John Clement read a paper upon the early settlements of West New Jersey, which was ordered to be filed.

Gentlemen of the Society:

The persecution of the religious Society of Friends during the reign of Charles II. of England, may be said to have been the moving cause of the settlement of New Jersey.

The refusal of this religious sect to take the oath of allegiance required of them, passed by the Parliament to effectually crush out the insurrection of the "Fifth Monarchy Men," or " Millenarians," threw around them a shade of suspicion, which designing men took advantage of, and placed them as professing Christians in a false position before their sovereign.

This condition of things so remained until some of the most eminent of their persuasion obtained an interview with the king, and through the explanations of Fox, Penn, Barclay and others, their royal master became satisfied that the profession of non-resistance and passive obedience pervaded their whole system, and that the oath to which they objected was not an exception in their creed.

The rigor of the act, however, was not abated by the Parliament, and, as a consequence, they suffered much persecution at the hands of those in authority.

As law-abiding citizens, no remedy was apparent for these outrages, and they turned their attention to America as being a land where religious toleration might be enjoyed; provided enough territory could be obtained in which their religious tenets might have a controlling influence.

George Fox, who traveled through the wilderness of New Jersey in 1671, in going from Maryland to New England, in addition to his religious duties, no doubt examined the soil and situation in view of a future settlement for this then persecuted people, of which he was the founder.

His travels in West New Jersey extended from near Pennsgrove, in Salem county, to Trenton, in Mercer county, which gave him an opportunity to know something of the country, and its advantages, his representation would therefore weigh much in the selection of a part of the country where these strangers would settle; and perhaps upon his return home our little State was pointed out by him as a proper place to be selected for such a purpose. The grant of the Duke of York to Carteret and Berkley, of so much of his territory as lay in what was then called "Virginia," seemed to meet their views as a place of refuge, and the charter of their grant covering as it did the right of government, made it doubly attractive to "Friends in London."

In 1673, John Fenwick and Edward Byllynge, (two English Quakers,) purchased the undivided half of New Jersey, of Lord Berkley, the first in trust for the latter: done to guard Byllynge's estate from his creditors. A difficulty arose as to the estate they each held under the title, but was adjusted by William Penn, as arbitrator, to the satisfaction of both parties.

The creditors of Byllynge were importunate, and William Penn, together with Gawen Lawrie and Nicholas Lucas, accepted a further trust of his estate in New Jersey, to their benefit.

A division of the State into East and West Jersey, between Sir George Carteret and the trustees of Byllynge, was had by a deed, dated July 1st, 1676. The Indian title was extinguished by three separate deeds, dated September 10th and 27th, and October 10th, 1677.

Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Pearson, Joseph Helmsley, George Hutchinson and Robert Stacy, all "Friends," and of the county of York, England, were the principal creditors of Byllynge, and to whom all the other creditors assigned their claims.

The trustees before named, by deed dated March 1st, 1676, conveyed to these creditors seven equal undivided ninetieth parts of ninety equal undivided hundredth parts of West New Jersey, and also on the same day three other equal undivided parts as aforesaid. All the grantees to these titles were "Friends," and as Robert Barclay with other "Friends" became the owners of East Jersey, it may be said that our State was literally a Quaker settlement, except so far as the Swedes and Dutch had previously obtained a foothold under the protection of their respective governments.

The first attempt at settlement under the new order of things was made by John Fenwick, at Salem, in 1675. But few persons came with him, among whom were Samuel Nicholson, Robert Zane, John Mattox, Robert Wade and others.

Immediately upon their arrival they established a meeting for religious worship, according to their peculiar views, and which was the first religious assemblage within the bounds of West New Jersey. The little colony soon became a nucleus from which many other like settlements radiated, and rendered much assistance to new comers who frequently arrived in distress.

The next settlement was at Burlington, in 1677, which soon assumed the proportions of a town. and became the seat of government for the whole colony.

In 1681, a few persons set out from Dublin, Ireland, for New Jersey, and after a short voyage landed at Salem. Their place of destination was, however, within the bounds of the "Third" or Irish tenth, which extended along the Delaware river from Oldman's creek to Penisaukin creek. This Company consisted of William Bates, Thomas Thackara, Mark Newbie, George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp. The three first named of these had families, the two last being single men.

They arrived at Salem, in November, and through the winter following, made much search for a suitable place to make a permanent settlement. A spot was at last selected upon a stream they called Newton creek, within the bounds of Haddon Township near the old Newton grave yard, and about three miles from the city of Camden.

In the spring following, they were joined by Robert Zane, who had previously come to Salem, when they all removed to the place selected which they called "Newton."

They had, during the winter, located sixteen hundred acres of land between the north and middle branches of said creek, and also one hundred acres of meadow at the mouth of Little Newton creek, fronting on the river Delaware.

This little village consisted of a few rude huts or cabins built on the north bank of the middle branch, a short distance below where the old grave yard stands, only intended as temporary residences "for fear of the Indians," and until land could be prepared for agricultural purposes.

Without any material for building or means to procure such, these dwellings must have been primitive indeed. It was soon found that they had no cause of fear from the Indians; who savage though they were, could appreciate and reciprocate the many acts of kindness extended to them by these new comers.

In the next year each person had selected a part of this original tract and a place for his dwelling, which sub-division was carried out by deed to each, and the locality thereof appears on a map made by Thomas Sharp in 1700. It is a matter of interesting inquiry to know where this little village stood, but not a vestige of it remains, and not a tradition is left to tell where the town of "Newton" was built "for fear of the Indians."

To the antiquarian, or to the descendants of those who resided in these humble dwellings, this spot, if certainly known, would in our day have a peculiar interest, and be worthy of a pilgrimage to see where landed those who brought with them the true elements of a free government, and left those elements to be enlarged and enjoyed by such as came after and were capable of handing them down unimpaired to posterity. These "Friends," isolated as they were, did not forget the observance of religious worship, for "a meeting was kept at Mark Newbie's house, where William Cooper resorted from the point."

A meeting house was built in 1684, which stood near the old grave yard. The first Trustees were Benjamin Thackara, William Cooper and William Albertson, who continued the trust to Thomas Sharp, John Kaighn, Joseph Cooper and John Kay, in 1708.

A similar settlement was made at the mouth of Woodbury Creek, 1682, by several brothers by the name of "Wood," who came from "Bury," in Lancashire, England. They were soon joined by Thomas Gardiner, Thomas Mathews, John Test, William Warner, and others.

They were all "Friends," and established a religious meeting which they called "The Shelter." In 1696, the Trustees of the meeting were Thomas Gardiner, William Warner and Joshua Lord. In the same year (1682) John Roberts, William Matlack, Timothy Hancock and others, settled at an Indian Town called "Penisaukin," on the south branch of the creek that now bears that name in Burlington county.

Many other families soon followed, and a meeting was established, called "Adams" Meeting, since called "Chester" Meeting, now Moorestown. In the year 1700, Thomas Story, a public Friend, says he traveled by water from Philadelphia, to visit "Adams" Meeting, and upon his return stayed at the house of Esther Spicer, the widow of Samuel, who then lived on the north side of Cooper Creek, near its mouth.

In 1681, William Cooper located 300 acres of land, bounded by the creek that now bears his name, and fronting on the Delaware River. He came to Burlington in 1678, where he purchased 50 acres of land and erected a dwelling which he afterwards gave to his daughter Hannah, wife of John Woolstan. In 1683, he settled at "Pyne Point," at the mouth of Cooper's Creek, in the midst of an Indian town.

The title of the aborigines to the soil within the bounds of his survey, he extinguished by a valuable consideration alike honorable to him as satisfactory to themselves, and which secured the good opinion of these children of the forest toward the family ever after. At the time of his death in 1710, he had but three children living - Joseph, Daniel and Hannah. His son, named William, deceased in 1691, leaving issue. He was a blacksmith and lived in Salem.

Francis Collins came to Burlington in the same ship with William Cooper, and many others who settled about that town. In 1682 he located 500 acres in the easterly part of Newton township, and on the south side of the south branch of Cooper's Creek. His house stood on the hill south of Haddonfield, now generally known as the "Gill Farm." He called his new place "Mountwell." His wife deceased soon after his settlement here, leaving him with one son and six daughters.

This was remote from Newton, and preceded any other settlement in that part of the township by several years. There are many reasons for thinking the Indians had a town thereabouts, and that Francis Collins found a few acres free of timber, whereon he could raise his crops without the labor of clearing the ground. Perchance his dwelling was a wigwam, he had purchased of one of the natives, and in which he resided during his stay here, which was but short.

In 1686, Francis Collins married Mary Gosling, widow of John, and daughter of Thomas Budd, and removed to Burlington. He was a bricklayer, and in 1690 erected the Court House in Burlington, for which he received £100 and a tract of land. There was no person among the earlier settlers of West New Jersey, the collateral branches of whose family are so extensive as those of Francis Collins.

The settlement made by John Fenwick has grown into one of the most flourishing towns in West Jersey, and the names of the adventurers who came with him may be found in every community throughout the State.

The village of Newton never assumed the proportions of a town, and several generations have passed away since the last vestige of its place was known. Its founders are remembered however in many families among us, yet no part of the soil as originally held by them remains in the name of any descendant.

A large part of William Cooper's three hundred acres is now covered by the thriving city of Camden; and not a few years will elapse before the whole will be occupied by permanent improvements in keeping with the spirit of the age and the demands of the public.

What William Penn found the Indian town of Shackomaxin in 1681, and which has now grown into the city of Philadelphia; William Cooper also found the next year at "Pyne Point," and which has now become the business centre of West New Jersey.

The beautiful town of Woodbury traces back its genealogy to the little colony that settled at the mouth of the stream which passes that town; and with commendable tenacity retains the name given by its founders.

The Indian town of "Penisaukin" has long since lost its identity, and now the plowshare of the husbandman breaks up the soil where once this village stood.

The lineal descendants of the first English settlers still hold the titles to the land, and although much has passed out of the name, yet not entirely out of the blood.

A part of the survey of five hundred acres, as made by Francis Collins, is now included in the village of Haddonfield, none of the estate having been in the name for the last century.

The first ferry across the river Delaware was established by William Royden in 1687, under a license granted by the "General Court," sitting at Gloucester, and to be fixed at any point between Newton and Cooper's creek. The extent of this license would prove that no other ferry existed previous to this grant, although some sort of intercourse was kept up by the Indians between Shackomaxin and "Pyne Point," previous to this time, to accommodate the few who wanted to cross the river at that place. William Roydon was allowed to charge six pence for every person he set over the river, and twelve pence for every man and horse, and in like proportion for more bulky or weighty articles. His house stood near the foot of Cooper street, Camden, and in which he was also licensed to keep as a tavern.

In 1689 Royden sold his ferry and all his land and improvements to William Cooper, whose son Daniel removed there and kept the ferry until his death. This ferry, like all its surroundings, was of the most primitive kind, and gave neither convenience or comfort to those who were forced to use it. One hundred and eighty years have wrought many desirable changes in this regard, and what our ancestors were satisfied with has no existence at this time.

The "Corn Mill," built by Thomas Kendall in 1697, near Haddonfield, and on the site of the present mill owned by the heirs of Josiah B. Evans, deceased, was "an institution" in its day. It was the first built in Gloucester county, then known as "Free Lodge Mill." Nothing would perhaps be more curious, or attract the attention of mechanics and practical men oftener, than this old corn mill, if it stood now as in the days of its usefulness.

In 1693, Mordecai Howell erected a saw mill on a small branch of Cooper’s creek, near the residence of Richard Shivers, Esq., in Delaware township. Other like mills were built about this time, but it was among the first.

Among those who came first to settle within the limits of West New Jersey, there was no more interesting character than Elizabeth Haddon, the daughter of John Haddon, a "Friend," who lived in the parish of St. George, in the borough of Southwark, and county of Surrey, England, at that day a suburb of London, on the south side of the river Thames, long since swallowed up in the enlarged borders of that great city. John Haddon had two daughters - his only children - Sarah, who married Benjamin Hopkins, and Elizabeth, the subject of this sketch. At the age of nineteen she left the home of her parents to look after her father's interests in America, accompanied, perhaps, by a few friends, but by none of her immediate family. She arrived in Philadelphia in 1701, and proceeded at once to the house erected on her father's land, lying on the south side of Cooper's creek, within the bounds of Newton township. This building stood on the hill, beside the stream, and near Cole's Landing. In the same year she married John Estaugh, a young man who had preceded her to America upon a religious visit, he being a preacher. They were married at her residence (and not at the public meeting), as was frequently the case in the early settlement of the country.

In 1713 a new house was erected on another tract, purchased by her father, on the site of the late residence of Isaac H. Wood, deceased, near Haddoniield, which village took its name from the owner of the soil.

In 1721 she went to England and procured from her father a deed for one acre of land, whereon to erect a meeting house, and where originated the Friends' Meeting at Haddonfield, which from that date until the year 1818, was the only place of public religious worship in the village.

Having no children of her own, she adopted Ebenezer Hopkins, a son of her sister, who came to New Jersey and resided with his aunt. He married Sarah Lord, a daughter of Joshua Lord, of Woodbury creek, and died in 1757, leaving her his widow with several children. Thus originated the "Hopkins" family in West New Jersey.

John Estaugh died in the Island of Tortula, in 1742, while on a religious visit there. Elizabeth Estaugh died in 1762, full of years, and leaving behind her a character to be admired and worthy of emulation. Her life had been more varied than generally falls to the lot of a female, but no word of censure or reproach remains upon her name. The days of her youth were filled with romance and surrounded by temptation; yet she was to the end of her life the same conscientious, discreet and consistent woman.

She was contemporary with William Penn, Robert Barclay and those others who originated the colony, whose moral courage prompted by a religious duty overcame obstacles not often encountered: whose life was as exemplary as it was useful, and whose name will always be remembered with reverence and respect.

      January 1st, 1867.