This article continues my exploration of the neighborhood of Sandy Ridge by presenting the first half of Egbert T. Bush’s article “Sandy Ridge Long a Farm Community.” There could be no better expert on the subject than Mr. Bush, who lived in Sandy Ridge for many years and taught at the old Vandolah School.
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Reading-Wolverton Farm, part two
By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Stockton, Wolverton 1 Comment
This is a continuation of the history of the farm once owned by Richard Reading, then later by John Woolverton and wife Rachel Quinby. After John Wolverton’s death, it came to his son Samuel.Continue reading »
Little Jim, In Jail and In Court
By Marfy Goodspeed in Flemington, Hunterdon County No Comments Tags: crime and punishment
The brutal murder of Mrs. Catharine Beakes in September 1827 became a sensation in Hunterdon County, not only because murders were rare at the time, but because this murder was quite brutal and her alleged killer was a 12-year-old black boy. Following a coroner’s inquest, he was arrested and brought to the Flemington jail (‘gaol’ in those days).
The Manual Labor Institute
By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Gordon, Rittenhouse, Sergeantsville 3 Comments Tags: schools
This is the story of an unusual school in the 1830s run by an eccentric visionary, who sadly failed to make a success of it.
Sergeant’s Mills, part four
By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, E. T. Bush, Fulper, Green, Opdycke, Rosemont, Sergeant 10 Comments Tags: houses, land titles, politics, portraits
This series of posts has been based on an article by Egbert T. Bush called “Sergeant’s Mills Once a Prosperous Place.” My previous post dealt with two of the four farms located in the Rosemont valley, on the north side of the road from Rittenhouse’s Tavern (Rosemont) to Skunk Town (Sergeantsville), otherwise known as Route 604. This post will describe the owner of the third farm, and include the rest of Mr. Bush’s article.
Continue reading »
The Hunterdon Gazette, 1838-1866
By Marfy Goodspeed in Flemington, Hunterdon County No Comments Tags: politics
This is a continuation of the saga of the Hunterdon Gazette and its first owner and editor, Charles George. Please refer to Charles George & the Hunterdon Gazette, part one and part two, and 1837 in Hunterdon County.
The Blizzard of ’88
By Marfy Goodspeed in Hunterdon County 6 Comments
The following is a report, written for the Hunterdon Republican newspaper, on the record-breaking blizzard of 1888. I have taken it from transcriptions of the Republican published by William Hartman (available from the Hunterdon Co. Historical Society). A timely article for the blizzard of March 13-14, 2017, winter’s parting shot.
Chas. George & The Gazette, part two
By Marfy Goodspeed in Flemington, Hunterdon County No Comments
Note: As in the previous article on this subject (George & The Gazette, part one), I have depended heavily on the pamphlet written by Hubert G. Schmidt titled The Press in Hunterdon County, 1825-1925 as well as the abstract of the Hunterdon Gazette compiled by William Hartman.
Who Collected the Boats?
By Marfy Goodspeed in Bray, Clinton, Hunterdon County, Pettit 13 Comments Tags: The Revolution
Who really found the Delaware River boats in December 1776? the boats that Gen. Washington was supposed to rely on to carry his army across the river on Christmas Eve? For a long time I was certain it was David Johnes of Amwell, working with Daniel Bray and Jacob Gearhart. Now I’m not so sure. In fact, I now have serious doubts.
Sergeantsville Inn, Part 2
By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Sergeantsville 6 Comments Tags: stores
Henry H. Fisher, Esq.
Part one of this story was published last year in March 2015 (The Sergeantsville Inn). It was written too quickly, and now has been revised. In its original form, the article covered the time period from the original proprietary deed to the end of the 19th century. I’ve revised that first article with more information about the last of the Thatcher family to own the property, bringing us up to 1830.