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1863 Politics in Delaware Township

October 9, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Barber, Delaware Township, Hockenbury, Hoppock, Sharp, Trout Tags: Civil War, politics

This article is a follow-up to the Democratic Club of Delaware Township, published last spring.

The previous article described the Club’s principles and resolutions, reflecting the alarm felt by Hunterdon Democrats at the war measures taken by President Lincoln. The article was published in the Hunterdon Historical Newsletter.¹ But because of length restrictions, short biographies of the club’s officers had to be postponed to a future newsletter.

Ellicott’s Diary, June 1863

October 9, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Warford Tags: Civil War, Ellicott's Diary

June 1863. The Civil War has been going on for over two years now, with no end in sight. Benjamin H. Ellicott, watching it all from his home in Baltimore, has written an amazing diary of events.¹ His skepticism about official reports and his access to both southern and northern newspapers makes him a valuable observer. And it doesn’t hurt that he was very articulate.

The Thatcher Burying Ground

October 3, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Sergeantsville, Thatcher Tags: cemeteries

There is a tiny burying ground located on a plot of land across from the Delaware Township Municipal Building that is used during the summer by the Sergeantsville Farmers’ Market. It is hidden in a clump of trees, and very few people know of its existence.

Ellicott’s Diary, May 1863

October 2, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Hunterdon County, Warford Tags: Civil War, Ellicott's Diary

Benjamin H. Ellicott’s Diary for May 1863 is full of very dramatic War News: Confederate incursions into western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the assault on Fredericksburg and the failures of General Hooker and the Army of the Potomac, the battles of Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania, the death of Stonewall Jackson, capture of British vessels by Federal gunboats enforcing the blockade of Charleston, and Grant’s continued assault on Vicksburg.

Family Burying Grounds Matter

September 26, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Barber, Hunterdon County, Moore, Quinby, Rake, Rittenhouse, Sutton, Williamson Tags: cemeteries

The following is the keynote speech I delivered on September 19, 2015 for the 2nd Annual Cemetery Seminar, sponsored by the Hunterdon Co. Historical Society and others. It is somewhat modified to make it more readable, less like a speech.

A Pirate in Old Amwell

September 12, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Families, Gordon, Heath, Historians Revisited, J. M. Hoppock, Lair, Reading, Sergeantsville, Wolverton Tags: crime and punishment, early settlers, land titles

When writing about Pine Hill Cemetery recently, the name of John Lewis came up. This reminded me of a wonderful article written by Jonathan M. Hoppock back in 1905 about a mysterious character named Ticnor Lewis who lived not far from Pine Hill. It is one of Mr. Hoppock’s most colorful yarns, and one of his many stories of the early settlers in Amwell Township. This one is based entirely on folklore or family tradition. A bowl-full of salt is highly recommended.

Ellicott’s Diary, April 1863

September 11, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Warford Tags: Civil War, Ellicott's Diary

April 1863 was another very difficult month for the country. The biggest news was “affairs at or around Vicksburg.”

Ellicott’s Diary, March 1863

September 5, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Warford Tags: Civil War, Ellicott's Diary

Benjamin H. Ellicott’s diary, continued.¹ See Ellicott’s Diary, January 1863 and Ellicott’s Diary, February 1863. The diary ends in August 1863. For the next five weeks, I will publish a month from the diary.

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