File:Reminiscences of old Gloucester, or, Incidents in the history of the counties of Gloucester, Atlantic and Camden, New Jersey (1845) (14576642018).jpg

Identifier: reminiscencesofo00mick (find matches)
Title: Reminiscences of old Gloucester, or, Incidents in the history of the counties of Gloucester, Atlantic and Camden, New Jersey
Year: 1845 (1840s)
Authors: Mickle, Isaac
Subjects:
Publisher: Philadelphia : Townsend Ward
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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ssituated immediately upon the river atthe southern extremity of the high landbutting upon the meadows north of themouth of Timber Creek. J That position * Feb. 2lst: Rev. Laws, p. 332. We can findno statute creating the township of Gloucester, batit is said that tliere was an act for that jiturpoaawhich is now lost. In March, 1705, the city ofGloucester had overseers of the poor and of thehighways, independent of Gloucester township.At March Term, 1712, we find that WilliamHarrison was appointed by the court, constablefor Gloucester town, in place of John Siddons,who was probably the first constable of the n^wtownship. The lost law is said by Michael Fish-er, Esq. to have been of a much more recent date ;KO that the supposition in the text, that the townbecame a township by prescription, seems un-avoidable. t 8 Harrisons Laws, p. 364. t Du temps du Govcrneur Jean Prim?., aafaliindstrom, in his description of New Swwlen,Lib. Am. Phil. Soc. Phiiuda., .No. 173, MSS., lee c o s s s Q o O
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60 THE T0WN»H1P OF OLOUCESTBR. would have struck the eye of an engi-neer ; inasmuch as a fortress thus situ-ated could have commanded hoth the ri-ver and creek, while it would have beengreatly secured from the attacks of theIndians by the low marshy land whichsurrounded it upon all sides but thenorth. Some of the cabins which con-stituted the town of Nassau, are sup-posed with much reason to have stoodnear the mouth of the Sassackon, Re-mains of buildings have been discoveredupon the east bank of that stream; anda peculiar little blue flower which thefarmers call the Dutch flower, still growsthereabouts.-* We have no very exact description ofthis famous fortress, and cannot there,fore tell much about its dimensions,strength, or appearance. The first fort,that erected by May in 1623, was proba-bly a very rude pile of logs, just sufficientto serve as a breastwork. This havingbeen destroyed by the Indians, anotherfort was built in 1642, when the Dutclireturned to watch their rivals, the

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