The early days of Burlington County, New Jersey, and its various communities --Bordentown, Burlington, Chester, Chesterfield, Columbus, Cooperstown, Evesham, Georgetown, Greenwood, Crosswicks, East Plains, Edgepelick, Hanover, Little Egg Harbor, Mansfield, McCartyville, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Northampton, Pemberton, Recklesstown, Springfield, The Square, Vincent-Town, Washington, West Plains, Willingboro -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 76 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 8.5 x 11" spiral-bound book has 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:
Early settlers; a Physical Description of the land; Gravestone Inscriptions, including that of William Bradford; an Incident involving William Penn and Pipe Smoking; a Tree for Witches; a Tree for Blackbeard the Pirate's Booty; a Boy's View of the Attack on Old Burlington; Native Son James Lawrence, who said "Don't Give Up the Ship"; a Clever Ruse to Save the Family Valuables, and Other Civilian and Military Tales of the Revolutionary War; Francis Hopkinson, who wrote "Battle of the Kegs", a comical ballad, part of which is included; Joseph Buonaparte, brother of Napoleon; a Dreadful Shipwreck at Little Egg Harbor; the First Wrought Iron Cannon; the Celebrated Quaker Preacher John Woolman; Special WPA sections on Burlington and Bordentown with city maps of each; a map of the area; and many other interesting items of history and trivia.
The booklet contains delightful hand-drawn sketches by Barber and Howe depicting: St. Mary's Hall and Bishop Dean's Residence; St. Mary's Church and Graveyard; Ancient Tree in Burlington; Ancient Plan of Burlington; Moorestown; Arch over the Railroad, Bordentown; Residence of Buonaparte; View of Crosswicks; Friends Meeting House, Medford; Columbus, Vincent-Town, Mount Holly, Mount Holly County Building; and the Woolman House.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?