The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-13
Stephen Girard's Residence in
Mount Holly

tnat Glrard lived in Mount Holly dur.
! ing the Revolution, keeping a small
store in the frame building on Mill
street, near Mount Holly avenue, now
owned by Mrs. Charles M. Sharp. An
addition has been made to one end OF
the house, and a porch added at the
front, but with these exceptions, the
exterior is claimed to be re main as
when it was occupied by the future
millionaire. The land owned by Girard
extended to Garden street, and there is
a vague tradition that the house
originally stood on another part Of the
lot and was moved to the line of Mill
street.
1t is probable that Girard first heard
of Mount Holly, and later located
here. through his intimacy with Isaac
Hazelhurst, Esq prominent Phila.
delphia merchant. Upon returning
from trading trip to New York, in
I'll, Girard brought letters of iutro-
duction to Mr.. Hazelhurst. The latter
was SO impressed that he entered into
partnership with Girard, to engage in
the San Domingo trade. Two vessels
were fitted up, but both we're captured
at sea. This misfortune dissolved the
partnership.
The opening of the war OF the Reyo-
luton drove Girard from commerce to
store keeping, and she conducted a
small store in Philadelphia, bottling
claret and cider. Upon the approach
of the British army, in 1777, Girard
purchased small farm, OF between
five and six acres. at Mount Holly,
from Isaac HazeIhurst, for $500. A
small frame house, one story and a
half high, stood on the farm. Mr..
Hazelhurst had purchased the farm q
short time before from John Sheads,
intending to erect a mansion there.
Not finding the location suitable for
the purpose, he sold it to Girard at the
price he had previously paid. Later
Mr.. Hazelhurst purchased large tract
of land at the end Of Garden street,
and erected the residence now owned
by Richard Ashhurst, descendant.
While in Monnt Holly Girard con-
tinued his business of bottling claret
and cider. There is a tradition that
he procured boat, and made trips to
Philadelphia by way Of the Rancocas
creek and Delaware river when his
stock of liquors needed replenishing.
It was said that he would make this
long, arduous trip to Philadelphia and
back, himself. rather than pay anyone
to transport his goods. This legend is
not believed to be authentic.
In DR.. Zachariah Reeds manuscript
"reminiscences Of Mount Holly is found
the following:
"GiraTd was known to be extremely
poor while he lived here, and | am In
formed by a lady of Philadelphia, that
she knew his family, also the hired
girl who lived with them in Mount
Holly, and that he absolutely refused
to pay her the wages justly due and
owing, as he said he was unable to do
so. Charles Budd said he turned the
grindstone for him and he refused to
pay him according to promise. Stacy
Mills has often worked for him by the
day in his segar shop. and remembers
his wife very we'll. She was very
pretty woman and Stephen was Excess
sively jealous of her and could not
bear any man to speak to her, and it is
further said that an army officer, who
was soiourning here, had the audacity
to kiss Mrs. Girard, at which her hus-
band became highly incensed and soon
removed back to the city. 1t is well
authenticated that he never mentioned
Mount Holly or the people, no more
than if he had never known them.
For long time might be seen upon
the window shutters, his old signs of
tea, coffee, sugar molasses and segars.
Girard's wife, who was Mary Lum.
daughter Of Philadelphia ship car
penter, is conceded to have been very
beautiful. The marriage took place in
ITO, the bride being about sixteen
years old. The marriage is believed to
have been an unhappy one. Mrs. Girard
finally became insane, and was admit
ted to the Pennsylvania Hospital as
patient in 1880. A daughter, who died
in infancy, was born in the institution
> few months later. Mrs. Girard re-
manned in the hospital nearlya quarter
Of century. She died there in 1915,
and her body was buried in the lawn
Of the institution.
Girard greatly increased his fortune
during the war Of 1872, and it is said
that his trading vessels frequently
came up the creek to Mount Holly.
The following anecdote of the Gil.
rards was published in 1882:
During his residence at Mount
Holly an event occurred which proba-
bly, exercised some influence to embit- |
ter his connubial happiness, for though
frivolous and innocent in itself, it was
certainly not calculated to give ease to
the most confiding mind. The Ameri-
can army was encamped in the neigh
borhood, and Girard's establishment.
no doubt afforded many moment of
hilarity to the soldiers, by whose pur-
chases OF his claret he is supposed to
have amassed considerable profits Col
Walter Stewart, and a captain OF ar
tillery named Grice. being elevated to
a merry mood one afternoon, agreed to
saunter over to Girard's to crack a
bottle of his claret and see his pretty
wife. This was accomplished much to
the satisfaction of the:brace of gallants,
but Col. Stewart, finding his spirits
rising somewhat above the level of pro-
priety, could not resist the temptation,
whilst Girard's back was turned upon
them in some other ayocation, to
snatch kiss or two from his handsome
wife. It was perhaps, the idle frolic of
the moment, or joke made for bet
of bottle of wine; but Mrs. Girard,
with fine sense Of propriety, impart-
ed the outrage to her husband; and the
adventure made SO much noise at the
time as TO have descended entire down
to the present age. Girard is said to
have demanded an apology Of Col.
Stewart, who made the proper amends
by pleading the hilarity of the moment
IA miserable excuse for committing an
outrage, which however innocent in it.
self, might be productive of much do
nestle misery to q worthy and con-
tented pair. That it caused any dis
quietude to Girard, cannot now be
known"
The Girards probably returned to