, GaAs 
 
Class _ii..4_t_ 
 
 Book / Or ? A -r 
 
 GopightN^ 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
HISTORICAL 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 GREENWICH 
 
 IN 
 
 j OLD COHANSEY 
 
 BY 
 
 BESSIE AVARS ANDREWS 
 
 Printed for the Author 
 VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 
 
 VINELAND PRINTING HOUSE 
 
 J905 
 
ntARY of CONGRESS 
 (0 CoDies Received 
 )EC 11 1905 
 Cooyncht Entry 
 
 CLASS ^^^^iJc.No 
 
 COPY B. 
 
 ENTEKED, ACCOHBING TO ACT OF CONGKESB, 
 
 In The Year 1905, 
 BY BESSIE AYARS ANDREWS, 
 
 IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF COKGBESS, 
 AT WASHINGTON. 
 
^^Oli, rioer winding to the sea! 
 We call the old time back to thee; 
 Fromfc/i'st pnihs and water- icays 
 The century-wo'ceH -sail ict raise.'''' 
 
 — Whittier 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Greenwich in "Old Cohansey," the second 
 town laid out by the direction of John Fen- 
 wick in South New Jersey, has always been 
 noted for the intelhgence, morality, and lon- 
 gevity of its inhabitants. 
 
 As the years go by we learn to appreciate 
 the privations and trials of the pioneers who 
 opened the way for the settlement of the first 
 towns in our state and county. 
 
 I have endeavored to present authentic his- 
 tory of the early settlers and their successors, 
 and have written of some of the prominent 
 men and women whom I saw and knew in 
 my youth. 
 
 I acknowledge my indebtedness to "Bar- 
 ber's Historical Collections of New Jersey," 
 and have been greatly aided by Judge Elmer's 
 "History of Cumberland County,"' and other 
 local histories. 
 
 Trusting that this little work may be val- 
 ued not only by the present dwellers of ' 'Old 
 Cohansey," but by all who are interested in 
 the history and memories of the past. 
 
Chapter I. 
 
 In the old historic town of Greenwich, in 
 1849, my cousin and I were born; born in 
 homes of plenty, surrounded with all the 
 necessaries of life, and many of its luxuries. 
 
 Our fathers were brothers, living at the 
 head of the village, and doing a thriving bus- 
 iness at the time of our advent. 
 
 My cousin had brothers and one sister, 
 while I had sisters and one brother. 
 
 At the early age of five years we entered the 
 district school, accompanied by our sisters, 
 clad in hoods and long gray cloaks, made by 
 the same pattern; our mothers partook strong- 
 ly of the Quaker element in our village with 
 regard to color, and our usual attire were 
 garments of a sober hue. 
 
 The school house stood a few rods west of 
 our homes: almost hidden from the public 
 road by large hawthorne hedges both east 
 and west until you approached the entrance 
 of the play grounds; to and fro twice a day 
 did we go to that seat of learning, or Haw- 
 thorne Academy, as it was sometimes called. 
 
 As we advanced in years, our school days 
 and companionship was most delightful. Our 
 leisure hours and holidays were usually spent 
 at a stream or brooklet that flowed back of 
 
8 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 our homes. When stern winter had relaxed 
 and given place to the early spring days, 
 along its banks we would revel in the sun- 
 shine; searching for the first violets; espying 
 a fish emerging from its mossy bed and swim- 
 ming in the current; watching the shining 
 black bugs — sometimes called beavers — dart- 
 ing and playing on the surface. As the 
 season advanced we would doff our shoes and 
 stockings, wade in the stream and gattier the 
 yellow lillies that abundantly flowered there. 
 Our favorite place was near the old bridge, 
 where the willow boughs swayed in the soft 
 western winds — those willows were the first 
 trees in the spring time to array their branches 
 in living green — and in the topmost 
 branches, the cardinal bird in his brilliant 
 plumage trilled his melodious song. 
 
 Pine Mount Creek, as the stream is called, 
 has its rise in a spring a mile or so east of our 
 homes, and broadened in its winding way, 
 flowing a few miles south, then losing its 
 identity in the Cohanse}^ River. The river 
 was named after an Indian Chief Cohansic, 
 who lived in former days on the south side, 
 so my sister told us. She said not many cen- 
 turies back, there was an Indian encampment 
 near the head of the stream, and in the open 
 fields on either side could be found arrow 
 points, broken potter)^ and occasionally a 
 stone axe, proving they had formerly lived 
 there. 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 9 
 
 My mother explained to us girls the work- 
 ing of the old Fulling Mill, that was erected 
 by the early settlers on Pine Mount Creek, 
 or Mount Gibbon Run it was called when the 
 mill was built. She said in those days nearly 
 all the clothing and bedding used by the 
 people was spun in the family, and often 
 woven there also. Then it was taken to the 
 Falling Mill to be dressed. At the Fulling 
 Mill by tlie use of pestles or stampers they 
 beat and pressed it to a close or compact 
 state, at the >ame time cleansing it. A little 
 f:ir:iv:^r down the stream the first settlers 
 erected a grist mill It sLo^jd under the wil- 
 lows ver}' near where the bridge crosses the 
 stream. At one time when rebailuing the 
 bridge, tile workmen found some of the tim- 
 bers of the old mill. A romance has been 
 handed down from generation to generation 
 ccncerning the "Old Mill." One spring 
 morning wlien all things in nature become 
 new and resonant of life, the birds on the 
 willow boughs were carolling their songs of 
 gladness, one of "Old Cohansey's" fair 
 maidens stood in the doorway, possibly had 
 brought some grain and was awaiting the 
 grinding. A youtii was pa-sing and the beau- 
 tiful charms of the maiden so overpowered 
 him, he approached the mill and proposed to 
 her. She accepted and they were afterwards 
 married. The young man was said to be 
 Thomas Maskell. 
 
]0 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 As we played near the old bridge on the 
 grassy slope, we frequently saw an elderly 
 gentleman passing. We knew him, and 
 would often go where he would notice us. 
 Sometimes his greeting would be by the crook 
 of his cane, bringing us to a halt, which 
 would amuse us very much. Then we would 
 saunter along by his side. He was a phys- 
 ician, and also lived at the head of the village. 
 Our mother said he had been a greet blessing 
 to the people, and helped us into the world, 
 so we regarded him as superior to most of the 
 villagers. My sister said he was a descendant 
 of one of those brave men who burned the tea 
 near the village landing just before the Revo- 
 lutionary war, and just as soon as we would 
 take an interest in it, she would teach us the 
 history of our town and early settlers. 
 
Chapte;r II. 
 
 lyife to my cousin and me in our childhood, 
 had been one glad summer day. As we were 
 growing into larger girlhood, a great shadow 
 crossed my cousin's pathway; her mother met 
 with an accident, which in a few days termin- 
 ated in death. 
 
 Sorrow which is a part of every human 
 experience, had touched her heart for the 
 first time, and left an aching void. The va- 
 cant place was soon filled by an estimable 
 lady, who kindly ministered to the family, 
 and the days came to us with the same radi- 
 ancy of dav/n, and departed with splendor at 
 evening time- The flowers blossomed by the 
 wayside, and the birds sang in the waving 
 willow branches, while beneath the stream 
 rippled in its ceaseless flow to the bro?.der sea. 
 
 We were learning new lessons, year b};- 
 year as they passed; learning that we must 
 study and enrich our minds with knowledge, 
 to meet the work and stern realities of life. 
 
 With the aid of my fiister, we began in 
 earnest to study "Old Cohansey." My sister 
 was a student of history, having all the books 
 in her possession we needed for information. 
 She impressed upon our minds the importance 
 of acquiring the knowledge of the early his- 
 
12 GEEENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 tory of our town, which in after life would 
 prove of value. 
 
 We learned that probably the first settlers 
 of West New Jersey, were the Dutch and 
 Swedes, but so far as is known, they never 
 took any steps to secure permanent titles to 
 the land upon which they settled. Whatever 
 titles they may have claimed were ignored by 
 the English, although they were per- 
 mitted in many cases to purchase the unim- 
 proved land. 
 
 It is stated that there is no certain evidence 
 that any white settlers had located in the 
 limits of what is now Cumberland County pre- 
 vious to the settlement of Salem by Fenwick 
 in the fall of 1675. My sister said that John 
 Fenwick was the founder of the town of 
 Salem and what was known as Fenwick' s Col- 
 ony. Then she had us read from history, 
 how "King Charles II granted all that 
 territory called by the Dutch" New 
 Netherlands, including part of the state of 
 New York and all New Jersey, to his brother 
 the Duke of York, afterwards James II, 
 March 12th, 1633-4, I'he Duke conveyed 
 New Jerse)' to I,ord Berkley and Sir George 
 Carteret, June 24th, 1664. In 1672 the 
 Dutch reconquered the province, but in 1673 
 it was restored, and new grants executed. At 
 this time Lord Berkley became alarmed at the 
 spirit which the planters of New Jerse}' mani- 
 ested, and, dissatisfied with the pecuniary 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 13 
 prospects of his adventure, offered his interest 
 in the province for sale. It was not long be- 
 fore he received from two Quakers in Eng- 
 land, John Fenwick and Edward Billinge, a 
 satisfactory offer, and in 1674 conveyed his 
 interest to Fenwick in trust for himself and 
 Billinge. A difficulty arose between these 
 purchasers, the precise nature is not known, 
 and the matter was submitted to William Penn. 
 He awarded one tenth to Fenwick which was 
 said to include 150,000 acres, and the remain- 
 der to Billinge. 
 
 Fenv>dck was dissatisfied with the decision 
 at first, but at length assented to it, and in 
 1675 sailed in the ship Griffin for his new 
 possession in America. He sailed into the 
 Delaware with his family, servants, and asso- 
 ciates consisting of masters of families. Fen- 
 wick's immediate family consisted of three 
 daughters, Elizabeth, Ann and Priscilla. John 
 Adams, husband of Elizabeth, of Reading, in 
 Berks, weaver, and three children: Elizabeth, 
 aged eleven years, Fenwick, aged nine years, 
 and Mary, aged four years; Edward Champ- 
 neys, husband of Priscilla, of Thornbury, 
 Gloucestershire, joiner, and two children, 
 John and Mary. John Fenwick brought ten 
 servants: Robert Twiner, Gervis By water, 
 William Wilkinson, Joseph Worth, Michael 
 Eaton, Elinor Geere, Sarah Hutchins, Ruth 
 Geere, Zachariah Geere and Ann Parsons. 
 
 Besides these he was accompanied by Mary 
 
14 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 White, the faithful nurse of his children, 
 who had lived in his family several years be- 
 fore coming to America; she was very much 
 attached to the three daughters and resolved 
 to share their good or bad fortuue in a strange 
 land. Their father's house was her home, 
 where she had entire charge. Edward 
 Champneys brought three servants: Mark 
 Reeve, Edward Webb and Elizabeth Waite; 
 in all twenty-four persons of the immediate 
 family of the chief proprietor. Samuel Hedge, 
 Jr., married the daughter Ann, soon after 
 their arrival. 
 
 Samuel Nicholson, his wife Ann, and five 
 children, Parobal, Elizabeth, Samuel, Joseph 
 and Abel, came in the same ship. Samuel 
 Nicholson had been a farmer and resident of 
 Wiston, in Nottinghamshire. 
 
 John Smith, his wife Martha, and four 
 children, Daniel, Samuel, David and Sarah, 
 came also in the Griffin. John Smith was a 
 miller and came from Roxbury. 
 
 The following persons were also passengers: 
 John Pledger and his wife, Elizabeth, lived at 
 Portsmouth, Southamptonshire; he was a ship 
 carpenter; James Nevill had been a weaver 
 and lived in the pari.sh of Stepney, London; 
 Edward Wade and his wife Prudence, had 
 been residents of London; he was a citizen 
 and cloth worker; Robert Wade, his brother, 
 was a carpenter and lived near b)^ Edward; 
 Richard Hancock and his wife, Margaret, 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 15 
 
 lived in Bromley, near Bow, London; he was 
 an upholsterer; Isaac Smart came from Wilt- 
 shire; he was a single man; Hippolit lycfever 
 and Wm. Malster were "gentlemen;" the 
 first lived in St Martins in the fields; the last 
 in Westminster, both towns in the suburbs of 
 London. Whatever may have been their 
 calling, all became tillers of the soil, to secure 
 food for themselves and families. 
 
 Once on board the ship and free from the 
 shore, these adventurers found themselves 
 crowded and inconvenienced in many ways 
 not anticipated; hence the tidy housewife, 
 whose delight it had been to have her home 
 attractive, was sadly annoyed at the want of 
 neatness around her, and a glance at the cook- 
 ing arrangements put an end to all enjoyment 
 of meals from that time forward. Kxclusive- 
 ness within such limited space was not to be 
 considered and the annoyance of "going down 
 to the sea in ships" seemed to multiply. The 
 English Channel was not passed before 
 all the romance had departed, and Neptune, 
 the god of the great deep, demanded and re- 
 ceived his tribute. The routine of the ship 
 and the broad expanse of waters that sur- 
 rounded them on every side soon became 
 monotonous, and put their patience and brav- 
 ery to the severest test. As they left "Lands 
 End" and saw the shores sink into the waves, 
 each could have said with the poet, 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 16 
 
 "Adieu, oh fatherland ! I see 
 
 Your white cliffs on th' horizon's rim, 
 
 And though to freer skies I flee 
 
 My heart swells — and my eyes are dim." 
 
 The first approach of the ship to the shores 
 of America was near Cape Henlopen, on the 
 southerly side of Delaware Bay, at a small 
 island subsequently called Fenwick island. 
 Nothing reminded them of their native land 
 save the beautiful autumn tints upon the for- 
 ests that crowded down to the water's edge 
 and fringed the streams with marv^elous color- 
 ing. The absence of shipping contrasted 
 strangely enough with the river Thames 
 where vessels from all parts of the world 
 found a port; while here, seldom but the 
 canoe of the Indian or the fishing smack of 
 the Swedes disturbed the waters. 
 
 They sailed up the bay about fifty miles 
 along the eastern shore from Cape May, 
 and anchored opposite the Old Swedes fort, 
 "Elsborg" near the mouth of Assamhocking 
 river, on the 23d of September, 1675. 
 
 The day following they ascended the As- 
 samhocking river, (now Salem) about three 
 miles, and landed on the south side of the 
 river, where now is the city of Salem. They 
 had been two and a half months crossing At- 
 lantic's troubled waves, and the thankfulness 
 of landing at that beautiful spot, suggested 
 the name of Salem, the City of Peace. 
 
Chapter III. 
 
 As soon as practicable after his arrival John 
 Fen wick bought from the Indians or natives, 
 his tenth of Nev/ Jersey, which included 
 Salem and Cumberland counties. 
 
 My sister explained to us that titles to land 
 in New Jersey was derived from the British 
 Crown. Among the nations of Europe, it 
 was a settled principle that all uninhabited 
 countries, and also those inhabited by savage 
 tribes, became the property of the sovereign 
 whose subjects sailing along its rivers and 
 harbors, first took possession of it. So Fen- 
 wick had a legal right, but policy and a sense 
 of justice, prompted him and the early settlers 
 to make compensation for the land. The 
 friendship of the Indians was worth a great 
 deal to the few and scattered settlers. Im- 
 mense tracts could be bought for a few bau- 
 bles, and to the fair and reasonable treatment 
 they received from the Quakers, may prob- 
 ably be ascribed the absence of those desolat- 
 ing wars which prevailed in New England. 
 
 His third purchase was from the Canna- 
 ockink river (now Cohansey) to the Wahat- 
 quenack (now Maurice river j. 
 
 We never tired of reading and studying 
 about the Red Men of the forest, and learned 
 
18 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 when kindly treated, they were capable of de- 
 voted and enduring friendships and were 
 extremely sensitive to contempt and injury. 
 They had no written language, important 
 events were kept in memory by carefully re- 
 peated traditions, handed from generation to 
 generation with accuracy. They were very 
 fond of personal adornment, and sometimes 
 their vanity and ignorance were taken advan- 
 tage of, but no part of New Jersey was ever 
 taken from them by force; all was acquired by 
 voluntary sale. 
 
 When weary of the early history, my sister 
 would relate to us, what she had read about 
 some of the Indian Kings. She said the old 
 King "Ockamicon" who died in Burlington, 
 New Jersey, about the year 1754, appointed 
 his brother's son, lahkursoe, his successor. 
 He earnestly desired him to hear his last 
 words, and addressed him after this manner. 
 
 "My brother's son, this day I deliver my 
 heart into your bosom; and mind me, I would 
 have you love what is good, and keep good 
 company; refuse what is evil, and by all means 
 avoid bad company. 
 
 "Brother's son, I would have you cleanse 
 your ears, and take all foulness out, that you 
 may hear both good and evil, and then join 
 with the good, and refuse the evil; and also 
 cleanse your eyes, that you may see good and 
 evil, do not join with it, but join to that* 
 which is good. Be sure always to walk in a 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 19 
 
 good path, and if any Indian should speak 
 evil of Indians or of Christians, do not join 
 with it; but look at the sun from the rising of 
 it to the setting of the same." 
 
 My mother remarked it was the same lesson 
 that the Apostle Paul taught the Thessalon- 
 ians; "Cleave to the good, and resist the very 
 appearance of evil. " Then she quoted from 
 the old prophet Isaiah, "He that walketh 
 righteously, and speaketh uprightly, he that 
 despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shak- 
 eth his hands from holding of bribes, that 
 stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and 
 shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, he shall 
 dwell on high; his place of defence shall be 
 the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given 
 him; his waters shall be sure." 
 
 Then she sang to us an old Indian hymn, 
 that her father taught her. 
 
 "In de dark wood, no Indian nigh. 
 Den me look heben and send up cry, 
 
 Ubon my knee so low. 
 But God on higii in shiny place, 
 See me at night, with teary face, 
 
 De priest he tell me so. 
 
 "God send de angel take him care, 
 
 He come he' self to hear him prayer 
 
 If Indian heart do pray. 
 He see me now, he know me here. 
 He say poor Indian 'neber fear' 
 
 Me wid you night and day. 
 
20 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 "So me lub God, with inside heart 
 He fight for me, he take him part, 
 
 He save im life before, 
 God hear poor Indian in de wood 
 So me lub God, and dat be good 
 
 Me pray him two times more." 
 
Chapter IV. 
 
 In gleaning the page of history we learned 
 the first proprietors of the land all about us, 
 including our homes, were I,eonard and 
 Nicholas Gibbon. 
 
 The rights west of the Cohansey seem all 
 to have been purchased of Fen wick or his 
 executors. Most of the land was covered by 
 surveys before 1700. James Wasse, Joshua 
 Barkstead, R. Hutchiuf^on, George Hazle- 
 wood, John Budd, Cornelius Mason, and 
 Edmund Gibbon, made large surveys which 
 extended nearl}^ from the Cohansey to the 
 Salem line. 
 
 Edward Gibbon was an E rglish merchant 
 in Nevv' York. In 1677 in order to secure a 
 debt due to him by Edward Duke and Thomas 
 Duke — he took from them a deed for 6,000 
 acres in West New Jersey, which had been 
 conveyed to them by John Fenwick in Eng- 
 land, Gibbon by virtue of this deed had a 
 tract of 5,500 acres surveyed for him by 
 Richard Hancock in 16S2. It was resurveyed 
 in 1703 by Benjamin Acton, and lay in Co- 
 hansey precinct, novv^ in Greenwich and Hope- 
 well Townships, including Roadstown, ex- 
 tending southward to Pine Mount Branch, 
 and Westward to Llic Delaware. 
 
22 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 He devised this tract to his grandson Ed- 
 mond who devised it to Francis Gibbon of 
 Bennesdere, England. In 1700 Francis de- 
 vised it to his two kinsmen, Leonard and 
 Nicholas Gibbon of Gravesend, Kent, Eng- 
 land, describing it as all the tract of land known 
 as Mount Gibbon, upon the branches of an un- 
 known creek, (Stow Creek) near Cohansey, 
 in West New Jersey, provided they settle 
 upon it. 
 
 Mount Gibbon, or Pine Mount as it was 
 afterwards called, stood a short distance from 
 our homes. Its wealth of Flora afforded us 
 girls more happiness, than the glittering gold 
 of Ophir, or the sparkling diamonds of India, 
 could pos:iibly have given us in later years. 
 The middle or last of April, with joyous step, 
 did we hasten to the hillside, to gather the 
 pink and white clusters of the Trailing 
 Arbutus while the feathery pines reverberated 
 to the gentle wind in mournful song. In 
 May we wouM hunt for the pink Moccasin 
 Shoe and Dog toothed Violets; in early June 
 the wild Honey Suckle scented the air and 
 the stately Laurel would adorn its evergreen 
 branches with pink and white cup- like flow- 
 ers. A few weeks later we inhaled the aro- 
 matic whiffs of the Magnolia blossoms, tow- 
 ering just beyond our reach, while at our 
 feet the modest Pipsissaway was opening 
 snowy petals, and emitting its most delicious 
 fragrance in the summer air. 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 23 
 
 The Christmas Holly grew everywhere in 
 the wood at the foot of the hill, the beauty of 
 these Holly trees in the wintry season after 
 a carpet of snow had fallen, covering the 
 sere leaf, and all unsightliness, almost rival- 
 ed the spring time verdue. 
 
 At almost every excursion to Mount Gib- 
 bon, we girls would climb to its pine clad 
 summit to view the landscape o'er. Far 
 away to the South we could see the waters 
 of the noble Delaware, winding its way to 
 the great Ocean, whose sails glanced in the 
 sunlight like birds at sea. I^ord Delaware 
 on a voyage to Virginia touched at Delaware 
 Bay, which has since borne his name. In an 
 easterly direction, we could catch occasional 
 glimpses of Old Cohansey gliding through its 
 meads and marshts to the bosom of the bay; 
 suddenly a canvass v.diite as sunlit snow 
 would appear in view, then disappear and 
 reappear in the same place apparently in 
 sailing the reaches of the river. Just below 
 us was our village church, store and scattered 
 houses surrounded with fertile farms dotted 
 here and there with white residences, almost 
 hidden by orchards of green and tall stately 
 sycamores, while over all the white cumulus 
 clouds drifted in the azure skies, ever change- 
 ing and dissolving in the atmosphere. 
 
 Nicholas Gibbon borne in 1702 w".s a son 
 of Arthur and Jane Gibbon, Gravesend Kent, 
 England. Nicolas and his younger brother 
 
24 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 Leonard came to New Jersey and erected 
 one of the first grist-mills near Cohansey, 
 upon the stream called Macanippuck. My 
 cousin and I loved to go when the monthly 
 grist was taken to see the mysteries of that 
 old mill. In every stury we would watch 
 the revolutions of the moss covered wheel 
 and listen to the roar, as the grain was made 
 into flour. When at the mill we often called 
 upon Mrs. Tyler, the widow of Rev. Ben- 
 jamin Tyler, the owner and proprietor who 
 lived in the brick mansion. She alwaj^s 
 gave us maidens a cordial welcome. A lady 
 so amiable and generous that none knew 
 her but to love her. She was said to be a 
 direct descendant of Nicholas Gibbon. 
 
 In 1730 they divided the tract, Nicholas 
 taking the Southern part including the mill 
 and two thousand acres of land. Leonard 
 erected a stone house about two miles north 
 of Greenwich, afterwards owned by Asa 
 Horner. Nicholas built a substanial brick 
 house in Greenwich which he occupied until 
 he moved to Salem in 1740. They were 
 Episcopalians and at their own expense erect' 
 ed an Episcopal Church in "Old Cohansey," 
 not very far from the Greenwich landing. 
 The Gibbons were said to have much wealth 
 and built the church for the accommodation 
 of their own and neighbors' families. The 
 consecration of the church took place in the 
 year 1729 and was named St. Stephen. As 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 25 
 
 the tide of emigration seemed to flow to- 
 wards that part of Old Cohansey, so did the 
 religion of the community tend toward the 
 Quakers, Baptist and Presbyterians and so 
 overpowered the Episcopalians, that in after 
 years the church waned into insignificance 
 and was finally obliterated. 
 
Chapter V. 
 
 We learned in resuming the study of Fen- 
 wick that directly after his arrival he provid- 
 ed for laying out a neck of land for a town 
 at Cohansey. He paid the Indians for Cum- 
 berland County and adjoining parts of his ten- 
 th, four guns, powder and lead, 336 gallons of 
 rum, an uncertain number of shoes and 
 stockings, four blankets, and 16 match-coats. 
 The sale of the land being ratified by the 
 Indian Chiefs Mahowskeys, Newswego, Chee- 
 keenaham, Tinecho and vShacanan. He de- 
 signed calling the town Cohansey but the 
 settlers called it Greenwich probably after 
 Greenwich, Connecticut, which place some 
 of the settlers had come from. The lots were 
 to be sixteen acres each. A street was laid 
 out from the whart one hundred feet wide 
 to where the Presbyterian church now stands. 
 The laying out of the town seemed to be 
 delayed until after Fenwicks death. 
 
 Fenwick died in the latter part of 1683 but 
 by his will directed his executors to proceed 
 with the laying out of Cohansey. Sixteen 
 acres at the wharf on the north side they sold 
 to Mark Reeve, who came over with Fenwick 
 in the Griffin. The Griffin was the first 
 English ship that came to West Jersey after 
 its purchase by the Friends. Sixteen lots 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 27 
 
 were sold to Alexander Smith, Thomas 
 Watson, John Clark, John Mason, Thomas 
 Smith, William Bacon, Joseph Brown, Sam- 
 uel Bacon, Edward Hurlburt, Joseph Dennis, 
 Enoch Moore, Obadiah Holmes and Frances 
 Alexander by 1700 and most of them settled 
 upon these lots and were the first settlers 
 of Greenwich. 
 
 Two fairs were held yearly in the town of 
 Greenwich, in April and October. These 
 fairs were continued until 1765 when a law 
 was enacted, that fairs in the town of Green- 
 wich ha i been found inconvienient and un- 
 neccessary. It is said there had been an in- 
 crease of regular retail stores whose propri- 
 etors desired patronage. 
 
 Nearly all of the first settlers of Greenwich 
 were Friends or Quakers. Soon after 1700 
 new settlers arrived in increasing numbers 
 and settled in the limits of Cumberland 
 County. The first roads that were laid out 
 followed the Indian paths. 
 
 At the last grand council of the Apos, 
 Colados and a smaller tribe the Wallas 
 gathered from the river to the shore; the old 
 men and warriors came and invoking the aid 
 of the great spirit sat in council. For days 
 and days the council lasted. The future 
 comfort of the tribes and their fondness for 
 their favorite home Washalla held long and 
 fearful contest in their savage breast. News- 
 wego arose from among his sorrowing friends 
 
23 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 and pointing to the trail near which the 
 council fire burned, said ' 'This trail so plain- 
 ly marked shall some da}^ guide the pale face 
 from the hills to the sea. We will find a 
 resting place near the setting sun.'' The 
 prophecy of the old chief was soon verified. 
 The kings highvt^ay was upon that trail while 
 the state was yet a province. The king 
 Mahowskey, considered Washalla his home 
 b}^ the sea an earthly Paradise. The south- 
 ern peninsula with it^ many miles of un- 
 broken forest, the Atlantic on one side 
 and the Delaware on the other, intersected 
 with numerous streams teemJng with fish; 
 the forest abounding with game and the 
 soil easily cultivated by their crude tools 
 supplied to them their every v,;ant. Nature 
 sang for them her sweetest hymns. 
 
 There were well known clans that crossed 
 the state. Many of the Pennsylvania clans 
 made annual visits to the Seashore. Their 
 chief object was to procure fish, oysters and 
 clams, drying them for winter food and 
 partly for making and getting money. The 
 celebrated wampum consisted of beads made 
 out of the shells of the large clam found 
 abundantly on the coast. 
 James Daniels a minister among the friends, 
 whose Father settled in the forks of Slow 
 Creek near the place now called Canton in 
 Salem Co. in 1690, When he was about five 
 years old, learned the Indian language and 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 29 
 says in his memoirs: "The white people were 
 very few, and the natives a multitude, but a 
 sober, grave and temperate people and used 
 no manner of oath in their speech, but as the 
 country grew older the people grew worse, 
 and had corrupted the natives in their morals, 
 teaching them bad words and the excessive 
 use of strong drink." Columbus describes 
 the innocent happiness of these people. He 
 says, "They were no wild savages, but very' 
 gentle and courteous, without steaHng, with- 
 out killing." History scarcely records an 
 instance when hospitality was not extended 
 by the red men of the forest to our first ex- 
 plorers. 
 
 A few of the descendants of the original 
 inhabitants lingered within the county until 
 after the Revolutionary War, earning their 
 substance principally by making baskets. 
 
Chapter VI. 
 
 The Presbyterian Cliurch stands in the 
 old village, just a few rods south of the bridge, 
 and the old burial ground just across the 
 street, the stream forming its western boun- 
 dary. The early settlers built their houses of 
 worship near a stream, so those who attended 
 the services could procure water for themselves 
 and horses. 
 
 This church was so near our homes that in 
 the fading summer twilight Vv'e would sit on 
 my cousin's doorstep and watch the congre- 
 gation gather, and listen to the worshippers 
 as they sang their evening song of praise. 
 
 It is believed the society of the church was 
 formed as early as 1700. Jeremiah Bacon 
 deeded to Henry Joice and Thomas Maskell a 
 lot of land in trust as a gift for the Presbyter- 
 ian church and congregation as early as the 
 month of April 171 7. 
 
 The Gibbon brothers gave six acres of land 
 for a parsonage. The deed bears the date of 
 January 13, 1729-30, and was from Nicholas 
 and Iveonard Gibbon to Josiah Fithian, 
 Thomas Maskell and Noah Miller. The 
 first building was wooden, but was superceded 
 by one of brick which was not finished until 
 1751, although occupied for worship several 
 years before completion. It was 44 feet in 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 31 
 
 length b)' 34 in breadth. When completed it 
 was said to have been the largest and most 
 imposing edifice in the counties of Salem, Cum- 
 berland, or in South Jersey. Cumberland coun- 
 ty was set off from the county of Salem and 
 erected into a new county, bj^ an act of Assem- 
 bly passed January 19th, 1747-8. "The Duke 
 of Cumberland who had not long before 
 gained the victory of Culloden, and thereby 
 established the house of Hanover permanently 
 on the throne of Great Britain, was the great 
 hero of the day, and the new county was 
 named after him." 
 
 Tradition says the pulpit of the church was 
 hexagonal, made of black walnut, as was also 
 the sounding board, said to have been made 
 in Boston. At first the only pews it contained 
 were those cjustructed around the Vv^alls, each 
 pew being built at the expense of the occu- 
 pant, the area in the building being furnished 
 with benches. The galleries were originally 
 reached by a stairway outside of the building. 
 It stood on the old burial ground, not very 
 far from the entrance, and remained there 
 until one of brick was erected on the opposite 
 side of the street. 
 
 The cornerstone of the new church was 
 laid May 7, 1835. The church was built at a 
 cost of about $5,000, and was enlarged to its 
 present dimensions in i860. 
 
 The society formed in 1700 was supplied 
 by Mr. Black. It is not known what year Mr. 
 
32 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 Black left the church. It is stated he moved 
 to Lewes, Delaware, about 1708. 
 
 It is probable the pulpit was filled with sup- 
 plies until 1728, when Rev. Ebenezer Gould 
 was installed pastor. He was a native of 
 New Eng-land and a graduate of Yale. The 
 next year after Mr. Gould was installed the 
 congregation built a parsonage, where he re- 
 sided. It was burned al)out the year 1740. 
 
 After Mr. Gould came to Greenwich he 
 was married to Annie Brewster, a sister of 
 Frances Brewster, one of the elders of the 
 church, a descendant of Elder Brewster who 
 lauded from the Mayflower in December 1620. 
 She died while he was pastor and was buried 
 under the communion table of the church. 
 Mr. Gould resigiied the next )^ear after his 
 wife's death. The church was Vv^ithout a pas- 
 tor for six years but was supplied by eminent 
 preachers of the denomination. 
 
 The celebrated Whitefield visited "Old 
 Cohansey" about the year 1740, and 
 preached with his accustomed eloquence. The 
 church could not contain the people that had 
 assembled to hear him so he preaclied to them 
 on the side of the hill northeast of the church, 
 which was then covered with the original 
 forest. 
 
 Rev. Andrew Hunter was installed pastor 
 of the church, and the Presbyterian church of 
 Deerfield September 4, 1746. He preached two 
 Sabbaths at Greenwich and every third Sab- 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 33 
 
 bath at Deerfield. He served both churches 
 until 1750, when he confined his labors to the 
 Greenwich church. An able scholar and 
 divine, his influence and usefulness was very 
 great. At the close of his ministry the church 
 had never been in a more prosperous state. 
 He fell a victim to dysentery July 28, 1775. 
 and was buried in the middle aisle of the 
 church. He was an ardent friend to the lib- 
 erties of America, and was active in and out 
 of the pulpit to arouse the spirit of libt-rty 
 against the oppressive measures of British 
 government. 
 
 In after }^';'ars a large tablet was erected to 
 his memory, which bears this inscription: 
 "Beneath this stone are depo.sited the remains 
 of the Rev. Andrev^r Hunter, A. M., for thirty 
 years the pastor of this church. He was a 
 judicious divine, zealous prQacher, and an 
 eminent example of piety, charity and public 
 spirit. He finished his labors and entered 
 into 'The Joy of his I,ord' July the 28th, 1775, 
 aged sixty years. 
 
 Upon the side of the tablet there is another 
 inscription, "Here lies the body of Annie 
 Gould, v/ife of the Rev. Kbenezer Gould, who 
 departed this life July i6th, 1739, aged 36 
 years. Mi Me?2to Mori. ' ' So the descendant 
 of the Puritan Pilgrim, and the minister Vv'ho 
 was so influential in enkindling the flame of 
 patriotism in the citizens of Cumberland 
 county — One stone fittingly marks their place 
 of burial. 
 
34 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 My cousin and I delighted in rambling in 
 that old burial ground studying the inscrip- 
 tions and epitaphs, some of them so blackened 
 by time's passing years they were hardly in- 
 telligible. 
 
 Our old friend the Doctor was almost a 
 daily visitor. We often met him and no 
 young admirer of us maidens ever raised his 
 hat at our approach more politelj^ than did 
 he. We were very fond of his society. At 
 one time when the woods south of the old 
 cemetery were ablaze with the Autumn's 
 glory, he repeated some very beautiful lines 
 regarding October to us. He has been known 
 to repeat the entire poem of Scott's "Lady of 
 the Lake." 
 
 One evening when my brother was passing 
 the old burial ground as the twilight shadows 
 were deepening, midway between the tib- 
 lets of the Gibbons and Mr. Hunter stood 
 the "Old Doctor" singing that old li3'mn, 
 "There is a laud of pure delight where saints 
 immortal reign." He sang the entire h3'mn and 
 we knew he was living again with the friends 
 of yore, and though the .sod covered the earth- 
 ly forms, by the eye of faith he saw their .spirits 
 in the heavenly land. My father said when 
 he first came to the village to live the Doctor 
 led the church choir and was a very sweet 
 singer. 
 
 Histor}' records that after the death of Rev. 
 Andrew Hunter the church was without a 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 35 
 
 pastor until the year 1782. The Rev. Isaac 
 Keith was for a time a supply. In 1782 the 
 Rev. George Faitoute was installed pastor and 
 remained pastor until 1788. In 1792 a con- 
 gregation wa3 formed in Bridgeton which 
 drew largely for the material for its formation 
 from the Greenwich church. 
 
 Dr. William Clarkson was installed pastor 
 of both churches in November 1794. He 
 Vv^as dismissed upon his own anplicition by the 
 Presbytery in 1801. He was said to be a pop- 
 ular and excellent preacher. In 1804 the 
 Rev. Jonathan Freeman, of Newburgh, N. Y. 
 was unanlmousl 3^ called to be the pastor of 
 the church and congregation, the congrega- 
 tion at Bridgeton concurring in the call of Mr. 
 Freeman. He was installed pastor of both 
 churches in the church at Bridgeton October 
 16, 1805. After the death of Mr. Freeman in 
 1822 the pulpits of the churches were supplied 
 by the Presbytery. 
 
 Mr. Freeman's successor was the Rev. Sam- 
 uel Lawrence. He was ordained November 
 10, 1824. It was during his pastorate that 
 the old church building, which had become so 
 dilapidated, was abandoned and a new church 
 erected across the street. The congregation 
 worshipped in the old church for the last time 
 April 1 2th, 1835. Mr. Lawrence served the 
 church faithfully for over twenty years; then 
 applied to Presbytery for admission in the 
 sx-ring of 1S47. He was followed by the 
 
36 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 Rev. Shepherd K. Kollock. He was installed 
 January 26th 1848. He was a very tal- 
 ented man, and excelled by very few; fail- 
 ing health obliged him to sever his pastoral 
 relation with the church March nth 1861. 
 November 4th 1861. Rev. John S. Stewart 
 was unanimously called, and was ordained 
 pastor of the church February nth, 1862. 
 My cousin and I were occasionally permitted 
 to go in company to listen to the eloquent 
 Dr. Stewart, and began from that time to 
 take much interest in the church that could 
 be seen from our homes. 
 
Chapter VII. 
 
 About a mile east of Sheppard's Mill, the 
 early Baptist settlers built a church, which 
 is said to be the first organized church in 
 this region, of which there is any authentic 
 record. 
 
 History informs us in the year 1683 some 
 Baptists from Tipperary, Ireland, settled in 
 the neighborhood of Cohansey. About this 
 time Thomas Killingworth settled not far off. 
 He was a man of much ability; fully qualifi- 
 ed to occupy any position in the colony to 
 which he might be called, a native of Nor- 
 wich, England. He increased the number 
 to nine souls, and probably as many more 
 including the sisters. They termed a church 
 in the spring of 1690. A wooden building 
 was erected. Its dimensions were 32 by 36 
 feet and history records had a stove in 1789. 
 In those early times it was so unusual to warm 
 the houses of worship in any way, that the 
 stove claimed special mention. 
 
 The old frame building remained until 
 1804, when a brick church was erected at 
 Roadstown, to which the congregation re- 
 moved. The Roadstown church still retains 
 the name of "Old Cohansey." 
 
 My sister informed us girls that in the 
 
38 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 old burial ground that marks the place 
 where the old church stood, the first white 
 female that was born in "Old Cohansey" 
 was buried. We were much enthused about 
 it, and had a great desire to visit the place, 
 when unexpectedly came an invitation to 
 spend the day with some friends whose farm 
 adjoined the old cemetery. The much an- 
 ticipated day dawned upon U3 in all the 
 beauties of midsummer, the beams of the 
 morning sun was filling field and meadow 
 and threw an air of sprightliness and gayety 
 over all nature. 
 
 Around the old town the bearded grain had 
 fallen before the reaper, and much of it 
 garnered . 
 
 The blades and ta'^sels of the green grow- 
 ing corn were waving and rustling in the 
 mellow summer breezes. 
 
 In the gardens could be seen a few belated 
 blossoms gracing the stalks of the statel}'- 
 hollyhocks, and a few lingering lillies and 
 roses. As we were driven through the wood- 
 ed way to our friends home, some of the 
 feathered songsters were warbling their 
 sweetest notes for their love mate's ear, and 
 the overhanging trees made cool shadows 
 beneath, where the graceful ferns grew in 
 their mysterious beauty; springing from per- 
 ished leaves and dripping mold. 
 
 We had a most enjoyable visit. After 
 dining some one suggested we go to the 
 
GREENWICH, TN OLD COHANSEY 39 
 
 cemetery. In going my cousin and I wan- 
 dered by ourselves as we were apt to do, and 
 soon found the marble slab that told the 
 story; we read the inscription: "In memory 
 of Deborah Swinney who departed this life 
 the 4th day of April, 1760 in the 77th year 
 of her age. ' ' She was the first female born 
 in "Old Cohansey." Although there were 
 many other stones of ancient date, soon the 
 conversation of the entire part}'- concentrated 
 upon the one stone. We longed to know her 
 whole history. Born as early as 1684, about 
 64 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth 
 Rock, Massachusetts; born when the dusky 
 tribal people inhabited the forest, and must 
 have been everywhere around and about her. 
 She probably learned their language and their 
 customs, for they were governed by customs 
 instead of laws. If she had no sisters, she 
 probably made the Indian girls her compan- 
 ions, and roamed the forests with them in 
 their wild free life. She must have seen the 
 Indian canoe glide over the waters of "Old 
 Cohansey," perhaps entered the wigwam and 
 saw those savory dishes prepared, such as 
 "hominy and succotash" which are strictly 
 Indian in name and preparation. The succo- 
 tash is found on every farmer's table in "Old 
 Cohansey" in the late summer season. 
 
 Deborah Swinney was born about the time 
 Charles II., King of England, died, and lived 
 in the reign of James II., William and Mary, 
 
40 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 Queen Anne, George I. and George II., and 
 died the year George III. commenced his reign. 
 George Washington, then unknown to fame, 
 having recently married Martha Custis, was 
 quietly living at Mt. Vernon, and his diary of 
 1760 shows how closely he was applying him- 
 self to the management of his splendid estate. 
 Deborah Swiuney lived and died in old Colo- 
 nial times before the great struggle of Inde- 
 pendence. She was one of the constituent 
 members of the Seventh Day Baptist church 
 of Shiloh, organized in the year 1737. 
 
 A Baptist church stands on the main street 
 of Greenwich, which for many years was con- 
 sidered an outpost of Old Cohansey church of 
 Roadstown. A few persons in the village 
 desired a Baptist church. In December 
 
 1843 a subscription toward a meeting house 
 was commenced and in two days ^2,000 was 
 pledged toward that object. In the spring of 
 
 1844 the house was begun. On the 9th day 
 of October, 1844, the house was dedicated. In 
 1849 the church was organized with 48 mem- 
 bers. The church has grown wonderfully and 
 at the present time is in a flourishing condi- 
 tion with an enrollment of between two and 
 three hundred members. 
 
Chapter VIII. 
 We learned that before the Revolutionary 
 war there were very few towns in the County. 
 Greenwich was the place of most business up 
 to the beginning of the 19th century. The 
 stores there contained the largest assortment 
 of goods. The river forming an excellent 
 harbor, vessels traded direct to the West Ind- 
 ies and other places. There was a regular 
 ferry kept up over the river, and much inter- 
 course between Fairfield and Greenwich. In 
 1767 after John Sheppard came there and 
 occupied the property formerly owned by 
 Mark Reeve, a law was passed establishing 
 the ferry, and in pursuance of its provision 
 he bound himself to keep good and sufficient 
 boats, fit for ferrying travelers and carriages 
 for 999 years, and to keep and amend the 
 roads, and bound his property to keep the 
 agreement. 
 
 In 1810, and also in 1820, efforts were made 
 to have a draw bridge built at the expense of 
 the county but was defeated by those living on 
 the river above which caused much rejoicing. 
 For several years a horseboat was in constant 
 use, but as other towns grew, Greenwich lost 
 its relative importance, and the ferry had but 
 little business. So in 1838 Mr. Sheppard, by 
 paying $300, was released from his engage- 
 ment. 
 
42 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 My sister said it was the persistence of the 
 British Government in taxing the EngHsh 
 Colonies of North America that brought on 
 the Revolutionary War, and hastened their 
 independence. 
 
 They had sent petition after petition to 
 King James to lift the burdens, and allow 
 them to be represented in Parliament. In 
 1773 all the taxes were repealed, but the duty 
 on tea. Our forefathers resolved not to use 
 it, and they would not suffer it to be landed 
 and offered for sale. In order to make that 
 tax more palatable, they had taken off the 
 export duty of 12 per cent from the East India 
 Company and allowed them to bring it to this 
 country upon payment of an import duty of 
 3 per cent. They hoped by thus cheapening 
 the price of tea 9 per cent, to bribe the Amer- 
 ican to pay the small import duty, and thus 
 acknowledge the right of the British Govern- 
 ment to tax them without their consent. In 
 pursuance of this plan the East India Com- 
 pany sent large quantities of tea to this coun- 
 try. At some plac^is the tea was not permitted 
 to be landed. In December a party disguised 
 as Indians boarded the ships in Boston 
 Harbor, and threw the tea into the waters. 
 About December 12-14, i774. the brig, Grey- 
 hound, commanded by Capt. Allen, bound for 
 Philadelphia, came sailing into Cohansey river 
 with a quantity of tea, shipped at Rotterdam. 
 He was afraid to proceed to his place of des- 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 43 
 
 tinatioii and landed the tea at Greenwich, 
 where it was stored in the cellar of a house, 
 standing in front of the then open market 
 square. The house was occupied by Dan 
 Bowen. 
 
 Imitating the example of the Bostonians a 
 company of nearly forty men was organized 
 with the concurrence of the committee of 
 safety of the county of which Jonathan Elmer, 
 the royal sheriff, was an active member, who 
 disguised themselves as Indians, and on the 
 night of December 22nd, 1774, broke into the 
 store house, took out the boxes of tea and 
 burned them in a neighboring field. One of 
 the party, a man named Stacks, tied strings 
 around his pantaloons at his ankles and stuffed 
 them with tea, which he carried home to his 
 family, and ever afterwards was called ' 'Tea 
 Stacks." There was a great stir among the 
 inhabit mts on the next day after the occur- 
 ence. Some raved, some condemned, and some 
 tried to reason. Many were glad the tea was 
 destroyed, but almost all disapproved of the 
 manner of destruction. The owner of the tea 
 commenced action of trespass, against such of 
 the disguised Indians as they thought they 
 could identify in the supreme court of the 
 state. Money for the defense was raised by 
 subscription, and eminent counselors were era- 
 plowed in behalf of the defendants. No trial 
 however, took place. The rule for security 
 of coots was repealed at the November term 
 
44 GREENWICH, IX OLD COHANSEY 
 
 and in default thereof nonsuits were entered 
 at the April term in 1776. At the May term, 
 security having been filed, the nonsuits were 
 set aside and the actions revived, but they 
 were short-lived. The new constitution of 
 the state adopted in July, having dispersed the 
 royal judges and their places being filled in 
 the succeeding winter with whigs, the action 
 was dropped and no further proceedings took 
 place on either side. 
 
 A long time ago the burning of the tea was 
 written in verse by an unknown writer: 
 
 "On the wharf I sit and dream, 
 
 While the stars throw many a beam, 
 
 A soft and silvery streak 
 
 On the stillness of the creek; 
 
 And a vessel through the haze 
 
 Of the Old Colonial Days, 
 
 Like a spectre seems to ride 
 
 On the inward flowing tide. 
 
 lyike a phantom it appears 
 
 Faintly through the hundred years 
 
 That have vanished since its sails 
 
 Braved the fierce Atlantic gales. 
 
 Are they risen from the graves — 
 
 Those dark figures clad as braves, 
 
 Of the dusk)' tribal hosts, 
 
 That of old possessed these coasts? 
 
 Swift they glide from neath the trees 
 
 The ill-fated stores to seize. 
 
 Noiselessly with whispered jests. 
 
 High they heaped the fragrant chests 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 45 
 
 Round the gnarled trunk that still 
 lyit'ts its limbs from yonder hill. 
 And at once a ruddy blaze 
 Skyward leaps and madly plays 
 Snapping, crackling o'er the pyre, 
 Till with patriotic fire, 
 All that costly cargo doomed, 
 Unto ashes is consumed. 
 Back the ship drifts through the haze 
 And the figures with the blaze. 
 Fade and vanish from the night, 
 And the moon swells clear and bright. 
 Kiist a slender silver line. 
 Then Diana's bow divine; 
 Quarter, half, three-quarters, till 
 All the heavens seem to fill. 
 As the orb's full rounded girth,': 
 Like a bubble, quits the earth. 
 lyO ! the lights by twos and threes 
 Fade amid the village trees — 
 From the narrow casement fade 
 Till no mortal beams invade 
 With their keen and curious light. 
 The unconauered realms of night. ' ' 
 
Chapter IX. 
 
 There are two Quaker meeting houses on 
 the main street of the village. 
 
 The Friends meeting was established early 
 in the settlement of the colony. Previous to 
 the erection of the first meeting house, the 
 meeting was held at private houses. 
 
 The first meeting house was a log building 
 constructed near the landing in order to 
 accommodate the people on both sides of 
 Cohansey river. It was built upon the lot 
 originalli" bought by Mark Reeve, who after- 
 wards sold his 1 6 acres to Joseph Brown; 
 "Joseph Brown selling to Charles Bagley a 
 lot of 50 feet on the street and 55 feet deep, 
 for the only use, service, and purpose of a 
 meetinghouse and gravej'ard, for thohe peo- 
 ple in scorn called Quakers." 
 
 In the beginning of the iSth century it 
 increased largely in the number of its members 
 and a substantial brick house was erected. It 
 was what was called an "Indulged meeting," 
 or meeting for worship only, being under tne 
 care of the Salem meeting, and continued so 
 until 1770, when this and the meeting at Allo- 
 ways Creek were united, and formed one 
 monthly meeting to be held alternately at each 
 place. 
 
;■■ - GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY ' 47 
 
 In 1836 there was a great division of the 
 so-called Friends, into two parties, called 
 Orthodox and Hicksites, the latter being strict 
 followers of Elias Hicks. This caused a sep- 
 aration in the society. The few Methodists 
 in "Old Cohansey" had erected a wooden 
 building and located it on the south side of 
 old Mount Gibbon. As the tide of emigra- 
 tion did not increase their numbers a denomi- 
 nation of their faith could not be supported. 
 The building was sold to the Hicksite Quakers 
 and removed to the main village street about 
 a half mile south of the Presbyterian church. 
 It consisted of two stories with a stairway on 
 the outside. It was not only used for worship 
 but for school purposes. The school was 
 taught by Sallie Owen, a very excellent 
 Quaker lady. She taught the elementary 
 branches, needle work and sampler making. 
 My sisters were among her pupils. In course 
 of time the old building v.'as abandoned, moved 
 across the street and converted into a dwell- 
 ing, and in its place a neat brick structure 
 was erected. 
 
 We girls were very much interested and 
 fascinated with that Quaker meeting. Our 
 people greatly admired the "Friends" but 
 knowing we did not understand the real sig- 
 nificance of their service, would not permit us 
 to cross the threshold of the meeting house 
 but a few times a year. The interior vv'as 
 simplicity itself. No painter's brush had 
 
48 GREENWICH, IN OLD COIIANSEY 
 
 been permitted to change the natural color of 
 the wood, and plainness was a marked feature 
 of the entire building. There was a partition 
 through the center of the church which separ- 
 ated the male from the female members. It 
 was arranged so it could be entirely closed at 
 their monthly business meeting. 
 
 "It may be explained that the meetings of 
 Friends are classified as for worship and disci- 
 pline. The meetings for discipline are divided 
 into preparative, monthh', quarterly and 
 yearly meetings. One or more meetings for 
 worship may form a preparative meeting; orie 
 or more preparative meetings may form a 
 monthly meeting; two or more monthly m^eet- 
 ings may form a Quarterly meeting; and sev- 
 eral quarterlj' meetings may form a yearly 
 meeting. Some monthly meetings call every 
 third meeting a quarterly meeting. The 
 monthly meetings are the principal executive 
 branch of the society, and keep the most volu- 
 minous records." 
 
 At the appointed hour the congregation 
 assembled. They were very prompt in at- 
 tendance. Then the stillness began, with 
 not a sound anywhere to break the 
 silence. The elderly members sat upon ele- 
 vated seats, facing the younger part of the 
 audience. We used to gaze in those elderly 
 ladies' faces — their peculiar mode of dressing 
 was very becoming — long gray or brown satin 
 bonnets with trie border of the white cap visi- 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 49 
 
 ble at the outline of the face and the white 
 kerchief was the neck finishing of their plain 
 costumes. 
 
 The attitude they assumed seemed to be a 
 listening one, with an expression of sweetness 
 and serenity that was a mystery to our young 
 minds. Our eyes would wander beyond the 
 partition to see how the quiet that pervaded 
 the meeting was affecting the male members 
 but the broad brimmed hats that encircled 
 their brows hindered us from seeing their 
 faces, but we knew by the holy calm every- 
 where they must be partaking of the same 
 power. 
 
 At half past eleven the eldest male member 
 arose and shook hands with his neighbor, 
 which broke the silence and ended the First 
 day meeting. Then kindly greetings with one 
 another introduced by "How does thee do?" 
 or "Is thee well?", after which they dispersed 
 to their homes. Some of those Quaker ladies 
 that occupied the elevated seats were our 
 neighbors, and whenever we saw them at 
 home or elsewhere they ever manifested the 
 same sweet, lovely, serene spirit. Our special 
 favorites were those we knew the best. Mrs. 
 Lydia Hilliard, a most beautiful woman, who 
 presided with such gentle dignity in her home 
 usually clad in gowns of silk. It was a joy 
 to us maidens to simply behold her. Mrs. 
 Martha Tyler, a lady whose generosity and 
 hospitalitv and loveliness seemed to make her 
 
50 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 daily life a praj'er. Mrs. John Tyler and 
 Mrs. Sallie Stewart were women of remark- 
 able sweetness of character. 
 
 In after years when we were grown into 
 young womanhood and learned that their law 
 was love, and the purpose of the silent meet- 
 ing was to banish the babble of earth's voices, 
 and listen to the inner voice that speaks to the 
 heart alone, or in other words the soul's com- 
 munion with the Eternal Mind — we could 
 readily see why the true Quaker's walk in 
 life was upright and beautiful. 
 
 "All mighty works of power 
 
 Are wrought in silence deep. 
 
 The earth-sown seed in stillness grows, 
 
 Ere harvest we can reap. ' ' 
 
Chapter X. 
 
 The Orthodox meeting we never attended 
 but knew and saw some of its eminent mem- 
 bers. Dr. George B. Wood frequently passed 
 our homes in his carriage with footman and 
 driver. He at that time was much interested 
 in fruit and cranberry culture. He was born 
 in Greenwich, March 13, 1797, and spent his 
 summers there as long as he lived. His 
 brick residence still stands in the old village, 
 with its well kept lawns, and is very attractive. 
 The interior contains many old heir-looms — 
 beautiful china, mahogany furniture and old 
 time treasures. 
 
 He received his early education in New 
 York City; graduated at the University of 
 Pennsylvania in 181 5; and in medicine in 
 18 18. He was not only eminent as a physi- 
 cian, but as an author and lecturer. He pub- 
 lished many works, some of them having a 
 world-wide reputation. With Franklin 
 
 Barhe, M. D., he published the Dispensatory 
 of the United States. [Philadelphia, 1833.] 
 Of this work 150,000 copies were sold during 
 Dr. Wood's life time, the royalty to the 
 authors being about $155,000. He filled 
 many high positions and was for many years 
 
52 GRKKNWICH, IX OLD COHAXSEY 
 
 presideiit of the Colleg-e of Physicians of 
 Philadelphia. He died in that eit}- March 30, 
 1879. 
 
 Mr Ciarkson Sheppard was a very intelligent 
 member of the Orthodox Society of Friends. 
 He was sometimes called a Quaker preacher. 
 He often spoke in meeting and earnestly de- 
 nounced the &ins, follies and fashions of this 
 world and impressed his hearers with the im- 
 portance of cultivating; the Christian graces^ 
 ahva}-s guided by the inner light or pi-esenc'e 
 of Christ in the heart, and daily w'alk with 
 man as .vith a brotiier and a friend. He 
 taug'nt a Quaker school in the village for a 
 number of years. He was a close observer of 
 the ucatl-.er, ami furnished Meteorological 
 reports to the Sniitiisoiiian Insti ution for a 
 number of years. As Quakerism began to 
 deciiiie in the vilkige he removed his family 
 to Mtdia, Penns3dvai!ia. 
 
 There were ladies with \'er3' sweet faces 
 that adorived the sejtts of trie Orthodox meet- 
 ing, and occasionally a wedding ceremon\' 
 within its walls. 
 
 It was the custom of the engaged couple to 
 pass meeting three mouths before the mar- 
 riage, which amiouncetl the event. Then it 
 was av.'aited with much expectancy in the 
 village. At the meeti: g house the Friends 
 and many others gathered to witness the cere- 
 mony. After the wedding party had entered 
 and lakfu iheir >.eais the utmost o'.iitt. reigned 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 53 
 
 until tlie groom arose and repeated the mar- 
 riage service; the bride followed in the same 
 manner. After the congratulations the cer- 
 tificate was signed in the presence of the 
 assembled people. 
 
Chapter XI. 
 
 At the age of seventeen we considered we 
 iiad mastered the curriculum of our village 
 school, and the winter term entered Union 
 Academy at Shiloh. 
 
 The very name of Shiloh was of interest to 
 us girls, as we had heard the story "o'er and 
 o'er" that our ancestor was the first settler of 
 Shiloh. He first located in Rhode Island. 
 Between the years 1684 and 1687 he left that 
 colony and came to New Jersej', where he 
 first settled on the south side of Old Cohansey 
 river, in what was then known as Shrewsbury 
 Neck — now Up])er Back Neck. He pur- 
 chased 200 acres of John Oilman and 600 
 acres of Restore Lippincott, from a tract of 
 1000 acres purchased of John Fenwick. This 
 section south of the Cohansey river was sur- 
 veyed as early as 1678, by Fenwick's deputy 
 surveyor Richard Hancock, wlio laid off 500 
 acres for William Worth — the first white per- 
 son known to have settled south of this river. 
 He was, however, soon followed by others. 
 Worth's tract, included the prcrsent Lanning 
 wharf property, almost opposite Oreenwich. 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 55 
 
 Into this neighborhood came our ancestor 
 and remained there until November 21, 1705, 
 when he purchased 2200 acres of the rich 
 agricultural land covering the present site of 
 the village of Shiloh, of Dr. James Wass, a 
 London physician who bought 5,000 acres 
 July 12, 1675, of John Fen wick while he was 
 still in England. This tract was located and re- 
 surv^eyed October 15-18, 1705 by Joshua Bark- 
 stead, and 2200 acres conveyed to our ancestor, 
 who removed from the south side of the 
 Cohansey to his new purchase. He was a 
 Seventh Day Baptist and sold his tract to 
 those of his own faith. His son deeded one 
 acre of land in the village for a meeting house 
 lot and burying ground on the 24tli of March, 
 1738. The place was first called Cohansey 
 Corners, but the second pastor of the church, 
 Elder Davis, who was eminent for learning 
 and piet}-, gave to the village the name of 
 Shiloh, after the biblical Shiloh in the land of 
 Canaan that was consecrated to the worship 
 of God. The first settlers were an intelligent 
 people and Shiloh has always been noted for 
 its good schools, and is said to have sent out 
 more teachers than an}^ other town in Cum- 
 berland county. 
 
 When we attended Union Academy it was 
 a prosperous school. It was under the tutor- 
 ship of Prof. O. V. Whitford and wife with 
 an assistant. Miss Jennie Hoover. They 
 were excellent teachers whose aim seemed to 
 
56 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 be to educate and improve the scholar. We 
 were taught that we must not commit our 
 lessons merely for the class recital, but must 
 have an understanding knowledge of them to 
 be of practical benefit. 
 
 One of our special studies was astronomy. 
 Mrs. Whitford, the teacher of the class, made 
 the study so interesting with her instructions 
 that we took great delight in our lessons. In 
 the cold winter evening when the skies were 
 cloudless and the stars sparkled with brillian- 
 cy, she would go out with the class and teach 
 us the motions of the heavenly bodies, show 
 us the visible planets, and trace the winter 
 constellations with such accuracy that they 
 were indelibly fixed in our memories. Our 
 school days passed very pleasantly in Shiloh. 
 We roomed with relatives; made acquaint;inces 
 and took delightful walks about the old towti, 
 and frequently passed the old cemetery where 
 so many of our name were buried. 
 
 A short distance from Shiloh on the way to 
 Roadstown we saw the old Howell homestead, 
 built long before the Revolutionary war. It 
 Was the home of the father of Richard Howell 
 who was governer of the state of New Jersey 
 from 1793 to 1 80 1. 
 
 Roadstown, about two miles south west of 
 Shiloh. was settled at an early date, and was 
 a place next in importance to New England 
 town and Greenwich. It is called Kingstown 
 on an old mortgage on record. Before and 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 57 
 
 after the Revolution it was called Sayres Cross 
 Roads. Ananias Sayre, originally from Fair- 
 field, who was a prominent citizen and at one 
 time sheriff, settled there and built the house 
 at the northwest corner of the cross roads. 
 He was appointed sheriff by the governor 
 1747-8, and 1754. 
 
Chapter Xll. 
 
 As we developed into young womanTiood-, 
 my cousin grew delicately fair — the fairness 
 that is beautiful to the beholder, but often- 
 times an indication of early decay. Her com- 
 plexion was like the lily. Nature had painted 
 her cheek with the hue of the rose. Her light 
 brown hair fell in ringlets wavingly from her 
 fair forehead. She was graceful in figure and 
 had many admirers. 
 
 After we completed our school days differ- 
 ent avenues in life opened up for us, and we 
 could not travel side by side as in the past. 
 She taught a district school for a few years, 
 and feeling the need of a change of climate, 
 visited a brother in the west. At the parting 
 visit she laughingly remarked: "I fear I shall 
 meet my fate." The separation was painful 
 as I realized her frailty. I frequently heard 
 from her through her pen, and learned in 
 course of time that Cupid's arrow had found a 
 lodging place in her heart, and a final separa- 
 tion must take place, as she had decided to 
 make the state of Wisconsin her future home. 
 In 1876 when the Centeiniial Exposition was 
 held in Philadelphia, she returned to the old 
 town and home to prepare for her marriage. 
 Together we selected the bri'lil outfit, and 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COIIANSEY 59 
 in the late summer her friends witnessed her 
 marriage. She then left us for a permanent 
 home in the west. A very few years passed 
 and she informed me her health was failing. 
 Her frailty was evident when she came to 
 endure the rigors of a western climate. She 
 returned again for the purpose of regaining 
 her health, but it was of no avail. Consump- 
 tion, that "fell destroyer," seemed to be seated 
 upon her lungs, and all medical aid was un- 
 availing. She reminded me of the beautiful 
 flower that opens its petals in the night, and 
 perfumes with its fragrance the morning air, 
 then fades and withers ere the sun reaches 
 the meridian. 
 
 So my cousin developed into sweet and 
 beautiful young womanhood, faded, drooped 
 and died ere she reached the meridian of life. 
 Just four years after her marriage we laid her 
 frail body in the tomb. A short time before 
 her death, she said surprisingly to me one day: 
 "Our old friend, the Doctor, is living yet." I 
 attended the church near our homes more 
 regularly than in the \yd6t, and saw him often. 
 Ke was then nearing ninety years of age, and 
 was rarely absent from the church services. 
 As a giant oak tree that has withstood cen- 
 turies spreads its branches over the younger 
 trees of the forest, so he stood in the old 
 church — a tree of righteousness, the eldest, 
 the only one familiar with its early history, 
 hacin^^; lived throneli manv of its vicissitudes. 
 
60 GREENWICH, IX OLD COHANSEY 
 
 His contemporaries had all passed away and 
 the younger people gathered about him. At 
 the prayer meeting a regular attendant, often 
 taking part. There was a sublimity about his 
 utterance in pra5'-er that was very marked — 
 usually beginning his prayer with a biblical 
 passage such as "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, 
 God, Almighty, Who art, and was, and art 
 to come." The stillness of the meeting was 
 impressive while he talked with the Invisible 
 Presence whom he worshipped. At the social 
 gatherings he was the central figure. As his 
 intellectual attainments, medical practice and 
 long life gave him a large experience, he often 
 related incidents of the past that afforded de- 
 lightful entertainment. Had he not kept step 
 and almost witnessed the growth of our great 
 republic? He was born before George Wash- 
 ington ended his second term as president and 
 saw him when a .small boy in Philadelphia. 
 He then bad lived under every administration. 
 In his home at the eventide of life, when 
 the doors of .sense were softly closing to the 
 world — the eye growing dim and ear forget- 
 ting to hear, he was still the courteous Chris- 
 tian gentleman. Whatever passions or temp- 
 tations assailed him in his earlier years, he 
 had triumphed over them and was simply hold- 
 ing fast to the good — an humble follower of 
 the Nazarene. He lived much with nature; he 
 loved the tree, the plant, and the flower was a 
 cpecial delight to him. 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 61 
 
 The tender and loving- ministrations of his 
 neice and nephew, Miss Mary and Mr. Samuel 
 Fithian, made his life a joy in his old age. 
 
 He was the "Grand Old Man" of "Old Co- 
 hausey" — the onlj^ one who lived six months 
 beyond the century mark. 
 
 Dr. Enoch Fithian was born May lo, 1792. 
 He began the study of medicine in 181 3 at 
 Roadstown, where after he was licensed 
 to practice, he began his professional career. 
 The first of June J817, he entered into partner- 
 ship with Dr. Ewing of Greenwich, which 
 was continued until May 1824, when the 
 retirement of Dr. Kvving from practice caused 
 a separation of their professional relations. 
 
 Hi entered into partnership with others — 
 Dr. Edward Porter in 1849 and Dr. Nathaniel 
 Newkirk in 1851. They continued in active 
 practice until 1856, when Dr. Fithian retired 
 after a successful career of 41 years. In his 
 declining years Rev. Henry E- Thomas was 
 pastor of the church. He was installed June 
 8, 1870 and served the church successfully 
 for 18 3'ears. History informs us the congre- 
 gations were larger during his pastorate than 
 at any time since so many members with- 
 drew to form the church at Bridgeton. 
 The congregation consisted of ninety families. 
 He was an ardent friend of the Old Doctor's, 
 and he said when speaking of him, he "ad- 
 mired his intellect, honored his virtues and 
 loved him as a friend." 
 
62 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 At the close of the Civil war Dr. Thomas E. 
 Stathems, who served as a surgeon through 
 the war, came back to his native town and 
 settled in the "Old Doctor's" practice. He was 
 a very successful physician; a very genial, 
 symp.ithetic and generous man — so genial 
 that when he visited his patients, his presence 
 was tike a sunbeam, radiating brightness and 
 cheerfulness by his jokes and sunny spirit; so 
 sympathetic that the sufferings of humanity 
 made the tears flow from his eyes, and if his 
 remedies proved ineffectual, he was gresitly 
 distressed and troubled and sleepless nigiits 
 followed; so generous and kind hearted that 
 he gave his skill and strength to those in 
 need where he knew there could be no 
 remuneration. He reminded one of William 
 McClure in Druratochty, described by Ian 
 Maclaren in "Bonnie Brier Bush," — no matter 
 how dar!c and stormy the night, he would 
 travel matiy miles to relieve the sufferer. He 
 was the true physician, wedded to his pro- 
 fession, living a life of self denial for ser^dce 
 to his fellow man. He died July i6, i8gi, 
 aged 59 years. 
 
 William Bedford Ewing, another emi- 
 nent physician of "Old Cohansey;" was born 
 at Greenwich December 12, 1776. In the 
 year 1797 he went to the Virgin Islands, and 
 on St. Croix and St. Thomas engaged in 
 professional practice, and was later a 
 surofeon on a British vessel of war. He after- 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 63 
 
 ward returned to his native town and practiced 
 medicine until the spring of 1824, when he 
 retired from the practice of his profession. 
 He assisted in the formation of the Medical 
 Society of Cumberland County. He was 
 elected President of the Medical Society of 
 New Jersey in 1824. He died April 23, 
 1866, in the nintieth year of his age. Dr. 
 Ephriara Holmes, a descendant of the 
 ancient family of that name, was born July 
 II, 1817. He was a man of unusual intelli- 
 gence, and was long a successful practicing 
 physician in Greenwich. 
 
 "Old Cohansey" has ever been noted for 
 the longevity of its inhabitants. In the past 
 forty 3'ears two have passed the century mark, 
 a score have become nonagenarians, and an 
 octogenarian is very common upon the streets. 
 
Chapter XIII. 
 
 John Fen wick, who planted the first English 
 Colony east of the Delaware river, was born 
 A. D. 1618 at Stanton Hall. He was the 
 second son of Sir William Fenwick, Baronet, 
 who represented the County of Northumber- 
 land in the last Parliament under the Common- 
 wealth ^1659.) 
 
 In 1636 he was styled Knight and Baronet, 
 and five years after that time he married Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of Sir Walter Covert. This 
 lady was mother of his children and from her 
 came the direct and collateral branches in New 
 Jersey. The family was of Saxon origin and 
 formed a powerful clan in Northumberland. 
 
 "He afterwards married Mary Burdett a 
 blood relation of his own, as they were cous- 
 ins to Edward and Sir Frances Burdett. By 
 this marriage there was no issue. She did not 
 come to America and in his will, he makes no 
 mention of his wife, who was living in Lon- 
 don at the time it was executed. 
 
 "She app.-ars to have had a separate estate 
 which she used for her own comfort and 
 convc-uiencc. 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 65 
 
 "The Tower ot Fenwick at Widdington in 
 Northumberland, shows its antiquity in its 
 rude strength and scanty limits, similar to 
 those built by the Saxon invaders during the 
 fifth and sixth centuries. This was probably 
 the first seat of the family, after their coming 
 over, and whence it may be traced through 
 many of the shires in England. 
 
 "John Fenwick having passed through his 
 law studies at Grays Inn, lyondon 1640, aban- 
 doned his profession for a season and accepted 
 an appointment in the Parliamentary Army, 
 His first commission read as follows: 
 
 "You are hereby ordered anl required as 
 Major under Colonel Thomas Barwis, in his 
 regiment of cavalry which was raised in 
 the county of Westmorland to assist the gar- 
 rison of Carlisle, and to exercise the officers 
 and soldiers under his command according to 
 the discipline of war. And they are hereby 
 required to yield obedience unto you as Major 
 of said regiment, and all this you are author- 
 ized unto, until the pleasure of the Parliament 
 or the Lord General be known. Given under 
 my hand and seal at Bernard Castle, 27th of 
 October 1648. O. Cromwell. 
 
 To John Fenwick, Major, These." 
 "In the same year he was ordered by the 
 Parliament, with horse and dragon to relieve 
 Holy Island Castle in Durham. 
 
 It was besieged by the Royal troops and 
 well nigh captured, when he appeared and de- 
 
66 GREENW^ICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 
 feated the enemy. He was an active and 
 efficient officer, having the confidence of the 
 Parliament and the Protector. 
 
 After the trial and sentence of the King, he 
 was detailed as commander of cavalry, in con- 
 junction with the foot troops tinder Colonel 
 Hacker, Colonel Hanks, and Lieut. Colonel 
 Phaj'or to attend the execution of Charles I. 
 
 The order ran in this wise: 
 
 "These are therefore to will and require 
 3'ou to see the said sentence executed in the 
 open streets before Whitehall, upon the mor- 
 row, being the thirtieth of this instant, month 
 of January, between the hours of ten in the 
 morning, and five in the afternoon of the 
 same day, with full effect. And the.se are to 
 requir- all officers and soldiers and others of 
 the good people of this nation of England to 
 be assisting unto you in this service." 
 
 '! Given under our hands and seals, &c." 
 
 "The warrant was signed by all the mem- 
 bers who sat as judges upon his trial, and the 
 most of whom witnessed the carrying out of 
 the sentence. In the discharge of this impor- 
 tant and delicate duty, the most reliable offi- 
 cers and the best disciplined troops were se- 
 lected which placed John Fenwick among 
 the first of these in the army about London at 
 that time." 
 
 While he was with the army he became a 
 convert to the opinions of George Fox. He 
 adopted the principles and practices of Friends 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 67 
 
 and adhered to them until his death. At the 
 time of the restoration John Fenwick suffered 
 much for fully adopting the opinions and prac- 
 tices of George Fox. In 1666 he was taken 
 from a meeting of Friends in Buckingham- 
 shire and confined in the common jail. 
 
 "Like many others of his religious belief 
 he published in pamphlet form several an- 
 swers to others against their doctrines and 
 manner of worship, none of which, however, 
 have been preserved to the present. No de- 
 nomination of Christians, perhaps at that day, 
 put so much printed matter before the public 
 in defence and vindication of their peculiar 
 views as the Friends." 
 
 "March i8th 1673 John Lord Berkley con- 
 veyed to John Fenwick his undivided moiety 
 of New Caesarea, or New Jersey, for the sum 
 of one thousand pounds sterling and a royalty 
 of forty beaver skins annually. This grant 
 had upon its surface the appearance of good 
 faith, and that of a bona fide transaction, yet 
 it was scarcely executed, before its intention 
 was suspected and its validity endangered. 
 Edward Byllynge, a friend and associate of 
 the grantee, at once became an important and 
 conspicuous personage in these transactions, 
 to the exposure and defeat of plans well ma- 
 tured, and doubtless to his chagrin and dis- 
 comfiture. He was born in 1628, a resident 
 of Westminster, London, where he carried on 
 the business of brewer. He served as an offi- 
 
68 GREENWICH, IX OLD COHANSEY 
 
 cer in the arm}' of the Commonwealth, and 
 while at lycith, in Scotland, was convinced of 
 the correctness of the doctrines of George 
 Fox, by his preaching. He published sev- 
 eral pamphlets in behalf of Friends, between 
 1659 and 1665, ail of which were printed in 
 London. In 1684 with others, he was tried 
 at Guildhall. London, for attending a meeting 
 at White Hart Court and creating a riot. He 
 was found guilt}' and fined four nobles, which 
 he refused to pay, and in that default was 
 sent to Newgate Prison for three weeks. He 
 became involved in Iris financial affairs and to 
 avoid the piyment of his debts procured the 
 above named conveyance to be made to John 
 Fenwick, the funds bei^ig furnished by 
 himself. T'lie number of his creditors, and 
 the amount of his debts lead to close inquiry 
 in regard to his estate, and it was discovered, 
 tliat he was interested in this transaction, de- 
 signed to det'raud them in their just demands 
 The position in which Fenwick and Byllinge 
 found themselves was not an enviable one, 
 and .soon brouglit about a bitter controversy. 
 These criminations were not only made be- 
 tween Byllinge and his creditors, but Fenwick 
 and he quarreled as to the interest of each in 
 the estate conveyed. Much notoriety was 
 given to it, b'at all parties being Friends the 
 ccmtest was kept within control of the society 
 and settled according to the rites of the same; 
 John Fenwick was then a resident of Bynfteld, 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 69 
 
 in Berkshire; a small town near Windsor 
 Castle and about thirty miles from the city of 
 lyondoii. It is possible he had returned to 
 his profession and was the legal adviser of 
 Byllinge in the disposition of his estate to 
 avoid the payment of his debts. In this orig- 
 inated with John Fenwick the idea of planting 
 a colony in America; of becoming the head of 
 a great enterprise, and gratifying his 
 ambition. "-'^ 
 
 ^''^ Sketch of John Femvick, by John Clement, 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A half century bas passed siuce ni}- coiisiri 
 and I began to play in the Old Mill stream. 
 Although living in a distant town, I fre- 
 quently go back to the old village, and some- 
 times stand on the bridge, and look at the 
 stream. It is like the current of time with 
 me, flowing on — singing the same melody it 
 did in the long ago, and teaching the les- 
 son of Tennyson's "Brook." "Men may come 
 and men may go, but I go on forever." "I 
 join the brimming river." 
 
 As I stand on the bridge, I go back in the 
 fields of memory, and I am a child again with 
 my cousin, sailing our imaginary boats on its 
 surface, or walking its pebbly bottom; sitting 
 on its grassy banks in the sunshine; listening 
 to the birds, as they twittered and sang in the 
 willow boughs. There are beautiful willows 
 still by the water course; offsprings of those 
 magnificent trees, tliat overshadowed the 
 grist-mill in primitive days. I look up the 
 stream, and my minci takes me back, beyond 
 my recollections, when the early settlers util- 
 ized t!ie force of the waters to run the mills. 
 I can see the bank where the fulling mill 
 stood, and in iuin'j;ination. I can hear the 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 71 
 
 clatter of those pestles and stampers as they 
 finished the cloth, woven in the homes for 
 the inhabitants of Old Cohansey. Then the 
 thought comes to me how the flowing stream 
 furnished food and clothing for the first 
 settlers. 
 
 As I look in the same direction, I can see 
 the bare hiii top of Old Mount Gibbon. In the 
 last decade the tall pines that crowned 
 the summit, have fallen before the 
 woodman's axe, and the hill is shorn of much 
 of its natural beauty. I change ray position, 
 and I see the church building, whose society 
 was formed about the year 1700. For 
 200 years, the congregations have gathered 
 on the Sabbath day, for prayer and praise, in 
 the three church buildings that have super- 
 seded one another. Between the church and 
 bridge stands the store and arcade, the store 
 that has supplied the needs of the people for 
 many years; the arcade, a building of four 
 apartments, that in the past has sheltered 
 many of the shifting population of the village. 
 It was built by Noah Flannigan. Hence the 
 name, sometimes shortened and called the 
 "Ark." 
 
 Just across the .street stands "God's Acre," 
 where reposes the dust of many of the early 
 settlers of South Jersey. 
 
 "Lyitig so .silent by night and by day." 
 
 From the bridge the tablet of Maskell 
 Iv.ving can be plainly .seen through tlie pal- 
 
72 GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 
 ings of the new iron fence, that the present 
 inhabitants have recently placed around the 
 old historic ground. It is one of the oldest 
 cemeteries of South Jersey. If you enter the 
 grounds you will find sixteen large tablets, 
 most of them erected over one hundred years 
 ago, some much longer. Near the entrance 
 two low tablets mark the resting places of 
 Leonard and Rebekah Gibbon. They were 
 interred at the Efjiscopal Church ground in 
 the lower part of the village, but afterward 
 removed to the Presbyterian Cemetery. They 
 are crumbling slowly as the years go by. A 
 short distance farther .south two standing 
 stones mark the resting place of Joel Fithian 
 and wife. He was a Captain in the Revolu- 
 tionar)' War, He also was one ol" the dis- 
 guised Indians who burned the tea near the 
 village landing. His stone bears this inscrip- 
 tion, "Sacred to the memory of Joel Fithian, 
 who departed this life Nov. 9, 1821, in the 
 71st year of his age. He was a .soldier in the 
 Revolution, and served his country in many 
 important offices, and the church of Green- 
 wich as a ruling elder, with zeal and fidelity. 
 Reader, imitate his virtues, that your end 
 may like his be peaceful." I recently held in 
 my hand the very hymn book that Captain 
 Joel Fithian used when he was elder of the 
 church. It is in good condition and upon the 
 cover IS printed his name in large letters- 
 There are large tablets erected to the memory 
 
GREENWICH, IN OLD COIlANSEY 73 
 
 of Thomas Maskell and wife. Upon many of 
 the blackened standing stones, you will find 
 the names of the first settlers— such as 
 Holmes, Bacon, Brown and Dennis. There 
 are countless numbers of those old "heroes," 
 where the grass blade creeps, and the wild 
 fiowf^rer is the only decoration. Were they 
 not heroes ? When the sword of persecution 
 was unsheathed in the Mother Country for 
 religious opinion, did they not brave the 
 fierce Atlantic gales, come to these shores, 
 cut down the forest in the very face of the 
 Indians, and prepared for us the broad fertile 
 fields- )f Old Cohansey. "The fruit of their 
 labors is our inheritance," and should we not 
 cherish and protect and beautify these old 
 cemeteries ? 
 
 Two centuries have passed away, and no 
 stone marks the place where John Fenwick 
 was buried. It is said "no man knoweth the 
 place of his sepulchre." He requested in his 
 will that his remains be interred at Fenwick 
 GrovCi For some reason this was not com- 
 plied with; as he was buried in Sharp's bury- 
 ing ground — long since abandoned for that 
 use, and now nearly lost sight of. It is lo- 
 cated near the present iVlms House property of 
 Salem County. If the ground could be desig. 
 nated, it would be a grateful deed for his de- 
 scendants and citizens of Salem and Cumber- 
 land Counties to erect a monument to his 
 mt-niorv. ♦ 
 
■urn I: 
 
I 
 
1 
 
HBRARY OF 
 
 CONGRESS 
 
 1 0U206 348 7 •