HISTORY OF HARRISON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
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On a web site about Gloucester County, New Jersey, maintained by Janice Brown; text transcribed by Janice Brown from the source noted below.

Information from: "History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem, and
Cumberland, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of their Prominent 
Citizens," by Thomas Cushing, M.D., and Charles E. Sheppard, Esq.; 
Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883; Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co.

CHAPTER XLIIL
TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON
Page 243-252

Geographic and Descriptive--This township was taken from Greenwich and 
Woolwich townships ins 1844 and named Spicer, in honor of one of the 
early settlers of Mullica Hill, but only retained the name for about a 
year, when it was changed to Harrison, in honor of Gen. William Henry 
Harrison, tenth President of the United States.  Ex-Judge Jacob Harvey 
and William Haines, both practical surveyors, ran the division line, 
assisted by the township committees.

   The northeastern portion of the township is a little hilly, while 
the rest is level or gently undulating.  There is in this township a 
variety of soil, all of which is susceptible of a high state of 
cultivation, and is very productive of vegetables and garden truck.  
The township contains, including South Harrison township, an area of 
twenty-four thousand and seventy-two acres of land.  It is one of the 
most extensive and populous townships of the county, peopled by an 
industrious and thrifty class of farmers.  Its farms and residences are among the neatest in
Southern New Jersey.

   The township is bounded on the northeast by Mantua, and southeast by Clayton 
township, on the south by Salem County, on the southwest by Woolwich, and northwest 
by Greenwich township.

   Harrison is watered along its southerly border by Oldman's Creek and its tributaries.  
The north and south branches of Raccoon Creek and their numerous tributaries water the 
northern half of the township.

 EARLY SETTLERS--In all probability the pioneer land-owner and settler of what is 
now Mullica Hill was Erica Mullica, from whom the town derives its name.  He located 
on the north side of the creek.  Another and probably more prominent pioneer settler at 
Mullica Hill was Jacob Spicer.  It was he after whom the township was first named.  His 
tract lay nearly or quite all on the north side of the creek, and covered a large extent of 
territory.  The next tract south of Spicer's was the Isaac Browning tract.  He married into 
the family who previously owned the tract, and in this way came in possession, after 
which it was known as the Browning tract.  Browning's daughter married a Hatch, and 
the old plantation is still known as the Hatch place.  Benjamin Moore was owner of a 
large tract of land south of the Spicer and Browning tracts, which was subsequently 
divided among his heirs.  The Gorsline or Gosborn tract was still farther south, and it is 
now entirely out of the possession of the family.

   The Zane tract lay southwest from the village of Mullica Hill.  The senior Zane took a 
proprietary right to seven hundred acres, which, at his death, was left to his two sons.  
Like many others, the old Abel Nicholson farm was part of the Spicer tract, and lay west 
of Mullica Hill.  About the year 1800, Joseph Gibson and Enoch Allen purchased the old 
Spicer homestead, and afterwards made an equitable division of the property, and the 
Joseph Gibson share was purchased by William Hazelton.  Fox was one of the early 
settlers in this vicinity, locating where Joseph Jessup now lives.  Gabriel Davis was a 
large land-owner in this township, and died about 1835, also Isaac B. Snowden, who 
lived to the advanced age of over eighty years.  George Horner, father-in-law of Hon. 
N.T. Stratton, owned a large property, and died in 1840.  The father of Joshua Moore was 
one of the pioneers of this township, and died in 1835, aged eighty-five.  Mr. Moore was 
the father of a large family of sons and daughters, most of whom lived to the ages of 
eighty or eighty-five years.  Christopher Kinsel, one of the prominent old settlers of the 
township, died in 1822, at the advanced age of seventy years.

   Isaac Murphy and Josiah Albertson were also among the old settlers in the latter part of 
the last century, and died in 1832 or '33, each aged over eighty years.  Jonathan Colson 
was one of the pioneer merchants of Mullica Hill, and one of the largest land-owners in 
the township.  He died in 1850, aged seventy-one years.  Stacy Hazelton, an old resident 
of Harrison township, died at the age of eighty-five years, and Enoch Egans, who lived 
till 1876, was ninety-three years old when he died.  Hugh Egan, another of the pioneers 
of Harrison, lived to the age of eighty-eight years and died in 1832.  Jacob Stratton, one 
of the old and influential citizens of the township, died in 1856, age the age of eighty-
one.  Joseph Doran came on the stage of action a little later, and died in 1846, at the age 
of sixty-eight.  Isaac Pine and Michael Allen, both large land-owners, each lived to be 
over eighty years of age, and died in 1841.  William Hollinshead lived till 1830, and died 
at the age of eighty-six.  Benjamin C. and Jethro Lippincott each lived to reach their 
eighty-first year, and died in 1879 or '80.  William Cassady, Charles String, Peter String, 
and Daniel Curran were among the pioneers of Harrison, and each lived beyond his four-
score years and ten.  Nathan Pine lived to be eighty-four, and Joseph Gruff died in 1830 
at the advanced age of eighty years.  Hon. Elijah Bower, one of Harrison's pioneer 
representatives in the legislative halls, and prominently identified with every progressive 
movement, died at the age of ninety years.  David Hurley, one of the pioneers, prominent 
as a school-teacher, died at an advanced age.  Robert Newell was another of the old 
settlers, and lived long in the township.  John Atkinson lived to be eighty-eight years of 
age, and died in 1834.  Joseph Chatham, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens in 
township affairs, died in 1834, at the age of ninety years.  George Sherwin was an early 
settlers and pioneer farmer, who lived to the age of eighty-two years.  William Allen, 
Enoch Allen, and Matthew Allen were all pioneer farmers, all of whom died in 1834, 
each one aged between eighty-two and eighty-six years.  Enoch Allen was the ancestor of 
a numerous progeny, and the oldest son was drowned in the Delaware River in 1832.  
Jedediah Dawson, another old pioneer of this township, lived to be eighty years of age, 
and died in 1834.  Nathan Folwell was one of the old farmers of this township, who died 
in 1834.

   The above list of pioneers of what is now Harrison township was furnished by Hon. 
N.T. Stratton, and embraces nearly or quite all sections of the township.  Mr. Stratton has 
been a resident of the township since 1829, first as a clerk and then a merchant since 
1835, and he has also represented his district in the national as well as State Legislature, 
and remembers well the time when half an acre of potatoes was a large patch for a farmer 
to plant, the majority of farmers planting less than that amount.  The time, however, has 
come, even in this day, when potato-fields are counted by tens of acres on almost every 
farm, and when, in fact, South Jersey has become to a large extent the garden patch from 
which Philadelphia obtains her vegetables.

   Among the oldest citizens now living in this township are N.T. Stratton, Joseph Engle, 
now living in Mullica, aged seventy-nine; Samuel Atkinson, aged ninety; Thomas 
Stratton, living at the north end of the town, aged seventy-nine; and James Gibson, who 
was born in this township Feb. 3, 1806, and was appointed postmaster at Mullica Hill 
March 7, 1871, and is still actively engaged in the duties of his office.  John Pancoast is 
another old citizen of the town now living at the advanced age of eighty-four years.  One 
of the oldest citizens and largest landowner in the township is Joseph Jessup.  One of his 
first purchases was a tract of four hundred and fifty acres, at Lincoln in 1833, of which he 
is still the owner.  In his home-farm, about one mile west from Mullica Hill, he has one 
thousand acres of as good farming land as there is in Harrison.  Altogether he is the 
owner of over three thousand acres of farming land in Gloucester County.  When thirteen 
years of age he was the engineer of a five-horse team, at noe salary beyond his board and 
clothes, and when he was turned out into the world he had a capital of twenty dollars.  
Around this small nucleus he has gathered nearly or quite half a million dollars, which is 
the result of an honest, industrious life.

   CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS--The following is a copy of the proceedings of the first 
annual town meeting of Harrison township, held March 13, 1844:
   "At a meeting of the inhabitants of the township of Spicer, held at the house of Mary 
Wood, in Mullica Hill, the following persons were chosen to serve in said township for 
the ensuing year:  Town Clerk, Asa Colson; Assessor, Benjamin P. Lippincott; Assistant 
Assessors, Henry Jackson, Jonathan Colson, Jr.; Collector, Abel Knight; Overseers of 
Poor, Benjamin P. Lippincott, Abel Knight; Overseers of Roads, Thomas Hurmack, 
Elijah Horner, Malachi Horner; Chosen Freeholders, Charles French, Joseph Jessup; 
Constable, Isaac Ridgway; Commissioners of Appeals, Charles Batten, Ira Gibson, 
Benjamin Colson; Township Committee, James Lippincott, Joseph A. Chatham, John W. 
Hazelton, Chalkley Lippincott, John Duell; School Committee, Joshua Engle, William 
Hazleton, Samuel Pimm; Surveyors of Highways, Asa Moore, William W. Dunn; Judge 
of Elections, Samuel H. Weatherby; Pound-Keepers, Edward B. Knight, Andrew Knisel."

   The following are among the resolutions adopted at the same meeting: "Resolved, That 
the next election for county officers shall be opened the first day at the School-House in 
Harrisonville, and to be continued the day after at the house of William W. Tomlin (Blue 
Ball), Mullica Hill. Resolved, That the next annual township-meeting shall be held at the 
house of Mary Wood, Mullica Hill.  Resolved, That at the next annual town-meeting the 
vote shall be taken by Ballott.  Resolved, That the township shall raise as much money as 
shall be necessary to improve any certain piece of road, as shall be raised by subscription 
from the inhabitants of the township, the amount to be left to the committee."

   The committee of the township convened in the afternoon, and the officers all having 
been sworn, and other business having been attended to, they adjourned.
   The minutes are signed by Stacy Hazleton, moderator; Asa Colson, town clerk.

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS

   MULLICA HILL, the principal village of the township, is situated in the northern 
portion of Harrison, on the main branch of the Raccoon Creek, and at the southern 
terminus of the Woodbury and Mullica Hill turnpike.

   Settlements were made here prior to the Revolutionary war, and during that long and 
eventful struggle it is said that a battle was fought at what is now Mullica Hill, at which 
only one man was killed.  He was buried near where the grist-mill now stands.

   The village of Mullica Hill takes its name from Eric Molica (sic), by birth a Swede, 
who came here when a young man, and purchased a large tract of land about the site of 
the town {Watson's Annals, vol. ii, p. 231, and Hist. Coll. of New Jersey}.  His house 
stood on the north side of the creek, in or near the orchard of the late Joseph Doran.  He 
lived to the age of one hundred years, and had a family of eight in 1693 when the census 
of New Sweden was taken. The name of Mullica Hill was at first given only to that 
portion of the village north of the Raccoon Creek, the southern part having been named 
Spicerville, from Jacob Spicer (one of the compilers of the valuable book of Provincial 
laws), who came from East Jersey early in the eighteenth century and settled just south of 
the creek, where Samuel Harrison now lives.  In the olden time Mullica Hill, like all other 
towns of a Swedish derivation, was merely a settlement of farmers.  The origin of these 
farm villages was a fear of the Indians; but they were probably held together long after 
Indians ceased to be a cause of alarm by the gossiping propensities of the Swedish 
matrons.  being removed from the seat of war Mullica Hill has few Revolutionary 
reminiscences of interest, yet there is an abundance of curious traditions connected with 
the place.

   Previous to the Revolutionary War a tavern was kept on the north side of the creek, 
where Widow Pancoast now lives.  It is believed that a tavern was also kept on the site of 
the present one as early as 1780, and probably prior to that date, but whether in the 
present house is not known, though from the general appearance of the building it must 
be at least a centenarian.

   Among the numerous landlords that have ministered to the necessities of the traveling 
public at this old and ancient hostelry we learn the following names persons: James 
Wood was the landlord here as early as 1808, and kept the tavern till the close of the war 
of 1812 when he died and the tavern was kept by his widow a few years, when she was 
succeeded by John Becket, James Tomlin, Andrew Knisel, John Speer, and Abel Knight 
in 1833 to 1835. Among those who have kept the old tavern since that time are Mrs. 
Mary Wood, Harry Paul, Howell Mulford, John Vaneman, George Gale, Charles 
Eastlack, Albert Parker and Frye Hopkins, the present popular landlord, who purchased 
the property and took possession in March, 1881.

   Tavern-keeping on the north side of the creek seems to have been a failure, as the 
business of the town naturally settled down upon the south bank, or hill side of the creek, 
where is now located the principal business of the town.

   Among the pioneer merchants of Mullica Hill may be mentioned the names of Joseph 
and James Lippincott, whose store stood a little north of the present hotel, or on the site 
occupied by John Reidon's dwelling.  Josiah Moore occupied the same building, and kept 
a store there from about 1810 to 1814, and as late as 1825.  Among the first stores was 
that of Jonathan Colson, who occupied the brick building nearly opposite the store of 
Hon. N.T. Stratton.  Christopher (Stoffle) Knisel kept a store in what is now the Mounce 
building.  Another store was kept by John Hazleton, in a building then standing on the 
site now occupied by the town hall.  The Christopher Knisel spoken of was the 
grandfather of ex-Sheriff Knisel, of Woodbury.  Hon. N.T. Stratton was for several years 
a clerk for Jonathan Colson, and Jan. 25, 1835, Mr. Stratton was admitted as a partner, 
and the firm remained Colson & Stratton till 1840, when it dissolved, each one then 
operating a store on his own account.  In 1842, Mr. Stratton admitted a partner in 
business, who remained until 1852, when Mr. Stratton was elected to Congress, and his 
two sons took charge of the store, since which the firm name has been "Stratton 
Brothers."

  MULLICA HILL in 1822--As late as 1822 the town, though nearly a mile in length, had 
not assumed much of its present appearance, as there were but few buildings in the now 
beautiful, populous, and well-shaded place.  There were the two taverns, one at each end 
of the town, the two stores of Moore and Colson, a log house on the site of the present 
town hall, the brick house now owned by Batten & Iredell, a house where James 
Benezet's house now stands, one where Iredell's harness-shop is located, and an old store-
house moved from some other place to where Esquire Reece's residence now stands.  
There was a house where Widow Stratton lives, and another on the site now occupied by 
Mrs. Fullerton's residence.  There was a house on the site now occupied by the Baptist 
parsonage, and one where Ketura French's house now stands.  There was a mill-house 
down under the hill, and a Mr. Fullerton lived where is now located the tin-shop of Mr. 
Schweble.  Another house stood on the site now occupied by Parker Steward's residence, 
and another where Capt. Stratton lives, and Egan, the village tailor, lived where John 
Reidon now lives.  There was a house where Harry Norman lives, another on the site now 
occupied by the Methodist parsonage, and Lydia Gibson lived on the opposite side of the 
road.
   Of the industrial pursuits at that time there was the old grist-mill.  It then stood over in 
the madow across the road from where it is now located.  The present mill is supposed to 
have been built by Christopher Knisel.  There was also a carding-mill here, but by whom 
built is not known.  An attempt was made at this mill to manufacture cloth from cotton 
and wool, which for a time succeeded, until the Eastern manufacturers came into market; 
they, having better facilities for manufacture and transportation, soon compelled the 
Mullica Hill establishment to suspend operations.

   A post-office was established at Mullica Hill in the early part of the present century, 
and the first postmaster, as remembered by the oldest inhabitant, was Willett Smith, 
better known as "Captain" Smith.  This was as early as 1810 or 1812.

   PIONEER AND LATER TRADES.--The pioneer blacksmith, as best can be 
remembered, was Samuel Weatherby, who in 1825, had a shop near where the Baptist 
parsonage now stands.  The same shop was subsequently owned by Samuel Gaunt, and in 
1834, Mr. James Gibson, now the venerable village postmaster, having learned the 
blacksmith trade over in the Keystone State, purchased the shop and moved it over where 
the foundry and machine-shop is now located, where he carried on the blacksmith 
business till 1850, when he rented the shop to Jacob L. Stratton, who carried on the 
business for five or six years, and in the meantime, 1851 or 1851, built the foundry.  
William Waters was the next owner of the shop and foundry, he having purchased the 
property of James Gibson.  Jan. 1, 1866, the foundry property was sold by Waters to 
Hoffmann & Reese, the present owners and operators.  Messrs. Hoffmann & Reese 
manufacture all kinds of small castings, as well as small farming tools, such as plows, 
cultivators, harrows, rakes and both rod and cast milling for ornamental fencing.

   In the early part of this century there was a blacksmith-shop standing opposite the 
present tavern.  This shop was destroyed by fire.  Benjamin Gibson had a shop just back 
of the restaurant, or rather the rear end of the restaurant building was the shop, and the 
front part was built for a shop and subsequently converted into a saloon.  Amasa 
Garwood was one of the pioneer blacksmiths in this shop, and built the front part.  The 
Benezet brothers worked in this shop for some time, then came Frank Cole, and after him 
Elijah English.

   Among the pioneer wood-working mechanics were Jesse Rice and Jacob Kier, who 
were here as early as 1810 or 1812.  Rice was a wheelwright, and Kier a cabinet-maker.  
They were brother-in-laws, and had their shop on the site now occupied by the residence 
of John Garwood.

   The pioneer school-house stood, in 1811 or 1813, in what is now the Friend's burying-
ground.  It had been occupied as a meeting house, and it was removed in 1822, and 
another built on the site of the present one.  Archibald Silvas was the teacher in 1812.

   The pioneer store on the north side of the creek, as nearly as can be ascertained, was 
kept by Enoch Egens, in a building then standing on the site now occupied by Parker's 
tin-shop, south of the Union store.  There were at times other parties engaged in the 
mercantile business on the north side of the creek.  Whoever they were, they occupied a 
building between the Egens store and the present site of the Union store.  In the early part 
of 1866 the "Union Store Company" was organized, commencing a business in the 
building now occupied by Albert Parker as a stove- and tin-ware-store, and in May of that 
year moved into their present large and commodious store-house, which is the only one 
north of the creek.  Mr. Parker commence the stove and tin business here in 1880, 
succeeding Sampson adn others who had been engaged in the business at this place.

  The pioneer tavern on this side of the creek was known as the "Blue Ball" tavern, 
having a blue globe for a sign.  The lot occupied by Erick Mollica, after whom the town 
was named, is now owned by Jacob H. Mounce.  The pioneer lawyer of Mullica Hill is 
R.M. Ware, who came here in 1842, and in 1850 built his present beautiful residence and 
cosy office, just south of the Episcopal church.  This church is said to be the oldest house 
of worship in the village or township, having been built in 1805, and the Friend's 
Meeting-house, south of the creek, in 1806.

   MULLICA HILL in 1882--The last sixty years has wrought many changes at this place.  
The veteran merchants and tavern-keepers have all passed away.  The dwellings in which 
they lived have nearly all disappeared.  The forests that surrounded the town have given 
place to broad fields heavily laden with the golden harvests.  The old "water mill," that 
stood over in the meadow, has been succeeded by a modern flouring-mill.  Enterprises 
and improvements in the mechanic arts have crowded out the old slow process of hand-
work.  The faithful old mail-carrier has retired from his arduous and responsible duties, 
and he is no doubt totting his "mail-horn" among the stars, while his place here is filled 
by a "coach and four," bringing in its well-filled mail-pouches twelve times per week.  
The business of the town may not have increased to any considerable extent, as far as 
dollars and cents are concerned, but the population and residences have increased in a 
tenfold ratio.  Although the town is now blessed with railroad facilities, yet a well-graded 
turnpike, leading to the county-seat, is a great advance and improvement over the old 
mud-roads of pioneer days.

  At present there are four churches--Episcopal, Friends', Methodist, and Baptist; one 
tavern, by Frye Hopkins; three general stores, by Stratton Brothers, James Benezet & 
Son, and Union store; two twin-stores, by Albert Parker and L.T. Schweble; notion-store, 
by M.F. Parker; drug-store, by William Hassinger; harness-shop, by Hoffman & Reece; 
grist-mill, by J.H. Mounce; wheelwright and blacksmithing by Phineas Ledden and 
Edwin Kane, at north end of town, and Hoffman & Reece, in the centre of town; one 
tailor, two shoemakers, and one cigar-shop.  Population of the town, about four hundred.

   The old grist-mill at Mullica Hill was built as early as 1785, and stood on the opposite 
side of the creek from the present mill.  Christopher Knisel is supposed to have built the 
old mill, and about the year 1800 he sold it to Joseph Doran, who, about 1807, built the 
original part of the present mill, thirty-eight by forty feet, and in 1840 an addition, 
twenty-four by thirty-eight feet, was built, and in 1850 an addition was built to the south 
end, making the mill thirty-eight by eighty-two feet, its size in 1882.  At the death of Mr. 
Doran the property was sold by commissioners to Malachi C. Horner, in 1851 or 1852. 
Mr. Horner operated the mill till 1862 when he sold it to Samuel Coles, who sold a half-
interest in it to John Duell, and in 1866 Mr. Duell sold his half-interest to J.H. Mounce, 
and in 1870, Mr. Mounce purchased the half interest of Samuel Coles.  During the 
different ownerships the mill has been improved by the addition of new and modern 
machinery, and it is one of the several first-class mills in that part of Gloucester County.

   JEFFERSON is a small hamlet on the north border of the township, about two miles 
distant from Mullica Hill.  It was known for many years as "Cox's Hill," also as 
"Allenboro," then "Lawrenceville," and lastly by its present name of Jefferson.  Previous 
to 1800 Abraham Cox owned a portion of the land at this place and lived in the house 
now owned by Charles Jenkins.  The place naturally took the name of the owner of the 
land.

   Thomas Allen next owned the land upon which the village is located, when the name 
was changed to Allenboro.  By that time there had been built a few dwellings near the 
house in which Allen lived, now owned by George Waters.  The inhabitants at that period 
had not the best reputation for hard labor, or in other words, hard work didn't agree with 
their frail constitutions, and the name "Lazy Lawrence," or "Lawrenceville" was given to 
the locality, and remained till 1872, or thereabouts, when the post-office at this place was 
established, with Thomas P. Darlington as postmaster, who was also the merchant at that 
time.

   John I. Sitley, who came here in 1855 or 1856, and commenced the mercantile business 
in the storehouse now occupied by John Riggins, kept the pioneer store at this place.  The 
next merchant here was Jesse Chew.  John Riggins the present merchant, who is also the 
present postmaster, succeeded him.

   The pioneer blacksmith was John Jenkins, who was succeeded by his son, William 
Jenkins, who occupies the same shop in which his father worked.  The pioneer 
wheelwright was a man by the name of Frazier, who worked in the shop now occupied by 
James Pennington.

   The extensive wagon- and carriage-works of Edward E. Lewis were established at this 
place in 1874.  Mr. Lewis employs several of the best mechanics in this section, and 
manufactures all kinds of heavy and light farm- and truck- wagons, carriages and sleighs.

   Among the old settlers in this immediate vicinity were Reuben Haines, Thomas Cole 
and James Tomlin.  Mr. Tomlin owned a large trace of land, and Andrew Sweeten owned 
"quite a good bit."  In or about 1780, Peter Sitley owned a place on which Joseph Orens 
now lives.  Mr. Sitley was a sheep-shearer.  He was a humorous old gentleman, and 
enjoyed the pleasure of frightening the youngsters with his sheep-shears, telling them that 
they were the instruments of torture used in the infernal regions by the gentleman dressed 
in black, and that he had come to execute judgment upon their ears.  Jacob Tomlin is the 
son of the pioneer James Tomlin, and owns a farm near the village of Jefferson.  Joseph 
Orens, one of the oldest settlers in this place, was born in Greenwich township, near 
Paulsboro, May 28, 1800.
   EWANSVILLE--Previous to 1861 there was not much beyond the grist-mill, saw-mill, 
a small grocery, and two or three dwellings at this place.  The village was named in honor 
of Israel Ewen, who built the large wheelwright and blacksmith shop now standing near 
the mills.  The first shops that Mr. Ewan built were destroyed by fire, when he 
immediately erected the present buildings.  Daniel Brown now owns the shops and mill 
property.  Mr. Ewan died in 1876.

   The pioneer blacksmith at this place was Elijah English, whose shop was at the bend of 
the road, near the centre of the town, on the site now occupied by the residence of 
William French.  The pioneer wheelwright-shop stood on the corner opposite Robert 
Ewan's place of business, and was occupied by William Stanton.  The building was 
subsequently removed, and converted to other uses.


  The building now occupied by Robert Ewan as a store and tavern was originally built 
for and occupied as a wheelwright shop.  It was built by John Meiser in 1870, and 
occupied by Ewan in the spring of 1882.

   Henry Swigert opened the first general store at this place in 1862 or 1863.  He was 
succeeded by Thomas Darlington, who was succeeeded in 1879 by Allen Clark, the 
present merchant.  The old brick house near the mill was built in 1793 by Jonathan 
Iredell, who, it is supposed, built the mills.

   There are at this place two general stores, two blacksmith shops and one wheelwright 
shop, grist-mills and saw-mills, school-house, Methodist Church, and about twenty-five 
dwellings.


   FIVE POINTS--This is a small hamlet in the eastern part of the township, so named 
from the number of roads concentrating and forming the points or corners.  There is 
another locality of the same name farther east, both on the Mullica Hill and Glassboro 
road.

   At the eastern points, John Heritage built a blacksmith shop in 1858.  He was succeeded 
by the present blacksmith, Charles Jenkins in 1863, and in 1879 Mr. Jenkins built his 
present wheelwright shop.  The district school-house is near Mr. Jenkin's shop.  At the 
western, or Five Points proper, there is a store by Frank Souders, who succeeded F.A. 
Campbell in the mercantile business, and also keeps the post-office.  Mr. Campbell was 
the pioneer merchant at this place.  Here is also the blacksmith-shop of Robert 
McKeighan, who located here in 1874.  Leonard S. Pancoast is the Five Points 
wheelwright.  Rulon Hall, a small hall for public meetings was built in 1877 by Equire 
Rulon.  Here is located also the Mount Pleasant Episcopal Church.

   This locality was formerly known as "Hell Town," from the fact of the once celebrated 
"White Horse Tavern" being located here, and nearly on the site now occupied by the 
Methodist Episcopal Church.

   In the old "White Horse" days it was rather an isolated locality, just suited for the 
gathering of a class of persons who appetites would naturally lead them to congregate at 
such a place for seasons of conviviality--hence the name Hell Town.

   HARRISON IN THE WAR OF 1861-65--No sooner had the first rebel shot been fired 
than the patriotism of Harrison township was aroused, and as the great conflict waxed 
hotter, so were the patriotic hearts of Harrison aroused to meet the emergency of the 
hour.  At the first call  for troops, some of the best blood of this township answered to the 
call, and sprinkled itself upon the altar of the common country.  As the war progressed, 
and troops were needed, Harrison responded nobly.  At a special meeting held at the Blue 
Ball Tavern, at Mullica Hill, July 30, 1864, resolutions were adopted authorizing the 
township committee to issue bonds in sums of twenty-five dollars each for the purpose of 
paying volunteers and substitutes.  The following committee of one in each school district 
was appointed for war purposes: Clem's Run District, John P. Rulon; Pineville, C.P. 
Whitaker; Oak Grove, Joseph Applegate; Cloverdale, B. H. Lippincott; Harrisonville, 
Amos T. Eastlack; Cedar Grove, J.D. Kier; Union, John Benezet; Columbia, Joseph 
Jones; Harmony, William Gordon; Paul's, Jacob G. Tomlin; Chestnut Grove, B.G. 
Pancoast; Mount Pleasant, Jacob I. Heritage; Unionville, Richard S. Stratton; 
Washington, J. Chapman.  

   A like committee was also appointed in each school district to collect money on behalf 
of the township and give receipts for same.  The following were the committee appointed, 
corresponding to the foregoing districts: John S. Rulon, C.P. Whitaker, Charles String, 
Jr., Isaac H. Lippincott, Samuel H. Weatherby, John D. Kier, John Benezet, Atley Shute, 
George Walter, Samuel L. West, Jonathan G. Foster, William E. Heritage, R.S. Stratton, 
and Jeremiah Chapman.

SOCIETIES:
   FRENCH LODGE, No. 89, I.O.O. F., was instituted at Mullica Hill, March 15, 1849, 
by District Deputy Grand Master David B. Gill, assisted by Past Grand James W. Shoff, 
acting as Grand Master; Bowman Sailer, acting Grand Secretary; Charles Sterling, Joseph 
J. Moore, and Hiram R. Herald, with the following charter members, who were also the 
first officers of the lodge: Joseph A. Shute, N.G.; John M. Kitchen, V.G.; E.B. Knight, 
Sec.; John Rider, Asst. Sec.; and William F. Martin, Treas.  Of this number, only one, 
E.B. Knight was living in 1882.

   On the evening of institution the membership was increased by the initiation of 
Benjamin C. Rulon, John J. Dunlap, William Foster, Daniel Benezet, Alexander H. Pine, 
Job Ballinger, and Samuel Ashcraft.  In 1882 four of that number were still members of 
the lodge.

   From 1850 to 1865 there were received by initiation and by card forty-five members, 
and in 1866 forty were added to the lodge, and from 1867 to 1882 sixty more were added.

   In 1882 (July) the assets of the lodge amounted to four thousand five hundred dollars; 
paid for benefits since institution, three thousand dollars; paid for funeral benefits, six 
hundred dollars.

   Present membership (1882) sixty-five.  Past Grands, forty-four.

   The officers of the lodge in August, 1882, were as follows:  N.G., Collins A. Hazelton; 
V.G., John C. Rulon; Sec., John P. Reece; Treas., Samuel Ashcraft; Warden, George 
Walker; O.G., Franklin E. Lloyd; I.G., Christian Morgan; R.S. to N.G., Jacob M. 
Hoffman; L.S. to N.G., William F. Turner; Con., George R. Hazelton; R.S.S., Andrew 
Nichols; L.S.S., Markell Dubois; R.S. to V.G., Thomas Banning; L.S. to V.G., William 
C. Gardner.

   There was also at this place in September 1882, a lodge of KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, 
date for which were promised by the secretary, but never furnished the historian.


RELIGIOUS
   There seems to be no doubt that the religious denomination at Mullica Hill known as 
Quakers, or Friends, is by several years, and perhaps a century, the senior of any other, 
though the Protestant Episcopal may date back nearly as far.  Just when the pioneer 
organization was effected is difficult to learn, but it is positively known that the old men 
and women in the early part of this century were members of the Friend's Society as far 
back as the middle of the last century, or 1750.  The old meeting-house stood in what is 
now the Friend's burying ground, and was occupied as a school- and meeting-house in the 
latter part of the last century.  The present brick meeting-house was built in 1806.  This 
and the lot on which the old house stood were purchased by Jacob Spicer, the original 
settlers on the south side of the creek.

   Among the early members of this meeting may be mentioned the following names who 
were prominently identified with this people:  Joseph Allen, one of the elders; Benjamin 
Heritage, a minister; James Gardner, Charles French, Joseph Gruff, Nathan Folwell, 
Joshua Moore, -- Engle, father of the present venerable Joseph Engle; Joshua Engle, 
Elijah Bower, Abel Robbins, Isaac Snowden, Jonathan Iredell, Thomas Iredell, Nathan 
Iredell, Charles French, Abraham Iredell, John Pancoast, father of the present John 
Pancoast, who is ninety years of age; Samuel Allen, Enoch Allen, Joseph Allen, Mathew 
Allen, George Tatum, and many others whom Mr. Pancoast could not name.  Besides 
those above named were their families, which in many cases were numerous, most of 
whom were members of the Society or Meeting.

   The present elders of the Mullica Hill Meeting are John Pancoast, Joshua Engle, 
George T. Atkinson, Samuel Gaunt, Richard S. Ridgway, Elizabeth B. Atkinson, 
Caroline Gaunt, Mary Engle, and Sarah Ann Ridgway.

   Overseers Asa Engle and Joseph T. Fogg.  Present value of the church property, ten 
thousand dollars.

ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.  About the beginning of the present century 
the services of the Episcopal Church were read, in the grist-mill at Mullica Hill, by 
Joseph Chatham, Esq., there being but few persons of that denomination in the vicinity.  
In the year 1813 a small frame church was erected on the south side of the village, and 
named St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and the pulpit was at first supplied by the 
respective rectors presiding over the Episcopal Church at Swedesboro, as they succeeded 
each other.  In a few years the congregation and membership had rapidly increased, the 
Sabbath-school was large and flourishing, and it was considered expedient to have a 
resident rector.  In succeeding years several rectors at different periods held the church in 
charge; prominent among them was the Rev. Thomas Tanser, an English gentleman of 
much Christian merit; but death suddenly removed him from a devoted congregation and 
from a community, which entertained for him the most profound respect.  In 1851 a new 
church edifice, built of stone, was erected in the north part of the village, in the Gothic 
style of architecture, and was dedicated by the Right Rev. George W. Doane, bishop of 
the diocese.

   Of late years the church has met with many reverses, having had no resident pastor for 
several years, and her membership having great diminished.  However, the spirit of 
Episcopacy still exists in the hears of the little band assembled each Sabbath, summoned 
to the house of God by the sonorous tones of the fine-toned bell that crowns the church 
edifice, a recent acquisition, secured for the church through the noble efforts of R.M. 
Ware, Esq.

   The old village of Mullica Hill can boast of no greater attraction than the little Gothic, 
ivy-clothed church, free from debt.  The building committee for the present church 
edifice were Alexander H. Weatherby, Enoch Aggings, R.M. Ware, and Thomas G. 
Batten.


   It is probably that Enoch Aggings and Joseph Chatham were most prominent in the 
establishment of the Episcopal Church at Mullica Hill.  They continued to be fearless up 
to the time of their decease.  Mr. Aggings lived to be past ninety years of age, and Joseph 
Chatham died in ---- .  They were undoubtedly the first wardens of the church.

   At the decease of Joseph Chatham, his son, Joseph A. Chatham, a most excellent and 
useful man, seemed to take the lead in church matters, and during his life the church 
prospered very much.

   Among the resident clergymen were the Revs. Thomas Tanser, Ernest DeWolf, 
William Bryant, Richardson Graham and Samuel Rose Mead.

   Revs. Edwin Nock, James Lamb, Charles Duane, Jesse Y. Burk, and a Mr. Hoskins 
have presided at different times, Mr. Hoskins being the present rector.

   The wardens now in office are Dr. D.P. Pancoast and Henry C. Chatham.  The 
vestrymen are S.L. Pancoast, R.M. Ware, Jonathan Tomlin, Edward E. Lewis, E.M. 
Chadwick and Albert Parker.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.  Previous to 1827, probably as early as 1800, the 
old itinerant found his way to Mullica Hill, for here was a settlement long before the 
latter date, and where there was a settlement there was Methodist preaching, especially in 
South Jersey.  Services were held in private houses, school-houses, barns, groves, and, in 
fact, anywhere that the people would gather themselves together there was found the old 
veteran of the cross.  The Methodists at Mullica Hill became so numerous in 1827 that 
they built a house of worship that year on what is known as High Street.  In this old 
meeting-house they worshipped until 1848, when the present church edifice was built.

   The following are the names of some of the preachers who served this people in the old 
church and previous to its building: Revs. Thackara Morton, T. Sovereign, S. Rusling, 
William Williams, J. Grover, W. Burroughs, William Stevens, J. Walker, S. Townsend, J. 
Thompson, William Vansant, W. Fong, William Morrison, William Stewart, William 
Garmon, J. Canfield, E. Stout, and others.  The following is a partial list of preachers 
since 1848: Revs. S. Parker,  --- Reed, Joseph Ashbrook, D. Duffield,  ---- Pierson, ---- 
Gearhart, --- Williams, Carman G.H. Tullis, L. O. Manchester, G.T. Bishop, and in 1882, 
Rev. S.S. Belleville.  This church, like many others, has had its lights and shadows.  It 
was in 1882 in a flourishing condition.

THE MULLICA HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, Gloucester County, NJ adopted May 19, 
1845, as their rule of faith, the articles published by the New Hampshire Baptist State 
Convention.  Two deacons were then appointed.  Those composing the membership of 
the church were John Mulford and wife, Enoch Ashton  and wife, Josiah S. Roward and 
wife, Benjamin Lloyd and wife, Amos Lloyd, John B. Chattin and wife, John Dubois and 
wife, Benjamin Gibson and wife, Ann Peterson, Deborah Lacey, and Abigail Cooper 
(eighteen).

   Recognition services took place June 5, 1845, in the grove at the south end of town.  
Semon by Rev. J.M. Challis, from the words, "Thou art Peter, upon this rock I will found 
my church."  Services were participated in by Rev. Charles Kain, pastor of Pittsgrove 
Church, Salem County, N.J.  On the 30th day of June, 1845, Rev. Charles Kaine was 
called as pastor, and continued as such till November, 1864, when he resigned.

   Rev. William B. Tolan succeeded him and labored with the church till October 1871, 
when he was succeeded by Rev. William Warlow, who remained as pastor till May 16, 
1882.  Mr. Kain's last pastorate was seven years; total, twenty-seven years.

   Membership in 1883, one hundred and sixty-one.  Trustees: Richard Black, John B. 
Chattin, Aaron M. Ridgway, and Edward L. Stratton; Deacons: Edwin Kain, Thomas 
Bunning, Sr., Jos. Neal, I.S. Stratton, Amos Lloyd; Treasurer, William Bunning; Clerk, 
Issac H. Lloyd.

JEFFERSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - This society is located in and 
around the village of Jefferson, in the north part of the township.  Just when the first class 
was formed is not positively known by anyone now living.  The first class-leader that is 
remembered was David B. Shute in 1845.  Previous to this, however, preaching services 
were held in the Paul school-house, then standing about a mile north of the present 
church.  Here, in the old school-house, for many years the old pioneer preachers held 
forth to such audiences as could be congregated in such small quarters.  The old school-
house served the purpose well, and the neat and commodious church edifice that now 
adorns the sprightly village of Jefferson has been erected.

   Among the early members of Mr. Shute's class were William D. Richards, Silas 
Richards, John Jenkins, Charles Jenkins, Richard Steward, Nathaniel Weldy, Eliza 
Jenkins, Jesse Chew, who is now one of New Jersey's ablest preachers, Mark Heritage 
and wife, and Nathan Chew and wife.  Nathan Chew was one of the pioneer local 
preachers, and preached occasionally in the old Paul school-house.

   The present church edifice was built about 1868 at a cost of three thousand dollars of 
which sum John W. Richards gave five hundred dollars, and the services at the laying of 
the corner-stone and dedication of the superstructure were conducted by Rev. Jesse Stiles.

   The first trustees were William D. Richards, John Kitchen, David Shute, Harmon 
Abbott, Silas Richards, and Henry Tomlin.

   The following are among the preachers who have served this people:  Revs. Jesse 
Stiles, Dickinson Moore, James Meyers, ---- Hutchinson, ---- Strickland, J.R. Thompson 
(two terms), --- Westcott, Richard Clark, Lewis N. Clark, --- Lippincott, and William 
Clark, the present preacher in charge.  Jefferson is now connected with Ewansville.

   The stewards for 1882 were George Walker, James Pennington, Jasper Scott, William 
Jenkins, George Batten, Jeremiah C. Sweeten, William Dolan.  Sunday-school 
Superintendent, Jasper Scott.  Assistant Superintendent, Henry H. Tomlin.

   Membership of the church, thirty.  Value of church property, two thousand.
   
MOUNT PLEASANT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - The preliminary 
meetings that led to the organization of this society were held in the school-house about a 
mile west of what was then known as the old White Horse Tavern, prior to 1848, by the 
Methodist preachers who were then on the circuit that embraced this locality.

  The first class-leader was William Mounce, in whose class were the following 
members: Mary Ann Mounce, Abigail Fisler, Frances A. Campbell, Abigail Campbell, 
Sophia Bartholomew, George Groff, Susan Groff, Abigail Simpkins, Elizabeth Simpkins, 
Thomas Jagard, Ann Jagard, Martha Ann Mounce, Levi Adkinson, Keziah Adkinson, 
Keziah Eastlack, Mary Eastlack, Ann Skinner, Sarah Skinner, Samuel Chester, Mary 
Chester and Martha Abbott.

   Soon after the class was formed the tavern-keeper at the "White Horse Tavern" became 
one of the advocates of the religion, joined the class, gave up the tavern business, and 
became the leader of the class.  In a few years another school-house was built, for the 
better accommodation of the increased population.  The new school-house stood on the 
site now occupied by the Mount Pleasant Academy, and in it another class was formed, 
with Richard Skinner, Sr., as leader.  This was made a Sunday afternoon appointment, 
and in fair weather the services were held in the beautiful grove surrounding the school-
house.

   In 1860 a new Methodist Church edifice was built, on a site midway between the two 
school-houses, and near the site of the old White Horse Tavern, the corner-stone being 
laid by Rev. S.Y. Monroe, in 1860, and the church dedicated by Bishop Scott, in 
February 1861.  His text was the 137th Psalm, fifth and sixth verses.

   The preachers who have served this people while occupying the schoolhouses were as 
follows: 1848-49, N. Edwards and B. Andrews; 1850, N. Edwards and A. Gearheart; 
1851, A. Gearhart and D. Reed; 1852, James White and Levi Rhodes; 1853, C.W. 
Heisley and J.C. Summerill; 1858-59, H.S. Norris and J.P. Connelly; 1860, E. Waters and 
A. Atwood.

   Since the building of the church the following have been pastors at this, in connection 
with other places: 1863, Samuel F. Wheeler; 1865, James Vincent; 1867, N. Edwards, 
James F. Morrell, Thomas Wilson, Calvin Eastlack, Samuel Hudson, J.B. Stewart.  For 
1883 the society is supplied by Rev. William Tomlin, a local preacher.  Membership in 
1882, forty-one.  Value of church property, three thousand dollars.  Officiary for 1882: 
Local Preacher, C.C. Souder; Exhorter, Charles Jenkins; Class-Leaders, William E. 
Heritage, Henry Jackson and Charles Jenkins; Stewards, C. C. Sonder, H.L. Jackson, and 
E.C. Heritage; Trustees: E.C. Heritage, Joseph D. Carr, N.J. Justice, Robert McKeighan, 
and William E. Heritage.


EWANSVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - The Methodists occupied this 
field as early as 1825 as one of the their outposts, and held the position as such until 
1865, when a society was formed.  At that time Josiah and Israel Ewan were the class 
leaders, and soon after Jacob Dehart was appointed a class-leader.

   The subject of a house of worship was discussed which resulted, in 1866, in building 
the present meeting-house, a frame building, thirty by forty-two feet which was dedicated 
the same year by Rev. John W. Hickman.  The lot, building, sheds, and fence cost nearly 
four thousand dollars, and the property is at present valued at three thousand five hundred 
dollars.

   In 1866 the preacher in charge of the circuit was Rev. Gardner H. Tullis.  He was 
succeeded by Rev. Henry Belton, who was followed by Rev. Joseph Summerill, Rev. - 
Pierson, Rev. Joseph Ashbrook.  In 1880, Ewansville was made a station, and in 1881, 
Rev. Lewis Clark was made the pastor, and 1882 Rev. William P. Clark.  For 1883 the 
society was supplied by Rev. William Tomlin, a local preacher.

   The officers of the church for 1883 were as follows: Stewards: Thomas I. French, 
Henry Lacey, Israel Ewan, Samuel Moore, George Butterworth, and Peter Strang; Class-
Leaders: Peter Scott,  and Thomas I. French.

   The Sunday-school connected with this society was organized in 1866 and is at present 
under the supervision of Israel Ewan, with a school of eighty scholars.


(end)