Allentown, N.J. – its Rise and Progress (Part 42)
From the NJ Historical Society’s C.R. Hutchinson collection, the following Jackson property deeds along Province Line Road in Upper Freehold and S. Main St., Allentown.
James Jackson was elected an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Allentown in 1793. The Jacksons are first found in this locality in 1739, when, October 29 of that year, "Emer Jackson, of Upper Freehold in the county of Monmouth, fuller," procured a license to marry "Mary Horsefield, spinster, daughter of Richard Horsefield of ye same place , yeoman." They are said to have been from the north of Ireland, and to have been people of means, who brought with them a number of servants, among who were the names of Agar, Purdy, Chaffee, Harlon, Nugent, and others.
February 24, 1748/9, "Emer Jackson, of Upper Freehold, &c, fuller, and Mary his wife," conveyed to "James Jackson of the same, cooper," for L307,217 acres the of land in Upper Freehold, which said Emer Jackson purchased of Thomas Gill, Dec. 23, 1748: "Beginning at a water oak tree in the line of said Emer Jackson’s land, next and adjoining to land, said Jackson had of LoranceEmer Jackson, S, Mary Jackson, W, her mark, S, Witnessed by William Beakes Junr., David English, Isaac DeCow. This tract known as the Thomas H. Rogers farm, now contains 172 acres, and is owned by Charles E. Woodward, of Bordentown. It lies chiefly on the easterly side of the road leading from Allentown to Ellisdale and on the northerly side of Crosswicks Creek. The province line is still a part of its western boundary.
Emer Jackson, at the date of the above deed, appears to have lived about where is now the Beekman farm, owned by John C. Johnson. He was overseer of roads in Upper Freehold in 1749/50 and 1774, and was constable in 1753. In 1758 he was taxed for 250 acres of land. In the town book he is called "Amer," and "Amor." September 2, 1752, Richard Horsfull, of the township of Up[p]er Freehold, &c, yeoman," in his will, proved October 23, of the same year, devised to his "daughter Mary Jackson, wife of Amer Jackson," the sum of L276. December 17, 1772, "Emor Jackson and Isaac Rogers, Esqr., both of the county of Monmouth," were sureties on a bond for license of marriage for "said Emor Jackson, and Jane English." Jane was the widow of Robert English, and was a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Stacy) Montgomery, of Eglinton, where she was born April 8, 1722, and where she died about 1796. She left no children. The marriage license of Robert English and Jane Montgomery is dated August 25, 1761. In the [store] books of Robert Montgomery there is a long account to "Jane Jackson, Widdow," running through several pages, which begins in 1776 and ends in 1795. The Jane English whose death [wa]s recorded [in Part 40], and who died in 1766, was the wife of David, and not the wife of Robert as is there stated. It also appears the Jane Montgomery was the second wife of Robert English as well as of Emer Jackson.
James Jackson is first met with March 16, 1744, when he and Robert English were sureties on the bond for license of marriage of Marmaduke Horseman and Mary Fitzpatrick. In 1749, Marmaduke Horseman having died, James Jackson married his widow. By the bond given for their marriage license, dated May 26, 1749, "James Jackson, cooper, and Michael Sweetman, yeoman, both of the county of Monmouth," &c, were sureties for "said James Jackson, and Mary Horseman of the said county, widow." His residence was on the 217 acre tract which he purchased of Emer Jackson in 1748/9, already described. In 1758, he was taxed in Upper Freehold for 217 acres of land. He was overseer of roads in 1754 and 1762, and James Jackson, Senr., was elected constable in 1777, but refused to serve, and paid his fine for not doing so.
August 22, 1767, Thomas Leonard, High Sheriff of Monmouth, conveyed to "James Jackson, of Upper Freehold, &c, yeoman, as property of James McClayland, of Upper Freehold, for L100: "All that Lott of Land and House, situate in Upper Freehold: Beginning at the north side of York Road, at the corner of a lot formerly belonging to James Robins, deceased, and is bounded on the west part by said Robins’s Lot and partly by a Lott formerly James Johnston’s to the middle of Doctors Creek: Thence bounded up said creek, on the middle thereof, the several courses thereof, to a stone in the middle of said creek for a corner to a one acre Lott of land which John Wetherill sold to Thomas Lawrie: Thence bounded by said Lawrie’s acre lot, S 23 degrees W to a stone about 29 feet to the southeast of the spring of water which is now in the brow of the hill or bank: Thence by the sd. acre lot S 12 degrees E 5, 05, to a stone standing by York Road and corner to said Lawrie’s lot and this lot also: Thence by said York Road to the place of beginning: containing five acres, more or less."
April 1, 1769, "James Jackson, of Upper Freehold, &c, yeoman, and Mary his wife," conveyed to "William Montgomery, of the same, Cordwinder," for L125, "a certain messuage and lot of land thereunto belonging, situate in Allentown, &c: Beginning at the north side of York Road, at the corner of Lott of land formerly belonging to James Jo[h]nston, now in the possession of Widow Elizabeth Robins, and bounded on the west by said Widow Robin’s lot and by a lot formerly belonging to William Stillwell but now in the possession of Peter or David Knott, to the middle of Doctors Creek: Thence bounded up said creek the several courses thereof, to a stone in the middle of said creek for a corner to a one acre lot which John Wetherill sold and surveyed to Thomas Lawrie but now in the possession of John Wetherill again: Thence from said stone, bounded by said acre lot, S 23 degrees W to a stone about 29 feet to the southeast of the spring of water which is now in the brow of hill or meadow bank: Thence by said acre lot, S 12 degrees E 5, 05, to a stone standing in said York Road and corner to said acre lot: Thence by said road to the place of beginning: containing five acres of land, be it more or less." Signed, James Jackson S, Mary Jackson, X her mark S. Witnessed by William Fagins, Patrick Fagin[s], Alexander Montgomerie.
The lot described in the two foregoing deeds is on the northerly side of West Main Street, and is now [1914] known as the Idell lot. The John Wetherill lot, which bounded it easterly, is that on which the creamery and other buildings now stand. The lot adjoining it westerly, which was in the possession of James Robins in 1767, and his widow, Elizabeth, in 1769, is that now also belonging to D.B. and F.E. Idell, where George A. West now lives. There are now no buildings on said five acres acre lot, and there is no tradition that any ever existed, but there was evidently a house there in 1767 and 1769. "James Robins, of Chesterfield, in ye county of Burlington, &c, Taylor," married "Elizabeth Core, spinster, daughter of Grace Core, of ye same place, widow," as appears by a license dated November 2, 1737. Mary Core (or Coar), sister of Elizabeth, was the second wife of the second Robert Pearson. William Montgomery, who was the son of James and Mary Montgomery, was son in law of James and Elizabeth Robins, his wife being their daughter Elizabeth. He died October 26, 1816, aged 68 years and 11 months, and Elizabeth, his wife, died October 22, 1821 (age not given). The left no children. Alexander Montgomery was another son of James and brother to William. He married Eunia West of Eatontown, and died July 14, 1798, aged 63 years. Their daughter Lucy Montgomery, was the wife of Samuel Quay.
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, M.A., designated historian for Allentown Borough.

