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SECTION I. A number of important facts concerning Vincentown's development can be understood at a glance by looking at a cap of the area before setting foot in the town itself. Observe three things that are essential to the town's character and operation historically: first, its environment within the surrounding farm land and pineland that makes up Southampton township; second, its location on the South Branch of the Rancocas Creek; and, third, its location with respect to transportation arteries and other settlements, towns and cities in the area. The topographic map included with this report is intended to illustrate these relationships (USGS Quad Map).
Vincentown, as already noted, developed as the service center for the surrounding agrarian environs in Southampton Township. The land is part of the geographic region known as the coastal plain which includes all of southern New Jersey and extends from Long Island to Florida. It is a region of low-lying alluvial soils touching on tidal streams and originally occurred with both hard and soft wood forests. The most dramatic geological feature of the area, and the one which has had great influence on the area's history, is the nature of the soil. The delineation between the sub-regions of the Inner and Outer Coastal Plains runs through Southampton township. Although the geological and topographical character is basically the same in both sub-regions, differences in soil chemistry could not be greater with the Outer Plain generally having an acid soil and the Inner Plain having an alkaline soil. The result has been two entirely different systems of land use. The Pinelands (also known as the Pine Barrens, the Pines, etc.) which basically occupy the Outer Coastal Plain have supported various industries since the mid 18th century, the most notable being lumber and bog iron production. In the late 19th century cranberry agriculture became the dominant land use in the Burlington County Pines region; a use which continues today. All of the various Pines activities, however, tended to support only a relatively small population. As a result towns along the edge of the Pines served areas more distant than was the case in the more populated and developed conventional agricultural belt of the Inner Coastal Plain. The shape of Southampton in relation to Vincentown's location reflects this service distribution area with the greatest distance to the township boundaries from the town lying to the east in the Pines. Historically the service area extended even further into the Pines than the present township boundaries indicate with certain services probably not being available ease of Vincentown until one reached the coastal communities some thirty miles distant.
A list of residents and their occupations made in 1913 (Farm Journal Farm Directory, 1913) offers a good sense of the extent of services and related professions in Vincentown just before the "auto age" had its major impact.
This list probably only represents about half of the working population at the time but it is a good representation of the types of activities in which the townspeople were engaged in this period. It is important to realize however, that this stands as the late period in the town's development; the town did not simply appear in this form but rather, emerged gradually over a century and a half. Like many towns, Vincentown's growth and development corresponds to the evolution of this country's economy and technology. Briefly then we should consider the historical depth of the settlement, how it was first established, what factors contributed to its growth and the profile of its development. Southampton lies within what early settlers referred to as "the forks of the Rancocas," that is, the north and south to south west branches of the Rancocas Creek. This territory was also called Coaxen for the Indian tribe that inhabited the land until well into the period of European settlement. Unlike the more immediately accessible lands along the Delaware River and lower Rancocas, parts of this area were not "taken up" by the West Jersey Proprietors until about 1740. It was in that year John Wills, son of one of the original proprietors, Daniel, acquired a 624 acre tract in the area west of Vincentown. The Wills acquisition is especially notable because of the subsequent conveyance the same year of 242 acres of the tract to members of the Coaxen tribe for a mere four shillings (about $4). The land, which lay within 1 1/2 miles to the west of Vincentown, was conveyed to Teannis and Moonis, brothers of the deceased King Opollonwhen, and their descendants "so long as the water runs in the river Delaware and Rancocas River" (Secretary’s Deeds, Book EF p. 76). This attempt to include the natives in the agrarian development of the land was characteristically Quaker in approach and formed part of the emerging environment in which Vincentown was established in the second half of the 18th century. The origins and character of most of the development of the town and surrounding land remains obscure and hidden in numerous books of deeds and wills. That most of the good farm land was under development by the end of the 18th century seems apparent based on the number of houses of that period spread throughout the area. The rapidity with which this development occurred resulted from the growth in the lumber industry during the 18th century and improvements in agricultural technology and trade. The small backwater subsistence farms of the early part of the century gave way to a prosperous and productive farm belt engaged in producing for the growing urban markets along the Delaware. As this began to take shape Vincentown was established to serve the needs of the surrounding area. The origins of the name of the town date to 1743 when Vincent Leeds purchased east of the Rancocas, south of Jade Run, most of the land on which the town was built (Libra L p. 127: New Jersey State Archives; Dept. of State). It is possible that some type of inn or store was established about that time but no hard evidence for this is currently available. It is also possible that in this formative period Quaker Meetings began to be held in a house in town. By 1781 land was acquired at what is now the south east corner of Grange and Main Streets for a permanent Meeting House. The settlement itself was even referred to in the 18th century as Quakertown, a designation that indicates more than average devotion in a region that was dominated by Quakerism at the time. The only other major activity near the town at this time was Burr's sawmill which originally was situated just above the town on the Rancocas. Architecturally there are some 22 structures in the town today which could date from the town's early period (anywhere from the mid-18th century to about 1820) and these are nearly all located on Main Street from Mill to the area near Grange. Whatever the exact composition of the town was in this period it is certain that the range of services was very Spartan compared to what later developed in the 19th century. By the early 1830's, however, many of the important institutions had made their appearance and the town began to take on "modern" dimensions. Gordons Gazette of 1834 reported that Vincentown contained ... “…a gristmill, sawmill, two taverns, four stores and from 30 to 40 dwellings, a Quaker Meeting House and a house of public worship free to all denominations; surrounded by a fine fertile country." Ten years later Barber and Howe described the village as being... "...compactly built, principally on a single street of which the annexed view, taken near the store of R. H. Woolston, is a representation. It contains four stores, a grist, saw and turning mill, an extensive tannery, a select school, a Baptist church, a Methodist Church and a Friends Meeting, 90 dwellings and about 600 residents." In both of these descriptions we find the four major components which characterize the more fully developed town; stores, churches, taverns, and agricultural processing industries (i.e. the gristmill, sawmill, and tannery). These constitute the main categories of area-related services found in an Agricultural community. Agricultural Processing Industries The tannery was apparently located on the south side of Mill Street near the gristmill (Inventory #92-95). This was established about 1830 and, as the Barber and Howe description states, had become an extensive operation by 1844. Shoe and boot makers reportedly worked and lived nearby as well (Woodward, 1883). These activities were no longer present by the late 19th century. The tanning industry, which depended on the availability of certain types of bark for the chemical treatment of leather, followed the major commercial lumber industry into northern Pennsylvania and west. Stores, Tavern & Inns The inns or taverns in town were located only a couple of doors away from each other on opposite sides of Main. Traditionally they were designated the upper and lower taverns in reference to their respective positions on the sloping terrain. The upper tavern was a large 2 1/2, story frame structure built in stages beginning in the first 1/4 of the 1800's (Inventory #11). It continued operating until the 1920's when a fire destroyed major portions of the structure. Today, only a small salvaged section survives. The lower tavern built in 1831 is still operating today as a tavern (Inventory #25). This is a full Georgian plan brick building that replaced an earlier frame tavern which stood on the lot to the north. Social Organizations The first religious organization active in Vincentown as previously noted, was the Quaker Meeting. By 1781 the Society of Friends had acquired the lot bounded by Main, Pleasant and Grange Streets. A log meeting house was erected on the corner of Grange and Main with the grave yard located directly to the east where it remains today. The meeting house was replaced with a one story brick structure about 1812. This structure remained in use throughout the 19th century. On maps, dating to the third quarter of the 19th century the structure is designated the HFMH (Hicksite Friends Meeting House) indicating that it was "taken over" by the Hicksite Quakers after the schism. The orthodox Friends may have met during these years in a house erected elsewhere on the property. Quakerism, both Hicksite and Orthodox, was declining throughout the 19th century however, and in 1911 the brick meeting house was sold to the Vincentown Grange which substantially enlarged it, adding a second story. Subsequently there has been no Friends meeting in Vincentown, According to tradition, the second meeting house to appear in Vincentown was carried there in the late 18th century from the farm of the Coaxens where it had been erected by John Brainerd, the famous Presbyterian missionary. It seems that Brainerd's attempts to convert the "heathen" had met with a vague response. So the citizens of Vincentown took the effort to drag the structure the 1 1/2 miles down Church Road and place it on a site just north of the bridge on Main Street where it was used as a "free meeting", available to all Christian denominations, except Catholics (Woodward, 1883). It remained there until 1837 when it was moved to a site outside of town where it was later destroyed by fire (Mount Holly Herald, 1932). By the time the free meeting house was removed the two groups, the Methodist Episcopalians and Baptists, who had the main use of the structure had recently acquired land in town and constructed their own churches. These two religions began developing a strong following in the area in the late 18th century. Methodism was especially successful throughout South Jersey in appealing to the indigenous Quaker population. Based on the churches they constructed between 1830 and 1854 both of these religions had congregations that were much larger than the remaining Quakers. In 1830 the Methodists purchased land between Pleasant and Plum Streets where they built a frame church and established their cemetery. By 1854 they needed a larger building and so they purchased land on Main Street and erected the large two story brick church which remains in use today (Inventory #18). The Vincentown Baptist Church was formally organized in 1834 and in 1835 they constructed the church at the corner of Main and Church which stands today. The tower and main facade details of this The fourth and final addition to the town's religious institutions was the Protestant Episcopal Church which arrived in the late 19th century. This church was built on Mill Street in 1871 along the west bank of the creek. By this period the tannery had ceased operation and the creek neighborhood area was considered an acceptable location for a church. The lot itself had its problems, being located within the creek's flood plain. However, the romantic medieval revival spirit, which inspired the Gothic design, deemed the creek bank setting an appropriately scenic environment rather than a liability (Inventory #85). The other major category of social institutions other than religious, are the fraternal organizations. The principal organizations active in Vincentown were the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Grange, and the Vincent Fire Company. All of these groups were established a century or more ago and all continue in operation today. Central Lodge 44 of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons was formed from the membership of the Mount Holly Lodge in 1856 as a result of an internal schism. In 1863 Lodge 44 acquired property on Plum Street in Vincentown where they occupied a building referred to as Progressive Hall (Mount Holly Herald, nd. - c.1931; Burlington County Library file on Vincentown). The spelling of this street on some maps of the period as Plumb rather than Plum, suggests the interesting possibility that the name was given by the Masons in reference to their symbol for truth, the Mason's plumb bob. More research needs to be done on the development of this part of the town and especially the companion building to Progressive Hall, identified as Friendship Hall on the 1876 map. In 1884 the arrangement of these buildings was altered when the Masons and the township government collaborated on building a new brick structure on the site of Progressive Hall which contained the town meeting hall on the ground floor and the Masons Lodge on the second, (Inventory #114). The building continues in use by the Masons today but the townhall functions have been relocated in the 1982 building on Route 206. The Vincent Fire Company was first formed in 1850 and has continued to serve the Vincentown community both as a fire fighting organization and a social institution up to the present. It's equipment has been located in at least four different structures. The first building on the Meeting House property and the second building on Plum Street are both gone. The third, built in 1914 on Main Street, is still existing but no longer used for its original purpose (Inventory #35). This structure was located on ground previously reserved for unloading and rolling logs downhill to the sawmill which stood directly behind. This 1914 brick structure offered the fire company everything it needed including a cupola for the fire bell and a second floor for the meeting hall which by 1922 received the addition of a pool table (Robert Reasoner, 1970). By 1974 however, the acquisition of newer and larger equipment necessitated the construction of the most recent firehouse located on Race Street (Inventory #207). The 1914 house is now used for various township purposes. The Junior Order of United American Mechanics established their Vincentown Chapter in 1870. Their offices and Meetin The Grange organization at Vincentown first appeared in 1874 but remained relatively dormant until 1907 when it was reorganized and became quite active as an agricultural society. In 1911 the Grange acquired the old Friend's Meeting House and five years later they remodeled the 1813 brick structure and added the second story (Inventory #37).
The overall picture of development in Vincentown which emerges from tracing the establishment and growth of its businesses and institutions is one of fairly steady growth throughout the 19th century. It was more rapid in the years around 1820 to 1835. By 1865 all the major features existed and from then on the town enjoyed a stable prosperity into the 20th century. This later period (c. 1865 to c. 1915) could well be called the railroad era for the town, as the single most influential force on economics and communication for the town was the availability of a dependable transportation line between Vincentown and the rest of the country. It is difficult for us to appreciate the dynamic changes made possible by rail transit in the 19th century in terms of the individual's access to the outside (people could now commute to other towns to work) and in terms of shipping capabilities for various products. In 1864, as soon as the Vincentown line was run from Ewansville, three miles to the north on the Camden and Indicative of the changes occurring after the 1920's is the fact that no major additions to the town occurred after this period. The town continues to function as a center for the township, but with continually decreasing prominence. There is a notably high continuity of family ownership which represents the town's greatest asset. And, as described, the town's architectural heritage remains largely intact. But, whereas the buildings continue to be used by descendents Of many of the people who built them, there are pressing issues of structural maintenance, re-use and environmental planning which are going to determine in the next generation, the nature of the resource and how well it is preserved for posterity.
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Within the farm belt, the service area for Vincentown was much more closely defined as towns of similar size such as Pemberton, Medford and Lumberton lay within only four miles as did Mount Holly which was a much larger multi-township service center which provided still a wider range of services. As a service center, then, Vincentown might be classified a fourth order center participating in the extended matrix which included the first order regional/national center of Philadelphia, the second order New Jersey centers of Trenton and Camden; the third order county centers of Burlington and Mount Holly and fifth orders neighborhood centers such as Budd Town and Red Lion located elsewhere in the township. The stratification of services found in each of these centers was essentially a function of frequency of use. The more frequently a service was needed the less time could be spent in travel to obtain it and so, the more localized it became. Vincentown, which lay within an hour or two of most of the population it served, developed those services which were commonly needed on a weekly or at least monthly basis. This travel time was based on the horse however, which is why the commercial base of the town has been subject to substantial change since the automobile.
The stores in Vincentown, and there were at least three or four during most of the 19th century, were the outlets of most consumer goods brought in from outside. There are no available descriptions of who specialized in what, and in general, there was probably a fair amount of change in ownership and location from one generation to the next. Architecturally these stores would have occupied the ground floor of a 2 ½ story house or a special one story store structure. The first store according to Woodward stood opposite the gristmill and was later converted to use as a house. This may well be the house standing at 39 Mill Street today (Inventory #96). All other stores however, were subsequently located on Main Street. Of these, the two major sites were opposite each other on Main just below Mill. The site on the east side (Inventory #7) has remained in continuous operation as a store location from before 1800 to the present although the structure now standing is only a few decades old. This store was operated for much of the 19th century by the Butterworths who owned the residence next door to the south (Inventory #8). The store opposite, on the site between the bank (Inventory #23) and the lower tavern (Inventory #25), was built about 1834 and was operated in the third quarter of the 19th century by partners Buzby and Woolman. During their tenure these two men built the large three story double house on the N.W. corner of Main and Mill for their residences (Inventory #21 and 22).
church were probably added about 25 to 40 years later (Inventory #2).
g Hall are located in a two story brick building on Main Street (Inventory #31). As the organization's name implies, it is a fraternity of skilled tradesmen. Although their visibility has waned in this century the organization played a prominent social and political role in many 19th century communities.
Burlington County RR line, General John B. Irick was able to begin digging and shipping marl from an area just south of the village, west of the mill pond. This was the most obvious and instant display of the new shipping potential but virtually every type of local production was able to make use of the rails. At its height, the rail yard, located just north of the village, had five tracks including one for passenger cars, one for milk cars and one for general freight. Lumber, cattle, cranberries, milk and marl were all shipped out of Vincentown and of course consumer items were shipped in. Over all, the railroad did not alter the economic framework of the town, the marl industry notwithstanding, but rather served to stabilize and enhance what had already developed by 1864. Of course, after the advent of automobiles and trucks, the system was again severely altered and the railroad lapsed into obscurity as quickly as it had arrived. By 1928 the line was discontinued.