Ocean County , NJ History

Ocean Emblem 27 Aug 1863

From the New Jersey Mirror 6 Aug 1863 The man killed at Florence, on Monday of last week(July 27, 1863), was named John Quinn. His death should be a warning to all Philadelphia rowdies who visit our pleasant river towns, during the summer months, for a grand frolic. In this instance, a large number came up in the "Edwin Forrest," to Florence, on a pic-nic(sic.). Many of them got quite drunk and were constantly insulting the citizens and acting in a disorderly and disreputable manner. Justice Stewart gave several of them to understand that they must behave themselves or it would be necessary to arrest them. This, however, had no effect, and they continued their riotous proceedings until a short time before the boat was to leave, when they assailed the store and dwelling of Mr. Stewart, which they pelted with stones, breaking his windows, &c.; they also assailed Mr. Stewart and his wife with the same missiles, inflicting wounds on them both; and, against every remonstranc...

The following articles are from newspapers chronicling the murder of Job Brooks, and the trial of his son and wife in that case, Keturah Ann Brooks. The murder occurred in the spring of 1863 in Vincentown, and ultimately ended in the conviction and execution of Brook's son for the murder. The mother was found not guilty, and it appears she was dragged into the trial by the other two, who accused her in an attempt to cover their own crime. The murder must have been quite sensational--quite a bit of newspaper coverage was devoted to it. Prison statistics for Burlington County in 1863, quoted in the New Jersey Mirror, indicate that there was no one else arrested for murder in the county that year. John D. Thompson's obituary in the New Jersey Mirror of 30 Apr 1890 says he was born at Quaker Bridge, around 1807 or so: "At Tuckerton, February 28, 1890, John D. Thompson, Esq., in his 83d year. The deceased had been for many years closely identified with the interests of the s...