Historically Speaking

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: A look at Allentown-Upper Freehold at the time of the American Revolution.

By:
Information provided by Allentown resident Ann Garrison, Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society President John Fabiano and society member Alice Wikoff from their draft abstract, "Allen’s Town, New Jersey: A Crossroads of the American Revolution, 1775-1783."
A Patriot Family
   One of the prominent families from this area during Colonial times was the Rogers. Through marriage as well as business relationships with other prominent families, such as the Borden and Kirkbride families, they became staunch patriots united against the British rule.

   The earlier Samuel Rogers, an ardent Episcopalian, was the founder of Christ Episcopal Church in Allentown. By tradition, the family was of Irish descent. He died in 1756, describing himself in his will as a "shopkeeper." The remains of Samuel and Mary Rogers lay in the ancient graveyard off Main Street in Allentown.
   From the New York Mercury, dated Feb. 5, 1759:
   "TO be sold, two good plantations, in upper Freehold, East-New-Jersey, adjoining the grist mills, on Crosswicks Creek, four miles from Crosswicks meeting-house, six miles to the nearest landing for Philadelphia market: one containing 360 acres, well watered and timbered; about 200 acres cleared and in good fence, fit for the plough, 30 acres of meadow, a young orchard of 230 apple trees, a new two story house, and large barn thereon. The other farm about 200 acres, most part clear and in good fence, 30 of which is good meadow, lies two thirds encompassed by a mill-pond, which is a continual fence; hath 150 apple trees of choice fruit, with a dwelling-house and barn almost new: Whoever inclines to buy, may be shewn the farms by Isaac Rogers, in Allen’s Town, near the premises, and agree on the terms, by applying to Samuel Rogers, in New York, near the Exchange, who will give a good title for the same."
   As early as 1734, the Rogers and Borden families are partners in providing transportation from New York to Philadelphia. This business relationship continued for many years.
   From The Pennsylvania Gazette, dated June 17, 1762:
   "The Public is hereby informed, That there is a Ferry erected at the opposite to Bordentown, from which there is an exceeding good Road, well cleared, and safe for Carriages, that leads into the Post Road, about five miles above Bristol, which makes it the nearest, and by far the pleasantest Road from Philadelphia to Bordentown, Allentown, Amboy, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Freehold &c. and is several Miles nearer to New York than the Post Road: There are good Boats, and Houses of good Entertainment at both the above said Ferries, and also at convenient Stages, on the Roads leading to the several Places above mentioned.
   "J. Borden, jun. and J. Kirkbride"
   Isaac Rogers, son of Samuel, resided all his life at Allentown, engaged in a mercantile business. He lived between the Lower Tavern and the Cunningham Hotel. As a wealthy man, he owned considerable property. Until he died, he owned the Lower Tavern at Allentown, where the Admiralty Court was held (present-day Woody’s). He was a member of the Committee of Allentown. He died in April 1777 during a time of turmoil in Allentown caused by groups of Tories who lived in the New Jersey Pinelands. By his marriage to Hannah Tallman, he had eight children. After his death, Hannah Tallman Rogers married Col. Joseph Height, who purchased the mill at Allentown.
   Among their eight children were:
   James, who married Harriet Luttrell at Col. David Brearley’s house on Feb. 16, 1779. James Rogers died in 1791 at the age of 28. Harriet lived with their family at Allentown until around 1804 when she moved to Bordentown and bought the former residence of Col. Kirkbride. He later married Elizabeth Mullen. James Rogers was buried at the Episcopal graveyard at Allentown.
   Mary, who, at age 30, married Lloyd Wharton on April 6, 1797. Lloyd Wharton’s father was Thomas Wharton Jr., President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
   Sarah, who married William Height, (her stepbrother), the son of Col. Joseph Height.
   Mary Rogers married Col. Kirkbride.
   From "A Sketch of Some of the Descendants of Samuel Rogers" by S.L. Ward and Richard Louis:
   "Colonel Kirkbride was a native of Pennsylvania, of Quaker ancestry … He was a member of the Provincial Convention of Deputies of 1774, and of the Convention of 1776, which framed the first Constitution of the State; served in the General Assembly from 1776 to 1778. In 1778, while the British occupied Philadelphia, the lower part of Bucks County was greatly infested with Tories, who were supported in their depredations upon their neighbors by the enemy in the city. The British burned his handsome residence and all his other buildings at ‘Bellevue’ opposite Bordentown in the month of May, at the same time they destroyed the property of his brother-in-law, Col. Borden."
   Afterwards, Colonel Kirkbride and his wife Mary moved to Bordentown. They had no children.
   Elizabeth Rogers married Colonel Joseph Borden.
   Col. Joseph Borden was the son of Joseph Borden, Esq., the founder of Bordentown, and the man who pioneered stagecoach routes from Bordentown through Allentown.
   From "A Sketch of Some of the Descendants of Samuel Rogers" by S.L. Ward and Richard Louis:
   "Colonel Borden was an ardent Whig in the revolutionary struggle … He was a deputy from Burlington County to the Provincial Convention of New Jersey in 1775, was the colonel of the first regiment raised from that county for the Continental Service, and subsequently Commissioner of Loans of the United States for the state of New Jersey. In May, of 1778, his house and stores were burned by a British force sent up the Delaware from Philadelphia for the purpose of destroying several vessels … During the progress of the flames, a British officer having expressed to Mrs. Borden [Elizabeth Rogers Borden] his sympathy for her private misfortune, she replied "I thank you, sir, but this is the happiest day of my life. I know you have given up all hope of reconquering my country, or you would not so wantonly devastate it."
   They had three children:
   Ann, who married Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania. They lived in Bordentown during the Revolution.
   Joseph, who married a niece of Col. Joseph Kirkbride.
   Mary who married Thomas McKean a member of the Delaware General Assembly.
   Samuel Rogers married Mary Kirkbride in 1773.
   Samuel Rogers, the son of the previously mentioned Samuel Rogers, was born in 1727. He lived for many years at Allentown, and owned considerable property, part of it left to him by his father. In 1773, he married Mary Kirkbride. Mary Kirkbride was the sister of Col. Joseph Kirkbride. Prior to the Battle of Monmouth, Samuel Rogers financed the raising of the Four Battalions of State Troops due to the continual financial difficulties of the cash-strapped American government.
   From newspaper extract, dated Jan. 28, 1778:
   "TO BE SOLD, A HOUSE and LOT in Bordentown; also a house and lot of nine acres of land and meadow near Richard Waln’s mills, in Upper Freehold: An also a plantation of 200 acres of land and meadow, with a house, barn, and orchard thereon, near Allens-Town, in Middlesex county [present-day Washington Township]."
   By his previous marriage to Sarah Hyne, he had one daughter:
   Ann, who married Samuel Forman. Samuel Forman was a member of the notable Monmouth County patriot family.
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