Ocean County , NJ History

From the New Jersey Courier, 31 May 1866: We paid a visit to this lively village on Friday last. Found French, of the Bricksburg House, in his happiest mood with a jolly good table. Parmentier, mirthful and happy, and our friends Bradshaw and Bechtel, busy selling tape and dry goods and raking in money. "Murphy", alias Bradshaw, is building as fine a dwelling as there is in the embryo city, perfectly contented, even if we did give him a world wide reputation, under the cognomen of Murphy by mistake. Larrabee, at the depot, and D.B. Stout, are doing finely in their respective pursuits. The new steam saw mill of the Company is buzzing away, getting out lumber and all creation are after the sacred material. Several new houses are going up. Found a dominie, Rev. Mr.Mason, with whom we were much pleased. Could laugh and joke and retain his dignity as a clerical gentleman, without freezing you. Liked him much, and hope to see him often. Bricksburg is bound to rise and shine. The e...

NEW JERSEY COURIER 31 MAY 1866 Peter Ficangie, son of Mr. Henry Ficangie, met with a sad fall while swinging on Sabbath afternoon last. His left thigh was broken, and other severe injuries were received. Dr. Disbrow was promptly on hand, and gave surgical assistance. The patient was doing well at last accounts. S.W. Bogardus, the discoverer of coal at Matawan Point, was in town on Saturday last. He promises us much valuable information in regard to coal. The prospect is for the completion of the Branch Railroad to this village, this week or next. "All aboard." The Episcopalians have leased a room of Mr. Thos. Hooper, where they propose to hold services in the future.

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 Courier from 26 May 1930: "MANITOU PARK--Mrs. Rebecca More has been charged with murdering her estranged husband, John, 59, after an argument Saturday night. State Police at the Toms River barracks said that the couple returned from visiting taverns, and Mrs. Moore used an ax to kill her husband. She is being held without bail in Ocean County Jail for a hearing in Muncipal Court tomorrow night. Until she was charged with murder, she had been free in $3,000 bail on a charge of possessing a deadly weapon and assault with intent to kill. The assault charge was brought before Magistrate William E. O'Connor in Municipal Court on Friday by Sterling Smith, Second Street." Note the two different spellings of the last name, "More" and "Moore"--that's how it appears in the article. Not surprisingly, neither the Sterlings or More/Moore families appear on the 1930 census.

From the New Jersey Mirror MAY 25, 1881 At Camden last week, James M. Allen, who it was alleged tried to establish a free love, Mormon, communistic and socialistic colony at Ancora, was arraigned for trial. He was accompanied by two women, said to be his wives, neither of whom is over thirty years of age, and one of his fathers-in-law sat beside him. One of the wives wore a neat suit of blue and the other wore a Bloomer costume. They were very affectionate toward each other and their joint husband . Allen said that he would act as his own counsel. The case was finally dismissed, on the ground that no breach of the law had been shown.

From the New Jersey Courier 25 May 1905 Out little town looks very pretty in its spring dress of green. John Newman and family spent Sunday with Mrs. Havens. Job Doxsey spent a few days in Merchantville and Camden this week. Mrs. Estlow and daughter are visiting relatives in Waretown. Willis Saulsman and Ralph Shaw spent Sunday in Forked River. Mrs. Doxsey spent Monday in Toms River. J.L. Madison spent sunday at Forked River with his mother. E. Foster went to Toms River Tuesday last.

I found the following obituary from May 24, 2000 in the Hammonton Gazzette concerning a modern resident of Atsion: Pickett B. Russell Jr., 78, of Atsion, NJ, died Saturday, May 20, at his residence. Born in Pine Bluff, Ark., Russell lived in the Atsion area most of his life. He was the owner of the Pic-A-Lilli Inn on Rt. 206 in Atsion. Built in 1920 by Russell's grandfather, Russell took over the family business in 1959 until the present. Russell was a lifelong member of the NJ Licensed Beverage Association and a former member of the Mt. Holly Moose Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Russell is predeceased by this late wife Florence (nee Hall) and his late son John "Buddy" Russell. Surviving him are: his children, Pickett Ben Russell III and his wife Sandy, of Berlin, Lillian "Bonnie" Halfmann and her husband Bill, of Atsion , Wallace Russell and his wife Ginny, of Atsion, Bruce Russell and his wife Sandy, of Winslow Twp, and Donald Russell, of ...

Hammonton Gazzette 24 May 2000 Pickett B. Russell Jr., 78, of Atsion, NJ, died Saturday, May 20, at his residence. Born in Pine Bluff, Ark., Russell lived in the Atsion area most of his life. He was the owner of the Pic-A-Lilli Inn on Rt. 206 in Atsion. Built in 1920 by Russell's grandfather, Russell took over the family business in 1959 until the present. Russell was a lifelong member of the NJ Licensed Beverage Association and a former member of the Mt. Holly Moose Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Russell is predeceased by this late wife Florence (nee Hall) and his late son John "Buddy" Russell. Surviving him are: his children, Pickett Ben Russell III and his wife Sandy, of Berlin, Lillian "Bonnie" Halfmann and her husband Bill, of Atsion , Wallace Russell and his wife Ginny, of Atsion, Bruce Russell and his wife Sandy, of Winslow Twp, and Donald Russell, of Atsion; and he was the loving grandfather of 14 and 6 great-grandchildren. Relati...

New Jersey Courier 22 May 1879 A forest fire broke out a few days since in the vicinity of Tuckerton and several thousand acres of pineland along the line of the Tuckerton Railroad were burned over. While fighting the flames, Freeholder Alfred Palmer was bitten in the forefinger by a pine snake, but without serious result.

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

New Jersey Mirror 22 May 1851 While the workmen were engaged last week in digging on the lot where the water company intend putting up a steam engine, they found a piece of bombshell, which had undoubtedly been sent on its mission of death and destruction during the Revolution, by either the American or British soldiery stationed here. It is probably not known to every one now residing in Mount Holly, that in the dark and stormy period that tried men's souls, a large number of the British quartered on the Mount, while at the same time the American troops occupied Topetoy. From some cause unknown to the people of the present day, they had no regular engagement, but we are told that to keep up communications they frequently exchanged cannon balls and bombshells, and thus telegraphed to each other the friendly feelings entertained.

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 Mirror 22 May 1907 Eleven true bills of indictment were presented to Justice Hendrickson on Monday afternoon as a result of the special session of the grand jury held on that day, principally to hear evidence against those in any way connected with the affray that resulted in the death of David Beebe at Chairville on April 27. At the opening of the session of court in the morning Justice Hendrickson charged the grand jury relative to the points of law applicable in the Beebe case and at that time stated that as Beebe's death occurred during what is known in law as mutual combat the charge to be preferred against the principals could not be more serious than manslaughter. Murder could be the charge only after it had been found by the evidence that one or more of the combatants had prepared for the affray and then taken advantage of an opportunity to kill. It was urged upon the grand jury to indict all those in any way connected with any preliminary fights durin...

from the New Jersey Mirror 18 May 1938: Miss Elizabeth F. Mooney, 32, of 16 Carrol street, Trenton, secretary to former Governor Edward C. Stokes, was killed late on Saturday night in a head-on collision of two automobiles near Absecon. She succumbed shortly after being admitted to the Atlantic City Hospital. Her companion, Miss Agnes Weinmann, 24, of Morrisville, Pa., was taken to the same hospital, suffering from a fractured leg and other injuries. They were returning from a visit to the Atlantic City horse show in the car of Miss Weinmann, who was driving. Miss Weinmann is noted in the Trenton area as an equestrienne. David Johns, 64, of Egg Harbor, a passenger in the other car, also was killed. Two others who were in the car were injured: Harry Johns, 33, who received a fracture of the right arm and a possible fracture of the skull, and a son-in-law, Michael Puglice, 28, who sustained a broken right leg. State police were unable to learn who was driving the car.

From the New Jersey Courier 18 May 1905 Hot, with plenty of mosquitoes. W. Dayton moved his family to New Gretna last week. Machinist Smith of Elmer, is with us again for a few days. We are glad to notice the improvements being made on the Double Trouble road. Howard Lee is off duty on account of sickness. E.E. Thompson received an ugly gash on his left hand while working on the bench saw. It is rumored that Berkeley Township intends building a new school house. We are anxiously awaiting to hear the carpenter's hammer. Gertrude Estlow is sick with the measles. Dr. Jones was a Monday visitor here. Clarence Saulsman and Ralph Shaw spent Sunday with relatives in Forked River. Mrs. Johnston of Whitesville came in last Tuesday with a load of pigs. Fred Applegate spent a fortnight in Toms River. Mac McKenney is building an addition to his cottage. Warren Van Brunt is spending a short time at Forked River with his parents. J.L. Madison spent Sunday in Toms River.

New Jersey Courier 17 May 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Joel Wainwright celebrated their second wedding anniversary Monday evening. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Meirs and son Aubrey of Cream Ridge, Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Wikoff, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gibbons, Mrs. Earl C. Jameson, Mrs. J.E. Hendrickson, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Davis, Mrs. William Oliphant, Mr. and Mrs. J. Tantum, Miss Beatrice Gaskill, Henry Hendrickson, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rockhill. Mr. and Mrs. George Watson and Leonard Norcross of Trenton were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Norcross. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Reynolds and Miss Lillie Lamb of Mt. Holly were Sunday afternoon and evening visitors in town. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Horner and family visited last Sunday with their son in South Amboy. Mrs. Nellie Archer entertained on Sunday her sister, Mrs. William Dennis and Mrs. Alice Morris of Jacobstown. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Irons of Trenton visited Mrs. Elizabeth Irons over the week end. Mrs. Samuel Horner spent Thursday with...

New Jersey Courier 15 May 1879 We learn that a peddler who was stopping over night at the house of Henry Tappan, Bayville, had his wagon back open and robbed of about $100 worth of goods Thursday night; no clue has yet been obtained as to who the theives wer

from the Hunterdon Democrat, 15 May 1883: A sad story comes from Ancora, a little village on the line of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, in Camden county. A six-year-old daughter of Edward Fowler, a prominent resident of Ancora, was taken sick a week ago with smallpox. The father became alarmed and sent for the wife, who had been separated from him for over five years, to return to her home and nurse her child. The mother had only a short time before recovered from an attack of smallpox. She came to the bedside of her suffering daughter, and there did all that a fond mother could. The disease assumed a complicated form, and Dr. Junkey, of Hammonton, it is said, was telegraphed for, but for some unknown reason failed to respond to the summons... On Wednesday night the child died. As there was not an undertaker within several miles the parents set at work to prepare the body for burial themselves... By the pale light of the moon the coffin was lowered into the grave.

New Jersey Courier 15 May 1879 We learn that a peddler who was stopping over night at the house of Henry Tappan, Bayville, had his wagon back open and robbed of about $100 worth of goods Thursday night; no clue has yet been obtained as to who the thieves were.

from the New Jersey Courier 15 May 1879 Your readers will want to know where Osbornville is; well, it is in Ocean County, NJ. The "Neck", that is the Old Metedeconk Neck, quietly gave up the ghost and died without a struggle last week. The mourners went about the streets horror stricken on account of the sudden demise. It happened in this wise: A few weeks ago, our people set about the work of getting a post office at this place, and the agent of our old Uncle Samuel said we could have one, but first we must select a name. So you may be informed that everybody in this region, man , woman and child, "and the rest of mankind", had a name, and everybody wanted everybody's name given to the new post office. Mr. J.W. Osborn is Postmaster, and Mr. J. Barton Osborn will carry the bag and whatever put there in.