HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
This week’s installment from the C. R. Hutchinson Collection begins with a description of the land conveyed to John Imlay, where he built his famous house. It ends with a reference to a "Bury Ground" on what appears to be land west of Breza Road, designated for a major commercial development.
October 1, 1765, Thomas Lawrie conveyed to his son James Lawrie (with other lands), the 22 perches formerly Benjamin Allen’s, the lot formerly John Ford and afterward James Silver, and William McGhee lot of 1 73/100 acres. September 13, 1782, these lots were conveyed by the assignees of Thomas Lawrie, with 14 70/100 acres in the rear, to John Imlay, who returned here from Philadelphia, where he had accumulated a large fortune in the West India trade [most likely as a Privateer raiding British cargo ships], and who built thereon the large mansion now in the possession of Miss Mary Emma Gordon [28 S. Main St.]. So ends the history of Robert Row’s 2 ½ acres. The Benjamin Allen lot and a part of the Ford-Silver lot are now represented by the premises of Mrs. Caroline T. Worden and Mrs. Elizabeth T. Ford. On the northeasterly part of this lot (now Worden) was formerly a two story dwelling, the residence of two unmarried daughters of Vanroom Robbins, and after their death still the residence of their niece, Miss Lydia Ford, milliner, until about 1865, when John C. Vanderbeek erected on its site the present three story building as a store and dwelling [30 S. Main St]. On the southeasterly part, where Henry A. Ford now lives, which dwelling was also erected by John C. Vanderbeek, was an old store building belonging in its latest years to Richard M. Stout, and which, so far back as I can remember, was occupied for business [now the Quilter’s Barn at 34 S. Main St.]
Between the above mentioned old store building and the alley belonging to the mill property, where John C. Vanderbeek built a handsome residence now occupied by Evans H. Ford [36 S. Main St.], was formerly an old red house, occupied in its later years by two families, which was a landmark in the early mill deeds, wherein it is first mentioned May 1, 1761, as "the house formerly belonging to Walter Davenport, now belonging to Thomas Lawrie. This house was removed in 1856, and the northeasterly part of East Main Street. It was in this house that David McKean, Jr. lived at the time of his death in 1837 [while demolishing the old Presbyterian Church on High St.], and his cabinetmakers shop was on the same lot. This shop was removed was removed to the easterly side of Church Street, next to Augustus Robbins and those of his family who survived him, and is now in the possession of his niece, Mrs. Anastatia Long.
Walter Davenport was a son of Martha, second wife of the first Nathan Allen, by her first husband, the second Francis Davenport. I find other mention of him only in 1739, when he was a witness to the will of John Tantum, Junr, of Nottingham. In 1750, this lot was owned by Samuel Davenport, another son of Martha, and is then first described as follows:
May 1, 1750, Samuel Davenport and Ursula his wife, of Upper Freehold, &c. conveyed to Sarah Allen of the same place, Widow, for L100, "All those two Lotts of Land scituate Lying & being in the Township. County & Collony aforesaid: The first Lott lying in Allens Town in the said Township. Beginning on a course from the southeasterly corner of the mill, N28’E & distant 78 links from the said corner: Thence S44’E1,16: Thence S45’W 11 links: Thence S44’E 32 links: Thence S53’W 78links to the place of beginning: Containing 18 Perches.
"And also another Lott, lying on the easterly side of Doctors Creek, below where the old Mill stood, formerly James Lawrence’s: Beginning at a Maple about ten inches diameter on the north side of the creek, at a short turn, where the creek comes close to the upland, on the east side of the swamp, which maple is marked on four sides and four notches and marked S.D.: Thence from said maple running N10’E 2 chains: Thence N17’E 2 chains: Thence N17’W 1 chain: Thence N31,30’E1,50: Thence N63’W4,44, to said creek: Thence down the said creek to the place of beginning: containing two acres. Bounded southerly and westerly by said creek, easterly by the fork of the bank, & northerly by land or meadow formerly Nathan Allen’s deceased." &c. Samuel Davenport S, Zillah Davenport S. Witnessed by Richard Duglass, Peter Bruere. Not recorded. (John Imlay Papers).
January 12, 1757 "Samuel Davenport, of Upper Freehold, &c. yeoman, and Zillah his wife," conveyed to Samuel Allen, of Nottingham, &c. for L380, "All that tract of land in Upper Freehold &c. Beginning on the north side of Doctors Creek, at the old province line: running along the said province line N18’W 61,40, to a large black oak tree formerly markt: Thence N74,30’E 29 chains: Thence S18’E by a row of trees markt, &c. to a stone standing in the northerly edge of Doctors Creek: Thence down said creek as it now runs, the several courses thereof, to where it begun. Bounded west by sd province line, north by land now or late James Stevenson Esqr, east by Stoffil Longstreet, south by said creek: containing 150 acres, (excepting and reserving out of the same a small island of half a quarter of an acre, generally called the Bury Ground)" &c. This tract is now chiefly in the farm which Josiah R. Burk lately purchased of Michael Hart. Samuel Davenport was a witness to the will of Benjamin Lawrence of Upper Freehold in 1748; was constable there 1756, 1757, 1762; and he had an account on the books of Doctor James Newell, of Allentown, 1750-58, wherein he was designated as "Cooper." January 10, 1765, Samuel Davenport, of Nottingham, &c. and Frances Tantum of the same, yeomen, were sureties on a bond for license of marriage for said Samuel Davenport, and Ruth Price of Nottingham, &c. widow.
February 2, 1756, Thomas Lawrie and Sarah his wife, of Upper Freehold, &c. conveyed to John Lawrence, Senr, of the same place, for L100, the house and lot formerly Walter Davenports, "containing 18 Pearches," described as before: "To which the said Thomas and Sarah claims right by virtue of a deed from Samuel Davenport and Zillah his wife, bearing date May 1, 1750, to the said Sarah under the name of Sarah Allen, widow, some time before her marriage with said Lawrie." March 1 of the same year, John Lawrence, of Upper Freehold &c. Surveyor, releases to Thomas Lawrie of the same place, Merchant, for L100, all his right and title to said premises by a quit claim deed.
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].