Major John Cook, who was killed in the action at the Block House, was a captain in the Second Regiment, Monmouth, and appointed Second Major in same regiment, October 13, 1777, probably to succeed James Mott, who lived at one time near Toms River. Public sales of privateers and their cargoes were sometimes held at his house. The following notice in reference to the settlement of his estate was published in the New Jersey Gazette, January 22, 1783:

"All persons indebted to the estate of Major John Cook, late of Toms River, deceased, are hereby requested to settle their respective accounts, on or before the 10th day of February next, as this is the last notice they are to expect from

THOMAS COOK,
Administrator.

N. B. - On said day the above administrator will attend at George Cook's tavern at Crosswicks, in order to adjust matters agreeable to law; also to receive all demands against said estate that shall be properly proven."

John Coward, before and during the early part of the war, was a prominent business man at Toms River and quite an extensive owner of timber land. He was associated for a time with James Randolph. He died, probably in 1779. His executors were James Randolph and Tobias Hendrickson, who published the following notice in January, 1780:

"To be sold at public vendue, on Tuesday, February, 1780, at the house of Daniel Griggs at Toms River, seventy acres of very good young green cedar swamp, very handy to water carriage, on the branches of Cedar Creek, late the property of John Coward, deceased. Attention will be given for several days before the sale at Toms River to show the premises. The land will be sold as best suits the purchasers, as to quantity and attention will be given by

"JAMES RANDOLPH,
"TOBIAS HENDRICKSON,
Executors."

James Randolph, just before and during the early part of the war, was perhaps more extensively engaged in lumber and other business than any other person in the vicinity of Toms River. He was an executor of John Coward and at the sale of some timber land belonging to the estate of Coward, in February, 1780, Randolph advertised also to sell property of his own as follows:

"The subscriber has for sale a very good farm, in situation convenient for salt works near Toms River, with near three hundred acres of good salt meadows, which will support one hundred head of cattle, and is exceeding handy for fish and oysters. Also a good saw mill with a large quantity of valuable cedar swamp to said mill. They will be sold at private sale before vendue, or on that day, or any day after, when any purchaser shall offer, and a good title made.

"JAMES RANDOLPH.

"December 30, 1779."

He probably died about the latter part of 1781, or early part of 1782. The following substance of a notice published in March, 1782, regarding the settlement of his estate, gives an idea of the extent of his business:

"To be sold at public vendue, on Monday, April 29, 1782, at the house of Samuel Forman, inn keeper, Upper Freehold, the following tracts of land of estate of James Randolph, late of Monmouth County:

"One plantation at Mosquito Lane, containing 350 acres, the greater part salt meadows, with a frame dwelling house, salt works, good fishery, &c. One saw mill in Davenport (mouth of Wrangle Creek) near Toms River, goes with two saws, together with pine and cedar lands. Two-fifths of a new saw mill and four-fifths of land adjoining, near James Randolph's late dwelling, held in partnership with Tobias Hendrickson. Eighteen or twenty lots of cedar swamp in Wrangle Creek, Union, Horricone, Lenkers, &c.

"Apply to Tobias Hendrickson, near the late dwelling of James Randolph, or to Benjamin Randolph, Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Signed by Benjamin Randolph and Tobias Hendrickson, who were his executors. Part of his estate, the Mosquito Lane plantation, was again advertised to be sold the following year, June, 1783."

There was a James Randolph in the militia of Monmouth, possibly the same.

Daniel Randolph, Esquire, was among the prisoners taken at the Block House in March, 1782. A person of this name lived at Freehold, down to within two years previous to the burning of Toms River. Sales were advertised to take place at his house at Freehold in 1780. The appearance of the same name at Toms River, shortly after the decease of James Randolph, suggests the possibility of his being a relative, and that he came to Toms River on business connected with the care or settlement of the estate of James.

James Attin must have been somewhat prominent at Toms River in the early part of the war, judging from the following advertisement published in the New Jersey Gazette. He may have been from Middlesex county where the surname was not unusual. His advertisement was as follows:

"To be sold at vendue, on Monday, the 6th day of September, 1779, at the house of the subscriber in the township of Dover and county of Monmouth, viz: 200 acres of pine land, well timbered, about two miles below Toms River Bridge; 50 head of cattle, 40 sheep, 6 horses, 10 hogs and 8 negroes, a set of blacksmith's tools, 200 bushels of wheat and rye, 20 acres of Indian corn, a quantity of tanned leather and tar, a variety of farming utensils and household goods too tedious to mention. Same time will be sold a valuable plantation, with a great quantity of fresh and salt meadows; a grist and saw mill, with plenty of timber; a valuable fishery, with 400 acres of land. All may be entered upon immediately. For terms, apply to the subscriber on the premises.

"JOHN ATTIN.

"August 18, 1779."

The offering for sale of eight negroes, recalls a difference between then and now.

Abiel Akins, who, for many years was the principal Justice of the Peace at Toms River, lived during the war, according to a tradition of old residents, on the south side of Toms River, on the place formerly the residence of Anthony Ivins and subsequently of A. P. Stanton. His house was a stopping place for Rev. Benjamin Abbott, a pioneer of Methodism. It was burned by the British at the time when the village was burned. It is said that he subsequently resided on the north side of the river below the bridge. His ancestry is noticed in the sketch of the Akin family. For almost a generation he seemed to have performed most of the marriage ceremonies in his vicinity. The following were some parties married by him:

Dillon Wilbur to Leucretia Bird, October 14, 1795.
William Runnels (Reynolds?) to Leonah Francis, August 10, 1795.
Gilbert Lane to Sarah Aumack, January 10, 1796.
Abel Platt to Melah Letts, March 26, 1796.
David Rogers to Susannah Chadwick, May 1, 1796.
James Wilber to Elizabeth Hopkins, June 26, 1796.
Jacob Applegate to Margaret Luker, July 10, 1796.

About 1808 the Legislature passed a law for the relief of Abiel Akins, as he had met with reverses in business.

Moses Robbins was a matross in Captain Huddy's company, and was seriously wounded in the action at the Block House. He was one of the first to have a dwelling erected after the village was burned, and the sale of a captured prize was advertised to take place at his house in March, 1783. In 1792 he purchased timber land back of Toms River, and Holmes & Robbins' mill is mentioned the same year. In 1795 his heirs had a tract on the road from Toms River to Schenck's Mill, sold. From this it would seem probable that he died between 1792 and 1795. In the early part of the present century Elijah Robbins owned the land on which the Block House had been situated.

A matross was a member of an artillery company who assisted in loading cannon, and also carried a musket.

Aaron Buck was one of the two persons in the village who had the fortune of having their houses spared when the village was burned. It is supposed this was because he was related to the Refugee, William Dillon, the pilot of the British, Buck having married a daughter of Dillon's brother. Mrs. Studson's house was the other spared, and her house and Buck's afforded a temporary refuge for the unfortunate women and children whose homes had been burned by the British. Before the war he was a land owner, and in 1765 sold a tract near Toms River to Albertio Shockelia. He had two daughters, one of whom married Judge Ebenezer Tucker, for whom Tuckerton was named, and the other married John Rogers, ancestor of most of the Rogers family from Toms River to Cedar Creek. It is said that Aaron Buck was captain of a coasting vessel after the war, and eventually committed suicide by hanging himself on the rigging of his vessel as she lay in Toms River.

Captain Ephraim Jenkins, according to tradition, lived in the village of Toms River, and his dwelling was among those burned by the British in 1782. It is supposed that he was killed in the action at the Block House, and his family was left unprovided for. One of his children was taken care of by one of the Prices at Goodluck, ancestor of Dr. T. T. Price, of Tuckerton. Captain Jenkins was commissioned captain in Colonel Asher Holmes' battalion, June 14, 1780.

Captain Joshua Studson, who was killed by the Refugee John Bacon, December 1, 1780, lived along the edge of the river, just below the bridge. He was appointed a lieutenant in Colonel Asher Holmes' battalion, June 14, 1780, and was also a captain in the privateer service. In the latter part of 1780 he took two prizes, the schooner "John" and the sloop "Catharine," on the south side of Staten Island. The Admiralty Court, to adjust his prize claims, was appointed to be held at Mount Holly, January 1, 1781. Just a month before this he was killed. It is said that a few years after his death his widow married a man at Toms River named Chamberlain.

James Lippencott's house was one at which sales took place during the war. In 1791 Samuel Pease (Pearce?) and wife sold to James Lippencott land in old Dover township. And in 1792 James Lippencott bought land of William Cox and wife, Richard Smith and wife, William Smith and wife, John Hoskins, Sr., and John Hoskins, Jr., and Edward Pole, all in same township.

James Mott, Jr., was another prominent man around Toms River during the early part of the war. He probably lived easterly of the village on the bay, on or adjoining the place subsequently owned by the late James Cook. His property is thus described in an advertisement published in Collins New Jersey Gazette in September, 1779:

"To be Sold: A valuable tract of land adjoining Barnegat Bay, near Toms River, in the town of Dover, Monmouth county, containing about 1,000 acres, about 280 acres of salt meadow, 30 acres of cedar swamp (part of which is very good), about 50 acres of upland, cleared and fenced with cedar; a new frame dwelling house thereon, 20 feet by 26, with two fire-places on first floor, and a stone cellar under the same; also a kitchen adjoining, 16 feet square, with a brick oven, and a well at the door; the remainder woodland. The land is good for rye, Indian corn, for raising stock, and is as well situated for manufacturing salt as any in New Jersey. It will be sold together or be divided, as shall suit purchaser. For terms apply to Abiel Akins, Esq., at Toms River, or to the subscriber on the premises.

"JAMES MOTT, JR."

In March the same advertisement in substance was published, but application to be made to Joseph Salter, Toms River, and "to be sold for Continental bills of credit or loan certificates."

There was a James Mott captain in the militia, stationed at Toms River. He was appointed major, and resigned June 18, 1776. In 1776, James Mott was a member of the Legislature from Monmouth. The name appears as a property owner in Middletown, 1778 and 1790, and also in Shrewsbury township. He purchased land in Dover township in 1795. He was probably related to Joseph Salter, who at one time owned a tract on the bay, possibly the same advertised by Mott, as Joseph Salter married a Mott.

Edward Thomas, of Black Horse, Burlington county, owned a place adjoining James Mott's, which he thus described in an advertisement published in 1777:

"A plantation in Dover township, adjoining Barnegat Bay, bounded by Lands of James Mott and Pennsylvania Salt Works; 300 acres, 70 acres salt meadows, remainder good timber land; soil good for corn and rye. and with small expense (by bringing seaweed) will be good for raising wheat. On it a log house, also a cellar dug and walled, 20 by 26, and frame timber, &c, sufficient to build. Well located for erecting salt works."

Edward Thomas was a member of the militia company that came along shore in pursuit of the Refugee Bacon, and finally killed him near West Creek.

Joseph Salter at one time owned a place near the bay, possibly the same once owned by James Mott, to whom he was related by marriage. He was at Toms River as early as 1774, and a relative, Thomas Salter, had purchased considerable land in the township twenty-five or thirty years before. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1775. He was appointed Lientenant-Colonel in the militia, but soon resigned. In the minutes of the New Jersey Provincial Congress, October 21, 1775, it is stated that--

"Joseph Salter, Esquire, having returned his commission of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Regiment of Militia for the County of Monmouth, and desired leave to resign the same:

"Resolved unanimously, that his resignation be accepted."

His first wife was Sally, daughter of Samuel Holmes, by whom he had a son William. His second wife was Huldah Mott, by whom he had several children, some of whom came into possession of the place at Toms River, which eventually was purchased by James Cook, who in 1859 sold the same to Gavin Brackenridge, who in turn sold it to Thomas Gilford, and in the description of the land occurs the following clause:

"Excepting thereout one hundred and fifty acres lying on the west side, conveyed by Sarah Salter, Elizabeth Salter, Margaret Salter and Hannah Salter to Garret Irons, which said tract of land is henceforth to be described and known by the name of Ballantrae."

Ballantrae means a settlement or place by the sea or water; an appropriate name for the tract.

Joseph Salter was summoned before the Council of Safety in April, 1777, and Isaac Potter and Daniel Griggs, of Toms River, gave some evidence against him, of which the purport is not given, and he was committed to Burlington jail.

John Lawrence, who was committed to the same jail the same week, was charged with high treason. He was an agent to furnish British protection papers.

Possibly Salter had accepted papers giving British protection, but in October of the same year he took the oath to the Provincial Government, and was released. He remained about Toms Paver until about May, 1779, when he removed elsewhere. It is said that he founded Atsion Furnace, in Burlington county, in 1770. His son Richard lived at Toms River in the early part of the present century. He had a son James, who was probably the James Salter, treasurer of the State of New Jersey in 1799, and who died December 19, 1803.

Captain Samuel Bigelow was engaged in the privateer business, and some of his prizes are noticed in the account of Privateering at Toms River. He seems at times to have had charge of barges, or whale-boats, then in common use by both Americans and British for service in bays and on the ocean near the inlets. He is rated as "mariner" in the roster of officers and men of the Revolution. His residence is described in a survey made in 1773. as on the north side of Wrangle Brook, thirty chains above Randolph's saw-mill, which was at the junction of Wrangle Brook with Davenport.

Edward Wilbur took up land before the war, in 1762, three-quarters of a mile north of Toms River. When the village was burned in 1782, the house of a Wilbur, situated about the same distance from the river, was not burned, possibly because it was too far off, or because related to the Dillon family, as Dillon Wilbur, somewhat prominent just after the war, received his name from the Dillon family.

John Wilbur was a member of Captain Joshua Huddy's company, and was rated as a matross.

James Dillon was quite noted around Toms River before the war. In 1761 he took up land above Toms River on one of its branches. In 1762 he was taxed 10s. 3d. In 1763, it is said, he claimed to own "Toms Island," subsequently known as Dillon's Island. He had a daughter who married Aaron Buck, and it is probable he was related to the Wilbur family, as a member of it was named Dillon Wilbur.

William Dillon, the noted Refugee scoundrel, was imprisoned at one time in Freehold Jail under sentence of death, but was either pardoned or escaped, probably the latter, as he soon after appeared at Toms River as a Refugee pilot. He engaged in contraband trade between New York and Egg Harbor, and his vessel was captured by Captain Grey, a New Englander, who came in his vessel to Toms River. The Admiralty Court, to try the claim of the captors of Dillon's vessel, was called at Freehold, by notice signed by Esquire Abiel Akins, to meet March 16, 1782. Within a week after, Dillon was piloting the British expedition which burned Toms River. After the war he left with other Refugees for St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he was in 1783 given town lot number 1,019.

Benjamin Johnson, just before the war, and probably during the war, lived in the north or north-easterly part of the village. A person of the same name had a dwelling house on the south side of Toms River, towards Sloop Creek, in 1741, some thirty odd years before the war. Benjamin Johnson is named as deceased in a survey in 1788. The family appears to have been among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Toms River.

Benjamin Smith lived on the west side of Long Swamp, where he built a new house just before the war. A person of this name was a member of the militia from old Monmouth. Members of the Smith family were among the earliest who received patents for land in what is now Ocean county, some of whom resided in old Middletown township, to which the first members came from Rhode Island.

David and Thomas Luker were among members of the Monmouth militia. The family was among the first to settle at Toms River. Daniel Luker's dwelling is referred to in a survey in 1747. Luker's Ferry, over Toms River, is mentioned 1749 and subsequently, and Luker's Branch and Luker's Bridge also named previous to the Revolution. The name is generally given in old records of surveys as Luker, but it is also given as Lucar and Louker. The names Looker, Lucar and Leuker apparently are of the same origin. Among earliest settlers of Elizabethtown were Lookers, and members located at Woodbridge, in Middlesex.

Richard Bird, commonly known as "Dick" Bird, the Refugee, lived near Toms River, and perhaps of the family of William Bird, who, in 1773, lived on the south side of Toms River at Eagle's Point. About the same time John Bird lived near Forked River. "Dick" Bird was killed during the war by the Americans. He had relatives, it seems, in the lower part of what is now Berkely township.

Francis Jeffrey owned land on the south side of Toms River, and probably resided within a short distance of the village during the war. He was a member of the Monmouth militia. The name Francis has been preserved in the family for two centuries. John Jeffreys and Humphrey Jeffreys were also members of the militia during the Revolution.

Edward Worth owned land on the south side of Toms River, and probably lived within a very few miles of the village. John Worth was a member of Captain Walton's Light Dragoons, and William Worth was in the Monmouth militia and also in the Continental army.

John Williams resided near Toms River, and during the war was interested in the store-house for salt at Toms River, on which he marked the letter "R" to save it from being destroyed by the British. He, or a person of the same name, owned lands in old Dover township, and a saw-mill on Cedar Creek twenty years before the war; also lands near Meteteconk.

George Parker, John Parker and Joseph Parker were members of Captain Joshua Huddy's company in the Block House. After the war members of the family lived near Toms River. In 1797 George Parker and Abraham Parker bought of Isaac Gulick "lands at mouth of Toms River, known as Dillon's Island," which they sold in 1799 to Abel Middleton, of Upper Freehold. Benjamin Parker had a tar kiln on Little Hurricane in 1775.

Jacob Jacobs took up land in 1761 east of Long Swamp, not far from Dillon's Island. The line of his land here is referred to in a survey in 1775.

In 1760 Jacobs' saw-mill, on the south side of Toms River, is named, and after that date Jacobs' branch and Jake's branch are frequently named, probably from Jacob Jacobs. He left Toms River, and in 1779 he was overseer of Speedwell saw-mill, formerly called Randle's (Randolph's) mill, on the east branch of Wading River, which mill was advertised for sale in February, 1779, by Benjamin Randolph.

The names of many of the leading citizens of Dover township, as it was at the close of the war, will be found in the extracts from the old Dover Town Book.