Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-30

friend to welcome them, no homes save |
those made from sails of their vessels and |
nothing but wild forests upon which to de- |
pend for sus enance. Though the difficulties |
they encountered were greater than they |
anticipated they did not hesitate; but i'm |
mediasely established their meetings and |
organized a form of government and made
laws, the liberality of which is felb to-day +"
In 1869 the European population upon
the Delaware did not exceed 1900, made up |
principally of Swedes with a few Firms and |
Dutch; but in 1864 Charles III having had
some disturbing relations with Holland
looked with covetous eyes upon terri-
tory claimed by the Dutch on the American
Goa and executed 80 his brother the Duke
of York charter to the region between the
western bank of the Connecticut and cas-
tern shore of the Delaware Rives The
same year the Duke of York conveyed the
territory of New Jersey TO Lord Berkeley
aud Sir Geo. Carteret and under them liber-
al offers were made TO attract settlers, but in
1915 no settlements had been made in New
Jersey under this grant
During this time the Quakers were be-
ing vigorously prosecuted in England, the
refusal of this religious sect to take the
oath Of allegiance required Of them, threw
around them shade of suspicion which
designing men took advantage of and placed
them as protesting Christians in a false posi-
tion before their Sovereign.
Many of them, for no offense whatever,
were taken from their religious meetings
and thrown for weeks into loathsome prisons
often without fire ia cold weather; and
which were crowded to s1ffocation So OBJ
noxious were she foul air and dampness
that many died and others suffered in health
Their hard gained earnings were eonfs-
Gated TO support a Yoluptuous and wicked
clergy aud the courts were busy with the
trias of unoffending citizens. In the Ger
mantown Friends Library are still found
old books filled with the names of these per-
sons
SIN 1871 through the efforts of Fox, Penn
and others a declaration suspending the
penal laws in ecclesiastical circles was signed
by the king which was great relief to the
Quakers, but on account of jealousy towards
the PapIsts it was withdrawn the following
year and they again suffered"
George Fox, the founder Of Quakerism
during his travels in America in going from
Maryland to New York passed through the
wilderness of New Jersey on the Indian
trail which going from Salem TO Amboy
crossed Gloucester County near where Had
donfield now stands and he was on several
occasions entertained by the Indians as
their village "Great Fieldn In addition
to his religious duties he, no doubt, examined
the soil and situation with the though of
place of settlement for his prosecuted fol-
lowers and very possibly pointed out our
little state as safe and pleasant refuge for
these people.
Lord Berkely becoming dissatisfied with
his interest in New Jersey offered his por-
ton for sale and in 1873 received a satisfac-
tory offer from two Quakers, John Fenwick
and Edward ByllyDge. Some difficulty
arose between these purchasers, and as a re-
sort to law was contrary to the principles
of the Quakers, the matter was submitted
TO William Penn, then leader in the So
ciety, for arbitration. He awarded one
tenth of the purchase, comprising what is
now Salem aud Cumberland Counties to-
gether with money to Fenwick and the re-
mainder TO Byllynge.
Though FenWick was at first dissatisfied
with the decision he finally assented to it
and in 1875 he and his family set sail, in the
ship Griffith for his newly acquired possess
sions Among those who came with him were
Edward Champneys, Edward and Samuel
Wade, John Smith, John Nicholson, Rich
ard Guy, Richard Hancock, Hipolite Lee
Fever and others, besides many servants.
The Griffith was the first English vessel
which came to New Jersey after its pur-
chase and no others came for two years.
The party landed opposite the old Swede's
Fort, Eisinburg near the mouth of Salem
River. They had been two ard one-balf
months in crossing the Atlantic and landed
the Ssh Of October beautiful autumnal
day. With feeling Of thankfulness at fiud-
ing so beautiful a spot after such long
dreary voyage they gave it the name Sal
EN-, probably from the peaceable aspect
which it bore. Immediately upon their ar
rival they established a meeting and plan
ted town which was she first English
settlements on this side the Delaware Fen
wick purchased from tine Indians large
tract OF country aud proceeded TO make
grants OF land and the little colony soon be-
came center from which many other SETTLE
ments rad ated, it also afforded much assist
ance TO new corners who frequently ar
rived in distress. Soon after their arrival
they opened up trade with New York, Bos-
ton and the West Indies. The articles of ex-
port were skins of wild animals, cedar posts,
shingles, wheat, corn, pork and tallow and
in return brought back such goods as would
be needed by she sebtlers.
In 1852 some foreign trade had been es
tabIisbed and in this year market was
opened near the old wharf known as the
lower landing it was held every Tuesday
at II a. M. and whatever was brought TO
town for sale was taken there Should any
one make purchase before the hour named
he was fined one-half the fine going to she
person informing and one half for public
use In the same year The Kings High
way was started, extending from Salem TO