The early days of two New Jersey counties, Gloucester and Camden (formed from Gloucester ) and their various towns and townships --Barnesboro, Berkeley (Sandtown), Billingsport, Blackwoodtown, Camden, Deptford, Fort Mercer, Franklin, Glassboro, Gloucester, Greenwich, Haddonfield, Mullica Hill, Newton, Paulsboro, Swedesboro, Union, Washington, Waterford, Williamstown (Squankum), Woodbury and Woolwich -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 56 Page Booklet reprinted from two hard to find books: the 1847 edition of John Warner Barber and Henry Howe's Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey and New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past, a WPA project published in 1939. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 8.5" x 11" 60# paper, with the fine print enlarged for easier reading. A sheet of clear vinyl has been added to protect the front cover.
The Howe/Barber history covers the development of this area until about 1844, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glympse from a 1939 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities.
Among the many and varied topics in the booklet are:
First Settlers; a Physical Description of the Area; the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church at Swedesboro with the names of those petitioning for the charter; Tidbits from County Records; Lt. Col, Christopher Greene and the Attack on Fort Mercer (Battle of Red Bank) in the Revolutionary War; Heroism of Mrs. Whitall; Death of Count Donop; Capt. DeVries party, saved from massacre at Cooper's Creek by an Indian woman; Early life in Swedesboro; Evacuation of the fort at Greenwich; Gloucester Fox-Hunting Club; Occupation of Woodbury by Lord Cornwallis; How an Indian Woman saved Woodbury Women from starvation; the Murder of Hutchison Heberton by Singleton Mercer to avenge his sister's honor; the History of Windmill Island; Special WPA Section on Camden, including a map; a map of the area; and other bits of history and trivia.
The booklet contains delightful hand-drawn sketches by Barber and Howe depicting early views of Camden (full page), Woodbury, Red Bank from the Delaware River, Mullica Hill, Swedesboro, and the Friends Meeting House at Haddonfield.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?