There are several interesting anecdotes concerning David Mapps, the wealthy black Quaker sea captain and farmer from Lower Bank, then Tuckerton.

Henry Cadbury ¹ relates the story that David Mapps, during the War of 1812, as a mariner out of Green Bank who owned and operated a 60 ton schooner and traded regularly between New York and Little Egg Harbor, refused to transport 50 tons of Batsto cannon balls to New York, calling them "devil's pills that were made to kill people". Pearce also relates this story. ² This would be consistent with his pacifist Quaker beliefs.

David, being a highly respected Quaker and holding positions of importance in the meetings, and noted for his and his wife's hospitality to traveling Quakers, they no doubt had many social interactions with the other members. Both Cadbury ³ and Pearce ⁴ relate this story about a dinner at an annual Philadelphia Friends Meeting at Isaac T. Hopper's house. As members were about to sit down for dinner, the question arose whether any of the members might object to sitting down to eat with David Mapps and his wife. "Leave that to me," the master of the house said. He announced: "Friends, dinner is now ready. David Mapps and his wife will come with me; and as I like to have all accomodated, those who object to dining with them can wait till they have done." The guests reportedly smiled and all seated themselves at the table.

Both Henry Cadbury and John Pearce also offer numerous contemporary, favorable testimonials of travelers on the hospitality of David and Grace Mapps. ^{5, 6} I leave those for the interested reader to read in the endnote references.

David owned property along Cakes Spruto (described by Bisbee ⁷). This is a small mill stream in Washington Township just west of Lower Bank, which empties into the Mullica River. It isn't certain how it got its name, see Bisbee for several conjectures. See "Guy" and "Jerseyman" posts about Cakes Spruto on forums.njpinebarrens.com (accessed 28 August 2023). These posts include labeled maps and Bisbee's full place name description for Cakes Spruto. John Pearce in Heart of the Pines discusses Cakes Spruto. ⁸ and David Mapps' property. ⁹

A Google Satellite Map showing Cakes Spruto is here. Two labels for Cakes Spruto are placed on the mill stream, one north of Old Church Road, and one south of Old Church Road. Two ponds along the stream's path can be seen north and east of Old Church Road and it follows a line north and across Route 542. The stream goes south and crosses Old Church Road, and becomes more evident on the map the closer it gets to the Mullica River.

More to come about David Mapps and his relatives in the next installment.