QUAKER HERITAGE TRAIL
91-mile self-guided driving tour of Burlington County, NJ
INTRODUCTION
=
o:p>
There are 21 existing Quaker Meeting Houses in Burlington County. Some are active, others are season=
ally
active, and some have been “laid down” – the Quaker term =
for
abandoning their use as places for Quaker worship. This tour has been created to allow
residents to visit all 21 of them.
Such a tour will provide insight into the rich history of Burlington County. The tour does not include, nor doe=
s it
require, visits to the interior of any of these buildings, although guided
tours are planned for special occasions in the future and they will include
access to some of the facilities. =
span>The
complete 91-mile tour is somewhat aggressive for a single day. Mini-tours or two half-day adventu=
res
are suggested as alternatives.
Sites may be visited in any order.&=
nbsp;
The sequence selected for this tour (starting in Burlington
City and ending in Mt. Holly)
is based on the historical Quaker significance of these starting and finish=
ing
locations. The remaining sequ=
ence
is a logical succession of sites based on proximity and route accessibility=
.
Dates which appear immediately after the name and loca=
tion
of the individual site are to be understood in this manner:
=
- =
The first =
date
in the sequence represents the establishment of the particular Quaker
community. Quakers worshiped =
in
private homes prior to building their Meeting Houses or Schools.
=
- =
The last d=
ate
in the sequence represents the date that the existing structure was constru=
cted.
=
- =
Any interm=
ediate
dates represent the succession of structures. Early Meeting Houses were built of=
logs
or wood, and many burned down or simply deteriorated, being replaced by big=
ger
and better built structures, the final ones being of brick or stone. In a few cases, the present struct=
ure is
the third or fourth generation of the Meeting House.
- Burlington Quaker Meeting – 340 High St., Burlington City=
li>
1678; 1687; 1783 – Laid Down – <=
st1:PlaceName
w:st=3D"on">Philadelphia Yearly=
Meeting Conference
Center=
b>
A natural starting point is=
the
Riverbank, between Talbot and Wood Sts. at the monument commemorating the s=
ite
of the mooring of the ship “=
Shield”
at a large buttonwood tree on December 10, 1678. The “Shield” of Stockton, England,
was the first ship to navigate the Delaware River from the Atlantic Ocean t=
o Burlington, setting the stage for Burlington’s
eventual emergence as the third largest port in the =
New
World.
Continue on Riverbank to Wood St. Turn right and proceed to the Quak=
er Meeting House (dating to 1783) at=
340 High St. on the
right.
Parking
is available in the Municipal lot directly across <=
st1:address
w:st=3D"on">High St.
Visit the burial ground in =
the
rear, where a bronze plaque on a large stone remembers Chief Ockanickon of the Mantas tribe of the Lenape. Exit the bu=
rial
ground through the rear gate and make your way left on Wood St. to W. Broad St. to see the plaque
commemorating William Penn’s “Concessions
and Agreements” (1676) on the Surveyor
General’s Office.
Leave Burlington via =
E. Union St. (right turn out of Par=
king
Lot), turning left on York=
St. The 1792
Friend’s School, located on York
St. between Penn and Ea=
st
Union.
Continue
on York St. turning right on Pearl Street, continuing to Jones St. Turn rig=
ht
on Jones St.; left on Bordentown Road; left onto Route 130 heading north to
Bordentown. Follow Route 130 for about 6 miles, turning left onto Route 662,
which you follow for less than 2 miles through Fieldsboro and into the City=
of Bordentown. Turn left on Farnsworth Avenue,
proceeding to # 302 on your left, the former Bordentown Quaker Meeting Hous=
e
Distance
between Burlington=
and Bordentown: 8 miles
=
p>
- Bordentown Friends Meeting ̵=
1; 302 Farnsworth Ave.=
,
Bordentown
1740; 1813 - Laid Down – Headquarters of Bordentown Historical
Society
Recently restored; Note dif=
ference
in brick color on upper level (roof raised).
Upon
leaving, take Crosswicks S=
t.
(at fountain/monument immediately across the street) towards Rt. 130. .3 miles on the right on the corne=
r of
Crosswicks and E. Burlingt=
on St.,
across from Lafayette St.<=
/st1:address>,
you will see the historic Clara Ba=
rton
one-room schoolhouse, once a Quaker
School. Proceed=
on
Crosswicks, crossing Route 130/206 at the traffic light, continuing straight
ahead for a little less than 2 miles.
Prepare to turn left onto Route 672 N immediately after you cross ov=
er
the NJ Turnpike. Continue on =
672
N for about 2 miles, dead-end=
ing at
Ward Avenue<=
/st1:Street>,
Crosswicks. Within view at this intersection, across Ward to the left is the
former Orthodox Meeting House. To visit, turn left; to simply view and move=
to
Hicksite Meeting, turn right on Ward
Avenue.
Distance
between Bordentown and Crosswicks: 4 miles
- Crosswicks Orthodox Meeting R=
11; 530 Ward Avenue,
Crosswicks
1831; 1854 – Laid Down – Headquarters of the Chesterfield Township Historical Society.<=
/o:p>
If
you visited the site, backtrack down Ward
Avenue – or if you turned right at the e=
nd
of 672, turn right onto Ch=
urch St. The active Crosswicks Quaker Meeti=
ng is
at the end of Church St.=
st1:address>
at the corner of Front St.=
,
on the left.
- Crosswicks Monthly Meeting ̵=
1;
Intersection of Front and Church Streets.
1677; 1693; 1773 – Active Meeting
One of the largest Meeting =
Houses
in South Jersey.
Hessian soldiers used it in=
June,
1778. Carvings (graffiti) on
men’s side; stove cast at Atsion; Member John Taylor of
“Taylor’s Pork Roll”; Revolutionary War cannonball in nor=
th
wall.
Upon
leaving, turn right onto F=
ront St.;
left on Buttonwood (which becomes Bordentown-Crosswicks
Road – Rt. 672). After about 2 miles, turn right on=
to
Route 528, following it to the sign pointing to Route 206 south (left off of
Rt. 528). Turning left onto R=
t.
206, continue for about 4 miles to immediately after Mile Marker #32 at the
traffic light at Mansfield=
Road
East.
There are 2 white posts immediately after the light at the driveway entrance to the Me=
eting
House immediately after the light on the right.
Distance
between Crosswicks and Mansfield Meeting: 7 miles
=
p>
- Mansfield Monthly Meeting – 3191 Ro=
ute
206 South, Mansfield=
Township.=
1684; 1731; 1812 – Pending reopening
Recently remodeled, it is t=
he
headquarters for the Burlington Quarterly Meeting and serves as a resource =
and
information center, as well as an active meeting with worship services
scheduled at non-traditional times during the week.
Upon
leaving, turn right onto Route 206 south.&=
nbsp;
Continue south on Route 206 for a little over a mile, passing by Hedding Road. After
Mile Marker #31, prepare to turn right onto Rt. 543 into Columbus (just after the Dog Kennel at =
the
corner). At the end of the
off-ramp, turn right onto Route 543.
Continue on 543 for a little over half a mile and then turn left ont=
o Petticoat Bridge Road. The large tree on the right just a=
fter
the turn is the symbol of Mansfield
Township. Continue on Petticoat Bridge Road; a little und=
er
half a mile you will cross over a non-descript bridge – this is Petticoat Bridge=
st1:PlaceType>,
where a Revolutionary War battle took place on December 23, 1776 (see Historical Marker on south side o=
f the
bridge). Continue on and dead=
-end
at the Stop Sign at Rt. 670. =
Turn
right onto Rt. 670 and continue for less than half a mile, and as soon as y=
ou
cross over a tiny bridge, look to your left – where tucked away behind
the trees is Copany Meeting. Find a place to turn around to head back to Rt=
. 206
via Rt. 670. However, pull ov=
er
before the driveway to Copany Meeting to see the Historical Marker describing the role of Copany in the Battle of Petticoat
Bridge.<=
/i>
Distance
between Mansfield=
st1:place>
Meeting to Copany Meeting: 4 =
miles
- Lower
Springield Meeting (Copany) – 1832 Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd.=
st1:address>,
Springfield.
1698; 1775 – Laid dow=
n
Private residence; After th=
e Battle
of Petticoat Bridge on December 23, 1776, while nearing final completion, it
was temporarily used as a hospital for Hessian troops; bloody handprint sti=
ll
visible on ceiling board. Small burial ground behind building. Date 1775 built into upper west wa=
ll.
Continue
east on Rt. 670 (Jacksonvi=
lle-Jobstown
Rd.).
At WaWa (Rt. 206 traffic light) continue straight across Rt. 206 on Jacksonville-Jobstown Road for abou=
t 2
miles through Springfield.
You will pass the Springi=
eld
Township Municipal
Building on the lef=
t and
Middle School on the right, arriving at the traffic light at Monmouth Road (Rt. 537). Turn left at the light onto Monmouth Rd. Less than a mile on your right you=
will
see Meeting House Road
at an angle on the right. Turn
right onto Meeting House R=
oad,
continuing for about 2 miles, arriving at the intersection of Rt. 68
(there’s a ground-level concrete triangle at the intersection). Cross 68, continuing on Meeting House Road,
up the hill till it dead-ends at Highland
Road.
On the left you will see a truncated Meeting House – now a pri=
vate
dwelling. Turn left onto Highland to behind=
the
house where you will see an Historic Marker and a cemetery. You can turn your car around before
disembarking at the burial ground.
Distance
between Lower Springfield (Copany) to Upper Springfi=
eld:
7 miles
- Upper Springfield=
Meeting and Burial Ground ̵=
1;
corner of Springfield=
-Meeting
House Road and <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">Highland St. , Springf=
ield
Township.
1727 (1916 –current restoration of half of original building)
– Laid down.
Private residence. One of the earlier meeting houses =
in the
region. Site is at intersecti=
on of
two Indian Trails. Burial Gro=
und on
National and New Jersey
Historical Registers. Memoria=
l to Unknown
Burlington County Revolutionary War casualties in burial ground.
Turn
right onto Springfield-Mee=
ting
House Road.&n=
bsp;
Cross over Rt. 68 again, continuing on for about a mile. Watch for =
Juliustown-Springfield Road on the
left. Turn left onto Juliustown-Springfield Road. You will stay on this road for abo=
ut 2
miles, crossing Saylors Pond Road, and arriving at the Stop Sign in Juliust=
own
just after the Huff ‘n Puff farm (on the right). At the Stop sign (there’s a =
Mobil
station on the far right hand corner) turn right onto Main St., which is also called Juliustown Road. About a mile and a half you will a=
rrive
at the intersection of Arney’s Mt.
Road.
The meeting house is on the far left corner. Turn left onto Arney’s Mt. Road, a=
nd make
a quick right into the meetinghouse parking area.
Distance
between Upper Springfield and Arney̵=
7;s
Mount: 6 miles
=
p>
- Arney’s Mount Meeting R=
11;
intersection of Juliustown Road and Pemberton-Arney’s Mount Road=
, Springfield =
Twp.
1743; 1775 – Seasonally Active
Under the care of Mt. Holly=
Monthly
Meeting. Selected for major s=
tudy
of historic sites (HABS) because it maintains its architectural integrity
– no heat; no water. Bu=
ilt of
native NJ Sandstone quarried from the Mount.
Turn
left again onto Juliustown=
Road,
heading west towards Route 206 for about 2 miles. At the stop sign, turn left onto R=
oute
206, heading south towards Vincentown.&nbs=
p;
Continue south on Rt. 206, crossing Route 38 at the Vincentown Diner,
until almost a mile past Mile Marker 23, where you veer right onto North Ma=
in
Street (Rt. 681), into Vincentown.
You will pass the intersection of Mill St. at the Sovereign Bank,
continuing on Main St.
to Grange St.
on the left. Turn left onto G=
range
St. and then make an immediate right into the parking lot of the Vincentown
Grange, a former Friends Meeting House.
Distance
between Arney’s Mount and Vincentown Grange: 8 miles=
b>
=
p>
- Vincentown Grange – 115 Main Street,
Vincentown.
1781; 1813- Laid down in 1912 and sold to the Grange=
Vincentown was founded by Q=
uakers
and was once called “Quakertown”.
Small burial ground in the =
rear
contains Irick and Eayre tombstones.
Use as a Grange Hall for community events is reflective of Southampton’s rich agricultural history.
Turn
right onto Main St., continuing to the intersection of Mill St. at the
Sovereign Bank. Turn leftt on=
to Mill St., w=
hich
becomes Church Road
(Route 616) outside the village of Vincentown. You will stay on Church Road for a=
bout
four-and-a-half miles, passing, on the right, Kirby’s Mill first, and
then the Office of Dr. James Still, the Black Doctor of the Pines, before
arriving at “Crossroads”, the intersection of Church Road and R=
oute
541 (Mt. Holly-Medford Road – there’s a WaWa Market on the far =
left
corner). Turn left onto Rt. 5=
41 and
proceed to the intersection of Route 70.&n=
bsp;
Continue across Rt. 70 into the Village of Medford<=
/st1:PlaceName>
on North Main St. Continue through the traffic=
light
at Union St.=
straight ahead onto South Main St. A short distance ahead, at Mile Marker #=
10,
you will see, on your left, set back in the distance, the former Hicksite
Meeting House (at # 53 S. Main St.).
Turn left on South =
St.
and then turn into the driveway of the Meeting House.
Distance
between Vincentown Grange and =
Medford
Meeting: 6 miles
=
p>
- Main
Street Friends Meeting House, 53
S. Main St., Medford=
st1:address>.
1842 – Laid down
Abandoned for many years an=
d in
desperate need of restoration, this former Hicksite Meeting House was recen=
tly
purchased by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Roman Catholic Social
Organization, for use as offices.
Continue
around driveway and back out to Main
St.
Turn right and go up to the traffic light at Union St., and turn left onto Union St. Just after the two or three commer=
cial
shops on the left, turn into the driveway of the Union St. Friends Meeting
House.
- Medford Monthly Meeting, 14 Union Street, Medfo=
rd.
1793; 1814 – Active meeting
The rear of this building f=
aces Union St. Old Schoolhouse on the property is=
used
as a private residence. Inter=
nal
dividing doors manipulated by a series of pulleys.
Upon
exiting, turn left on Union Street and continue on Union, which becomes Old
Marlton Pike, and proceed through the traffic light at the intersection of
Hartford Road, continuing on Old Marlton Pike until, just before reaching R=
t.
70, it takes a hard left (ont=
o Rt.
618) and continues into Evesham Township. Travel for about 2 miles when this
road dead-ends into Tucker=
ton Road
(Route 620) at Pine
Grove Church. Turn right and continue on Rt. 620=
, on
through the intersection at Willow Bend and Evans Ro=
ads,
where it becomes Main St.<=
/st1:address>,
Marlton. Continue past the Fi=
re
House on Main St. Marlton to the corner of South Maple St. Turn right onto South Maple and ta=
ke it
to the traffic light at the intersection of Route 70. Turn left onto Rt. 70, and go a quarter of the way around the Rt=
. 70
circle, taking the sharp left onto Rt. 73 south towards Berlin.
Shortly after the light, turn right onto Old Marlton Pike behind
Olga’s Diner and continue just past South Cropwell Road on your left,=
and
look for the sign and driveway to Cropwell Friends Meeting on your immediate
left, just opposite the back entrance to Burns Pontiac.
Distance
between Medford
Meeting and Cropwell Meeting: 7 miles
- Cropwell Monthly Meeting, between
South and North Cropwell Roads on O=
ld
Marlton Pike, Evesham.
1786; 1809 – Active meeting
Just over the border from <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Camden County,
it was approved by the Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting in 1794. It was controlled by the Orthodox a=
fter
separation. An oasis in one o=
f the
most congested commercial and residential sections of Burlington County=
st1:PlaceType>. Evans, Reeve, Lippincott, Shinn, H=
aines
and Braddock are among early families associated with Cropwell.
Upon
leaving the driveway from Cropwell, turn left onto Old Marlton Pike and pro=
ceed
to the traffic light, turning right onto North Cropwell Road. At Route 70, turn right and contin=
ue
east on Rt. 70, around the circle, continuing past the circle on Rt. 70 for
about 4 miles until you come to the light at North Elmwood St. Turn left onto N. Elmwood and cont=
inue
for about 3 full miles, going through the traffic signals on Evesboro-Medford Road (618) and Church Road=
(616)
where it becomes Mt. Laure=
l Road,
continuing until you reach the traffic signal at Elbo Lane. Turn right onto Elbo Lane, =
and
immediately on your right you will see Jacob’s Chapel. Turn right into the driveway (or, =
there
is additional parking across the street).
Distance between Cropwell M=
eeting
and Colemantown Meeting (Jacob’s Chapel): 6 miles<=
/p>
- Colemantown Meeting (Jacob’=
;s
Chapel), 318 Elbo Lan=
e,
Mt. =
Laurel, NJ
1813 (Meeting House); 1859 (Jacob’s Chapel)
Elbo Lane was once known as Colemantown Road
and was a part of Evesham Township and the village of Colemant=
own,
named for John Coleman, a well respected man of color. Coleman was involved in the Underg=
round
Railroad. The federal census =
of
1830 shows that Evesham had the largest free black population in Burlington
County – mainly because it enveloped the Quaker community at Mt. Laurel.
The freed slaves worked on Quaker farms. The Quakers of Mt. Laurel were act=
ive in
the Underground Railroad movement and often thwarted the kidnapping of freed
slaves. Jacob’s Chapel =
is
named for a Quaker, Albert Jacobs, who sold the land for $4 to the Black co=
mmunity
for the church in 1840. The 1813 Meeting House, originally located across t=
he
street, was moved to its present location in 1965, where it serves as the
social hall for Jacob’s Chapel. The earlier meeting house was purchas=
ed
for $1 from an unknown source by three freed slaves and was used as church,
school, way station for the Underground Railroad, and a gathering spot for =
many
African Americans who lived in the area.&n=
bsp;
Several Black veterans of the Civil war are buried in the cemetery,
along with Dr. James Still, the Black Doctor of the Pines.
Upon
leaving this site, backtrack on Elbo Lane to Mt. Laurel Road, turning
right onto Mt. Laurel Rd. and
proceeding a little less than 2 miles, through the light at Mt.
Laurel-Hainesport Road, turni=
ng
right into the parking area for the Mt. Laurel Meeting at the north-east co=
rner
of the intersection.
Distance
between Colemantown Meeting and Mount
Laurel Meeting: 2 <=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> miles
=
p>
- Mount Laurel Meeting, corner of
Moorestown-Mount Laurel and Mount Laurel-Hainesport Roads=
b>
1694; 1717; 1760 (e); 1798 (w)
William Evans and Elizabeth=
Hanke
arrived in Mt. Laurel and lived in a cave on the =
Mount.
The recently restored Farmers Hall is at the foot of the Mount on the
north-west corner across from the Friends Meeting House. The Meeting House is constructed of
native Jersey sandstone quarried on the
Mount. Colonial Militia and British troops
(General Clinton – June, 1778) occupied the Meeting House during the
Revolutionary War. The largest
Sassafras tree in NJ (second largest in America) is on the grounds; L=
arge
historic Penn Oak fell 9/3/2000 (stump remains). Unmarked burial ground is located =
within
four white corner markers. During the Hicksite separation, the Quakers
“cordially” shared the building, one using the older section and
the other, the newer.
Upon
departing, return to Mount
Laurel-Hainesport Road via Moorestown-Mt. Laurel Road, turning=
left
at the intersection onto Rt. 674
– Mt. Laurel-Hainesport Road. You will continue on this road for=
a
little less than 4 miles, passing through the intersections at Hartford Road, Larchmont Road and Ark Road, u=
ntil arriving
at the 4-way Stop with blinking red traffic signal. This is Fostertown Road. Turn right onto Fostertown, and al=
most
immediately you will see on t=
he
left, the Easton Union Church, site of the
former Easton
Meeting House. Turn left into=
the
parking lot.
Distance
between Mount Laurel
Meeting and Easton<=
/st1:place>
Union Church: 4 miles
- Easton Meeting House, 2407 Fostertown Road, =
Hainesport,
NJ 080=
60
1811
The Easton Union Meeting Ho=
use and
cemetery were originally begun in 1811 by the Society of Friends. The meeti=
ng
house, cemetery and all other land was first sold by the Quakers to the Eas=
ton
Union Church about 1949-50. Later about 1968 the Easton Bible
Church purchased al=
l of
it. Early Quaker burial ground
still used for burials by Easton
Bible Church.
Upon
leaving the parking lot, turn right onto Fostertown Road, taking it up to the
Route 38 intersection. Turn l=
eft
onto Route 38 and follow it for a little less than 5 miles to the intersect=
ion
of Mt. Laurel-Moorestown R=
oad. Turn right and proceed to Main St.
Moorestown. Turn left at the =
top of
Mt. Laurel Road
at the light and continue east on Main
St. to the intersection of Chester Avenue. We recommend visiting three areas =
at
this intersection: the open field and burial ground on the north east corne=
r of
Chester; the 1802 active meeting opposite the north west corner; and the
“1897 West Building” on the grounds of the Friends School ̵=
1;
therefore, we suggest parking on the grounds next to the 1802 active Meeting
House.
Distance
between Easton Union Church and Moorestown: =
6
miles
- Moorestown Monthly Meeting (Hick=
site),
118 East Main St.,
Moorestown
1700; 1720; 1802
The granite stone across th=
e street
at the north east corner of Chester commem=
orates
earliest Quaker house of worship – and in fact, the oldest house of
worship in Moorestown. In 1778, the British Army un=
der
General Clinton camped on the old Meeting House grounds prior to the 1802 c=
onstruction
of the current building.
Proceed
across the driveway which leads to the Friends School
to the building on the corner of the driveway/entrance and Main St.
- Moorestown (Orthodox) Meeting, <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">110 Main St., Moorestown
1839; 1897
Currently used as a cafeter=
ia in
the West building of the =
Moorestown
Friends School. When the Hicksites took over the 1=
802
building in 1827, the Orthodox used the school house for worship. Famous Moor=
estown
Quakers: Samuel Allen, inventor of “Planet Jr.”
(spreader/cultivator); flexible flyer sled; George Abbott, of Abbot’s
Dairies and of Pocono Manor fame.
Upon
leaving, proceed north on =
Chester
Avenue (603) which will become Riverton Road as you approach Cinnaminson Township. Continue on Riverton Road towards Rt. 130, proc=
eeding
past Bridgeboro Rd.
and New Albany Road.
A short distance past the Cinnaminson Middle School (on your left) you will arrive at=
the Westfield Friends=
complex
– first the Friends School, then the 1963 Meeting House and the 1859
former Meeting House (now a pre-school).&n=
bsp;
Turn left into this driveway.
Distance
between Moorestown and Westfield Meeting (=
Cinnaminson): 5 miles
=
o:p>
- Westfield Monthly Meeting, 2201 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson
1788; 1794; 1800; 1859; 1963
Abraham Warrington’s =
School
established in 1788 has been preserved as the office of the school
Headmaster. Some of the trees=
on
the property were planted in 1861 at time of firing on Ft. Sumpter. Alice Paul, women’s suffragi=
st,
herself a Quaker from Mou=
nt
Laurel, is buried i=
n the
cemetery.
Upon
leaving, proceed to Route 130 by making a left out of the parking lot and t=
hen
a quick right onto the ramp to Route 130 north. You will travel about 6 miles nort=
h on
Route 130, arriving at the right hand jug handle to Charleston Road /Coope=
r St.
(Landmarks in view at the intersection are a Sunoco and LukOil service
stations, Walgreen’s Drug Store and BNM Auto, behind which is the
Coopertown Meeting). At the e=
nd of
the ramp, turn left on Cha=
rleston
Road and proceed to the light on Rt. 130. Cross Rt. 130, where Charleston Road now becomes Cooper St.,=
Edgewater Park. On the right, behind BNM Aut=
o is
the Coopertown Meeting and Cemetery.
Distance between Westfield
Meeting (Cinnaminson) and Coopertown Meeting (Edgewater Park): 6 miles
=
p>
- Coopertown Meeting, Cooper Stree=
t,
just west of US Highway 130, Edgewater Park
1802; 1806
Not exclusively for Quakers=
. According to their constitution: &=
#8220;That any sect or creed should have the=
right
to worship there, provided they believed in the Divinity of Jesus Christ and
should be forever free”…During 1901, the Society of Friends
used the building for worship and contributed a sum to erect the horse shed=
. The building is maintained by The
Riverfront Historical Society, which had created a museum highlighting the
history of the Riverfront communities of Beverly=
City, Delanco and Edgewater Park.
Upon
leaving via the driveway in front of the Meeting House, turn left onto Coop=
er
St., and cross over Route 130, proceeding on Charleston Road until it
intersects Levitt Parkway, a distance of a little over a mile. Turn right on Levitt Parkway, continuing east for=
about
two-and-a-half miles to Sp=
ringside
Road.
Turn right onto Spr=
inside
Road,
proceeding less than a mile to a right turn onto Valley Farm Road. Turn right at the Stop Sign onto <=
st1:Street
w:st=3D"on">Main St.,
Rancocas. Continue to the Ran=
cocas
Friends Meeting on the right, adjacent to the Rancocas Community =
Center
(a converted Fire House).
Distance
between Coopertown Meeting and Rancocas Meeting: 5 miles
- Rancocas Monthly Meeting, 201
Main St.,
Rancocas
1681; 1703; 1772
The father and grandfather =
of John
Woolman worshiped here, as did Thomas Olive, the first speaker of the NJ
Assembly and Governor – and founder of Willing=
boro. This was actually the second Frien=
ds
Meeting established in Bu=
rlington
County (after the
Burlington Monthly Meeting). =
The
present brick school house was built in 1822.
Continue
on Main St.<=
/st1:Street>
to the intersection of Bri=
dge St. Turn left on Bridge St. and at the end, turn lef=
t onto
the Rancocas Bypass. Continue=
on Rancocas Road crossing
over Interstate 295 and the Turnpike, crossing the Mt.
Holly Bypass (541) and continuin=
g into
Mt. Holly. Just after passing the Burl=
ington
County Office Buildings on the left , you arrive at the intersection of High St. On the far right corner (Garden St. =
and High St.) i=
s the Mount Holy
Quaker Meeting House. Cros=
s High
St. and turn right into the parking area behind
the Meeting House.
Distance
between Rancocas Meeting and Mount
Holly Meeting: 5 miles
- Mount Holl=
y
Monthly Meeting, 81 High St.,
Mt. =
Holly (corner of Garden St.)
1715; 1763; 1775
This is actually the third =
location
and the third Meeting House in Mt.
Holly. The first was at Woodpecker and Wo=
odlane
Roads (currently there is a cemetery there); the second was on Mill St. be=
hind
John Woolman’s Tailor Shop (plaque on building at 47 Mill St.). Land for the current Meeting House=
was
purchased from John Brainerd (Presbyterian itinerant preacher).
On December 22, 1776, VonDo=
op and
his Hessian Troops used the newly constructed building as a slaughterhouse =
for
cattle. Again in 1778, it was=
used
by British Troops under General Clinton as a barracks as they retreated fro=
m Philadelphia thro=
ugh
Freehold and ultimately to the Battle of Monmouth. In 1779 two sessions of the New Je=
rsey
Legislature were conducted here. In
1999, a $300,000 renovation was completed as a result of funding equally
divided between a grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust and local donati=
ons. John Woolman’s wife, Sarah, =
is
buried in the adjacent cemetery.
Leave
the parking area and turn right onto Garden
St.
Take Garden St.
to the end (about half a mile).
Take a sharp right onto Branch
St.
One-tenth of a mile on the left is the white picket fence of the John
Woolman Memorial. =
Distance
between Mount Holly Meeting and John Woolman Mem=
orial:
1 mile
=
o:p>
John Woolman Memorial, 99 Branch St., Mount Holly.
1783
As
we began the tour at a significant Quaker location – Burlington City,
where the first Burlington County Quakers arrived from England - it is fitting to conclude the to=
ur at
the Memorial to the most famous American Quaker of all time: John Woolman
(1721-1772), a native of our own Burlington
County. Located at =
99 Branch Street, this Memorial is
dedicated to the memory of the man who represented the values of Quakerism =
and
who actively engaged the community in the good works that stem from these
values.
The End
Tour Created
by Joseph M. Laufer
Burlington County Historian=
b>
Revised
with specific directions: 5-29-07
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