Part II, Delaware Twp. Officers, 1838

May 10, 2013 By Marfy Goodspeed in Bonham, Delaware Twp, Families, Holcombe, Hoppock, Lair, Sergeant, Williamson, Wolverton Tags: local government, roads

Overseers of Roads

At the first town meeting, the Township Committee voted that $1,000 was to be raised for making and repairing roads. Municipalities were responsible for their roads, while the county took responsibility for the bridges. Generally, it was the landowners along the roads who maintained them, so you can imagine what condition they were in: dust in the summer, mud in the spring and downright impassible in the winter, unless you had a sleigh. The township named many people to be Overseers of Roads. It’s hard to say exactly what their responsibilities were. Most likely, they managed the work that was ordered by the Surveyors of Highways.

Buchanan’s Tavern, The Last Chapter

May 3, 2013 By Marfy Goodspeed in Hunterdon, Raritan Twp, Sutton Tags: Buchanan's Tavern, land titles, portraits, taverns

In response to Egbert T. Bush’s article on Buchanan’s Tavern

Where was Buchanan’s Tavern? Recently,¹ I found the first tavern where I didn’t expect it, on the west side of Route 579 near the intersection with Route 523. Most people think it was on the east side of the road, where the Miceks now have a small farm. They are right—there was a Buchanan’s tavern there, but it was the second Buchanan’s Tavern, and here is the rest of the story.

An 1835 Doodle

May 2, 2013 By Marfy Goodspeed in Hunterdon Tags: Buchanan's Tavern

Found on minutes of a hearing in the guardianship papers for Archibald Buchanan dec

I’ve been hard at work trying finish up the saga of Buchanan’s Tavern, and it still isn’t done. Still some last minute questions to resolve. But I want to share this little surprise I found in the Guardianship papers for the children of Archibald Buchanan dec’d (File No. 73). I guess the Surrogate’s Clerk had some empty moments to fill.

Found on minutes of a hearing in the guardianship papers for Archibald Buchanan dec'd, No. 73 — Found on minutes of a hearing in the guardianship papers for Archibald Buchanan dec’d, No. 73

Was the clerk’s name ‘S. Camaken Houd’ ? Love the tree, the book and the number square.