Miscellaneous Histories

This section of our website provides access to our digital archives pertaining to Tabernacle

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• Notes on Sandy Ridge
• Notes-on-Friendship-Mill
• Notes on Paisley Part 1
• Notes on Paisley Part 2
• Notes on Paisley Part 3
• Notes on Paisley Part 4

The Taverns of Tabernacle

• Eagle Hotel
• Fox Chase Tavern
• Hampton Gate Tavern
• Kemble Inn
• Naylor’s Tavern
• Sooy Place Tavern
• Whip Poor Will House
• White Horse Tavern

Notes on Sandy Ridge

Residents, Buildings and Maps ©

By Rick Franzen

The area of Sandy Ridge in Tabernacle Township is located below the Carranza Monument, not too far from the former hamlet of Friendship. Some (Ted Gordon and others) have said there are as many as three “Sandy Ridges,” and the geographic area is big enough to support that idea. However, these “notes” are directed at the area once known on Federal Census documents as the tiny hamlet of Sandy Ridge.

An old maxim in genealogy research is to start with “what you know and go back in time.” While in other articles we have started at a known beginning and come forward, today we will start with what we currently see and  go back in time.

The first thing one might notice at the Sandy Ridge site is a large square concrete block that sits just off Carranza Road and is similar in appearance to other nearby sawmill bases. However, the area does not have the sawdust “pits” or any other feature similar to sites at Featherbed, High Crossing and Harris Station. The threaded rods within it are 12” a side. While at the other sites they vary from roughly 26” x 15,” 30” x 30” and 42” by several feet. So, while we can probably rule this out as a “sawmill base,” we could assume some other type of mechanical device was anchored to it.

As one traverses the “hamlet,” several foundations and a cellar hole or two are noticeable. Before we try to identify each, we will travel back in time to see what various maps, aerial photos and other documents show us.

2012 HISTORIC AERIALS MAP

This map gives no hint that nothing other than forest and sand roads exist at this location.

1995 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

The area of Sandy Ridge is more defined, but still does not indicate any structural presence.

1984 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

Just bright white sand roads are all that is clear, but there may be building remnants in the section where Pioneer Gun Club once was. It also may show a utility building next to the cranberry bog.

1984 TOPO MAP

The topo map defines a building close to Carranza Road. It appears to be in the same spot as the aerial view.

1973 TOPO MAP

This map may be an earlier version of the previous map. Everything seems to be the same. The single building is quite obvious.

1970 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

There is the slight hint of a building where the Pioneer Gun Club stood once.

1965 TOPO MAP

Again, we see what we have seen in the 1964 and 1973 topo maps.

1963 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

Clearer and sharper than most aerials, the Pioneer Gun Club hugs Carranza Road and at least one house is visible. It is also possible there is a house within the “arc” section.

1960 TOPO MAP

This is the 4^th topo map which has the same features.

1956 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

A lot more shows on this map. The gun club is clearly defined, as are three and possibly four houses. Guy Thompson reports that an Earl Hill lived in one of the houses and that two others were leased. One by the Antler Deer Club, possibly the same club now in Shamong. The concrete block is also visible.

1955 Map of Wharton Buildings (courtesy of Guy Thompson)

This very interesting state map confirms who occupied which buildings at Sandy Ridge. Pioneer Gun Club is depicted, as is Antlers Gun Club. They are at opposite ends of the property. One building, south of what is believed to be the Holloway House, is rented by an E. R. Hill.  Another building, between the Holloway House and Pioneer Gun Club, is unoccupied.

TWO 1955 COURIER POST NEWPAPER ARTICLES

The Antler Gun Club held its annual shoot at Sandy Ridge. Barry Sinclair was the winner of the shotgun event and Elmer Devenney captured the rifle contest.

These articles confirm their presence at Sandy Ridge

1954 TOPO MAP

Showing Sandy Ridge before the Wharton Track was purchased by the State, there are at least eight buildings visible. Four are inside the “arc,” while two each appear in the Pioneer “triangle” and outside of the “arc.” The 1929 map defines many of these and will be noted there.

1951 TOPO MAP

Ten buildings now appear. The additional two are inside the “arc,” and given some information from Guy Thompson, they may be the two buildings moved and added to the Pioneer Deer Club structure.

1951 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

Most of the ten buildings in the 1951 topo are visible. Only one of those “outside of the “arc” is visible. The one seemingly missing is the migrant housing dormitory. The Pioneer building seems to have its two additions on it. The utility building beside the bogs also could be shown.

1950 Census

In 1950 it seems only one family lives at Sandy Ridge. It is Earl Hill (born 1887), his wife Rose Ann (born 1926) and their five sons. No occupation is listed for any family member so we might only speculate what either parent did for a living. The children were Earl (age 7), Edward (age 6), Robert (age 5), Barry (age 1) and Thomas (six months).

The census also indicates at least three vacant houses, so this family may be one of the last to reside at Sandy Ridge.

1942 TOPO MAP

Surprisingly, only four buildings show on this map. Most likely the mapmaker did not include all there.

1940 CENSUS

1940 Census: In 1940 there were three families living at Sandy Ridge.

Joseph Holloway: With Joseph are his wife Addie and daughters Mabel and Jean. He continues to operate the cranberry bog for the Wharton Estate.

Edward Holloway: Two new members have joined Edwards family. They are son Carol (1931-?) and daughter Shirley (1936-?). Edward is a laborer in the cranberry bogs.

Stanley Bakely: Stanley and his wife Florence, along with their five children, now live at Sandy Ridge. Stanley is a laborer for a road construction outfit. He does not appear to work in the cranberry bogs. The children are Stanley (1933-2011), Vernon (1934-2000), Shirley (1936-2016), Janett (1938-1989) and Virginia (1939-?).

In 1950 the families were living in Tabernacle.

The following pictures are from the Holloway era at Sandy Ridge.

Addie and Mabel Holloway on the porch of the family home in Sandy Ridge.

Jean Holloway Sooy at Sandy Ridge.

Joe Holloway at Sandy Ridge with hound dogs and possible bobcat.

Addie and the children at Sandy Ridge.

Addie Sloan Holloway (1886-1967) with children Mabel and Maud. Interloping is “Lilly.” Circa 1928.

1938 COURIER POST NEWPAPER ARTICLE

The Sandy Ridge Antlers Club attended the regular meeting of the State Federation of Deer Hunters and Clubs, at the Union Fire Hall in Medford.

1935 COURIER POST NEWPAPER ARTICLE

The Sandy Ridge Antlers Club held a meeting on Warren Avenue in West Berlin.

1934 COURIER POST NEWPAPER ARTICLE

The Sandy Ridge Antler Club went into the deer woods at Harris Station. Thirty-five members and officers participated.

1931 HISTORICAL AERIALS MAP

Quite out of focus, this is a difficult map to see. But at least nine buildings seem to be there.

1930 CENSUS

1930 Census: A review of the 1930 Tabernacle Census shows the following residents at Sandy Ridge. All worked in the cranberry bogs.

Joseph Holloway: Joseph (1878-?) is a manager of a cranberry farm. With him are his wife Addie (1887-?) and daughters Mabel (1909-?), Maud (1909-?) and Jean (1928-?).

Edward Holloway: Edward is a laborer in the cranberry bogs. He is 25 years old (1905-?) and is the oldest child of Joseph and Addie. His wife is Evelyn (1914-?) and they were married when she was 15.

Joseph Johnson: Joseph is a 54-year-old widower who also is a laborer in the cranberry bogs.

Ernest King:  Another laborer working in the cranberry bogs, Ernest is 28 years old (1902-?). His wife Myrtle (1906-?) and children Daniel (1924-?), Charles (1925-?) and John (1927-?) live with him.

As a side note, this census shows James and Florence Forsythe living at Apple Pie Hill. He and his wife (from Northern Ireland and England) are servants in a sanitarium. And living at White Horse is one Oliver Jackson. Does this confirm a sanitarium on Apple Pie Hill?

1929 MAP FROM THE WHARTON COLLECTION AT THE STATE ARCHIVES

The location of the Holloway house is pinpointed, and its dimensions are given (18’x30’). The cranberry pickers house is noted, and it is a whopping 22’x125.’ Three other houses are also shown, two at 16’x28’ and one at 16’x32.’ The tool house is also noted over by the cranberry bog.

1920 CENSUS Sandy Ridge

The 1920 Census lists Tabernacle residents who specifically live at Sandy Ridge. Here is a look at them and their families, as well as where they were in previous years. For those who were in the sawmill business, this helps pinpoint the mills year of operation.

William Theodore Bozarth (1861-1939): William is listed as the Manager of cranberry farms. Also, there are son Freemont (1898-?) and wife Anna Bell. Freemont is a laborer in a sawmill. There are two reasons, linked together, that indicate the location of the sawmill is near High Crossing. Henry Beck, in a 1930’s newspaper article, visited the area and noted a sawmill with 20-30-foot-high saw dust piles. He said it was “Bozarth’s Sawmill.”  In the mid 1940’s local resident Harry Worrell and later Rickey Haines recall this particular site with the saw dust piles. By then the piles were only 8-10 foot high, as blueberry farmers had been  taking the sawdust to put beneath their plants. We can trace’s William through census data other sources available on Ancestry.com.

1939 Obituary: William “Old Bill” Bozarth, a well-known figure in the Pines, died on August 2. He was a caretaker of the Wharton Estate and earned national publicity with his encounter with the Jersey Devil in 1928.

1930 Census: William is a caretaker for the Wharton Estate, living with his wife in Washington Township.

The 1930 census could be a mistake in location, show residency at Friendship Bogs, or at a minimum, indicate that the sawmill no longer operates. In fact, when Henry Beck writes of this site in September of 1933, he talks about an abandoned industry here.

1915 Census: William is a sawyer and lives in Bass River Township. With him is his second wife Anna Bell. One six-year-old child (Howard P) lives with them in their rented home.

1910 Census: William is the manager of a lumbermill and lives on East Main Road in Bass River Township. With him are five children, including Freemont,  and his wife Maggie. Son Howard, living with them,  is a sawyer.

1905 Census: William is sawyer and lives in Bass River Township. With him are his wife Maggie and seven children, including Fremont. Son Howard is also a sawyer, while 16-year-old daughter Ella is a sawmill laborer.

1900 Census: William is a sawyer and lives in Bass River Township. With him are his wife Maggie Ford Bozarth (1869- 1912) and five children. Included among the five is Fremont.

Howard Caleb Bozarth: In the 1920 census Howard (1881-1970 )is listed as a sawyer. Undoubtably, he is the son of William T. With him are his wife Hattie (1880-?) and two teenaged children, Stanley (1906-?) and Evelyn (1908- ?).

1940: The family composition is the same as 1930, but they all now live on “New York” Highway in Bass River.

1930 Census: Living on St Louis Avenue in Egg Harbor City, Howard is a “huckster.” His family now includes a son in law and a granddaughter.

1918 Draft Registration: Howard is a “teamster” at Batsto.

1915 Census: Howard is a sawyer, living in Bass River Township, next to his parents, and with his wife Hattie and their two children.

1910 Census: Howard and his family are living with his parents in Bass River Township on East Main Road. He is a sawyer.

1900 Census: 19-year-old Howard lives with his parents on Union Hill Road in New Gretna.

The census data and draft card records show that in 1918 Howard was at Batsto and by 1930 he was in Egg Harbor City. Perhaps this narrows down the years of operation for the sawmill, on the broad side, from 1918-1930.

Peter Cipol: Born in Italy, Peter (1896-?) is a laborer at Friendship Farms. With him are his wife Hatti (1901-?) and son William (1909-?). No other collaborating information was found, but there is a possibility he is the Peter Cipoli later incarcerated in Pennsylvania. Interestingly, next to his name are others also working at Friendship Farms, but living in what appears to be, on the census, Friendship Bogs (?), Hampton Gate Road and one other undecipherable place.

They are Henry Sassanson (unclear spelling), Edward Curtis, Marge Batterson and her son Theodore, George Wishman, son Henry and Granddaughter Rebecca Miller.

Orville Ford: In the 1920 census, Orville (1893-?) works at a sawmill. His particular occupation is not decipherable. It may be farmer. With him are his wife Amanda ( 1892-?) and there three very young children (Elton – 5, Irwin – 2 and Russell – 1).

1950 Obituary: Orville died on 13 April while residing at 137 Grans Street in Hammonton.

1942 Draft Registration: Living at 135 S Monroe Avenue, Orville is employed by Atlantic City Electric Company.

1940 Census: In this census the Ford’s live on Monroe Avenue in Hammonton. His wife and daughter are the only other family members. Orville’s occupation is a “ground hand” in the electric company.

1930 Census: Orville is a truck driver living in Egg Harbor City on Boston Avenue. His wife, as well as another child (Evelyn born 1922) are with him. His wife and daughter are the only other family members.

1915 Census: The family lives in Washington Township. Orville and his wife are living with an older gentleman , Sam Ford, perhaps his father. He is a laborer, while Sam owns the property, and it is a farm.

1910 Census: Single, 17 and living with his father, Orville does “odd jobs.”

So in 1930 Orville is in Egg Harbor City (where Howard Bozarth also is) while in 1915 he is in Washington Township. Again, this helps define the time frame for the operation of the sawmill.

Robert Maxwell: Born about 1853, Robert seems to be the oldest resident of Sandy Ridge. He is a laborer in a sawmill and lives alone.

1885 Census: A J. Robert maxwell and his family (Emma and Maggie, Sarah, William and Joseph) live in Randolph Township.

1880 Census: A Robert Maxwell, born about 1854, lives in Bass River and works in a paper Mill. With him are Emma, Maggie, Sarah, William and Joseph.

1920 CENSUS Washington Township

This census shows the Holloway Family living in Jenkins Neck. Head of household Joseph is a farm laborer. So, his family moved to Sandy Ridge after 1920 and probably before 1928 (see picture).

1910 CENSUS (Washington Township)

Joseph and his family live in Washington Township. Since his neighbors are the Mark Alloway family and the Julius Gerber family, he is living at Friendship. Joseph is the manager of a cranberry bog (Friendship Bogs).

Further research of earlier censuses turned up very little cohesive information. The land had been part of the Wharton Estate and undoubtably any study of its deeds would be very time consuming. Yet we will continue to seek earlier information. It would be especially helpful to know when the Sandy Ridge bogs were established.

An added bonus to this article is a summary of comments made by Jean Holloway Sooy in an oral, taped interview from 1992. It was one of at least ten such tapings set up by Garfield DeMarco and carried out by Betsy Carpenter.

THE JEAN SOOY INTERVIEW

The interview was conducted by Betsy Carpenter and Garfield DeMarco on August 10, 1992. Notes were taken from a video provided by Stockton University and with permission of the Woodland Township Historical Society.

Jean’s parents were Joseph Holloway and Addie Sloan. Her siblings were Eddie and twins Mabel and Maud. Jean was born in 1927, her sisters in 1908 and her brother in 1904.

Sandy Ridge was a cranberry only operation, no blueberries.

Neighbors at Friendship Bog were John and Anna Shinske, with their children Johnny and Alice. Alice was a deaf mute. Dominick Renzi was a worker at Friendship, which grew both blueberries and cranberries.

The WPA made Carranza Road a gravel Road.

In 1954 a massive forest fire hit the area. Jean went to Mt Holly. Rain came at the last minute and saved their property.

A friend was Ruth Eldridge Gerber, she was six years older than Jean. Ruth’s father was the railroad station master for the Atsion and the Chatsworth stations.

The two horses at Sandy Ridge belonged to the Wharton Estate.

In the wintertime ice was cut from the cranberry bogs. It was placed in either of two ice houses at Sandy Ridge. They were five to six feet deep. Sawdust was collected from a nearby sawmill (where there was a huge mound) ( probably Bozarth’s) and packed around the ice.

Sandy Ridge never had electricity.

At least six photographs were discussed in the interview. Many later became part of the “DeMarco” collection.

Joe Holloway’s father (Jean’s grandfather) was killed at Harrisville. Jean did not know the story.

In 1941 the family moved from Sandy Ridge to Chatsworth. Eddie Holloway moved to Tabernacle, near the “Haines” store.

Eddie’s wife ( Evelyn Applegate) drove a bus for the school district. Eddie worked for the County.

Joe Johnson left Sandy Ridge in 1942.

Hector Nicholson left about this time and he later married another resident Aura ??, who was a nurse.

Jean’s maternal grandparents were Edward Sloan and Christina Cobb.

Stephen and Anna Lee were neighbors at Speedwell. They had a big house on the west side of Route 563. It burned when Jean was quite young.

The Lee’s separated and Anna moved to Mt Holly. Stephen moved to Philadelphia.

Jean attended school for two years in Tabernacle, then went to Chatsworth.  It seems like she went to 2^nd and 3^rd in Tabernacle and the school was the two-room schoolhouse by the Town Hall site. Her teachers were Betty Wilkins and May Stucky. This probably was about 1934-5. Jean remembers that the school was moved in 1936.

As she recalled, 7^th and 8^th graders went to Vincentown schools.

The twins went to school in Tabernacle and not to the school at Friendship (it may have been closed by then).

Joe Holloway used to have watermelon and cantaloupe parties at Sandy Ridge. He grew many vegetables by the homestead.

Jean sorta remembers the workers house at Sandy Ridge, it was not very near her house.

SANDY RIDGE LAND OWNERSHIP PRIOR TO STATE ACQUISITION

The land mass at Sandy Ridge came into state ownership in the 1950’s. Prior to that it had been part of the Joseph Wharton Tract. Using some relevant maps and property deeds we can approximate earlier ownership of that area called “Sandy Ridge,” where a small hamlet was once located.

Wharton tract land deals are confusing and not easy to trace. What may have been an individual land plot before Joseph Wharton’s land grab and the State’s consolidation of his properties, would eventually be lumped in with other plots and treated as one big tract. So to locate an early deed, one has to know the exact location of the land in question.

Today’s Sandy Ridge sits on Carranza Road, between the Featherbed and Tulpehocken Creeks. Luckily there is a collection of maps dated 1927 of Wharton’s holdings. This map collection can be found in the State Archives. As we look at two of the maps one can find what appears to be the Sandy Ridge area ( sheets 1 and 2 of the collection). However, there are no place names noted.

But what is noted is the size, previous owner and deed citation of individual lots. Wow! So, when we overlay the 1949 topo map with the 1927 Wharton map, we can confirm the Sandy Ridge location on both and now have deed information to research. The map indicates that Geo Dallas sold the land to Joseph Wharton.

In 1874 (30 September) Joseph Wharton purchased this area from one George M Dallas   (Burlington County deed book A9 page 75). The price was $150.00. Dallas was selling the land as a trustee for the estate of William Patterson of Philadelphia. No acreage is mentioned in this deed but the 1927 map seems to indicate 47.7 acres. It is mentioned that it is “a large tract of land from the Atsion Estate.” The estate was partitioned by A K Hay, William Parry and Franklin Earle.

In 1865 (18 March) William Patterson purchased this area from John Stratton, Master (Burlington County deed book E7 page 396. The price was $500 and the acreage seems to be 119.25 acres.

A “Master” may have been used in this sale because two individuals, Franklin and Taunton Earl seemed to have been in a dispute about it. The land may have been owned earlier by Thomas Earl (possibly the father of Franklin and Taunton). Thomas may have purchased the land in 1758.

Notes on Friendship Mill

Tabernacle’s Friendship Property by Rick Franzen ©

Our first inkling of a sawmill at Friendship comes from a November 1711 document recorded with the West Jersey Proprietors (West Jersey Loose Records 1711 – Hayns, John) now on file in the NJ State Archives. The West Jersey Loose Records date to the 1600’s and were one of the many sets of documents use by the Proprietors of East and West Jersey to document land transactions. Eventually all records were donated to the State Archives.In short, the process by which land was acquired in the Colony went something like this. In West Jersey  the Proprietors allocated the land via a process that usually had five steps (Using the records of the East and West Jersey Proprietors, Joe Klett, 2014).

1. A “dividend” was declared, and a share of acreage rights was apportioned to shareholders.
2. The shareholder applied for a “warrant.”
3. The Surveyor General received the warrant and laid out the tract of land.
4. A “return of survey” was completed and then approved by the Council.
5. A deed was granted to the shareholder.

So our 1711 document seems to be from step four above. In it two surveys are noted, one of 50 acres and one of 2240 acres. With the larger survey, mention is made of seven individuals sharing in the land (the shareholders). The land is described as “On a branch of Ancocas Creek, to a cedar swamp road, on a creek called Cuttuxink, Burlington County.

Here is a copy of the greater part of the survey. You probably will not be able to read it but should be able to get the basics of it.

The seven individuals (each with an equal interest of 340 acres) are John Haines, Richard Haines, William Haines, Thomas Wilkins, John Borton, Benjamin Moore and Jonathan Haines. This information is also contained in the 1902 book, by Richard Haines, entitled “Ancestry of the Haines, Sharp, Collins, (and nine other) Families” published by Sinnickson Chew and Sons Company. This book also identifies the survey as the “Friendship Tract.”

Many of the documents of this early era tended to confuse us a bit because they seemed to indicate that the Friendship area was in Evesham Township. However, a quick look at the history of that Township (https://evesham-nj.org/resident/history) shows that,when created in 1692 as one of 13 townships in Burlington County, it included today’s Shamong and Washington townships. In 1802 Washington Township was carved out. Shamong, established about 1853, was carved out around that year.

From the “Clovercroft Chronicles 1314-1893” by Mary Haines we have confirmation that Jonathan was the son of John. She further states that the 2290 acres were purchased after the survey by John, “his brother Richard, son Jonathan and others.” The land was located at the Friendship Mill on a branch of the Rancocas. “After the survey was made, they bought the Indian title and received deeds from the chief We-Sosig.” (This is not mentioned in the land allocation process)

The relationship of some of the individuals is straight forward. But first a little history. This information comes from the Richard Haines book. In the spring of 1682, the Haines Family left Downs, England on the ship “Amity.” They arrived in Burlington that fall, without the father Richard Haines, who had died on board. While Richard and his wife Margaret had at least six children, three of them were involved with the land survey. They were John, Richard and William. 

We do not know the year when the sawmill was constructed, but we do have a reference to its existence in 1730. In the Richard Haines book, Haines discusses a sawmill built by the Haineses at Chairville (Medford) which was in use until 1730. He goes on to say “…. when they sold the land and mill site, having built a mill at Friendship a few years before. John Peacock was a sawyer at Haines’ Creek Mill until Friendship Mill was built and then John was a sawyer at Friendship.”

However, we do have a document, dated in the spring of 1714 (Mill Agreement – Burlington County Historical Society) which outlines the legal partnership between six of the seven original partners. William Haines is not a part of the group. In a 1753 deed (Enoch Haines to Charles Read – West Jersey Deeds Book K, Page 460) mention is made that William had released his share to his partners. So, William’s departure from the partnership occurred prior to or during 1714.

It appears that the six individuals (John Haines, Thomas Wilkins, Richard Haines, Jonathan Haines, John Borton and Benjamin Moore)  share equally in the costs of construction, repairs, and maintenance of the property.

While agreed upon in 1714, the document may not have been “filed” ( with the West Jersey Proprietors) until 1743/4. It is on this date that Judge Thomas Shinn signs the document and affirms that it was agreed upon in 1714.

In addition to five of the six original owners signing the form, we see the names of at least two witnesses. They are Obediah Eldridge and Esther Haines (probable sister of John Borton).

But just exactly where was the 2000+ acres located? Without a survey map, at this time we can only speculate. A land plot, using the dimensions shown in a 1744 deed, shows the land to be somewhat triangular. It may be following the course of Friendship Creek or Bread and Cheese Run.

However, we can trace some ownership if we look at the wills and deed transfers of the partners.

WILLS

1. John Haines

In his 1728 will, John Haines leaves his share in the sawmill to his sons Josiah and Caleb Haines and nearby lands to son Jonathan. From the 1902 book we see his will quoted as follows “ I also give to my said son Josiah Haines, his heirs and assigns forever, the one full equal half part of my sawmill and my land thereto.” And, “I give and devise unto my son Caleb Haines all the remaining full equal half part of my said sawmill and land thereto belonging.” For Jonathan we read “I give unto my said son Jonathan Haines, his heirs and assigns forever, all my part of the above mill pond or the land that said pond of water covers.”

John Haines lived in a house, known as Friendship Farms, on Fostertown Road in Medford. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (in 1976). The report establishing its history also provides a solid genealogy of the family and mentions the 2240-acre purchase of the Friendship tract.    

1. Richard Haines

Richard Haines died in 1746 and his will is dated December 1744. There is no mention of a sawmill in the will.

• William Haines

William Haines gave up his share of the tract of land about 1714 and his will, logically, makes no mention of the sawmill property.

• Jonathan Haines

When Jonathan Haines passes in 1729, he leaves a ½ share to his son John. No mention is made of the other ½ share.

• Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore died in 1737 and his son John died in 1812. John’s will gave his share to Hosea Moore, his son. Hosea died in 1838 and it is entirely probable that his son Aaron B  Moore is the individual mentioned as an owner (along with J Irick) in the 1849 Otley and Whiteford map.

Both the 1858 Kuhn and Janney map, as well as the 1859 Lake and Beers map, mention J. S. Irick and A. B. Moore as owners of the sawmill. But by 1876 ( in the Scott Atlas), A. B. Moore is the only owner noted. A. B. died in 1877. Before we take a look at who took over his shares,  we need to review two other of the original owners of the tract.

• Thomas Wilkins

Thomas Wilkins died in 1791. In his estate his interest in the sawmill was left to his grandsons Jacob and Thomas (their father was another Jacob Wilkins). Grandson William is probably the person who sold the Tabernacle Church and Cemetery plot to the 28 cemetery owners.

• John Borton

John Borton may not have ever owned any of the mill. According to the 1753 deed mentioned earlier, he too gave up his share his share of the ownership circa 1714.

• William Burr

Somehow,  William Burr did end up with a piece of the action. In his will of 1795, he mentions his share of the Friendship Sawmill, along with “lot of land for school house and residue of plantation, to be sold for debts.” How Burr obtained a share of the mill is not yet clear. Henry Bisbee, in “Sign Posts,” mentions that William Burr operated the sawmill in 1795. His source of information was William’s will and Woodward and Hageman’s “History of Burlington and Mercer Counties.”

DEEDS

1. Richard Haines

While Richard’s will is silent about the sawmill,  we do have an indenture (from the Burlington County Historical Society) in which Richard sells his share of the sawmill to his sons Carlile and Enoch. Dated December 10, 1744, it is written about the time (13 December 1744) Richard’s will was developed. So, Richard’s share of the mill went to two of his sons. The selling price was twenty pounds for Richard’s one fifth share of the mill. The one fifth share has changed from a one seventh share after John Borton and William Haines left the group.

A 1753 deed (West Jersey deeds Book K Page 460) details the sale of Enoch’s share. It’s listed as a one seventh share and is sold to Charles Read (of ironmaster fame?) for 90 pounds. The deed also details ownership changes for four of the original seven partners.

There is a 1762 indenture in which Carlile Haines sells his share of the mill to his son Ezekiel Haines. The site is called Haines Mill and it sits upon 2190 acres. This is fifty acres short of the 1711 survey number. However, if you add in the additional 50 acres mentioned in that 1711 survey, the 2240 acres of the first survey is equaled. So the question is, was the mill also known as the Haines Mill, or both the Haines Mill and Friendship Mill, or perhaps the Haines Mill at Friendship?

For a possible answer we can turn to an 1887 document. When Albert Jones and Lewis Sharp purchase a property of 4.24 acres, its location is noted as “On the southerly side of Haines Mill Stream now called the Friends Mill Stream, Woodland Township.” Sharp and Jones were later owners of the property and played a major role in the establishment of the Amity Cranberry Company.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel sells his share to Bethuel Moore, a son of Benjamin Moore.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel sells his share to Bethuel Moore, a son of Benjamin Moore. (See WJ deed Haines to Moore Volume A-N page 383, NJ Archives)

So, by 1753 Richard Haines’s 1711 share has passed on to Charles Read and Ezekiel Haines.

• John Haines

There are no John Haines deeds as he bequeathed his share to sons Josiah and Caleb.

• William Haines

No deeds since he left the partnership early on.

• John Borton

No deeds since he left the partnership early on.

• Jonathan Haines

In the 1753 deed it is mentioned that Jonathan left his share to his sons John and Nehemiah.

• Thomas Wilkins

In his will, Thomas left his share to grandsons Jacob and Thomas.

No relevant deeds have yet been found, but we can trace ownership through to Hosea Moore.

In the 1782 Article of Agreement between the owners (Burlington County Historical Society) we are given the actual breakdown of who owns what percentage. Even though the 1711 survey listed seven partners, and the 1714 agreement notes six, shares in the ownership are based on the number seven.

 This leads to speculation that one of the original seven (William Haines) sold or granted their share to another. And because John Moore holds “three sevenths and a quarter,” it is likely him.

Here is the breakdown:

John Moore             “three sevenths and a quarter of a seventh”   (3.25 shares)

William Burr            “one fifth and a quarter of a seventh”              (0.45 shares)

Bethuel Moore        “holding one seventh”                                         (1 share)

John Moore Jr         “holding half a seventh”                                          (0.50 share)

Benjamin Wilkins    “holding one third of a seventh”                           (0.33 share)

Thomas Wilkins       “one sixth of two sevenths”                                    (0.33 share)

Jacob Willits             “one sixth of two sevenths”                                    (0.165share)

Mecajah Wilkins     “one third of two sevenths”                                    (0.33 share)  

William Wilkins       “one third of two sevenths”                                    (0.33 share)

When added together the total is 6.935 shares, a shortage of 0.65 share (which equals two thirds of two sevenths. This is a very confusing allocation method for us in today’s world, but certainly made sense to the participants in the 1700’s.

However, most revealing is the owners  who are not listed.  There are no Haineses.                   

So we can document that by 1782 the Haines Family interest in the sawmill seems to have faded. One can wonder if there may be a connection with the Revolutionary War, since it ended in 1783. The Haineses were Quakers and very possibly could have been Loyalist. Thus, they may have lost their holdings when the British lost the war.

It is also interesting to note that in 1841 and 1842 John Irick obtains a share of the sawmill from two Haineses, who were acting as executors for the estate of one Samuel Haines.

In the 1849 Otley and Whiteford map the sawmill owners are listed as J. Irick and A. B. Moore.

A summary the original seven owners and disposition of their shares is:

John Haines left his two sons Josiah and Caleb equal shares in 1728.

Richard Haines sold his share to his Carlile and Enoch in 1744.

William Haines withdrew from the partnership.

Jonathan Haines left one half share to his son John in 1729.

Benjamin Moore passed his share to his son Benjamin, then it went to his son John, then to his son Hosea and then to his son Aaron.

John Borton withdrew from the partnership

Thomas Wilkins left his share to his grandsons Jacob and Thomas.

Even with the wills, deeds and potential census data, tracing ownership changes to  A. B. Moore and John Irick is troublesome. While we can clearly see the line of succession from Benjamin to Aaron Moore, we do not know how large a share Aaron ended up with or from whom it all came. So next we will try to pick up the ownership line with Moore and Irick to see what their era contains.

Aaron Bishop Moore (1807-1877) is the son of Hosea Moore (1772-1838). Hosea is the son of John Moore (1736-1812) and John is the son of Benjamin Moore Junior (1700-1795). In turn his father is Benjamin Moore Sr. (1665-1754) one of the partners from the 1711 survey.

But by Aaron’s time of involvement, the property has been broken up into many sub parcels, making it almost impossible to follow exact lines of ownership. So we will present what information we have and hopefully provide some thoughts on what was occurring.

In 1737 Benjamin Moore Sr. granted land to Benjamin Moore (his son) and to a Joseph Moore (review deed again)

In 1744 Enoch Haines granted land to Benjamin Moore Jr.

In 1851 the executors of Samuel Haines advertise the sale of 16 acres of pine land near by Friendship Mill. Samuel may at one time had an ownership interest in the sawmill.

In 1858 we have the following happening, which appeared in the June 3^rd, 1858 newspaper, The Monmouth Inquirer.

“ Painful accident – Alfred Moore, son of Aaron B. Moore, living near Tabernacle, Shamong Township, Burlington County, says the Mount Holly Mirror, met with a serious accident on Wednesday, the 26^th inst. It appears a boy had borrowed a gun of Moore, and went in quest of crows, and on returning had left it cocked. Moore then placed the gun under his arm, as is supposed to have a chat with the boy, when the gun went off, lodging the whole charge in his shoulder, tearing the flesh in a shocking mannar, and it is feared the wound will result fatally.”

An 1865 ad in the New Jersey Mirror mentions the sale of 14 acres of “ripe pine and oak timber.” It is located on the road from Friendship Mill to the Powell Place. Also in the same advertisement is the sale of 3 acres of ripe timber, on the Batsto, about a mile below Goose Ponds. While the sale agents are mentioned (Benjamin Ridgeway and Samuel Woolman), the owners are not. But the “subscribers” will be at Friendship Mill to show the wood lot.

Before his 1877 death, Aaron sold two parcels of land to his daughter Adelaide for $2500. This particular deed lists two tracts of land, one of 237.32 acres and the other of 41.69 acres. Both plots had passed to Aaron from his father Hosea.  

In 1880 we do have a deed which transfers part of Aaron’s land (he is now deceased) to John Irick. Aaron had passed in 1877 and in his will made his wife Ascah and his friend Franklin Earl, executors. The plot of land was part of a larger parcel, some 41.69 acres, Aaron had sold to his daughter Adelaide in 1875. The 1880 deed seems to be the last one involving the Moore family.

The probate of Aaron’s will in 1880 is interesting. It documents the distribution of his assets and establishes that his liabilities were higher. After the sale of his holdings and receipt of other incomes, his estate still owed $866.80. The assets of the estate totaled $7601.11 and the liabilities were $8467.97.

A lot of timber and “soil” was sold, as well as at least 12 plots of land totaling about 277 acres. In addition to the sale of the “mill” to John Irick (some 42.29 acres), we also see the sale of the Fox Chase Farm (40.6 acres) to William Irick. And “opposite the Fox Chase,” 6.55 acres to J. Irick. These final transactions seem to end the Moore Family’s direct connection with Friendship Mill.

There are no less than four deeds which link John S Irick to the Friendship site. Two maps, the 1849 Ortly-Whiteford and the 1859 Kuhn and Janney also display his name. More connections certainly exist and eventually will be located.

In 1842 John Chambers sells Irick 4 acres for $1000. The land contains a sawmill and the legal description of the land begins at “the middle of the bridge crossing Friendship Mills Creek on the road leading from Red Lion to Sooy’s Tavern.” John Chambers was not one of the original founders of the site and seems to have obtained a “half-moiety” from Thomas Haines and George Haines via deed (Burlington County deeds  Book  II 3 Page 325) in 1832.

The other “half-moiety” was obtained in 1841 from George Haines (Burlington County Deeds  Book  II 3 Page 327). George and Thomas were executors for Samuel Haines in 1832, but it seems not in 1841.

Another notable event of this era was the establishment of Woodland Township in the year 1866. The Friendship stone marker is noted not only as a boundary line for the new township, but also as the former boundary for Shamong and Southampton townships (Tabernacle will not be incorporated for another thirty-five years).

By 1880 Aaron Moore’s estate has sold his land to John Irick and not too much later, (in 1886) Irick sells the land, for $1000 to Albert W. Jones. Jones pays $200 cash and mortgages the remaining $800. In the deed (Burlington County deeds Book 11, Page 459) mention is once again made of the Friendship Cornerstone. John Irick dies in 1894 and, quite naturally, no mention is made in his will of Friendship Sawmill.

In 1891, in his annual report, The State Geologist acknowledges that the sawmill on Friendship Creek, owned by Albert Jones, is “not in use.”

Albert Jones, born in 1851, is a life-long area resident who, on his maternal side, descends from the Willits family. In the 1900 census he lives in Woodland Township and is a cranberry farmer. It’s quite possible he is living at the sawmill site, as part of this was in Woodland, prior to Tabernacle’s incorporation. By 1905 he is listed as a “landlord” in the State census.

In 1910 we do see that the sawmill is once again operational as both Obadiah and Alexander Foulks are laborers in a sawmill and provide a home for Albert. Albert seems to also have a job in the lumber industry. Their residence is on Friendship Road in Tabernacle.

On 9 July 1909 the Amity Cranberry Company was founded 1909 Corporations of New Jersey – State Library). Albert Jones (of Medford) was the Secretary, while R. S. Sharp, also of Medford, was the treasurer (27 July 1909, Mount Holly Herald). The President was Theodore Bailey of New York City.

At first the corporate agent was Frank Earle of Egbert Street in Pemberton, but on December 13^th of 1909, this was changed to R. S. Sharp of Medford. $25,000 in capital stock was authorized with 250 shares valued at $100 each. The company actually began with just $1000.

The $1000 represents just 10 of the 250 shares. According to the incorporation files (Burlington County deeds Book F Pages 208-214, Burlington County Clerks Office), those ten shares were distributed as follows: Henry Ward of Philadelphia, five shares; Carlton Geist of Medford, 4 shares and Graham Woodard of Philadelphia, 1 share.

Just after the July incorporation, Albert Jones sold his acreage to Amity Cranberry Company for $1500. The land then contained 201.12 acres. Listed also as a grantor are Lewis and Rebecca Sharp. While Jones bought the land from John Irick in 1886, it is not yet clear how the Sharps obtained a later interest in it.

On April 11 1918  a Sheriff’s sale of two properties owned by Albert Jones is completed. (March 19, 1918, Mount Holly News). This was a result of a civil suit by Keturah Irick Lippincott, granddaughter of John Irick. Possibly Albert had defaulted on his $800 mortgage from 1889. One plot is 42.28 acres. The other’s size is not mentioned other than it was sold by John Irick’s wife to Albert Jones.

Later on (May 11, 1918)  as the executrix for Lewis Sharp, Rebecca Sharp, along with Albert Jones, sells a 42.28-acre plot, as well as a 4-acre plot, to Amity Cranberry Company. Proceeds from the sale total $6,600. A third sale of a six-acre plot is also included and this is a piece of land which John and Emaline Irick had sold to Albert Jones in 1886. Complicated? Quite! In fact, it becomes so complicated, we’ll skip the sale of another tract of land containing 0.73 acres! 

Before we move on to the Spaeth era, we can take a look at the Sharp family. Dr Lewis Sharp was a physician who had lived on Union Street in Medford. He was born in 1841 and did not marry Rebecca Bailey until 1904. When he passed away in 1910, Rebecca must have been his executor, as that is how she is identified in the 1918 sale of Dr Lewis’ share in Friendship.

This was Rebecca’s second marriage. Her first was to Edward Sharp, Lewis’ younger brother. It ended with his death in 1888. The Theodore Bailey of New York City more likely than not, is Rebecca’s brother (Sharp/Steele Family Tree on Ancestry .com). Born in Pennsylvania, his 1928 obit asks Philadelphia newspapers to “please copy.” This was a common practice before the era of today’s split second and mass communication. Another name which pops up in some of the deeds is Beulah Given (1876- ?). The limited information we have on her shows her husband is Dr. Horace Given and that they married in 1901. It’s quite possible that she is the sister of Albert Jones, as they both appear as siblings in the Amoore Family Tree at Ancestry.com.

The Spaeth era begins about 1938. We have a fascinating appraisal of the Amity Cranberry property completed in 1936 by Medford Realtor W. H. Bowker. Not only does it describe some 348 acres of land, but also four dwellings which were on the site.

Upper Lake reservoir – 40 acres – value $1000

Center Lake  – 50 acres with 32 acres in cranberry plants – value $10000

Lower Lake – 42 acres – gates and dam out – value $1000

Timber land – 100 acres – cut and uncut – value $3500

Brush land – 11 acres – value $55

Cranberry land – 5 acres – value $250. This totals 248 acres with a value of  $15805.

The buildings are described and valued as:

1. 2 ½ story frame dwelling east of the lower pond 24×30 with one story kitchen 6×12 and porch. This sounds very much like the former schoolhouse which became the home of the Spaeths and was torn down some 15 or 20 years ago. Yet may not be as the Spaeth building is on the west side of the lake and is only one story. Value is $1000.
2. Cranberry storage House on west side of lower pond, frame 20×60 with ell 20×20. The foundations of this building can easily be seen today. The building was torn down prior to 2000 as it was falling apart. While the 20×60 measurement holds true, the 20×20 ell is actually 20×24 feet. Value is $1000.

3. Frame office adjoining. Still standing, seems structurally sound, but needs rehab. Value is $50.

4. Frame dwelling west of the cranberry storage house, 15×25. This two-story building is still standing and has had several additions placed upon it. Its original dimensions seem to be 15×23. One addition to the north side measures approximately 24×47 feet, while a smaller “lean to” measures 8×23 feet. The original house is clearly visible within the added structures. Value is $250.

The total value of the land, buildings and personal property is just over $18,000.

A 1936 tax bill for Amity shows an annual tax of $70.80 for 100 acres “bog and brush.” Undoubtedly this is for the aforementioned cranberry acreage, even though the lot size is different.

In our possession we have a short “recollection” of the property, believed to be written of the time when the Spaeth’s purchased the land. Here is a relevant excerpt of it.

“Friendship was a forgotten town of New Jersey. In 1938 when the property was purchased by the Spaeth Family, years of neglect had taken its toll. Most buildings were falling down, and everything was overgrown with brush. Trees were covered with masses of briars. The dam on Friendship Creek was out and the cranberry bog grew up in trees.

The one-room schoolhouse was built in the nineteenth century. It was restored and became the nucleus of the Spaeth home which was built around it over a period of years. The ground was cleared and made productive.

The remains of the old sawmill could be seen and some timbers from the water wheel were visible, but now are rotted away. In the early eighteenth century a canal was dug by hand to divert the water from Bread and Cheese Run to furnish waterpower to run the sawmill. Unfortunately, this canal was dirt filled in 1986 or 1987.

Years ago, the dam on the lower lake (formerly a cranberry bog) was a stagecoach route going to Chatsworth and the shore. Not far from where the sawmill was is an old spreading oak tree in whose roots can be seen a large iron stone. The stone marks the location where Shamong, Woodland and Southampton Townships met. Tabernacle Township was carved from the three townships and in 1901 Tabernacle Township was Chartered.”

The Spaeths did not purchase the entire Amity Cranberry Company Tract of 248 acres. A review of available deeds shows they did purchase the following three tracts totaling 29.02 acres.

The Spaeth deeds are dated October 7, 1938. The deed with the largest plot size is for 22.29 acres (Burlington County deeds Book 894 Page 385). The grantors are Bessie (Beulah) Given and Daisey Davis, Executrixes of the last will and testament of Albert Jones, deceased.

The second deed is for a six-acre plot (Burlington County deeds Book 894 Page 388). Its grantor is Bessie Given, widow.

And finally, the deed for .073 acres was granted to the Spaeths by the Amity Cranberry Company (Burlington County deeds Book 894 Page 391).

On the 21^st of October in 1938, the Spaeths enter into an agreement with Amity Cranberry Company. Bessie Givens represents the Company. Amity is granted the right to dam water on the Friendship Mill Stream and is given full access to the canal as a water supply. Amity is also given the right to cross Spaeth property should they need to.

The Spaeths sell the property in 1978 (Burlington County deeds Book 2110 Page 326) to the Camden County Council of Girl Scouts. The sale price is $100,000. The grantors are given the right to remain residing in their house, farm one acre of land and use the mechanical water pump. This agreement is valid until 1991, or until they pass away. Should they die before 1988, their son Donald could have his parents’ rights until 1991. So ends the Spaeth era.

A 1947 deed ( Burlington County deeds Book 1039 Pages 422-431) from the Amity Cranberry Company transfers eight parcels of land, totaling some 353.42 acres to a Robert Bennett. The first parcel contains 42.28 acres less six acres which is possibly owned by the Spaeth Family. Parcel three, containing 5.73 acres, mentions a corner stone lettered “W. T.” This is in reference to land once owned by William Taylor.

Other parcel sizes are 4 acres (parcel 2), 201.12 acres (parcel 4), 15.87 acres (parcel 5), 35.83 acres (parcel 6), 54.36 acres (parcel 7) and 0.23 acres (parcel 8). The last parcel was once owned by the Spaeth Family. It was in 1950 that Bennett sold the very same lands to the Camden County Council of Girl Scouts (Burlington County Deeds Book 1090 Page 494).

As we do the “math” on all of these acreages, we see that some numbers do not add up. For instance, at one point the Amity Tract is 248 acres and at another it is 353+ acres. And when we look at the 1711 parcel size we find mention of 2240 and 2290 acres. Over the 236 years we have traced the history of the property, tracts have been subdivided, consolidated under one owner, and perhaps deeds have not even recorded. While it may be possible to trace the 1711 boundaries to 2022 block and lot numbers, the scope of that task is monumental and not worthy of this study.

Edited by Ann Franzen and Mary Ann Silvers

Notes on Paisley Part 1

The H. A. Freeman Era ©

by Rick Franzen

The story of Paisley’s existence, a land fraud scheme in then Woodland Township and now Tabernacle Township, begins about 1888 and ends within a few years. However, its legacy continues to intrigue history buffs till this day. Just last year one of the last remaining buildings was unceremoniously destroyed as it sat decaying on Route 563 in Chatsworth. We will begin in 1888 and in multiple installments, tell the story as we have discovered it. The easiest way for us to relate this tale is to present our research notes, relevant documents, available illustrations and comments. First the purchase of the lands.

1888 19 June: (deed B V11 p 257) Victor Ritzendollar sells 83.62 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $209.00. Goes along the road near “200 yards from Old White Horse formerly stood”

1888 24 June: (ad from The World, NY) retyped by person unknown.

1888 4 July: (deed B V11 p 482) Victor Ritzendollar sells 162.48 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $406.26. “Where the Old White Horse Tavern formerly stood.”

1888 12 July: (deed B V11 p 451) Victor Ritzendollar sells 81.75 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $203.88. “Where the old White Horse Tavern formerly stood.”

1888 13 July: (deed B W11 p 571) Victor Ritzendollar sells 173 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $441.00.

A typical Freeman purchase deed looks like this.

And here is the signature at the end of the deed. Note that only the seller signs, and in this case his “mark” is presented because he does not know how to write.

We have not located each and every deed in which Freeman purchased land, but we have documented well over 800 acres. Later on, we will show that this particular land scheme total much beyond 1200 acres. We have also noted that this project was one of at least four, with the possibility of many others. Freeman began by selling swamp land in Ocala, Florida and moved on to land on Long Island, New York and Hawley, Pennsylvania.

In order to keep information in a chronological order, the following 1888 newspaper article is illustrated.

1888 30 July: (The Evening World, New York) News article – Fire and theft at the Freeman office in New York. “Excelsior used as accelerant.” See Henry Beck story 29 September 1941.

And yet another land purchase.

1888 3 Aug: (deed B W11 p 577) Victor Ritzendollar sells 323.2 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $808.30. “Goes along the road from the Old White Horse Place to Sooy Place.”

Many of these deeds reference “White Horse.” White Horse was Inn and Tavern which by 1888 no longer stood. It is not the same as the White Horse Inn in Chatsworth, which was probably constructed about this time. We are currently putting together a report on Tabernacle’s early inns and taverns, and it will be published after our Paisley report is complete.

1888 4 September: (deed Z11 P 525) Earliest located deed of a land sale at Paisley. Pauline Freeman (relative?) purchased lots 18 and 19 in block 71. The deed is a preformatted “fill in the blank” form. H Alfred Freeman and his wife Vespers have both signed it.

Another sale of land by Ritzendollar to Freeman.

1888 6 September: (deed B W11 p 331) Victor Ritzendollar sells 114.82 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $286.56.

And now a receipt for the purchase of a few lots.

1888 11 September: (NJ State Archives Lee Collection) Receipt for purchase of land by Henry Cortelyou. He paid $21.00 for two lots. This is the first of three purchases he made.

1888 19 September: (Book 276 page 161) The deed is registered for sale of two lots to Henry Cortelyou.

And another land purchase by Freeman.

1888 10 October: (deed B W11 p 394) Victor Ritzendollar sells 107.09 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $1000.00. “Old Sooy Place to White Horse.”

And another lot purchase.

1888 23 October: (deed B 276 P183) Another early land sale, Francis Sinclair purchases lots 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, and 23 in block 52. This deed is also in the “preprinted” format. No need to post it.

1888 25 October: Train excursion to Paisley. Description of the land and its high value.

And here is a first-hand account written about that excursion in 1938.

1888 31 October: Building and Loan Prospectus is issued. A great investment!!

1888 2 November: (deed B W11 p442) Victor Ritzendollar sells 97.04 acres of land in Woodland Twp. to H. Alfred  Freeman, of Queens NY. Price is $500.00.

1888: H L Freeman bought at least 815 acres and paid about $4.50 for each acre. A summary by Dr. Alvin Lee suggests he purchased in total some 1400 acres at an average cost of $3.67.

1889 6 January: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper ad – Hotel to open first week in February. Mr. Sturgon and others make a miraculous recover, after three months, from lead poisoning and many other ailments. (Note: A Mr. Sturgon resold his land back to Freeman in September of 1888 after a June of 1888 purchase) (sale: B Z11 P 28) (purchase: B Z11 P 367)

Sale of two lots (22 and 23) by Freeman in Block 27 to James Sturgeon on July 10, 1888.

Sale of two lots (22 and 23) by Sturgeon in Block 27 to Freeman on September 24, 1888.

1889 21 January: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper clipping – “It is announced that over 7,000 lots have been sold in the new town of Paisley, NJ., and that interesting town improvements are now underway.” (Last paragraph in story)

1889 4 February: (Burlington County Postmaster appointments) J Brooks is appointed the postmaster at Paisley. (Last name on page)

1889 5 May: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper article extolling virtues of Paisley.

“High and well drained land, pure drinking water, no typhoid or diphtheria, a sea breeze sweeps over it, the soil is fertile, 40 miles of streets and a mattress manufacturing company.”

1889 24 May: (New York Times) Newspaper story – “Whitings, N. J., May 23. Edward Rowe, a farmer living at Shamong, was found dead this morning on te road that leads from Paisley to the former place. He went to Paisley yesterday, and on his return was kicked to death by his horse. He was about 55 years of age.”

1889 26 May: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad – “Mr. Constant LeDuc came into our office of Thursday three weeks ago, a pitiable case of threatened suffocation from that frightful malady. He went to Paisley that day. The following Tuesday he came bounding up the stairway to our office like a schoolboy, two steps at a time, and stood before us cured.”

1889 4 June: (The Times, Philadelphia) Large ad for “Paisley the Magic City.”

1889 22 June: (The Times, Philadelphia) In the real estate section, H. A. Freeman says he will be in his new 1015 Arch Street office to sell corner lots at one-half the New York City price. One can also call for or send for the “beautifully illustrated newspaper, The Paisley Gazette.”

1889 4 July: (The Sun, New York) An interesting advertisement in the classified section. “A first-class upright piano by a leading maker taken in exchange for Paisley lots: having no use for it will sell for best offer at once: entirely new, very handsome; see it today (4^th July) between 9 and 6 PM Paisley Improvement Co., 100 Duane St.”

1889 14 July: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper ad, “Open up a new division in Paisley. A hotel, factory and residence are built and occupied.” A limit of five lots to one person is imposed.

1889 28 July: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee Collection) Newspaper ad – “Lots which we sold a year ago are now worth from eight to fifteen times as much as we sold them for.”

1889 5 October: (The Standard Union, Brooklyn, NY) Newspaper ad, “First ad in the Standard Union, so we will sell you one lot for $5.00 or four together for $20.00.” In addition, a year’s subscription to the Paisley Gazette is included!

1889 4 December: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper ad for a stock subscription to “The Paisley Hotel Company.” Only 100 shares at $1000 each will be sold. This implies it will help bring a railroad spur from Shamong Station to Paisley and, that it will make Paisley “as fashionable as Lakewood.”

1889: (The Standard Union, Brooklyn, NY) Newspaper ad selling “$35.00 lots in Paisley for $5.00 each. “Trees, grass, flowers, fruit health and a fortune.”

1889: (The Paisley Gazette, volume 1 number10) A lot of “fluff articles,” some pictures of alleged buildings and a history of Paisley. All images come from the Alvin Lee Collection at the NJ State Archives

1890 26 January: (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Newspaper ad advertising lots for sale in Ocala, Florida. One can call at 1015 Arch Street for all particulars. Lots are $2.00 each and this is just to cover the cost of “plotting and transfer.” Mr. Freeman has expanded his land empire!

1890 23 March: (The Brooklyn Citizen) Newspaper story describing how Mr. Freeman has expanded his sale of land to Ocala, Florida. Lots are selling for $3.00 to $5.00 each. “Mr. Freeman founded the well-known health resort of Paisley.”

1890 23 March: (The Brooklyn Citizen) Newspaper ad in the real estate section touting “Ocala, the Magnificent.”

1890 18 June: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad for lots at Paisley, $5.00 each. One can write to C. Leduc at Paisley for more information. On 1 November 1888 Constant LeDuc had purchased 7.9 acres from H. Freeman for $1070. This land was probably subdivided and sold directly by Mr. LeDuc.

1890 29 June: (New York Times) Newspaper ad for Paisley the Magic City. You can buy a “villa plot for $50.00 in a fashionable health resort.” “There are now 3000 enthusiastic lot owners.”

1890 15 July (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Deed acknowledgement for F. Sinclair’s purchase of ten lots in block 66. Look at that seal! Is that the Pope?

1890 12 August: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad for $5.00 lots. “Railroad depot will be on my property.” Address; C Leduc, Paisley, NJ.

1890 Sep 7: (The Sun, New York) Newspaper ad “lots that could have been bought for $1.00 three years ago, I sold this month for $75.00 to $100.00 each.” H. A. Freeman, 100 Duane Street, NY. Branch at 565 West Taylor Street, Chicago.

“Subscribe for stock in the $50,000.00 hotel which will pay 10 per cent profit annually, can do so this week at my office.”

1890 9 September: (The World, New York) Newspaper story – Fruits of the Magic

City. Get your tasty watermelon!!     

1890 21 September: (New York Herald) News article – A five column, top to bottom almost full-page expo on H. A. Freeman and the Paisley development. A long read. It is this article which burst the dam of Freeman and LeDuc’s land fraud. Note the hand drawn illustrations drawn by the author’s companion, an artist.

1890 24 September: (The World, New York) Letter to the editor attacks the Herald for a story it published about Paisley. Apparently, the story was unkind to H. A. Freeman and his Paisley enterprise.

1890 24 September:­­ (New York Herald) News article – The New York Herald responds to criticism (via a “certificate of character”) of Freeman and his Paisley land scheme.

1890 October 1: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Tax bill – H. P. Cortelyou is assessed $0.67 for lots 24 and 25, as well as lots 1 and 2 of blocks 322 and 86.

1890 20 December: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Tax bill – H. P. Cortelyou is assessed $1.79 for lots 16-20 of block four. Net assessed value for the five lots is $40.00. Victor Ritzendollar is the tax collector.

1891 2 March: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad – Selling lots valued at $35.00 for $10.00 each. You can also get a credit of $10.00 on a lot in Hempstead, Long Island, which sell for $75.00 to $100.00. H. A. Freeman – “I never break a promise. I have never gained an unworthy dollar.”

1891 7 March: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad – H. A. is selling other real estate from his 100 Duane Street address. They are in Mt Holly, Monmouth County and Bergen County.

1891 7 March: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad – “Today and tonight closes the great offer this week only to sell two Paisley lots so that they cost you absolutely nothing at last and give you a suburban home one hour from New York City at $1.00 per week.”

1891 Mar 8: (The World, New York) Newspaper ad – Buy two Paisley lots worth for $70.00 and one Hempstead lot valued at $150.00 by paying $75.00 in once weekly payments.

1891 15 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Land survey – H Cortelyou pays N. P. Todd to survey lots 24 and 25 of block 332. The cost is $2.00. One cannot wonder if markers were set as property boundaries.

1891 14 July: (The Morning Post, Camden, NJ) Newspaper article – “How people from the city are gulled.”  The Freeman bubble has burst, and many “truths” are debunked.”

1892 6 February: (Lakewood Times and Journal) Newspaper ad – Constant LeDuc advertises land sales of lots and 2-acre plots at South Park and West End. His address is Paisley, NJ.

1892 3 March: (New Jersey Courier) Newspaper article – Postmaster General changes post office name form Paisley to South Park.

1892 17 May: (Camden Daily Telegram) Newspaper article – The house of Constant LeDuc and the post office at Paisley were destroyed by fire caused by a defective flue.”

1892 7 August: (New York Herald) Newspaper article – Lengthy story in which Freeman blames LeDuc for all his troubles. Freeman is also described as “amplitudinous.”

1892 8 August: (New York Herald) Newspaper article – The Paisley Building and Loan Association is in liquidation.

1892 11 August: (New York Herald) Newspaper article – Story about Freeman’s many land schemes in Ocala, Florida, The Palisades, Brookwood and Blooming Grove in Pennsylvania.

1892 1 September (New Jersey Courier) Newspaper article – “Paisley is said to have died a natural death.”

1892 8 September: (New Jersey Courier) Newspaper article on General Clinton treasure located at Paisley.

1893 25 July: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – Paisley building lots sold at Public Auction.

1893 1 August: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – “Constant LeDuc, one of the Paisley magnates, has gone to France to endeavor to get a colony of Frenchmen to come and settle on the sandy lands of Paisley, or South Park, as it is now called.”

1893 7 December: (New York Herald) Newspaper article – Freeman has had Paisley’s name changed to South Park and is now selling farm size lots for $1.00 each (minimum of 20) and get a five-acre plot for free! It’s a one day only offer. The writer also uses the word “sesquipedalian” (long winded) when describing Freeman’s sentence writings.

1894 12 January: (The World, New York) Newspaper clipping – Fine lots in Paisley for sale, close to stores, hotel, church and post office. Looks like Freeman is still at it.

1895 24 March: (The World, New York) Newspaper clipping – Lots at Paisley for sale, $5.00 and up.

1896 21 June: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Receipt for taxes paid on lots 16-20, block 109 by H Cortelyou. Amount is $4.25.

1896 15 September (Woodland Township Committee minutes) – Motion to lease township owned Paisley lots to Mrs. Marie LeDuc for $25.00 a year.

1896 17 November (Woodland Township Committee minutes) Several references to Paisley lots.

1897 3 January: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from South Park resident H. S. Gamblin to “My dear husband,” concerning the executor of her will.

1898 21 February: (Woodland Township Committee minutes) Committee agrees to drop all delinquent taxes (at Paisley) and not assess the properties.

1899 9 February: (Philadelphia Inquirer) News article re water supply canal to be built from Atsion to the Delaware River.

1899 14 March: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Receipt for taxes paid on lots 16-20, block 109 by H. Cortelyou. Amount is $2.80.

1899 14 March: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from Constant Leduc to H. Cortelyou regarding tax payment and mention of a canal from Philadelphia as well as a bicycle road to “join the Philadelphia stone road.”

1900 30 January: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – South Park post office closed with resignation of Constant LeDuc.

1900 8 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Receipt for taxes paid on lots 16-20, block 409 by H Cortelyou. Amount is $0.80.

1900 14 July: (Benjamin Freeman family tree on Ancestry.com) Henry Alfred Freeman passes away in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1900 15 July: (Charlotte Observer Sun, Charlotte, NC) News clipping about the death of Mr. H. A. Freeman, “traveling man from Chicago, died at St. Peters Hospital.”

1900 16 July: (Charlotte Observer Sun, Charlotte, NC) Newspaper story about Mr. H. A. Freeman, of Jamacia, NY. His wife and personal physician, Dr Wilcox, have arrived in town.

1900 17 July: (Charlotte Observer Sun, Charlotte, NC) News clipping – Son Mr. Edward Freeman has arrived in Charlotte.

Paisley was not the only land fraud Mr. Freeman initiated. In addition to the previously mentioned Ocala, Florida, there were at least three others. They were in Hempstead, Long Island; Brookwood, Pennsylvania: and Palisades, New Jersey. Ads for each of these are shown below and no further notes will be presented about them. You can see from the dates of the newspapers that Mr. Freeman was actually engaged in all five schemes at the same time!!

Hempstead, Long Island

Brookwood, at Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania

Castle Hill at Palisades, New Jersey

This concludes the H. A. Freeman era at Paisley in Tabernacle, New Jersey. Next, we will explore the Constant LeDuc era.

Notes on Paisley Part 2

The Constant Leduc Era ©

1900 31 July: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – Question of Paisley land value. “Paradise Park,” a section of Paisley, valued at $2.00 an acre.

1900 13 September: (Woodland Township Committee minutes) Township Committee gives Ira Gamble a permit to use and improve Lincoln Park at South Park.

1900 13 November: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – An individual from South Africa asked about lots in Paisley, and a deed was recorded which had Brigham Young’s signature on it.

1901 28 December: (Woodland Township Committee minutes) Tabernacle and Woodland Townships meet to discuss duplicate taxes, presumably at Paisley.

From Barry Foulks we have the following additional information (9 August 2022 Facebook posting)

“Two names that stand out in this meeting are Victor Ritzendollar , who sold lots for Paisley in the first place to H. Alfred Freeman, as being on the Woodland Township Committee, and W. J. Buzby, “The King of the Pineys”, owner of Buzby’s General Store in what became Chatsworth, as an assessor. Several Haines mentioned here, and I wonder if the “C. Haines” Committee member is Carleton Haines (1869-1935) of Tabernacle, who also became the tax collector there? Woodland Township minutes for other meetings on this page show “Chatsworth Club House” tax was reduced from $13,000 to $7,500, and a Jonathan Godfrey to purchase, mostly at his own expense, a new road machine for Woodland Township. Jonathan Godfrey became one of the purchasers of that Chatsworth clubhouse property in 1908, see:  https://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/tidbit.2986/ , Post #18. It was eventually bought by Anthony DeMarco (his son Garfield was a multimillionaire cranberry grower & the most powerful Republican in Burlington County), whose wife, Gladys Alloway, had ancestry going back to the beginning of our township, and connections to Tabernacle families even now.

Constant Leduc is an incorporator of a Terra Cotta Company.

1902 18 March: Constant Leduc named Justice of the Peace.

1902 3 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Receipt for taxes paid on lots 16-20, block 409 by H Cortelyou. Amount is $1.60.

1905 15 February: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Receipt for taxes paid on lots 16-20, block 409 by H. Cortelyou. Amount is $1.04.

1906 1 May: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper article – Constant Leduc indicted for selling liquor without a license.

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1906 May: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper article – Constant Leduc fails to answer complaint and an arrest warrant is issued.

1907 18 December: (New Jersey Mirror) Newspaper article – A New York will executor came to Mt Holly to determine the value of two inherited Paisley lots. He found they had no value.

“A. D. Rice, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the executor of a deceased relative’s estate (unable to determine name of decedent), came all the way down into Burlington County the other day to consult the records and ascertain what he could concerning two “building lots” at Paisley, which he found to be among the assets of the estate which he was administering. A few inquiries ventured at Burlington while waiting for a trolley car did not encourage the stranger much, and he looked as though he felt like turning around and starting back without even going over to Mount Holly, when the chance acquaintance whom he questioned said that it would probably have been better for the estate if he and saved the expense of carfare and let the lots go by default. This gloomy view was confirmed when after reaching Mount Holly he entered the County Clerk’s office just as the force was quitting work for the day. When the Poughkeepsie man explained his mission one of those connected with the office said with a smile, “as far as those lots are concerned, I would not stay here five minutes after hours to look up the record if you gave me the lots to pay me for the trouble.” He did stay, however, and the executor from Poughkeepsie concluded that he would not waste any more time or money in looking after the lots, especially as they were in arrears for taxes many years. Possibly there will be others in the Clerk’s office looking up city lots in Paisley, which is situated in the pines in Woodland township, several miles from the railroad station, which is at Chatsworth. Some years ago a good many “building lots” were sold to non-resident investors, it is said, who liked the prospectus and who had never seen the town of Paisley. …

18 December 1907 transcribed from The New Jersey Mirror

1908 13 March: (Woodland Township Committee minutes) Walter Sloan is given permission to move his house over the roads from South Park to Chatsworth. The railing on Union Dam is to be left in the same condition as it was found. This is the first relocation of Paisley buildings. It became a store in Chatsworth. Later a second building was moved all the way to Lumberton, where it remains today as a residence.

1908 5 May Unknown Leduc lawsuit. Perhaps his business partners in an unrecorded venture.

1909 3 March: (Mount Holly News) Newspaper clipping – Constant Leduc and others form the Cooperative Cranberry Company.

1909 6 May: (NJ Courier) Newspaper clipping – Constant Leduc sold 3,000 acres (for $15,000) of land at South Park to the Cooperative Cranberry Company of Philadelphia. An Italian colony is proposed there to start cranberry bogs and make improvements.

1909 1 July: (deed Leduc to Cooperative Cranberry Company B 452 P 42) In this deed Constant Leduc sells 3000 acres for $15,000 to the Cooperative Cranberry Company. The land is known as the “White Horse Meadow” and is on both sides of Main Street in South Park.

1910 13 Sep: (Mount Holly Herald) Newspaper clipping – note that Constant Leduc has collected $506.00 on an insurance policy for which he paid $2.40.

1910 20 December: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Blank, generic Tabernacle Township tax form for “South Park, late Paisley.” Carleton Haines, the tax collector, will be at Arthur Haines’ store to collect taxes on the 20^th of December.

1910: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Handwritten list of 1910 uncollected taxes for South Park.

1911 2 August: (Mount Holly Herald) Newspaper clipping wherein “Squire” Constant Leduc performs the marriage ceremony, at South Park, for Willis Brewer and Deborah Hart, both of Chatsworth.

1912 23 July: Dr. Martin Curran swears out a warrant against Constant Leduc. Leduc allegedly horse whipped Curran over disagreements concerning Pine Crest Sanitarium on Apple Pie Hill.

1913 10 April: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Tabernacle Township tax sale announcement for several properties, probably includes Paisley lots. Sale to be held at the Mechanics Hall and conducted by Carleton Haines.

1913 29 April: (Mount Holly Herald) News clipping – Constant Leduc sues Ethelbert Haines, for unknown reasons.

1913 30 December: (Trenton Evening Times) News clipping – Constant Leduc and nephew Albert, were indited, along with several others, for not filing required expense statements.

1914 9 June: (Mount Holly Herald) Newspaper clipping which reports Constant Leduc earning $21.00 for “fox bounty.”

1914 30 June: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) – Newspaper letter from Dr. Curran defending his actions and attacking the newspaper’s “disapproved of the sense which your reporter intended to report.”

1914 29 December: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) – Newspaper story of “shrewd investigators” visiting Tabernacle, South Park and Chatsworth in connection with postal frauds.

1918 31 December: (Mount Holly News) News clipping – Constant Leduc vs Ethelbert M. Haines lawsuit, notice only.

1924 19 July: (Courier Post) Obit of Constant Leduc.

14 November 1925: (Newark Evening News) Newspaper story – “a journey through the pine wilderness” includes a short recollection of a meeting with a Paisley resident.

Notes on Paisley Part 3

The Albert Leduc Era ©

Albert Leduc is the nephew of Constant Leduc.

1929 12 April: (Courier Post) Newspaper story – Albert Leduc leases land to the National Guard for an outdoor pistol range.

1929 2 July: (Morning Post) Newspaper story – Section Fire Warden Leduc catches camper with open fire and Judge imposes fine.

1931 5 May: (Trenton Evening Times) Newspaper story – Albert Leduc has been hospitalized in a near fatal accident on Eayerstown-Vincentown Road. His injury is probably “fatal.”

1934 25 January: (Courier Post) Newspaper article – Henry Beck provides a history of Paisley. Mrs. Constant LeDuc interviewed.

1935 27 February: (The Record) Newspaper article – Fire Warden Albert Leduc investigates fatal oil stove fire.

1936 2 July: (Home News) Newspaper article – Fire Warden Albert Leduc heavily criticized method to extinguish forest fire in which five were killed.

1937 24 September: (Mount Holly Herald) Obituary of Marie Leduc.

1938 20 August: (The Morning Post) Newspaper article – Albert Leduc was elected Commander of Mount Holly Post #11 of the American Legion.

1944 24 July: (Courier Post) Newspaper article – Albert LeDuc retires from Forest Fire Service after 21 years.

1950 15 January: (Trenton Evening Times) Newspaper article – Albert Leduc’s wife Maude retires as missionary at Johnson Place after 32 years.

1951 20 September: (Courier Post) Obituary for Albert LeDuc. He was an organizer of the Carranza Memorial ceremony.

Notes on Paisley Part 4

Dr. Alvin Lee Study of Paisley and other articles ©

1937 28 November: (Asbury Park Press) Newspaper article – Dr. Alvin Lee is interviewed on his study of land schemes in the pines. The pines are a “haven for people who promote various types of unsound land development schemes.”

1938: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Questionnaire page 1 – Dr Lee sent out a few hundred of these to current and former owners at Paisley.

1938: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Questionnaire page 2 – Dr Lee sent out a few hundred of these to current and former owners at Paisley.

1938: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Questionnaire page 3 – Dr Lee sent out a few hundred of these to current and former owners at Paisley.

1938 26 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Page 1 of questionnaire response from Benjamin Liffler.

1938 26 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Page 2 of questionnaire response from Benjamin Liffler.

1938 26 May: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from Dr. Lee to Philip Tischler regarding taxes paid on a Paisley lot.

1938 7 June: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from Dr. Lee to Mrs. Hosea Moore, tax collector regarding an address.

1938 August 25: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from Tabernacle tax collector Belle Moore to Alvin Lee regarding tax collections.

1938 14 September: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) letter and firsthand account of 1888 excursion to Paisley. See 1888 date.

1938 11 October: (The Daily Journal) Newspaper article describing “paper towns” in the Pine Barrens.

1938 November: (New Jersey Archives Alvin Lee collection) Letter from Francis Sinclair describing his family’s summer vacations in Paisley. He also notes he has deeds from some “Florida lots, mostly underwater.”

Dr Alvin Lee report

In July of 1939 Dr. Alvin T. M. Lee released his 50-page report entitled “Land Utilization in New Jersey: A Land Development Scheme in the New Jersey Pine Area.” The landmark report analyzed sales promotion, land development, purchasers, tax base impact and presented solution concerning future growth in the forest. The entire report is presented below. It is a long read but it fully captures the extent and impact of the actions that Mr. Freeman and Mr. Leduc acted upon some 140 years ago. It its entirety, the report appears next.

1940 15 February: (Ridgewood Herald) Newspaper article about “Paisley promotion scheme.”

1940 29 February: (Daily Home News) Newspaper article on property tax delinquencies mentions Paisley.

1940 May (American Society of Planning Officials) Land speculation story drawing from the Dr. Alvin Lee report.

1941 29 September: (Courier Post) Newspaper article by Henry Beck discusses Paisley and mentions “excelsior” lying about the mattress factory area. See 30 July 1888 article. “Excelsior” was used as an accelerant for an arson fire at H. A. Freeman’s office building.

1950 16 March: (Mount Holly Herald) Newspaper article – Nat Ewan writes about Paisley and displays “Paisley Gazette” owned by Albert Leduc.

1982 27 May: (Courier Post) Newspaper article – About the Higgenbothem family and their connection to Paisley.

1996: (Batsto Citizen’s Gazette) Newspaper article – discusses Paisley as a land scheme.

Dr. Alvin Lee has outlined the fate of the Paisley buildings in a chart on page 22 of his report. Two of the buildings were noted as “moved.”

One, a store and dwelling was moved to Main Street in Chatsworth. According to the minutes of the March 13, 1908, Woodland Township Committee, one Walter Sloan was given permission “to move his house on our roads in Woodland Township from South Park to Chatsworth.” “The railing on Union Dam to be left in same condition as found.”

The building was used as a store for many years and was ultimately purchased by a property developer in recent times. Due to a series of legal events his ambitions were never fulfilled. And in an act of “thoughtful” desperation, it was demolished in 2021.

We can look at census data and deeds to show us a little more info on the store’s new location. Dr. Lee cites 1890 as the year of construction and 1904 as the year the house last existed at Paisley. It was known then as the Todd Store and was used as a residence and a store.

Walter Sloan seems to have moved it in 1908 and in 1910 it was operated by a John Applegate. Also living with him was a son in law Fred Dunfee as well as his daughter Bertha and grandson Fred. In the 1920 census its location is noted as Main Street and the store is still operated by John Applegate (now 62 years old). By 1930 we see that Walter Sloan is a merchant for the Main Street store. And in 1940, the Pemberton Road store is occupied by both Sloan and his son in law Elmer Dunfee. No occupation is given for either. Elmer’s wife is Florence, and in 1950 she is the head of household for the location and works as a matron in the local school. Walter is now 83 years of age.

Deed research does reveal a few things for us, but the deed research is a bit complicated after we try to go further back and forward in time. In 1925 Walter buys the property from a Jonathan Godfrey, for the sum of $90.00. The deed mentions the bordering streets of Peacock, North Giles and Main. Two lots are actually purchased. They are numbered 294 and 295. In later years, after the lots were split apart, there was still much confusion about the property lines between the two.

In 1945 Walter sold off lot number 294 to Roxanna Lemmon for “$1.00 and other valuable consideration.” There is opportunity to further research in this area and that may be a future endeavor.

The second property moved, according to Dr. Lee, was the Daly House. It was built in 1890 and last existed in Paisley during 1911. According to a newspaper report we have seen (but cannot relocate), the house was moved to Lumberton (Ross Street) about 1922 and still is existent today.

Deed research reveals the following. In 1923 a J Harvey Crain of Lumberton, purchased several lots on Ross Street in Lumberton. This was after his 1922 purchase of 4 lots in Paisley. The speculation is that he bought the house in Paisley in 1922 and later moved it to the Ross Street address in 1923 or so. Much more research can be explored on Crain’s ownership.

The 1930 census does show J Harvey Crain on Ross Street with his family. He is a mailman. Nothing changes in the 1940 census. In 1920 he works for the Post Office and lives on Brian Street in Lumberton.

The last building to mention is the Hay House. When Dr Lee wrote about Paisley in 1939 it was still standing and known as the Hay House. Most likely this was the home of the Leduc family.

And finally, the last picture from Dr Lee’s chart we will briefly discuss, is the Moore House. It’s date of build is listed as 1890 and at some point, it became the home of the South Park Deer Club. Dr Lee does not mention this, and one could speculate that the deer club did not take it over until after 1939. However, our belief is that they had it long before then. An upcoming history of the club is awaiting completion and perhaps that will clarify when it was first and last used.

This concludes our notes on Paisley. From time to time there may be some additions, we’ll try to let everyone know.

The Taverns of Tabernacle

At least eight 18^th and 19^th century taverns or inns have been identified as within the current township’s political borders. Here is what we know about each of them.

Sooy Place Tavern

Sooy Place Tavern (aka Pine Tavern)

Only an historic marker remains at the sight of this Tavern. It is located at the intersections of Sooy Place and Powell Place Roads.

The Historic American Building Survey (HABS) has concluded that the earliest part of this building was constructed about 1770. It’s most likely that Nicholas Sooy, according to HABS, was the person who built it. This is doubtful as Nicholas did not purchase the property until 1810, and it is unclear in the deed, if a tavern was included in the purchase. Since Nicholas did own another Tavern in Washington Township, it’s possible he added this tavern to his stable of inns. A Paul Sears Sooy was the owner as early as 1829. He is Nicholas’ youngest son. In his will of 1815, Nicholas does mention that he resides in this tavern.

HABS goes on to say that it originally had two rooms on its first and second floors. A later addition contained had four rooms, again, two on each floor.

In 1866 it was sold to Benjamin Woodruff and until 1939 there were nine different owners.

Let’s explore some of the documentation we have uncovered.

Document: 1810 Deed, Book V1, page 569 – (Burlington County deeds)

In a deed dated the 26th of March in 1810 Revel and Sarah Elton sold part of a 365-acre parcel to Nicholas Sooy. The selling price was $2025.00, and the property was then located in Northampton Township. The plot contained some 252 acres. It is supposed that later 91 acres were deeded to someone else. perhaps one of the many children of Nicholas Sooy.

The Eltons acquired the property in 1806 when executors Hudson and Leach Burr as well as William Irick, sold the land on behalf of the estate of Joseph Burr. It also appears that John Burr had the land surveyed (Book BB, page 90, which has not yet been located).

Here is the first page of the deed.

Document: 1812 Deed, Book Y, page 34 – (Burlington County deeds)

As mentioned in his 1815 will, Nicholas did deed the Tavern and its surrounding land to his son Josephus. On August 1, 1812, for a nominal sum of $200.00, he sold 250 acres to his son Josephus. In the deed it mentions that the land originally came from the executors of Joseph Burr’s estate. Here is the deed.

Document: 1815 will of Nicholas Sooy.

This will defines how Nicholas wishes his estate to be divided. As we see below, he indicated the Tavern should be “4th: To my son Josephus Sooy I give and bequeath one of my cows and in addition to the plantation and tavern which I purchased of Rever Elton, and for which I have already given him a deed.” While difficult to read, the last four lines show Joseph’s inheritance of the property.

A question to be raised here is who built the tavern. HABS suggests Nicholas Sooy while the will implies it was one Revel Elton.

Document: 1826 10 February Joseph Sooy License Application (NJ State Archives)

The NJ State Archives has many license applications of tavern owners. Most all are from the 1800’s. Throughout this article we will cite them and list relevant information from them.

The tavern is in Northampton Township. Joseph has been “keeping it” for several years and he has “two feather beds available.” There are thirteen original signers (with original signatures), who are “freeholders.” They are:

?? Woolston                        William Irick

William Red??                     Allen Southwick

Joseph Colkit                        John Haines

George Haines                     Joseph Naylor

Daniel Bodine                      Job ???ggy

Joseph White                       Joseph Warren

John Butterworth  

A Joseph White owned the Kemble Inn (more on this inn later) and a J Naylor appears as a landowner on what may have been the site of Naylor’s Tavern.

Document: 1840 map of New Jersey (NJ State Archives)

An 1840 map clearly shows the tavern at the intersection of five roads. They are: Friendship Mill – Johnson Place Roads, today’s Powell Place Road. Today’s Sooy Place and South Park Roads and a road which went from the tavern up to Burr’s Mill. The map also denotes a hotel/inn at Johnson Place.

Document: 1849 map by Otley and Whiteford (Tabernacle Historical Society Collection)

By 1849 a few more buildings appear on the map and the area is now known as “Pines.” We can see pretty much the same road configuration and the addition of the homestead of one J Hilliard, on the Friendship Mill Road. The cellar hole for this building can be seen today right next to the roadway.

Document:1850 census

The 1850 revels quite a bit. It is the first U. S. Census to list out names of everyone as well as several other items of interest. We can see nine Sooy family members and seven others who are listed as laborers, all apparently living in the same building. 

Document: 1855 15 September Joseph Sooy License Application (NJ State Archives)

The tavern is now in Southampton Township. Josephus Sooy is requesting “a license to keep and Inn and a Tavern in the house wherein he now dwells.” Only one of the 1826 “freeholders” seems to have endorsed this request.

            James Jones                         Guy Bryant

            John Hillard                          William Bareford

            Samuel Peacock                  William Jones

            George Akins                       C A Shinn

            William Irick                         Thomas Haines

Isaac Eayres                         James Logan

Document: 1857 14 December Joseph Sooy License Application (NJ State Archives)

Josephus pays $12.00 for his license. The “subscribers, or freeholders” are:

            Guy Bryant                           John Hillard

            Joseph ????                         Samuel Butterworth

            John L ????                          John Woolston

            John Cox                               Charles Haines

            William Jones                      C A Shinn

            Alexander ????                   John Brown

            Kastina Lippencott

Document: 1858 map Kuhn and Janney (Library of Congress)

There are two maps, one dated 1858 and the other dated 1859, by R KKuhn and J. D. Janney. The local is labeled “Pine” on both maps and each shows the hotel owned by J. Sooy. However, the 1858 version shows an “A. B. Moore” residing where the 1849 map listed J. Hilliard as the resident.

Document: 1859 27 December Joseph Sooy License Application– (NJ State Archives)

The license fee is still $12.00. Interestingly, one attachment to the license states, in part,

That the signing freeholders have not recommended “any other application for a house an inn or tavern therein to sell beers or spirituous liquor.” (See section below) The freeholders are:

            Guy Bryant                           William Jones

            John Haines                          John Woolston

            Charles Jones                       J Jones

            William ????                        Charles Haines

            John Broadwater                Franklin Thomas

            Kastina Lippencott             Les??  Carr

Document: 1866 Deed, Book N, page 66 – (Burlington County deeds)

When sold by Joseph Sooy to Benjamin Woodruff in 1866, the price for its 161.93 acres was $4250.66. The depth of the lot was over 3000 feet and it ended at Burrs Mill Road.

Document: 1873 Deed, Book V8, page 522 – (Burlington County deeds)

While this deed does not show the transfer of property from Benjamin Woodruff, it does show that Burlington County Sheriff David Hall sold the 161.93 acres to Dewitt Clinton Huff. This seems to have been at the order of the Chancery Court which appeared to be judging on a mortgage default. The sale had been advertised in both the New Jersey Mirror and the Mount Holly Herald for four weeks. It was purchased at an auction for $2200 and note is made that both Josephus Sooy and Dewitt Huff had been owed money.

Document: 1883 Deed, Book H11, page 489 – (Burlington County deeds)

Once again, the property is sold by Sheriff Hall. It is now in Woodland Township. This time the buyer is Cornelious Waldman of Saratoga County in New York. Again, the Chancery Court ruled on a complicated mortgage default and ordered the Sheriff to sell the property.

Document: 1886 Deed, Book M11, page 330 – (Burlington County deeds)

Waldman sells the property to Adam Caldwell of Clifton Park, NY. It appears the listed sale price is $5.00, and this implies some sort of other consideration between the two New York State residents.

Document: 1887 Deed, Book Q11, page 41 – (Burlington County deeds)

In this year Isaiah Lemunyon purchases the 161.93 acres for $1000.

Document: 1902 Newspaper Article – 25 March 1902 Mount Holly News

In 1902 Lemunyon was desperate to sell the property. During the course of the year, 20+ ads appeared in the Mount Holly News. They all were identical to the one below.

Document: 1904 Deed, Book 384, page 135 – (Burlington County deeds)

After 17 years of ownership by Lemunyon, the property passes to Joseph Nider, a Jersey City, NJ, resident. The sale price is $800.

Document: 1906 Deed, Book 409 page 441 – (Burlington County deeds)

Joseph Nider to Anthony and Alex Nider. Obviously, both are related to Joseph Nider, but the circumstances or relationship has yet to be located. Selling price is $2500.

Document: 1916 Deed, Book 528, page 216 – (Burlington County deeds)

A Special Master, Harold Wells, grants a deed to one John Nider, a Tabernacle Township resident. Again, the Chancery Court had ordered the sale and it was advertised in Mt Holly Newspapers. Sale price was $350 and, it seems, assumption of a $350 mortgage. Here is a newspaper article describing the sale.

Document: 1917 Deed, Book 533, page 309 – (Burlington County deeds)

The 161.93-acre property leaves the Nider family and is sold to Antoni Chinstyk for $2000.

Document: 1917 Deed, Book 533, page 313 – (Burlington County deeds)

Two days later Antoni Chinstyk quickly sells to John Chinstyk for $1000.

Document: 1929 Deed, Book 740, page 211 – (Burlington County deeds)

In the height of the depression there is another Sheriff’s sale via the Common Pleas Court. The buyer is Julius Melcer of Mount Laurel and one Earl Cline. Their winning bid was $900.

Document: 1933 Deed, Book 808, page 57 – (Burlington County deeds)

Dorothy Streng, of Camden, NJ, purchases the 161.93 acres from the Melcers and Clines, for the listed price of $1.00.

Document: 1933 Deed, Book 808, page 60 – (Burlington County deeds)

Dorthey Streng sells the acreage to Anna Melcer and Liddie Cline.

Document: 1935 Deed, Book 837, page 134 – (Burlington County deeds)

Anna Melcer, et al, now sell the property to Dorothy Streng.

Document: 1935 Deed, Book 837, page 136 – (Burlington County deeds)

As the flip flopping continues, Dorothy Streng resells the property to Anna Melcer for $1.00. Next see 1959 and after deeds.

Document: 1936 Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey by Charles Boyer

“On the road from Speedwell to Vincentown, at what is now called Sooy Place. Andrew Elverson kept a tavern from 1810 to 1817. This house is still standing, was called the Pine Tavern and was an important stopping place for travelers going to the Speedwell Furnace.”

Document: 1939 Historic American Buildings Survey

This fantastic four-page document tells us a lot about the history of the tavern. It is reproduced in its entirety, without the bibliography, to help you understand the written historical record of the site. Below it are several of the pictures and drawings also contained within it. First the report.

The HABS had some 18 or so pictures and drawings within it. Here are a few.

Document: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

A direct quote from Henry Bisbee’s book on placenames of Burlington County.

“Located between Friendship and Johnson Place on the eastern border of the Township. Named for J Sooy, who operated the Pine Tavern at this place around 1817. At this date it was known as Pine Tavern, and the 1849 map so notes it. According to Boyer, the tavern was an important stopping place for travelers on their way to Speedwell Furnace.”

Document: 1947 Deed, Book 1034, page 453 – (Burlington County deeds)

2.08 acres are sold from the original tract to Alice Hansell by Julius and Anna Melcer.

Document: 1959 Deed, Book 1412, page 189 – (Burlington County deeds)

Julius Melcer, now a widower, for $1.00, sells to his nephew Oran Rives, 1.11 acres. This is lot number one of a subdivision approved earlier in the year. Julius had inherited the land after the 1958 death of his wife Anna. The deed notes that this is part of the 161 acres of land Anna Melcer purchased from Dorothy Streng in 1935.

Document: 1959 Deed, Book 1412, page 193 – (Burlington County deeds)

Julius Melcer, now a widower, for $1.00, sells to his nephew Carlton Rives, 1.12 acres. This is lot number two of a subdivision approved earlier in the year. Julius had inherited the land after the 1958 death of his wife Anna. The deed notes that this is part of the 161 acres of land Anna Melcer purchased from Dorothy Streng in 1935.

Document: 1962 Deed, Book 1507, page 869 – (Burlington County deeds)

Julius Melcer and his new wife Elsie sell for $1.00, 3.834 acres, to Frederick Gall. The deed notes that this is part of the 161 acres of land Anna Melcer purchased from Dorothy Streng in 1935.

Document: 1962 Deed, Book 1507, page 869 – (Burlington County deeds)

Julius and Elsie sell the rest of the 161.93 acres to Hyman Frank.

Document: 1949 (February 24) Central Record article.

On a cold February Friday, in the evening hours, an overheated “chunk burner stove” caused a fire which all but destroyed the Sooy Place Inn. Here is the story as told in the Central Record.

Tracing which of the previous parcel sales from the original 161.93 acres to determine which lot the Sooy Place Hotel can be done by looking at current tax maps and trying to line up lot sizes with the suspected location of the Tavern. It may be a future endeavor, but for now we need to move onto the next Tavern

Fox Chase Tavern

Built prior to 1800 by William Fox. By 1837 Hosea Moore was the owner. It caught fire and burned in the mid 1950’s. Virgil and Helen O’Neal were living there at the time. The building site is at the intersections of Carranza and Hawkin Roads and was approximately where the Seneca tennis courts are now located.

Fox Chase Tavern in the 1930’s.

Nat Ewan Photo

Fox Chase Tavern in the 1950’s, after fire.

Document: 1850 Census: As we might expect in 1850 Aaron Moore is the tavern owner. He is 40 years of age while his wife Acsah is only 26. Three children are with them. Mary is 6, Alfred is 5 and Adalade is 4. Son Charles, born in 1849, has passed away by the time the census was recorded. Surprisingly, the listed value of the hotel is $40,000, a staggering sum for that time.

Document: 1855 7 April Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

All license applications have pretty much identical verbiage. The difference seems to be in the names of those signing the petition. Here is a complete version, not to be repeated later, unless there are major changes.

“To the judges of the court of Common Pleas, in the County of Burlington, April 10, 1855. The subscriber hereby requests the said judges to grant him a license to keep and inn and a tavern in the house wherein he now dwells in the Township in the Township of Southampton in the County of Burlington. Dated April 7, 1855. Aaron B Moore.”

We the subscribers, Freeholders of the Township of Southampton in the County of Burlington; do hereby recommend Aaron B Moore to be licensed to keep an inn and a tavern, in the house wherein he now dwells, in said Township; and we do hereby certify that the said Aaron B Moore is of good repute for honesty and temperance, and is known to each of us to have at least two spare beds more than are necessary for the family’s use, and is well provided with house, room, ***ing and provender: And we do further certify that such tavern is necessary for the accommodations of stranger and traveler and for the transaction of public business and will conduct to the public good.

Dated April 7^th, 1855”

The petition is signed by (their actual signatures)

Jervis Butterworth             Benjamin Matlack

Noah Peacock                      Michael Bowker

Daniel Lukic                          William Gaskill

Japhet Woolston                Charles Gaskill

H Kirkbride                           William Banford

Clayton Prickett                  Charles Austin

Isaac Prickett                       William ******

Aaron paid $10.00 for his license.                    

New Jersey State Archives

Document: 1860 Census: Eight children now live in the household. The 1850’s have been a prosperous time for the Moore’s. Six other people also reside in the household, all laborers. Aaron is listed as a master farmer and his property continues to be valued at $40,000.

Document: 1869 17 April Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

Fourteen years later the cost of a license is now $12.00. Aaron’s dwelling is mentioned as “Fox Chase.” The date of petition is April 17^th, 1869. It looks like we have a whole new set of “Freeholders.” (with very poor penmanship)

David S Scott                       Thos Fitzpatrick

Ridgeway Zelley                  James Nale

Jesse Nale                             John Sowdy

William Lukert                     Job S Scott

Daniel Joice                          Stephen Haines

Samuel Allen                        Samuel DeCou

Jacob Prickett                      Wm H Cook

Henry Weaver

Document: 2 April 1870 Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

Aaron resides at the Fox Chase. Cost of his license is still $12.00. Date of application is April 2^nd, 1870, and many of the signers are the same.

Japhet Scott                         T Prickett

Wm Cook                              Jervis Butterworth

Joseph Lippincott               Adolphus Hale

Edward Cotton                    Samuel Cline

Henry Weaver                     Amos Wilkins

Thomas Gaskill                    Jesse Nale

Document: 1870 Census: Aaron is a farmer, and his property is now valued at $50,000. Eight children and four laborers live onsite.

Document: 1871 18 April Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

Requested April 18^th, 1871. Signers this year are:

E. W. Haines                         Thomas Gaskill

Allen Joyce                           William Gardner

Jacob Abrams                      Samuel Prickett

Japhet Scott                         Henry Covely

William Branin                    John Poinsett

William Cook                       Samuel Branin

Ira Prickett                           Samuel Prickett

Document: 1872 9 April Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

Fee is still $12.00, and his application was made on April 9^th, 1872.

This year’s crop of signers are:

George Poinsett                  Henry Weaver

Joseph Lippincott               Samuel Conrow      

Jervis Butterworth             A. S. Wilkins

Amos Wills                           Micah Parman

Samuel Prickett                   Franklin Allen

Edmund Prickett                 Japhet Scott

Document: 1873 Aaron B Moore Tavern License application

On the 15^th of April Aaron paid his $12.00 to renew his license.

Supporting his effort were:

Samuel Branin                     Jacob Abrams

George Taylor                      William Branin

Barclay Phillips                    John Poinsett

Wm Marles                          Clayton Wilkins

S Prickett                              Budd S?????

Thomas Gaskill                    Edmund ?????

Henry Covely                        Michael Forman

Document: 1936 Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey by Charles Boyer

“On the road from Red Lion to Tabernacle, about three miles from the former place. It was opened about the end of the eighteenth century but, so far, the earliest proprietor known to have been there was William Fox. It was best known when Hosea Moore conducted it.”

Document: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

“A hamlet on the road from Red Lion to the village of Tabernacle in northern part of township. Named for William Fox, who operated a Fox Chase Tavern here in late eighteenth century. In 1838 timber was advised for sale at Fox Chase. A continuation of the name was in effect when A. B. Moore named his farm Fox Chase as shown on 1860 map.”

Eagle Hotel

In 1799 Gideon Pharo was the operator. And in 1826 James  McCambridge became the owner as he acquired this and many acres of adjoining land, including Speedwell. It is located on the once busy road today known as Eagle Road. Only a historical marker notes its location.

From: 1783 Property deed – Book C2 pages 359-360

On 15 December 1783, Joseph Smith sold property to Jacob Barnhart. Joseph Smith had obtained the land from the Council of Proprietors.  The property was on the “east side of the road from Robbins Meadow to Tulepehocking Bridge and a little to the south of a road leading from Randolph’s Mill to Tulepehocking Cedar Swamp.” The sale price was “twenty pounds gold or silver.” The lot size is 100 acres.

From: 1815 Property deed – Book D2 pages 86-88

On October 6, 1815, Jacob Barnhart sold this property to John Shields. Both parties lived in Washington Township. The price was $1000. The property was on the (see above) “east side of the road from Robbins Meadow to Tulepehocking Bridge and a little to the south of a road leading from Randolph’s Mill to Tulepehocking Cedar Swamp.” It is the same land that Jacob Barnhart purchased from Joseph Smith on 15 December 1783.

From: 1936 Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey by Charles Boyer

“One of the noted taverns of the pine belt was old Eagle Tavern, situated midway between the White Horse (Paisley) and Washington. The first tavern keeper, as far as is known, was Gideon Pharo, who was licensed in 1798. In the road returns for Burlington County for 1799, is a record of a road “beginning at the center of a public road leading from EayreTown to Tulpehawken, a short distance southwest of the public house of Gideon Pharow.” In 1810 Jacob Barnhart became the landlord and the house became known as Barnhart’s Tavern. John Shield followed Barnhart, but was only here for one year, when Abner Cross, a former workman at Martha Furnace, became the lessee. James McCambridge in 1826, announced that “he now dwells at that old and noted stand known by the name of Barnhart’s Tavern.” He kept this tavern for a number of years and soon became the owner of much of the adjacent land, including the famous Speedwell Furnace property. On a map of Burlington County, published in 1849, this tavern is marked “Old Eagle Tavern,” but by that time it had been abandoned, although the name was still retained.”

From: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

Site of the Eagle Hotel, located on the old road from White Horse to Washington in the southeast corner of the township. Hotel was owned by James McCambridge prior to 1849 and was much frequented by visitors to Speedwell nearby. McCambridge probably named his hotel after the Eagle tract which is mentioned in a 1786 survey. From 1810 to 1826, the hotel was run by Jacob Barnhart. An 1831 survey mentions ‘road from Jacob Barnhart’s Tavern Tulepenhocken.”

Whip Poor Will House

Other than its location on an 1876 map, just north of Medford Lakes Road and east of Allen’s Court, nothing else is known about the site.

In 1990 it was evaluated in a Cultural Resource Study authorized by the Pinelands Commission.

“Neither the 1849 map of Burlington County or the 1859 counterpart show any structures in the vicinity of the project site. These, however, do show a similar pattern of roads. The 1876 map of the three Townships locate both Tabernacle and Flyatt Road. This map also indicates that there was a structure east of Flyatt Road known as The Whip Poor Will House.”

“What was Flyatt Road is now known as Prickett’s Mill Road. Prickett’s Mill once lay to the northwest of the project site at what is known as Chairville. Flyatt was a tavern location to the southwest of the project site.”

“The Whip Poor Will House was not on the project site, but rather to the immediate southeast. As noted by the 1876 map, Flyatt and Whip Poor Will House were in separate locations. The 1919 Geological Survey of New Jersey Map shows the area of The Whip Poor Will House as an open field. The area is now a sand and gravel pit.”

“During the literature search, no documentation was found for The Whip Poor Will House. Neither Beck or Bisbee mentioned it, nor is it mentioned in the Nat Ewan scrapbooks now at the Burlington County Library.”

“No evidence of structures was found in the written or cartographic references. No structures or ruins were found on the project site during the pedestrian survey.”

Scott’s 1876 Atlas

Naylor’s Tavern

The former building stood until about 1975, when it burned and was destroyed. Its location is at the intersections of Old Indian Mills and Tuckerton Roads.

From: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

“Boyer is silent about there ever being a tavern at this place which rules out an Oriental Hotel.”

Source Unknown

1849 Otley and Whiteford map

Hampton Gate Tavern

In 1820 Daniel Cavileer opened this tavern. After he passed, his wife became the operator. In 1849 a John Smith took over. Its exact location on Carranza Road is unknown. It is said to have been a “stone” tavern, but no evidence seen yet confirms this.

However, as we closely look at both the 1849 and 1859 maps, we can see buildings noted. In 1849 a structure is seen between the Batso River and the road to Hampton Furnace. It is labeled “J Smith’s Hotel.” In 1859 it is in the same location and the name “Flemers” is written beside it. Additionally, a structure can be seen above Hampton Road and in a location later identified as the spot where there is a “thuncking mill.”

From: 1856 15 April John P Smith Tavern License application

On April 15^th, John P Smith asks to keep a tavern in his house, in Shamong Township, where he resides. Sixteen signers are required. They are:

                  William Keeler                     Thomas Carmeley

                  Asa Smith                             John ????

                  Samuel Leeds                      George Hagerty

                  Nathan Wright                    Josiah ????

                  Joseph Small                        George Lee

                  John Naylor                          William Woolman

                  Daniel Doughty                   Mahlon Pettit

                  Joseph ????                         ????

                  Jonathan ?ovy                     William Richards

                  Joseph Horner                     James Geary

                  Isaiah Smith                         John Sorden

                  ?? Campbell                         Barzilliu Thompson           

From: 1857 23 March John P Smith Tavern License application

Fee of $12.00 is paid by John P Smith. Fourteen signers are required. They are:

                  Isaiah Smith                         William Richards

                  Daniel Sinclair                      Patrick Millay

                  Harry Mingin                       Michael Milley

                  Ada Smith                             Eliz Naylor

                  Daniel Smith                        Oliver Wiltsee

                  William Kuler                       Allen Basell

                  Edward McIntyre                Samuel Scott

                  John Kellman                       John Sprawls

Benjamin Small                   John Branin

Mathias Cotner                   William Cotton

Joseph Mingin                     John Sordon

Jonathan Hartman

From: 1859 15 March John P Smith Tavern License application

This years’ freeholder signatures are:

                  Joseph Munyon                  E Thompson

                  Patrick Millay                       Joseph Thompson

                  John Milbine                        Daniel Sinclair

Jonathan Hartman             William Richards

Mathias Cotner                   Benjamin Small

John Sordon                         Daniel Mcneel        

Nathan Wright

From: 1860 16 April John P Smith Tavern License application

Signing for the 1860 license are:

                  E Thompson                         Edward McIntyre

                  Daniel Sinclair                      John  ????

                  Mathias Cotner                   Benjamin Small

                  J Thompson                          William Richards

                  J Hartman                             Joseph Small

                  John Kellman                       John Miller

                  Joseph LeMunyon              John Sordon

                  Frances Mingen

From: 1936 Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey by Charles Boyer

Soon after the furnace at Hampton in Washington Township was built, a tavern was opened a few miles away, at a place called “The Gate.” The first tavern keeper at this house was probably Daniel Cavileer, who was here until 1824, when he was succeeded by his widow Mary.”

From: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

“Site of a tavern called The Gate, which was built soon after the furnace began operation. It was located a few miles north of the iron works. Daniel Cavileer and later his widow operated the tavern till 1824.”

1849 Otley and Whiteford map

1859 Kuhn and Janney map

Kemble Inn

In 1845 this structure was owned by Charles Kemble. In addition to his innkeeping, Charles was also a blacksmith and farmer. He also served as a member of the NJ State Assembly and the Sheriff of Burlington County.

Some reports indicate the building was known as the Half Moon Tavern in 1800, and later as the Seven Stars Tavern. Its location is on Carranza Road, adjacent to the Russo’s Farm Market.

From: 1850 census

Charles Kemble is a farmer whose estate is worth $2500. With him are his wife Sarah and three children. They are Matilda (age 7), Henry (age 5) and Eldridge (age 1).

From: 1855 Charles Kemble Tavern License application

Charles paid $12.00 for his license at “the Tabernacle” in Shamong Township. Fourteen “subscribers” attested Mr. Kemble’s worthiness. They are:

            Charles Bowker                   Wesley Taylor

            Ebenezer Davis                    Eli Bowker

            John Alloway                        Henry Smith

            Caleb Wright                       Henry Kemble

            Benjamin Willets                Isaac Cramer

Joseph Houston                  Hosea Moore

John White

From: 1856 Charles Kemble Tavern License application

After another annual $12.00 fee, another license is granted at “the Tabernacle in the township of Shamong.”. Eli Bowker testifies that one “freeholder,” Stephen Haines, is not a resident of the township (Shamong). The complete list of signers is:

            Wesley Taylor                     Henry Kemble

            Henry Smith                         Ebenezer Davis

            Eli Bowker                             John Alloway

            Joshua Jones                        Gilbert Swain

            Caleb Wright                       Joel Carmely

            Josiah Huston                                  Stephen Haines

            Benjamin Willets                William Carmely

1856 “freeholders”

From: 1857 6 April Charles Kemble Tavern License application

Those signing this year are:

            Wesley Taylor                      Ebenezer Davis

            Caleb Wright                       James Tetlow

            Eli Bowker                             John Foster

            Benjamin Willets                Benjamin M????

            Henry Smith                         Aaron Doughty

            Henry Kemble                      Marmaduke Alloway

            Josiah Huston

From: 1858 20 Mar Charles Kemble Tavern License application

Signed by:

            Nathan Wright                    Gilbert Swain

            George Scott                       Wesley DeCou

            Eli Bowker                             Isaiah Haines

            Henry Kemble                      Henry Smith

            Joel Carmaleys                     Caleb Wright

            James Tetlow                       Josiah Huston

            Wesley Taylor                      Benjamin Willets

From: 1859 19 Mar Charles Kemble Tavern License application

This years’ license fee is only $10.00!! Freeholders signing the petition are:

Josiah Huston                      Joshua Jones

Benjamin Willets                Henry Smith

William Carmelle                Henry Kemble

Wesley DeCou                     Gilbert Swain

Isaac Cramer                        John Alloway

Ezekiel Wright                     Eli Cramer

Joel Carmelle

From: 1860 Census

Charles is a 40-year-old farmer whose real estate is valued at $7200. All the children are in the home. The oldest is Matilda at 17, while youngest is Charles Jr. at 3 months.

From: 1860 17 April Charles Kemble Tavern License application

Charles’ annual tavern fee is still $10.00. The petition is endorsed by:

            Eli Bowker                             John Alloway

            George Wills                        Wesley Taylor

            James Tetlow                       Henry Kemble

            Caleb Wright                       Josiah Houston

            Westley DeCou                   Wm Carmelle

            Josiah Haines                       Aaron Doughty

            Joel Carmeley                      Gilbert Swain

From: 1865 New Jersey Census

There are now nine members in the household, but we are not given the relationships between them. However, Charles, Sarah, Matilda, Henry and Eldridge are there. The others are aged 5 (Charles Jr.), 11 (Annie), 9 (Joseph) and 13 (Caroline).

From: 1870 census

This census provides us with a little more information. Charles is now the Burlington County Sheriff, and his property is worth some $8000. Son Henry is a clerk in the Sheriff’s Office while the four youngest children attend school. Matilda is not at home because she has married to a neighbor, Charles Wisham. Since the family now resides in Northampton Township, we know another owner has possession of the Inn.

Franzen Photo

1849 Otley and Whiteford map

Summary of property ownership going back to 1809

Deed: Joseph White to Charles Kemble (Book W6 Page 547). Signed in 1863 this does appear to be in conflict with when Charles Kemble operated the Inn. It may be as simple as Kemble rented the property until its purchase.

The property description mentions Hampton Road as a boundary, as well as the Tabernacle property. It contains 25 acres of land, and this may have been a consolidation of three lots.

Deed: Samuel and Elizbeth White to Joseph White (Book W6 Page 549). Signed in 1858, it is the same property description as the 1863 deed.

White Horse Tavern

In 1785 a Lewis Mingin is the Tavern Keeper and by 1824 it is Noah Sooy. The site is located close to the infamous land scandal known as Paisley. At one point the Tavern may also have been know as Robins Meadow Tavern.

Nothing can be seen at the site today. In fact, its exact location is currently unknown. It is in the area of Chatsworth Road (Route 532) and the Bordentown Gun Club. Its curious to note that a tavern of the same name exists in Chatsworth and the connection between the two is not known. The tavern in Chatsworth, though, was built many years later during the time of the railroad era.

From: Various 1888 deeds re Paisley and H. L. Freeman

In several of Freeman’s acquisition deeds for his Paisley land scheme, we see many references to the White Horse Tavern. They are couched in terms of landmarks which signify property boundaries. We read the following “ Goes along the road where the Old White Horse formerly stood,”  “Where the Old White Horse Tavern formerly stood,” “Goes along the road from the Old White Horse Place to Sooy Place,” and, “Old Sooy Place to White Horse.” So by 1888 the Tavern was long gone.

From: 1936 Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey by Charles Boyer

“At the intersection of the road from Vincentown to Speedwell with the one from Red Lion to Manahawkin, was an early tavern. Lewis Mingin is the earliest known tavern keeper at this house and was licensed in 1785 and in 1824, was succeeded by Noah Sooy. It is sometimes referred to as ‘the White Horse Tavern commonly called Robbins Meadows.”

From: 1955 Signposts by Henry Bisbee

“Boyer tells us that the White Horse Tavern was established in 1785. He also sttes that the place was “Commonly called Robbins Meadows.” Charles Boyer was a careful researcher; however, this writer offers a possible correction. In the 1831 road returns reference is made to a road “from Goose Pond to Alanson White’s Tavern.” The only road from Goose Pond, (1859 map) at that time, is directly to White House Hotel. Yet earlier maps and all later maps name the place White Horse.

“Robbins Meadows, after Tom Roberts of New Hanover for whom Robert’s Branch is named.”