Ocean County , NJ History

from New Jersey Courier 5 Jun 1879 Mr. H.G. Gulick is building an addition to his house, corner of Bay St, and Railroad Ave. Mr. Jno . J. Jones, contractor and builder, has the contract.

from the New Jersey Courier 22 May 1879 Capt. George Warner returned home on Saturday evening, suffering from a severe stab in the leg inflicted by one of the crew during a row amongst the sailors on shipboard which he was endeavoring to quell

from the New Jersey Courier of 20 Apr 1917: Now that flags are seen flying from every available place it should be remembered that to fly your flag between sunset is considered disrespectful and even more so than not to display it at all. If you have real feeling for your flag, put it under cover at sunset. Last week a party of secret servicemen visited the farm of Moritz Groepler at Beach View to look over the place to verify the report that they had a wireless station and were supplying news to Germans and were working against the U.S. in various ways. They found nothing whatever and were satisfied it was the work of some busy body who wanted to circulate reports for pure malicious purposes. Mr. Groepler has been an American citizen for many years and is as loyal as any of us, as this is his country by choice and we need have no fear of him or his sons as they have always been good citizens in every way. We should be careful about starting rumors in these critical times, as ...[in...

I've never heard of this name for what appears to be a section of South Toms River, on South Main Street, but the 1920 census enumerator referred to it that way in the Berkeley census. It's listed as an 'unincorporated village' Eventually I plan to transcribe the census for this 'town', but for now here are the names of some of the families who resided there in 1920: Gardner and Sarah Smith Job Hand Gustave Hockaway Howard Hans Leslie Smith Charles P. Horner Jefferson and Anna Thompson Brazilla Luker Leroy and Lydia Evernham Mary Cotten Edith and Arthur O'Hare William A. Chamberlain Harvey and Rose Irons Joseph and Mary A. Walton Bessie Borden Several of the older children of these families worked at a shirt factory, presumably somewhere nearby. The census lists about 2 1/2 pages of names, about fifty homes, in this village in 1920.

From the New Egypt Press 10 Mar 1905: Moses Cranmer, overseer of the poor has adopted a new method with the applicants for public funds. He keeps a large pile of wood and w hen an applicant presents himself for help he is given a job cutting wood, which saves the town's money and gives them employment. There are very few who really want work but can get it this way. June Ridgway has sold his barber shop at Forked River and returned here, looking for a new opening. He says it is a poor climate for whiskers up there. A number of New York Evening Journal reporters spent Sunday at Pine Bluff Inn, Point Pleasant. A Box Social was held at the Presbyterian Church at Toms River on Tuesday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Applegate of Toms River have just returned from an extended visit in California.

from the New Jersey Courier 6 Feb 1879: The bay is still frozen over here and has been since the last of December, a very long period. Our people daily walk across it in going to and coming from the beach

from the New Jersey Courier, 18 Jan 1918 Joseph R. Newton motored here from Woodbury Monday to see Joe Predmore who is seriously sick at home. Miss Amelia Stephenson was a Lakewood visitor recently. Dick Grant was at Toms River Monday. A. Rauman is out again after a few days illness. A number of houses where pipes were frozen are once again getting water. C. M. Conrad visited Trenton Wednesday. C.B. Corliss was home a few days this week. Capt. Henry Smith attended a smoker Monday evening in New York. The storm Tuesday morning did a lot of damage. A lot of cellars were flooded. The wind ripped up the roof of the Abe Fort house and the rain damaged bedrooms and dining room. Roseby Crane is spending some time in New York. Mrs. Anderson Bugbee has been quite sick, but now is convalescent. Frank S. Ellis and wife of Toms River are visiting her daughter, Mrs. Herbert Cranmer. Mrs. J.C. Bennett and son, Charles, spent Saturday at Toms River. Roscoe Conkling was a Satruday visit...

From the New Jersey Courier 17 Jan 1901: The Tom Thumb wedding in the Methodist Church last Friday evening was a perfect success in every way. The bridal party composed of the little ones dressed to imitate their mommas and papas looked very sedate and ministerial. A reception was held after the ceremony and even to the wedding breakfast was reenacted, the bride cutting her wedding cake in the latest fashionable cut. The other parts of the program given by older talent was well rendered and received by an appreciative audience. The entire program was repeated on the following evening to as large if not larger audience than attended the first. Mrs. F.K. Cranmer of Beardsley, Minn., has been visiting Mrs. A.M. Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Spader and daughter are visiting at J .S. Storm's. A donation was tendered to the Rev. O.W. Wright, pastor of the Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening of this week. Extra meetings are being held in the Methodist Church. There has been consid...

from the New Jersey Courier 3 Jan 1919 Gordon Ridgeway and wife are home for the holidays Fred Stephenson and family spent last Wednesday with his mother and sister. Naomi Maloney of Long Branch is visiting Miss Elizabeth Reeves. Mrs. Kate Falkinburgh and son Alton having spent some time with her daughter, Mrs. W. Bailey, at Barnegat City, returned home Thursday. Anderson Pharo of Bayonne spent Sunday with his brother Job and wife. Augustus Tolbert, wife and son Martin; Harry W. Tolbert and wife, motored to Hanover farms on Friday. John Cox and wife were Friday visitors at Philadelphia. Senator D.G. Conrad was a Saturday visitor from Philadelphia. Prof. Brown and wife spent the holidays at her home in Pennsylvania. Roseby Crane and brother of New York spent a few days home with their mother last week. Those who attended the Tall Cedars last Thursday night at Tuckerton were: A.W. Kelly, R.G. Collins, L. Simmerman, Dr. H. Conover, J.C. Bennett, A.H. Tolbert, C.H. Brandt, L. ...

From the New Jersey Courier 6 Dec 1900: Thanksgiving day passed off very quietly with us. Union services were held in the Methodist church. Rev. O.W. Wright of the Presbyterian church, preaching the sermon. The collection was given to the Methodist hospital at Philadephia. In the evening a "Yankee" sociable was held in the Presbyterian church and quite a number were present. The program consisted of readings, instrumental and vocal music and a guessing contest, after which enjoyable evening was spent. Ragamuffins as usual infested our town during the day and night, but the participants were mostly of the younger class. A representative of the Sanborn and Perris map company has been in our town the past week making a new insurance map. Among those home from Rider's business college at Trenton for holiday were Joe Storms, Win Predmore, Van Predmore, Clarence Harris and Arthur Ridgway. Among others visitors during the holiday we noticed Miss Nolia Pharo and Miss Emma B...

The state census for Ocean Co., NJ lists a section of Manchester Township called "Bakersville". I've never heard of this place before, and there were only three occupied homes in it in 1915. If you have any more information about this please send me an e-mail at klopeks@yahoo.com. The three families on the census in 1915 were as follows: GEORGE WITTERSCHEIR He was born in May of 1890, and worked as a farmer. He lived with his wife, Mary (b. Jan 1889), and son, George, Jr. (b. Nov 1908). A woman named Ada Darcy lived in the same home. She was born in May of 1900; her father was from England, her mother from New York. Charles Darcy, b. Jun 1893, also lived in the house. It's not clear how any of these people are related Charles worked as a farm laborer in 1930. IVINS COWAN He was born in Dec of 1880 in New Jersey. His father was from Massachussets, his mother from New Jersey. In 1930, he worked as a farm laborer. His wife, Olive, was born in Feb 1884. (Both of...

from New Jersey Courier 15 Nov 1918 Roscoe Conkling was in town Tuesday. J. Fields of New York was a Monday visitor. Mrs. Kate Falkinburgh and son Alton are visiting her daughter, Mrs. W. Bailey, at Barnegat City. Mrs. Tillie Steer of Philadelphia spent the week end with Mrs. Sallie Exel. Miss Martha Throckmorton has been spending a few days with Mrs. Harry Van Note. Mrs. Forrest Carter has been entertaining her mother. Mrs. A.J. Bugbee spent a few days with her mother in Camden this week. The First National Bank has erected a new flag pole alongside the bank, with all of the colors flying. Barnegat had a great celebration on Tuesday over the great victory. They had a parade by school children. Red Cross and all the prominent citizens of the town turned out in the grand march. After marching all through the town they stopped in front of the bank where a few addressess were made by Prof. W. Brown of the high school, Mrs. Sarah Hernburgh, J. Horace Sprague and Henry A. Tolbert,...

from the New Jersey Courier, 15 Nov 1918: Miss Jennie May of Jersey City returned home Sunday evening after spending a few days with Mrs. Ivins Clayton and family. Miss Lida Brower of Bayville spent the week end with Miss Rita Clayton. Rev. J.W. Stokes, wife and and Mrs. Wm. Bryant and wife of Cedar Grove spent Wednesday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Ivins Clayton and family

On the 1880 Federal Census for Bordentown Township, Burlington County, there are a handful of households that the census enumerator has indicated were on "Beddles Island". If anyone knows anything more about this place, please send us an e-mail. The households listed in Beddles Island in 1880 were those of : Joseph Fox William Beatty E. Thomas Beatty George Armstrong James Wright

All I know about this place right now is that it is in Bass River Township, and at one point in time was known as Bass River Neck. It is located between Route 9 and Hammonton Road running down to the Mullica River. It was at this place that the first Quaker and Methodist Churches were built in the area of Hillside Cemetery. When the Methodist Church moved to it's present location on Route 9, the old church building was moved across Hillside Lane and converted into the Frogtown Schoolhouse. (This information kindly provided by Peter H. Stemmer and is taken from an article he wrote for the Bass River Gazzette in Oct 1998. Used with his permission.) There are a few items in a couple of issues of the New Jersey Mirror which mention Frogtown, though it's not clear if this is the same place or not: 4 Nov 1818: Sale of 30 acres of woodland near Ong's Hat, adjoining lands of William Hilyard and others. The land is covered with pine, chestnut, and white oak. Also a house an...

from E.M. Woodward's 1883 book: Bass River is located in the southeastern portion of the township, and is a small and somewhat scattered hamlet. It contains one Methodist and one Presbyterian Church, one hotel, one wheelwright shop, one blacksmith shop, post office, four stores, and a few scattered dwellings.. The hotel was erected in 1851, by Thomas French , who carried on the business for a short time, and was succeeded by Franklin Adams, who purchased the property in 1856, and has carried on the business since. Among the early merchants of New Gretna was John Miller, who carried on the business as early as 1812 for a period of years. He was succeeded by William Allen, who carried on the business for a period of twenty-five years. Since that time there has been a succession of merchants in New Gretna. The present merchant is Francis French. Adolphus H. Lansing erected a wheelwright-shop in 1856, and did quite an extensive business in the manufacture of heavy wagons, which ...

Early Bass River consisted mainly of large farms owned by the Mathis, Cranmer, and Allen families. There was no town as we know it today. The first area to be called Bass River was the present Pilgrim Lake Campground-Fir Bridge area. A sawmill and the old Bass River Hotel were built here before the Revolutionary War. The hotel housed a post office, tavern, and stagecoach stop on the much traveled stage road from Tuckerton to Philadelphia and was an important landmark in the area for many years. It closed in 1855 as a result of the town center shifting two miles down Allentown Road, now North Maple Avenue, to New Gretna. [above passage quoted with author Pete Stemmer's permission from the Bass River Gazette, October 1998}]

From out of the past: a pictorial history of Barnegat, NJ : The first early settlers here were English families from Long Island and had settled in Middletown and Elizabethtown. Among those was William Cranmer, formerly of Long Island where he was listed as a freeholder in 1670 and later named as one of the original settler at Elizabethtown, NJ. Subsequently with his brother Josiah, he took up lands near Forked River and Cedar Creek. Then they settled near New Egypt. This land they traded for land and privileges between Manahawkin and West Creek at a point later known as Cranmertown. From there William removed to a point "near Waretown" which point became Barnegat. Other early settlers were William Cranmer's son Levi Cranmer, Timothy Ridgway, Stephen and Nathan Birdsall, Ebbenezer Collins and others. Then came whalers from Long Island, Rhode Island, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard. They followed the whales into the area and were .soon coming to the mainland s to establ...

Barnard is located in modern Hammonton at the northwest corner of Ninth Street and the railroad, but it is not certain whether it was an actual settlement, a lone house, or a "paper town." McMahon and Beck make no mention of it (except one possible reference by the latter), nor do either of Hammonton's two histories (Wilbur & Hand and McMahon) or Hall's history of Atlantic County. The Sanborn maps do not appear to cover that edge of Hammonton. Several of the old state quad maps make reference to a "Banard Station" having existed along the railroad there. The name of the site may derive from Andrew J. Barnard, who owned the land between 1865-1905. He in turn bought it from a man named Nutter Richards and his wife Margaret. The Richard's name is closely associated with Batsto and Atsion, so it seems natural to wonder if this man is of the same family

The state census for Ocean Co., NJ lists a section of Manchester Township called "Bakersville". I've never heard of this place before, and there were only three occupied homes in it in 1915. The three families on the census in 1915 were as follows: GEORGE WITTERSCHEIR He was born in May of 1890, and worked as a farmer. He lived with his wife, Mary (b. Jan 1889), and son, George, Jr. (b. Nov 1908). A woman named Ada Darcy lived in the same home. She was born in May of 1900; her father was from England, her mother from New York. Charles Darcy, b. Jun 1893, also lived in the house. It's not clear how any of these people are related Charles worked as a farm laborer in 1930. IVINS COWAN He was born in Dec of 1880 in New Jersey. His father was from Massachussets, his mother from New Jersey. In 1930, he worked as a farm laborer. His wife, Olive, was born in Feb 1884. (Both of her parents were from Pennsylvania). Three children lived with them: Jennie Cowan, b. Aug...