SalemCounty

The Popeno family does not appear in any of the genealogical histories of Salem County. They were not important people and they didn’t stick around. But they did leave a paper trail, particularly as a result of their legal efforts, beginning in 1817, to reclaim title to the “plantation” that had been left by Peter Popeno when he died in 1755. It appears that Peter’s heirs sold the property in 1764 but perhaps for debt that was never paid. The property passed through many hands by wills and sales over the next fifty years but the Popeno heirs must have kept some documentation as evidence of their rights and eventually—perhaps urged on by a lawyer—the grandchildren brought suit to regain the land.

In an effort to understand the case and find out what I could about my forebears and their land, I have had a welcome excuse to study the neighborhood and relationships among families who lived in the area over a period of nearly a hundred years. This paper tells the story

I will first summarize the Popeno genealogy and the 19^th century lawsuit. Then I will review the nearby families and what I have found out about their genealogies and their lands.

The immigrant was Jean Papineau, a Huguenot from Niort, near La Rochelle, who came to New Oxford, Massachusetts around 1686, where he was junior partner (with René Grignon and Gabriel Bernon) in a chamoiserie, or wash leather factory. He is believed to have married Charlotte Bouniot, daughter of Pierre Bouniot, a leader of the church in another Huguenot settlement at Narragansett, Rhode Island. After these settlements broke up, the Papineaus moved to New York City about 1704. They had two sons, John, birth date unknown, and Peter, who was baptised in the French Church of New York in 1706. Jean died soon after, and in 1709 Charlotte Popino married Samuel Seely whose family had lived in Stamford, CT, since the early 1640s. In 1714 they moved with several other Stamford families to the new settlement at Goshen in Orange County, NY. There the Popino boys grew up in an English colonial/Presbyterian environment. John, whose name was spelled Poppino, stayed in Orange County where his descendants continued into the 20^th Century. Peter, whose name was usually spelled Popino or Popeno, moved to Salem County, New Jersey, probably in the early 1730s. At this time I have no evidence why or with whom.

Peter Popeno (as I shall spell it here) was a farmer and weaver. His wife was Mary, maiden name unstated. I believe Peter married Mary after arriving in Salem County and that she was the daughter of Peter’s neighbor, Jonathan Dickinson, great grandson of John Fenwick.[2] Peter and Mary had two sons, James and Peter, and one daughter, Abigail, about whom nothing more is known. Peter died in 1755, leaving personal property inventoried at Ł224 and a “plantation” on the Salem River.

James Popeno was a farmer in Mannington Township. He appears in the tax lists from 1773 to 1787. He died by 1793. His wife was Ann or Mary, maiden name unknown. In 1814, William McNichol filed for guardianship of Samuel Popino (see below) to take effect from February 16, 1793, probably the date that James died. Since guardians were usually relatives, James’ wife may have been a McNichol. James had the following children:

1. William Popeno. William was shown in the 1793 tax list of Lower Penns Neck Township with 3 acres of land , no horses, 1 cattle. In 1814 he moved to Indiana. He was married to Mary, who died in 1820, after which he married in Indiana, Sarah Thompson.

2. George Popeno, born ca 1778, served in Lt. Edward Hall’s detachment in the Quasi- War with France in 1799-1800, and died after 1813.

3. Samuel Popino, born in the 1770s, died before 1807 when his widow, Deborah, remarried. They had one child John, b ca 1798, who died unmarried in 1825, leaving a will. Deborah married John Finley in 1807, bearing six Finley children, and she married Joseph Lippincott in 1825.

4. Mary Popeno married Thomas Truss in 1813. They had three children and the Truss family can be traced down to the present day. Mary and Thomas both died in 1835. No Popenos remained in Salem County after this date.

Peter Popeno, the other son of the first Peter, left Salem County and his whereabouts is unknown until he claimed 400 acres in Monongalia County, Virginia (now WV) in 1771. He appears to have had a first marriage and a son, John, who fought in KY in the 1780s and was probably killed there. Peter next married Elizabeth Martin, a widow with an adjoining claim, and they had three children: Ann (Nancy), born in 1775, James, born in 1777, and Peter, born ca 1779. Peter left his family after 1781 to go to Kentucky and Vincennes, Indiana. According to family tradition, he was killed by Indians near Boonsboro; it was probably actually near Vincennes. About 1792, his family moved to Kentucky where they lived near Winchester, Clark County, and at the end of the century they moved to Greene County, Ohio.

Nancy Popeno, in 1793, married Evan Morgan, grandson of Thomas Morgan, who, in the 1760s, had lived on Sleepy Creek in Berkeley County, VA. He may be the same Thomas Morgan who, in 1741, bought some of Jost Hite’s land in the Shenandoah Valley. Jost Hite got the land from the Van Meter brothers, who were originally from Esopus in Ulster County, NY. Isaac Van Meter and his mother, Sarah Dubois, purchased 3,000 acres at the head of the Cohansy River in Salem (now Cumberland) County in 1714. In 1726 Sarah gave Isaac 205 acres on Salem Creek in Pilesgrove Township. Isaac moved to Frederick County, MD in the 1730s, then back to New Jersey, then to Hampshire County, VA where he died in 1757. Isaac probably knew old Peter Popeno who lived on the other side of Salem Creek, but whether this had anything to do with young Peter’s later moves, or the Popeno/Morgan connection, requires a considerable stretch of the imagination.

James Popenoe (1777-1848) (he added the e at the end of his name) was a farmer and politician in Greene County, Ohio, serving several terms as Sheriff and one term in the State Legislature. As a participant in the suit over his grandfather’s lands, he made a trip back to Monongalia County in 1820 to prove his birth date and paternity and the resulting document is a key genealogical record for our family. While his brother and sister no doubt participated in the same suit, only his letters have survived, giving him an importance in the account to follow greater than he deserves. Now let’s go back to the saga of Peter Popeno in Salem County.

1739, Fenwick Dickinson grants 50 acres to Peter Poppinow.[3]

The land had been deeded in 1697 to Willm. Croach and James Wass of London as part of a larger whole property. In 1702 they empowered Willm. Biles of Bucks Co, PA, to sell all land whether surveyed or not. In 1704 Biles conveyed the larger property to John Redding. In the same year, John Redding granted to Edward Ford and wife Mary 50 acres to be taken up and surveyed. After the death of Edward Ford, his widow married Joseph Salye and Joseph Saley and Mary granted to Henry Brown said 50 acres in 1729. (This Joseph Seeley was possibly the father of David Seeley who was Peter Popino’s neighbor and witness to his will. Is this prior ownership just coincidence or does it have something to do with Popeno’s move to Salem County from Orange County?). In 1732, Brown deeded the 50 acres to Thomas Haynes; Haynes in 1733 granted them to Fenwick Dickinson; and Fenwick Dickinson granted them to Peter Poppinow. Dickenson died before title was made and his eldest son and heir, John Dickinson of Pilesgrove, for Ł40 paid to the estate, conveyed the property to Poppinow of same. This deed is dated 11 Nov 1748.

The description of the land was: Beg. At an Oak Saplin marked D [standing by the Middle Branch of Alloway’s Creek] thence by James Dunlap’s land S 20 deg. E 80 R to B.O. marked AS & D; thence along Dunlap’s land S 40 deg. E 80 R to B. O. marked E.F. Thence along Harseman’s lands W 32 deg. 148 R to W. O. marked D. Thence [on land which John Ray bought of Samuel Smith] up … to beg. (The parts in brackets are not part of this description of the land, but are from the next deed below, ie, from Popeno to Ray.)

Fenwick Dickinson was a great grandson of John Fenwick. His will was written 21 June 1739 and proved 19 December 1739.[4] It seems likely therefore, that this land transfer actually took place in 1739 or 1740, but was not recorded until 1748. A month after the date on the deed, Peter Popeno sold it.

Peter Popeno, weaver & w. Mary (her x mark) Popeno both of Alloways Creek, Salem County to John Ray of same place, yeoman

Whereas Nathan Gainer &c (all of same whereases as in last above deed exactly as in above deed (except in this it is Joseph Saley in one place and Sayley in another and also recites above deed to Peter Popino.

Now said Peter Popino conv. above land by same description as in above deed and with the words in brackets added in this deed – cou 50 a -- .

John Ray was part of a family of some status. In 1762 he married Margaret Dickinson, the widow of Mark Dickinson According to Cushing and Shepherd’s History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, in 1694 a John Ray was a judge in Salem County, James and Josiah Ray both served in the Revolution, and in the early 1800s Samuel Ray was a justice and member of the legislature. In 1815, Samuel Ray was administrator of the estate of William McNichol; earlier McNichol had been guardian of James Popeno’s son, Samuel. So there might have been some relationship between the Ray, McNichol, and Popeno families.

The Dickinson, Haynes, Ray and Popeno families all had something to do with the Alloway land:, they also seem to have been landowners around Salem Creek which is the north border of Mannington, and the south border of Pilesgrove townships. There were two land agents in Salem County who advertised land in the New York papers in the early 1700s. Many came from NY as a result, including the Van Meters and others who moved down from Ulster County. Peter most probably came with a group but I have not been able to identify any other Orange County names with whom he might be associated.

Peter Popeno was stated to be of Salem County when he bought the land on Alloway Creek. He may already have been living on the land at Salem Creek in Mannington near the King’s Road, which he had at his death, and may never have lived on the Alloway Creek parcel. Alloway Creek runs from below Salem in a NE direction to Quinton, which is now in Quinton Township. This township was formed from Upper Alloway Creek twp in 1873 and from Mannington twp. in 1878. From Quinton it continues in a more easterly direction to Alloway twp. In any event, it is at the southern edge of Mannington twp.

1742. Thomas Murphy and Elinor his wife, widow and executrix of Fenwick Dickinson, deceased, sue Peter Poppinno and Jonathan Dickinson in the NJ Supreme Court of Judicature held at Perth Amboy.[6] Each suit is for a due bill of Ł80/12 lawful money of America, with no description of what the notes were for. Such a large amount must have been for land and since the two simultaneous suits were for the same amount it is a reasonable hypothesis that this was for the adjoining parcels later occupied by Peter Popeno and Jonathan Dickinson.

1748/9, 11 Feb. Jonathan Dickason writes his will; Mary Popino is one of the witnesses.[7] This supports my belief that Mary Popeno was the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson, Fenwick Dickinson’s brother.

1752, Feb 4. In his will, Peter Popino deeds to his two sons the plantation on which he resides plus 7 acres of marshland bought from Thomas Haynes.[8] Proved 12 March 1755. Witnesses were David Seley, Richard Hackett and George Trenchard. The inventory was taken by Isaac Johnson and William Harvey.

1752, April 4. Thomas Haynes writes his will, mentioning children Jonathan (sole executor), Jane (under age), Mary and Rebecca. Wife not named. Real and personal estate subject to a bond given to Peter Popeloe.[9] When Peter bought marshland from Haynes he might have given him a bond, but as I read it this says that Haynes bought something from Peter and gave him a bond. Hence the bond would have to be paid to Peter out of proceeds of the estate.

This is a good place to cite the description of Peter Popeno’s land made in 1821 which indicates that the land in the will was along Salem Creek at the north edge of Mannington twp This is the deposition of Joseph Kidd:

I was on the land formerly in possession of Peter Popeno on Monday the 26^th day of November last (1821) with the jury of view. I saw John Black carrying his compass and surveying the land in the presence of Isaac McAllister, Samuel Seagreve who was there part of the time, and Aron Cook who was there all the time. They began the running from a white oak through along the road leading from the main road between Salem and Sharp Town to Cooks Landing so called by some others the Popeno Landing. I have known the stump and tree before spoken of more than fifty years. I remember the first line being run by the surveyor from this stump down the fence between the wood and this line ended at Mill Creek branch in a hollow where there was a fence and John Ellett was on the other side of said fence. This latter property was formerly owned by Thomas Thompson forty or fifty years ago and his father owned it before him. His father’s name was John Thompson. The line from the stump was always called the line between the Woodnut and Popeno tracts. Beginning again at the white oak stump the line was down the road towards Cooks Landing to the mouth of a lane leading to Matthias Kiger’s house. This was called the line when Peter Popeno owned and lived there between him and Mounce Keen which property of Mounce Keen has since been owned by Davis Massell, Dewy Kiger, his son Josiah and others. From the mouth of that lane following the courses thereof to Spring Branch between the same parties, the last part of this line between the head of the lane and Spring Branch is now occupied by Henry Kiger. Along Spring Branch Henry Kiger’s sons the property that was formerly owned during the time of old Peter Popeno by David Seely on the northeast side of Spring Branch. This branch was formerly the line between the Popenos and Seelys, this was the line between these parties down to Salem Creek . From the place where the lines struck the Mill Creek branch was a line between the Popeno tract and the Hedges. All the lands within the lines described was occupied by Peter Popeno and belonged to the tract where he lived but the greater part of it was woodlands. Old Peter Popeno died on that part of the tract where Aaron Cook now lives. Aaron Cook, Isaac McAllister, Samuel Seagreve, Joseph Mapes live on the land. Henry Kiger and Mathias Kiger do not live on the land but occupy a part of the tract on the southwest side of Spring branch, each of the above parties have occupied four or five years.

And being cross examined says I cannot tell what year I first knew the line from the stump down between the Popeno and Woodnut property, it has always been called the line—I can remember perhaps from the time I was eight ten or twelve years old. I was born in the year 1744.—Joseph Kidd

Mounce Keen, who is mentioned in the deposition, was born in Chester County, PA of Swedish parents and died in 1779 at the age of 105 in Pilesgrove. His first child, also named Mounce, was born in 1715 and married Sarah Seeley, daughter of Benjamin and Christina Seeley. He lived in Pilesgrove township and later moved to Woolwich township in Gloucester County. [10]

Now to the land. I have looked at 1849 and 1876 maps of Salem County and the current Geological Survey map to locate this land. Salem Creek is marked River on this map, with Piles Grove twp above it.. The road from Salem to Sharpstown is called the Pointers Swedesboro Road or King’s Road and cuts diagonally across the lower right hand corner. The road coming off it nearest the river (# 49) is now called Warner’s Road. The small square just beyond the end of it on the right is the Kiger House, supposedly built around 1725. The Kiger (originally Geiger) family were German or Swiss German Catholics and they held “secret” services there during the colonial period when it was illegal to hold Catholic services in that area.[11] South of Warner Road is Black Road (#48). The river branch on the left which crosses Black Road is called Mill Creek Branch in the deposition, and Mill Run on the 1849 map. The shorter branch to the right of it is Spring Branch.

I visited the site on June 28, 1996 and talked with Paul Kaiser, who was living in the Kiger House. His wife, Nancy,and his mother and her sister, Amy Bowen, also live there. They are from the Matlack family that bought the house from the Kigers in the 1880s. The Matlacks are an old Salem County Quaker family, appearing in the records of the Salem Meeting in 1775. Paul pointed out the Spring Branch and said it used to be the border of the Kiger/Matlack property. I also visited the other house at the end of Warner Road, built in the 1950s, and now owned by Russ and Patience Oakes. Next to the house is a very clear cut, about 30 feet wide, down the hill to the river. I believe this may have been the Popenoe/Cook Landing and the cut in the hill probably dates back to that time.

Now we have the information to understand Joseph Kidd’s 1821 deposition and to try to fit it to the existing land. I have marked my version of it on the map. Kidd started at a point on the road from Kings Road to the Landing, presumably Warner Road. In one direction, the line led north to the river, by the mouth of the lane leading to Matthias Kiger’s house, and in the other direction it led south to Mill Creek Branch on the other side of which was the land of John and Thomas Thompson, later John Ellett. This line was called the Popeno/Woodnut line. Presumably this had earlier been owned by one of the Woodnut family, then sold to David Seeley with a small area at the river going to Matthias Kiger. Kidd said Popeno lived between Matthias Kiger and Mounce Keen, so Keen would have been on the west side of Mill Creek Branch. That land later was owned by Davis Massell, Dewey Kiger, his son Josiah, and others.

An 1849 map shows Adam Kiger where the Kiger house is, Matthias Kiger farther inland, and Seagraves farther south, east of Mill Run and below Black Road. Ellett is southeast and below Mill Run, near the intersection of Kings Road and Haines Neck Road. Popeno’s heirs sued for a total of 1,400 acres of land. While these figures probably were nominal, not actual, it is clear from the map that the plantation covered a large area.

A word about Cook’s or Popeno’s landing. The immigrant Kiger was Matthias, who arrived in 1738. His oldest son, Johan Adam, had a daughter Cristina who married Lawrence Goch. Their first child, born in 1776, was Adam Goch. The Kigers knew the landing as Goch’s landing, named for this family. To a non-German ear, this sounds like Cook. It may be that Adam Goch became, or was the father of, Aaron Cook. In any event, it would seem that Goch’s Landing and Cook’s Landing and Popeno’s Landing were one and the same. At that time, the Salem River was navigable at high tide up to Sharpstown, a couple of miles upstream. Farmers in the neighborhood would bring produce, logs, etc., to landings such as this to ship them down to the Delaware River and then on to markets anywhere. Peter Popeno and later the Gochs/Cooks could have had a substantial side business facilitating the shipment of such goods from their landing.

1759, Dec 3. Mary Popenno makes her mark on a quitclaim deed to John Thomson (or Thompson) for a piece of land in Mannington which piece was purchased from John Dickeson by a deed bearing even date with these presents, which deed was to John Thomson and contained meets and bounds (but these are not listed in the quitclaim).[12] This was presumably the land, adjoining the Popeno land, that John Dickinson (presumably Mary’s brother) inherited from their father, Jonathan Dickinson.

1764, Nov 29. James Popino and Mary his wife, Peter Popino and Mary Popino widow by indenture of this date sell the plantation to Joshua Huddy.[13] Since Huddy was later to lose the property because of his own indebtededness, it would appear that he never paid the Popenos what he owed them on the indenture. This was probably the basis for the later suit against people to whom the property had passed.

In 1766, Edward Test, then sheriff who acquired the property, published an advertisement that read in part: "By Virtue of His Majesty's writ of Venditioni Exponas to me directed, will be exposed to Salem, on Saturday, the 30^th of December next, on the Premises, a valuable Plantation, situate in Haynes Neck, Salem County, Containing 300 Acres and upwards; late the Property of Joshua Huddy; seized and taken in Execution…"[14]

1773. The New Jersey Rateables for Mannington Township shows James Popeno with 84 acres. This is far less than the land claimed in later suits. This might be part of Peter’s plantation that was not sold, or a farm elsewhere. I have found no record of James landholdings.

1788, May. James Popeno is sued by John Edwards, Andrew Sinnickson and Albert Bilderback.[15] They state that on April 1, 1785 they let to him for 16 years, land consisting of two orchards of fifty acreas of arable land, fifty acres of meadow land, and two hundred acres of woodland, or 350 acres in all. The suit was to eject Popeno, the tenant in possession, and ask damages of Ł200. A further court document to James Popino says that he is in possession of or claims title to the premises. It may be that this was a part of the Popino plantation and that the plaintiffs had a mortgage against it. This was a period, when the country was in severe economic difficulties as a result of the war, and many people had great difficulty paying their debts. This might also actually have been a suit over title to the land, following the same formula that was used in the later Popeno family suits.

1793, 16 Feb. This is the date when William McNichol’s guardianship of Samuel Popeno took effect, therefore I presuume it to be more or less the date of death of his father, James Popeno.[16] (Since guardians were usually close relatives, McNichol, who died in 1815, was probably the father or brother of James’ wife, Ann/Mary.) James left no known will, so his property presumably went to his children: William, Mary, George and Samuel.

1813, 2 Feb. This is the date (according to the suits filed in 1818) when the heirs of James Popeno let the land to the individuals later sued. As will be indicated below, this is probably a legal fiction and there was no lease.

1814, 3 May. This is the date when William McNichol’s Letters of Guardianship are issued, under a law passed 21 Jan 1814. Why now when the event took place 21 years earlier and by now Samuel Popenoe is already dead? Was this necessary to meet the requirements of the new law or did it have something to do with McNichol’s continuing liability or fiduciary responsibilities over the plantation? Perhaps Samuel’s heirs felt this was necessary to protect their interests.

1818, 29 Mar. Mary Truss (daughter of James) in Lower Penns Neck, NJ, writes James Popeno (son of Peter, Jr.) in Xenia, OH[17] mentioning that he had been in Jersey, that she had received one letter from him some time ago but none since, asking him if he has received the two letters from John Finley (whose wife was the widow of Samuel Popeno and mother of John Popeno) and two from Mr. McIlvaine (the lawyer), and urging him to reply quickly. She adds that “...when the rits wher served on them men what a stor it made among them--it was don in August....” From this we may adduce that James Popenoe of Ohio had returned to Salem County, perhaps in 1817, that there had been discussions about claiming the land, perhaps with the lawyer, and that the first writ had been served on them in August 1817. We might further assume that it was then recognized that the children of Peter Popeno Jr. had an interest in the land as well as the children of James Popeno.

1818, 14 Jun. William Popino (son of James) in Fairfield, IN, writes James Popeno in Green Co, OH,[18] stating that he has received a letter from (Evan) Morgan and (Thomas) Constant in which Morgan offers him 50 acres of land adjoining Brownsville on the Whitewater (in Indiana) for his interest in the Jersey land and if Morgan gets nothing he would have no recourse to Popino. (Evan and Nancy Popenoe Morgan already have a one-sixth interest in the Jersey land; this would give them two-sixths.) William says he already has enough land, since he has no children to inherit, but he wonders if Morgan knows something he doesn’t know. “I had sometimes a thought that he got some late account from jersey and I thought I would waite your return and perhaps you would not think it too much trouble to write a few lines to me concerning of it if you should not I shall be under the necessity of writing to my sister for I have not time to come and see you now and I am very impatient to here it. I should like to know how and on what terms you have employed an eturney and how he is and I would like here from him. (We know that William was in Green County, OH in 1814 when he applied for the land in Indiana. (It sounds as though there were visits back and forth after that and that in James’ visit to New Jersey in 1817 he was representing himself, his brother Peter and sister Nancy, and his cousin William, son of James of NJ) in arrangements to sue for the land.)

1818, 10 Jul. Complaints before the Supreme Court of Judicature of the September 1818 term. In

John Den’s complaint against Richard Fen he states that John Popino, Thomas and Mary Truss, William Popino, and George Popino, on the second day of February, 1813 at Mannington township had demised, sett, and to farm let, to the said John Den, one messuage [ie, house, barn, etc.] one tenement, one barn, one garden, one orchard, one hundred acres of arable land, one hundred acres of pasture land, one hundred acres of meadow land and one hundred acres of woodland, now or late in the occupation of Isaac McAllister, for a term of fourteen years. By virtue of said demises, the said John Den entered into the tenement and was thereof possessed until Richard Fen on the third day of February with force and arms etc entered on the tenements in the possession of John Den and ejected him from his farms, and kept out and still keeps out John Den and did other injuries to him against the Peace of the State of New Jersey and to the damage of the said John Den, two thousand dollars, and therefore he brings suit.

This appears to be a standard form of suit. Den and Fen don’t really exist. Then John Den puts in his place Joseph McIlwaine his attorney against Richard Fen in a plea of Tresspass and Ejectment. Then follows a form letter from Richard Fen to Isaac McAllister stating that he is informed that McAllister is in possession of or claims title to the premises, and Fen being sued as a casual ejector, and having no claim or title thereto, advises McAllister to appear at Trenton on the first Tuesday of September and cause himself to be made Defendant in his stead, otherwise he shall suffer judgment to be entered against him by default and McAllister will be turned out of possession.[19]

Similar suits are filed against the other defendants. The defendants and the total amount of acreage in each case are:

Are these undivided acres; is there duplication? These are all round figures. Are they nominal and not real? The actual acreage of the plantation was probably substantally less. It seems to me that the convention of John Den vs Richard Fen provides an ambiguity that allows other persons to be added. In other words, the persons alleged to have done the original demising (meaning leasing for a period of years) were the four heirs of James Popenoe of Salem Co, but John Den could also represent the heirs of Peter Popeno as part owners of the property.

1818, 14 Dec. William Popino, in Indiana, sells to Joseph McIlvaine for $1,000 his one equal undivided third part of one half of the premises devised to James Popino and the heirs of his body.[20] This certainly implies that McIlvaine thought the case had been or would be won. This investiture was made in the presence of a Franklin County judge in Indiana on the 14th of December, but was not recorded in Salem County until December 3, 1824, along with the transfer from Joseph McIlvaine to Bloomfield McIlvaine (which see below).

ca 1818-20. Know all men by these presents that whereas Peter Popenoe of the Township of Manington and County of Salem in the province of new Jersey in the year 1752 - Made his last will and testament in manner and form following...after the payments of his debts and disposing of this personal property etc, he the sd Peter Popenoe bequeathed to his two sons James & Peter Popenoe the plantation on which he then lived with seven acres of marsh which he purchased of Thomas Haynes to be divided by James into two equal parts and Peter to elect or chose one half….Knowing therefore that James & Peter hath decd and hath left heirs who are now legally entitled to the same premises afsd mentioned William Popenoe son and heir of James Popenoe and James Son and heir of Peter Popenoe with others whose names is not here mentioned and know also that the premises afsd hath by Sale or otherwise fell into the possession of other men and the heirs above mentioned hath brought suit for the same and whereas it appears doubtful wheather the heirs of Peter Popenoe will be able to make the profe necessar…. therefore let it be known that I William Popenoe Son of James Popenoe afsd being well concerned that James Popenoe is the son of Peter afsd to whom one half of the lands above described was devised and that he is lawfully heir to one third of the one half of the estate devised lands and that if he should fail in recovering by law his part and the same should be received by the heirs of James Popenoe I the afsd William do hereby mend myself to convey or pay over to James the heir of Peter afsd one half that may be by me recovered which will be one sixth part of the whole premises). William Popeno, attest Peter Popenoe[21]

We know that in 1820 James Popenoe went back to Morgantown, VA to seek evidence proving the date of his birth and that he was the son of Peter Popenoe. It would appear that one of the outcomes of the 1818 trial was to demand this evidence. The above undated document obviously was an effort to assure that James received his share, regardless of the outcome of the case. I assume that there were similar documents written on behalf of his siblings, Peter Popenoe and Nancy Morgan, but that the only one to survive is the one that was in James’ possession. I further assume that this document was written by James since throughout it spells Popenoe the way he and his brother spelled the name, even though William signed his name Popeno. Peter’s signature matches his signature on other documents, so it evident that he was there (either in Indiana or Ohio) in the period 1818-1820. Remember, too, that Evan Morgan, Tom Constant and Harry Martin (other relatives) were all speculating in land in that part of Indiana. There must have been considerable movement back and forth by family members. The two centers were only about 75 miles apart.

1821, 21 Mar. John Finley writes James Popenoe that he had just received a letter from Mr. McIlvainy “that our caus has ben argud in the Supream Cort at trentown and the Cort has taking until Maiy to give Judgment. Mr. McIlvainy states that thair not a dout but virdek will be favrable to us--Mr Wall our aturney says that the questions of Law are all so plane that thair was but litel sed by Mr Ewing excepting one point and that thair is not difficulty about the question and Mr. McIlvainy requested me to luck out and see wheather any of the partys cut or make waist of the property and let him now amediatly--as to your cause will be tried next April”.

1821, 11 Dec. It is ordered that depositions of Joseph Kidd and John Black, witnesses for the plaintiff, who are ancient, will be taken at the house of Michael Hasket, Innkeeper in the town of Salem. On the 13th, the witnesses appear before Hedge Thompson, Judge of the inferior Court of Common Pleas. The deposition of Joseph Kidd has been presented on page 3. John Black said that he attended as surveyor in two of the cases (Seagrave and McAllister) with the jury of view on 20 November 1820. He showed a map with the lines of view on that day. The three lines marked in blue were run by chain and compass, the other lines were natural water courses and were not transcribed. On cross examination by Isaac McAllister, Black said that William Cooke, on behalf of the plaintiffs, showed two deeds or copies of deeds to each and the courses on the maps agreed with the deeds.

1821, 14 Dec. At a circuit court held at Salem, a jury is empanelled to consider the suit against McAllister (and I suppose the others). The jurors are: James Johnson, William Johnson, Thomas Murphy, John Redstreake, John Sinnickson, John M Sinnickson, Edmund Wright, William G Bearily, Samuel Copner and John McChalles.

Judge G H Ford, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, charges the jury as follows:

1. That the estates devised by this will to Peter and James Popino were estates each and had so been adjudged on solemn arguments at the bar of the Supreme Court.

2. That the covenant to levy a fine was not proved to have ever been performed. That a fine was not a form only, it was a conveyance by accord containing as much substance and essence as a deed by hand, seal and delivery. That fines and deeds might sometimes be presumed from circumstances that no facts or circumstances can be perceived on which to found a presumption that this fine had ever been levied by tenants in tail. (Tenants in tail may refer to the Popinos, tail refers to heirs of the body, ie, direct descendants. This would help explain our James’ efforts to establish his paternity.)

3. That under the statute for limiting actions and entries to 20 years the time during which the owner was in fact under the age of 21 years or -, was not be be reckoned as part of the 20 years mentioned in the statute. (Does this refer to John Popino? Or does it go back to Peter and James?)

The juriy finds McAllister guilty of trespass and they assess the damages against him, beside his court charges, as six cents.

1822, 16 Mar. ...I William Popeno of the County of Franklin, and State of Indiana...do… appoint James Popeno of Green County State of Ohio my true and lawful attorney (irrevocable) for me and in my name to compound adjust and compromise all and any and every suit and action of law with and against Samuel C Graves, Isaac McAllister, Aaron Cook & Mathias Kiger all of Salem County State of New Jersey - And to grant bargain and sell all that tract of land which I own in Mannington Township Salem County and State of New Jersey adjoining the farms of the heirs of James....(line missing)...also all my estate right title interest claim and demand whatever of and unto the said premises and every part and parcel thereof unto the said Samuel C Graves Isaac McAllister Aaron Cook and Mathias Kiger their heirs and assigns forever; and also for me… to… deliver a good and sufficient deed for the said premises unto the said Samuel C Graves, Isaac McAllister, Aaron Cook & Mathias Kige…and to ask demand receive sue for and recover...all and every sum and sums of money debts and demands whatsoever which now are due and owing etc....William Popeno[22].

The above power of attorney implies that the plaintiffs thought they had won the case and that the four men mentioned were now prepared to buy the property. Samuel C Graves is obviously Samuel Seagraves. Aaron Cook was not one of the original men sued; he may have replaced Joseph Mapes, the other man with substantial acreage. (There was a suit in 1821 (file #8261) by Aaron Cook, plaintiff vs John Popino which I have not seen but which reporedly involved a bill for attorney fees and costs by McIlvaine. I do not understand the Cook connection.) It would appear that James Popenoe went back to New Jersey again in 1822.

1822, 19 Nov. Isaac McAllister makes a deposition (hard to read), something about being sick and asking for a new trial.

1823, 3 Mar. Notice of new trial. The reasons advanced by McAllister’s lawyer, William Jeffers, are:

5. Edmond Wright, one of the jurors, unlawfully gave evidence to the jury after the jury had withdrawn to consider their verdict.

1823, 2 Sep. Judge Ford certifies that the judgment against McAllister had been signed by himself. He goes on to say that plaintiff in error had neglected to further prosecute his writ of error against McAllister but therein made default. “Therefore it is considered that the said Isaac McAllister take nothing by his said writ of error, but that he be in mercy to and that the said John Den to go thereof without delay.” The judge further ordered McAllister to pay $31.58 to John Den for his damage costs and charges which he sustained by reason of delay of execution of the judgment, and directed that the record be remitted to the Supreme Court in order that John Den might have execution thereof.

1824, 20 Nov. Indenture between John Popino and Samuel Popino deceased, Thomas Truss and Mary, his wife late Mary Popino of Salem County; William Popino of Indiana, and Deborah Finley widow mother of the said John Popino also of Salem parties of the first part; and Bloomfield McIlwaine of Philadelphia, party of the second part. For one dollar to them paid by Bloomfield McIlwaine and for divers other good causes and considerations, each of them sell to McIlwaine the “ one equal undivided third part of the several portions of the said premises belonging to the said parties of the first part respectively....and the said parties of the first part...do covenant with the party of the second part...that they...have not...done any act or executed any instrument of writing whatever to effect injure or impair his her or their title to the premises in question prior to the execution of this deed nor executed any mortgage ...to encumber the premises mentioned in the will of the late Peter Popino....” All except William signed on the 20th of November. William signed in Salem County on the 24th of January.[23] Was this in payment of legal fees?

1824, 29 Nov. Joseph McIlwaine to Bloomfield McIlvaine. Joseph transfers for $300 the one third undivided part received from William Popino to Bloomfield. Received December 3, 1824 and recorded.[24]

1825, 20 Apr. Indenture from William Popino to Thomas Truss. William sells for $550 to Thomas all his right, title interest claim or demand in the devised premises.[25] How does this relate to William’s having twice before sold his interest, to Joseph and to Bloomfield McIlwaine? Were these other “sales” pro forma since McIlwaine represented John Den before the court? In the letter below, McIlwaine seems clear that William once again had title and had finally sold his interest to Truss. Note that William was in Salem 20 April 1825 and had been in Salem 24 January, so he must have spent most of the winter there. He died the next year, 18 Dec 1826.[26]

1825, 3 Oct. Letter from McIlvaine to James Popinoe in Xenia[27], states that “Thomas Truss and his wife and that branch of the Popino family have obtained two verdicts and judgements and have not the least doubt of obtaining the whole. Still they will yet have much trouble before they get into possession. William Popino has sold his share to Truss and wife and paid him for it....Be patient and you will be satisfied.”

1826, 15 Feb. Thomas Truss and Mary his wife sell to Moses Lambson for $1400 all of the estate right, title and interest claims, property equity and demands which now does or may hereafter belong to the party of the first part to that tract of land known as the “Popino Tract” bounded by the lands of John Ellett, deceased, heirs of Christian Kuen, lands of Thomas Thompson and others. This suggests that Lambson, at least, felt the case had been or would be won by the plaintiffs and he was buying them out before a verdict.

1830, 8 Dec. At a circuit court held at Salem by Judge Ford, Mathias Kiger is called to appear by himself or an attorney and confess lease entry and ouster, but neither shows up, thereby causing default. Apparently there were similar results with the other defendants. Maybe they just got worn down after so many years. In 1818, documents provided that whoever lost their cases would pay costs. Henry Kiger had costs of $136.07 levied against him, covering costs for attorney, clerk, court, sheriff, and party, in connection with the Supreme and Circuit Courts for 1818, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1828, 1829, and 1831. The sheriff stated that he had issued a copy of the above costs to Henry Kiger on 24 Feb 1832 and informed him that he was authorized to demand and receive this amount.

1831, Sep. The Supreme Court commands the Sheriff of Salem County without delay to cause John Den to have possession of the lands in question. On 31 October 1831, the sheriff reports that he has given possession to the plaintiff. This would presumably be Moses Lambson and the Finley heirs of John Popino.

It would seem that the settlement may have satisfied the heirs of James Popenoe of NJ, but did not satisfy James Popenoe of Ohio who, you will recall, was not listed among the plaintiffs. He got new lawyers to represent him and at one point sent his son to New Jersey.[28]

18??. Robert G. Corwin, Lebanon, OH to James Popenoe: Enclosed I send you a letter from our atty. Wm. Halstead to Thos. Corwin which he forwarded to me by this morning’s mail. If Halstead’s examination of the record be correct, your case is hopeless but you will see that he has been examining in the Sup. Court instead of the Circuit Court. He says however that the suits may be revived and the depositions used so that you are safe. I will write to Halstead today to examine the Circuit Court records. Write me whether your son will go to Trenton—if not whether you will be willing to bear my expenses should you still think it best for me to go—Come down soon and see me about it.

1836, 20 June., Corwin to Popenoe from Salem, NJ: I arrived here day before yesterday since which I have learned that Moses Lambson is in possession of 58 acres which you claim and Mr. Segraves of 30 acres, Matthias Kiger & son the rest of the balance. I visited McIlvane (?) at Washington but he has entirely forgotten what the result of the suits was. He said however that Mr. Sampson was your agent and could give me any information I desired concerning it. I talked with Sampson and Segraves at length about it and they both acknowledged before three witnesses that your claim was just, but they were not fully satisfied that you were the son of Peter Popenoe. We finally entered into this agreement that you should produce evidence sufficient to satisfy Mr Akers Of Salem (an attorney) of your being the son & heir of Peter Popenoe and when that is satisfactory they agree to either give up the land or pay you for it. Akers will be in Trenton in a few weeks & will examine the proceedings there and write to you if you have proved that fact he will then see it, but if not I wish you to …. by taking affidavits of any witnesses by whom you can establish the fact.

1840, 21 May. Corwin to Popenoe: On the return of Thos. Corwin I was absent from the house and had not an opportunity of seeing him until Monday evening when I learned from him that the Circuit Court was now in session in New Jersey and that our cause would be brought up by Mr. Halstead but whether it would be tryed or not was uncertain when he left. Halstead wrote him not long since that the depositions on file in the case had misteriously disappeared and up to the times of his writing he had not been able to hear anything about them. If they have not been mislaid by the Clerk which I think is very probable they have no doubt been destroyed by the Attorney on the opposite side. If the depositions are found Thomas says we are certain of success - the law in the case being well settled.

1841, 4 Feb. Halstead (Trenton) to Corwin: I examined the records of the Supreme Court at your request some time since and made the memorandum for you of which the following is a copy - and took it to Washington for you but you had left there when I arrived. I find no affidavits filed in the cases - as you supposed there were memorandums. An action of ejectment was brought on the demise of

against Henry Kiger Defendant for twenty acres of land in the township of Mannington in the County of Salem.

A judgement was entered in this suit against the casual Ejection in February Term 1831 and a writ of Habere facias issued returnable to November term 1831 by virtue of which the Sheriff of the County of Salem gave possession to the Plaintiff of seven and a half acres of land in the township of Mannington October 31, 1831. Another order on the demise of the same lessors against Matthew Kiger was also brought and judgment entered in the same term….by virtue of which the Sheriff put the plaintiff in possession of a certain Messuage and land in the township of Mannington in the County of Salem October 31, 1831. These are the only suits I can find since 1823. I do not know if John Poppino or William Poppino is the person on whose behalf you wrote or whether it was another of the family as you do not mention the Christian name. If it is one or the other of them, some person must have acted as their attorney to receive possession of the lands on their behalf for Sheriff has delivered possession upon the Habere facias.

1841, 18 Feb. Halstead to Corwin: There are no suits in the name of James Poppino nor are any depositions on record although it appears a Commission is found. I think your client is mistaken in supposing that any suits were commenced by Mr. McIlvaine in the name of James Poppino - if they had been they would not be aborted so as to prevent their revival, and the depositions if they could be found might be used. Under such facts your client would be compelled to commence de novo.

1842, 22 Nov. Halstead to Corwin: I shall notice such of the Popino cases at the next April term as are in a situation to be tried. Several of the defendants are dead and I cannot yet find out…who are now in possession of the lands. I shall be under the necessity I think of going to Salem to ascertain these facts and also to get evidence of the depositions of the other defendants at the time the suit was brought.

1842, 19 May. Halstead to Corwin: I understand that the Defendants say that our clients are dead and also that they are going to apply to the Court to compel us to give security for costs.

1844, 5 Apr. Halstead to Corwin: In consequence of the contents of your letter of the 5^th December I gave up any further effort to settle the cases in the Circuit Court but I noticed one of them for trial at this term. I think it most prudent to meet the enemy separately instead of trying them all up here to contend against us with their counsel and nail down influence [?]. The case I noticed was the case of Henry Kiger as he had only a small lot the undivided half of seven acres. I thought he would not probably make much fight and if we failed we should not lose much. However, Kiger, Lambson and Seagrave all appeared here and I learned through Seagrave who is desirous of selling land of rendering me what assistance he can, that the Henry Kiger defendant when the suit was brought is dead and that the Henry Kiger in whom the notices of hearings descend was the son of the former defendant. The effect of this discrepancy was of course to prevent my winning this course. The suit abated by the death of the defendant and there is no authority by our statutes to revive the suit….I had therefore to cover my retreat as well as I could and through the instrumentality of Seagrave I got Kiger to come to my office and there I made an agreement with them that if he would give up the land to the plaintiff release all his right to it and take a lease under …. I would let him remain on the land for one year at a nominal rent of one dollar and I would not put him to any cost. Which was in fact giving him nothing for the suit having abated by the death of his father we could not put him to any costs. Nor could we if Kiger had reprised to seller have received the land. Kiger’s father against whom the action was brought had been dead so long that the statute of limitations would have afforded him a complete protection against any new suit which we could have instituted against him.

In regard to Lambson he stands in a situation similar to that of Kiger and my opinion is that as matters now stand we have no recourse against him. I never understood until the other day when Seagrave gave me this information how Lambson stood in relation to the property. Lambson holds … acres which he purchased [from] three different tenants viz Christian Kue, Aaron Cook and Isaac McAllister and all three of these tenants agreements when actions were pending are dead and the suits cannot be carried on against Lambson. And if a new suit is instituted against him the Statute of Limitations will afford him a protection. [The only defendants] living are Seagrave, Matthew Kiger and Joseph Mapes. I think if Seagraves settles with us that these two will settle also. Seagraves offers to pay $250 and the costs if we will give him a release and my opinion is that we had better do it.

James Popenoe died in Centerville, OH in 1848 at age 71. He had spent 27 years pursuing this will-o’-the-wisp with many trips to Virginia and New Jersey and who knows how much expenditure of time and money, only to get in the end maybe $750.

The Bassetts were originally a Massachusetts Puritan family. [29] One of the family, William Bassett, came from Lynn, MA in 1691 and settled near Salem. His second son, Elisha, (1692-1786/7), married about 1717/18 Abigail Elizabeth Davis, dau of Isaac and Elizabeth Davis of Pilesgraove. Among their children were Sarah Bassett (1719-1776) who m1 Thomas Smith, m2 Charles Fogg; Elisha Bassett (1722-1777) m Mary Woodnut, Davis Bassett (1726-1787) m Mary (Haines) Elwell, widow of Philadelphia; and Rachel Bassett (1736-), m Andrew Miller.

On 8 Jan 1777 Adam Cook and Michael Hover, both of Mannington, for 5 shillings quit claimed to Davis Basset of the City of Philadelphia, carpenter, all their interest in a parcel of land in Mannington along Salem Creek, amounting to 350 acres of land and swamp. The unrecorded deed[30] doesn't show any adjoining lands or other identifiers of location. However, since both Cook and Hover had parts of the Popeno plantation, it seems logical that this might be more of it, which they had previously transferred to Bassett.

Also on 8 Jan 1777, Mounce Keen and Sarah his wife, deeded 22 acres of Marsh in Mannington to Davis Bassett of Philadelphia, carpenter.[31] This was part of 1000 acres of Samuel Hedge, later Benjamin Acton. Acton by his will of 12 May 1731, devised it to his wife Anna, who later married Nicholas Gibbon, and they, in 1744, coveyed it to Steven Carmack; Carmack conveyed it to Nicholas Gibbon who conveyed it to Francis Dunlap; Francis and his wife Isabel mortgaged part of it to John Redstreek and wife Isabel The Dunlaps and Redstreeks conveyed it 24 Jun 1760 to Mounce Keen. Keen also conveyed to Bassett, perhaps at the same time, 37 acres of land and swamp on Coles Creek bounding on Salem Creek.

On 22 June 1786, Elisha Bassett of Pilesgrove wrote his will, leaving to his son Davis, the 100 acres where he lived and the meadow on Salem Creek. It was proved 6 Jan 1787. On 17 Nov 1787, Davis Bassett wrote his will, passing the 100 acres in Pilesgrove to one daughter, and the 350 acres in Mannington where he lived to son Josiah and daughter Abigail Humphries. Proved Jan 25, 1788.

[Goch vs Cook: It hss been suggested that the Cooks might be an Americanization of the name Goch or Gock which would be pronounced similarly. Records of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church show an Adam Gock married N and had the following children: David; Lawrence who married Christina Geiger [Kiger] 28 April 1767, Matthias. Adam m2 Anna Catherine Knau (d 1762) and had the following children: Peter b 6 Feb 1759, Susanna b 11 Mar 1760 and Philip b 1761. Adam m3 Mary Gras and had the following children: Mary Catherine, Charles, Anna Mary, Peter, John, Anna Paul, and Henry.[32] Lawrence and Christina had seven children, beginning with Adam Gock, b 26 Aug 1768. These names of children of the first Adam don’t match those of the children of Adam Cook below. So although family tradition in the Kiger family referred to Gock’s landing, this would seem to be wrong. All the records I have seen are for Cook’s Landing.]

In 1770, Adam Cook bought 232 ˝ acres from Edward Test, part of the Popeno plantation.

On 8 Jan 1777, Adam Cook ad Michael Hover, for 5 shillings, quitclaimed to Davis Basset of Philadelphia, 350 acres in Mannington along Mannington Creek, then in possession of Davis Basset..[33] The description of the land doesn't tell us if it was part of the Popeno plantation although that seems logical since both parties had Popeno land. It would appear that this was land sold earlier to Basset, of which we no longer have any record.

Adam Cook's will of Mary 1, 1796 (Liber 36, p 237) left Ł20 to grandchildren Mary and Sarah Seagrave when 21 and divided his real estate and residue equally among his six sons: Aaron, William, Adam, Moses, Benjamin and James (James, who died before his father, m Margaret Cook (both of Mannington) 4 Dec 1787[34]).. Part of this real estate was clearly Popeno land, divided among his children by action of the Orphans Court, September 1797 (Div. Of Land A, p 237), laid out on two maps D and E. The heirs were:

Aaron Cook, Received land on north side of Salem Creek, part of estate of Michael Hover, and, on south side, lots 1D (28 acres), 2D (4 ˝ acres), 5D (7 acres of woodland) and 1E (4 ˝ acres, part of the home place). Aaron Cook and Elizabeth, his wife, sold 5D to Samuel L. James of Pilesgrove, 7 Aug 1798. On 6 October 1825, the adminstrators of the estate of Aaron Cook, insolvent, sold at auction land conveyed to Aaron Cook by Jacob Hover and Catherine his wife 25 March 1802 (Deedbook E 139), 55+ acres adjacent Henry Kiger, Samuel Rose, William Thompson and Isaac McAllister. Lawson was only bidder, bid $1. (Deedbook 11, 43) On Oct 10, Lawson sold the above lands to Moses Lambson for $10. (It sounds as though Lawson was Lambson’s agent.) (Deedbook 11, p 45)

William Cook Died before division. His lots, 2D (24 ľ acres)and 2E (6 acres of woodland), were seized by the Sheriff for debt and sold to William Seagrave, 4 July 1799 (Deedbook E, 389) Seagrave sold both pieces to Samuel Rose of Pilesgrove, taylor, 5 Feb 1800 (Deedbook E, 392). William had two daughters Susannah, and Abigail, who m Philemon Dickinson. They got a 3 acre lot from their father which they sold 13 Jun 1808 to Aaron Cook. (Deedbook M, 255)

Adam Cook, Received Lot 3E containing the mansion house of the home place, also woodland in 3D. Adam Cook, jooiner and Ann his wife, sold Lot 3D to Samuel Rose of Mannington 25 March 1803. (Deedbook E,, 396) 1 May 1801, Adam, joiner, of Pilesgrove and Ann his wife, sold 6 ˝ acres, Map E, to John McCollister.(Deedbook C, 319)

Moses Cook, joiner. Received 4E, 20 acres and 4D, 6 acres woodland. On 22 March 1800, Moses sold 4E to Samuel Rose. (Deedbook E, 394). On 20 Sep 1809, Aaron Cook, guardian of Sarah, dau of Moses dec’d, sold her 3 ˝ acres of William Anderson. (Deedbook N, 170)

There was another Cook, Abel, with lands mostly in Upper Alloways Creek, but also land in Mannington, bounded by those of Esqr. Smith, Jarvis Hall and Joshua Sims. (Orphans Court, Div. Of Lands, A:332). His lands were divided among his heirs at law, two of them minors under age 21: Deborah Cook, Susannah Smith, Sally Shates, Christanna Spices, Ruth Cook and Anne Cook.

Whitten Cripps, who came into possession of part or all of the Popeno plantation, was a grandson of John Cripps; a Quaker who arrived in Burlington in 1677.[35] He was twice a member of the NJ Assembly, a Justice of the Peace, was licensed in 1682 to keep a tavern in Burlington, and played an important role in early NJ affairs. He died in 1687, leaving a son Nathaniel and two daughters. Nathaniel married Grace Whitten and settled on a farm in Burlington.

One of his sons, Benjamin Cripps, married Mary Hough in 1735 and they settled on a farm in lower Mannington, Salem County left him by his grandfather, James Whitten. He died in 1758, leaving two sons, Whitten and John, and a daughter Hannah. She married James Mason, who died, later Preston Carpenter, but had no children. The farm passed to Whitten Cripps.

Whitten Cripps married Martha Huddy, dau of Daniel and Rachel Huddy (q.v.) on 27 Nov 1759. Witnesses on the right hand side (normally relatives) included Daniel and Rachel Huddy and Daniel Jr., Hannah Mason, Ann Webber, William Jones, John Cripps, Nicholsons, Bricks, and Thomas Thompson. Among those on the left side (friends) were Hannah Test, Edward Test, Sarah Ellet, Charles Ellet, Joseph and Benjamin Thompson.

Whitten and Martha settled on the farm in lower Mannington and had there, three daughters and four sons. During the Revolutionary War, Whitten was elected a colonel in the militia. While he was away, British troops arrived and ransacked his house. The only bridge from Salem and lower Mannington to Penns Neck was on the Cripps property so his house was one of the first they reached.. After the war, Whitten was elected for two terms to the Assembly and was sheriff for three terms, the office seeking him, as the first incumbent after the war. According to his great granddaughter, all his sympathies were called forth to satisfy those making claims against others. Executions were to levy, sales to be made, homes broken up, and many times, rather than distress others, he would assume the debts to his own loss and disadvantage. During his last term of office his son Benjamin was deputy, and Benjamin succeeded his father as sheriff. Benjamin had married a daughter of Thomas Carney and they resided on the farm in Mannington. Whitten, now a widower, moved to Salem with his two unmarried daughters, Elizabeth and Cynthia, and two sons, Huddy and William. Whitten died intestate in 1796; Francis Hoover [Hover} was one of the bondsmen.

Our interest in Whitten is based on his role in suing his wife's kinsman, Joshua Huddy for which he got part of the Popeno plantation which he sold to Edward Test. We know this after the fact because of a deed of sale from Test. Probably Whitten Cripps also got other parts of the plantation which went to others such as Michael Hover, below.

On 5 Jul 1760, Edmund Wetherby, Esq. of Mannington wrote his will giving to Charles Elliot [Ellet?] and his daughter Sarah Elliot, the house and 8 acres where he lived, and to his son Edmund, the plantation in Lower Penns Neck where he lived, also 50 acres of Mill Creek. This was too early to be part of the land the Popenos sold to Joshua Huddy; it could be part of the Popeno plantation by a separate sale. Edmund's widow, Martha, died intestate in 1767; Jonathan Woodnutt and Whitten Cripps, yeomen, were bondsmen.

John Kille of Gloucester Co, in his will of 13 Jan 1793 gives to his daughter Nancy, plantation on Salem Creek, Mannington Twsp, Salem Co., bought of Andrew Peterson (150 acres), and 15 acres adjoining bought of John Beasley; also 100 acres of meadow on Salem Creek and adjoining Mill Creek below Redstreak's Island above Finn's Point, bought at sale of the Coroners of Salem Co…as the property of Whitten Cripps, Esq., then Sheriff of Salem Co.[36]

Thomas Carney wrote his will on 9 Apr 1788, naming sons Thomas and Peter and daughters Cathrine Clark and Naiomi Summerel. Thomas Carney Jr. wrote his will on April 9, 1788, giving to his son Thomas, the plantation which his grandfather bought by Sheriff's sale, on Salem Creek. He named William Dickinson and James Clark as guardians of his young son, Thomas, and daughter, Hannah, and also appointed them executors. Both wills were proved 18 Mar 1789--father and son must have died together in an accident. William Dickinson was named administrator of the father's estate, and John Holme and and Whitten Cripp were bondsmen.

Ann/Anna Adams, granddaughter of John Fenwick, married John Dickinson (ca 1668-1739). In 1683, Fenwick willed Adams 500 acres of land in Pilesgrove. In 1702, John and Ann conveyed to John and Alice Stevens, 100 acres on Salem River main branch, part of the above 500 acres. In 1724 they granted 150 A to Fenwick Dickinson. Probable children (The numbers are generations after John Fenwick): John, Fenwick, Joseph, George, William, Jonathan, Mary (not in birth order).

4. John Dickinson, Jr. In 1720, John, Jr., of Pilesgrove, conveyed to Isaac Van Metre 50 acres, adjoining lands of his father, which he was willed by John Champneys, grandson of John Fenwick.

4. Fenwick Dickinson, d 1739.[38] Married Eleanor. After his death, Eleanor married Thomas Murphy ca 1740.[39] Children:

5. John Dickinson, b 2 May 1726-Dec.1777 of Upper Alloways Creek[40], m Martha,[41] He may also have been married to Mary Johnson.[42]

6. David Dickinson d 1787 of Upper Alloways Creek/Mannington[43].[44], m Martha &/or Jane or Mary Wallace.[45]

4. Joseph Dickinson, of Piles Grove, d 1764. [53] M Jane, possibly no children. He received 186 acres of his father’s 500 acre land in Piles Grove. In 1733 he bought 50 acres in Alloway Creek from Thomas Haynes which in 1735 he sold to his brother Fenwick who ca 1739 sold it to Peter Popeno.[54]

4. George –1791,[55] m ca 1753-5 Mary Dickinson[56] m Margaret who d ca 1792, m, Barbery, and had children:[57]

4. William, b by 1697, d in Upper Alloways Creek Township in 1763. Will[60] listed sons William, James and John and daus as below. M again in 1749, 2^nd wife, Abigail Ward, widow of George Ward. Probable sons:

5. William, -1812, m Mary. (In 1780 a William Dickinson conveyed a plantation in Upper Alloways Creek to son David Dickinson and Mary Wallace.) In his will, proved 1812, William left real estate to wife Mary, but if she married, then to the three heirs of her body, Martha Dickinson, Samuel Dickinson, and Jane Dickinson.[61]

5. John 1718-1777, m 1739 Mary. He built the famous brick house near Alloway with initials, the date 1754 and decoration on the end wall.[62]

5. James, 5 Dec 1732-9 Dec 1816, of Penns Neck/Pittsgrove. He m 31 Mar 1766 Anne Kelly, 1749-1808, dau of Thomas and Hannah Kelly:[64]

5. Mark, ca 1730-1757. His widow, Margaret, then married first Samuel Morgan of Pilesgrove, second, John Rea of Alloway Creek (who bought land from Peter Popeno in 1748).

6 Mark Dickinson, - 1807, m 1778, Mary Dickinson, b ca 1770, dau of George and 3^rd wife, Mary Smith Dickinson

4. Mary Dickinson, m John Chandler in 1725, Salem Monthly Meeting.[69] John Chandler, Sr, died 1766, age 73.[70] Mary Savage, formerly Chandler, was reported for going out in marriage.[71] This might have been Mary’s daughter.

4. Jonathan Dickinson, of Mannington, d 1749 m Dorothy. Mary Popino was witness to his will 11 Feb. 1748/9 His wife, Dorothy, was executrix. Had son Nathaniel, executor, and son John, a minor.[72] In 1753, surveyors of roads laid out a road running between John Gosling and the Widow Dickinson to Mounce Keen’s where David Seely’s road came in, thence to Major Branch at Lock’s Bridge and thence straight across Isaac Sharp’s neck and meadow.[73] Was this the King’s Road or another adjacent to it? Peter Popino’s land was on Salem Creek east of Mill Creek Run, adjoining David Seeley’s and he was said to live between Keen and Seeley.

5. John Dickinson. In 1759, John Dickeson and Sarah his wife, deeded land to John Thomson, adjoining Mary Popino’s bridge.[75]

Let’s look at the evidence. Peter and Mary Popenoe bought land on Alloway Creek from Fenwick Dickinson, before his death in 1739 (which Dickinsn had obtained from Thomas Haynes in 1733) and sold it in 1748 to John Ray. Thomas Haynes’ mother was Sarah Ray, presumably related to John Ray. The Haynes and Ray families had both migrated from Salem, MA. John Ray later married Margaret Dickinson, widow of Mark Dickinson.

Mary Popeno was witness to the will of Jonathan Dickinson in 1748/9; he was a neighbor. His son, John Dickinson was also a neighbor. Mark Dickinson, 1730-1757 was also a neighbor. After his death, his widow, Margaret married the above-mentioned John Ray of Alloway Creek.

The Haynes, Rays, Dickinsons and Popenos all seem to have been involved in both the Alloway Creek and Salem Creek areas. We can see that the first three families were inter-related. Since family was so important in those days, it must be that the Mary Popeno had come from one of these three families.

The Dickinson family is most logical . She would be too old to be one of Fenwick Dickinson’s children; the first was born in 1726. She couldn’t have been Fenwick’s sister because he already had a sister named Mary. Fenwick’s brother William had a daughter Mary, who married a Thompson. If Mary Popenoe was a Dickinson she most likely was a daughter of her neighbor, Jonathan Dickinson who could have been born around 1790-95. At the time of his will in 1749, his youngest son was a minor, ie, born after 1728.

The other possibility was that Mary Popeno was a Haynes. However it doesn’t seem that she could have been a sister of Thomas Haynes since his father’s children are all listed both among Salem, MA birth records and in his will.

John Gosling (-1685-6) came to America in 1677, settling in Burlington.[76] His son, John (II) Gosling (1683-1756), also lived and died in Burlington and and had a son, John (III) and two daughters, Mary and Rosamond. John (III) Gosling (ca 1706-ca 1765) may have married in 1737, Sarah Tyndall Budd, widow of James Budd and he may have married Hannah Stokes Coles in 1750.[77] In 1740, Joseph Coles of Greenwich Township, Gloucester Co wrote his will, naming John Gosling, Jr (III) as witness and trustee to divide his lands among his sons. This would indicate that John Gosling had moved down from Burlington by that time.[78] When his father died in Burlington in 1756, his widow, Sarah, renounced her right of administering and John Gosling of Salem Co was made administrator.

One of John (III) Gosling's children was Savery Gosling (1737->1768) who married on 24 Apr 1755, Isabel Kidd (ca 1737->1779). Savery was disowned by the Salem Friends meeting for disunity; his wife Isabel for not attending meeting, sons Samuel and Kidd for serving in the militia, and son John and dau Elizabeth for marrying out of meeting.

John (III) Gosling lived in Mannington, close to Peter Popeno. In 1753, a two-rod road was laid out between John Gosling's plantation and the Widow Dickinson's to Mounce Keen's where David Seely's road comes into same.[79] This was probably more or less the same as the present Black's Road. Widow Dickinson was west of Mill Creek running into Salem Creek; Peter Popeno was east; Mounce Keen and David Seely were farther on, on the east side of Spring Run.

In 1759, John Gosling contracted with John Kidd to buy a half interest in a flatboat at Dunlaps Landing in Mannington (which boat hauled cordwood to Philadelphia) A dispute arose and Kidd sued Gosling for not paying and the case dragged on until at least 1765.[81]

John Gosling and Hannah, his wife sold land in 1752 to Enoch Hains and in 1761 to John Paul.[82]

On 12 Apr 1765, John Gosling for Ł50 quitclaimed to John Thompson and Sarah Dickinson, all his rights to Sarah Dickinson's land lying on the north side of Gosling's land--late the estate of George Webb "to end all disputes and controversies".[83] In 1759, John Dickeson and Sarah his wife had deeded land adjoining Mary Popino's bridge to John Thomson and Mary had signed a quitclaim regarding it. It would sound as though this was at least part of the same land. I don't know George Webb or what his connection was.

The first Thomas Haynes, born in Salem, MA in 1651, married in 1676, Sarah Ray, daughter of Joshua and Sarah Waters Ray of the same place.[84] They moved to Salem County, NJ by 1703 and the Rays who were in the county in the late 1600s were probably kin. Judge John Ray (1694) may have been a brother or nephew of Sarah. (This is a different Haynes family from the more numerous Haines family of Salem County who were Quakers and no doubt gave their name to Haines Neck in Mannington Township. The two families are often confused)

Thomas Haines of Manneton Creek purchased 500 acres of land from Nicholas Winton in February 1702/3.[85] The land, surveyed by Benjamin Acton, consisted of two lots: 450 acres of woodland between John Cullyers and the head of Cranbury Pond on a branch of Tindall's Run; and 50 acres of marsh on Vickery and Salem Creeks. Thomas died in 1709 leaving the following children named in his will:

John Haynes, bap 1678, d 1714 in Mannington, m Sarah Skinner. Later Sarah m2 Alexander Simpson. Children: Daniel, William, Sarah, Hannah, John and Mary. The latter may have married Thomas Thompson in 1736. On 29 Mar 1761, a Sarah Haynes for Ł50 deeded to Josiah Stanberry two lots in Mannington, described as the plantation that formerly belonged to her grandfather, John Haynes, lately in the tenure of Alexander Simpson. There were 156 acres of land, bounding on the lands of Elisha Bassett, Henry Woodnut, Hance Bilderback and Mathew Vickery; and a marsh bounded by Vickery's Creek, and the marshes of John and William Roberts and Hance Bilderback. On 7 Nov 1768, Sarah Haynes, now Sarah Shoemaker, affirmed the above.[86]

Joseph Haynes, bap 1683. Owned land in Mannington in 1723, a deed was made in 1732 for 500 acres in Mannington to Joseph Haynes, later sold to Hance Bilderbeck. It is assumed that Joseph left NJ before 1723 for PA, and from 1745-1760 lived at Harrisburg.

Benjamin Haynes, bap 1685, a weaver of Salem Co, d 1733. He had a wife, Ann, and children Joseph, Benjamin, John, Mary, Ann, and Hannah. John, b ca 1720, m 4 Nov 1745, Rebecca Smith. He spelled his name Hanes. He was a mechanic who lived his entire life in Mannington. Descendants moved to Eldridge Hill near Woodstown.

Thomas Haynes, bap 17 Oct 1690, was a private in Captain Rumsey's Colonial Militia in 1715, and died in 1752 with a will, showing he owed a bond to Peter Popenoe. His first wife was perhaps Elizabeth; his second Jane Brown, m 23 Mar 1749 at Pilesgrove Presbyterian Church. Children named in his will were Jonathan Haynes, executor, Mary Haynes, Rebecca Haynes and Jane Haynes (underage). Peter Popeno had also bought 7 acres of marsh from Thomas--perhaps part of the marsh originally owned by his father. And Thomas had been one of the owners of the land on Alloway Creek, subsequently bought by Peter Popeno and sold by him to John Ray.

Michael Hover apparently obtained some part of the Popeno plantation perhaps as Aaron Cook had, through Whitten Cripps and Edward Test. I have no information on Michael's background. The later records say that Michael became seized to certain land, marsh and meadow, and Hannah Hover, his widow purchased a lot of marsh meadow ground from James Mason Woodnut, situated in Haines Neck, Mannington. He left his in his will of 10 March 1779 to his nine children. They petitioned the Orphans Court that James Mason Woodnutt, Benjamin Smith and Thomas Clement Esq. be commissioners to divide the estate (Divisions of Land A:93) and it was divided by the Orphan's Court June term, 1793 (A:103).

The land was along Salem Creek, east of Mill Creek, and adjoining Aaron Cook's land. The Orphans Court divided the Home Plantation as follows (A:103-4, map on 111):

Jacob Hover Lot -#1, beginning at a stone in the road at Mill Creek (south end of property), 3 acres and the house.

Francis Hover, Doctor of Physick, Salem Town sold in 1797, his 10 1/2 acre lot to Jacob Hover (Deedbook B:46).

Francis Hover sold 3 acres in 1794 to Abraham Sharp who resold them in 1798 to Daniel Cook (Deedbook A:526).

James Dorrell and Sarah [Hover] Dorrell his wife, and Mary Hover, spinster, all of Salem Township, sold lot #7 and other land to Abraham Sharp, 10 Aug 1798 (A:661).

Christian Hover and Ruth his wife of Mannington, and Michael Hover of same, sold to Isaac McAllister of Pilesgrove, weaver, on 15 June 1801 land which they got as heirs of Mary Hover, who died intestate. (D:127)

Sarah Hover, now Sarah Dorrell also inherited a share of Mary's land and sold it to McAllister on 15 Aug 1801. (D:129).

Jacob Miller of Pilesgrove sold to Isaac McAllister on 1 June 1801, two tracts in Mannington which he got from Michael Hover, 23 July 1792. The land adjoined land of Munce Keen, Adam Cook and Thompson's line. (D:122).

Jacob Hover and Catherine his wife sold on 12 Sep 1801, 4 1/2 acres to Isaac McAllister. This was land which Lawrence Hover had conveyed to Jacob by his will of 1 Jan 1796. (G:389).

Simon Miller and Hannah his wife, formerly Hannah Hover, and Lawrence Hover and Phebe his wife, on 21 April 1802, sold to Isaac McAllister their share of Mary Hover's land. (E:204).

Jacob Hover and Catherine his wife and Abraham Sharp, on 12 Apr 1803, sold to Isaac McAllister their share of the land of Mary Hover which they had earlier sold to Abraham Sharp but the deed was lost. (E:388).

Francis Hover later moved to Swedesboro. An 1806 will refers to land joining his there (David Harker, April 29, 1806). Cushing and Sheppard in their History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland (p 146) say: "Dr. Francis Hoover, father of Joseph Hoover, the celebrated ink man, who was one of the founders of the Gloucester County Medical Society in December 1818, practiced in Swedesboro, and afterwards removed to Philadelphia."

Hugh Huddy was a merchant in Burlington who made bond in 1702 for the estate of Thomas Bowman of the Fawles of Dellewer River. Bowman's brother-in-law was Edward Hunloke, a Burlington merchant, whose dau Martha m Hugh.[87] Hugh Huddy and Charles Huddy (perhaps his brother) appear in the inventory of John Dewildy of Salem County on 1 Jan 1706/7 indicating that they had connections there by that time.[88] His will of 16 Dec 1715 had him of Burlington. He died in 1717 and his inventory included 30 books and a parcel of pictures, indicating a man of some culture. He m. Martha Hunloke on 5/6/1701 and had sons: Charles, John, Hunloke and Daniel.[89]

Daniel Huddy m Elizabeth Booth 24 June 1732. Their son Joshua, was b 8 Nov 1735. Elizabeth died sometime thereafter and Daniel married Elizabeth White in Friends Meeting on the 20^th of the 2^nd month, 1741. Their children were: Martha Huddy, b 29^th day, 5^th mo, 1742, and Daniel Huddy, b 15^th day, 6^th month 1747. Elizabeth White died 22d day, 6^th mo, 1755. On the 28^th day, 6^th mo, 1756, Daniel Huddy m Rachel Nicholson. She was probably the widow of William Nicholson with the following children: Ruth Nicholson, b 1^st day, 2d mo, 1748, and William and Rachel Nicholson, twins, b 10^th day 12^th mo, 1753.[90] On 17 Oct 1771, Danial Huddy m4 Agnes Haynes.[91] On 23 Sep 1776 he m5 Grace Owen (in his will he mentioned his stepdau, Susanna Owen).[92] On 23 Aug 1781 he m6 Sydonia Dickinson, widow of John Dickinson.[93]

Daniel Huddy was a Salem merchant who is listed as a creditor in a number of wills and inventories from the 1730s to 1750s. In 1754 he was administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Axford and in 1759 he was bondsman (with Jonathan Woodnutt) of the estate of Samuel Mason of Manneton. In 1769, he and John Dickeson took inventory of Pile Smith of Mannington. In 1776 he was bondsman for Bartholemew Wyatt and in 1776 was bondsman for Joseph Thompson of Upper Alloways Creek. In his will of 9 Sep 1784, proved 1 Oct, Daniel mentioned his daughter Martha Cripps, stepdaughter Susanna Owen, and son Hunlock Huddy. The executor was Benjamin Smith who was to care for Hunlock until he reached 21. This would mean that Hunlock was born after 1763, probably the dau of his third wife, Rachel.

The first born, Joshua, was disowned by the Quakers on the28th day of the 11^th mo, 1757. The report in the Minutes of the Friends Meeting said that he "disregarded the advice and counsell of his friends, suffered himself to be lead by the enemy of the welfair of our souls pease and our present welbeing into evil and loose company and the corruption of the world to the raising scandalous reports and unchristian behaviour concerning him and instead of clearing of himself hath absconded and left the place in a disorderly manner…"[94] If he left Salem County he came back because in 1764 he bought the Popeno plantation, consisting of 300 acres and upwards, only to lose it later to pay a debt to Sheriff Whitten Cripps, who was married to his half-sisster, Martha.

At the time of the Revolution, Joshua resided in Colts Neck, Monmouth County and distinguished himself on various occasions, becoming an object of terror to the Tories. In 1780 his house was attacked and he defended himself, firing from various windows, assisted by a servant girl who loaded the muskets. He agreed to surrender after they set fire to the house, but later escaped. In 1782, Capt. Huddy commanded a blockhouse at Toms River which was attacked by a large group of Tory refugees from New York. He and his men eventually surrendered and he was taken to a ship from which, some days later, he was taken out and hung on the shore as a lesson to the rebels.

The execution created such outrage among the rebels that George Washington and the Congress got involved and it was eventually determined that a British prisoner of similar rank would be hung unless the British handed over the man responsible for the action. The prisoner chosen was the only son of a lord and, at the pleadings of his parents, the French and Dutch governments intervened to ask for mercy. It became a great international incident, much talked and written about all over North America and Europe. Eventually the war ended and the British Captain was released.[95]

Joshua Huddy apparently married a woman named Martha and had a daughter, Martha who married William Perry. The line continued and several DAR applications claimed descent.[96]

Daniel Huddy, Jr. m Naomi Ballinger 26^th day, 6^th mo, 1771. The rights of her children were settled. Naomy Balllinger and her children transferred from the Evesham Meeting, 3^rd mo, 1766. She might have been the dau of Joshua Ballinger who m Naomi Dunn, 30^th day, 8^th month, 1749. Naomy Huddy died 6^th day, 11^th mo, 1775.[97]

Archibald McCollister, b 1710 in Northern Ireland, came as a child to Worcester, MA. In 1734 he married there, Martha Hamilton, dau of John Hamilton. As a result of hostile neighbors, many of the Scotch-Irish settlers left the Worcester area for friendlier towns. On 2 Jun 1737, Archibald sold his ground at Worcester and relocated to Salem County, NJ where he died 7 Feb 1765.[98] He must have retained an important interest in MA since two of his children were b there in 1742 & 1744/6.

John2 McCollister, born 1740 in Salem Co, married Rebecca Richman, possibly the dau of Jacob Richman who mentioned a dau Rebecca in his 1771 will and also mentioned a 240 acre plantation in possession of John Collister (Wills 5:422). Their children:

John3 McCollister, b 13 Aug 1762, d 1822, in Salem Co. M in 1787 Margaret Richman, b 1766 (?), perhaps the dau of Michael Richman and Rebecca Keen.[99]

Isaac McCollister, b 29 Apr 1770 in Salem Co, ml 1793 Mary Stiver (Stiner, Silver?) who d 17 Sep 1806 in Sharptown[100]; and m2 13 Mar 1809 in Pilesgrove Presbyterian Congregation, Ellizabeth Keen b 14 Feb 1780, dau of Elijah and Mary Keen. (Elijah was the son of Peter Keen and Elizabeth Bassett). Children of Isaac and Mary:

Rachel McCollister, b 13 Sep 1811, d 5 Oct 1880 in Everett, PA, m Matthew Dubois

Benjamin Franklin McCollister, b 1 Oct 1818 in Salem Co, m 16 Apr 1846 in Gloucester Co, Rachel Ann Justice, b in Salem Co.

Mary McCollister, b 1 Oct 1818, m 6 Mar 1824 (this date is obviously wrong) David Vanneman, b 1814 in NJ.

William McCollister (John2, Archibald1) b 23 Sep 1783, d 20 Dec 1831 in Salem Co., m 6 Jan 1814 in Pilesgrove Presbyterian Congregation, Susannah Peak (10 Apr 1788-28 Nov 1857. Children:

Susannah McCollister, b 27 May 1829, d 17 Mar 1909, m 7 Mar 1850 in Salem Co, Homer Nicholson.

Thomas McCollister (John2, Archibald) b 19 Apr 1789 in Salem Co, d 30 Dec 1852 in Pilesgrove, buried in Jordantown Cem, Auburn, Salem Co. He m 18 Sep 1819 Deborah Clark (25 Jan 1801-4 Dec 1858) buried same place.

Hamilton McCollister, b 1742 in Pelham MA, m Sarah Dick, moved to NY and d there.

Charles McCollister, d 1790 in Salem Co. He m 1781 Rachel Richman, who may also have been a dau of Jacob Richman (see his will). She d 1842 in Salem Co. Charles' will (31 May 1790, inventory 14 June 1790) left to wife Rachel the movable estate; when the children are of age they are to have what remains. Execs. wife and John McCollister, Jr. Witnesses: Harmon Richman, Samuel Sharp, John Erwin.

McCollister Land Transfers All of these appear to be parts of the Popeno plantation.

1 May 1801. Adam Cook of Pilesgrove, joiner, and Ann his wife, to John McCallister of same, innkeeper, for Ł75, 6 1/2 A woodlands in Mannington [received from Adam Cook, dec'd] Deedbook C:319

1 May 1801. John McCallister and wife Margaret of Salem Co to Isaac McCallister and wife Mary of Pilesgrove, farmer, for Ł60, 17+ A in Haines Neck, Mannington C:281

15 Jun 1801. Christian Hover and Ruth his wife of Mannington and Michael Hover of same, to Isaac McAllister of Pilesgrove, weaver, for S57.07, land inherited from father D:127

15 Aug 1801. James Dorrell and Sarah (Hover) his wife to Isaac McAllister, for $13.50, land inherited from her father (not described). D:129

1 June 1801. Jacob Miller of Pilesgrove to Isaac McAllister, for $320, two tracts in Mannington which he got (1) from Michael Hover 23 July 1792; (2) from Christian Hover, 13 Jun 1795 D:122

21 Apr 1802. Simon Miller and Hannah (Hover) his wife, & Lawrence Hover and Phebe his wife to Isaac McAllister for $40.50, their share of Mary Hover's land from her father, Michael Hover per will of 1779. E:204

12 Apr 1803. Jacob Hover and Catherine his wife & Abraham Sharp to Isaac McAllister for $40, share of land of Mary Hover which the Hover's sold to Abraham Sharp but the deed was lost.

21 Nov 1807. Grace Bassett of Mannington, widow to Isaac McCollister of same, yeoman, for $200, 11 1/4 acres, adjoining McAllister's land, which Bassett purchased in three lots: 6 A from James Hill 10 Apr 1805, 4 A from Sam Cooper 24 Jan 1807, and 1 1/4 A from John Bassett, 13 Sep 1807; all three of which had been purchased from Abraham Sharp 17 Mar 1804. L:42

21 Nov 1807. Abraham Sharp to Isaac McCollaster, two adjoining lots, totalling 1 1/4 A. L:

16 Aug 1828. Isaac McAllister and Elizabeth his wife of Pilesgrove, to Moses Lambson of Lower Penns Neck, for $500, 60 A of land and swamp in Mannington HH:433

In 1818 the Popeno grandchildren sued Isaac McAllister and several others over title to the land left to their parents by Peter Popeno in 1755. In 1764 the "plantation" had been sold to Joshua Huddy and it was later acquired by Whitten Cripps, High Sheriff of Salem County, in a suit against Huddy for debt. Cripps sold some of it to Edward Test and, I suppose, other parts of it to Michael Hover. I suppose, further, that the Popenos must have had some paper claim against Huddy which was overlooked when Cripps took the property and was then the basis for their suit.

In 1821, a viewing jury went to the site and Joseph Kidd, who remembered Peter Popeno, described the various neighbors and mentioned that Isaac McAllister and others were currently living on the site. Later McAllister was found guilty of trespass and was assessed damages consisting of court charges plus 6 cents.

In 1822, McAllister called for a new trial. In 1823, the judge found against McAllister and ordered him to pay plaintiffs $31.58 for damage costs and charges.

In 1830, the judge made his final decision against the defendants, ordering that the land be returned to plaintiffs. McAllister was no longer involved, having sold his land to Lambson in 1828.

The immigrant ancestor of the Salem, NJ Rays was Daniel Ray (ca 1597-24 June 1662), a seaman, who arrived in Plymouth in 1630 and moved to Salem, MA in 1631. He purchased a dwelling house and garden plot in Plymouth in 1630, received 160 acres in Salem in 1637, and was in 1647 one of three purchasers of two farms totaling 560 acres. He married Bethia (possibly Bethia Jones) and had two children, Joshua, ca 1627-1710); and Bethia b ca 1632 who m Thomas Lothrop.[102]

On 26 Feb 1651, Joshua m Sarah Walters or Waters. Joshua and Sarah were members of the first church of Salem in 1661 and he was admitted freeman in 1665. They had three children: Daniel, Rebecca, and Sarah. During the summer of 1675 the Indians of New England united with Chief Philip of Rhode Island in attacking English settlements. On 17 January 1675/6 Joshua Ray petitioned the General Court stating that his son had been in Newbury on business with Thomas Haynes and both had been impressed into service. He asked that they both be released from service because his son Daniel was taking care of three families (Joshua’s son-in-law, Samuel Stevens, and his brother-in-law, Captain Lathrop had both been killed on an expedition to Deerfield in September), and Haynes was equally burdened with a brother and a neighbor who lay wounded and could not care for their families and was also a maltster who had a quantity of malt on hand which would spoil if he had to leave. The petition was granted the next day.[103]

Sarah Ray was born 4 June 1661 and on 15 December 1676 she married Thomas Haynes. Haynes, b ca 1651, was the son of William Haynes and Sarah Ingersoll. He was active in the church in Salem Village, served as constable of Salem Farms in 1681-2, and at the same time built a house presently known as the Haines House in the Salem Village Historic District of Danvers, MA. In 1690 he was made a freeman of Salem Village. He lived across the street from the Tavern of his uncle Nathaniel Ingersoll where the first hearings of the Salem Witchcraft trials were held and he testified in a couple of the trials. In October 1693 he was licensed to keep a house of public entertainment and sell strong drink as an inn holder.

In March 1703/4 Thomas Haynes sold his house in Salem, MA. He and his wife Sarah Ray had already moved to Salem, NJ. The New Jersey Archives, Vol 21, cites Thomas Haynes of Manneton Creek in Salem County as purchasing 500 acres of land from Nicholas Winton. The land consisted of 450 acres of woodland between John Cullyers and the head of Cranbury Pond on a branch of Tyndall’s Run, and 50 acres of Marsh on Vickery and Salem Creeks. Haynes was coroner of Salem County, 1704-6. His will was dated 21 April 1709 and his property was inventoried 14 May 1709. Children named in his will were John, Joseph, Benjamin, Thomas, Sarah Huggins and Hannah. His wife was executrix.

Other Rays may have moved to New Jersey with Thomas Haynes and Sarah Ray, or may have come down sooner. According to Cushing and Shepherd’s History of the Counties of Cloucester, Salem and Cumberland (1883), a John Ray was a judge in Salem County in 1694. This might have been another son of Joshua Ray or an unrelated person.

Around 1739, Peter Popeno of Salem County (formerly of Orange County, NY) purchased 50 acres of land on Alloway Creek from Fenwick Dickinson. The land had been purchased in 1704 by Edward Ford and his wife Mary; after Ford died Mary married Joseph Seeley; the Seeleys granted it to Henry Brown in 1729, who deeded it to Thomas Haynes in 1732, who granted it to Fenwick Dickinson in 1733. The deed to Popeno was dated 11 November 1748 (presumably when it was recorded though it is not among the County’s recorded deeds) and a month later Popeno sold the land to John Ray of Alloways Creek, Salem County.[104] The land was described as being on the Middle Branch of Alloway’s Creek, adjoining land of John Dunlap, Harseman, and land which John Ray bought of Samuel Smith.

Peter Popeno owned a sizable “plantation” on Salem Creek, on the border of Mannington and Pilesgrove Townships, west of the Kings Road that ran from Salem to Sharpstown.

He died in 1755. In his will of 1752, he mentioned buying seven acres of Marshland from Thomas Haynes. This Thomas Haynes was baptised 1690 in Salem Village, MA. He was probably married twice, the second time to Jane Brown, 23 March 1749 at Pilesgrove Presbyterian Church. When Thomas Haynes wrote his will in 1755 he mentioned that his property was subject to a bond given to Peter Popeno.

Fenwick Dickinson, mentioned above, was married to Ann Adams, granddaughter of John Fenwick, the original proprietor of Salem Colony (NJ). The Dickinson family owned lands on both sides of Salem Creek. In 1748/9, Mary Popeno (Peter’s wife) was witness to the will of Fenwick Dickinson’s brother, Jonathan, of Mannington. Another brother, William of Alloways Creek had a son, Mark, ca 1730-1757. Mark’s widow, Margaret, married Samuel Morgan of Pilesgrove and after his death, John Rea (Ray) of Alloways Creek on 26 March 1762. John’s previous wife was Susanna, daughter of Samuel Elwell of Pilesgrove.[105]

So we see a number of connections between the Ray, Haynes, Dickinson, and Popeno families, and between locations on Alloways Creek and on the Salem River in Mannington Township. I believe that Peter Popeno’s wife, Mary, was the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson.

During the Revolution, James Ray enlisted in February 1775 as a private in the Third Battalion of the NJ Line under Captain Joseph Bloomfield and Josiah Ray served in Captain Keen’s company of the State militia.[106]

Captain Jacob Elwell was born in England in 1700. He purchased land in Pilesgrove from Daniel Cox (as did the DuBois and Van Metre families from Esopus, NY) and married ca 1738 Catherine Dubois 1716-1798. Their daughter Rhoda married Henry Richmond and after he died, married William Ray, 29 Mar 1781. William and Rhoda had two children, Bigee and Henrietta.[107] William is believed to be the brother of Alexander Ray, who m. Elizabeth Burden, 4 June 1800, and Samuel Ray who married first Mary Moore 7 Nov 1769, and second Ann Sims, 29 Feb 1780.[108] They may all have been children of John Ray, though I have seen no evidence of that.

Which brings us to Samuel. He was the one who first organized on 7 May 1777 the troops from Upper Alloway to serve in the Revolutionary War. He was a justice in 1801, judge 1804-6 and 1809-14, and a member of the Legislature in 1808. Samuel and Ann had four children: Zaccheus, James, Susanna, and Benjamin. Zaccheus, like his father, had a distinguished public career . Between 1820 and 1831 he was a member of the Salem Assembly, the New Jersey Council for Salem, Commissioner of Appeals, Justice and Associate Judge.[109]

In 1815, Samuel Ray was administrator of the estate of William McNichols and became the first guardian of his minor children, Hannah and William McNichols. Later that year, young William petitioned the court to appoint Matthias Kiger (who lived near the Popeno land) as his guardian, and in 1817 he petitioned the Court to appoint John Fries his guardian.[110] (Henry Freas [Fries]1777-1856 married Hannah Ray 1786-1853, 22 June 1802.[111] Susanna Ray, Samuel’s daughter, m M. George Freas [112] ) Earlier McNichol Sr. had been guardian of Samuel Popeno, grandson of Peter Popeno.[113] So there might have been a relationship among the Ray, McNichol(s) and Popeno families.

Two other Ray marriages: Elizabeth Reay m Cornelius Clark, 20 June 1758; and Agnes Rea m Elijah Bassett, 19 Nov 1770.[114] The records of the Quaker Salem Monthly Meeting show another Elizabeth Ray born 30 Dec 1766 and in 1800, Elizabeth Ray, late Burden, was reported for having gone out in marriage to a non-member.[115]

In 1748, when the land on Alloway Creek that John Dickinson sold to Peter Popeno was recorded, the witnesses were Oeldrick Richman and Michael Richman

Harmon Richman, of Piles Grove, who died in 1744, had 10 or more children. Among them were John, who married Sarah Van Meter, daughter of Isaac Van Meter (one of the key figures in the settlement of the Shenandoah Valley)[117], Ulrich (Oldrick), who married Sarah Chambliss (Chandler), and Michael who married Rebecca Keen. Harman seemed to harbor grudges because his will gave Ulrich (or Eldrick in the will) various pieces of land but stated that if he married Sarah Chanlier he was to get only 5 shillings. He also said that if any of his daughters married with any of Sceilley's (Seeleys) they shall not have one foot of his land.

Oldrick waited until 6-3-1745 to marry Sarah Chandler. John Chandler, who might have been Sarah's father, married in 1725, Mary Dickinson, sister of Fenwick and Jonathan Dickinson. John died intestate in 1757. Sarah was administratrix and fellowbondsmen were David Seley and Mounce Keen.

Michael Richman (d 1773), under age when his father died, m 19 Dec 1754 Rebecca Keen, 1731-1791, daugher of Mounce (1715-1790) and Elizabeth Keen. Elizabeth Keen was the daughter of Benjamin and Christina Seeley. The Keen family had land adjoining Peter Popeno in Mannington.

The Seeleys of Southern NJ are from a different branch of the family than Peter Popeno’s stepfather, Samuel Seely. While all of the Seelys/Seeleys probably thought of themselves as somehow connected they may not have known just what the familial connection was since it occurred back in England before emigration. Peter Popeno’s awareness of Salem County might have been through Joseph Miller of Stamford and Bedford who was a part of the Cohansey group with the Seeleys from the other line, discussed below. Miller’s widowed mother married Samuel Seeley’s grandfather. So he grew up in the Seely household. He and Samuel’s father were among the founders of Bedford (NY) as a ‘suburb’ of Stamford.[118] Samuel would have known him well and likely would have kept up with news about southern Jersey as it filtered back from him.

Nathaniel, son of the immigrant Robert Seeley, settled in Fairfield, CT and his sons Joseph and Benjamin (and maybe John) went down to South Jersey. In 1697, Joseph, with 18 others from the New Haven Colony, purchased 1,000 acres in East Bridgeton along the Cohansey River. He was one of the signers of the Cohansey Compact in 1697, whereby the group bound themselves to maintain a Sound and Orthodox Minister and to establish a school to teach children to read and write English. He was an elder in the Church and Captain of Militia.

Joseph had several sons, one of whom, Joseph, married Mary Ford, widow of William Ford. These are the people who earlier had owned the Alloway land referred to above. Other sons were Ephraim, Samuel and Henry. Ephraim (1684-1723) was the best known. He had a mill on East Lake in Bridgeton, was a Colonel, JP, County Judge, several times member of the State Legislature, and large real estate owner. His son, Ephraim (c1710-1774) m. Hannah Fithian, and was also a Justice, Judge, Colonel of the Cumberland Militia and member of the Assembly.

The second brother to move to NJ, Benjamin (ca 1657-1695) probably died in Cohansey. His widow probably returned to CT, leaving Benjamin Jr. behind in care of his uncle Joseph. This Benjamin (1681-1721) m Christina and they had two children of whom there is record: David who in 1745 m. Mary, daughter of Obadia Richmond; and Sarah, who m. Mounce Keen (b 1715). David had a son, Ephraim (b 1754 in Pilesgrove, d 1801). He m1 Deborah, dau of Charles Lock, & m2 Catherine Keen Steelman, widow of James Steelman and dau of Nicholas and Elizabeth Lock Keen. She was a niece of Sarah Seeley Keen. They lived in Repoppo, Woolwich Tnp, Gloucester Co.

The third brother was John. He may never have been in South Jersey but he had two sons, Joseph (1696/7-1762) and David (1707-) who were both living in Newark, NJ in 1730. David m Tamar Ward, dau of Samuel Ward. After David died, Tamar moved to South Jersey where other members of the Seeley and Ward families lived. One of their sons was Enos, b about 1731, who died in Bridgeton, NJ in 1801. Enos Seeley bought and operated the old Hancock Saw Mill in East Bridgeton, was a prominent resident of the town and became a Lt. Col. in the militia during the Revolution but was soon disabled by disease and forced to resign. Another son, Job, was a loyalist who had his property confiscated.

We come now to the David Seeley who is believed to have been Peter Popeno's neighbor. He married Magdalena Helms sometime prior to 1744, and was a bricklayer. His estate was administered by his widow in 1762; bondsmen were Elisha Bassett and Richard Hackett (who was also a witness to Peter Popeno's will). The settlement sheet on file at Trenton shows Ł10/5/09 paid to Mounce and John Keen on a note. His parentage is unknown. Mrs. Chase thought he might be the son of David Seeley and Tamar Ward. He could not be the son of the David who was the son of Benjamin because their ages are too similar. I think he might be a son of Joseph, though Mrs. Chase doesn't. It is not even clear which David was Popeno's neighbor since both had Keen connections.[119]

455-6: The principal and leading inhabitants of the town of Salem, from 1675 to 1770 were….and John Test. The latter had a son, John Test, who resided in Pilesgrove; also a son, Francis Test, who married and settled on the south side of Cohansey; he had nine children.

259-60: Sarah Stretch married Samuel Test in 1768. They lived on a small property she inherited from her parents, about a mile below Hancock's Bridge, containing about 50 acres. They had issue, two sons. Samuel, the eldest, was born in 1768, and learned the hat business. His brother, Mark, I think, married Dorcas Keasbey. The property after their parents' death was divided equally between the two brothers. Samuel's share was where his parents lived. It appears that Samuel Test, soon after the death of his parents, sold his estate to Barzilla Jeffers, and removed to Indiana, and settled in Richmond, which at that time was a small village, and there he followed his trade the greater part of the remainder of his life, and acquired a competency. He was a leading member in his middle and old age of the largest Society of Friends on the Continent of North America--the Indiana Yearly Meeting. After he reached nearly four-score years he made a pilgrimage of his native state and county, and in company with his friend, the late Josiah M. Reeve, visited the house in which he was born, located in Alloway Creek township….Of his immediate family, I have no means of knowing. His brother Mark and his wife Dorcas Test had one son--Mark. He sold the estate he inherited from his parents more than forty years ago to Morris Hancock and settled near his uncle Samuel in the vicinity of Richmond, IN.

206: Harvey Sheppard m in 1796 Hannah Smith, of Greenwich…He had one daughter, Hannah by his first marriage. She married in 1818 John Test, the son of Francis Test, Jr. John and his second wife, Hannah S Test, removed to Indiana. He studied law, and was elected to Congress during Andrew Jackson's administration. He was an uncle to Joseph Test, who resides in Salem.

Early Church Records of Salem County, Charlotte D Meldrum:

Children of Samuel Test, b 16^th day, 1^st mo, 1774 and Sarah his wife, b 14^th day, 10^th mo, 1777 (p 39)

Children of Benjamin Test and Sarah, his wife (146) Sarah d 15^th da, 8^th mo 1778, aged 47 years (158)

Isaac Test, 3d day 8^th mo, 1761 (Isaac, being set to watch the team whilst his father was unloading a load of hay being near the horse's head, one of them bit of the flesh part and stripped half way along the back part of his left ear in the 8^th mo, 1769 being near the age of 8 yers - p153)

Ellizabeth Test, dau of Benjamin Test, from Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, 3d mo, 1783

1783, 3d mo, 31^st day, Elizabeth Test, dau of John Test, granted a certificate to Burlington Monthly Meeting (130)

Zaccheus Test, wife Rebecca and son Benjamin from Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, 12^th day, 4^th mo, 1784

1785, 4^th mo, 25^th day, Zaccheus Test, wife Rebecca and son Benjamin granted a certificate to Wootbury Monthly Meeting. (131)

1715, 1^st mo, 28^th day, Ann Test and John Smith of Amwelbury (from Craig's "Salem County Genealogical Data, hereafter SCGD 235)

1724, 12^th mo, 3^rd day, Francis Test of Salem, weaver and Ellizabeth Bacon, of aforesaid Co (62)

1729, 10^th mo, 29^th day, Joseph Test and Sarah Thompson. (Previous month: Marriage contracted between Thomas Moore and Sarah Thompson cancelled. Thomas Moore willing to leave Sarah Thompson to marry whomever she desires.) (93)

1750, 10^th mo, 31^st day, Joseph Test Jr. reported for marrying contrary to discipline. 1751, 1^st mo 25^th day, Joseph Test Jr, produced an acknowledgment condemning his going out in marriage. (105)

1752, 3^rd mo, 30^th day, John Test produced an acknowledgement condemning him for going out in marriage. 4^th mo, 20^th day: John Test granted a certificate to marry at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. (105)

1756, 8^th mo, 5^th day, Elizabeth Test, Alloways Creek, m Richard Haines, Jr. Fairfield (SCGD 100)

1758, 10^th mo, 31^st day, Benjamin Test of Alloways Creek, son of Francis Test and Elizabeth his wife, and Sarah Dunn, dau of Zacheus Dunn and Deborah his wife of aforesaid place (64)

1764, 3^rd mo, 8^th day, John Test of Pilesgrove, and Ellizabeth Lippincott of same (65)

1765, 4^th mo, 1^st day, Frances Test reported for marrying contrary to disciplline. (114)

1768, 11^th mo, 10^th day, Samuel Test of Alloways Creek and Sarah Stretch of same. The rights of the children to be secured. (67)

1778, 4^th mo, 30^th day, Samuel Huggins of Pilesgrove and Sarah Test of same, (71)

1779, 1^st mo, 28^th day,William Groff of Woolwich, Gloucester County and Leatitia Test of Pilesgrove, (71) (also in Co Clerk's Records - Latitia)

1792, 7^th mo, 30^th day, Elizabeth Groaf, late Test, reported for going out in marriage to a non-member, disowned.

1796, 10^th mo, 31^st day, Samuel Test reported for marrying contrary to discipline; disowned.

Edward Test and Jane McKeen, both Pilesgrove 11-18-1761 (SCGD 252) (dau Priscilla, b 10-28-1762 - 253))

Benjamin Test m Elizabeth Thackery, wid. Stephen and dau. James Sloan. 1779-10-14

1691, 28^th da, 1^st mo (March), Cooper, William, of Salem Blacksmith, will of: incl: 100 a on Alloways Creek given by father-in-law Edward Bradaway and 500 a there, bought of John Test. (Wills I: 107-8)

1716/7, Feb 6, Clowes, William of Alloways Creek. Will incl. a tract of 340 acres in Piles Grove Precinct, bought of John Mason and formerly belonging to John Test. (Wills I: 98)

1718/9, Mar 16, Firth, John, of Allaways Creek, will of: Francis Test, witness (Wills I: 163)

1722, Nov 16, Hopper, Benjamin, of Allawayes Creek, weaver, will of: inventory made by Richard Hancock and Francis Test.

1726/7, Jan 20, Grant, Alexander, of Salem, yeoman, will of. Joseph Test, witness. (Wills I: 192)

1726, April 20, Hart, John, of Salem, merchant., will of: Jos. Test witness. Personal estate Ł1793. Money owed to long list incl. John Dickson, Eliz'th Chandler, Edward Test, Daniel Test. (Wills I: 214-5)

1726, Dec 19, Daniell, James of Stow Creek, Salem Co, yeoman. Will of. Edward Test, witness. (Wills I: 127)

1730, Aug 18, Johnson, Margaret, widow of Robert, will of: Inventory by Joseph Test. (Wills I: 263)

1733, Apr 7, Thompson, William, of Alloways Creek, will of. Sons: Joseph, William, Samuel (the home plantation, he paying Ł15 to my son Benjamin and Ł5 to my grandson Sam'l Test when they will be 21.. Daus Sarah and Rebekah. (Wills II: 480)

1734, Feb 14, Turner, Hannah of Salem County Int. Bondsman--Edward Test. (Wills II: 490)

1735, Mar 31, Dennis, Samuel, of Salem Co, Yeoman, Int. Admx: Anne Dennis (widow) Bondsmen: Joseph Test, John Bacon. Accts. paid to: John Brick, Edward Test, Ebenezer Miller, Joseph Test. (Wills II: 141)

1735, Apr 10, Norton, John, Esq., of Salem Co, Int. Bondsman: Joseph Test of said county, gent. (Wills II: 357)

1737/8, Mar 18, Jeanes, Henry of Salem Co, will of. Son Henry--my now dwelling plantation.. In case of his death without lawful issue, same to descend to my four daughters: Anna, Jean, Christianna and Margrat (none of age.) If they die without heirs, same to go to my cousins, John and Mary Test. Executor: "my only two brothers" Joseph Test and Matthias Lambson. Witnesses: Thos Jaullin (Paullin?), George Fish, Daniel Lambson.

1737, Dec 28, Hudson, Richard, of Salem Co, yeoman, Int. Witness: William Test. (Wills II: 250_

1740, Feb --, Richard Smith, Esq. of Elsinborough, Salem Co, will of. To dau Mary, lot in Salem adj. the house lot of Edward Test at Margate's Lane (so called)….My daus Rachel and Sarah Dennis shall share with the above-named heirs in all the lands and profits due me from my right in Potomack, in the Province of Virginia. (Wills II: 442)

1740, June 28, Haynes, Daniel, of Salem Town, carpenter Int. Admx Hannah Haynes, widow. Bondsmen: Benjamin Hayness, John Mason. Appraisers: John Mason, Edward Test. (Wills II: 227-8)

1742, July 28, Attwood, Jacob of Maneuton, carpenter, will of. 1750: account, payments to Thos. Thompson, Edward Test, Thos Haine, Jane Brown. (Wills II: 27)

1743, April 28, Burroughs, William, of Salem Co, mariner, will of: Admx, Sarah Burrows (relict.). Bondsmen: Edward Test and John Thompson, yeomen. All of town and county of Salem. Witness: Mary Thompson. (Wills II: 78)

1743, May 3, Powell, John, Int. Admr. James Mason and John Nicholson, yeomen, sons in law. Edward Test, bondsman. (Wills II: 385)

1749/50, Jan 20, Dawson, William, of Alloways Creek, Int. Renunciation of Margaret Dawson (as admix) witnessed by Francis Teste. Appraisor: Francis Test. (Wills II: 133

1749, Dec 31, Test, William, of Salem Town, hatter, will of. Wife, Priscilla. Children: Rebecca, Grace, Sarah, Walker, Richard, Edward and William. Executors: the wife with sons Walker and Richard. Witnesses: John Andrews, Edward Test, George Trenchard. Proved Sept 20, 1752. (endorsed, "The Exec. Died before she proved the will.") Bond of Francis Test and Edward Test as Adm'rs, Joseph Test, fellowbondsman. (Wills III: 321)

1750, Feb 12, Chambles, James, of Salem Co, Int. Acct. of 1755 shows names of Edmund Test, Daniel Huday, John Test. (Wills II: 89-90)

1752, Nov 3, Test, Joseph Jr. of Salem Co, Int. Bond of Joseph Test as Adm'r. Edward Test fellow bondsman. (Wills III: 321)

1753, Jan 20, Test, Sarah, widow of Joseph, Jr., late Sarah Mason, dau of Samuel Mason of Salem Co, dec'd. Bond of Joseph Test as Adm'r, Edward Test, fellow bondsman. (Wills III: 321)

1753, Jan 22, Test, Elizabeth, dau of Joseph and wife Sarah of Salem Co, Ward. Bond of Joseph Test of Salem, yeoman, guardian until she is 14. Fellow bondsman: Jonathan Thomas of Burlington City, innholder. (Wills III: 320

1755, Dec 27, Test, Joseph, of Salem Town, hatter, will of. Wife, Hannah. Son John. Granddau Elizabeth, dau of son Joseph. Executors: Son John and Phillipp Dennis. (Wills III: 320)

1756, July 21, Test, William, Jr. of Salem Co, son of William, petition that Francis Test be appointed his guardian. Bond of Francis Test; John Sheppard fellowbondsman. (Wills III: 321)

1759, Mar 3, Test, Hannah of Salem Township, widow, will of. Son: Joseph Sidden "if he be living". Cousin, Elizabeth Boss. Grandchildren: William and Henry siden, James Chamless, Mary Siden and Jacob Chamless. Widow, Mary Thomson. Daughters of brothers Elisha and Daniel. Executors: Charles Fogg and Elisha Bassett, Jr.

of Salem, Salem Co. Son Edward, under age, son-in-law Joseph Burroughs, sons of sister Elizabeth Bacon, vis John, David, Job and Thomas Bacon. Sister, Ann Dennis. Executors, son Edward and Philip Dennis, Sr. of Cohansie. (Wills III: 320)

1762, Feb 1, Test, Francis, Alloways Creek, will of. Wf Elizabeth. Children: Benjamin, Francis, Abner, Rachel Hilman, Elizabeth Haines, Ruth, Letitia and Thomas.

1762, Jun 25, Test, Edward, of Mannington, will of, pr. 7-26-1772. Wife Susannah, Child Edward.

1763, Mar 1, Stubbines, Mary, widow, will of. Cousins Naomi Ballinger, Sarah Test and Deborah Dunn.

1770, Jan 24, Test, Thomas, of Upper Alloways Creek, will of. Wf. Charity. Mother: Elizabeth Test. Bros. Abner and Benjamin.

1783, Apr 7, Thompson, William of Alloway Creek, will of. Grandson: Samuel Test

1800, Jan 10, Ware, Elijah, Lower Penns Neck. To wife Mary Ware, land bot. Of Alexander Gilmore, and marsh bot. Of Daniel Lambson in Lower Penns Neck. To nephew Samuel Test, meadow in Mannington. To Jacob Ware and Elisha Stretch, 14 acres of land purchased of Andrew Sinnickson in Lower Penns Neck, for the purpose of erecting a meetinghouse for Friends living in Penns Neck. Wearing apparel to nephew Joseph Test. A-229

1801, Nov 14, Test, Joseph, to wife Dorcas, all profits of real and personal estate while she remains a widow for the support of minor children, namely Mark, Prudence, and Joseph. Exec. Thomas Roberts. Wit: Barzillai Jefferies, Dorcas Jeffries and Samuel Test. Proved 13 Jun 1804. A-41

1822, Ma6 29, Ware, Mary, widow of Ellijah Ware, Elsinborough. To Mark, son of Joseph Test, $200. C-6

[1] I am not providing footnotes for those parts of this summary that do not pertain to Salem County but can provide documentation on request.

[2] The evidence: In 1742, The widow of Jonathan’s brother Fenwick sued both Jonathan and Peter Poppino for Ł80/12 (NJ State Archives, File #26514, Poppino and 24996, Dickinson). Such a large sum must have had something to do with land and since they were sued for identical amounts, it sounds like land they split, presumably their homesites in Mannington Township. In 1748, Mary Popeno was witness to Jonathan’s will (NJ State Archives, microfilm, file #833Q). She made her mark; the other two witnesses were Quaker men who signed their names. The will left the property to Joanathan’s two sons. There must have been a reason for calling on an illiterate neighbor woman. It makes sense if she had already been provided for and Jonathan wanted to make it clear that she agreed to the will. On 3 December 1759 one of the sons sold his land, adjoining Mary’s land across Mill Creek (Salem County Historical Society unrecorded deed #D285) and the description mentioned Mary Popinno’s bridge. This was not the way out of the Popeno land, and must have been for the convenience of visits back and forth. On the same day, Mary signed a quitclaim on this land (Salem County Historical Society quitclaim file). The purchaser apparently wanted it made clear, once again, that Mary would make no claim of inheritance against this land.

[3]The deed was abstracted from Charles E Sheppard's Manuscript Book viii, and printed in the Vineland Historical Magazine, 41:311. The original is now in the Salem County Historical Society. Sheppard’s notes on this and the Popeno-Ray deed are in the Vineland Historical Society and on microfilm (#457, pp 365-6, dated 12-24-1748, which I consulted at the Salem County Historical Society in March 1996

[4] See Lewis D Cook, Fenwick, Adams, Hedge, and Chamnpneys, of Salem, NJ in Genealogical Magazine of NJ, Vol 4, 1928-9, p 110.

[5] William Craig m 1754 Margaret Dickinson,dau of William Dickinson who was bro of Fenwick & Jonathan

[6] NJ State Archives: Supreme Court, File #26514 (Poppino) and #24996 (Dickinson).

[7] Liber 6, p 292, abstracted in Volume 30, page 142, of New Jersey Archives, Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey.

[8] NJ Archives file #1071 Q. Liber , p . Photocopy of will and inventory in possession of author.

[9] Documents Relating…., Vol 32, p 150 (Lib F, p 260).

[10] Gregory B Keen, The Descendants of Joran Kyn of New Sweden, Philadelphia, 1913.

[11] Information on the Kigers is from a descendant: Joan M Young, 365 Hanford Place, Somerdale, NJ 08083-2547.

[12] Salem County Historical Society, Salem, NJ, original mss in Quit Claim file.

[13] Salem County Deedbook A, p 65, deed from Edward Test and Susannah his wife to Adam Cook, selling for Ł250, 232 ˝ acres in Mannington, part of a parcel obtained from Whitten Cripps as a judgment against Joshua Huddy.

[14] Joseph S. Sickler, History of Salem County, NJ, Salem: Sunbeam Publlishing Co, 1937 (Alexander Library NJF142.S255) p 125.

[15] NJ State Archives, Supreme Court, case # 12174, 1788.

[16] Liber 40, p 549, abstracted in NJ Archives, Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post Revolutionary History of the State of NJ, Vol. 42, p 336.

[17] Letter in Popenoe family collection.

[18] Do. Nancy Popenoe Morgan was James Popenoe’s sister.

[19] Original records in New Jersey State Archives, Supreme Court File #30211.

[20] County Clerk’s Office, Salem, NJ, Liber DD, page 221.

[21] Original in Popenoe family files.

[22] In Popenoe family file.

[23] County Clerk’s Office, Salem Co, NJ, Deedbook AC, p 336, received January 25, 1825.

[24] do, Liber DD, p 222.

[25] do, Deedbook AC, p 409. Recorded April 23, 1825.

[26] Will and Probate Records of Franklin Co, IN, p 149, in Brookville, IN Library.

[27] In Popenoe family files.

[28] All of the following letters are in the Popenoe family file, in possession of Paul Popenoe, 776 Tanglewood Drive, Lafayette, CA 94549. James Popenoe’s house burned down in 1837, but these letters survived, probably because they were in possession of his son whom he had helping him with the case.

[29] General details on the family are from Shourds, pp 45-49, and from Chandler and Van Name, John Davis, his wife Dorothea (Gotherson) Davis and some of their descendants, SCHS, 1965.

[30] Salem County Historical Society, D-401.

[31] Unrecorded deeds at Salem County Historical Society, D 293 and D402.

[32] Info. Collected by Joan M. Young, 365 Harford Place, Somerdale, NJ 08083. Jyoung6180@aol.com

[33] Unrecorded deed # D-401 in SCHS file.

[34] Gloucester Co Hist Soc, Cook Vertical File

[35] This account is largely drawn from a paper in the SCHS by Miss Mary A Shourds, great grandaughter of Whitten Cripps, dated 10 June 1890.

[36] Calendar of Wills 1791-1795, p 215.

[37] Secondary sources include an article in the NJ Genesis, Vol. 12, No. 1, Oct 1964; and notes transcribed from Sheppard’s notes, both in the Dickinson file folder at the Salem Co. Historical Society (hereafter SCHS). Also, Fenwick, Adams, Hedge, and Champneys, of Salem, N. J. by Lewis D Cook, Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol 4, 1928-9, p 110. I have tried to go to primary sources or abstracts where possible and to correct information from secondary sources as appropriate. Because this family used the same names over and over again in several branches and variations, the trick is to get them properly placed. If you find where I have gone wrong, please let me know.

[38] Calendar of Wills, Vol II, p142. Will made 21 June 1739, proved 19 December, Liber 4, p 214. Wife Eleanor sole executrix. Sons John and Joseph (not 21), daughter Susannah. Four youngest children: Abraham, Isaac, Isabell, Eleanor. Daughter Sarah. Witnesses George Dickison, Henry Paullin, Jacob Richman. An account filed 1751 (but obviously dating to shortly after probate) referred to Ellenor Dickinson 5, Elizabeth Dickinson 8, Isaac Dickinson 6, Abraham Dickinson 4, Joseph Dickinson 2.

[39] Before his death, Fenwick had sold 50 acres on Alloways Middle Creek to Peter Popeno; the deal was consummated by his son, John. (Original unrecorded deed in collection of SCHS ). Thomas Murphy and Elinor his wife, widow and executrix of Fenwick Dickinson, sued Peter Poppinno for a due bill of Ł80/12, land unstated. NJ State Archives, Supreme Court, File #26514. On 10 Mar 1740/1, Thomas Murphy Dickinson was baptised at the house of Dickinson (see Cook article above). This suggests that Elinor was pregnant when Fenwick died and that she married Murphy before the child was born.

[40] Charles Bilderback, executor, Divisions of Land A, p 140.

[41] Martha (with sons William and Thomas) was executor of his will of 13 Aug 1768 (an early copy is in the SCHS’s Dickinson file). The will named sons William, David, Thomas and John, and daughter Mary.

[42] Per Valerie Nixon Caulfield, 20 Main Street, Auburn, NJ 08085. In his will, Dickinson left to his sons David and John the land on which he lived, between 9 and 10 hundred acres, which he bought from Francis Dunlap, from Robert Johnson and his sisters, and which he had from his father.

[43] 6 April 1797, Bateman Lloyd and Isiah Shinn appointed administrators of David Dickinson of Mannington, intestate. Bondsmen: Joseph Shinn and Robert Patterson, File 2150Q. Calendar of Wills, p 108.

[44] Maps of Divisions, Part I, Surrogate’s Office, p 147, 2 Sep. 1801 shows division of land among above children. Land is on border of Mannington and Upper Alloways Creek Townships, and adjoins land of the late William Dickeson; Patrick Fields; Samuel Purviance, dec’d. now occupied by Jonathan Jarman; John Holme, Jr. dec’d; Elizabeth Jarman, wife of Reuben Jarman; Elias Craig; Ambrose Whiticar; Jacob Davis; James James, Joseph Sharp, Aaron Mason, and Anthony Waters. Also 12.5 acres of salt marsh in Lower Alloways Creek Tp, adj..Thomas and William Dckinson’s marsh.

[45] Craig, Salem County Marriage Records, p 236: David Dickinson m Mary Wallace, 11 April 1776, Pittsgrove Baptist Church. If this is the same David, is clearly was a later marriage.

[46] Division of Land, Book A, p 264: on petition of James Dickinson [Jr?] and others, Isaac Fogg named guardian of William, Rebecca, and Mary, infant children of David Dickson, late of Lower Alloways Creek Tp, until they shall reach 14 years. Page 350, March 1801, William Dickeson, prayed to be continued under guardianship of Isaac Fogg (ie, he turned 14).

[47] Division of Land, Book B, June 1806: by order of Orphans Court her land divided among the other three siblings.

[48] 19 April 1797, David Dickeson and William Brick made administrators of David Dickeson of Upper Alloways Creek, intestate, File 2150Q. (Calendar of Wills, p 108)

[49] Hannah’s will (Sheppard papers) listed three children: David, Smith and Hannah, the latter two minors under care of Thomas Sayres. David Dickeson and Thomas Sayre were executors. Dates on others from Sheppard papers.

[50] Division of Land A, p 372, Sept 1801. Hannah and her sister Rachel were both under 14; William Brick, grandfather, appointed guardian.

[51] His will made29 Sep 1804, proved 6 Oct 1804 gave to Hannah and Henry Cozens personal property and all real estate, viz. The plantation below Quinton Bridge of Alloway Creek, also my plantation where Thomas Skelly now lives which I bought of William Brick, administrator of my fathers, formerly of Thomas Kellys—my dividend from my father’s estate.

[52] Article from Salem Standard, March 1, 1934, in SCHS, cites John Dickinson’s bible. He was a surgeon’s mate during Revolution serving on two vessels and in hospitals at Red Bank and Trenton, NJ. In 1786 he moved to Cape May County where he lived the rest of his life.

[53] Will of Joseph Dickinson, 27 March 1764, proved 5 May 1764 (Calendar, Vol IV, p 116) gives half to wife Jane, balance to Joseph and George, sons of his brother, George Dickinson.

Unrecorded deed, SCHS D448, 6 Feb 1784, from George Dickinson and Margaret, his wife, to Jacob Sharp records that John and Anna Dickinson on 24 Mar 1724, granted 150 acres to Fenwick Dickinson; by his will he bequeathed it to two of his sons, John and Joseph; Joseph on 12 June 1752 conveyed his half to his brother John: Joseph on 18 Dec 1752 assigned the deed to George Dickinson, relationship not stated.

[54] Unrecorded deed John Dickinson to Peter Poppinow at SCHS.

[55] Next we have a will of George Dickinson Sr, 27 August 1788 (Calendar of Wills, Lib 32, p 238), listing wife Barbery and former wife Margaret. Lists sons George and Joseph to whom he has previously given their share [this conforms to Joseph’s will discussed above], Ł10 to daughter Anne, the plantation on which he lives which was the property of his former wife, Margaret, to be divided between his sons Samuel and John, as Margaret desired, and the rest of the estate to be divided among his four daughters, Rebekah Pauling, Martha Jarman, Mary and Margaret Dickinson. The estate of Margaret Dickinson [Divisions of Land, Book A p 99, June Term 1793] lists: Samuel Dickinson, son of George and Margaret; John Dickinson, son of Margaret, and five daughters of Margaret: Martha Paulin, Rebecca Jarman, Amy Dune [Dunn], Margaret Dubois, Mary Dickinson [wife of Mark]. Note that the Paulins and Jarmans are mixed up and that Amy, deceased by this time, does not appear in George’s will [unless Amy and Anne are the same—perhaps read wrong]. That leaves George and Joseph as sons of a previous wife.

[56] Deedbook T p 103 (NJ Archives) on 18 January 1755, the West Jersey Society deeded 200 A of land and a swamp to Mary Dickinson, adjacent land surveyed for James Johnson, plus another 46 acres location not stated. Witnesses were John Holme and – Sharp. On p 105, George Dickinson, and Mary his wife, of Alloways Creek to Joseph Smithy. It goes on to say a letter of attorney bearing date 1752 was granted to Mary Dickinson, now wife of George Dickinson. It concludes that 246A were sold for Ł156 to Joseph Snothing, witness John Holme. Recorded 19 April 1763. This Mary might have been a widow, eg widow of John Dickinson, Jr, or daughter of Fenwick Dickinson, or ?

[57] Divisions of Land A, p 99, June 1793 lists the children as above, and has map of the land adj. Land of John Kelly, William and John Dickinson, Holmes—meaning probably in Upper Alloways Creek.

[58] Divisions of Land, A p 216, Sept term 1797, George Dickinson, dec’d, surviving heirs Samuel Dickinson and John Dickinson, by their guardian Dan Jarman, and David Paullin. Executors, Samuel Ray, Thomas Thompson, Thomas Jones. This must be George, son of George and presumably his son Jacob had died.

[59] Divisions of Land A, p 253, 10 April 1798, division of estate of John Dickinson among his heirs, some of whom are minors: Samuel Dickinson, brother; Margaret Dubois, Rebecca Jarman, Mary Dickinson, sisters; Nancy, Mary, Joseph and David Paullin, children of sister Martha Paullin, dec’d; and David Dunn, son of sister Amy Dunn, dec’d.

[60] NJ Abstracts of Wills, Vol IV, p 116, 27 Apr 1763, proved 2 Apr 1764. George Dickinson was one of the witnesses.

[61] Per Sheppard papers. Will referred to houses near Thompson’s Bridge and Samuel Ray’s brick house.

[62] Info in letters from descendants Hilda Montaigne, and Aldona Dickeson, at SCHS. In his will of 1768, John devised to his son Thomas the plantation he bought of the Sheriff of Cumberland, late the property of David Sears, near Cohansey Creek.

[63] Division of Land, A, p 143. Accounting of estate of Thomas Dickeson, dec’d, William Dickeson, executor, March 1795.

[64] Data from Valerie Nixon Caulfield.

[65] Their children and grandchildren are detailed in the article in The NJ Genesis, Vol 12, #1, Oct 1964.

[66] William’s will of 1763 made bequests to the 3 daus of my dau Sarah, dec’d, viz. Mary Ann, Catherine and Elizabeth.

[67] Info on children from Robin Campbell, 13867 Bruyere Ct, San Diego, CA 92129. Moores were in Cumberland Co.

[68] Margaret forfeited his guardianship when she married John Rea (Ray) and John Holme/Holmes became guardian.

[69] Charlotte D Meldrum, Early Church Records of Salem County New Jersey, Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1996, p 91.

[70] Do, p 176.

[71] Do, p 114.

[72] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol 30, p 142 (Lib 6, p 292). The name here is spelled Dickason and Dickson.

[73] From Roads 1713, Salem County Clerk’s Office.

[74] 17 June 1761, Liber 10, p 433: Sarah Dickinson, widow, appointed administratrix of Nathanial Dickenson of Mannington. Bondsmen: John Thompson and William Harvey of same placew.

[75] Unrecorded deed #285 in SCHS. Part of 203 A Dorothy Dickeson had purchased from William Thompson in 1749. Nathaniel Dickinson was one of the witnesses.

[76] This account is based on a paper in the Gloucester Co. Hist. Soc., "The Gosling Line", submitted in 1993 by John B Adams of 104 Essex Drive,Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

[77] In his 1757 will, Joseph Stokes, Sr. of Chester, Burlington Co, refers to his dau Hannah Gosling and grandchildren John Coles and Joseph Coles, Wills III:311

[78] Wills, Vol II, 103.

[79] Roads 1713 in Salem County Clerk's Office, written 2 Apr 1753, recorded 20 Jun 1761.

[80] Wills, III:150.

[81] John Kidd vs John Gosling, NJ Supeme Court, May term 1762, NJ State Archives, Reel 207, case #20683.

[82] Index of Land Documents in Possession of Gloucester Co H.S., Colonial Deeds Rec. in State Archives:

6 Mar 1752, John Gosling, Jr. and Hannah to Enoch Hains Book T:4; 27 November 1761, John Gosling and Hannah to John Paul, AH:368. I haven't looked at the deeds.

[83] SCHS unrecorded deed #D-332.

[84] Mss in SCHS on the family include: William Haynes of Salem Town, MA and his son Thomas Haynes of West New Jersey, 12 pp 1984, written for Haynes Chronicle, Vol 2 #4, p 89. Revised 1991. From Paulette Haynes, 1431 E 500 N, Anderson, IN 46012 http://members.aol.com/chrishayne/index.html]. Also: The Haines (Hanes) Family, 4 pp, unattributed, first pub. 1899, and Haynes Family from Internet: http:///www.vivanet.com/~bigtree/genealogy/haynes.htm.

[85] NJ Archives, Vol 21.

[86] Colonial deedbook A-M:6, microfilm at NJ Archives.

[87] Wills, I:49

[88] Wills, I:138.

[89] Wills, I:243.

[90] All of the above are from Salem Monthly Meeting Records found in Meldrum, op. cit.

[91] From NJ Archives per Craig, Marriages, p 9. Apparently not a Quaker marriage.

[92] Ibid

[93] Ibid, p 289, Pittsgrove Baptist Church records. Sydonia, dau of Jonathan Bellton was b <1735 (when her father wrote his will) and probably was much younger than Daniel, but would be too old to marry Daniel, Jr. who was born in 1747.

[94] From a photocopy of an old rendering of the minute in the Huddy file, SCHS.

[95] There is a very good account of this story in Francis Bazley Lee, New Jersey as a Colony and as a State, NY: Pub. Soc. Of NJ, 1902, vol 2, pp 244-253.

[96] DAR Lineage Book #48, p 61, #47130, Mrs. Elizabeth C Perry Wayne.

[97] Craig, Marriages, pp 68, 46, and 104 and Meldrum, op cit, p 155..

[98] Data on the early McCollister genealogy is from David McCalister, mccalfam@burgoyne.com.

[99] Gloucester Co Historical Society Bible Records show such a Margaret, b Jan 1, 1770, "married a McCollister."

[100] A family group sheet by B. S. Pancoast of Woodstown, NJ (undated) from Gloucester Co HS, says his wife was Mary Silver, dau of Aaron Silver and Anna Hall, and she died in Mannington Twp. Sharpstown is just across the river in Pilesgrove. Data on his family also from an old family document in GCHS vertical file and from Dave McCallister, 2699 East Oak Lane, Layton, UT 84040.

[101] Dave McCallister is trying to determine whether John might have been the son of Isaac. It was common in those days to name a later child after a child who died young, particularly when it was an important family name as in this case. The second John, however, does not show up on the family bible records or the family group sheet, above, which is said to be based on information from the son of Benjamin Frankllin McCollister. It would seem, therefore, that he was probably the son of John b 1762 and Margaret Richman McCollister, or Benjamin, b 1764, or Edward, b 1767. We do not have lists of children for any of these.

[102] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, Vol III, Boston: New England Historic Genealogy Society, 1995, pp 1560-1562.

[103] The information concerning the Rays and Haynes comes from a paper by Paulette Haynes, 1431 E 500 N, Anderson, IN 46012 entitled William Haynes of Salem Town, Massachusetts and his son Thomas Haynes of West New Jersey, 1984, revised 1991.

[104] The original deed is in the Salem County Historic Society. It was abstracted by Charles E. Sheppard and printed in the Vineland Historical Magazine, 41:311. Sheppard’s notes are on microfilm #457, pp 365-6, in the Salem County Historic Society.

[105] H Stanley Craig, Salem County Genealogical Data, Vol I, reprint 1980, Gloucester County Historical Society, pp 75, 173.

[106] Thomas Cushing and Charles E Sheppard, History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, NJ, 1883, reprint 1995, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, pp 37, 51.

[107] Elwell data from Mary Coates Martin, 350 Years of American Ancestors, Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1989, page 179; and from Thomas Shourds, History and Genealogy of Fenwick’s Colony, 1876, reprint 1991, Clearfield Co, Baltimore, p 79.

[108] Material in Ray File at Salem County Historic Society from records of Mrs. Alice Couch, Alloway.

[109] Ibid.

[110] Orphan Court Minutes B 1812, Salem County Clerk’s Office.

[111] Craig, op cit, Vol II, p 27, and Vol !, p 323.

[112] Alice Couch material in Ray file. Mrs. Crouch continues the Ray line into the late 19^th century.

[113] Liber 40, p 549, abstracted in NJ Archives, Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post Revolutionary History of the State of NJ, Vol 42, p 336. The letter of guardianship were issued 3 May 1814 under a law passed 21 January 1814, but the guardianship was to take effect 16 February 1793, presumably the date of death of Samuel Popeno’s father, James. Samuel was dead by 1814.

[114] Craig, op cit, Vol I, pp 43, 19.

[115] Charlotte D Meldrum, Early Church Records of Salem County NJ, Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1996, pp 37, 143.

[116] This is mostly taken from a document called Gloucester County Historical Society Bible Records at the Society.

[117] His will, probated in 1757 and recorded at Hampshire County, VA, mentioned Sarah Richman among his children. John Richman, in his 1758 will, mentioned "what is coming from Isaac Vanmeter's estate"; John didn't die until1768. (Wills, IV 352)

[118] See Jeanne Majdalany, The Story of the Early Settlers of Stamford, Connecticut 1641-1700, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1991; also materials from the Seeley Genealogical Society.

[119] Information on the Seeleys is from Seeley Genealogical Society, Descendants of Robert Seeley (First Five Generations), 1977-89 and The Sixth Generation Families, 1995; and Mary Henrietta Chase, Descendants of Aquila Chase and Robert Seeley, Dallas 1963 (copies in Library of Congress and leading genealogical libraries).

Peter Popeno, his Neighbors and Their Lands

in Salem County, NJ, 1730s to 1830s

1739, Fenwick Dickinson grants 50 acres to Peter Poppinow.[3]

Early Church Records of Salem County, Charlotte D Meldrum: