Ocean County , NJ History

from the New Jersey Mirror, 27 Mar 1867 A negro man named John Johnson, committed suicide at Mount Pleasant, Monmouth couty, by taking strychnine, on Sunday morning, the 17th inst., at about six o'clock. He seemed to be laboring under a fit of melancholy induced by jealousy, and told a friend they would not be troubled with him long, and gave directions where he wished to be buried, if he died.

New Jersey Courier 24 Apr 1914 Long Branch, Apr 18--In the Morris Chapel here are the bodies of the seven victims of the schooner Charles K. Buckley which was beached Wednesday night. The last body, that of the Portugese cook, was found opposite the public pavilion this morning by a life-saver. Captain Hardy and brother Abijah, the first mate, will be buried at Deer Isle, ME. The body of Mrs. Hardy, the captain's wife, will be buried at Bristol, RI and the men of the crew at West Long Branch.

From the New Jersey Mirror 3 Apr 1907 Charles Gossip, a negro wanted for murder in Delaware, has been locked up in the Mount Holly jail during the past week as a vagrant, having been released on Monday morning. It was not until last night that the police learned from detectives on Gossip's track that their prisoner was a murderer. His whereabouts now are not known.

This one-liner from the New Jersey Courier of 8 May 1879 made me do a double take: We are informed that only two colored men have been sent to our county jail as tramps during the past five years. A pretty good record for the 'nigger'.

New Jersey Courier 16 Mar 1879 John H. Dubel started for a prolonged spree at Mt. Holly on Saturday with his week's earnings. It is alleged that while he was drinking, at the bar of the hotel, his father entered and endeavored to persuade him to go home. He replied with epithets to his father, but this did not deter the latter from imploring him to stop his drinking and return hme. Dubel, at least partially intoxicated, grew angry and is said to have thrown his father aside, and, drawing his revolver, fired twice, one of the bullets inflicting a serious wound which will probably result fatally. Young Dubel was arrested and since he has grown sober is greatly distressed at his terrible act.

This is not the famed Allentown of Pennsylvania, nor the town in Monmouth County so well known in this part of the state. It is a far lesser known town, a section of Bass River Township. The following description of the town appeared in the Bass River Gazette in Oct 1998 and is here reprinted with the author's permission: "Allentown begins about a mile north of Route 9 on North Maple Avenue (previously called Allentown Road) and runs to the old Bass River Hotel. It was originally settled by Robert Allen, and for many years his descendants inhabited most of the homes in this area"

from the New Jersey Courier 29 Jul 1875 Last week, Louis, aged about 14 years, a son of Hon. Andrew Browne, of Middletown, met with a serioius accident by the accidental discharge of a pistol in his trouser's pocket. The ball entered the inner side of his leg and penetrated to a depth that the doctor was unable to extract it.

from the New Jersey Mirror 15 Jul 1875 Two men from Trenton named Gamble and Dirth were upset in Crosswick's Creek near Bordentown on Thursday night last, while fishing. Their boat capsized and Gamble, being an excellent swimmer, struck out for the shore, while Dirth, not knowing how to swim clung to the boat. Gamble was drowned and Dirth was saved. Gamble's body was found in the creek at Bonaparte's old wharf on Sunday. The body was much decomposed. Coroner Beatty of Mercer County held an inquest Monday morning.

from the New Jersey Mirror 22 Jul 1875 On Saturday last, John D. Longstreet, aged 21, a conductor on a construction train, while engaged in disconnecting cars at the depot, had his right foot caught between the curtain and the bumper of two cars and the fleshy part of his foot frightfully lacerated. Dr. A. E. Budd was called in and upon examination, fortunately found that no bones were broken, although the injury is a very severe one. Mr. Longstreet is a son of Supervisor Longstreet of the Pennsylvania railroad and resides in Mount Holly.

from the New Jersey Mirror 26 Jul 1905 Charles Long, the negro for whom the police of Trenton are looking upon the charge of having murdered Matthew Cunningham, of that city, on July 16, is a native of this county, having been born and spent several long years of his life at Cookstown. Long was recently seen near a thick piece of woods by officers who fired at him, but the murderer managed to make his escape in the underbrush The next day, the New York Times even carried the story: SAY NEGRO MURDERER HAS FLED FROM SWAMP; Jersey Police Give Up Search in That Direction. FARMERS ARM THEMSELVES Long Is a Desperate Man, and They Think He May Seek Revenge for Pursuit Link to story then again, on 2 Aug 1905: Interest has been revived in the hunt for the negro murderer Charles Long, of Trenton, by the increasing of the reward to $500. An additional $250 reward has been offered by Mercer Co. Board of Freeholders, which brings the sum up to the amount named. and a link to a scanned .

from the New Jersey Mirror 12 Jun 1879 Mr. Charles K. Landis, of Vineland, has been granted a divorce on the grounds of desertion. This is a startling sequel to the killing of Carruth, his wife's d [word is unclear-starts with letter "d". Would love to know what this said, but the copy of the paper is just too difficult to read here].

from the New Jersey Mirror 2 Jan 1878 The dead body of a man named Charles Wilson was found by the roadside near Dicksontown, a few days ago. He had been in Medford the night before, where he purchased a few articles

from the New Jersey Mirror 27 Jun 1894 The tug James D. Nichol , with sixty-three excursionists and a crew of 12 men on board, sank in a squall three miles off Atlantic Highlands, while returning from the fishing grounds on Sunday. Fifty one of those on board were rescued alive, three bodies were recovered, and the remainder, it is believed, were drowned. The New York Times actually ran an article about this one

from the New Jersey Mirror 29 Jul 1875 M.H. Ivins, who has recently erected a new store at Florence station, remarked a day or two since that the water from the well in the cellar had a peculiar taste. On investigating the cause, he found that a molasses hogshead had been about half emptied by neglecting the tap, and the molasses had run into the well. It only needed vinegar to make a good summer drink

From the New Jersey Mirror, 29 Jul 1875 As William Irick, son of the late General William Irick, was driving up to the passenger depot, at Vincentown, on Thursday, to take the 1.50 p.m. train, his horse became alarmed at the drilling of the freight cars, and making a sudden turn, upset the carriage, throwing the occupants, Mrs. Morrow and daughter, and himself, beneath it. Mrs. Morrow received bruises on the side and breast, while Miss Morrow escaped uninjured. Mr. Irick struck his head with such force against the platform of the station that he remained insensible for several hours. He was taken to the home of John S. Sloan, where he received every attention. On Thursday evening Mr. Irick was not so well, complaining of his head .

from the New Jersey Mirror 22 Jul 1875 [the following story is quoted from the Visitor] Richard White, living on the River Bank, started out in his sail boat on Tuesday afternoon to look after a batteau which had been stolen a few nights previous. While nearing Burlington, a flaw upset the sail boat. Night came on his family became anxious about him, when his son William and Wm. Spellerberg went out to find him which they did near Burlington. When discovered, Mr. White could scarcely move, he having been in the water some time in endeavoring to get his boat ashore when he was seized with the cramp, and if assistance had not arrived in time he would probably have drowned. The affair created a great deal of excitement in Beverly, and rumors were rife during the evening that the gentleman had been found drowned, etc. Mr. White was entirely recovered and from appearances hie is likely to survive his allotted time.

from the New Jersey Mirror 15 Jul 1875 A calf's disease, said to be plenropneumonia, has broken out among the cows of Michael R. Nixon, in Mansfield Township, Burlington Co.

From the New Jersey Mirror 15 Jul 1875: On the 5th, a Fourth of July party on a schooner coming up the Delaware, all hands being very much intoxicated, lost a man overboard, and was not aware of the fact until they missed him on arriving opposite Burlington. His disappearance cannot be accounted for, except upon supposition of the above. The sum of fifty dollars has been offered for his recovery. A fifty dollar reward, but the article doesn't bother to give his name?

According to the New Jersey Mirror of 15 Jul 1875, A short time since Hezekiah Haines, a farmer residing in Charleston, Burlington County, had three fine dogs poisoned, which died. How is that the totality of the story? Here in New Jersey last week, someone killed a dog, supposedly by throwing it out of a truck. Pages and pages of newsprint have been filled over it. And here's three dogs getting poisoned--it doesn't even speculate as to whom, or why, or any other information, like it's the most commonplace thing ever in 1875.

from the New Jersey Mirror 22 Mar 1865 We published in our last paper, a brief account of a boy, only twelve years of age, committing suicide, by hanging, near Crosswicks. The following particulars of the affair, we copy from the Bordentown Register: SUICIDE.--About two weeks since, a boy named Josiah Mason, committed suicide by hanging himself, near Crosswicks. The deceased was a mere lad, only twelve years of age, and was hired out by his widowed mother, living in this city, to Mr. Robert E. Woodward, a highly respectable farmer, residing near Crosswicks, for a term of four years. He was in the employ of Mr. W. only a few months, during which time, we are assured by his employer, he conducted himself very properly, always obeying in whatever was required of him. About the time the deed was committed, at his request, he was allowed to go home for a short time.--Upon leaving home to return to his employer, he remarked that it was the last time they would see him. The same remark w