Ocean County , NJ History

I recently came across this obituary of a man who was supposedly born at Quaker Bridge, in the New Jersey Mirror of 30 Apr 1890: 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 sea-shore section of Burlington County, having lived the greater part of his life at Tuckerton. He was born at Quaker Bridge, in Washington township, in the year 1807, and at the time of his death was within a few weeks of completing his eighty-third year. He removed to Tuckerton while a young man and became proprietor of the stage line between that place and Philadelphia, and soon after married Sarah Bartlett, a daughter of Nathan Bartlett, of Tuckerton, who was a highly respected member of the Society of Friends. This union, which was a happy one, continued for upwards of fifty years, his wife still surviving him. They have four children--three daughters and a son. Few men, if any, in that part o...

NEW JERSEY MIRROR 30 APR 1890 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 sea-shore section of Burlington County, having lived the greater part of his life at Tuckerton. He was born at Quaker Bridge, in Washington township, in the year 1807, and at the time of his death was within a few weeks of completing his eighty-third year. He removed to Tuckerton while a young man and became proprietor of the stage line between that place and Philadelphia, and soon after married Sarah Bartlett, a daughter of Nathan Bartlett, of Tuckerton, who was a highly respected member of the Society of Friends. This union, which was a happy one, continued for upwards of fifty years, his wife still surviving him. They have four children--three daughters and a son. Few men, if any, in that part of Burlington County, have filled so many places of responsibility and trust as Mr. Thompson, and if ...

Quaker Bridge in Shamong was built in 1772. It was named after the Quakers who would cross the Batsto River on their way to monthly meetings at Tuckerton. Evidently, there was a drowning one year as they crossed the river and it was resolved to construct a bridge as the crossing was deemed too dangerous. One stormy evening, a stagecoach was heading through torrential rains traveling to the Quaker Bridge Inn. The stagecoach driver saw a light in the distance and was relieved to see that he had finally arrived at the Inn. Suddenly, an enormous white stag appeared before the stagecoach. The driver left the stagecoach and approached the stag, hoping to scare it away. The stag mysteriously disappeared. Then the driver noticed that the bridge had collapsed. If it weren't for the white stag, the stagecoach would have plummeted into the river. Since then, the white stag has been considered a good luck symbol in the Pine Barrens. Arthur Thompson is said to havebuilt Thompson's Taver...