-The William Leeds Family-
The 1st of the Leeds family in Monmouth county was Thomas Leeds, born in England in 1620, who with his wife Margaret settled at Little Silver Point in 1676, where he died 1687. His widow, Margaret & 2 sons, Daniel and William, survived him. The son Daniel Leeds, went to West Jersey and was the ancestor of the Leeds of that part of the state and Philadelphia. The other son William Leeds Jr., remained in Monmouth County.
He would have a 3rd Son Jonathan that shows up in Burlington Co. records. Listing him as died in 1718 with no children. Mary or Margaret died in 1727 never married, William Jr. 1739 married with step children, and 4th son? Thomas died 1742 no record of wife or children, and Daniel no record of exact date of death.
He was a cooper by trade, listed when he emigrated here and, later it would read planter as his trade on many Deeds he signed. He was one of the Patentees granted land from England, having been issued a Warrant in, with his wife Dorothea, for 120 acres and a meadow in Shrewsbury in 1676. On Feb. 7th 1679 bought from Richard Stout & wife Francis in Middletown, Naversinks the Deed read for " the Manor of Land with appurtenances that lyeth by the Swimming River in Bounds of Middletown" note: William Leeds acknowledges indebtness to Richard Stoute. That land was known then as the "Church Farm." That same year 1679, he bought the Indian right to the land from a council of 10 Indian Chiefs. Another deed from June 12th 1688 of John Bowne of Flushing, Queens Co. L.I. to William Leeds for his share, right,title,etc. land purchased with others by Monmouth Patent at Naversinks, Norumpsump, & Portapeag, Monmouth County. This Land would comprise of most of where Lincroft resides today.
About 1690, for domestic reasons left his farm & family to go live with (take care of as it is speculated) his brother Daniel whom by some accounts was "Imbecile (the term used at the time) & helpless to take care and live by himself" as folks would describe of him.
In 1694 while he was in Burlington when he transferred the 184 acres at Swimming River he purchased from Stoute, to his son William Leeds Jr.
After 1682. Scottish immigrants began to land on Monmouth County's shores. These settlers were Quakers & Presbyterians, who, like many before them, came to escape religious persecution in their homeland. among the 1st was George Keith from Aberdeen. Keith an excellent surveyor, was commissioned as Surveyor-General for East Jersey in 1684. Between 1685 & 88 he surveyed and ran the line between East & West Jersey. He would convert to Quakerism, try a Preaching stint in Philly and return to England to convert to Angelicanism, and become ordained in 1702 to return again, to Monmouth County as it was somewhat explained in Chapter One, in a Red Bank Register Archive article. He would become responsible for converting a lot of Quakers to Angelicanism.
Several years after the Scots, groups of Dutch came into the county. For the most they were children of the Dutch in New York & Long Island. The Dutch were a peaceful, and industrious lot, and moved here mostly because of overcrowding in their previous settlements.
Contrastly The Scots and the English shared an intense dislike for each other which, unfortunately, would only grow into the 17th and 18th centuries
William Sr. continued to buy land while in Burlington, in 1705 purchasing land from his brother Daniel "On the seacoast near Absecom creek" A year later in 1706 his son Jonathan bought 200 acres of sea coast land near Peter Conover and Sarah Budd. In 1708 another 230 acres in Burlington Co. from John Budd.
The 3 Leed's all were rather litigious men, racking up lawsuits or being sued most all were land disputes.
William Leeds Sr. died in Springfield, Burlington County around 1719 where he was living with his brother Daniel.
- William Leeds Jr. -
The man who would donate the land that would be known as "the church farm". This area of land is from 5 corners down Phalanx Road to Swimming River and over to Everett Road up to Newman Springs road, this is where The present Lincroft School is located and eastern part of Thompson Park.
After his Father died, the care of the farm, his mother Dorathea, helpless brother Daniel & sister Mary devolved upon William Jr. the grandson of Thomas the emigrant. It was not until after the death of his mother & brother Daniel, William Jr. ,late in life, married Rebecca Tilton, Daughter of Peter & Rebecca Tilton, and the widow of his one-time neighbor, Daniel Applegate. He built a house shortly after marrying in 1720, which at the time folks would say " took the shine off any house" which had previously been built in this area. The area would come to be know as the "church farm area", the land west of what is now Phalanx road.
William Leeds and his sister Mary "late converts from Quakerism," were baptized in the Episcopal church by Rev. John Talbot Oct. 20th 1702. They lived and worked on the Farm, were involved in the local politics. Records show he may have served as Justice of the Peace at some time. He helped finance part of the early roads in the village. Both William & his wife were advanced in life and there is some dispute about a proposal that they would deed the property back to the church upon their deaths, but such a deed has never appeared. There is also a disputed letter he wrote to his then neighbor Josiah Holmes-Justice of the Peace and Captain of a Sloop that roamed the harbors from Middletown to NY and also has mention of the land going back to the church, and servants that were on the captains ship. His will was made June 20th 1735, only a short time before his death.
The will, after giving a brief description of the property, 417 acres, stated that it would be left "to The Society For Propagation of The Gospel in Foreign Parts, and to their successors forever, to and for the use and purpose following: that is to say, for the use and purpose of a perpetual glebe for the use and habitation of a Minister or Clergyman of the Church of England, as it is now by law established, that shall be a Missionary of the Said Society, to preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of Middletown and Shrewsbury." It was probably the intent of Mr. Leeds that the ministers of said churches reside on the farm, but as clergyman are not usually farmers, the farm was leased out and the income turned over to the rectors. Since the farm became the property of the churches only 2 clergymen have lived upon it. These were Andrew Fowler and Eli Wheeler who took over the churches in 1824 and served six years.
William Leeds.Jr died in April, 1739, and the parish register of Christ church has this entry:"1739, April 27. There was Interred the corpse of William Leeds near his house at Swimming River". All Williams papers & documents were carefully preserved. William had kept all his paperwork in a homespun linen bag, with the words "Private Papers of William Leeds Esq." written on the outside. The bag and paperwork has remained intact over 3 centuries. Among the papers are the Deed from Lord Carteret, The deed from the Lenni Lenape Indians, a copy of the lease with them as well. Other various business papers and documents pertaining to the church farm were with the others as well.
William Leeds had requested after his death his body be buried on the high knoll on his farm at Swimming River, and that when his horse and dog died they be buried there with him as well. Per his wishes all were buried in a small plot that was located near his house, where what is now Phalanx Rd and Swimming River park of Thompson Park. For many years the plot remained clean with a nice picket fence around it, and church members would attend to it. Eventually the picket fence decayed and plot became unkempt. Sometime in 1880s the fence was replaced with post and rail made from trees on the lot. This fence eventually decayed as well.
In 1904 Christ Church of Shrewsbury decided what remained of William Leeds should be moved and re-interred at a consecrated graveyard. William Leeds was a Freemason and that would lead be a clue into finding his body. Mr. Campbell Shrewsbury Church's Treasurer, was put in charge of finding him, since he was the last to have seen the gravesite many years prior. Knowing Wm. Leeds was a Freemason his body would have been buried lying due east & west according to Freemason practices. They now had an idea where to poke rods in actually locating the bones. They found most of his intact remains quickly and some had just decayed. The skull leg and arm bones were taken to Shrewsbury and re-interred.
The quote from Red Bank Register "And it is from that grave that on Saturday last, his remains were removed to be interred in Christ churchyard, Shrewsbury. The remains of his mother, brother & wife, at the time, were never found".
The farm was rented for not more than $200 a year until 1854, when an act of legislature was passed authorizing George Hance, Peter R Smock & John B Crawford to act as commissioners and divide the property between the 2 churches. Christ Church of Shrewsbury received the larger share of the land, and the Middletown Church was given 187 acres as it's share. The portion given to Christ church of Middletown lay on the west of the road that extended south into Atlantic Township, that road would later be called Phalanx Road as it is today. See map below
More on William Leeds Jr. - The Captain Kidd connection
William Leeds . In his younger days he apparently was a pirate mate of Captain Kidds and his adventures in Sandy Hook Harbor. Later as he settled in Monmouth County, William became a respected citizen, who was know for his wealth and generosity. Although some have said he knew where Kidd's treasure was buried, and that accounted for his wealth, most people believe that he just invested his ill-gotten money wisely. Upon his death he left his total land estate 438 acres, where Thompson Park & Brookdale College are now all the way to Christ Church in Shrewsbury, and back up to Christ church in Middletown. Some sources claim to have seen Leed's sea chest on display at the church many years ago, but no one today at the church will confirm that or any knowledge of it.
The church in Middletown is the basis for one of the more interesting legends about Captain Kidd. Carved in plaster above the pulpit is a small cross. According to the legend, The captain himself carved this cross with his sword during a visit there, but this would seem to be impossible. The original church at this site was not built until 1702, a year after Captain Kidds death, and the current church building was completed in 1836, albeit around the framework of the original. However still no one can explain why this cross is there and who carved it. This is not the churches only connection with pirates. Both the original and subsequent bldgs used the foundation of the blockhouse where Moses Butterworth was imprisoned & tried, and where other pirates were held before extradition to New York City and then England for trial. Also a fierce battle between Middletown residents and Blackbeard and his pirates, on a raiding foray for supplies, took place on Kings Highway outside the current church location. This historical legacy of pirates existed through the 250th anniversary of Christ Church in Middletown, when parishioners dressed as pirates "raided" Christ church in Shrewsbury & carried back historical treasures owned jointly by the 2 churches to use during the celebration.
William Leeds Grave
William Leeds Jr.
- Applejack -
Applejack was being made in every settlement, in early New Jersey as the early settlers did not trust water, and carried apple seeds from England to plant trees for the express purpose of growing apples and making applejack. Distilleries flourished all throughout the area, and some famous ones right in the Lincroft area. 1698 Lairds Applejack was being produced in what is now Scobeyville, and is still around today. According to Laird's Applejack History, George Washington supposedly liked it so much, he wanted the recipe, asked for it, and then brought it to the Virginia colony.
Applejack in Lincroft
Distilleries would spread out throughout Monmouth, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties, and at the time, during the early 1800's, one becoming the most famous, for a time, it was in Lincroft. Accounts having it built sometime in 1830, and was owned by a man named Spring. This Distillery & Mill was located in what is now Lincroft Park, there was a small creek that flowed through the area and into the Swimming River at the time.
At it's most famous point, it was called The Clayton & Thompson Distillery in 1873, as it is listed on a Beers Map of Leedsville. Most of the Apple grinding was done by horse with sweeps and having the horses walk in circles. Around the Civil War times being scared they may be raided so the distillery build a huge brick vault along the Swimming River to store and hide upwards of 800 barrels of applejack. I have found some of the brick remains of the vaults poking out off the riverside while hiking and fishing along the river. After doing a thorough geological survey examination, the location of the original distillery was located in the back part of what is now "Lincroft Park" The Distillery was moved after the Civil War closer to Newman Springs Road, but still hidden for the most part, by trees an orchard, to a brook that ran thru the Majestic Ave. Neighborhood. The actual location was just east of the Majestic ave. neighborhood and what is now also Lincroft park. Just behind the orchard was the residences and distillery, behind the homes was a stream and marsh surrounding by a small pine tree forest. This would be the final location till it's demise. According to articles in the Red Bank Register and other personal account in some letters I've read, There was, at a time, that more "Jersey-Lightning" was turned out there, than in any of the other Applejack plants in Monmouth County. I personally have found broken applejack jugs pieces in that area, when digging for bottles there in the 70's, but I never found an intact jug. Friends of mine at the time did though. During the construction of The Majestic Ave. Neighborhood there were remains of the distillery found and discarded, in the dump, and some remains of barrels and bricks left closer to the swimming river.
Later, in 1849 the Distillery would change hand to a Thomas E Coombs, who was a large property owner in Red Bank. In those day the power for grinding apples was by horse. The horses pulled a sweep and walked around in a circle. And, apparently they also moved house with horse and threshing machines an article goes on to say. Coombs would sell the mill and distillery to Japhin Clayton in 1860 for $3,890. Clayton shortly later would sell two thirds to Charles G. Allen of Red Bank, and the other 3rd to Joseph W. Thompson, both paid $1,293.33 Joe W. being the grandfather Joseph W. Thompson Sr. who went on to be an ardent prohibitionist in Lincroft. Mr. Allen soon sold his interest to George W. Crawford of Nutswamp. Around the time of the Civil War, there was a lot of fear about this area being invaded by Confederate armies. Every distillery and most residents had built hiding places for valuables etc. Clayton, Thompson, Crawford Distillery also had built a hiding place. The constructed a large brick vault on the banks of Swimming River storing hundreds of barrels of Applejack. Estimates project up to 800 barrels were stored in this immense brick vault in Lincroft at Swimming River. 1869 Crawford sells his share to both Clayton & Thompson for $900, losing $300, because in that short time grain liquor was becoming more profitable and popular. Joseph W. Thompson died and left his share to his son. William H. Thompson. William was a one time Freeholder and active in Middletown politics. At the time he was partners with Clayton, they were frequented by "thieving raids" by colored men from Red Bank. The losses started becoming so great that the neighbors of both owners were hired for guard duty at the "Stillhouses" ending up catching one and peppering others with shot. The business was never a congenial one for William H. Thompson, and after Clayton died, he gave the business up. The plant was run for a short time by other men, the last man being John N. Sickles whom last resided in Oceanport. The plant closed sometime in 1897. The plot had adjoined the property of a William E Winter, and he bought the plant land, using the bldgs to store hay, and other crops.
Some notes about the apples in the area at that time
There may still be apple trees of these below mentioned varieties still growing in the Lincroft area today, although rare, it has been reported.
In the old days some apple trees were planted on very farm for the express purpose of raising apples for cider & applejack. This comes from the early settlers mistrust of water. They believed all human ills could be tracedf to water, so when they came over from England they carried apple seeds for making applejack. The 2 varieties commonly grown for this purpose were the Hankinson apple and the Redstreak apple. Redstreak being the one grown in Lincroft predominantly for it's famous "RedStreakLightning", as a letter I read refers to it. Although many farms surround the area had both varieties, they would intergrow all over the area in later years. According to article these trees were never planted in an orchard style but, "in a field" "out of the way places". The Hankinson was a very large tree with spreading branches and the apples were not good for eating out of hand. Small apples with tremendous amounts, and would keep almost a year. The last know substantial amount of trees of these varities were recorded as being at a Shults Farm near Eatontown and a Charles Ely in Millstone.
Apple Jack can still be bought much like it was way back when from 1 of the surviving distilleries built by Robert Laird which was built nearby Lincroft, at the Colts Neck Inn, and later moved it's current location in Scobeyville. I worked there for a few summers as a summer job in the late 70's. The original Apple Jack they drank back in day is now called Laird's Old Apple Brandy as they advertise it as the "original historic applejack" A higher proof version Laird's Applejack A Smooth Blend, is 35% Apple Brandy, & 65% grain neutral spirits.
- Haunted Balm Hollow -
Not in the bounds of Lincroft but very close on the northern edge is what is now called Bamm Hollow Country Club. There have been legends about this property and here are some of the more interesting and scary stories.
Balm Hollow as it was 1st called according to a story published by The Hon. George Beekman, son of the owner of former owner of Beekman Farm in Middletown, in the Freehold Enquirer.
"Balm Hollow is Haunted Ground, and has been since before the white man came to this continent". Mr. Beekman plainly states. The following is from his article in the Enquirer;
The highway from Middletown to village to Homdel winds deep cut in Rockman's Hill and comes out on the heights near the Beekman property to the southwest of the village. A magnificent view is here presented of the whole of the lower bay, from the mouth of the Raritan river to Sandy Hook. The lofty hills of Staten Island loom up beyond the blue waters of the bay, while the low coast of Long Island stretches away to the east, until lost in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day the steeples of & spires of New York can plainly be seen. These heights possess an interest of an historical nature. Here that part of the British Army which retreated from the Monmouth courthouse by the Holmdel road on the night after the Battle encamped June 29th 1778. How far back along this road their encampment extended is not known, but it must have a least 2 miles. Some of the soldiers who had been wounded in the fight and carried from the field of battle died the next day, and, it is said, were buried on these heights. When the British army reached this place they were cheered by the sight of their fleet which lay anchored in Sandy Hook bay and was in plain sight. The highway after leaving "the deep road", as it is called, winds along these hills for nearly half a mile then turns and makes a descent into a valley. Formerly the road through the valley consisted of a single wagon track, with forest trees standing close to each side.
In the summertime the branches of the trees interlaced above shading the trail densely. It was a lonely, weird place and bore an evil reputation as the haunt of foul spirits. It was called "Haunted Balm Hollow." In the days when nearly every farmer through this region owned negro slaves, no colored person could be induced for love or money to pass through this place after nightfall. The superstitions whites also regarded it with dread and told many stories of uncanny sights and unearthly sounds, with a bright white lights making the forest look like daytime were seen and heard by belated travelers.
This evil reputation went back to the time when Middletown was 1st settled by the white race. The Indians avoided the place, and told strange stories of mysterious occurrences which had come down, with their other traditions, from the misty past. One of these traditions was that a famous wizard or "powaw," named Cokonkqua, performed his incantationsin this valley. According to this tradition he held intercourse with the Evil Spirit and could foretell what would happen in the future. He had predicted the coming of the white man in the very year when a big canoe anchored in the bay, and could be seen in the surrounding hills. He predicted the year when Henry Hudsons's Ship, the Half Moon came. It was said that this Indian wizard, in order to propitiate the Indian deity and obtain favorable answers, sometimes sacrificed and infant or child of tender years beneath a certain tree in the valley. Shedding the blood of an innocent babe was peculiarly acceptable to this Indian Moloch, and would succeed when all other offerings failed. Cokonkqua himself had mysteriously disappeared the year the white man came in the big canoe. The Indians believed that on certain nights of the year, the spirit of Cokonkqua visited this valley and performed sacrifices with phantoms. The ghastly sacrifice of little children was repeated by the shadows. The cries and wailing of children would be heard, mingled with demonic yells and laughter. Then the forest would be lighted up with white fire for the space of a moment. The Indians believed that to see or hear these unhallowed rites or sounds boded death or some great misfortune.
These traditions of the Indians were followed by many stories of strange sights seen there by white men.
One of these stories was to the effect that a certain farmer was belated for some reason, and reached this place about midnight. It was a hot summer night, and when he drove into Balm Hollow there was an ominous stillness over everything. Not the sound of an insect to be heard, although in summer the woods resound with the voices of insects; not a rustle of a leaf. The farmer was driving a gentle team, which had never been know to balk, yet when he reached the bottom of the hill going into the valley, his team suddenly stopped. He plied his whip, got out and tried to lead them yet he could not induce them to go on. They appeared terrified, and shook and trembled in every limb. The farmer could neither see nor hear anything which furnished a cause for their terror. The only thing remarkable was the stillness which, he said, could be felt. After trying several more times to induce the team to go on, he turned the around and went back.
Another is that of a well know physician that is still remembered as one of the best in the area, and is now dead. On a certain occasion he was suddenly called to visit a patient late at night. The nearest way was through the Balm Hollow, and he took the route. It was a bright moon-lit night in the winter, and the ground was frozen hard. It was midnight when he drove down into Balm Hollow. When about half-way through he saw a man on horseback in the road before him. The man was going along a slow walk, and as there was only a single wagon track, the physician asked the man to go faster or allow him to pass as he was in a hurry on business of life or death. No answer was given nor attention paid to his request. He repeated his request. Again the man gave no sign. The physician crowded his horse around the man, raised his whip to strike the mans horse to the side, and flailed his whip onto the horses flank. His whip would only go through air. He had noticed for a slight moment that, even though they were on frozen ground, there was no sound coming from the man's horse. He whipped again, and only hit air, and then, in an instant the man & horse vanished. He then grew cold through his entire body, and his heart seemed to be in his throat, as he drove away quickly. He had no other occurrences in the valley, but when he reached the man he was trying to save, he was dead.
Many other tales are told of Sharpheads and Volpusses seen sitting on the fallen trees along the road, glaring out with fiery eyes on the frightened travelers. Others of a child crying for help, leading the followers into dark morasses and bogs, with tangled thicket of briar & undergrowth, where they wander helplessly until daylight.
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