Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-11-24
take ye oath Of allegiance and abiara-

II fCditJui eAdl1iiidtlOIl u tD5St carry lCC-
ords, some of which are wonderfully
well preserved, is the total absence, DUR
I ing the period covered by the Proprietary
/ Government, OF the occurrence Of any
capital crime, in fact up to the time of
the creation Of the Court OF Oyer and
Terminer, IN 1888, there was no tribunal
in West Jersey which could try an
offence of that Magnitude, This was
doubtless for the reason that the PROV
ince was largely under the influence OF
the Quakers and the spirit Of those peace
loving men was manifested in the juris-
prudence and in the formation OF the
Courts. The penalty OF death for an
I offence was not mentioned in any OF
their statutes and while the crimes of
murder and treason were made liable in
the Oyer Il Terminer, after it was created,
punishment upon conviction, was re-
ferred to the Governor and his Council.
During the whole period OF the Quaker
administration there was not single
Indictment for capital offence.
Later, however, Lord Cornbury in
person presided over a Court held at
+ Gloucester at which a mother was in
dicted for the murder of her infant
child, and what was done in the case is
plete in showing that charcoal and wear
ing apparel was provided for the pris-
oner, that eight pounds. twelve shilIings
and four pence were allowed for defray-
ing Lord Cornburv's and his retinues'
expenses while at Gloucester, and John
Seldom was repaid for a coffin furnished
for the murdered child. This was the
first recorded homicide case in the
County
Among other things it did not escape
the observation OF an ever yigilant Grand
Jury that the exigencies of the County
required a jail, and therefore at a Court
held in Gloucester on December 2nd,
1859, they did, in due FORM Present We
County of Gloucester for their not
"erecting common goale for the secur-
Ning of prisonersi'' whersupon the clerk
tells us Daniel Reading undertakes to
Hbuild goale or legg-house of fifteen or
sixteen foot square provided he may
thave one lott OF land conveyed TO him
3'and his heirs forever; and ye sd house
''to serve for prison till We County
'smakes common goale, or until We sd
''logge house shall with age be destroyed
''or made insufficient tor that purpose
''And VIM. Royden undertakes to con-
"vey ye lett, he being paid three pounds
''for the same at or before We next
sscourte''
During the first ten years Of the ex-
istence of the County, the Courts had
been held in taverns or private houses,
and on June !, 1885, provision was made
for the erection OF a Court House, over
the Jail, which that year had been re-
modelled.
The Court House and prison thus pro
vided for remained sufficient for the
proper transaction of the public business
until October 5, l70S. when further i'm
provements and additions were ordered,
to pay for which the Grand jury levied
q tax OF one shilling upon every hundred
acres of land, one shilling for every
horse and mare over three years old;
six pence per head for neat cattle; two
pence for each sheep; three shillings tor
each freeman in service, and three shil-
ling for each negro over twelve years
old, to be paid in current silver money
or coin, or in other country produce, at
money price to be delivered and brought
in to the County Treasurer at his dwell
ing house.
In 1919 as appurtenant to the County
Prison the Grand Jury ordered tthat a
'tpayor OF substantial stocks be erected
Fnear the prison with post at each end,
''well fixed and fastened with a hand
'tcaff iron att one of them for whipping
post
Upon the destruction OF the County
Buildings in Gloucester in 1896, the
prisoners were sent to the Burlington
Jai for safe keeping. The same year a
lot in Woodbury. was offered by John
Bispham for the erection of County
buildings and accepted on the part of
the county by Joseph Reeves, James and
John Wilkins, who We're selected as a
committee to take the deed. The new
Court House was built in 1887 un Ter the
supervision of John Jessup, Samuel
Hngg and James Brown, who was APP
pointed as managers or superintendent.
In 1892 stocks, pillory and a whipping
post were built adjacent to the Court
House, by the order OF the County Off
Gals for the punishment of offenders
against the law These implements of
punishment, however, were abolished
the same year.
AS provided by the last clause of the
County Constitution and as required BY
an order made at the first session Of the
County Court, the inhabitants registered
bIlSlf hogs. IHIS loIHlS an exceedingly
interesting and curious part of the
records. Beginning on July !, 1856,
there is page after page of the names with
marks OF the most quaint and intricate
character, to represent various brands
used to designate private ownership of
swine, which were permitted TO roam
through the neighboring wilderness.
As an example to their constituents the
three Justices holding the first Court,
Collins, Thackara and Wood, We're the
first ones to take the initiative in this
registration, as follows:
s'The left ear hole, ye right cropt. ?
'sThe left ear slit, ye right cropt. "
'sThe left whole, ye right cropt and
two Sits.
The records also show the transfer of
the brands from one to another and the
acquisition of some, which had been
abandoned by the original takers.
No attempt has been made in this
meagre historical recital to refer, except
~