Peter Bard, the subject of this sketch, was a son of Bennet Bard, of the city of Montpelier, in France, belonging to the religious sect called Huguenots, who suffered much persecution for their religious views at that time. To avoid such persecution he emigrated to the United States with his wife, Dinah, and one or two children, arriving in the province of West New Jersey at the city of Burlington about the year 1700, where he could enjoy the fullest religious liberty of conscience under the Proprietors of that province.

As far as I can trace from the early records of that date Peter Bard was a man of great industry, intelligence and philanthrophy, and his perseverance in all the duties that fell to his lot, as a husband, father and friend, were conscientiously performed, and here in the wilds of the province of New Jersey, under its Proprietors, he enjoyed the largest license for the free exercise of his conscience.

Shortly after his arrival in the city of Burlington Peter Bard established himself in the mercantile business, in which capacity he was engaged until about the year 1723.

Peter Bard was appointed by Robert Hunter, the then Governor of New Jersey, as one of the Judges and Justices of the Peace of the county of Burlington, an office of much responsibility, which position he held from the year 1717 until the year 1721, a period of four years. Although a Judge and Justice for four years there is no record of his being personally engaged in any law suits until the year 1723.

In the year 1715 Peter Bard commenced the business of buying and selling of real estate. And I will here take the liberty for the especial purpose of more fully tracing Peter Bard and his doings until his death, to introduce into this sketch most of his titles of purchase and sale, with their records, during his life in New Jersey:

DEED, PETER BARD merchant of Burlington,
           TO
JOHN BORROWDAIL, brewer of Burlington.
                 Dated last day of November. 1715.
                 Recorded in Secretary's office, Trenton,
                 in Book DD, folio 422.

For the consideration of five shillings conveys the undivided half part of 4,000 acres of land, lying in the township of Burlington, with one-half part of all the saw mills, iron works, timber works, which said Peter Bard purchased of Richard Eayres, Esq., the first day of March. 1714, which land was surveyed to Richard Eayres and John Gosling as co-partners and tenants in common, and was surveyed in two tracts, the first tract containing 550 acres, in April, 1713. And lies on the southerly side of Northampton river, and on the east side a brook where the aforesaid saw mill standeth.

DEED, PETER BARD, merchant of Burlington.
            TO
JOHN BORROWDAIL, brewer of the same place.
                 DATED DECEMBER 1ST, 1715,
             Recorded in Secretary of State's office, in same Book.

This last recited title conveys the other moiety or half part of the above recited 4000 acres of land with mills, &c., as in the before recited deed.

This land conveyed in the two above titles embrace the land between the main north branch, and the main south branch of the Rancocas, including the iron works at Mount Holly and the Eayres Town Mill property - the full boundary of which I have not thought necessary to copy here.

William Budd, an early settler in New Jersey, in the year 1690 located 550 acres of land lying to the eastward of Pemberton and northward of the north branch of Rancocas creek, the most westward line of said survey being about one and a half miles east of Pemberton. At the death of William Budd, he, by his will, devised the above land to three of his children: To Ann Budd, his daughter, who married James Brigham; to his son William Budd, and his son James Budd.

DEED, JAMES BUDD,
          TO
      PETER BARD.
                        Dated 23d and 24th of September, 1718.
                        Recorded in Secretary's office in BB, folios 40 and 41.

This title conveys 130 acres of land, which lies on the north side of Rancocas and begins at the mouth of Butler hole branch, and runs westward until it joins his brother William's land. On this tract of 130 acres, Peter Bard built a saw mill, which was in running order in the year 1720. This mill was built on Butler hole branch, somewhere near where the road from Pemberton to Brown's Mills now crosses Butler hole branch, long since gone, although the pine timber now standing there shows plainly when the land had been formerly been cleared and farmed.

The old Montpelier map in my possession, shows the pond and mill as formerly marked upon it.

James Brigham re-surveyed the land devised to his wife by her father, the 10th day of June, 1723, and conveyed 400 acres thereof to Peter Bard. And on the 14th day of January, 1722, conveyed his balance, 550 acres, to Peter Bard, and says in his last title that he includes the residence to Peter Bard.

Those three last titles embrace all the land on the north side of the Rancocas creek, from the westerly line of the Almshouse Farm to Butler hole branch where it empties into said creek.

Revel Elton conveyed to Peter Bard 300 acres in New Hanover township, the 13th day of March 1717. This survey lies east and north of the mouth of Butler's hole branch as marked on the old Montpelier map.

Philo Leeds conveys, by deed, dated October 2d, 1722, 300 acres, lying north of mouth of Butler hole branch joining the land surveyed, to William Budd.

Francis Mills, a millwright, by deed dated October 15th, 1727, conveys to Peter Bard 440 acres, lying northwest of Butler's hole branch and corner thereto to land purchased of James Budd.

Daniel Leeds, Tunis Titus and Samuel Goldy conveyed three tracts of land to Peter Bard, surveyed in April 1711. The first tract contains 920 acres and lies on the south side of the mouth of Butler's hole branch, and south of the main north branch of Rancocas creek, and between it and the south or main branch in the forks and easterwardly to the Indian path that leads from Burlington to Egg Harbor, conveying the land west of said Indian path and forks of creek.

The second tract is thus described as lying on the road from Burlington to Egg Harbor, and is called cedar swamp, on the east side of the more easterly of the two branches of Ancocas creek, and begins at the foot of the swamp and brook and runs to the head of the swamp and brook and contains 150 acres. This tract I think lies on the south branch of Mount Misery mill stream.

Thomas Budd, of Northampton, a cooper, conveyed to Peter Bard 45 acres of unappropriated land, and Peter Bard surveyed the same in the township of New Hanover. This survey of 45 acres lies on Beaver dam branch and is cedar swamp.

Charles Wester conveyed to Peter Bard 300 acres of rights to unappropriated land December 22nd, 1717. And John Hancock conveyed 135 acres of rights to unappropriated land to Peter Bard August 8th, 1718.

Peter Bard surveyed part thereof in the forks of Ancocas creek on the east side of Egg Harbor road or Indian path containing 400 acres of land.

Those last above conveyances commencing at the deed of James Budd to Peter Bard, and on to the location of Peter Bard's survey of 400 acres with some other small surveys not here set forth embrace what Peter Bard called his Montpelier lands, and was conveyed by Peter Bard to Robert Mackdonal and Thomas Shaw as follows:

DEED, PETER BARD AND WIFE, of New Hanover.
          TO
                 ROBERT MACKDONAL, gentleman, of the City of London.
                 Dated January 9th, 1730. Recorded in Secretary's office,
                 DD, folio 1 to 8.

This deed conveys to Mackdonal the equal undivided moiety or half part of the Montpelier lands, embracing 3,795 acres, together with his saw mills and iron mills to be erected thereon.

On the same day Peter Bard conveyed to Thomas Shaw the equal undivided one-fourth part of the same land as above, embracing 3,795 acres, with the saw mills and iron mills to be erected thereon.

And on the 9th day of February 1731, thirteen months after the above two deeds, Peter Bard conveys the remaining fourth part to Robert Mackdonal, with the saw mills and iron mills to be erected thereon, recorded DD, folio 8 to 12. Peter Bard then had removed to and resided in New Hanover township on his Montpelier lands since 1723, when he gave up his store in Burlington; for I find in the mortgages of the Burlington Loan office that Peter Bard mortgaged his tract of land in New Hanover township whereon, (he says) he now dwells, containing 130 acres he purchased of James Budd, describing it by metes and bounds, as it is described in the deed from James Budd, and whereon (he says) his saw mill stands. This mortgage was for fifty-five pounds, and dated May 7th, 1724.

Peter Bard made but few locations of surveys, rather preferring to buy land than locate. And of the few surveys returned to him I will make a brief recital:

Peter Bard survey of 100 acres, dated April 8th, 1723, recorded in Lib. M of Surveys, folio 30, in the Surveyor General's office, at Burlington, is described as follows:

Lying upon a more southerly branch of Ancocas creek that branches out of the southerly main branch a little above Egg Harbor road, beginning at a cedar tree on the bank of the creek, about two miles up the creek, near an old Indian wigwam.

This survey of 100 acres Peter Bard located for a mill seat, and on it, after its location, he erected a saw mill, which took the name of Mount Misery mill. This mill passed out of his hands, I think, about 1732, and fell into the hands of John Monroe; and John Monroe and wife conveyed the equal undivided half part to John West and the other undivided half part to John Bispham. This mill and property, embracing a large number of surveys made by John Monroe and adjoining thereto, were all conveyed with said mill to West and Bispham, and passed in a few years into Hanover Furnace tract lands, where it still belongs.

Peter Bard located three other surveys, containing together 66 acres, dated March 6th, 1730, recorded in Lib. M, folio 140, in the Surveyor General's office, at Burlington.

The first tract begins at a pine standing on the south side of a run that runs down to the said Peter Bard's cedar mill, and contains 6 1/2 acres of cedar swamp. This survey lyes on one of the branches of the Mount Misery mill, which then belonged to Peter Bard.

Second tract lyes a little to the northeast of the first, ye distance about half a mile, and contains 13 acres. This tract lyeth about three miles distant from the aforesaid cedar mill, and begins at a pine standing near the path that leads to Mount Misery, and contains 47 acres, in all 66 acres.

There cannot now be any doubts in the mind of the reader as to the location of the Pine saw mill, on Butler's Hole branch, belonging to Peter Bard, taking in view first the purchase of the 130 acres of James Budd, covering the mouth of said branch in the year 1718, and the erecting of a saw mill by 1720: for in 1724 he covers said mill and land of 130 acres by a mortgage of 55 pounds to the Burlington Loan Office, and saying in said mortgage that he resides thereon; and in 1730; six years after, he sells out his Montpelier lands, reciting first his purchase of 130 acres, purchased of James Budd, on which he says there is a saw mill, and intends to erect an iron mill also on said land. (I think the iron mill was intended to be built on the Rancocas, at or near where New Lisbon now stands, a short distance above the junction of the two creeks.)

And I must conclude that Peter Bard's Cedar mill was his Mount Misery mill, as he located the land and on which it was built in 1723, and at once built the saw mill; and in 1730 located three small surveys near the same, calling for specified distances from his Cedar mill, which, from their location, there cannot be a doubt but it was Mount Misery mill, and then in his possession, only four years before his death, as in 1734 his will was proved. I here insert a copy of Peter Bard's will:

I, Peter Bard, of Burlington, in the province of New Jersey, being at this time, by the good providence of God, of sound mind and memory, blessed be His name for the same, considering, seriously, the uncertainty of this transitory life, and those many accidents that may disable me from settling that estate that God, in His mercy, hath intrusted me with, and being sensible that in the time of sickness and on a death bed, the most prepared person will have enough to do to contemplate the estate he is entering into, in which his portion of joy or sorrow must certainly be adjudged to him, without any alteration to all eternity, I do, therefore, declare this to be my last will and testament, revoking and disannuling all other or former wills by me made and declared.

Imprimis: I commit my soul to God, and hope that through His great mercy and the sufferings of His blessed son, Jesus Christ, whom I faithfully believe died for all men, will blot out my sins, and give me the portion of the blessed; and so far as my body, I direct that it may be decently interred without any pomp. And for my temporal estate, I will, devise and direct, that all my debts, wheresover may be with all possible expedition, be duly and honestly paid by my executrix, hereinafter named, and in order to enable her to perform the same, I do hereby order, will and direct, (if need be) all or any part of my estate, either real or personal, to be sold and disposed of by my dear wife, Dinah Bard, whom I appoint and make my sole executrix, of this my last will and testament, enjoining my executrix, after the payment of all my just debts, to pay punctually all the following legacies:

Imprimis: I will and direct that by the first opportunity for London, immediately after my decease, a letter shall be sent to Mr. John Muntedied, who will inform if my father, Bennet Bard is living, which, if he is, I give and bequeath him fifty pounds sterling, to be remitted to him in France.

Item, I give and bequeath to my eldest son, Bennet Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my second son, Peter Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my third son, Samuel Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my fourth son, John Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my fifth son, William Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Bard, five pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Bard, five pounds. And all the remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I give and bequeath to my dear wife, Dinah Bard, whom I hereby appoint my sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have herewith set my hand and seal, this ninth day of October, 1732.

EDMUND COWGILL, JR.                  PETER BARD.
                                                                        (- - )
                                                                        -SEAL-
                                                                        (- - )
EDWARD SHIPTON.                 Proven August 16th, 1734.

Recorded in book No. 3 of wills, folio 427, Secretary's office.

Bennet Bard, the eldest son of Peter Bard, after the death of his father, commenced the location of lands in and about the branch of Hanover Furnace Mill Pond, on the rights of his father and others - he also being a resident of Burlington.

February 27th, 1737, a warrant was granted by the Council of Proprietors to Dinah Bard, executrix of Peter Bard, to survey 625 acres of land anywhere unappropriated in the western division below the falls of the Delaware; and Dinah Bard, assigned to her son, Bennet Bard, 125 acres, a part thereof as by the recital thereof of said warrant will fully appear; and by virtue of said assignment Bennet Bard located lands as follows:

First - 73 acres. Recorded in Surveyor General's office in Lib. M, folio 323; described as follows: "Beginning at a small pine standing on the southeasterly side of a small run being distant from Bard's said mill, about one and a half miles northward thereof."

Second - 50 1/2 acres. Surveyed the 7th of February, 1737. Recorded in Lib. BB, folio 33, and is described as follows: "Beginning at a chestnut oak by the edge of a small cedar swamp near a beaver pond about half a mile to the eastward of the new mill pond."

Third - 50 acres. Surveyed July 8th, 1740. Recorded in E., folio 1: is described as follows: "Beginning at a pine marked and lettered B, standing about a quarter of a mile to the southeastward of said Bennet Bard's saw mill, and on the northeast side of a small brook of water or cedar spring and runs thence S. 67 degrees E. 30 chains to a pine by the side of a road leading from said Bennet Bard's saw mill to the cedar swamp, thus S. 23 degrees W. crossing said brook 17.50 chains to a leaning pine, marked 1740, standing by a road leading from the widow Mills' saw mill to the cedar swamp. This survey refers to the old saw mill on Gauntt's Branch at the head now of Hanover mill pond, and was, no doubt, built and owned by Francis Mills, a millwright, and after his death, had become the property of his widow, and as you perceive, now went by the name of the "widow Mills' saw mill."

Fourth - Bennet Bard's survey of 39 acres, dated May 1st, 1740. Recorded in the Surveyor General's office in Lib. E, folio 19; is described as follows: "Beginning at a pine on the southeast side of Ancocas creek, and lyes about half a mile to the northward of Bennet Bard's saw mill."

Fifth - Bennet Bard, survey of 19 acres, dated April 30th, 1740. Recorded in Lib. E, folio 19; is described as follows: "Beginning at a pine tree lettered BB, standing on the north side of one of the branches of Ancocas creek above, about half a mile to the northward of Bennet Bard's saw mill, and about five chains from a bridge over said branch."

Sixth - Bennet Bard, survey of 50 acres of pine land dated March 12th, 1740, recorded in Lib. E, folio 20; is thus described: "Situate in New Hanover, on the north side of Beaver Run."

Seventh - Bennet Bard, survey of 61 acres, dated April 30th, 1740, recorded in Lib. E, folio 21; is described as follows: "Situate about half a mile to the northward of Bennet Bard's saw mill."

Eighth - Bennet Bard's 20 acres, dated June 7th, 1739, recorded in Lib. E, folio 29; is thus located: "It being a cedar swamp lying near to Bennet Bard's saw mill."

Ninth - Bennet Bard, survey of 50 acres, dated November 15th, 1742, recorded in Lib. S, No. 6, folio 87, is described as follows: "Lying between the lines run by George Keith, and the one lately run by John Lawrence: Beginning at a pine tree on the east side of a small cedar swamp, marked twelve notches, about three-quarters of a mile southwest from the 'Indian spring,' in Good Luck road."

The above surveys, nine in number, embrace all the surveys I find recorded in the name of Bennet Bard, the eldest son of Peter Bard, and I have been thus particular in tracing the surveys, to ascertain the location of the two or three saw mills that were formerly built in that immediate neighborhood. And I am satisfied that the first saw mill built at the head of Hanover pond, on Gauntt's branch, called Bard's old mill, was built and owned by Francis Mills, and after his death, became the property of his widow, who sold the same to Bennet Bard, prior to the above location, and was held by Bennet Bard from 1737 to 1742. Many years since this old mill was burnt, and hence goes by the name of the "burnt mill," or "Bard's old mill." Bennet Bard built a saw mill for pine lumber which I shall be able to show you, on a branch now called Beaver Dam branch, about the time of his first surveys, in the year 1737, and perhaps from one to one and a half miles northeast of the old burnt mill.

Bennet Bard most probably was born before his arrival to New Jersey, as in 1730 and 1733 he had trials in the Burlington county courts, as the records show of that date. In 1739, April 24th, Bennet Bard mortgaged his land to the Burlington Loan office, adjoining Marmaduke Coats and Thomas Budd, near Juliustown. I have seen no record of Bennet Bard's death. The last record I find of him is in June 5th, 1751, and his death must have taken place somewhere about the year 1752, as about that time his property passed into his brother, Peter Bard's hands.

Peter Bard, the second son of Peter Bard, Senior, was a merchant in Philadelphia, until after the death of his father in 1734. The precise time of his removal to Mount Holly I have not been able to ascertain, but certainly as early as the year 1750. For in the year 1751 Peter Bard administered to the estate of Thomas Carrel, on the third day of June, and his brother Bennet Bard, witnessed his signature to the bond. And on the 30th day of April, 1752, Thomas Atkinson and Peter Bard administered to the estate of Caleb Shinn, of the county of Burlington.

Peter Bard, on the 20th day of January, 1764, by his deputy, William Hewlings, made a survey of two hundred and four acres of land which is of record in the Surveyor General's office, in book 2 of surveys, folio 164, which said survey was returned upon the following warrants: First, on a warrant of John Beaumont, assignee to Bennet Bard, and by Bennet Bard, assignee to his brother, Peter Bard, and by one other warrant granted to Samuel Bard, and by him conveyed to Peter Bard, dated August 5th, 1763. Samuel Bard's warrant is dated August 4th, 1763. The above 204 acres is described as follows: "Situate between the two lines of East and West Jersey, being where the saw mill stands, bounded as follows - Beginning at a pine lettered BB, and M., on the side of that branch where his saw mill formerly stood, and is a corner to land surveyed to John Monroe, Esq., and runs by the same 1. S. 3 degrees E. 47. 50 chains to a small pine by the north side of his mill pond; thence crossing the same, 2. S. 68 degrees E. 25 chains to a pine on the north side of the southerly branch of his mill pond; then crossing the said branch 3. S. 27 degrees E. 19 chains to a pine corner to 50 acres of pine land and cedar swamp that the said John Morrow purchased of Bennet Bard, by which it runs; 4. N. 68 degrees W. 35 chains to a pine marked B., corner to land surveyed to John Monroe now Peter Bard's, by which it runs, 5. N. 65 degrees W. 35 chains to a post by a pine, 6. N. 20 degrees W. 19 chains to a corner; thence 7. N. 60 degrees W. 30 chains to said mill branch; thence it is bounded up the same and up the old mill branch, the several courses thereof, to the corner pine first mentioned.

It appears from the record of the above survey that the land had been once returned to Bennet Bard, but the Council of Proprietors had refused to pass said survey owing to some defect in the rights on which it was returned by Bennet Bard, and William Hewlings was instructed by council to see that said defect was remedied.

This survey above, and the copy of the Deputy's map ought to satisfy the most credulous there was another saw mill previous to this here represented: called his Pine saw mill, on what is here called the old mill branch.

From the return and Deputy's map of Peter Bard's survey of 204 acres I am clearly of opinion that the old pine saw mill of Bennet Bard's was built, as his survey says, and speaks of his pine saw mill and cedar mill, which latter was at the head of Hanover mill pond on the foot of Gauntt's branch. And his Pine mill was built on what was formally by him called the old mill branch (now Beaver Dam branch.) And Peter Bard moved the old mill to where it is represented by the Deputy's map, and where it stood while the property belonged to Hartshorn, but it has since been burned and is about one-third of a mile west of the Burlington and Ocean county line as run in 1857.

Peter Bard's survey of 33 acres, dated February 4th, 1764, recorded in Lib. L. folio 164, is thus described: "Situate between the division lines of the province called Keith and Lawrence's lines, beginning at a pine corner in the line of 50 acres of cedar swamp and pine land surveyed to Bennet Bard, in the forks of Peter Bard's saw mill branch, and runs: 1. South thirty-five degrees east four chains to a black oak, near a bridge called Beaver Dam bridge, then across the bridge; 2. South thirty degrees west 1 chain to a pine; 3. South fifty-four degrees east five chains to a pine; 4. South eighty-four degrees east two chains to a pine Z.G., corner to Zebulon Gauntt's cedar swamp, by which it runs; 5. East twenty chains to a pine, by the swamp, then crossing the Ridge of Pines; 6. North seven degrees east ten chains to a pine in the low land of the north branch of said saw mill, then along said low land; 7. North seventy-six degrees west six chains to a post in the line of said fifty acres surveyed as aforesaid, by which it runs; 8. South twenty-two degrees west ten chains to the beginning.

Peter Bard's 57 acre survey, dated February 4th, 1764, recorded in Lib. 2, folio 165, is bounded as follows: "Situate between the division of the province called Keith and Lawrence lines, beginning at a pine tree standing on the south side of the north branch of the brook whereon Bennet's Bard pine saw mill formerly stood, about fifteen chains below a small cedar swamp surveyed to Michael Newbold, and run from thence down the brook, 1. south eighty-four degrees west nine chains to a pine; 2. South seventy-seven degrees west seventeen chains to a gum and cedar by the edge of the fast land, then crossing the brook; 3. North ten degrees west twelve chains to a pine; 4. North seventy-eight degrees west sixteen chains to a pine; 5. North thirty-one degrees east eleven chains to a twin pine; 6. East twenty-two chains to a pine in the edge of a savannah, then along the same; 7. South fifty-four degrees east nine chains to four small pines marked as corners; 8. South thirty-two east eighteen chains to the beginning.

Peter Bard's survey of 234 acres, dated February 4th, 1764, recorded in Lib. L., folio 166, is described as follows: "Situate between two division lines called Keith and Lawrence lines, beginning at a forked pine corner to 119 acres of land surveyed to Bennet Bard, now Peter Bard's, and runs: 1. North sixty-seven degrees west eleven chains to a post in John Monroe's line, by which it runs; 2. North twenty-eight degrees west fifty chains to a pine marked M.B., being Morrow's corner; 3. East thirty-five chains to a pine, B; 4. North eight chains to a pine; 5. East sixteen chains to a pine, B; 6. North twenty-four degrees east twenty-five chains to a pine; 7. South sixty-one degrees east forty chains to a pine B., by the side of a beaver pond; 8. South forty-five degrees west twenty-four chains to a post in the line of said 119 acre survey aforesaid, by which it runs; 9. North sixty-seven degrees west twenty-nine chains to a small pine; then 10. South twenty-five degrees west sixty-two chains to the beginning."

The above described four surveys are all the surveys returned to Peter Bard, the second son of Peter Bard the elder, and they all lie close together. The old Pine mills built by Bennet Bard on what he calls the Old Mill branch, is the most northwardly branch of Hanover mill pond, and the stream you cross in going from Hockomick mill to Hartshorn mill, and now called Beaver Dam branch. This mill was built by Bennet Bard on his survey of 119 acres in about 1742 or 1743, and in 1764 Peter Bard, who had come into possession of the 119 acre survey and the 204 acre survey, removed and rebuilt the old mill on a better stream of water, on the 204 acre survey, where it stood when burned a few years ago.

In briefing the titles of the Hartshorn mill tract, as it is called, in 1856, for Philip Cain, who then owned said tract. I had access to the several titles appertaining thereto, and found the titles embraced the following surveys: Peter Bard's 234 acres, 204 acres, 57 acres, and Bennet Bard's 119 acres and 85 acres. These five surveys are all that were then contained in said tract, and were conveyed by Peter Bard as follows:

Peter Bard and Mary, his wife, by deed bearing date the 22d day of June, 1764, conveyed the above recited surveys to Thomas Lawrance, John Lawrance, and Mary Masters, all of the city of Philadelphia, which is recorded in the Secretary of State's office at Trenton, in Book AB, folio 499.

Thus the title out of the Bard family was passed, and in a few years the above title, with other lands, became the property of Samuel Wright Hartshorn.

Peter Bard, the second son of Peter Bard the elder, as I have before stated, was a successful merchant of Philadelphia until after his father's death, when he removed to (Bridgetown) Mount Holly, and transacted many important trusts in the county of Burlington after his removal.

In 1751 and 1752 he administered to two different estates, and after buying out his brother, Bennet Bard, in his mill, and surveys near thereto he commenced the locating of lands adjacent to keep up his supply of timber in 1763 and 1764; and failing in health the latter year, on the 22d day of June, 1764 he and his wife conveyed all his mills and lands to other parties, who, perhaps were better able to do the laborious work attendant thereon.

Peter Bard died at Bridgetown (Mount Holly) on the 30th day of November, 1769, about five years after the sale of his mill property, and without making any will; and I judge that Mary Bard, his wife, had previously deceased, for on the 14th day of December, 1769, Samuel Bard, his son, renounced the taking of letters of administration, and in said renunciation recommended Daniel Ellis and James Sterling, of Burlington city, as administrators to his father's estate. The administration bond is dated on the same day as last above mentioned. (I here copy a notice of his death and burial, from a paper published in Philadelphia of that date.)

"November 30th, 1769. Died, at Burlington, in the 56th year of his age, Peter Bard, Esq., formerly a merchant in the city of Philadelphia. His death was very soon followed by that of his son, Samuel Bard, Esq., attorney at law, who died at Bristol on the 14th day of December, in the 29th year of his age."

And under date of June 12th, 1769, in the same paper, is the following notice:

"Last Tuesday, died at Burlington, after a short illness, Peter Bard, Jr., a youth of uncommon merit." With the death of Peter Bard, Jr., ends, so far as I can trace from the records, the family of Peter Bard, the second son of Peter Bard, the elder.

Samuel Bard, the son of Peter Bard, the second, who was an attorney at law in Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, above described, made his will November 27th, 1768, about one year before the death of his father, Peter Bard, which said will was proved December the 20th, 1769, and recorded in Book No. 14 of Wills, folio 135, in the Secretary of State's office at Trenton. In this will, which is very short, is the following bequests: He orders his executors, immediately after his decease, to sell all his land and property, consisting of a brick house at Mount Holly, and a tract of land adjoining the iron works he bought of his father; also, all his real estate, and after payment of his debts, the remainder to go to his wife, Mary Bard, in fee; and appointing his father, Peter Bard and Zachariah Rossell his executors. Those who witnessed his will were Jonathan Odell, Sarah Tredwell and Sarah Bard.

I think it most probable that Samuel Bard left no issue, as none are mentioned in his will.

Peter Bard died intestate between 1794 and 1796. This could not have been the son of Peter Bard, the second, as he died the 12th of June, 1769 - a minor, but must have been the son of either Samuel, John or William Bard, of whose deaths I find no record.

I have now given you Mr. President a rough and unconnected sketch of Peter Bard and his family, so far as I have been able to collect them from official records of this State, and in so doing I have not gone outside of said records.

Of the death of Bennet Bard, the eldest son of Peter Bard the first, I find no further records than I have given you.

Of the life and death of Samuel Bard, the third son of Peter Bard, I find no record, but believe that Peter Bard, last above stated, who died intestate between 1794 and 1796 was his son.

Of the life and death of John Bard I have found no record.

Of the life and death of William Bard, the fifth son of Peter Bard, I have found no record.

And of the two daughters, Mary and Rebecca Bard, although both were probably married I have seen no record. I therefore leave for others who may follow me, the task of tracing out the remainder of the descendants of one of the best business men that ever settled in West New Jersey.

Of Dinah Bard, the widow of Peter Bard the first, I cannot trace after the year 1737, three years after the death of her husband. She then resided in the city of Burlington, and on the 29th day of March, 1737, mortgaged her brick dwelling house in that city to the Burlington Loan office for forty-three pounds, and I find no further record touching her life or death.