Allentown, its rise and progress, Part 16

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

   This week’s installment from the New Jersey Historical Society’s Charles R. Hutchinson papers details the earliest known records of Walnford’s ownership. Although only the 19th century gristmill currently exists, there were other industries there during the colonial period, which produced cloth and leather for the surrounding community.

   
Samuel Rogers, so far as appears, was the earliest owner of the mill property of Walnford, which was probably for established by him. It is stated that there is a deed on record (which I have never seen), by which, in 1734, he purchased, for L500 Sterling, 323 acres on Crosswicks Creek, which was perhaps the same. Two years later he gave a bond to the township of Upper Freehold to maintain the bridge there, of which the following is a copy:
   "Know all men by these Presents: that I, Samuel Rogers, of Upper Freehold, in the County of Monmouth and province of New Jersey, Merch’t, and held and firmly Bound unto Richard Stevens and Robert Lawrence, ffreeholders chosen for the affs’d Township, and to the successors, ffreeholders for the Time Being, in the full and Just sum of five hundred pounds, Current money of said province of New Jersey, to be paid to the said freeholders or Their Successors above said, To which Payment well and Truly to be made and Done, I Do bind my self, my heirs, Exr’s, Adm’rs and assigns, Joyntly and Severally, firmly by These Presents. Sealed with my Seal & Dated February the third, in the Tenth Year of his Majesties Reign, Anno Dominy, 1736.
   "The Condition of this obligation is such that if the above Bound Sam’el Rogers, or his heirs, Exr’s, Adm’rs and assigns shall and do make Cause to be made, Erected or set up a Good, Sufficient Bridge Cross Crosswicks Creek Below his mill where the Road is this Day Laid out and Keep the same in Good Repair both for horse, footmen & Carriages, from the Time of said Building, Erecting or Setting up: Thenceforward, During the Time that there shall be Mill or Mills Standing and Used as such on the said Creek in the place where they now stand, and that the aforesaid Bridg shall be Built, Erected and set up, fit for Travellers & others s affores’d Between this and the first Day of June next Ensuing, Then this obligation to be Void and of None Effect, otherwise to Stand and Remain in the full force & virtue." "Sam’el Rogers," S. Witnessed by Richard Saltar, Joseph Kinnan, Jos. Arney.
   It also appears that in 1749 Samuel Rogers has made an attempt to evade the contract expressed in this bond, and an opinion was obtained from John Cox, a Trenton lawyer, who declared him fully bound by it, but declined to take the case against him. What the outcome may have been I cannot say. In the "New York Weekly Post Boy" for March 19, 1744, the following advertisement appeared:
   "To Be Sold, By Samuel Rogers of Crosswicks, in the County of Monmouth, East Jersey, viz: A Pleasently situated Plantation containing One Hundred and Seventy five Acres of choice good Land, laying a Mile on the Creek of the said Land, which affords great Plenty of Water even in the driest Times: One Hundred Acres of which is already cleared, with Twenty Acres of good Meadow: all of which is in good new Fence. Also a large Brick House two Story high, commodious for two Families; with a good Kitchen, large Barn, Stable and Cooper’s Shop, all new Fence. Also two new well built Grist Mills, with two Pair of Stones, and always fully employed; with two Bolting Mills both wrought by Water, one of which for the Country Use, the other that makes choice good Flour for either the New York or Philadephia Market, and can be transported with equally the same Charge. Also a large new Store-house for Wheat: A new Fulling Mill, Press House and Dye House; with good Conveniences for a Tan Yard and Shoemaker; and an undeniable good Prospect for a Store Keeper. Whoever inclines to purchase the above Premises, may apply to said Rogers living thereon, to Mr. Anthony Duane, Merchant in New York, or to John Troup, who will inform them of the Conditions of Sale; the Title being indisbutable."
   April 4, 1748, another advertisement appeared in the same paper, as follows:
   "To Be Sold. On Crosswicks Creek, a good Grist Mill with two Pair of Stones, with three Bolting Cloths, and a large commodious Store for Wheat; has never wanted water. Also a good fulling Mill, with a large Brick House two Story high, well finish’d, a good Kitchen, Coopers Shop and Barn, with 180 acres of good Land, 150 of which already cleared, 20 of which is good English Meadow. The Land joins for a Mile on the said Creek. Whoever inclines to purchase may apply to Samuel Rogers in Allen Town, who will agree on easy Payments, or to John Troup in New York; who has good Florence Oyl to be Sold, with by the Chest or Flask."
   Neither of these advertisements effected a sale, however, and Samuel Rogers still owned the premises at the time of his death in 1756.
   September 27, 1936, "Letters of Administration were granted to Samuel Rogers, of Allens Town in the County of Monmouth, Merchant, principal creditor of John Imlay, late of Upper Freehold in the same County, Carpenter, deceased, of all and singular the Goods, Chattels & Credits of the said deceased." Inventory, L21,9,0.
   April 22, 1749, "Henry Moore, of the city of New York, Schoolmaster, and Mary his wife," conveyed to "Samuel Rogers, of the township of [Upper] Freehold, &c. Merchant," for L38, "All that Lott of Land near Allens town, on the post road, in the township of Freehold, &c. containing 31 acres, be the same more or less: Beginning at James Borden’s corner on Neversinks Road, and running from the said road N,W 35′,18,50: Then S,W 71′,-20 chains: Then S, 56’W, 4 chains & 3 poles: Then by the land of Aaron Robins 20,50: Then by the said road, the several courses thereof, the first station; x x x as the same was granted to George Dudin, x x x (whose surviving heiress Mary, wife of the said Henry Moore now is), by deed from James Borden, June 28, 1721," &c. This tract, which I cannot locate with any exactness, appears to be also now included in the farm of J. Holmes Probasco. It was originally a part of the tract which Aaron Robins bought of Robert Burnet in 1706.
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].