HISTORY OF GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Information located at http://nj.searchroots.com/Gloucesterco/ On a web site about Gloucester County, New Jersey, maintained by Janice Brown; text transcribed by Janice Brown from the source noted below. From: "History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Citizens," by Thomas Cushing, M.D., and Charles E. Sheppard, Esq.; Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883; Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co. Page 233-243 CHAPTER XLIL TOWNSHIP OF GREENWICH GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE-This was one of the original townships, and was formed soon after the erection of the county in 1686. As first set off, the township contained an area of about one-third of the county as now constituted, but at present it contains only fourteen thousand acres of land. The surface of the township is what might be termed level, yet some portions of it are greatly undulating. The soil is light sandy loam, underlaid with marl, and quite fertile when properly cultivated. The products of the township are disposed of in the Philadelphia market. The township is bounded on the east by West Deptford, on the southeast and south by East Greenwich; on the southwest by Logan township; and on the north by the Delaware River. The township is watered on the northeast by the Mantua, which forms the boundary line between this and West Deptford; Clonmel, Nehansey, Still Run and London Branch Creeks, all rise in the southeast part of the township, and flow northwesterly into the Delaware, which washes the north border of Greenwich. Repaupo Creek also forms the dividing line between this and Woolwich Township. Rattling Run is a small stream crossing the southwest corner of the township. Isaac Mickle in his "Reminscences of Old Gloucester," says, "The township of Greenwich is by some months the most ancient township in Gloucester County; for we find upon the minutes of the County Court, under the date of the 1st of March, 1694, the following note: 'The inhabitants between Great Mantoes Creek and Barclay River request yt ye same divisiosn be made and laid into a township, henceforth to be called by ye name of ye Township of Greenwich; and yt ye name be so recorded. To which ye Bench assents, and order ye same to be done." "The country about the Raccoon and the Repaupo having been settled by the Swedes, hundreds of whom still resided there when the English arrived, the township of Greenwich was for some years by far the most populous of the six into which the county was in 1694 divided. In the seventeenth century most of the magnates of this part of Old Gloucester bore such titles as Erick Cock, Hermanus Helm, John Rambo, and Mons Lock. The Swedish language, religion, and customs were rigidly conserved for a long time, and even to this day many traces of the Swedish origin of the people of Greenwich are observable. PIONEER MANNER OF LIVING, DRESS, ETC.-The earliest inhabitants of old Greenwich lived in a very humble and frugal manner. They had neither tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, and were too poor to buy any intoxicating drinks, or vessels to distill them in. The first settlers drank at table as a substitute for tea a decoction of sassafras; and even in 1748 they mixed the tea they used "with all sort of herb." Says Kalm, "so that it no longer deserves the name of tea." For a long time they continued to make their candles and soap from bayberry bushes. Their buckwheat cakes, which were a standard dish, were baked in a frying pan or on a stone. The men wore caps, breeches, and vests of the skins of various animals. The women wore jackets and petticoats of the same material. Their beds, except the sheets, were composed of the skin of wolves, bears, panthers, and other beasts with which the forests then abounded. They made their own leather for shoes and other articles, dying it red with chestnut bark or the moss of a certain tree not now known, or black with a preparation of the common field sorrel. Poor as were the Swedish pioneers, far worse was the condition of pioneer Finlanders. Instead of shoes, these poor wretches were content with moccasins of skins rudely sewed together, and for dishes for their tables they scooped out the knobs of the ash-tree, as the Siberians now do. PIONEER WEDDING CUSTOMS-Among the customs mentioned by Kalm as peculiar to the pioneer Swedes of what is now Greenwich, Logan, Woowich, and East Greenwich townships there was one which we trust will be pardoned for adverting to. When a man died in such circumstances that his widow could not pay his debts, if she had an offer of a second husband, she was obliged to marry him en chemise. In this plight, on her wedding-day, she went out from her former house to that of her new spouse, who met her half-way with a new suit of clothes, which he presented to her, saying he only lent them, "lest," says Kalm, "if he had said he gave them, the creditors of the first husband should come and take them from her." If this be a fair sample of the civilization of the pioneer Swedes we can readily believe what the professor says, that the Swedes were already half-Indian when the English arrived. PIONEER STOCK, GRAIN AND FRUIT - In March 1749, Profession Kalm paid a visit to Nils Gustafson, who lived near Raccoon. Gustafson had seen nearly a hundred years, had taken much timber to Philadelphia when that city was in its infancy, yet, with his venerable locks and nearly five score of years, he retained a vigorous frame and bright memory. Kalm questioned him particularly as to the origin of the domestic animals then in West Jersey, and was told that the English procured their horses, cows, oxen, sheep, hogs, geese, and ducks from the Swedes, who had brought them over from Sweden. He also said they owed to the Swedes the first seed of many of the most valuable fruits and herbs, and of wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Peach-trees were in the pioneer days very numerous, but where the Swedes got them Gustafson could not tell. In his infancy the Indians had many little maize plantations, but did not take much care of them, preferring to live upon the fruits of the chase, or upon different roots and whortleberries. OTHER INTERESTING NOTES OF PIONEER' LIFE-Previous to the arrival of the Swedes the Indians had no agricultural implements save the historic old stone hatchet. With this they peeled the large trees when they had lost their sap, so they would die, and the small trees they pulled up by the roots. The field thus opened to the rays of the sun was dug up with sharp branches of pickets, and the maize was then sown. In the winter the Indians kept their corn in holes under the ground. After the Swedes came and began to cultivate apple- and peach-trees, the Indians, true to their nature, often stole the fruit. Sometimes, too, the Indians would steal from the Swedes their hogs as they ran wild in the woods, and these they taught to follow them familiarly. The only domestic animals the Indians had on the arrival of the Europeans were a species of little dogs. Being very fond of milk, for which they were dependent upon the Swedes, the savages made an artificial liquor very like it by pounding the dried kernels of walnuts and hickory nuts, and mixing the flour thus made with water. In hue and sweetness this liquid much resembled milk. According to Gustafson, the Indians in old Greenwich used to worship a certain red- spotted snake as a deity. Walking once with one of the red men, he says they met one of these snakes and he took a stick to kill it; but the Indian begged him not to touch it, as he adored it. This only confirmed the pious Gustafson's resolution, and he killed the snake at the risk of being himself scalped. During the youth of Gustafson the Indians at times very much annoyed the Swedish colonists. They killed several of the men and stole some of the children. On one occasion they scalped a little girl, who survived, and afterwards was married and had many children. Upon one occasion some strange savages attempted the life of Mrs. Gustafson's mother, but she, being a powerful woman, succeeded in saving her own life. Previous to the arrival of the English the Swedes had a custom of bathing every Saturday. Christmastime was celebrated with various games and by serving up peculiar dishes at table, as was usual in old Sweden. When Gustafson was a boy there were two blacksmiths at Raccoon, now Swedesboro, who made excellent knives, scythes, and hatchets, like the Swedish ones. They then made their cart- and wagon- wheels by sawing thick horizontal sections out of liquid ambar trees, but when the English came they began to use spokes and felloes in their wheels, the first made of white-oak and the latter of the Spanish oak. Gustafson remembered when the horses ran wild in the woods, and in his boyhood days one cow gave as much milk as four did in later times, owing to the great abundance of good grass which they all first had. All this and much more did Gustafson tell Professor Kalm, but space forbits further details as to the customs and manners of the pioneers of old Greenwich Township. CIVIL LIST-For want of records we can give only the official list of this township from 1831 to 1883 inclusive. The minute-books prior to 1831 could not be obtained and probably are not in existence. The town-meeting in 1831 was held in the old Greenwich Academy, at Clarksboro. 1831 TOWN CLERK: Samuel Sailor ASSESSORS: Burr Miller COLLECTORS: William Haines CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS: Samuel Sailor and Charles French TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE: John Driver, Joseph C. Gill, Henry Bradshaw, John C. Gill and Joseph Chatham [The book goes on to describe town officials to 1883. As this Township originally extended from Mantua to Oldman's Creek, it was, after about a century, felt by the inhabitants of the lower part (now Woolwich and Logan townships) to be advisable to set up for themselves. Their spontaneous election of overseers and nomination perhaps of a constable, ratified at first by the County Court, and afterwards by the Colonial Legislature, gave rise, about 1750, to the town of Woolwich. This latter took its name from a town on the Thames, famous for its naval school, while Greenwich Township derives its name from the English Naval Asylum, from the observatory of which all Christendom reckons the meridian of Longitude. The termination WICH is from the Saxon WIC, signifying a certain extent of territory over which an officer of the law had jurisdiction, such as bailsic, constablewick, or wick, or wich. VILLAGES AND HAMLETS Until 1907 when Paulsboro and Billingsport incorporated as a borough, Paulsboro was the principal village in Greenwich. The land lying between the creek and Delaware Street, upon which a portion of the town was built, was owned, previous to 1798 by Samuel P. Paul, from whom the village derives its name. From Delaware Street as far south as the village extends, the land was owned by Henry Myers. Thus two men owned the large and beautiful plateau upon which Paulsboro is built. In 1798, Mr. Paul sold two acres of land to Michael Landenslager, who, in 1804 built a tavern-house on the site where a hotel was later located. At that time there was no road along what is now Main Street, though one had been surveyed; but for some unknown reason the road was not laid out, therefore Mr. Laudenslager closed his would-be hotel until 1809, when the present turnpike of which Main Street was a part, was built and a tavern opened. This old hostelry has never since ceased to be a haven of rest for man and beast. Mr. Laudenslager was succeeded in his tavern business by his son George. The property is now owned and tavern kept by Jonathan Crammer. The third house in this town was built in 1811 by John Bowers, and it is now owned by John Stetser. The same year Frederick Hannold built a house, now owned by Matthew Gill. The next was built by John E. Clark in 1811, now owned by M. Gill. The sixth house in this town was built by Frederick Hannold, and is now owned by Cox & Brother, and the seventh was the brick storehouse on east side of Main Street, built by D. Hendrickson, and now owned by the Hayden heirs. As late as 1825 there were no houses on the east side of Main Street except Paul's and Hendrickson's. The house in which William Hurff lives was built in 1830, by Joseph Henry. PIONEER BUSINESS INTERESTS-The pioneer store was built by Samuel P. Paul, where Joseph R. Paul now lives, during the war of 1812. The stone store-house, now occupied as a dwelling by Matthew Gill, was built in 1816 by John E. Clark. The Clark family lived on the high point of land on Mantua Creek, below Paulsboro. David Hendrickson built the little old brick store standing on the east side of Main Street in 1825. Peter Rambo succeeded Hendrickson in the brick store. He was followed by --- Price, then came ---- Lawrence, who was succeeded by --- Rogers, and he by ---- Hayden, who was the last merchant in the old brick store. In 1827, Joseph Baker built where Cox's blacksmith and wheelwright shops now stand. In 1816 or 1817, George Clark commenced the blacksmith business in Paulsboro, his shop standing near the turnpike bridge. The pioneer shoemakers of Paulsboro were John Collis and John Bowers, each locating here as early as 1811 or 1812, and the pioneer stone-mason was Joseph Henry, who was here as early as 1815. The pioneer physician was Dr. Charles Clark, who located here in 1825. The pioneer postmaster was Matthew Gill, who kept the office in his store. As late as 1820 Paulsboro, or what there was of it, was almost on an island, as the creek was on one side and swampy timber land was around the other sides. Soon after that date clearings and patches of improved land began to appear, until, in 1883, Paulsboro was surrounded by a very fertile farming district. In 1826 or 1827, when William Huff was yet in his teens, he assisted in reaping a good piece of rye in a field now covered by a heavy growth of pine timber, just south of the Methodist cemetery. In the latter part of 1681, a large stone was planted a few yards south from where the brick school-house now stands in the village. This is the southeastern terminus of what is known locally as the Penn line, running from the river to this point. The survey was made with the view of making what is now Paulsboro the great commercial center instead of Philadelphia. The latter place was selected nearly a year later, on account of its being upon higher ground. The Paul property, upon which the Paul family resides, has been in possession of the Paul family for nearly or quite one hundred and fifty years. The Myers property was in the family name for about one hundred and twenty-five years when, but a few years ago, it passed out of the family. SOME OF THE OLD MEN OF PAULSBORO-John Stetser was born near Paulsboro, in Deptford township, April 6, 1808, and has lived in and near the town all of his life, and for many years has been one of the officials of the township, and at present is its assessor. He has been twice married, the last time to Rachel Ann Simmons, of Wilmington, Del. He has four children,--Wilson, William, Matilda, and Robert, all living. Capt. William Huff was born in Camden, N.J., Dec. 7, 1808 and remembers well when there were but twenty houses in the place. He came to Paulsboro in 1832, and located where he now resides, having lived in the one house for fifty-one years. He is a seafaring man, and followed sailing until 1872. He was married in 1832 to Miss Harriet McElwaine, of Paulsboro. He has four children-Amanda, Louisa, Harriet and Lydia, all living. The Paul family are of English descent. Philip Paul, father of Samuel Paul, left England Sept. 5, 1685, and landed in "Virginy" on the 5th of November of the same year. Samuel Paul was born Dec. 25, 1733, and was married October 6, 1758 to Miss Rebecca Delavoe, who was born Dec. 23, 1739. Mr. Paul died April 21, 1772. Samuel Philip Paul was born Sept. 17, 1763; married Miss Nancy Clark, Feb. 10, 1786. Mr. Paul died July 11, 1831, and Mrs. Paul, Oct. 3, 1845. Their children were Joshua, Anne, Martha, Samuel, Elizabeth, Adrian C., and Ann C. Adrian C. Paul was born July 24, 1800, and married Maria Ford, who was born March 22, 1796. Mr. Paul died Aug. 31, 1826. Their children were Anna Maria, Joseph R., and Adrian C. Joseph R. lives in Paulsboro, on the homestead of his grandfather, Samuel P. Paul, and Adrian C. lives in Haddonfield. Joseph R. Paul married Elizabeth Eggman, of Haddonfield. Their children are Adrian, born Feb. 28, 1856, and Charles E., born Jan. 18, 1859. George Hannold, the oldest man in Paulsboro, was born in Barnsboro, N.J. in February 1798. He came to this town in 1810, and was married Oct. 24, 1822 to Miss Ann Holmes, who died Jan. 1, 1857. Their children were Elizabeth, married Samuel Huff; William, an undertaker at Swedesboro; Keziah, married Joseph Huff, a farmer in Greenwich township; Maria, married Samuel Salisbury; Charles H., a wheelwright in Paulsboro; George, died in the army; Mary, died in 1881. Nehemiah Cowgill was born Oct. 19, 1781, and in 1810 married Elizabeth Jones, who was born Jan. 20, 1792. The oldest of their twelve children now living is Abram Cowgill, of Paulsboro, who was born Jan. 5, 1813. In 1837, Abram married Miss Keturah, daughter of Stephen Miller. Mr. Cowgill is the father of a large and enterprising family, one of whom, W.G. Cowgill, born Nov. 9, 1852 is engaged in general merchandise business in Paulsboro. Thomson Huff was born in Gibbstown in 1828, and died in Paulsboro in 1875, having lived all his lifetime in what is now Greenwich township. He was married in 1840 to Miss Sarah A. Galley, of Philadelphia, who still survives him. Their children are Maria G.; James C., married a Miss Crammer; Henric M.G., now an Episcopal clergyman at Pottstown, Pa.; Mary, married to Richard I. Wilson of Bordentown, N.J.; and John T. Huff, now of Philadelphia. PAULSBORO in 1883-The Paulsboro of to-day is one of the wide-awake industrious towns upon the line of the Delaware River Railroad, and contains two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Episcopal; one hotel, by Jonathan Crammer; four general stores, viz., W.G. Cowgill's, built in 1869 by George Manlove; Matthew Gill, frame building opposite the hotel; George Manlove, whose present store house was built in 1881; John A. Wilson, one Delaware Street, in store built in 1870 by James Thomson. The lumber dealers are E.G. & S. H. Miller, on the dock below the turnpike bridge. The coal merchants are Joseph R. Paul, who has been in the business several years, and T.C. Hannold, who commenced in 1883. Charles H. Hannold, a wheelwright and blacksmith, who learned his trade of R. Warner several years ago, in his present shop on Main Street. I.G. Cox & Brother carry on the wheelwright and blacksmith business, also manufacturing harrows and heavy wagons. Edward Hannold and Charles E. Paul are the boat-builders. The physicians are G.C. Laws, S.T. Miller, E.L. and R.H. Reeve, who also kept a drug-store. There are also the usual number of small shops usually found in a town the size of Paulsboro. GIBBSTOWN is a small hamlet in the west part of the township, and on the line of the Delaware River Railroad. The land upon which it is located was owned in the early part of this century by E. Gibbs, who was a large land-owner, and also a blacksmith by trade, and carried on the business at the old homestead, a short distance southwest from the present railroad station, and from him the locality derived its name. Whether Mr. Gibbs ever had a store at or near his home is not known; but in 1835 William Beck had become possessed of a farm, and in that year opened a small country store for the accommodation of his neighbors. This had a tendency to draw other settlers to that locality, yet the place never attained to anything more than a school-house, three or four dwellings, and a store until the advent of the railroad and the building and operating of the powder-works near by, when new life seemed to be infused into Gibbstown, and it is now a place of considerable business. Here is a new Methodist Episcopal Church, school-house, powder-works, two good stores, several new dwellings, built in 1881-83, and a railroad station, from which is shipped large quantities of vegetables in their season. BILLINGSPORT - The chief point of interest in what can property be termed the early history of Greenwich township is the town of Billingsport, which was the Roder Udden of the Swedes, or the "Mantua's Hook opposite Tinicum," where Broen wished to set up the arms of the States-General, adversely to the Swedish empire. There is strong suspicion, notwithstanding the respectable authority of Barker, that the "Manteses Plain," whereon Earl Ployden projected the Manor of Watcessit for his own august residence, was no other than this same Billingsport. Be this as it may, the place was marked out in the time of Edward Billinge as the site of a future town, and received the name of the Proprietor. The striking advantage of this point as a military post was not overlooked by either Americans or British during the Revolutionary war. June 12, 1777, John Hancock, then president of the Continental Congress, sitting in Philadelphia, wrote to Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, to order five hundred militia to assist in completing the works then erected at Billingsport for the defense of the river Delaware. Late in the fall of that year the British got possession of Philadelphia, and it became a matter of great importance to them that the English fleet, commanded by Capt. Hammond, should communicate with the city. Gen. Howe sent two regiments under Col. Sterling, to attack the fort. Crossing the river from Chester, they marched with speed to attack the fort in the rear, and were successful. The Americans were surprised, and not thinking themselves able to resist the assault of the enemy, they spiked their artillery, set fire to the barracks, and abandoned the place. In the war of 1812 the importance of this point as a military position was not lost sight of, and it again bristled with bayonets, an encampment of the South Jersey troops having been made there, under the direction of Gens, Gaines and Elmer. From this point an expedition was fitted out against a British tender which had frequently been seen in the bay and river, as related elsewhere. After peace had been declared, and all the implements of war had been turned into articles of husbandry, Billingsport became almost entirely deserted and forgotten, save to a few who happened to see its name in history. Thus it lay for nearly three-quarters of a century, when the fact was discovered by the government, as well as by a few enterprising individuals, that Billingsport and vicinity was an excellent point for a government lighthouse and for large manufacturing interests. Accordingly, in 1880, the United States built a light-house upon an elevated point a short distance from the old fort and camping-grounds, with Benjamin Hannold as keeper. This had a tendency to bring the long-neglected and almost forgotten locality into public notice, and the same year Messrs. Coe & Richmond built their very expensive phosphate- works a short distance east of the light-house, at the mouth of Mantua Creek, on a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, purchased from Samuel Davis. This is one of the most extensive phosphate-works in the United States, employing annually a force of from fifty to eighty men. The sales from these works amounted to over thirty-five thousand tons in 1882. The pioneer merchant at this place was Peter F. Verga, who built the store on the corner of the street between the light-house and phosphate-works in September, 1881, and is the present proprietor. The next store at Billingsport was built in the fall of 1881, by William Flower, near the old campground, where he is still engaged in business. The hotel at Billingsport was kept in 1883 by John Kerns. During the summer season this town is well supplied with facilities for reaching Philadelphia by steamer, and in winter as well as summer by railroad, though the station is one mile away, in Paulsboro. During the Revolutionary War, the American forces placed a chevaux-de-frise in the river to prevent vessels from landing. This chevaux-de-frise was made of poles from thirty to forty feet in length, and upon the point or upper end of each stick was fastened a long, sharp, piece of iron, for the purpose of piercing the bottom of any vessel that might come in contact with the obstruction. One of these poles was taken from its original position but a few years ago by Peter F. Verga, who owns a farm on the bank of the river opposite to which was the chevaux-de-frise. Mr. Verga has the old relic now in his possession. SOCIETIES AND CORPORATIONS: GREENWICH LODGE, No. 5, I.O.O.F-This lodge was instituted in Carpenter's Landing (now Mantua village) March 26, 1834, with the following officers: N.G., W.B. Gendell; V.G., John C. Sparks, Sec., Thomas P. Parke; Asst. Sec., David D. Cade; Treas., Bowman Sailer. The lodge continued working at Carpenter's Landing until Aug. 26, 1839, when work was suspended till Dec. 15, 1847, when, by authority of the District Deputy Grand Marshall, the lodge resumed labor at Clarksboro, where the mysteries of the mystic links were explained till November, 1859 when lodge-work was transferred to the hall of John G. Myers, in the third story of the hotel at Paulsboro, where work has been performed until the present time. At the time the lodge commenced work at Paulsboro, Isaac Warner was the N.G.,; Daniel Morse, V.G.; J.H. Wood, Sec.; David B. Gill, Asst. Sec.; and J.R. Hinchman, Treas. The following are the Past Grands, as far as can be ascertained: Daniel Morse, Isaac Warner, Augustus Sailer, J.T. Batten, Thomas Huff, G.W. Hannold, J.F. Thomson, C.W. Wilkins, C.H. Hannold, W. Hannold, A.P. Hannold, J. Warner, Jr., T. Hannold, C. Platt, John Brown, J.S. Nolen, Oram Adamson, J. Vaneman, John W. Ward, 1875; B.W. Low, J.S. Shuster, T.F. Williams, J.L. Read, Charles Cowgill, C.R. Tomlin, S.E. Gaunt, C. P. Snyder, H.S. Adamson, J.H. Hewitt, Daniel Laughlin, Charles Converse, J.W. Davenport, Jesse Miller, W.J. Adamson. In 1876 the lodge built a three-story frame building, thirty by sixty feet, the first and second floors of which it rents for stores and dwellings, and the upper floor is occupied as a lodge-room. The elective officers in October 1883 were Thomas Young, N.G.; George P. Devault, V.G.; J. H. Hewitt, Rec. Sec; C.R. Tomlin, Treas. WELCOME LODGE, No. 37, K. of P. was instituted in Paulsboro, NJ June 11, 1872 with forty-two members. The officers were as follows, H.T. Adams, W.C.; J.R. Middleton, R.S.; J. Ridgway, P.; D. Moore, B.; J.R. Middleton, R.S.; J.C. Huff, F.S.; J. M. Derrickson, B.G.; Oram Adamson, I.G.; Edward Wilkinson, O.G. The Past Chancellors have been T.C. Hannold, J. M. Derrickson, Oram Adamson, W.H. Lloyd, Edward Wilkinson, W.S. Thomson, Mark Clement, W. G. Cowgill, C.C. Hannold, Joseph M. Hunter, Joseph S. Shuster, W.B. Hartman, E.K. Williams, B.S. Hewitt, C.H. Hannold, W.E. Wallace, B.G. Paul, C.F. Miller, Thomas Wright, W. Aikley, W. English. The officers in October 1883 were as follows: Samuel Genly, C.C.; H.C. Nonemaker, V.C.; Clayton Carson, P.; W.B. Hartman, M. of F.; Charles E. Paul, K. of R. and S.; A. Paul, M. of E.; George F. Green, M. at A.; C.P. Myers, I.G.; John Hewitt, O.G. The membership at that time was eighty. The regular meetings are held on Wednesday evening of each week. Cash in banker's hands, $1500. Trustees for 1883, W.G. Cowgill, B.G. Paul, and C.I. Sey. PAULSBORO BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION-This association was organized in 1872 and has continued uninterruptedly until the present time. The first officers were as follows: President, William E. Gaunt; Vice-President, A. Cowgill; Secretary, Stephen H. Miller; Treasurer, I.J. Cowgill. [The financial condition of the association, is shown a report, made Oct. 1 1883 is not included here] The directors for 1883 were S. H. Howitz, George C. Laws, H.C. Loudenslager, Hiram Cowgill, James Hewitt, Edward Bates, Jr., J.M. Casperson; Auditors, S.H. Howitz, J. M. Casperson, H.S. Adamson; President, W.G. Cowgill; Vice-President, Abraham Cowgill; Secretary, W.J. Adamson; Treasurer, E. G. Miller. DELAWARE TRIBE, No. 44, I.O. of R. M. was instituted Dec. 8, 1873 in Paulsboro, N.J. with the following named officers: P., H.C. Loudenslager; S., T.C. Hannold; S.S., J. Ridgeway; J.S., E. Williamson; K. of R., Wilson Gill; K. of W., David Devault; Asst. K. of R., James Dooley; G. of F., Charles Salisbury; G. of W., J. Hunter. The past Sachems have been J. Ridgeway, E. Williamson, C. Gill, S. Davis, D. L. Devault, J.H. Moore, Joseph Hunter, C. M. Davis, C.S. Hewitt, G.C. Thompson, W. Mills, G.H. Parker, W. Hunter, C. Brown, and Joseph Myers. The present officers, October 1883, are as follows: P., C. Brown; S., Joseph Myers, S.S., S. Hewitt; J.S., G.W. Armstrong; K. of R., J. Gallaher; K. of W., S.H. Howitz; G. of W., R. Madkiff. The tribe numbers eighty-one members and have eleven hundred dollars in the wampum belt. CHURCHES ST. PAUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-The first Methodist sermon preached in Paulsboro was in 1820, by Rev. Thomas Ware, in the old school-house, then standing on what is now Buck Street. Meetings continued to be held in the old school-house, as a week-day or evening appointment, until 1825, when Solomon Sharp established Sunday preaching, which has been continued until the present time. When the pioneer class was formed it was composed of twelve persons, and as no leader had yet been appointed, the services of class-leader were performed by the preacher in charge. A short time after this, Malica Horner, a prominent citizen and Methodist, moved into the neighborhood, and was assigned that position, being the first class leader in what is now the Paulsboro Church. The growth of the society was slow for several years, there being no general revival so long as they worshiped in the school-house. There were a few accessions now and then, but not enough to add to their material strength. In 1827 the society become incorporated, and steps were taken to build a church. A lot was purchased of Charles H. and Rachel Fish, and a deed given to the trustees, bearing date May 2, 1827. The names of the trustees are not given in the deed, but three of them were Joseph Lodge, Jacob Loudenslager, and Charles Reeves. The church was built of stone, and in size was thirty by forty feet, without galleries, and finished in plain style. The first sermon preached in the stone church was on a Saturday afternoon in September, 1827, by Rev. Joseph Osborn, then on the supernumerary list, and a resident of Woodbury. The church was dedicated the next day by Rev. Charles Pitman, in one of the great efforts of two hours' devotion, and the effort produced a lasting impression upon the audience. Until 1833 Paulsboro Church was on the Salem Circuit, but it then became a part of the newly-formed Swedesboro Circuit. Among the preachers that labored on the old charge were Thomas Ware, Solomon Sharp, A. Atwood, T. Sovereign, J. Ashbrook, S. Rusling, and William Stevens. Those who served on the latter were Josiah Canfield, J.K. Shaw, A.I. J. Truitt, J.W. McDougall, N. Edwards, Thomas Stewart, S.Y. Monroe, Joseph Atwood, J.S. Beegle, James Long, A.K> Street, S.E. Post, Mulford Day, Edward Stout. In 1851, Clarksboro and Paulsboro were set off from the circuit, and Zerubbabel Gaskill was appointed preacher. In 1852, Bridgeport Circuit was formed and Paulsboro placed on it, with J.B. Mathis and B. Andrews as the preachers, who followed the next two years by William A. Brooks and John I. Corson. The church was destroyed in 1853 by fire, which was a severe loss to the society, yet many considered it a providential blessing, in preparing the way for a more commodious house of worship, and steps were immediately taken in that direction. After the destruction of the old stone church services were again held in the school-house and in the hotel, then kept as a temperance house, and during the summer-time under a large tent erected for the purpose. The new (present) church was built in 1853, of brick, and in size it is forty by sixty feet, with a basement containing a Sunday-school and two class-rooms, and galleries in the main audience-room. The basement was occupied during the winter, but the building was not completed during the next year. At the Conference of 1855 Paulsboro was made a station, with S. Vannant as pastor. The church was then pushed to completion, and dedicated June 21, 1855, by Rev. W. Kenney. The contributions were made so briskly that, after the cost of the church was provided for, a subscription was opened towards building a parsonage. A substantial and commodious house was erected and occupied the next winter. The cost of the church was about four thousand one hundred dollars, and of the parsonage two thousand one hundred dollars. The trustees at the time were Stephen Miller, Philip S. Baker, Robert C. Middleton, Joseph B. Shoemaker, Abraham Cowgill, and John B. Miller. Philip S. Baker, Robert C. Middleton, and Joseph B. Shoemaker were the building committee. Since the charge has been a station the following ministers have served as pastors: In 1855-56, S. Vannant; 1857-58, A.E. Ballard; 1859-60, David Duffell; 1861-62, J. Fort; 1863-64, Thomas S. Wilson; 1865, G. Hitchens; 1866, S. Parker; 1867-68, J.G. Crate; 1869-70, F. Robbins; 1871-73, R.S. Harris; 1874-76, W. W. Christine; 1877-79, George R. Snyder; 1880-81, Dickinson Moore; 1881-83, J. H. Mickle. In 1883 the church numbered two hundred and twenty-five members, and the Sunday school numbered one hundred and eighty-five scholars. The following-named persons composed the official board for that year: William A. Mullen, C.N. Shuster, G. Clark, F. Tracy, G.H. Grant, J. Rambo, S. Huff, C. R. Tomlin, S. H. Howitz, A. Middleton, S.H. Miller, A. Cowgill, W.H. Lloyd, C. Hannold, C. Wiley, and A. Lodge. ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH-This was originally a mission, or branch from St. Peter's Church at Clarksboro, then under the rectorship of Rev. James Lamb, who saw in Paulsboro an opening for the extension of his labors, and the result was the organization of St. James Church, in the house of the late Thomson Huff, in 1871, or 1872. Among the original members were William Rambo (who was made senior warden), Matthew Gill, (junior warden), Oram Adamson, George Adamson, Miss Eliza Gibbs, Louisa Gibbs, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. O. Adamson, Lydia Rambo, Susanna Rambo, Louise Rambo, Mrs. Matthew Gill, Mrs. Jessup, Sarah A. Huff, Maria Huff, Mary Huff, and Mrs. Gallagher. During the first year after its organization the society worshiped in the little old brick store-house standing on the south side of Main Street, now owned by the Hayden estate, and during that year built their present frame church edifice, located on the corner of Commerce and Jefferson Streets, at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars, the church lot being presented by Mr. M. Gill. The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid by Rev. Mr. Lamb. The first vestrymen were William Rambo, Matthew Gill, Dr. George Laws, O. Adamson, George Adamson, George Gallagher, E. Gibbs, and Thomas Huff. Two of the above have since deceased, vis., O. Adamson and T. Huff. The rectors of the church have been, since Mr. Lamb, -- Baumes for two years; then came Dr. Speer. For a time the church was then supplied by different ones, until Rev. Mr. Lewis took charge of this church, in connection with his own at Woodbury. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bond, also of Woodbury. The present communicants number about forty-five. The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized a short time previous to the organization of the church, with Dr. George Laws as superintendent, who still holds the same relation to the school.. The wardens in 1883 were William Rambo, senior warden; Dr. George Laws, junior warden. Vestrymen, William Rambo, George Adamson, William Adamson, Henry Tanner, Dr. George Laws, and Alonzo Rambo. The CLONMEL METHODIST CHURCH, located at Gibbstown was built in 1879. This society is a branch or part of Paulsboro charge, and for several years held its meetings in the old stone school-house, but finding that inadequate for religious purposes, a preliminary meeting was held April 1, 1879 at which it was decided to build a house of worship. May 13th of the same year Joseph L. Reed, Eli Allen, Elwood K. Williams, Enos W. Bates and Joseph L. Shuster were elected trustees, and at once proceeded to the erection of the present frame church edifice, twenty-eight by forty-six feet, awarding the contract to Charles Von Stege, of Woodbury. The church was dedicated Nov 19, 1879. Its total cost was nine hundred dollars. There are at this place two classes of about thirty members, with John Williams and Samuel E. Gaunt as leaders. There is also a prosperous Sunday-school connected with this society. Preaching services are held every two weeks by the pastor in charge of the Paulsboro Methodist Episcopal Church. CEMETERIES [TRANSCRIBERS NOTE: Every effort has been made to transcribe these records correctly. I was working from a third hand version of this text that was not easy to read. When you see a ? (question mark) it means that it was difficult to read the text, and I did my best. You need to obtain the original source (noted at the top of this page) to determine the correct information.] THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CEMETERY, located in rear of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the village of Paulsboro, was first occupied as such in 1831, by the interment of the remains of Samuel P. Paul, who lies buried in the northwest corner of the enclosure, known as "Paul's Reserve." The following are among the many interments in these grounds: Samuel P. Paul, died July 11, 1831, aged 67 years. Martha W. Paul, born April 1, 1791, died Jan. 10, 1835 (or 55) Elizabeth Loudenslager, born Nov. 9, 1790, died March 24, 1873 Rev. Jacob Loudenslager, died Oct. 24, 1871, aged 79 years Elizabeth C. Loudenslager, died July 26, 1874, aged 77 years Philip S. Baker, born Feb. 24, 1800, died May 3, 1873 Anne G. Baker, died Aug. 4, 1867, aged 63 years The above are nearly all the interments in "Paul's Reserve." John B. Miller, born May 12, 1797, died April 6, 1858. Rev. William H. Stephens, died Dec. 14, 1833, aged 28 years John F. Thomas, born Oct. 22, 1822, died Jan 29, 1867 Mary N. Thomas, born April 7, 1826, died Feb. 4, 1867 Ann B. Henderson, born April 3, 1806, died Sept. 4, 1845 William Cowgill, died June 8, 1846, aged 34 years Elizabeth B., wife of W. Cowgill, born Feb. 9, 1819, died April 23, 1859 Kitturn Cowgill, died Nov. 17, 1841, aged 25 years Anna H. Gibbs, died April 2, 1875, aged 85 years Enos Gibbs, died April 30, 1852, aged 62 years Edward H. Gibbs, died June 8, 1833, aged 30 years Joseph McIlvaine, died Sept. 24, 1833, aged 26 years George Steelman, died Feb. 5, 1874, aged 65 years Sarah E. Steelman, died Nov 20, 1863, aged 45 years Stephen Miller, born Jan 16, 1789, died June 3, 1862 Rachel Miller, died Nov 7, 1875, aged 83 years Rebecca Dilks, born Aug. 16, 1814?, died May 16, 1880 Frederick Hannold, born March 1, 1817, died Dec. 7, 1882 Nehemiah Cowgill, born Oct 19, 1781, died Oct. 6, 1867 Elizabeth Cowgill, died Feb 7 1858, aged 65 (or 66) years Jesse Mullen, died Sept 16, 1853, aged 52 years Mary Mullen, born Feb 5, 1800, died Feb 14, 1878 Joseph Carter, died Jan 15, 1842, aged 55 years Letitia Carter, born July 22, 1787, died Sept 24, 1874 Isaac Lodge, born Aug 5 (or 3), 1792, died May 12, 1874 Mary B. Lodge, born March 10 1788, died Sept 10, 1858 Job Key, died May 25, 1846, aged 59 years Ann Key, died Aug. 10, 1868, aged 60 (or 80) years Isaac Derrickson, died Oct 5, 1847, aged 65 years Mary Derrickson, died Aug. 21, 1855, aged 48 years Samuel L. Devault, died May 22, 1874, aged 63 years Thomas Derrickson, died Nov 28, 1877, aged 69 years William Miller, died Dec 15, 1872, aged 59 years Emmor Hall, died March 1, 1851, aged 44 years Berzillai R. West, died Jan 28, 1862, aged 68 years Mary West, died Feb 28, 1856? Aged 39 years Charles Stroop, died Oct 4, 1864, aged 70 years Rachel Stroop, died July 16, 1863, aged 66 years Rev. Henry Stroop, died July 19, 1853, aged 25 years Elizabeth Stroop, died March 17, 1855, aged 70 years Mary Wolford, died March 1, 1845, aged ;61 years Charles Hall, died Dec. 18, 1878, aged 64 years Isaac L. Thompson, born May 23, 1819, died Jan 7, 1865 Isaac Thompson, died Oct 17, 1855, aged 69 years Margaret Thompson died Oct 27 1849, aged 62 years Isaac Hugbee, born April 20, 1804, died Jan 8, 1878 Benjamin Lord, born Nov 23, 1763, died Aug 21, 1846 Anna Lord, born July 17, 1787, died Nov 6, 1854 Mark Low, died March 31, 1874, aged 54 years Peter L. Kerns, died Dec 1, 18?9, aged 61 years Joseph Myers, born May 8, 1788, died April 15, 1861 Rachel Myers, died May 7, 1869, aged 84 years Henry S. Miller, born Oct 15, 1803, died March 12, 1870 Elizabeth Miller, died April 24, 1881, aged 80 years Rebecca Thompson, died Feb 23, 1872, aged 62 years Rachel S. Nolen, born Feb 8, 1791, died Feb 2, 1852 Mary Ann Paul, born March 12, 1792, died Jan. 15, 1863 John Huff, died Nov 3, 1876 aged 67 years Sarah Repperd, died July 17, 1851, aged 78 years Thomas Parker, died April 12, 1848, aged 61 years Elizabeth Parker, died June 22, 1843, aged 48 years Maria Dupree, born April 10, 1800, died Jan 23, 1881? Margaret Repperd Cahoon, died Dec 12 1860, 48 years Thomas Huff, died March 4, 1875, aged 57 years Charles W. Paul, died July 12, 1839 aged 43 years Jane Paul, died June 28, 1842, aged 43 years Benjamin B. Shuster, died June 20, 1872, aged 82 years Sarah Shuster, died Jan 11, 1869, aged 77 years Henry Allen, died Aug 12, 1879, aged 30 (or 39) years Catharine A. Allen, died Feb. 8, 1869, aged 44 years Beulah Ann Davis, died Oct 14 1860, aged 53 years John Kerns, died Aug 10, 1873, aged 70 years Mary Ann Kerns, died Nov 11, 1877, aged 62 years Ann M. Wilkins, died June 11, 1858?, aged 68 years Eliza Wilkins, died July 25, 1870, aged 57 years Lydia Ann Jaggard, born May 27, 1809, died Feb 8, 1873 Kesiah Wallin, born May 9, 1792, died Feb 3, 1872 William C. Kennard, born June 2, 1792, died Jan 5, 1879 James Kennard, born Dec 29 (or 22) 1800, died Jan 8 1879 Esther A. Wilkins, died Jan 1, 1876, aged 78 years Charles Wilkins, died July 26, 1838, aged 45 years Leven Eunster, died Oct. 10, 1872, aged 96 years Zebulon Ayars, born May 12, 1786, died July 1 1862 Rhoda Ayars, born July 28, 1792, died Feb 7, 1872 John Hewings, Co. H. 12th N.J. Vols, died at Washington DC Dec 22 1863 aged 37 years Mary A. Hillman, born Nov 5, 1763, died Dec 31, 1858 George W. Hannold, Co. E, 24th NJ Vols, wounded at Fredericksburg, Va. Dec 13, and died Dec 26, 18-2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES SAMUEL SALISBURY-The grandfather of Mr. Salisbury emigrated from England to the United States, and settled in Woodstown, Salem Co. N.J. His two children were Joseph and Samuel, the former of whom was born near Woodstown, and at an early period removed to Woolwich Township, Gloucester Co., where his life was spent, and where his death occurred. He was united in marriage to Miss Hannah, daughter of William Noble, whose ancestors were of Irish extraction. Their children were Benjamin, Joseph, Samuel, Charles, Noble, John, Sarah (Mrs. Samuel Leap), Hannah (Mrs. John G. Smith), Caroline (Mrs. Joseph Gamble). Samuel, of this number, was born Dec. 8, 1811 in Woolwich township, and at an early age was rendered an orphan and homeless by the death of his parents. This fact made him early dependent upon the kindness of strangers, and developed the self-reliant character which has since contributed largely to his success. He found a home with Joseph Stretch, where meager advantages of education were enjoyed, and remained until this thirteenth year, when Robert Cooper tendered him protection. After five years of service in the family of the latter, he engaged in various profitable pursuits until this twenty-fourth year, when a more independent career opened in the raising of produce and in general farming. He was married, March 1838, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Sarah Stansbury, to whom were born children-Hannah, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Samuel; Benjamin, deceased; Charles; Kate (Mrs. Loudenslager); and Melissa, deceased. Mrs. Salisbury died in 1862 and he was married a second time, in 1865, to Miss Susanna W. Egee, who died in 1876, when he was united in marriage, in 1883 to his present wife, who was Mrs. Maria Nolan. Mr. Salisbury, in 1856, purchased a farm, and has since been extensively engaged in the raising of produce. In 1880 he retired from the active management of farming interests and removed to Paulsboro, his present home. He is in politics a Democrat, and has filled various township offices, though not an aspirant for official place. Both he and Mrs. Salisbury are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Paulsboro. JOHN RAMBO-Mr. Rambo's ancestors were Swedes, and emigrated at an early date to America. His great-grandfather was John, who had among his sons a son John, born in 1776. He cultivated a farm in Gloucester County, and married Patience Crim, whose children were five in number, while by a second marriage, to Lydia Key, were eight children. Peter C., a son by the first marriage, was born in 1801, in Woolwich township, Gloucester Co., and later removed to Deptford township, where he followed farming employments. An interval was spent as a resident of Pennsylvania, after which he returned again to New Jersey, and settled in Trenton. He married Margaret, daughter of Richard Stockton, of Burlington County, and had children-Benjamin, Elizabeth, Emeline, Samuel, John, Mary Jane, Thomas, Edith, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Rambo still survives, and enjoys robust health, in his eighty-third year. John, his son, was born in Paulsboro, Greenwich Township, on the 22d of August 1833, and remained during his early youth an inmate of his father's house, where he enjoyed ordinary advantages of education. At sixteen he began a career of independence, and continued actively employed until 1859, when he leased his present farm, and subsequently purchased the property, which has since that time been greatly improved and rendered unusually productive. The spot is, among other advantages, remarkable for its facilities of shipment, both by railroad and water. Mr. Rambo was married Dec. 3, 1856, to Miss Adalisa, daughter of Jesse Mallen, of Greenwich Township. Their children are Emma C. (Mrs. Joseph Locke), Margaret S. (Mrs. Howard G. Cooper), Mary Elizabeth, Henry M., John, and Adalisa, who died in infancy. Mr. Rambo has ever been an active business man and a public-spirited citizen. He assisted in organizing and was one of the directors of the Delaware Shore Railroad, now known as the Delaware River Railroad. He is a member of the Greenwich Lodge, No. 10, of Patrons of Husbandry. His politics are Republican, various township officers having been tendered him, which were filled with fidelity and judgment. Both he and Mrs. Rambo are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Paulsboro [NOTE: This original document has sketches of both Samuel Salisbury and John Rambo]. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON GREENWICH, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ - Franklin Township taken from Greenwich and Woolwich, incorporated January 27, 1820 - Mantua Township was taken from Greenwich in March 1853 - East Greenwich Township taken from Greenwich and Mantua Feb 10, 1881 - Paulsboro split off in 1904 FROM: Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey, containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities with geographical descriptions of every township in the State, by John W. Barber and Henry Howe; New York, published for the authors by S. Tuttle, 194 Chatham Square, 1844. Greenwich is about 12 miles long, 5 wide; bounded N.E. by Deptford and Washington, S.E. by Franklin, SW by Woolwich, and NW by the Delaware river. Its surface is level or undulating: soil light and fertile. There are in the township 12 stores, 4 glass factories, 2 noursing-m., 3 grist-m., 11 saw-m; cap. In manufac. $77,650, 9 schools, 293 scholars, Pop. 2,957. Paulsboro contains a store, a Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. Billingsport, on the Delaware River, contains a few dwellings. It was named after Edward Byllinge, the purchaser of Lord Berkeley's undivided moiety of the province. The remains for a fort are still to be seen, which was built by the Americans during the revolutionary war. It was constructed, with other works on the river, for the purpose of preventing the enemy's fleet from communicating with Philadelphia, then in possession of the British. This fort was evacuated by the Americans in the fall of 1777.