The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-15
oTEER JERSEY COLONY
Eighty Years Of NisceGenation and
&c. Result.
philadelphia Record ]


A colony Of intermarried blscks and
whites is located about eight miles from
Millvilie in New Jersey. The place is
known a. Gou dtown, and was settled about
eighty years ago by John Gould, after
whom the town was named. Now 1t num-
bers about 500 Inhabitants. These are
scattered, however, and the land occupied
by them covers within an area of about six
miles. The town is so nesr Bridgeton,
which is few miles further soUth, that
nearly all the dealings OF the place occur
there. Ga this account there is scarcely
sign Of life about the place, aud were it not
for tcll-gate and its charge, the passing
stranger would hardly know that the place
was inhabited.
The dwellings are all frame, some aspir-
lug to architectural style, while the ma Or
ity are but a slight improvement upon the
railroad Toulouse. Two painted signs are
visible, one announcing the Location of the
postofiice and the other designating the
school house; but these are SO nearly efiaced
BY the welar of time as to be in keeping
with the lifeless aspect OF the village. The
church is the most artistic building in the
place, and its pastor is the ruler OF the
Gown.
The women OF Gouldtown are white and
their husbands are negroes. Men or women
who are not willing TO comply with these
conditions Of marriage cannot live IN the
village with ease or comfort, for the Could
toxners will have no one about but those
in sympathy with their notions. This was
the request of its founder when he passed
away. Ard this request their defendants
are determined 10 carry out. Goulds in
tention in founding the place was TO develop
his theory Of tie equality OF the negro in
his right TO marry into the white race.
Gould was a colored man, and before
founding Gouldtown was in love with
Young white girl. This is supposed 10 have
induced the remarkable theory which he
evolved. Gould at the time Of this love
affair was residing in Camden
where he married the girl ard where be
started 20 inaugu rate his theory OF
equality. He soon found other negroes
who had similar designs upon females tf
the white color, and Wien they were con-
summaled Gould anu 4 few others friend
less and psnuiIess started TO dig a liyeli-
hood out OF South Jersey land. The place
they selected was indeed a Jersey Sahara.
Whether they paid fer the land is not
known.
From time to time the settlement in
creased By the EDITION of negroes who had
taken unto themselves white women a.
wives. The offspring Of these people were,
OF course, mulattoes, some OF whom re-
manned at Gouldtown and intermarried,
and Others sought matches elsewhere; so
that in iruition of time white men Joined in
wedlook with mulattoes and mulattoes
Joined with white women. This state Of
affairs passed on until to-day the colony
presents mixed condition of society.
The young people of the town are very
light in color, but there is no difficulty in
distinguishing the negro blood in the fea-
tures Of the lightest. The men are mostly
strong, healthy looking aud the girls hand
some. Their hair grows long and thick,
and is worn alter the old style OF making
a topknot on the back of the head. They
are tidy and simple in their dress, are
polite and attentive in manner and pariicu-
larly courteous to the stranger who may
pass through their lonely settlement.
There are two extremes, however, IN the
appearance of the girls While the msjor-
ity are beautiful In the face, of medium
height and symmetrical in proportions,
there are others who are repulsive to the
gaze. These are the results Of marriage
between close relatives. Their offspring
are diminutiye and crippled in form, with
Withered and hard, bony faces, small heads
and useless brains; sunken eyes with a va
cant expression-ss human beings, harm
less and useless, and altogether deplorable
specimens OF humanity.
Honesty is one OF their strongest char
acteristics; in fact dishonesty is hardly
known among them During school hours
a bsske, Of candies is left in the corridor
OF the school-house by a woman peddler
who brings it from Bridgeton. She marks
the price Of the candy and other knick-
knacks in the basket, and goes back to
town About the close of school time
she returns and always finds in the bottom
of the basket an equivalent in money for
the candies taken.
10 the school as much attention is paid
to the medication of good moral principles
IS is deyo' ed TO that OF books. Most Of the
children learn readily and some at the age
OF twelve are studying Latin. On Sunday
afternoon every me mber OF the village big
and little, unless prevented by sickness,
must attend church. The forms of religion
are as simple as their habits. They SUBJ
sist by tilling the soil. and manage 10
grow enough to support them comfortably
with very little left Tor exchange pur-
poses.
Among the pecu!iarities of these people is
their fondness for long and distinguished |
names such as George Washington Jackson |
Buchanan. The father of q large family |
boasts of the name of Daniel Webster Clay,
and recently attached Charles Sumner to
il. This attachment occurred in a novel
way. The fathers in the town were called
together by means of little posters pasted
on the fences, and the man whose name
ended with Clay announced officially that
henceforth he would be known as ID. W. c.
Charles Sumner. After this announce
hey were all permitted to drink glass of
water from silver cup handed down from
he time of John Gould, and this legalized