Newton Township, N.J. Town Meeting Notes January 13, 1733 to January 2, 1737
Extracts from the First Town Book of Newton Township Continued.
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Newton, for ye sd Township, this 13th day of ye first month, Anno Domini, 1733, ye officers were chosen as follows, viz:
-- Freeholders--Tobias Halloway, Joseph Kaighn.
-- Assessor--Joseph Cooper.
-- Constable--Wm. Dennis.
-- Overseer of ye Poor--Tobias Halloway, John Gill.
-- Surveyor of ye Highway--James Hinchman, John Eslack, John Kaighn, Joseph Kaighn.
-- Collector--Wm. Albertson.
-- Clerk--Joseph Kaighn.
-- Overseer of Highways--Isaac Cooper, Joseph Zane."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held this 25th day of September, 1733, then ye meeting order that there shall be rased ye sum of thirteen pounds, for the relief of ye Poor, in ye manner and form as it was rased by order of a meeting held at Newton, ye 29th day of September, 1731, and the meeting chuse Joseph Cooper, Assessor."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held this 25th day of May, 1733, at ye sd meeting, it was agreed that there shall be rased, ye sum of twenty-four pounds for ye relief of ye poor, and yt ye said sum of twenty-four pounds shall be rased in manner following, viz: on all persons whose tax of his ratables of late doth not amount to two shillings, at ye Assessors discretion, not under one shilling nor above fifteen shillings And on all single men that work for hire, four shillings, and on all public taverns, selling by license ten shillings, and on ferry five shillings, on Sarah Norris, twenty shillings, and on ye mill ten shillings. Ye sd meeting chuse Joseph Kaighn to be Assessor for ye present year, who is to subtract ye certainties from ye said sum and assess ye remainder on ye pound value, according to an act made ye seven year of Anne's reign, 1709. on allélands and chattels, and ye said meeting order James Grasbery to have five shillings and nine pence pd to ye Collector, and nine pence to ye Assessor. Ye Assessor is to deliver a duplicate to ye Collector by ye fifth day of June next, who is to collect ye same forthwith for ye use of ye poor."
-- "There was found on William Albertson's inclosure, a little gray mare, with a long switch tail, no artificial marks, supposed to be five years old. She was found on ye 10th day of November, 1733." Payed.
-- "There was found on Thomas Decon's inclose, ye 17th day of November, 1733, a red bull about two years old with a slit in his cars. Payed."
-- "There was found on John Gill's inclose ye 5th day of December, 1733, a bay horse with a long tale, some white hairs in his forehead, no artificial marks, supposed to be six or seven years old."
-- "There was found on James Hinchman's inclose ye 17th day of November, 1733, a black horse with a white spot under ye saddle, no artificial marks, supposed to be ten or twelve years old."
-- "There was found on James Graysbury's inclose ye 20th day of November, 1733, a year old coming heifer, of a brown couller, no artificial marks."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Newton Township this 12th day of March, 1734, ye divers officers were chussing as follows, viz:
-- Clerk--John Kaighn.
-- Freeholders--James Hinchman, Timothy Matlack.
-- Assessor--Joseph Cooper.
-- Overseers of ye Poor--Tobias Halloway, Joseph Kaighn.
-- Surveyors of ye Highways--James Hinchman, Timothy Matlack, Joseph Ellis, Will Albertson.
-- Constable and Collector--Joseph Mickle.
-- Overseers of Highways--Samuel Sharp, John Brick."
-- "May 5th, 1734. Then taken up at ye house of Jacob Midcalf, a horse of a dark bay couler, with a black switch tale, shod all round."
-- "May 15th, 1734. Taken up at ye house of Jacob Midcalf, a gray horse, with a switch tale, and shod before."
-- "November 25th, 1734. There was found on Joseph Zane's improved land, a young red bull of two years old, with a white face, and a two year old red heifer."
-- This year occurs the name of Timothy Matlack, son of the first William. Who about this time settled in Haddonfield, and "kept a shop," for which he was taxed. Two years before this, he bought four acres of land on the east side of the street, of John Kay, but the spot where he had his shop and residence cannot be exactly identified. In 1744, he bought a tract on the west side of the street, of Mary Gill and John Gill, Jr., where he also built a house and resided for a short time.
-- Among his children was a son, Timothy, born in the village, and who subsequently took a prominent part in the affairs of the Revolutionary War, and became obnoxious to the Quakers. At this time he was a resident of Philadelphia, and for a short period was Secretary to the Confederate Congress, sitting in that city. His portrait now hangs in the Hall of Independence, among those of other noted persons of that day.
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Newtownship, ye 11th of March, 1735, divers officers were chusen to be presented at our next Court to be held at Gloucester are as follows:
-- Clerk--Jno. Kaighn.
-- Freeholders--Joseph Kaighn, Isaac Cooper.
-- Assessor--Joseph Cooper.
-- Overseers of Highways--Jno. Kaighn, James Grasbery.
-- Overseers of ye Poor--Joseph Kaighn, Robert Stephens.
-- Surveyors of ye Highways--James Hinchman, Joseph Cooper, Joseph Kaighn, Robert Hubbs.
-- Constable and Collector--John Kaighn.
-- "At ye said meeting it is agreed that ye Overseers of ye Poor shall pay ye Coroner and jury fees, and other expenses that incurred by Richard Blase, a man that hung himself, and further order them to pay to John Estlack, ye sum of five shillings for warning in town. And further it was agreed by ye majority of said meeting that the meeting for chusing officers shall he held at ye town of Haddonfield, on ye second Tuesday of March next, and yearly and every year as ye law directs, till further alteratien. And that ye Overseers to have their tax allowed them for their trouble."
-- In this action of the meeting is the first official recognition of the name to the village of Haddonfield, and which had become so filled with inhabitants, that they out-voted the shore end of the Township, and required them to give attendance in the town the next year. This no doubt had been an exciting question for several years, and was the cause of much political engineering, before it was brought about. Although the participants were all Friends, yet the rivalry in this matter, may have in some instances scandalized the church and brought censure upon the indiscreet.
-- "At a Town Meeting held at Haddonfield in ye Township of Newton, this 11th day of September, 1735, the said meeting order that there shall be raised ye sum of eight pounds for ye relief of ye poor, in manner following, viz: That is to say, on all mills, taverns and ferry, three shillings and four pence, on Timothy Matlack five shillings, on Sarah Norris three shillings, four pence, on all young men that work for hire, one shilling, six pence: and all ye above sums are certainty.) And on all householders, whose tax of ye taxable estate doth not amount to one shilling, to tax at ye discretion of ye assessor, not above five. And every person's estate to be valued according to an act of this Province made from ye 25th year to 30. for ye support of Government. Ye said meeting chuse Jno. Kaighn to be Assessor, and have nine pence paid for assessing, and ye Collector to have twelve pence for collecting ye money, which must be done forthwith after ye assessment."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Haddonfield, in ye Township of Newton, in ye County of Gloucester and Province of New Jersey, this 9th day of March, 1735--6, the divers officers were chosen to be presented at ye next Court, to be held at Gloucester, afd.
-- Clark--John Kaighn.
-- Assessor--John Gill.
-- Surveyors of Highways--Samuel Clement, John Kaighn, William Albertson, Isaac Albertson.
-- Constable--John Kaighn.
-- Collector--John Kaighn.
-- Freeholders--Timothy Matlack, Joseph Kaighn.
-- Overseers of Poor--Benjamin Cooper, William Albertson.
-- Overseers of Roads--John Estlack, Tobias Halloway.
-- "At said meeting, it was ordered that William Denis shall have 5 shillings for warning in ye town and five shillings for removing a poor person out of ye Township. And ye said meeting order that Thomas Atmore shall have six shillings for his sadle mending, to be paid them by ye Overseers of ye Poor."
-- "March ye 29th, there came unto ye plantation of Joseph Kaighn, a large brown bay horse, with black mane and tale, and one white foot, shod before, and a stare in ye forehead. Supposed to be eight or ten years old."
-- "March ye 29th, there came into ye plantation of Joseph Kaighn, a little brown mare with one white foot. Supposed to be ten or twelve years old and a year old colt, with three white feet, and brown collor, black mane and tale."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Haddonfield, in ye Township of Newton, in ye County of Gloucester and Province of New Jersey, this 13th of August, 1736, by virtue of a warrant granted by Jas. Hinchman, att ye said meeting ye overseers, viz: Joseph Kaighn and Robert Stephens, came and made up their acct with ye sd meeting, and there remains due to ye Township ye sum of three shilling, seven pence; which sum the present overseers has in their hands for ye use of ye poor. And ye meeting forgives Robert Derrigs his tax that is due before this date.
-- The said meeting order that there shall be rased ye sum of ten pounds for ye use of ye poor, in ye same manner as it was done by order of a Town Meeting held at Haddonfield, afd, ye 11th day of September, 1735. Ye meeting allows ye Assessor, viz, (John Gill) to assess ye Township by a duplicate or list, that he has taken for ye County tax, and ye Assessor to have six pence paid for assessing, and ye Overseer to have twelve pence for gathering ye tax. Likewise there is six shillings not gathered which are returned."
-- "January 5th, 1736, there was found on ye plantation of Robert Hubb, a black rone mare, with a white spot over her left eye, her main hang of ye near side, and black switch tale and main. Supposed to be about eight years old."
-- "Att a Town Meeting held at Haddonfield, in ye Township of Newton, in ye County of Gloucester, and Province of New Jersey, this 8th day of March, 1736--7, the divers officers were chusen to be presented at our next Court to be held at Gloucester, af'd.:
-- Clerk--John Kaighn.
-- Freeholders--Timothy Matlack, Joseph Kaighn.
-- Overseers of Highways--Robert Hubbs, Isaac Albertson.
-- Constable--John Kaighn.
-- Collector--Samuel Clement.
-- Surveyors of Highways--James Hinchman, Will Albertson, Joseph Kaighn, Robert Hubbs.
-- Overseers of ye Poor--Benjamin Cooper, Thomas Atmore.
-- "At ye said Town Meeting it was ordered that there shall be raised ye sum of twenty pounds, which sum is to be used in manner following (for the use of the Poor) viz.: that is to say, on all mills, taverns and ferrys six shillings eight pence. On Timothy Matlack ten shillings, and on Sarah Norris six shillings eight pence, and on all young men that work for him three shillings; which ye above said sums are certainty. Ye rest to be raised on ye housholder, one pound value, and all those house holders whose tax of ye taxable estate doth not amount to two shillings shall be at ye assessor's discretion not above ten shillings nor under two. And every person's estate to be valued according a Act of this Province made to commence from ye year 1725 to 1730, for ye support of government; and ye said meeting chused Joseph Kaighn to be assessor for ye poor tax. And also James Hinchman and William Klennis to have each of them five pence paid them by ye overseers of ye poor; and ye above said sum of twenty pounds to be assessed forthwith and paid in to ye overseers of the poor by ye 15th day of April next."
-- "There was found on ye plantation of Samuel Sharp, ye 31st day of March, 1737, one mare, of a dark brown couler, one hind foot white, and little white in her forehead and shod before, near 14 hands high, supposed to be young, and white on her nose."
-- "Att a town meeting held at Haddonfield ye 24th day of October 1737 came ye overseers of ye poor, and could not make up their accounts with ye meeting; therefore ye meeting order that ye overseers shall make up their account and bring them it into ye next meeting."
-- "And ye meeting so order that there shall be raised ye sum of twenty-five pounds for ye relief of ye poor, in manner following, viz.: on Isaac Kay's Mill ten shillings, on John Wick's Mill eight shillings, on Sarah Morris' Shop ten shillings, and on Thomas Perrywebb ten shillings, and Timothy Matlack twelve shillings, and on Humphrey Day, for his ferry and tavern, twenty shillings, and on all young men that work for him, three shillings six pence each; and all ye rest to be raised by ye pound value on ye householder; and all ye householders whose tax of ye taxable estate doth not amount to two shillings shall be at ye discretion of ye assessor, not above ten shillings nor under two shillings; and every person's estate to be rated according to a law made in this Province for ye support of ye government, to commence from ye 1725 to 1730. The meeting allowing ye assessor to have nine pence paid for assessing, and ye overseers to have twelve pence paid for collecting, and allows John Kaighn five shillings for warning in ye town: and order ye assessor to assess ye above sum in two weeks time after date, and deliver a duplicate to ye overseers. And also ye said Meeting order that there shall be a Town pound made, 30 feet square with good posts and boar is, on Timothy Matlack's ground. Ye pound to be made and kept by Timothy Matlack in a months time after date. And ye said Matlack gives ye town leave to have ye use of ye gronnd for ye space of seven years without any hinderances. And ye town give Timothy ye use of ye pound for himself, so that he doth not hurt ye Township thereby. And ye Meeting order Timothy to bring his account to ye next meeting in order to have his pay."
-- "Dec. 30, 1737, there was found on ye plantation of John Eastlack a grayish mare, with one hind foot white and one eye lost, of a middle size."
-- "Jan. 2 1737, there was found on ye plantation of Benjamin Cooper, a sorrel mare with a white face, branded on the near shoulder and near thigh with this letter, (P). And likewise a young, black Colt, with a star in ye forehead."
-- [Humphrey Day's ferry and tavern were near the mouth of Cooper's Creek, generally known as "Spicers." John Brick's mill was probably on the head of Newton Creek, now Glover's property.]
Image source: Unknown Printer (post 1870), [Courtesy: Library of Congress; Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 99, Folder 1., F 144. C 1 N 5 shelf list.; On verso: D.
(Digital ID: rbpe 09900100)-- http://memory.loc.gov]
