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Historical Facts About Vincentown In 1758, one John Burr, grandson of Henry Sr., the original immigrant, sold to James, Philo and Vincent Leeds, a portion of land, comprising within its bounds, the site of the village of Vincentown. Of these brothers, Vincent seems to have been the more active, as the town after a somewhat hectic period during which it was known as Brimstone Neck and later referred to by John Brainerd as Quakertown, finally adopted the name of its most prominent citizen and was called Vincent’s Town, subsequently shortened to Vincentown. This Vincent Leeds, if we accept the authority of “Heston’s Jersey Wagon Jaunts” was a native of the section [1]. His oldest son, Noah, born at Leeds’ Point in 1778, became a noted school teacher in Salem, N.J. A second son, Warner Mifflin Leeds, lived in Richmond Indiana, and his son, William Bateman Leeds, who died in Lakewood in 1894, left a widow who married into the royal family of Greece. His son W.B. Leeds, Jr. married Princess Xenia, of Greece.
The farming land in the vicinity of Vincentown has always been noted for its fertility and it follows that the Quakers, who invariably selected favored spots for their agricultural pursuits, early predominated in this part of the county. Their religious activity soon took form, as we find from the minutes of the Burlington Monthly Meeting of July 1st, 1765, that a written proposal from “sundry Friends for keeping an afternoon meeting during the summer season, at a school house lately erected near William Bishop,” was granted, which meeting was to be under the care of Hezekiah Jones. A request to the Burlington Meeting for permission to hold a “winter meeting” followed June 1st 1766. Under the stress of, and in spite of the approaching Revolutionary War, Quakerism seems to have progressed around Vincentown, as we find in the records of Mount Holly Monthly Meeting to which supervision had been transferred, official sanction for the erection of a meeting house, “on a lot of land near Vincentown, given for this purpose.” This lot of about two acres was deeded to the trustees, John White, Samuel Hilliar, William Bishop,” was granted, which Isaac Barton, by Anna Leeds, widow of Vincent, for a consideration of 5 shillings, under date of July 12th, 1781, and included the area of the present Friends’ burying ground and Grange hall property as well as a portion later sold for a lumber yard on the south. The original building was of logs and some portion of it is said to be a part of the present dwelling standing on the southwest corner of the lumber yard premises. In 1813, a very substantial brick structure replaced the log meeting house, which for many years remained the only denominational place of worship in the vicinity. In common with many other localities where the Friends have diminished, attendance grew less and less and regular services gave way to intermittent meetings some fifty years ago and for many years the old meeting house remained closed. The property is now owned by the Grange and their hall is built up in part on the walls of the ancient meeting house of 1813. The oldest marked graves in the adjoining burying ground are dated 1812, but of course many burials must have been made previous to that which are not a matter of record. In the “Memories of Elizabeth Collins,” is a notation of a meeting she held in the old meeting house, May 25th, 1798, while making her trip of seven hundred miles around New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and that she again visited the Vincentown meeting house, September 28th, 1815. It is not unlikely that the development of Vincentown was influenced in its very early days by the proximity of the nearby Indian settlement of the Quakeson tribe. Several ways of spelling this name are incorporated in various records, Quakson, Quakerson, Quaxson, Quakeson, Coaxon and Cotoxen, etc. An interesting deed is recorded, dated October 8th, 1740, transferring 242 acres of land, “in the forks of the Rancocas or Northampton river, for four shillings, from John Sills, Gentleman, to the children of the late King Oppolonwnen and to his two brothers, called by the name of Teannis and Moonis, Indians, and natives of the westerly division of the Province of New Jersey, giving the land unconditionally, as long as the waters run in the lower Delaware and Rancocas or Northampton Rivers.” This was the seat of the tribal village and was included in what is now in part, sections of the farms of Emmor Roberts and William J. Irick. Their burying ground was located near the creek on the present Irick farm and until the last few years was marked with a fencing. Incidentally, the John Wills of this transfer was a son of Daniel Wills, the Proprietor, who willed the property to John in 1698 and dated his title from a one forth part of a “propriety” in 1693. We must judge the Quakeson Indians as of a peaceful disposition as we find no record of unfriendliness with their white neighbors. John Brainerd the noted missionary, however, early took steps to establish religious teachings and his ministrations to these Indians were probably contemporaneous with his labors at the Brotherton reservation at Indian Mills. Among the very few references to be found in his journal, is a letter written at Brotherton, August 24th, 1761, in which he speaks of, “a small settlement of Indians, perhaps near 40, at about twelve miles distant (Vincentown.”) Other scraps of information would seem to indicate that while some converts were made to Christianity, the work as a whole proved discouraging and the Indians reverted more or less to their former ungodly habits. Through Brainerd’s influence a substantial log church was erected on land deed by the then Indian chief, King Mullis and his wife, Bathsheba, on a site near the present dwelling house on the Emmor Roberts farm. This church must have been of unusual construction, as following the decline of the Indian settlement it was moved by the consent of the sole remaining Trustee, John Bishop, to Vincentown on land donated by one William Stockton, which site adjoined the old school house previously referred to as “near William Bishop’s” and became known as the “Free Meeting House.” For many years this building was the religious center for Protestant gatherings and not until 1837 when its usefulness was ended with the building of individual places of worship by the different denominations, was it again moved, this time to the New Freedom district where it was converted to a public school house and continued to house the youth of that section until 1871-72 when it was burned. Brainerd’s activities with the Indians were interrupted during the Revolutionary War, as his well known loyalty to the Continental cause marked him for oppression at all times, his house in Mount Holly being burned by the British. He finally became minister of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church, where he died, and in his correspondence we find that he continued to be solicitous as to the welfare of his former Indian charges. It is not known who built the old schoolhouse, “near Wm. Bishop’s,” or by whom it was supported as a school. Its erection about 1764-65, together with the predominance of Friends, would suggest the inference that they were responsible for it. At any rate, it is certain that this was the pioneer place of education in the vicinity. It was, at an unknown date, replaced by a brick building still remembered by some of the older residents as the public school of their elementary days. The site of these old structures was on or near the Penna. R.R. station location, and the brick building was demolished about 1862, when the original barn like “depot” with its enclosed tracks and live stock pens was built, as a railroad terminus. There is a tradition that another school house, torn down many years ago, stood in the rear of the Quaker meeting house, but we can find no confirmation of this from the records. The frame school house recently demolished, and which so many of the present generation attended, was built from proposals advertised August 5th, 1863, “for Framing, Raising, and Enclosing a Two Story Building, 38x50 feet, for a Public School House in Vincentown.” In 1920 the growing sentiment for consolidation of all the schools in the Township led to the erection of the present modern building and the old structure was closed. One of the very early roads led to Eayrestown, where a grist mill was erected about 1715 and the main highway to Mount Holly probably followed that route. The old road records contain a description of the re-laying and straightening of the “great road,” (South Pemberton) in 1799 which crossed “a new laid out road from Vincentown to Marriott’s lane” (Smalley’s Corner). The completed road to Black Horse (Columbus), was not regularly laid out until 1805. Of course some of the ancient roads to shore points led through the village and many miles of weary traveling over the super-sand trails were in store for early shore visitors. An advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette of August 30th, 1775, by Wm. Hewlings offering for sale, 5 acres of Cedar swamp lying in a swamp called, “Bear Swamp,” is conclusive evidence that the famous bear hunting grounds near Red Lion had even in those days more than a passing reputation. While antedated many years by the Quakers, the Methodists, by their aggressive methods, had spread well over Burlington county and before 1800, itinerant ministers of that church were holding occasional meetings in the “Free Meeting House.” One Samuel Dobbins, of strict Quaker parentage, who had put off the work of an active Christian until married and settled in life, became a follower of the newer faith and a leader of the Methodists here. He was in 1800 to 1803 made presiding elder. The old meeting house was their quarters until 1830, when a church was built on Plum Street which in turn was abandoned following the erection of the present substantial brick building on ground deeded May 20th, 1853, by John L. and Charles L. Sleeper. It is quite probable that the old church building on Plum Street eventually became known as “Progressive Hall,” under the ownership of Dater Budd. This Hall is described by those who recall the building as somewhat of an architectural monstrosity with an oval ceiling and a small balcony in the rear. It became somewhat notorious as a meeting place for followers of spiritualism and some creditable tales are told by eyewitnesses of the demolition of the old Hall about 1884, of finding among the dismantled rafters many mysterious wires, pulleys and strings, the reason for which must be left to the imagination of the reader. The “Free Meeting House” also housed early followers of the Baptist faith, among others, ministers from Pemberton church who preached there about 1800. A branch of the parent church was organized but continued to meet in the old meeting house and on September 19th, 1834 the membership was formed into the first regular Baptist congregation of Vincentown. Of course, funds were sought for the erection of a church and as the outcome the present building was built in 1835 and the first resident pastor, Rev. William Smith, was called January 22nd, 1837. In 1844, Joshua Lippincott was licensed to preach and for over thirty-four years was prominent in the church’s work. Not until 1867-68 do we find any record of services of the Episcopal faith. A Rev. Mr. Riley of Haddonfield, held meetings each Sunday in the old Progressive Hall. In 1870, Rev. J.D. Gibson was regularly accepted as a rector and took up the work of Trinity church, which was erected and opened for services June 3rd, 1872, and consecrated 1877. Many prominent men and women received their education in the widely known private “Select School,” of John G. Herbert, established in 1858 and continued until about 1898. He had an enviable reputation for thoroughly imparting knowledge and while certain of his disciplinary methods might be questionable in these ultra modern days, none who happened to come under the spell of the venerable Mr. Herbert’s chastisements would care to raise any question as to their effectiveness. Mr. Herbert was the son-in-law of Rev. James Thorne, an honored pastor of the Baptist Church as well as a teacher in the public school for many years. The township was taken from Northampton under an act approved March 1st, 1845, and was to be called Coaxen Township, but a supplemental act of April 1st, 1845, officially changed the title to Southampton. The early meetings of the “Committee” were held in taverns and later transferred to Irick’s Hall, which was used for township purposes until 1884, when the Progressive Hall property was purchased from Dater Budd and the old structure torn down to make way for the present Town Hall. $2,500.00 was appropriated to complete the new quarters. While the original plan called for a one story hall, arrangements were made with the Masonic Lodge for rental of a second floor for a long period of years and the upper rooms have been continuously used by them. The first saw mill in the limits of the present township was built at Buddtown before 1719, as noted in a survey of that date. Another saw mill built at an early date unknown and described as about a mile above Vincentown, has just been identified by a chance finding of an advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette of February 4th, 1776, locating certain property for sale as ¼ mile from “Samuel Hilliars saw mill.” The subsequent finding of a deed dated May 21st, 1785, transferring by Samuel Hilliard as part of other lands, the “old mill tract property.” This locates the mill as being on the present farm of Amasa Atkinson and outlines of the ancient mill race can still be traced. This is undoubtedly the same saw mill described in some accounts as being built by “Jos. Burr, about a mile above Vincentown.” We must rather conclude that Joseph Burr built the original saw mill in the village, which was bequeathed to his daughter, Keziah the wife of Governor Howell (1792-1801), of Greenwich tea burning fame and whose granddaughter became the wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. Elizabeth, sister of Joseph Burr, was the wife of Samuel Woolman, Sr., and another, Martha, was the mother of the fighting Quaker of the Revolution, Col. Timothy Matlock. Joseph Burr, Jr. seems to have built the first grist mill in 1812 on the site of the present mill, which was purchased from Joshua Burr about 1862 by J.S. Irick. The mill was burned and rebuilt by Burr in 1850. An interesting advertisement appears in the Pennsylvania Gazette, by Jos. Burr Jr. “Burlington County, Oct. 7th, 1775, Ran away last night from the subscriber, living in Northampton Township and County aforesaid, an Irish servant man, named Francis Niell, about 20 years of age, about 5 feet 5 inches high. It is supposed he is making for the regular camp at Boston, as he is a Tory. Whoever takes him and secures the said servant, so that his master may have him again, shall receive twelve dollars reward and reasonable charges if brought home. Paid by Joseph Burr, Junior.” An extensive tannery, on Mill street, was in operation as early as 1830, presumably under the ownership of a Mr. Haines, father of Stacy Haines, who carried on the business until about 1874, and one Andy Kirkland is remembered as about the last of the operatives who worked in the place. The very early taverns are unknown and the first reliable data found places a Mr. Fairholm who kept the “upper tavern” before 1812 and combined his duties as “mine host,” with that of the village blacksmith and had his forge on the site of the house just south of the present upper hotel driveway. He was followed by John Butterworth. Benjamin Burr kept the “lower tavern,” then a frame building standing on the site of the Buzby & Woolman former store. This tavern was moved about 1834 and reconstructed into dwelling houses which, are yet standing west of the Bank building on Mill Street. The present, “lower hotel,” as well as the Buzby & Woolman store, was built about 1834 by Garret Winters, and the first tavern keeper to occupy the new quarters was Allen Southwick. The pioneer general store stood opposite the grist mill and was kept by Samuel Beck before 1800. A part of this ancient store is the dwelling occupied by Mrs. Alexander Moore, on Mill Street. Another store property, built before 1800, is occupied by Walter Britton and its first proprietors were Doran & Sleeper. Later owners were John Sleeper, followed by his son Mahlon Sleeper, the first Post Master at the Vincentown office, which was established April 20th, 1824. John and Mahlon Sleeper were the pioneer boot and shoe makers and their shop occupied the site of Aaron R. Pittman’s dwelling. John L. Sleeper lived in and sold to the M.E. church the property where the church now stands. The pioneer wheelwright, William Dobbins, had his shop on the lot now occupied by William Cramer’s house and an early blacksmith, Anthony Phillips, had a nearby smithy, probably on the site later occupied by the William D. Haines’ shop. The present bank building was built by Robert H. Woolston as a residence in 1833, and he kept a store in the double house later owned by Evan Buzby on the site later occupied by Evan Buzby and Daniel L. Woolman. Gordon’s Gazetteer of 1834 lists Vincentown as a “post town of Northampton Township, Burlington county, at the junction of Stop the Jade creek and the south branch of the Rancocas creek, 5 miles S. of Mount Holly, 12 miles S.E. from Burlington, 32 from Trenton and 159, N.E. from W.C. (Washington Capital.) Contains a grist mill, saw mill, 2 taverns, 4 stores, from 30 to 40 dwellings, a Quaker meeting house, and a house of public worship (Free Meeting House) free to all denominations; surrounded by a fine fertile country.” A stage ran from Mount Holly to Vincentown in 1834. Barber & Howe’s Historical Collections of 1844, credits Vincentown as follows: “five miles south of east of Mount Holly at the junction of the Stop the Jade and south branch of the Rancocas. It is a flourishing village mostly grown up since the Revolutionary War. Village is compactly built principally on a single street, of which the annexed view is taken near the store of R.H. Woolston. It contains 4 stores, a grist, saw, and turning mill, an extensive tannery, a select school, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and a Friends’ meeting house, 90 dwellings and about 600 inhabitants. In the vicinity excellent farming ground is found. These was anciently, a settlement of Indians about a mile west of the town on Quakson creek, where stood a log church in which the Rev. David Brainerd, a brother of the celebrated minister, occasionally preached.” The Vincentown branch of the Camden & Burlington County R.R. Co., was incorporated by an act of March 15th, 1861, and the road was to run from a point at or near Charles Ewan’s house to Vincentown, with a privilege of building branches not to exceed two miles in length to marl beds in the vicinity. The charges were fixed not to exceed 5 cents per mile for each passenger and 10 cents per mile per ton of heavy freight and for smaller matter such rates as they shall deem reasonable. The official R.R. Guide for 1875 lists on the time schedule for the Vincentown branch, seven trains each way to Ewansville daily except Sundays. The subsequent abandonment of the road is of too recent occurrence to detail here. The Vincent Fire Co. was officially organized at a meeting held at the house of William T. Jones, October 7th, 1850. The officers elected were President, Joseph A. Jones; vice president, Guy Bryan; secretary, Japhet B. Woolston; and Treasurer, Samuel Butterworth. The ancient hand engine, its earliest equipment was purchased through the generousity of John S. Irick, William T. Jones, Jacob L. Githens, Gen. William S. Irick, and John Doran. Forty members signed their names to the original by-laws. One of the oldest houses standing intact in the vicinity is the brick residence on the farm now occupied by James Hughes. Inlaid in the well preserved brick work of the west end are the letters, H. I. M. 1786 which initial the names of the original builders Isaac [3] and Mary Hollingshead, while on the east end of the newer built portion are the letters, P. D. S. 1812. From the Hollingshead family the property came into the possession of James Wills, who willed it to his daughter, Sarah, the wife of David Peacock and the initials of 1812 clearly indicate the builders of that section. The name of David Peacock has a historic significance, inasmuch as he was one of the early inventors of the cast iron plow and carried on the mechanical experiments for its development in his shop on this farm. The castings were made at old Hampton Furnace. Many historical writings have featured Peacock as a Medford resident, but as his first patent was granted under the date of 1807, it is quite evident that he lived nearer the environments of Vincentown and should be so credited. One of the venerable houses in the town is the former residence of one of the pioneer doctors, Samuel Woolston, on the corner of Mill and Red Lion streets. It has all the architectural marks of antiquity, and the widely known and beloved physician who was born in about 1810 [4], lived there until his death in 1883 [5]. The illustration accompanying this article is copied from a crude woodcut published in 1844 and shows the artist’s conception of lower Main street, Vincentown, at that time. One can readily recognize in some of the landmarks of that day, several buildings yet standing and barring a few minor alterations, well visualize the ancient aspect of the village.
Editor’s Notes, 2005 |
