The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-10-01

from the owner of the land and is
still known as Pidcock's creek. The
gristmill is still faithfully doing its
work, though it has degenerated in
to common feed mill. The tooth
OF decay has eaten up the house and
the sawmill, though the ruins of both
can be seen close together, east of
the north end of the covered bridge
stone house on this property, i'm
portant for its associations herein
after to be mentioned, is being per-
mltted to go into most regrettable
decay. The time and the builder of
this venerable landmark seem to be
unknown. It would seem to have
been built at three different periods.
The middle section seems to be the
Oldest and was probably built first.
The east end was added later and af-
ter Robert Thomson acquired the pro-
perty he added the west end in 1857,
as told by the date stone over the
front entrance.
THE COPPER MINE
The copper mine, which has been
the source of great deal of ro-
nance, mystery and curiosity, is
north of the hill and across the creek.
1t penetrates the hill some so feet,
has two considerable chambers and a
central shaft that sinks to a depth Of
some 40 feet. Some copper is pres
ent, however, not in paying quanti-
ties.
Jonathan Pidcock finally closed the
mine, disposed of his property, and
moved to New Jersey. According to
legend of the Pidcock family he
built house and mill in the lower
end of what is now Lambertville.
This may have been the genisis of
the "Prince Hope Mills" of Benjamin
Parry.
The beautiful hill which is the CEN
trail figure in this narrative was call
ed by the Indians "Nenehawcachung'
You can each put your own interpre-
tation upon this name. 1t ought to
mean Magnificent Hip or some
thing like that This hill, always
beautiful, is at its best in October
When the frosty blasts of the north
wind have tinged the foliage with q
thousand tints and hues and made il
dream of marvellous beauty.
Nenehawcachung belonged to the
tract purchased by Jonathan Pidcock
and was the favorite haunt of Johr
! Bowman. There is some difference %
opinion concerning this somewhat
mysterious individual. But for the
present purpose have chosen to take
the old, and almost universal tradi-
ton, that has been handed down am
ong the honest and simple minded
country folk of the neighborhood.
THE CAPTAIN KIDD PIRACY.
John Bowman was an Englishman
In 1896 he was made surgeon of thu
fleet sent out under the command o.
Captain Kidd to suppress piracy OF
the high seas. After time Kidd ant
his crew hoisted the black flag ant
became one of the most cruel band.
of pirates that ever sailed the seas
Kidd was hanged in 100 and his
crew scattered. Bowman came tx
.Newtown, but being under suspicion
| of belonging to the robber crew, he
soon disappeared. With the advent Of
Jonathan Pidcock, Bowman reappear-
ed and built house at the foot OF
| Nenehawcachung. What his relations
were with Jonathan Pidcock were, we
are not able to determine. He was re-
puted to be an eccentric and contem-
| piatlve man. He loved the beauties
and solitudes of nature. Daily he
would climb to the summit of old Ne
acknowledging and sit for hours in
moody silence, disturbed only by the
song of the birds and the bark of the
squirrel. He loved the old hill and Of
| ten expressed a desire to be buried
on its summit, saying it was near to
heaven as he ever expected to get.
Late in life he went to Newtown
and lived in a little house on the edge
of the village. One day he was found
| dead there. His friends remembered
his oft expressed desire and brought
his BODY back to the spot he loved,
| and buried him on the eastern apex
of the old hill. From this time prob
ablv 1712- the name was changed to
.sBownlan's Hill" And the venerable
mountain became at once his sepui-
cher and his abiding monument.
| BOWMAN'S GRAVESToNE.
Some one placed stone over his
grave with a large ''B" carved upor
it. Some years ago vandals broke Il
off and carried it away, and at the
same time dispoiled the grave The
| object of the search was probably
the treasure that DR.. Bowman was
supposed to have secreted in the hill
it being his share of the booty of Cap
tain Kidd's depradations. The grave
was not filled up, and two weeks age
when the writer visited the grave ne
picked up three metacarpal bones Of
a human hand presumably the hand
of John Bowman.
A story is told among superstitious