Allentown — its rise and progress, Part 4

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

   The following unpublished history by Charles R. Hutchinson is from Book 4 titled "Local History." Acquired in 1929 by the New Jersey Historical Society from his estate, the collection represents not only a valuable genealogical resource but documents this entire region’s early history. This week’s installment continues to describe the properties along South Main Street near present-day Lakeview Drive.
   
The remainder of Jacob Large’s two acre lot, after the church lot had been taken off, containing one and three quarter acres "except a road fifteen feet wide," was sold in 1730 by John West, Tanner, to Henry Clothier, Corrier, as already related. I do not know for how long after this date the tannery existed, and nothing further is known of Henry Clothier, who was probably the last person to operate it. In 1748, the premises were owned by Benjamin Robins and occupied by his son John, who was a blacksmith, and whose shop was at York Road or Main Street, about where Elmer E. Hutchinson’s driveway know is.
   September 29, 1748, "Benjamin Robins, of the township of Nottingham in the county of Burlington, &c. yeoman," conveyed to Thomas Lawrie, of Upper Freehold, &c. yeoman, for L 9, "All that lot of land in Allenstown, Beginning at a stone planted in a stump of a white oak tree, on a course NE 83 links from the northeast corner of Peter Brewer’s house; Thence NE along the edge of the street, 1, 03, to a stone at the west corner of John Robins’s smith shop; Thence S 37’E 2, 72, to another stone, by the edge of the mill pond; Thence S 71′ W 1,75, by the edge of the mill pond to another stone; Thence N 19′ W 2, 17, to the place of beginning; containing one quarter of an acre and thirty two perch. Bounded northwest by the street, northeast by the said Benjamin Robbins’s land, south by the said mill pond, and west by a lot of land formerly belonging to Jarvis Hall."
   This lot was the same now owned and occupied by John S. Hulse, and was the southwesterly part of Jacob Large’s two acres. Thomas Lawrie built a stable near its westerly corner at the street, and a smoke house near its easterly corner, and these appear to have been the only buildings on it as late as the year 1782. Thomas Lawrie, who had been a prominent merchant and property owner in Allentown, becoming a bankrupt, much of his property, in 1773, passed into the hands of James & Drinker, who at that time were perhaps the leading mercantile house in Philadelphia, and September 13, 1782, "Abel James of Philadelphia, &c. merchant, and Rebecca his wife, and Henry Drinker of the same place, merchant, and Elizabeth his wife, conveyed to John Imlay, of the same place, merchant, for L 1100, several lots of land in and about Allentown, among which was this lot, described as that "on which the said Thomas Lawrie’s smoke house and stable was erected." At what later date and by whom a dwelling was erected there I cannot say."
   Benjamin Robins, in his will, dated January 15, 1759, and proved December 3, 1760, devised to his son John Robbins, "all that Lott of Land and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate in Allenton, whereon the said John dwells." John Robins was still living there in the spring of 1773, but probably died previous to May 28, 1774, when his wife, Martha, released her right of dower in 17 ¼ acres where Josiah S. Robbins now lives.
   May 1, 1786, William Hutchinson, of Upper Freehold &c. Blacksmith, and Ann, his wife, conveyed to Samuel Quay, of Allen Town, &c. for L 150. "All that lot of land and premises which was formerly the property of the above mentioned grantor, and sold by John Burrowes, Esq. late sheriff of said county, to Doctor James Newell, of Allen Town, &c. which will more at large appear by deed from said John Burrowes, dated May 1, 1785, and by said James Newell and Elizabeth his wife conveyed back to the above mentioned grantor by deed February 15, 1786; Beginning where once stood a white oak tree by York Road, Thence S 17′ E 1,88 more or less, to a stone by the side of the mill pond; Thence," &c. (as in deed from John West to Henry Clothier); containing 1 ¾ acres; "Excepting ¼ acre sold by John Robins to Thomas Lawrie, and a road fifteen feet wide for the use of the church, and ¼ of an acre before granted to Timothy Herbert."
   Who this William Hutchinson may have been I do not know. Like John Robins he was a blacksmith, and came from Nottingham Township, where he married Ann McCabe. The bond for their marriage license, dated November 12, 1770, was signed by William Hutchinson and William Wilgus, "both of Nottingham Township in the county of Burlington." He owned this lot before 1783, as appears by the following deed: dated December 29, 1783, by which William Hutchinson of Upper Freehold conveyed the above described lot to Thomas Borden of Nottingham, by same description and with the same exceptions as in the deed to Samuel Quay, for L 37. How it passed back into his possession to be sold by sheriff as his property in 1785, I cannot say, but it evidently did.
   The lot of Timothy Harburt, is first mentioned in the above deed of December 29, 1783, when it was said to contain one quarter of an acre. It was bounded easterly by the church alley, 15 feet wide, and was 59 links in width by 3, 45, in depth. It is the same property now owned and occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth P. Ford. Timothy Harburt came here from Shrewsbury or Middletown, and appears to have been a relative of the Tilton family, who were already located just beyond the province line, in Burlington County, where Abraham Tilton settled on the farm now of C. Palmer West, in 1736/7.
   He married in 1768 Rachel Robins, and the bond for their marriage license, dated August 18, of that year, was given by Timothy Harburt and Richard Robins, both of Upper Freehold, &c. In 1781, when Abraham Tilton of Burlington County, married Elizabeth Rogers, the bond for their marriage license was witnessed by William Debow and Timothy Harburt. Walter Harbart of Shrewsbury and Sarah Tilton of Middletown, were married 4 mo. 2, 1704. They had seven children, whose births are recorded in Shrewsbury Meeting, the third of whom, born 2 mo. 2, 1709, was named Timothy. By a former wife, whose name was Deborah, Walter Harbart had one child, a son named Walter, born in Shrewsbury, 11 mo. 25, 1701, who married Deborah Corlies, and had three sons: George, John and Timothy (the youngest) who was born in Shrewsbury, 9 mo. 6, 1734, and appears to have been the same who came to Allentown.
   July 21, 1787, the lot above mentioned was seized as the property of Timothy Harburt at suit of James Robins for L 265,13,8 and L 4,11,3 damages, and sold by David Rhea, sheriff of Monmouth, to John Imlay of Upper Freehold, for L 45, containing 18/100 of an acre; after which I find nothing further concerning Timothy Harburt. After the death of Doctor [and congressman] George Holcombe, his widow (who was a daughter of the said John Imlay) occupied these premises until her death in 1835, and afterwards George C. Meyer lived there for half a century or so. He was a hatter as long as that industry lasted, and his hatters shop, until a few years ago, was still standing at the rear of the lot, near the old graveyard. The present owner is his daughter.
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, president of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. For information about the historical society, send e-mail to [email protected].