Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-04-26
How Mari was Discovered

tor OF the historical old Blue Anchor
tavern. few days ago, although the
supposition seems to prevail that mari
has been used as a fertilizer only about
fifty years. But / can prove to YOU
that it was first brought into use
nearly hundred years ago, and | can
take you to the very place where it
was first found. Its discovery, by the
way, was the result of an accident, as
many great discoveries are. Mari was
first found on the property now
owned by Caroline Brick, near Ellis
burg, Delaware township. It was in
this way: Abrain lnskeep's daughters,
Sarah, Hannah and Mary Inskeep,
with the taken girl Sallie, ail of
whom were mere children, were play
ing one day near place where some
men were cutting a bank to fill the
meadow. One of the children. think
1t was Sarah lnskeep, observed II spring
bubbling up out of greeniSh sub
stance. They got lot of this stuff
and with it formed large pitcher on
the hillside in a lot of tall Indian grass.
Nothing was thought of this discovery
until few days afterward, when it
was noticed that where these girls
had placed the mari there came up
beautiful white clover in the shape of
a pitcher"
When was this2''
Il have the old family records said
Mr.. Brick, (which will show
Now, here are the papers," said
Mrs. Brick, who has the keeping of
the precious documents, as she care
fully unfolded them. Here are the
records of the birth and death of the
Inskeep girls Mary was then about
fifteen or sixteen years old, and this
proves that mari was first discovered
about ninety three years ago. | have
frequently heard my mother narrate
the story of making the pitcher which
resulted in the discovery of marl''
These mari fields were first known
as Rogers's, then Whitall's and now
Bricks, and though first nearly a hun
dred years ago, have been in use ever
since.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brick are both dascen-
dants of the Inskeeps, who could trace
their lineage back to the old pioneer
settlers of New Jersey, Abram. John
and Joseph Inskeep were noted men
of their day and generation. Joseph
Inskeep taught the first seminary in
Philadelphia, and was the first victim
OF the yellow fever scourge in 1893
John Inskeep was elected Mayor of
Philadelphia in 1900. and was re elected
in 1904 and 1906 The old Inskeep
burying ground is not far from E lis-
burg, and contains headstones with
inscriptions dated as far back as 114J.
--> ------
The challenge sent out by G. r.
Stratton, of this city, to fly his ho,ning
Antwerp pigeons against those of any
other owner south of Camden has
been accepted by Elliot Birkinshaw
and Ralph Ware of Vineland. The
fly" was to have come off one week
from next Wednesday, but owing to
the birds of the latter gentlemen being
with squads it was found necessary to
put off training them until later, which
will perhaps necessitate putting off
the match for +, few days. The birds
will be taken to Barnegat City, where
they will be set AT liberty and started
upon their course homeward. The
distance will be about one hundred
miles
Recently Paul McCoilister, of Salem
county, was in Swedesdoro with IL
load of potatoes. On his way home.
while in town, be struck the wheel of
a loaded wagon breaking it, for which
he was arrested While before Squire
Ford he was fined for swearing, and
on leaving he struck a light wagon
the axle. He did not stop to
the extent of the damage
Sheriff Shaw offered for sale on Sat.
urday at the Court House the proper
ty of keziah S. Dubois, in Hopewell
township, containing 1874 acres of farm
and meadow lands. Robt. Newton
started the price at $4,000 but j. Boyd