The Penn's Grove record., 1920-06-25
Historians Visit
BOnaparte Park
A Hundred Years Ago A Spanish
King Lived in New Jersey

SlClZenS Ol new OSISSy uuIllS Vic
past hundred years have been nick
named "Spaniards." Few know the
origin. When the empire of Napoleon
Bonaparte fell in Europe at the bat
tie of Waterloo in 1915, his brother,
Joseph B~onaparte, who had been put
on the throne of Spain and maintained
there as king from 1903 to 1913, by
the French and British army, came to
America and settled at Bordentown,
N. ]. The New Jersey legislature in
1916 passed a law allowing this Italian
and former king of Spain to OWN land.
He and his retinue purchased o
1000 acres above ~Bordentown, bound
ed by Crosswicks creek and the Del
aware River. He lived there under
the name of Count d~eSurvilliers and
spent Spanish dollars ~profusely. A
mansion, a watch tower house n
other buildings were erected. The
watch tower was erected on a bluff at
the upper side of C~rosswicks creek
with a clear view of any boat coming
up the Delaware river, as he lived In
fear of being taken by British or
Spanish soldiers. The mansion was
furnished with luxurious pieces OF
sculpture, art and tapestries from
Europe and there was a mantle from
the Vatican. A picture of Napoleon
Bonaparte was in every room. Napol-
con was the first great popular ruler
of Europe who humbled the Vatican
and put Joseph on the throne of
Naples in 1906, until he vas made
king of Spain in 1903, when the In
ouisition was destroyed never to be
replaced.
Thru the 1000 acres of forests pri-
meval walks and drives were laid out,
rare strawberries and trees were
planted. A lake was made and under
ground passage ways led from n
building to the other with openings at
the side of the bluffs where escape
could be made by boats on the creek
and river. The place was chosen be-
cause it was between New York and
Philadelphia, easy of access to get the
latest news from Europe brought by
boats landing at either port. Besides
many French republicans had settled
along the Delaware and many French
Huegunots a century before, all of
whom were friendly to this famous
Frenchman and helped to guard him
from capture.
Joseph Bonaparte was an elder
brother to Napoleon whom he wanted
to exchange places with and have Ma
poleon come to America, instead OF
surrendering himself to the British
being banished to St. Helena, which
he made famous. BordentoWn and
New Jersey were made famous also
by the residence of this royal family
from France. Th.ey were not royal
by ancestors. They were their own
ancestors by brains and ability. Jo-
seph was 1 lawyer, had been a senator
aid -aiR mat. Napoleon was the first
great Democratic ruler of Europe.
Under him tr= men of ability could
and did rise to be generals and kings
without ancestry. He destroyed
feudalism and established the Code
Napoleon which all men were judged
by the same laws. Several countries
in Europe, South America and Louis
lana now have the Code Napoleon.
The readers of history should keep
in mind that King George III, was
ruler of Great Britain. The same au-
t~ocratic king more German than Eng
lish against whom the Colonies rebell-
ed, were then in alliance with the
Hohenzollern rulers of Germany and
lHey we're UdILlluS dSdIIlSI Vic SIOWIil
of democratic ideas introduced and
promulgated under the Bonapartes.
With these historic memories re-
called the Gloucester County Historical
Society made a pilgrimage to Bona
parte Park last Saturday. Others
from Salem County and Burlington
made the number about fifty who
viewed the remains of the Park with
it's departed royal glories. The Park
now comprises about 100 acres and is
owned by John X. Hammond, a
sportsman, who has a Japanese at
tendant in charge and keeps the place
as a resort for boxing and swimming.
In the ground is a concrete tank 20
feet deep, 80 feet wide and 40 feet
long, with a row of electric lights.
A guide showed where the first
mansion stood. 1t was burned in 1920
during the absence of Joseph Bona
parte. Many of the art treasures
were rescued, as were casks of rare
wines which were rolled down secret
passage. The only mark remaining
passages. The only mark remaining
the side of the bluff. The under
ground passageway to the second
mansion is all the vestige of royal
residence to be seen. Joseph le1t
America in 1889 and died in Italy in
1914, aged rs. He left the Park to
his eldest grandson Charles. In 1847
it was sold at auction to a Mr.. Rich
ards, who sold it to Henry Beckett, an
Englishman. . He had such a hatred
for everything Napoleonic that he
tore the mansion down and with the
material erected the present mansion
The hospitable porch shows the mar
BILE floor over which once the SPANS
one-time king went and came, also the
stately pillars.
The visitors, with historic memories
also visited the farm house once. occu,
pied by Joachim Murat, who married
Bonaparte's sister, Caroline and VIII
was king of Naples after Joseph be
came king of Spain. Clara Barton's
school house and the home of Samue
IJonL;nc uho wrote the "Battle of the