson, by whom were no children.

The old homestead, near the mouth of the creek, remain ed in the family and came to Joseph R. Morgan. William Burroughs, as administrator, conveyed the one hundred acres of that part of the estate, and the mansion-house, to John Morris, March 1, 1834, who resided thereon until September 26, 1853, when he sold it to William B. Mann & Co., of Philadelphia. In that year a fishing club of eight persons was formed, of whom Mr. Mann was one, and bought five acres adjoining the house, and erected the present Fish House. On the 28th of January, 1868, Jacob Backenbach bought the farm and Morgan homestead of one hundred acres, and is still in possession.

Benjamin Morgan, the second son of Alexander, in 1761, married Jane Roberts and settled on Pensaukin Creek, part of the homestead, where he at once built a one-story frame house, and, in 1775, built the present stone dwelling-house, of which the old part is the east wing of the house now owned and occupied by Dr. J. Dunbar Hylton. Their children were Hannah; Benjamin, who died in youth; and Benjamin R., who never married. At the death of Benjamin his estate passed to Alexander Morgan, of Philadelphia. In 1838, John S. Hylton, a native of England, came to this country and purchased of the administrator of the Morgan estate two hundred and twenty acres, known as the Mount Pleasant farm, and one hundred and seventy acres adjoining, and above, on Pensaukin Creek, the Comus Hill farm. On this large tract he settled, and, in 1860, finding the soil in its loams and clays was well adapted for use, he began the shipment of loam and clay to rolling-mills, foundries and potteries. It was of easy access to Pensaukin Creek, where the material was loaded on vessels and conveyed to its destination. The trade has been continued to the present time without interruption. In 1872 the business passed to his son, Dr. J. Dunbar Hylton. Immense quantities have been shipped from the farm, and the supply seems unlimited. In 1880, when the iron trade was prospering, forty-two thousand tons were excavated and shipped, and in 1885 twenty-five thousand tons were taken out. In addition to the shipment of loam and clay, Dr. Hylton is cultivating fruit extensively, having a peach orchard containing fifteen thousand trees, fifteen acres containing four thousand Niagara grape-vines, one thousand Keefer pear-trees and ten acres of the Wilson blackberry.

 J. DUNBAR HYLTON, M.D., is a member of the ancient and honorable family of that name that for so many generations bore a prominent part in the military and civic history of England. The family seat is at Hylton, near Sunderland, on the river Ware, where Henry Hylton, who had received a large grant from William the Conqueror, because of his own and his father’s valor, and who was afterwards slain in Normandy, built the ancient Hylton castle in 1072. The family traces its genealogy back three hundred years before the conquest, and is mentioned by the venerable Bede in his work published in the sixth century. Since the time of the Conquest it is remarked of the Hyltons that one was slain at Feversham, in Kent, one in Normandy, one at Mentz, in France, three in the Holy Wars, under Richard I., three at the battle of Bourdeaux, under the Black Prince, one at Agincourt, two at Berwick-upon-Tweed, against the Scots, two at the battle of St. Albans, five at Market Bosworth and four at Flodden Field.

From such illustrious and valiant ancestors is descended the subject of this sketch. His great-grandfather, William Hylton, descended from one of the junior branches of the family. About 1764 he left England and came to America, locating near Bath, Va., where he acquired some ten thousand acres of land, as well as owning land on Long Island, where the city of Brooklyn now stands. After the breaking out of the Revolutionary War he espoused the royal cause and returned to England, his property in America being confiscated by the colonies. He finally established himself in the Island of Jamaica, where he became a large planter.

His son, John Hylton, was a captain in the British army, and resided near Kingston, Jamaica, near which point he was stationed. He was the father of John S. Hylton, a native of county Durham, England, on the river Ware, near Hylton castle. He married Mary Susanna Fry, and was an extensive planter in Jamaica, where he owned some five thousand acres of land and sixteen hundred negroes. He removed to the United States about 1839, and purchased large tracts of land at Comus Hill, on Pensaukin Creek, Camden County, N.J. There he passed the remainder of his life, engaged in bucolic and agricultural pursuits, and in the cultivation of a fine literary taste. He was a frequent contributor to various leading magazines and periodicals in both England and America. His children are Dr. J. Dunbar Hylton; William R. Hylton, residing near Camden; Dr. Reginald T. Hylton, Nanticoke Pa.; Lionel, residing in Philadelphia; Dr. Stanley C. Hylton, of Philadelphia; and Edith A., wife of Nicholas Bilger, of the same city.

Dr. J. Dunbar Hylton was born on the Island of Jamaica March 25, 1837, and, on his mother’s side, is descended from the Frys, of Maddon’s Court, England, and the Dunbar family, of Scotland, to which the great Scottish poet, William Dunbar, belonged. His early education was conducted under a private tutor. He was brought to this country when he was two years of age. Subsequently he assisted his father in his farming pursuits, and then, having been seized with the gold fever, he engaged in gold-digging at Pike’s Peak. He next entered the employ of the Phoenix Iron Company for the purpose of learning the iron business, and after a time entered upon the study of medicine, under Dr. Henry H. Smith, professor of surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1866. He engaged in the practice of his profession, for ten years, in Philadelphia, and at River Side and Palmyra, N.J., and finally purchased a farm, belonging to his father, in Camden County, and turned his attention to agriculture, fruit-growing and mining clays. At the present time he owns about two hundred and seven acres of land in Stockton township and Burlington County, containing clay and kaolin deposits, varying in depth from eight to thirty-two feet, which he readily disposes of to the rolling-mills, fire-brick works and foundries of this country and Cuba, and is also engaged in every branch of agriculture, trucking, farming, fruit-growing, and in the development and propagating of new varieties of fruits and berries. The ancient and picturesque house which he occupies was completed in 1775 by Benjamin Morgan. This house stands on a high bluff, overlooking the waters of the Pensaukin Creek and the Delaware River, and commands a fine view of Philadelphia and the surrounding country for miles, and has been occupied by the Hylton family for over forty years. It is one of the attractions of the neighborhood, and the doctor, with his genial hospitality, occupying this antique abode, and surrounded by his well-tilled fields and his small army of laborers, reminds one strikingly of the planters of the South in the days before the war. Inheriting strong literary taste and ability, like Horace, he finds time, apart from his bucolic pursuits, to daily with the muses, and each winter sees from his pen some new gem added to the list of the successful and popular works of the day. His talent runs chiefly in the direction of the ideal and imaginative, and manifests itself in verse. Among the volumes that he has published are, - "Lays of Ancient Times" (1857), "Voices from the Rocky Mountains" (1862), "Praesidicide" (1865), "The Bride of Gettysburg" (1878), "Betrayed" (1880), "The Heir of Lyolynn" (1883), "Above the Grave" (1884), "Artiloise, or the Weeping Castle" (1885), and others are soon to follow.

Dr. Hylton’s versification is strong and rythmical, and the flow of thought regular and entertaining. His works find a ready sale, and have won for him a place among the successful litérateurs of the country. He married, May 31, 1865, Miss Emma Denckla Silvis, daughter of Benjamin and Emily T. (Renfrew) Silvis, of Philadelphia, and has had a family of seven boys, of whom only J. Dunbar Hylton, Jr., survives.

Benjamin Morgan, a great-grandson of Alexander, a descendant of Griffith Morgan, before 1800, became the possessor of a large tract of land on Coopers Creek, below the old Champion tract, and above what is now the Browning farm. He married Mary Champion, and settled upon the place. His son Joseph married Margaret, a daughter of John Browning. Of his daughters, Mary became the wife of Isaac Mickle; Rachel, of Richard M. Hugg; another became the wife of Jacob Roberts.

The families of Rudderow in this region of country sprang from John Rudderow, a native of England, who emigrated about 1680 and settled at Chester, in Burlington County, N.J., between the north and south branches of the Pensaukin Creek. He died in 1729 and left the land to his son, John Rudderow, who died in 1769 and devised it by will to his son William, who, in 1758, married Abigail, the daughter of Thomas Spicer, Jr., son of Thomas, grandson of Samuel. At this time William Rudderow was living on his paternal estate with his father, where he continued for eight years after his marriage, and where eight of their children were born. In 1782 they moved from the forks of Pensaukin to the property of Rebecca Spicer, her mother then living on her estate, which embraced a tract of over four hundred acres, in the centre of which Merchantville stands, and in which Abigail, the wife of William, had an interest. This property was in possession of Thomas Spicer, Sr., before 1717, as in that year it was surveyed by Thomas Sharp; a piece of land later known as Coopers Woods was included in the tract. Upon this tract Thomas Spicer, Sr., erected a house soon after 1717, which evidently was occupied as a tenement, and in a re-survey made in 1735 it is mentioned as the residence of Alexander McCloud. It stood on the site of the present residence of ex-Senator Alexander G. Cattell. John Rudderow, son of William and Abigail, married in 1782, and in 1792 moved in the old house to which, in 1804, he built a large addition, two stories high, twenty by sixty feet, of sawed white oak timber laid like a log house and dove-tailed at the corners. This house stood until 1852, when it was torn down and replaced by the present residence. The old part, in 1806, was moved and made into a barn.

About 1738 Thomas Spicer, Sr., erected a one-story and a half house, with dormer windows, also of white oak timber, on that portion of the estate now owned by Joseph Hollinshead. A part of the old house is still standing, and is in the township of Delaware, while the part later erected, adjoining, is in Stockton, the township line passing through the house. This house was, prior to 1782, known as Cherry Tree Tavern, and from that time to 1808 as the home of William Rudderow. It was then occupied for a number of years by William, son of John Rudderow.

Rebecca Rudderow survived her husband many years, and died at the age of eighty-three years. Their children were John, William and Thomas. John settled upon the farm, and in 1792 moved into the house above mentioned. He married, in 1782, Jerusha Inskip, by whom he had children, - William, Benjamin. Samuel, Thomas, Sarah, Abigail, Hope and Jerusha. The daughters lived in Camden. William and, Benjamin lived on the old homestead property. Samuel settled on the original Rudderow estate, on the north side of Pensaukin Creek, opposite his uncle’s, who had settled previously on the south side.

Jerusha, the wife of John Rudderow, died, and he married as a second wife, Anna Lacony, by whom he had children, - John, Ezra, Amos, Joel, Anna, Susan, Emily and Jane. John died about 1864. Ezra was a captain on the river steamer "Farmer," and was killed by an accident. Amos bought part of the home estate and resided there, and sold the farm in parcels from 1856 to 1858. From 1861 to 1878 he was treasurer of the West Jersey Ferry Company; he now resides in Merchantville. Joel studied for the ministry and entered the Episcopal Church, and is now rector of a parish, "The Oaks," in Montgomery County.

William Rudderow, son of William, settled on a tract of land on the south side of Pensaukin Creek, and on the main road, where he died, and left two sons, - Richard and Josiah - who also lived and died upon the tract. After the death of the latter the farm was sold.

Thomas, a brother of John and William, also settled on Pensaukin Creek, adjoining his brother William, where he died and left two sons, - Jacob and Benjamin. Miss Jerusha Rudderow, a daughter of John Rudderow by the first wife, died in 1884, and in 1885 a hundred acres of land were sold, and which had not been transferred by deed since its sale to Samuel Spicer - a period of two hundred years. Dr. John R. Stevenson, Dr. Charles H. Shivers and Mrs. Gustavus M. Murray, all of Haddonfield, are children of Mrs. Anne Shivers, daughter of John Rudderow.

Humphrey Day came to the settlement along the river and creek when a young man, and in 1737 he was keeping a ferry and a tavern, probably where John Champion had a ferry in 1702, as in that year he was assessed upon the business twenty shillings. He was a neighbor of the Woods, Spicers and Nicholsons. He and his wife, Jane, who died in 1760, were buried in the St. Mary’s church-yard at Colestown. He lived on the north side of Coopers Creek, on land lately owned by the Shivers family. Their daughter Rebecca married Thomas Spicer, Jr., who owned four hundred and ten acres, the site of Merchantville and surrounding it.

The Fish family in the township are descended from the Swedish settlers. Justa Fish is the first of whom anything is known. He was a constable in Chester township, Burlington County, in 1698. Isaac Fish, probably a son, in 1762, was in possession of a large tract of land and the fishery above Pea Shore and on the river-front. He had children, - Charles, who married Rachel Browning; Benjamin; Jeremiah; Ann, who married Samuel Rudderow; Keturah, who became the wife of Jacob Stone; Eunice, who married William Horner; Susannah, Daniel Stoy; Rachel, Josiah Rudderow; and Elizabeth, Adam Baker Evaul. Charles Fish lived at the place many years, but in time it came into the possession of Benjamin, who, about 1843, sold it to Samuel Browning, whose son Eli now is in possession, while the property is still owned by Sarah Browning’s heirs, of whom he is one. The children mentioned above are by two wives. Jeremiah Fish, one of the sons of Isaac, came into possession of the farm on the river-front- part of the original one hundred acres. Samuel Coles sold to Henry Wood, and which later came to Joseph Nicholson. Jeremiah Fish, in 1830, sold to William Horner, his brother-in-law, who lived and died there. It passed to Lemuel Horner, a son of William, who now owns the property. The old Wood -Spicer burying-ground is on this farm, and Pavonia and the Camden Water-Works are adjoining.

The Horners are descended from the Swedish settlers, and prior to 1739 Bartholomew Horner purchased a large tract of land of John Gill, now in Delaware township, near the head of the old Swett Pond. It passed to his son Jacob, and was retained in the family until after 1800. The family were connected by marriage with the Stokes, Thackaras, Matlacks and Kays. Early in the present century Merritt, David and Joseph Horner were living in the township, well advanced in years. Merritt resided a short distance north of Merchantville, on the farm still owned by his descendants. His children were Beulah (married Thomas P. Clements, Ann (married John Stow), Miriam (married Benjamin Fish), Mary Ann (married John Horn), William, Marion and Joel. William married Eunice Fish, and in 1830 bought the farm now known as the Lemuel Horner farm, where he lived and died. His son Lemuel also resided there. It has recently been sold to Alfred Cramer, and will be laid out into lots. The old house upon the property was built in 1765 by some of the Woods or Spicers, and is yet in good condition. Marion Horner, son of Merritt, settled on the homestead of his father and died there. The property is owned by his family.

Joseph Horner, brother of Merritt and David, settled on the old Burlington road, southwest of the Sorrel horse tavern. He had three sons, - Joel, Asa and Thomas C. The latter settled in Camden; Asa P. remained on the homestead and died there; Joel lived on the farm adjoining. They were both judges of the courts of Camden County and freeholders of the township for several years.

David Horner settled on a farm east of his brother Merritt, and now owned by John S. Collins, where he died. His children were Mary (married James Adams), Elizabeth (married William Hinchman), Isaac, Benjamin, John and Merritt. Benjamin settled on the homestead; the others in Camden.

The family of Brownings, which has for many years been prominent in the county in agriculture, law, ferries and other occupations, all sprang from one John G. Browning, who came from Holland to this country before 1752. The name is of English origin, and the emigrant was doubtless a descendant of one of the family connected by its branches with the great mercantile interests for which Holland was noted. He was married in this region of West Jersey, at some place not known, December 12, 1752, to Catherine Baker, and settled on the Delaware, within the limits of Camden County. They had eleven children, of whom Philip Jacob, George Adam and Margaret, all born before 1757, died comparatively young. John was born November 6, 1760, and in early life became interested in marine service and ship-building, and failing in accomplishing his object in that direction, he purchased a tract of land on Alloways Creek, where he lived a few years, and about 1795 purchased a tract of land west of Merchantville and moved upon it. He married a daughter of one of the Lawrence family of East Jersey, by whom he had fourteen children, of whom were Daniel (who married Hannah Cole), Benjamin, William, James, Samuel, Rachel (who married Charles H. Fisk), Margaret (who married Joseph Morgan), Rebecca (who married Ezra Rudderow) and Elizabeth (who married ----- Heulings). One of the sons married Grace Fisk, a daughter of Isaac. John Browning married, as a second wife, Ann Hinchman, by whom he had four children, - William (who married ----- Burrough), Benjamin (who married Rebecca Troth, a daughter of Jacob), Isaac (who married Sarah Starn) and Jane (who became the wife of Charles Starn); the latter is a large fruit-grower in the vicinity.

John Browning, May 30, 1801, bought one hundred acres of land, part of the Spicer land, in the northern part of the township, near the Moorestown road of Joel Gibbs. The property was sold by the Spicers in 1765, and came to Thomas Holmes, who by will left it, May 27, 1783, to his son William, who, in 1800, sold it to Joel Gibbs. In October, 1805, John Browning purchased twenty-one acres of land, on the west side of the main branch of Pensaukin Creek, of Joshua Ostler. Isaac Browning lives upon the home tract west of Merchantville. Others of the family settled in township.

George Browning, next younger than John, was born in 1763, and moved to Burlington County, where he settled. Abraham, a younger son, was born February 25, 1769, and about 1798 married Beulah Genge, a native of Gloucester County. He purchased one hundred acres of land on the bank of Coopers Creek, above the Spicer lands and below the Champion tract. It formerly was in possession of the Shivers family, but was not the original Shivers tract, as that was in Delaware township. Abraham Browning settled at the place mentioned, and later purchased two hundred acres, adjoining and below on the creek, of Mr. Bonnell. The Marlton pike passes through the property, which is yet in the family. About 1800 Abraham Browning established the ferry at the foot of Market Street, Camden, which was known as the Browning Ferry until it was chartered in 1849 as the West Jersey Ferry. It was retained in the family until a few years since. Abraham Browning died September 11, 1836, and his wife in 1863. They are both buried in the Colestown church-yard. Their children were George, Eleanor, John, Catharine, Rebecca, Abraham, Genge, Maurice, Charles, Edward, Benjamin B. (who died in infancy), George B. and Benjamin F., of whom Eleanor, Rebecca, Abraham and Maurice only are living. Abraham and Maurice were largely interested in Camden, where some account of them will be found in connection with the professions and enterprises in which they were engaged. Maurice Browning is now the manager of the Browning estate in this township.

Isaac Browning, the youngest son of John George, was born December 1, 1775, and settled in Gloucester township, at the mouth of Timber Creek, where he lived and died.

The ancestors of the family of Starn, in this country, was Conrad Starn, who had two sons, - Abner and Andrew. The latter resided in Philadelphia. Abner settled near Haddonfield, and had five sons, - Joseph, Benjamin, Charles, Samuel and John, - of whom Benjamin remained on the homestead, and Joseph and Samuel moved to what is now Stockton township where they rented farms. Late in life Joseph Starn purchased one of the Rudderow farms, now part of the borough of Merchantville, but died before moving thereon. His sons were Elwood, Josiah, Charles W. and Joseph A. Charles W. Starn, in 1864, purchased a farm of John Lawrence, part of the old Ostler tract. He had for several years previously carried on market gardening, but at once began to set out the farm to fruit-trees, and at present has two thousand five hundred apple-trees, one thousand pear-trees, six thousand cherry-trees, six thousand peach-trees and twenty-five acres of blackberries, and has settled conclusively that this part of New Jersey is well adapted to the culture of fruits.

On the property now owned by Joseph Evaul, Nathan and Hannah Evans erected a stone house in 1797. It later came into possession of William Browning, who, about 1815, sold it, with the property of Jacob Evaul’s heirs, to Jacob Evaul, Sr., by whom it came to his sons, Joseph and Jacob. The Evauls are descended from the early Swedish settlers, who remained along the river after the title passed to the Proprietors. Adam Baker Evaul married Elizabeth Fish and settled in the vicinity.

John Walker came from "Old Market," England, - the first of the name in this region - in 1677, and soon after bought land in what is now Stockton township. He had two children, - John and Catharine. The latter married George Horsfielder, to whom John, her father, in 1710, conveyed one hundred and five acres on Pensaukin Creek. Horsfielder sold it in 1712 to John Walker, Jr., brother of his wife, who, in 1713, sold it to Philip Wallace, who had married his daughter Sarah. Their children married into the families of Gibbs, Atkinson, Lacony, Morgan, Toy, Lippincott and others. Sarah married Joseph Morgan, who lived on the old Morgan estate; Patience married James Toy; Thomas married Hope Lippincott. Others intermarried with families of Atkinson and Lacony. Elizbeth Fish married Samuel Wallace, son of Thomas; Ann Wallace, daughter of Thomas, married Benjamin Rudderow.

Joseph and Samuel Osler, in the time of the Revolution, owned land north of the land Samuel Burroughs bought of Jacob Spicer and east of Jordantown and on the south branch of Pensaukin Creek. Joseph died before 1787, as in that year his land, consisting of four hundred acres, was divided between his children - Davis, Joseph, Elizabeth (Mrs. Rudderow), Samuel, Jeremiah, Sarah, Joshua, Owen, John and William.

Major John Osler, a surveyor and a leading man in St. Mary’s Church, at Colestown, in 1815 sheriff of Gloucester County, owned a farm west of the Osler lands, now owned by Joseph Horn. The fruit farm of Charles W. Starn is a part of the old Osler tract.

Benjamin Osler, son of John, purchased a tract of land of Mrs. Mary Morgan, part of the Morgan lands, and died there. His sons, Edward J. and Davis S., now reside upon it.

The family of Stones was at one time numerous in the township, on the old Spicer land, near the river, near the Lemuel Horner farm. They were of Swedish origin and probably came from the adjoining Swedish settlements, as they were not original settlers. John Stone, the first of whom anything is learned, married, first, Mary Walker, daughter of David Walker, son of John Walker, Jr. Their children were Rebecca, who married Archibald Campbell; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Hudson; Phebe, who became the wife of John Stow; Abigail, of Isaac Middleton; Jerusha of Edward Toole; Margaret, of Mathew Miller; and sons, Joshua and William. Thomas Stone also was an owner of land in the vicinity.

BETHEL METHODIST CHURCH.² - In the year 1813, George Horn, formerly of Hanover Furnace, N.J., built the dwelling-house on the Moorestown turnpike, known as the Homestead, where William Horn now lives, near the present Dudley station. Soon after this, perhaps the same year, the Methodists from Camden, by invitation of Mr. Horn, commenced holding meetings there. He was not then a member of church, but became such soon after. In the year 1815 a class was formed there and he was appointed leader. There had been a class formed in the neighborhood some years before, either in a private house or in the old schoolhouse near by, led by one John Peak, of Stone Meeting-House; but this had gone down before the class was formed at Father Horn’s.

Among the first local preachers and exhorters who preached at his house were Riley Barrett, Andrew Jenkins, David Duffel and others from Camden; and later, John P. Curtis, from near Haddonfield. Among the itinerant preachers who preached there were Sylvester Hill, Robert Sutton - he came to fill Mr. Hill’s place and died while on the circuit. Also, Joseph Rusling, Joseph Lybrand, Daniel Fidler, David Best, David Dailey, Jacob Gruber and Wesley Wallace; these last were on the circuit together. Father Boehm, of precious memory, was on the circuit in 1827 and 1828. Also, Ezekiel Cooper often came out from Philadelphia and preached and sometimes stayed three or four days. At one time he brought Bishop George out with him, who stayed all night there.

The first class was formed by Rev. Mr. Van Schoik, who then had charge of the circuit, which was called Burlington Circuit. In somewhat later years the appointment was connected with Camden Circuit, and the preachers were Rev. D.W. Bartine, W.W. Foulks, William Williams, Joseph Ashbrook and others. Meetings were held here all along the years, even up to 1844, though not so frequently as at first.

About the year 1830 meetings were commenced in the Stone School-house, often called Union School-house, on the Burlington turnpike, five miles from Camden, and only a few feet from where the Brick School-house now stands. A class was formed here and the local preachers from Camden and elsewhere preached first on Sabbath days and the itinerant preachers week evenings till, about 1838, they commenced preaching there on Sabbath morning and at Moorestown in the afternoon. The circuit was at one time, say from 1838 to 1842, called Haddonfield Circuit, then Moorestown Circuit, and afterward Bethel was connected only with Palmyra and finally stood as an appointment alone. We have no means of knowing the boundaries of the old Burlington and Camden Circuits, though we have reason to believe they were very large; but the Haddonfield Circuit included the following appointments: Coopertown (near where Beverly now stands), Bridgeboro’, Asbury (now Cinnaminson), Union School-house (now Bethel), Moorestown, Haddonfield, Greenland, Blackwoodtown, Long-a-Coming (now Berlin), Waterford, Jackson, New Freedom and Gibbsboro’. There were only two preachers on those thirteen appointments, giving preaching by the itinerant preachers once in two weeks at each place, and the alternate Sabbaths were supplied by the local preachers. As to salary, the preachers in charge received from three to four hundred dollars per year, and the junior preacher, who was generally a single man, received one hundred dollars and boarded among the kind and hospitable friends on the circuit. The preachers on the Haddonfield Circuit, commencing with 1838, were as follows: 1838, James Long and J.B. McKeever; 1839, J. Long and W.A. Brooks; 1840, Nathaniel Chew and S. Townsend; 1841, N. Chew and a supply; 1842, Edward Stout and C.A. Kingsbury; 1843, E. Stout and a supply; 1844 -45 (then called Moorestown Circuit), J.J. Sleeper; 1846 -47, Thomas G. Steward. Some of the presiding elders were as follows: From 1833 to 1837, R.W. Petherbridge; from 1838 to 1841, Thomas Neall; from 1842 to 1844, Charles T. Ford. When Bethel appointment was attached to the large circuits the official men and others came from the extreme points to the quarterly meetings, in some cases a distance of twenty-five to thirty miles, and these quarterly meetings were seasons of happy reunion; the love-feasts were spiritual feasts indeed, and the presiding elders preached with much earnestness.

The first Bethel Church was built in 1844, under the pastorate of Rev. J.J. Sleeper. It was a frame church, thirty-two feet wide by forty-six feet long, and one story high, of respectable appearance and good material, situated on the Burlington turnpike, four miles from Camden. It is still remaining on the same site as chapel to the new church built in 1884.

There was an excellent revival of religion in the school-house about the winter of 1843, under the labors of Rev. E. Stout. There was a great revival in the winter of 1846, under the labors of Rev. T.G. Stewart, in their new church. Quite a large number were converted, several of whom are prominent members of the church to this day. There was also a good revival under the labors of Rev. C.K. Fleming, and another under the pastorate of Rev. R.S. Harris in the time of the Civil War, and also a good one in 1833 in the pastorate of Rev. W.E. Greenbank, besides many others of more or less power and extent.

The church has now about one hundred and ten members and one hundred scholars in the Sabbath-school. It is, taken as a whole, a church of more than ordinary spirituality and earnestness in Christian work.

Following is a list of the pastors not heretofore given, from 1848 to 1886, inclusive:

For 1848 -49. J. Loudenslager (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1850. Not ascertained (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1851 -52. Edward Page (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1853. L. Herr and B.F. Woolston (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1854. C. K. Fleming and D.L. Adams (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1855. C. K. Fleming (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1856 -57. L.J. Rhoads (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1858-59. G.C. Maddock (connected with Moorestown Circuit)

For 1860. J.H. James (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1861. C.R. Hartranft (connected with Moorestown Circuit).

For 1862. J.G. Crate (Bethel and Moorestown).

For 1863. J.I. Corson (Palmyra and Bethel).

For 1864 -65. R.S. Harris (first year Palmyra and Bethel, second year Bethel only).

For 1866 -67. L. Larew (Bethel only).

For 1868 -69. T.D. Sleeper (Bethel only).

For 1870 -71. W. Reeves (Bethel only).

For 1872 -73 -74. Enoch Green (Bethel only).

For 1875. J.B. Turpin.

For 1876 -77 -78. M.C. Stokes.

For 1879 -80. C.F. Garrison.

For 1881. A.K. Street.

For 1882-83 -84. W.E. Greenbank.

For 1885 -86. S. Townsend.

SCHOOLS. - Stockton township contained three school-houses as early as 1800. One of stone, built in 1795, and known as the "Union School-House," was situated on the old Burlington road about one and a half miles east from the Sorrel Horse tavern. A log house also stood on the same road, near the head of Woods Creek, or Baldwins Run, and its site is now in the town of Dudley. Another stood on the land of Benjamin Morgan, on the line of the Camden and Marlton pike. It was known over fifty years ago as the Greenville School-house, and the name still clings to it. Near this house is a small Episcopal chapel.

In May, 1838, Richard Stafford, Joseph Porter and Benjamin W. Cooper were school commissioners of Waterford township, embracing what is now Waterford, Delaware and Stockton townships, and in accordance with a school law recently passed, divided the township into ten districts, giving the boundaries of each. The taxable inhabitants of each district were requested to meet at the schoolhouses and choose directors. The following are the school-houses designated as meeting-places and the districts to which they belonged:

District No. 1, Union School-House.

District No. 2, Abel Curtis School-House (afterwards Rosendale District).

District No. 3, Morgan’s School-House.

District No. 4, Ellisburg School-House.

District No. 5, Horner’s School-House.

District No. 6, Stokes’ School-House.

District No. 7, at meeting-house at Borton’s Mill.

District No. 8, school-house at Long-a-Coming.

District No. 9, school-house at Jackson’s Works.

District No. 10, school-house at Waterford Works.

Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3, were within the limits of what is now Stockton township. The township at present is divided into four districts, three of which are nearly the same as those of 1838. Following are the names of districts, value of school property and number of pupils in attendance:

District.	Name.	Value of prop.	No. of children.
3	Union	$3000	155
4	Rosendale	3700	257
6	Greenville	2000	58
43	Wrighteville	2500	161

 

EARLY TAVERNS. - The first tavern within the limits of Stockton township was kept by Humphrey Day, in 1733. He owned the property which in later years was owned by the Shivers, on Coopers Creek. There is a doubt of the exact locality of the ferry. It may have been the John Champion ferry, on the Barton farm, on the line of Delaware township, or he may have kept for a short time the Spicer ferry.

There is a dim tradition of the "Cherry Tree Tavern," but few facts can be obtained as to who kept it. It was located on what is now known as the Colestown or Church road, and on the Thomas Spicer property, built by Thomas Spicer about 1733, and is said to have been used as a tavern until 1782, when William Rudderow, son-in-law of Thomas Spicer, moved to the place and resided until his death, in 1808. The property now belongs to Joseph Hollinshead and the line of Stockton and Delaware townships passes through his house. That part of the house which is in Delaware township is the old "Cherry Tree Tavern."

Among the old papers of Thomas Spicer was found, a few years ago, an account for a trifling sum, which was receipted, and on the back of it was an order, in Spicer’s hand-writing, to the landlord, evidently to give the bearer a mug of beer.

About 1800, and perhaps earlier, a house was erected on the Moorestown road and on the Ostler property, which was used as a tavern and had for its sign a half-moon. It was kept by ----- Cattell and ----- Warrick, and about 1825 came into possession of Charles Buzby, who changed its name to the "Spread Eagle" and kept it several years. He sold to William Hinchman, who, about 1846, sold the property to John Vernier, who kept it until his death, about 1876. The Sorrel Horse Tavern was opened early in the century and in 1807 was kept by William Vansciver, and later by his son Jonathan and grandson Augustus and John Lawrence, who was succeeded by his son Jacob, and at present by the widow of the latter.

OLD BREWERIES. - On the old Burlington road, now the Camden and Westfield turnpike, where it crosses Pensaukin Creek, about 1854, Budd & Comly erected a frame building, about forty by eighty feet, for the purpose of a brewery. They conducted a large business, and in connection had at one time five thousand hogs, which were fed from the grain after it was malted. The business was abandoned about 1863. In 1866 the building was fitted by Reed & Sheldon as a grist-mill, and later operated by Sheldon & Brother, who sold to Middleton & Brother, and it finally came to the possession of Dory Middleton, who now owns it.

FISHERIES. - The fisheries along the riverfront in the township extended from Cooper Creek to the Second Cove road. The first was operated by the Woods and before 1790 was owned by Sam. Cooper, who also came into possession of the fishery as far up the river as the Pea Shore Company’s land, which was left to his son Benjamin, and by him, in 1842, to his son, Benjamin W., who, in 1852, sold the part in front of the tract of the Pavonia Land Association with the land, and within the next year or two the fishery from Pavonia to the Cove to David R. Maddock, whose heirs still own it. Later an exchange of land was made with William B. Cooper, by which he came into possession of the lower fishery, which he later sold to Moro Philips, whose heirs are still in possession.

The Fish Point Fishery was in possession of Isaac Fish in 1762, and later came to his son, Charles Fish, and George L. Browning, and about 1843 to Samuel Browning and is now owned by his heirs.

Small fisheries along the river were owned by the Evauls and Morgans.

The fishing-grounds along the Delaware River in Camden County are divided into two districts, of which the northern extends from Pensaukin Creek to Federal Street. John McCormick is fish warden. The catch for 1886, with the number of men employed and nets used, are here given, -
     Pavonia: David Bennet employs 30 men with a net of 300 fathoms; catch, 8500 shad. From Pensaukin to Coopers Point, 60 gill nets of 10,800 fathoms are used; 20,000 shad were caught. From Coopers Point to Federal Street, Camden, 8 gill nets were used and the catch was 2000 shad.

CLUBS. - Tammany Pea Shore Fishing Company, composed of Philadelphians, about 1809, formed a company under the above name and purchased a few acres of land on the shores of the Delaware, at the place now known as "Pea Shore," on which they erected a brick club-house, which became a summer resort for the members and their friends. In 1834 the old house was remodeled and again in 1886. The original members are mostly numbered among the departed and the few that remain are well advanced in years.

The Mozart Club, of Philadelphia, composed of twelve members, about 1869, purchased a plot of six acres, containing a dwelling-house lying on the river and near Beideman Station, which they fitted up as a club-house and grounds. A landing and a fine dancing floor were provided.

The Beideman Club-House, a short distance below the Mozart Club-House, is leased by the Beideman Club of Philadelphia. The club is composed of eight members, and was organized October 10, 1878. The grounds were leased in 1879 of the Beidemans and the club took its name from the station near which it is situated. The house is the old Ross mansion.

The Sparks Club-House, adjoining the above, is leased by the Sparks Club, of Philadelphia, composed of twelve members, who leased the grounds in 1884 and fitted up the house.

MABBETT & WILES’ HOT-HOUSES.- An interesting and extensive industry is carried on by Messrs. Mabbett & Wiles at their vegetable or "truck" farm, where are located what are said to be the largest hot-houses in the United States. They have twenty-eight houses in all, each twenty-one feet in width and varying in length from forty-eight to three hundred feet. In fourteen of these houses Hamburg grapes are grown and the others are devoted to a general line of hot-house vegetables for which a market is found in New York and Philadelphia and other cities of the Eastern and Middle States. The number of men employed is from ten to twenty-five, according to the season. The enterprise was established by Truman Mabbett Jr., in 1875, and Theodore Wiles became a partner in 1877. The firm has a place of business at 130 Dock Street, Philadelphia.

PAVONIA.

This is the title of a land association which was incorporated February 11, 1852, with eighty-five stockholders, principally wealthy citizens of Philadelphia. The company bought eighty acres of lawn ground, near the Delaware River, from Benjamin W. Cooper, and divided the same into nine hundred and sixty building lots. They also built a large wharf, at a cost of three thousand dollars, as the landing to be used for a ferry connecting with Philadelphia by boat. The stockholders gradually lost interest in the venture and the place was neglected for many years. No buildings were erected by the association. The first house built was by Camden City, in 1854, for the engineer of the City Water-Works. Recently the place has received a new impetus, through the efforts of Alfred Cramer, Esq., founder of Cramer Hill, who, since 1880, bought the interests of the principal stockholders, and has, in turn, sold the lots to persons who are building upon them and improving them. The town takes its name from the land association. Over one hundred lots have been sold, and the town is handsomely laid out with wide streets and is well provided with shade-trees. The main street is seventy feet wide and other streets sixty feet in width. The town contains the Camden Water-Works, reservoir, and pumping station, a large mansion-house and grounds formerly occupied by Benjamin W. Cooper; also one hotel and a few shops. There are about fifty neat and substantial dwellings, which are occupied by the owners, principally mechanics who are employed in Camden and Philadelphia. Quite a number of dwellings are now in course of construction, and the rapid sale of lots gives great promise of improvement, both in number of buildings and population.

There are three old brick mansions on the Delaware River front, opposite Petty’s Island, two of which belonged to the Cooper estate and were built many years ago by the father and grandfather of William B. Cooper, now a resident of Camden. Both of these buildings are situated in the town of Pavonia. The one nearest to Camden is a large, three-story brick mansion, with dormer windows, and built in the olden style. Upon the wall nearest the river, formed in black bricks, are the initials of the builder and date of erection, as follows:

C
S P
1790

The house was built in 1790 by Samuel Cooper, the grandfather of William B. Cooper. At the present time (1886) it is occupied by Benjamin Engard. A short distance east of this mansion, and below the location of the celebrated Cooper shad fishery, is another old brick mansion. This mansion, built of old-fashioned bricks, is three stories high, or, as called in olden style, two stories and attic with dormer windows, and is nearly as large as the mansion occupied by Benjamin Engard. When it was erected is unknown, but the old residents along the shore affirm that it was built about 1771 or 1772. It is still occupied and is in excellent condition, and the extensive lawn surrounding it and extending to the river-banks is most carefully and neatly arranged, surrounded by large shade-trees, which conceal the building from view. A few rods distant, on the high bank, on the farm of Lemuel Horner (and now within the boundary of Cramer Hill), is probably the oldest mansion erected on the river-front, in Stockton township. This is a three-story building, forty by twenty feet, built of old English brick, with hip-roof and dormer windows. A frame extension, two stories high and twenty feet square, was built on the west end in 1820, making the entire front sixty feet. The brick portion of the mansion was built at different periods. Upon the western wall, in large figures in black brick, is the date when built, - 1765. During the Revolution this house was the headquarters of the Tories, and while the British occupied Philadelphia many meetings and secret conventions between the British and Tories were held in it.

The entire mansion is still in excellent preservation. The present proprietor, Lemuel Horner, was born here in 1832 and has since resided in the mansion, conducting the large farm belonging to the estate. Previous to 1832 it was occupied, for many years, by the Wood family. Jeremiah Fish and the Stone family also occupied it, but for how long a time is unknown.

Two rods distant from the mansion, and on the estate, is a very old burial-place of half an acre in extent, surrounded by a board fence, though somewhat neglected. It is known as the "Woods Burying-Ground." The remains of very many of the early settlers are entombed there. Very many of the early graves are unmarked, or have only large field-stones at the head and foot, and on many of the marble slabs still standing the surface of the stone is chipped and falling in scales, so that the record cannot be traced. A few, however, are still in a good state of preservation, and one in black marble, one hundred and twenty-four years old, as perfect, apparently, as when placed in position.

The oldest legible inscription is "In worthy memory of Abigail, wife of Samuel Spicer, who departed this life ye 24th April, 1762, aged 26 years and 7 months." Adjoining is a slab erected by John Keble, evidently many years later, "To Jacob, son of Samuel and Abigail Spicer, who died September 4, 1769, aged 24 years." A large tablet, lying flat, raised by brick-work about a foot from the ground, was erected "In memory of Abigail, wife of John Keble, who departed August 27, 1807, aged 60 years and 9 months." Others are as follows: Eleanor, wife of John Wessels, died 1798, aged 28 years; John Wessels, died 1827, aged 55 years; Henry Wood, died June 18, 1814, aged

56 years and 9 months; Hannah, widow of Henry Wood, died August 23, 1856, aged 87 years, 9 months; Zachariah Wood, died May 5, 1847, in his 54th year; Eldridge, son of Henry and Hannah Wood, October 1, 1814, in his eleventh year; William E., son of Henry and Hannah Wood, November 2, 1817, in his 21st year. The Other graves are, many of them, designated by small, low head-stones, without inscription or initial.

PAVONIA STATION is on the line of the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at the junction of the Mount Holly Railroad. The Burlington County Railroad trains also stop at the station. The citizens of Pavonia, Cramer Hill and Wrightville have easy access to this station.

WRIGHTSVILLE. - The site of this town is on the four hundred acre tract of land bought by Samuel Spicer of Samuel Coles, in 1687, and passed to his son Thomas, and from him to his daughters, Rebecca and Sarah, who married, respectively, William Folwell and Joseph Cowperthwait, who settled at the place before the beginning of the present century. The residence of William Folwell is now owned and occupied by Captain Emor D. French. The residence of Joseph Cowperthwait stands on the east bank of Coopers Creek, a short distance north of the Federal Street bridge. It is still occupied as a dwelling, but is quite dilapidated. It was probably the residence of Thomas Spicer, the grandfather of Rebecca and Sarah. At this place a ferry across Coopers Creek was established by Samuel Spicer, about 1736, and in 1748 an effort was made to build a bridge, which was not successful until 1764. The main route of travel then passed over this ferry and bridge from Burlington to Philadelphia. The locality was known as Spicers Ferry, and later as Spicers Bridge.

Between 1855 and 1873 a number of dwellings were built on Federal Street, near Coopers Creek, and occupied by John C. Gray, John Wright, William Starn, Joseph Folwell and Daniel Bishop, and until 1874 the village was called Spicerville. In 1874 John Wright, a prominent citizen of the village, laid out a large number of building lots, built many dwelling-houses and a town hall, with many other improvements, and the town has since been called Wrightsville. Since October, 1885, forty new brick dwellings have been built.

It contains two large chemical works, the Overbrook Mills, one varnish manufactory, one bleachery and dye works, two general stores, two grocery stores, two saddler shops, two, carriage and smith shops, one drug store, one bakery, one china store, one flour, grain and feed store, one large hotel and a post-office and ninety to one hundred private dwellings. There is also a large, substantial three-story brick hall, forty by sixty feet in dimensions, built by John Wright, for the convenience of the citizens as a hall for meetings of various kinds, also lodge-rooms and two public schools. The Camden transfer offices and the Stockton Rifle Range with the park and pavilion, are also located in Wrightsville. The largest portion of the town is built on both sides of Federal Street. The inhabitants number about six hundred.

The large brick hotel in Wrightsville was built in 1877 for George Fifer, but was leased to John L. Smith, who conducted it until 1885, when it was sold to the present proprietor, John Berge. The post-office is located in the general store of Charles W. Scott, at Twenty-first and Federal Streets, who is also the present postmaster. He established this store in 1876; E.W. Bray opened his store nearer the creek in 1881; Jonas B. Clark started a grocery store some years ago; Sharpless & Bro., have been established twelve years and are dealers in flour, grain, feed, seeds, etc. The Wrightsville District, formed from a part of the Rosendale District, has two schools. There are two teachers and one hundred and twenty scholars.

LODGES. - Cyrene Castle, No. 8, Knights of the Golden Eagle, was instituted on November 26, 1885, with forty-four members. At the present time (1886) there are one hundred members, among whom are many of the leading men of Stockton township.

The officers at institution were: P.C., George Williams; N.C., Andrew J. Morris; V.C., F.A. Buren; H.P., Frederick Jones; V.H., David Ristine; M. of R., R.W. Dawson; C. of E., Howard E. Miller; K. of E., George H. Gilbert; Sir H., Alexander H. Dick. Present officers: P.C., Emmor D. French; N.C., John P. Jeffries; V.C., Simmons Watkins; H.P., Thomas F. Taylor; V.H., Jonathan McCardle; M. of R., Charles W. Scott; C. of E., William G. Crumley; K. of E., Allen Hubbs; S.H., David Austermuhl. Meets every Thursday night, at Wright’s Hall, Wrightsville.

Ionic Lodge, No. 2, Shield of Honor, was instituted in April, 1886, with about forty members, and is increasing, having now over fifty members.

The first physician in Wrightsville was Dr. Philip Beale, who located in 1879 and removed to Camden in 1884. Dr. H.H. Sherk is the only resident physician.

THE CAMDEN TRANSFER LINE has its office at the corner of Eighteenth and Federal Streets. Samuel H. French is the proprietor, and it was established in September, 1876. There are two lines running from Market Street Ferry, Camden, to corner of Twenty-fourth and Federal Streets, and known as the Market Street line. Fifty-five horses and from twenty-five to thirty men are constantly employed in the running of a continual line of these coaches, making the trip every forty minutes. The line has continued without interruption since first started. The transfer lines carry from eighty to one hundred thousand excursionists yearly to Stockton Park and various places in the township. Captain Emmor D. French is the general superintendent.

CRAMER HILL.

For many years previous to 1874 that portion of Cramer Hill first laid out into lots on the south was unoccupied. A small colony of colored people had located to the northeast, and nearer the river, and called their settlement East Camden. The only resident on South Cramer Hill was an old colored woman, known to the residents of Spicersville as Aunt Rosy. She had a small hut on the hill, and was in reality a squatter, having taken possession of the land which belonged to Thomas F. McKeen. In 1874 Alfred Cramer and Joseph F. McMasters bought sixteen acres of McKean and laid out a town-plat with two hundred and forty building lots, and that year erected the first house and store at what is now the corner of Cooper Street and Westfield Avenue. Alfred Cramer occupied the dwelling, and early in 1875 the first Baptist Sunday-school in Stockton township was organized in this building. The teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Price, Miss Lydia Wright, Miss Sallie Wright and Mrs. Alfred Cramer. In 1883 the First Baptist Church of Cramer Hill was organized. William F. Miller built the second dwelling house in 1875.

In 1876 Joseph Cramer, brother of Alfred Cramer, bought the store and dwelling and opened a general store. The Sunday-school teachers, with the assistance of the Trinity Baptist Church of Camden, built a frame Mission Chapel and fitted it for school purposes. A large double frame house was built by the Rev. Sumner Hale, and two double houses were soon after erected for Isaac Stone, David B. Ristine, Charles E. Allen and Alfred Cramer. Other early settlers were William Morse, John D. Jeffries, Henry Stoeckle and Alexander Dick.

In 1884 Joseph M. McMasters was appointed at Indian agent and removed to Nevada, and Alfred Cramer bought of Joshua R. Jones a tract of land and divided it into one hundred and twenty-five building lots, and of the Pitman heirs land for fifty lots, and in 1885 he bought land of Samuel H. French and laid off one hundred and thirty-five lots, and in the same year extended his lines over the line of the Camden and Amboy Railroad by the purchase of one hundred and sixteen acres of farm land from Lemuel Horner, which he divided into sixteen hundred building lots. The deed for this tract contains a clause preventing the sale of intoxicating drinks. In 1886 he bought of William B. Cooper land for one hundred and twenty lots and other miscellaneous lots, making altogether three thousand building lots. Of these, twelve hundred are sold to individuals who have built and are building and improving the land.

The town-plat is well laid out; the avenues and streets are graded and sixty feet wide, with shade-trees on each side; the dwellings are set back some distance from the street, and all buildings erected must be of the required standard; hence all the residences are well designed and many fine buildings are now to be seen in the town. Cramer Hill at this time (1886) contains one drug store, five general stores, one shoe store, one printing house and a number of small shops, and over two thousand inhabitants. Joseph Cramer conducted the first store in connection with the post-office. Henry Stoeckle started the second store in 1883. There are four schools, with about three hundred scholars.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CRAMER HILL is located on the corner of Cooper and Master Streets. This church is the outgrowth of a mission-school, which was organized in the first store built in Cramer Hill, in 1875. For several years Clarence Woolston, a student of Bridgeton Seminary, and afterward a graduate of Crozer Theological Seminary, conducted services in the chapel, which was built in 1876. Wilson English, of Camden, and other students of Crozer occasionally assisted. In 1881 the Rev. Alfred Caldwell became the first regular pastor of the chapel. In September, 1883, the mission was organized by a conference of the delegates of the West Jersey Baptist Association, and among the constituent members were John P. Jeffreys and wife, Andrew Morris and wife, Thomas Hollows and wife, Joseph Cramer and wife, William Frazier and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Griffey and Miss Lydia Stone. The Rev. A.J. Hay was called as pastor to the church, and at this time (1886) still officiates. There are ninety regular members of the church, and two hundred and seventy scholars in the Sunday-school, under the care of Andrew Jenkins as superintendent. Miss Mary Hill is the organist of the Sunday-school. This congregation is now organizing a mission in North Cramer Hill, at the corner of Grant and Horner Avenues, where three building-lots have been donated for that purpose by Alfred Cramer, Esq. Lemuel Horner and Joseph Cramer, each contributing one hundred dollars, and a large number of the citizens have contributed smaller sums for the same purpose. The congregation is now preparing for the erection of the mission chapel.

ST. WILFRED PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHAPEL.- A number of the citizens of Cramer Hill, who were desirous of establishing a church of this denomination in the town, met at the house of Arthur Matthews, in 1884, and determined to contribute weekly sums as subscriptions toward the erection of a suitable place of worship. Among the contributors were Frederick Jones and wife, Arthur Mathews and wife, George Gilbert and wife, Edward Hankin and others. In 1885 sufficient funds were raised, and by September of that year Jeffreys & Jenkins, contractors, had completed a neat, one-story frame chapel, twenty by thirty-three feet and twenty-four feet high, with cupola and bell. It was dedicated September 27, 1885, by Bishop Scarborough. Ministers were supplied until October, 1885, when the Rev. H.B. Bryan became the rector. A Sunday-school was also early in progress. At the present time (1886) there are forty-three members of the church, and fifty-one teachers and scholars in the Sunday-school, with Frederick Jones as superintendent.

THE HOSANNA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (colored), at Cramer Hill, originated from a series of religious meetings held in the house of Miss Hetty Waples, on Saunders Street, in 1862. Nine persons became members of this meeting under the ministration of Elder Peter Gardiner. In 1863 these meetings were held at the houses of John Collins and Peter Walters. Caleb Walters, the father of Peter, was an earnest worker, and was known as the founder of the "Little Hosanna Church," as it was called, a small, one-story frame building, sixteen by twenty feet in size, built on Saunders Street. In this church the congregation worshipped until 1871, when Elder William Grimes rebuilt the church and enlarged it to twenty by forty feet in dimensions. The pastors who have been assigned to this congregation are the Revs. Peter Gardiner, Henry Davis, Joseph Stewart, George E. Boyer, Francis Hamilton, Theodore Gould, James Watson, Jeremiah Turpin, William Grimes, John Cornish, I.J. Hill, Isaac I. Murray, Jeremiah Pierce, Robert Dunn, George A. Othello, Benjamin Timothy, Isaac J. Hill, Littleton Sturgis, George A. Mills, John Whitecar and Francis F. Smith, the present pastor. There are twenty-seven members. The Sunday-school has been in progress since the formation of the church. William L. White was superintendent for several years. At this time (1886) there are thirty-nine teachers and scholars in the Sunday-school, with Wilson Watson as superintendent and George Price assistant.

UNION MISSION, at Cramer Hill, also called the Aurora Church, was built through the influence of Mrs. Francis Maxfield in 1885. Meetings had been held in her house four years previously, and through her efforts and by small contributions of the colored citizens, a small, one-story frame mission chapel, twelve by eighteen feet in dimensions, was built. The Rev. James Chamberlain was the first minister; he was succeeded by the Rev. James Bowser. In 1884 the Rev. William Camomile was sent as pastor, and in 1886, the present minister, the Rev. James K. Johnson, officiates. There are but few members of this church. The Sunday-school is under the care of Mrs. Cassie Stewart as superintendent.

ALFRED CRAMER is a descendant of David Cramer, a native of England who emigrated from England to this country with his wife about the middle of the eighteenth century, settled on Long Island and there followed his trade of a moulder. He had eight children, - Jeremiah, David, Isaac, Joseph, John, Mary, Abigail and Elizabeth.

When Joseph, the fourth son, who was born in 1780, was eight years old, his father removed to Cumberland County, N.J., when he continued his occupation. Joseph became noted for his skill in mathematics, was self-educated, taught the English branches in the schools of Philadelphia, and other places, and later in life published an astronomical map. Joseph married Deborah, daughter of David Van Hook, of Port Elizabeth, N.J., who owned the mill at Schooner Landing, where he and his wife died, each at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. Their children were David, John, Joseph, Isaac, Selinda, Rachel and Mary.

Isaac Cramer, the fourth son, and father of Alfred Cramer, was born near Blackwood, N.J., April 22, 1820. When sixteen years old he was apprenticed to the wheelwright trade in Philadelphia with William Haskins, on Maiden Street, between Front and Frankford. After completing his apprenticeship he returned to New Jersey, locating at Kinzeytown (afterwards Creesville), where he worked for Joseph Monroe. In 1841, he married Mary, daughter of Ephraim and Anna Bee, of Bee Corner, now called Salina. They had four children, - Hiram, a member of the Twelfth New Jersey Veteran Volunteer Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va.; Joseph, married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary A. Merrill, of Woodbury, N.J., and is in business at Cramer’s Hill; Mary died at the age of thirteen; and Alfred, who married Priscilla A., daughter of John and Elizabeth Wright, of Camden, by whom he had five children, - Alfred, Ida M., Lydia P. (deceased), Estella I. and Lois V.

Alfred Cramer was the second child, and was born near Blackwood, December 12, 1844. He remained with his father upon the farm until he was of age. Farm-work did not suit his taste, and he became a canvasser for books. This proved a valuable experience to him and helped to fit him for a business career. His father opened for him a store in Creesville, which he conducted for five years. After that he came to Camden, where he engaged in the coal business with his father-in-law, John Wright, for four years. About this time he turned his attention to real estate, and began to purchase land with a view to laying out a town, and Cramer’s Hill is the result.

Mr. Cramer carried through his plans against the advice of friends, and his success is due to patient industry and faith in his undertaking. He has sold five hundred lots to families, many of which were paid for in monthly installments, and many are now owned by skilled mechanics and tradesmen doing business in Philadelphia. Mr. Cramer is still adding largely to his original purchase.

DUDLEY

is a small village southeast from Cramer Hill, and on the line of the Burlington County Railroad. It takes its name from the Hon. Thomas H. Dudley. There are from twelve to fifteen fine residences in the village, including the large mansion and buildings of the Hon. Thomas H. Dudley, and known as "The Grange," also one church, one store and one physician’s office. The general store was started by the present owner, J.S. Corkhill, in 1885. Dr. Jerome L. Artz, who located in Dudley in 1885, was born in Ganges, Richland County, Ohio, in 1859; was educated in the schools of his native place; commenced the study of medicine with Dr. G.W. Kester in 1875, and entered the Homoeopathic Hospital College at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1877; in 1878 removed to Philadelphia and entered the Hahnemann Medical College, and graduated therefrom in the class of 1881. He was assistant at this college and the Children’s Hospital until 1885, when he removed to Dudley.

The cemetery belonging to the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Camden is located in the western portion of Dudley, between the Moorestown pike and Westfield Avenue. The area is about six acres, neatly inclosed and handsomely laid out in square lots, and wide avenues leading to the main drive.

MERCHANTVILLE. - The town is situated on the Amboy Division of the Camden and Mount Holly Railroad, about four miles east of Camden; the turnpike leading from Camden to Moorestown passes through the town. It contains a population of about six hundred, and is largely the residence of people in business in Camden and Philadelphia. It has a post-office, town hail, depot, telegraph and express offices, school-house, four churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and African Methodist) and a large boarding-house situated in Oak Grove.

The village prior to 1850 contained only the buildings of the farm and tenant-houses of the Rudderow family. Soon after that time Alexander G. Cattell purchased the plot of ground containing the old house built by John Rudderow in 1804, which he tore down and erected on its site his residence. In 1856 Amos Rudderow, who owned the farm, sold to Jacob Bunting, ten acres of land on the south side of the pike, for the purpose of laying it out into lots. He erected a house, now the property of Mr. Whickall, a spice merchant of Philadelphia. Soon after the Hon. A.G. and E.G. Cattell, John Loutz and David E. Stetson purchased twenty acres of land on the north side of the pike, where each erected a mansion. In 1858 the same persons bought seventy-five acres, the balance of the Amos Rudderow farm. About the same time A.G. and E.G. Cattell purchased the old Coopers woods, on the north side of the railroad, cleared it of stumps and laid it out into lots and began selling. In 1853 the Stockton Hotel was erected on the turnpike, which was kept by Benjamin Martin until 1885. About 1860 a school-house was erected and used until the erection of the present commodious house. The old house is now used as a drug-store. The first store in town was kept by Charles W. Starn, and is now owned by Benj. H. Browning, and is the residence of Dr. D.W. Bartine, who was the first resident physician and is still in practice there.

A town hail, forty by sixty feet, two stories in height, was erected in 1870 at a cost of eight thousand dollars.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - In 1863 an effort was made to build a church at the place, which failed. In the fall of 1865 David S. Stetson, Chas. W. and Jos. A. Starn, members of Bethel Church, residing at Merchantville, called a meeting of the citizens, which met at the old schoolhouse and organized by electing as trustees D.S. Stetson, Mathias Homer, E.G. Cattell, Thomas Sinex, Isaac Hinchman, Charles W. and Joseph A. Starn. A subscription was at once opened and two thousand dollars was subscribed, which was increased to six thousand dollars. A building committee was appointed. Lots for a church and parsonage were donated by James C. Finn, and a church building begun, which was completed in the spring of 1866, and dedicated in March by Bishop Matthew Simpson. The pastor at the time was the Rev. R.S. Harris. He was succeeded by the Revs. David H. Shoch, Wm. W. Moffatt, Edward Hewitt, Wm. Boyd, R.J. Andrews, George B. White, J.E. Price, Nelson McNicholl, William McCowen, W.S. Bernard and J.B. Rogers, who is the present pastor.

The Sunday-school was begun by David S. Stetson, in his own house, and later held in the schoolhouse, and upon the completion of the church the meeting-place was changed to that building.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was erected at a cost of about eight thousand dollars in 1874. The congregation was under the pastoral care of the Rev. Nathaniel L. Upham from its organization to September, 1884, when the Rev. M.C. Wood, the present pastor, assumed the charge. The church has a membership of sixty-seven.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - A small band of this denomination was gathered in the Town Hall in 1873, and organized into a church. Services were supplied by appointment by the bishop from Philadelphia. The congregation was weak for several years, but in 1880 a better spirit prevailed, Grace Parish was erected and the present chapel built. In February, 1883, the Rev. R.G. Moses was selected as rector of the parish, and is now in charge. There are about one hundred and twenty in the parish and fifty-six communicants.

THE POST-OFFICE was established in 1866, with Chas. W. Starn as postmaster. The following persons have officiated as postmasters: John W. Kaighn, Richard Shreiner, Mrs. R. Shreiner, Wm. Kirby, E.L. Shinn and the present incumbent, Gottlieb Mich.

INCORPORATION. - The village was incorporated March 3, 1874, with Mathias Homer as burgess, and Jas. Millinger, Elijah G. Cattell, D.T. Gage, Jos. Baylis, E.S. Hall, T.C. Knight and C.E. Spangler as the first Council, Mr. Homer continued as burgess until 1886, when he was succeeded by John H. Wilkinson. The justices of the peace since the incorporation of the borough have been Richard Shreiner, Wm. Sheldrake, John Potts, E.J. Spangler, E.L. Shinn and Jos. Baylis.

THE STOCKTON SANITARIUM, for the treatment and care of persons suffering from nervous affections, and for mild cases of mental disease, is located at Merchantville, New Jersey, and was opened for patients October 29, 1884. The buildings stand one hundred feet above the elevation of the Delaware River, in grounds containing eleven acres, divided into shade, lawn and garden. They are handsomely, as well as comfortably furnished. All unnecessary restraint is removed, the appearance of an asylum avoided, and a degree of freedom is allowed which would be impossible where large numbers are congregated. It is wholly a private establishment and has no board of directors or trustees. There are separate buildings for the sexes, which gives the patients very considerable more freedom than could be extended if all were in one building. Dr. S. Preston Jones was the founder of the institution, and is still its proprietor.

STOCKTON RIFLE RANGE, when first established by Samuel H. French, in 1866, contained forty-three and one-half acres of ground in Wrightsville. The range proper is provided with the best improved batteries and firing grounds in the United States. As originally built, it contained ranges up to one thousand yards distance; but as this was seldom used, it was deemed advisable to reduce it to six hundred yards. The New Jersey and Pennsylvania Rifle Clubs and teams, the Pennsylvania National Guards and other national military companies meet at this place, and the range is provided with magazines and closets for the exclusive use of the different State organizations.

STOCKTON PARK. - Soon after the rifle range was started an additional forty-six and one-half acres of ground was laid out in connection with the grounds of the range, as a park and pleasure resort, making the park ninety acres in extent. The original buildings were altered and a large pavilion, fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions, erected, a hall for roller-skating, etc. In 1885 Emmor D. French, the superintendent, had constructed an artificial lake, covering twenty-one acres of ground. This lake is only three feet in depth, and is provided with pleasure boats, one being a large boat designed to carry fifty children at one time. The park is the favorite resort of the many cricket clubs, lawn-tennis parties and excursionists of Camden and vicinity.

PENSAUKIN is a small settlement on the Jordantown road, adjoining the borough limits. It was farm lands of the Cattells and William Pigeon, and about eight years ago lots were offered for sale, which were bought slowly by artisans, who have built small but comfortable and convenient residences. It is being substantially built up by actual residents, and is a station on the railroad.

HOMESTEADVILLE. - In July, 1852, two hundred lots were laid out south of Merchantville (which at that time was just begun) and on the Whiskey road. It was a tract of land about six hundred by fifteen hundred feet, having three streets running lengthwise and three crosswise. The lots were not sold readily, but eventually some of them were purchased by colored people. The growth of the place did not reach the expectations of its founders.

SORDENTOWN. - Not far from where Pensaukin is situated, and on the road from the old "Spread Eagle Tavern" to the Union School-house, Thomas Clement, in 1850, laid out thirty-seven lots, which were sold mostly to colored people, and which are still held by them.

JORDANTOWN. - On the road from Merchantville to Fork Landing, and on the old Rudderow lands, several lots were laid out about 1840, and in 1846, when that road was opened, it passed through the place, where, there were four or five houses and a Methodist Episcopal Church, occupied by colored people. From that time the place grew slowly, and is now quite a settlement, with a school-house and neat Methodist Church. In former times yearly "Bush Meetings," as they were called, were held in some of the groves, which were cleared of underbrush for the purpose. These occasions called the old and young from far and near. The Rev. Benjamin Stokeley and the Rev. Isaac Hinson were among the early and prominent ministers who had charge of the meetings and congregation.

DELAIR. - The new village of Delair is situated about four miles from Camden, on the Delaware River and Pennsylvania Railroad, in this township.

Jacob L. Gross, a Lancaster lawyer, moved here with his family in 1868, and soon thereafter purchased ten acres from the Browning estate and ten acres from Isaac Adams, upon which he built three cottages, and his son, Dr. Onan B. Gross, one.

The new town made no further progress, however, for, the next few years, when Bartram L. Bonsall, then publisher of The Camden Post, and John Zimmerman, of Pensaukin, in December, 1885, purchased one hundred and eleven acres, being the farm of Israel B. Adams, son of Isaac Adams, of whom the ten acres had been purchased by Jacob L. Gross seventeen years before.

Messrs. Zimmerman and Bonsall immediately laid the land off into building lots, and during the summer of 1886, sold a large number of them, aggregating in value nearly twenty thousand dollars. Several new houses were constructed and the village bids fair to become a popular suburban place of residence. The situation is delightful, and the ground very high, overlooking the river. The name Delair was given by the late Colonel Isaac S. Buckelew, the two syllables signifying Delaware air. During the fall of 1886 workmen cleared away brush, cut down trees, graded avenues and terraced a high bluff along the railroad. Three hundred Carolina poplar-trees were planted, one every twenty-five feet, over the entire tract, thus marking the avenues and insuring a grateful shade in the future.

MANUFACTURING.

The manufactories of this township, with two or three possible exceptions - as the brick and terra-cotta works at Pea Shore - may be regarded as a portion of the industrial overflow of Camden, being mostly near the city and all having offices there. This is also true of those located farthest away, as, for instance, Augustus Reeves’ establishment.

THE PEA SHORE BRICK AND TERRA-COTTA WORKS are located at Fish House Station, on the Amboy Div. of the Pennsylvania R.R. The works, with the clay-pits near by, occupy forty-five acres fronting on the Delaware River, and prior to 1866 were used for the burning of red bricks only. Soon thereafter the present proprietor, Augustus Reeve, obtained entire control of the works, and in 1877 erected the fire-brick and terra-cotta department, there being on the grounds a large deposit of fire-brick and pipe-clay, and, so far as known, the only deposit south of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, N.J. There are two distinct departments at these works - the red brick manufactory and that for the making of fire-brick and terra-cotta ware. The first, with the kilns, sheds and machinery, cover one and a half acres of ground and contains a Chambers patent brick-machine, capable of producing thirty thousand to thirty-five thousand bricks daily, and is driven by an engine of sixty horse-power. There are three large kilns capable of burning two hundred thousand bricks each. The terra-cotta works are one hundred and thirty-four by sixty feet, with an L extension forty by forty-five feet, and the machinery of this department requires an engine of thirty horse-power. It is fitted up with tempering-mill, stampers and presses for the manufacture of fire-brick, pipe, tile and terra-cotta ware of various kinds; the products are sold to the home market and shipped to many States, and large quantities of the fire-brick clay are sent to various fire-brick works in Philadelphia. Sixty hands are employed. Branch siding of the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which runs through their grounds, together with four hundred feet of wharfage on the river-front, affords them ample facilities for shipping by rail or water in all directions. The office and warehouse is at No. 31 Market Street, Camden, where a large supply of manufactured stock is stored.

THE FAIRVIEW BRICK-WORKS are located at Pea Shore, on the river-front, three miles above Camden, and cover an area of ten acres. They were originated in 1869, by Stone, Hatch & Co. In 1871 Hugh Hatch and Joseph Hatch, brothers, bought the entire grounds and buildings, and they have since conducted the business under the firm-name of Hatch & Brother. There are four large buildings upon the grounds, in which are the different departments for the manufacture of hard, strecher, paving and salmon brick. The mill proper is fitted up with a Chambers & Brothers brick-machine, which has a capacity for making thirty-five thousand to fifty thousand bricks a day. The average speed and production is seventy bricks a minute. The clay is dumped by the car-load into the reservoir of the machine, which mixes and tempers it before it enters the dies. From the dies the bricks pass on an endless belt to the drying-rooms in the main building, which is built of brick, sixty by three hundred feet in size and twenty-seven feet high, with an annex one hundred and ten by one hundred and fifteen feet, and of the same height. There are four arched kilns inclosed in the structure, having a capacity of three hundred and fifty thousand bricks each. The drying-rooms are on the second floor, above the kilns, and are capable Of drying five hundred thousand bricks at one time. Between April 10, 1885, and April 10, 1886, there were made at the works seven million bricks with one machine. In 1882 patents were granted the proprietors for the improved kilns of their own design and invention. On November 23, 1883, the works were destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt in 1884, and greatly increased in size. The machinery requires a sixty horse-power engine, supplied by four large boilers. The works being inclosed, the business is conducted throughout the entire year. Sixty hands are constantly employed. The firm has a large trade and excellent facilities for shipping by vessels from their own wharf on the river-front, and on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The main office of these works is at No. 17 Kaighn Avenue.

THE OVERBROOK MILLS, corner of Seventeenth and Stevens Streets, Camden, covering an area of three acres, were commenced in 1879 by Richard Williamson & Co., for the manufacture of worsted coatings, linings and dress goods. Four large brick buildings are used by this company for different branches of the goods made. In the mill proper, new and improved machinery is used for combing, drawing and spinning the raw material, and the weaving-sheds are specially constructed with top and north light. There is also a large wash and dry-house, a warehouse for storage of wool and a brick engine-house. On August 20, 1885, the mills were totally destroyed by fire at a loss of sixty-two thousand dollars, partly covered by insurance, but within six months they were rebuilt and in complete running order. New and automatic machinery was introduced for the manipulation of the finest grades of mohair and alpaca yarns, which are used for making braids, "seal-skins" and all kinds of fancy goods which require lustrous yarns. The machinery of the different departments is operated by two sixty horsepower engines, with three large tubular boilers. Two hundred and twenty hands are employed. The products of the mills are sold throughout the entire United States, and the company are importers as well as merchants and manufacturers. The store and main office is at No. 20 Strawberry Street, Philadelphia.

J.L. CRAGIN & Co., soap manufacturers, began business at the corner of Seventeenth and Federal Streets in 1879. The firm had for many years conducted the same business in Philadelphia. They make exclusively "Dobbins’ Electric Soap" and "Bradford’s Fig Soap" for woolen and worsted manufacturers. The grounds occupied are two hundred by three hundred feet. The main building is L-shaped, three stories in height, with basement. It extends one hundred and twenty feet on Federal Street, and one hundred and seventy feet on Seventeenth Street. There are also stables and sheds connected with the establishment. The motor is an engine of thirty horsepower, with two flue boilers rated at thirty horsepower each. The company has a paid-in capital of five hundred thousand dollars. One hundred hands are employed. The trade is large and extends throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Cuba, with branch offices in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

THE UNITED STATES CHEMICAL COMPANY, manufacturers of chemicals and fertilizers, was incorporated in 1875, with William J. Jordan, president; George T. Lewis, vice-president; and E.R. Jenks, secretary and treasurer. The company owns an area of thirteen acres, on which are located twelve buildings, which are supplied with the necessary machinery and appliances for the manufacture of their special products. Three large engines, equivalent to two thousand seven hundred horse-power, are required to run the large machinery for crushing and preparing the phosphates and fertilizers. From seventy to eighty men are constantly employed. An extensive business is done, and ample facilities are afforded for shipping by vessels on Coopers Creek, or over the Camden and Amboy Railroad, which is extended along the grounds of the works.

THE ATLANTIC DYE AND FINISHING WORKS were erected in 1882, and the same year began operation at the corner of Sixteenth and Stevens Streets. Captain Somers founded this industry, but conducted it only for a short time. In 1883 Comly J. Mather leased the works, and has since done a prosperous business. The dye-house and finishing-mill occupy an area of one hundred and thirty by eighty feet, with front on Stevens Street, and are furnished with the necessary apparatus for dyeing and finishing cotton and woolen goods; eight small engines are used for running the special machines, and the general machinery is driven by an engine of twenty-five horse-power. The nine engines combined have sixty horsepower. Thirty workmen are constantly employed. The works prepare a large amount of finished material for New Jersey, Pennsylvania and adjacent States.

THE PHILADELPHIA DYE-WORKS AND BLEACHERY, on Jefferson Street, above Broadway, covering an entire square, were established in 1883 by Robert H. Comey, who had started a similar industry in Philadelphia in 1882. There are seven bleaching-houses, one dry-house, one dye-house, and one stable located upon the grounds. A successful trade has been established, which extends through the Middle and the Western States.

A VARNISH MANUFACTORY, for the production of the fine grades of carriage and car varnishes, drying japans, etc., was erected by C. Schrack & Co., on the Moorestown pike, near Coopers Creek, during the year 1869.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Ex-United States Senator Alexander G. Cattell, who has his home in this township, is a son of Thomas W. Cattell, and was born at Salem, N.J. February 12, 1816, where he obtained his education. On arriving at manhood he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he followed in his native town until 1846. He was elected to the New Jersey Legislature in 1840, when but twenty-four years of age, and was clerk of the House in 1842-43. In 1844 he was a member of the convention to revise the State Constitution, and the youngest member of that body.

In 1846 he went to Philadelphia and has been engaged in mercantile pursuits and banking in that city ever since, although he removed his residence to Merchantville, N.J., in 1863. He was a member of both branches of councils, one of the early presidents of the Corn Exchange Association, and in 1857 organized the Corn Exchange Bank, of which he was for thirteen years president. He was elected United States Senator from New Jersey, in 1866, to succeed Hon. J.P. Stockton, and on account of ill health declined a second term. He served in the Senate on the Finance Committee and was chairman of the Library Committee. He was appointed by President Grant as a Commissioner of the District of Columbia, but declined the office. Later his services were brought into requisition on the first board of Civil Service Commissioners, of which George William Curtis was chairman, and at the end of two years resigned to accept the position of Financial agent of the United States in London, to conduct the refunding of the six per cent bonds at a lower rate of interest. He spent one year in London in this work and succeeded in refunding $100,000,000 at five per cent. General Grant regarded him as one of his wisest advisers and best friends. At this time Mr. Cattell is a hale and active man of affairs, engaged in a number of business enterprises confined chiefly to New Jersey. He has just been chosen president of the New Jersey Trust and Safe Deposit Company, of Camden, the first institution of the kind formed in his native State. One of Mr. Cattell’s marked peculiarities is his power of attracting and holding the friendship and confidence of men in all stations of life in which he has been placed - a quality which is due in part to the unswerving honesty and fidelity of his nature and conduct in all the relations of life, and in part to that rare possession called personal magnetism.

1 This island was in the possession of William Penn for some years prior to 1700. On the 25th of October, 1701, he conveyed it to Thomas Fairman, of Shackamaxon, reserving the right of way for four coach horses. Upon his death it passed to his wife, Elizabeth, and later, to a son, Benjamin, who, May 24, 1732, sold it to John Pettys, from whom it took its name. On the 11th of May, 1745, it was sold to John Dobbins. In 1816 the Island was owned by Humphrey Day, Charles H. Fish, Benjamin Loxley, Isaac Hoxey, William Cooper, Jacob Evaul, Joseph Cooper, Abraham Browning, Jonathan Biles and others. In 1824 the land of Charles H. Fish passed to Isaac Fish, and that of Humphrey Day to Jeremiah Fish, and later to Messrs. Sanderson & Sons.

Between the years 1860 and 1870 the west shore of the island was used as a dock for repairing and for a ship-yard. Doughty & Keppela, shipwrights and caulkers, built at the place tugboats and schooners and had thirty-six thousand dollars invested. Joseph Rilot, also a shipwright, had here in 1870 a marine railway. Jacob H. Ambruster, about 1865, erected a building and manufactured chains. At present the island is owned by James Manderson, Dr. Samuel Pancoast and others. The upper part of the island is fitted up as a summer resort and is known as Willow Grove. The island contains over one hundred acres.

2 By the Rev. S. Townsend.

SOURCE:  Page(s) 739-763, History of Camden County, New Jersey, by George R. Prowell, L.J. Richards & Co. 1886
Published 2010 by the Camden County Genealogy Project