Milford chronicle., 1908-01-03
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1910 TO IyUS

p,ooerty Of James 7. Burley Ii con-
aimed about one hundred and fifty |
acres half Of which was iu heavy tim
her. a large percentage being white OAK
.uitable for rshipbuilding. The first man
to occupy this farm as tenant, "ithln
the recollection of the writer, was Rob
ert Powell, an elderly gentleman with
family of five children and two broth-
ars William and Daniel @ who occa-
-ionally made their home with him.
Mr.. Powell was sober, industrious
farmer OF the old school, and moder-
atelv successful. His home instead OF
being filed with the melodious stralrs
of the modern parlOr organ, resounded
from morning till night with the hum
of the spinning wheel, and the clack-
clack of the loom. Mrs. Powell and her
dauOhter manufactured all the wearing
apparel for her family, and the coun'
terpanes, sheets, blankets and table
linen as we'll. The deft hands OF all
housewives of that day were alike EN-
pIoyed in the same occupation ; the
belIes and beaux of that day were al
most universally clothed in homespun'
Daniel G. Powell, brother OF Robert
Powell. deserves especial mention. de
was a man from the common walks OF
life. possessing considerable ability Tor
one of his time and opportunities, ana
had acquired fair education. He was
verv industrious and usually worked
as a farm hand during the farming sea-
son. and taught school in the winter
jSometime in the early fifties he went
to New Jersey to work, and has not
since been heard Of by his friends and
relatives here. He is gratefully remem-
bered by few elderly persons OF today,
who were his pupils more than half a
century ago.
Captain Burley held the farm until
his death, which occurred about 1854
II was then bought by James d. Sipple
who held it for more than twenty years
and sold it to Peter l. Lofiand the
present owner. During all these years II
has never been occupied by the owner
a but has been "rented out" to tenants
/ which in a great measure accounts fo
e its tardy improvement, While belong
8 ing TO Captain Burley it was rented OF
long lease to Jerseymsn name'
l. Francis Hamel, who occupied it solitar!
o and alone for nearly two years, ant
If then disappeared almost as mysterl
ously as he had come. He was eccentrl
n almost to the point Of dementia, AM
aIways carried an umbrella-no matte
d what the weather might be. His furnl
r ture was plain and scanty his bed o
J. berth in which he slept was suspended
'. to the ceiling by means Of cords aH'
s. pulIeys; by which he heisted 1t u
when he arose in the morning. II
st planted a peach orchard, but did no
remain long enough to reap the frul
le Of his labor.
[. The farm adjoining this and extendin
bevond the road leading to Bennett
re Pier. now the property of DR.. }. M
h. Inf Of FELTON,, is one Of the very bes
farms in this section. 1t has exeellen
n buildings-all new and built Of the bes
material obtainable in this and tn
nj Philadelphia markets built ia the be'
N workmanlike order and complete i
p. every appointment. 1t was formerl
"a the property of his father, the late \
10 p. LufF. who had a penchant for mai
h. ing his farms models of beauty. 1t
+ now tenanted by Sylvester D. Evar
rt and his brother, John.
The next farm, on which Wll0'
q. Mills resides, is also the property OF ID
in Luff. AS long ago as 1910 it belongt
to the heirs of James Harrington an
~ embraced the farm Of Charles Mackli
&c as one tract But when the oldest sol
John. became of age about lS41, he So
his share, being one-half, to James /
McColley. Mr.. McColley also bougl
ont the other heirs. He sold OIL Il
nd timber, part of which was used +
he building the first jetty ever erected
ill the mouth of the Mispillion River I
the i'm provement fthe channel In loi
EN- Other Of the timber was utilized
are building the steamboat landing
we Benefits Pier, about one year lat
This pier was touching point for t
me steamer st. Nicholas plying betwe
Id, Philadelphia and Lewes, Delawa
Irs. Not a vestage of the pier or jetty ex
md today-except in the memory OF I
md older inhabitants. After Mr.. McColl
n a had disposed Of the timber, he sold Il
part lying south of the public road lei
ing from the NJ. E. Church to Seo
L. Cross Roads, to Obediah Macklin,
this tanning that upon which the buildiI
were located. Toward the last OF
are 6fties the remainder, which was su
eient to make large farm, was sole
isit. Richards Mills. After Mr.. Mills de-
m. in 1883. it was bought by N. P. Ii