Oakhurst, Salem New Jersey

Oakhurst is a lovely victorian style home that was renovated in the Colonial Revival style in the 1920s (affecting mostly the front and side porches).

It is located at 100 West Broadway in Salem, New Jersey, in the same block as the great Salem Oak. The house is privately owned (by Laura and Barry Fite) who have been restoring the home for several years, and continue to do so.

Special elements of this house include its slate tiles, mansard roof, and ornate soffit details. Inside, much of its original wordwork remains.

The house was built in 1884 for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bassett. Joseph's biography and family information can be found below. The original owners probably only lived in the house until 1892 when Joseph, a druggist, died.

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Joseph Bassett, was the son of William & Abigail (Hazelton) Bassett and was born 11 Nov 1842 in Salem Co NJ; he died 24 Dec 1892. Joseph served in the Union Army during the Civil War in Co. D, 12th New Jersey Infantry. He married 9 Apr 1884 to Elizabeth Allen Griscom. When Joseph died at the age of 50, Elizabeth was a 39 year old widow with 2 children. She moved back to live with her parents, Morris & Margaret Griscom, as is evidenced in the 1900 census of Mannington Township. Elizabeth was still living in the 1910 census, in the east ward of Salem City with her two daughters, and her brother Allen Griscom. She received a pension for her husband's military service.
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U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > New Jersey > Salem > Salem > District 148
Bassett William W M 77 retired merchant NJ NJ NJ [b abt 1803]
Bassett Abigail W. W F 66 wife keeping House NJ NJ NJ
Bassett Joseph W M 38 son druggist NJ NJ NJ [b abt 1842]
Bassett, S. Anna W F 31 dau assistant house keeper NJ NJ NJ
Bassett, Clara J. W F 29 dau assistant house keeper NJ NJ NJ
Bassett, Fenwick H. W M 22 son druggist clerk
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Children of Joseph & Elizabeth (Griscom) Bassett (born in Salem County NJ):
(1) Clara A. Bassett, b. July 1886
(2) Margaret G. Bassett, b. May 1891

Joseph's Bassett ancestors had original arrived in colonial America around New Haven Connecticut, then lived for two generations in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. In the third generation the Bassett family married and lived in Pilesgrove, Salem County, New Hampshire, with several of the succeeding generations living in Pilesgrove, Mannington and Salem City, New Jersey.

If you are a member of, or are interested in, the Bassett family, please visit the Bassett Family Association web site.http://www.bassettbranches.org/index.shtml

The Oakford House, Alloway, New Jersey

The Oakford House was built about 1736 in Alloway, Salem County, New Jersey by William Oakford. The foundation is stone, with exterior walls of red and blue mottle brick. William Oakford was the grandson of Wade Oakford, one of the original settlers of Fenwick Colony.

The initials of the builder are on the east elevation, "W.M.O. 1736," standing for William and Mary Oakford. This was the customary practice in the Fenwick Colony. The intial of the husband was placed on the left and that of the wife on the right. This house is one of the few of its kind left in Salem County.

The lower floor is one large room with two fireplaces. The upper story has three small bedrooms; a lean-to was originally attached to the house, but was torn down.

When the British army invaded Salem County during the American Revolution, a number of refugees fled to this house to escape them. The dwelling was situated in a grove of trees, a part of the original forest. According to tradition, these refugees buried their gold and treasure in the cellar of the house and in the woods.

From this incident has come the story of the "Alloway Ghost," supposedly a continental soldier guarding the buried treasure of the refugees. Reportedly any attempt to dig in the cellar of the Oakford House has been foiled by the appearance of the ghost.

From: American Memory: HABS, with references to "History of Fenwicks Colony," by Thoumas Shourds, and "The Old Houses of Salem County," by J.S. Sickler. Jack E. Boucher, photorapher.

William Hancock House, Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey

This house, located in Salem County New Jersey, is of blue glazed brick. It was erected in 1734 by William Hancock and his wife Sarah, whose initials are woven into the gable on the west end (W.H.S). The house remained in the possession of the Hancock family until about 1865.

William Hancock, the builder was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Salem in 1727 and a member of the colonial legislature. When he died in 1762 the house passed to his son William, who also succeeded his father in the legislature and as a Judge of the County Court of Pleas in Salem County.

The house was the scene of a massacre on the night of March 20, 1778, a few days after the battle of Quinton Bridge. Sleeping American militia were attacked as they slept here by Major John Simcoe and his troops. Sixteen were killed and eleven militia taken prisoner.

Judge Hancock, a Tory who had fled during the American occupation returned to his home earlier that night and had been captured by the Revolutionists. He mistakenly was killed by his friends in the dark. Reportedly the blood stains from this event are still visible on the floor where the militia were bayoneted

In 1932 the Hancock House was purchased by a commission, and the title passed to the State of New Jersey. The house is under the care of the Salem Historical Society, and it is now used as a museum, depicting the history of the Fenwick Colony.

Photograph from American Memory.

Richard Smith House, Elsinboro, New Jersey

Located at "Moore's Corner on the Salem-to-Hancock's Bridge Road in Elsinboro, Salem County, New Jersey this house was built in 1729 by Richard Smith. Richard was a grandson of John Smith, one of the pioneer immigrants that came with Fenwick (see family info later).

Originally a story and a half house with hip roof was raised to a two story and a one-half house with a pitch roof. The house has a brick foundation and brick exterior walls, and inside brick chimneys. The interior walls were plaster.The grayish red brick shades on the west gable are peculiar to this house, it also has a diamond design.

THE RICHARD SMITH FAMILY

Regarding the immigrant John Smith: The record of the Society of Friends states, "John Smith Sonn of John Smith was born in the County of Norfock in the towne of diff on the 20th of the seventh month of 1623; who in process of time tooke to wife Martha Crafts daughter of Christopher Crafts of worksay in nothingham Shire, who Afterward transported themselves with four Children to West new Jersey in America, on bord the Ship called the griffin of london, Robert Griffin being master who all Arrived, in delaware River the 23 of the 9th mo 1675, and so to new Salem in the province of west new jersey where they did inhabit."This elder John owned a "large tract of land in the Elsinboro-Lower Creek section," in a section of South Jersey also called Amblebury or Amwellbury (lying south of Salem between the Yorke street and Oak street roads).

From a 2nd source: HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF FENWICK'S COLONY; Bridgeton, N.J.,by Thomas Shourds; pub. by George F. Nixon, 1876

John Smith, son of John Smith was born in the county of Norfolk, in England, 20th of 7thmonth 1623. The said John Smith married Martha Crafts, daughter of Christopher Crafts,of Northampshire. They were married in 1658.

The following are the names of their children born in England: Daniel Smith born 10th of 12th month 1660; Samuel Smith, born8th of 3d month 1664; David Smith, born 19th of 12th month 1666, and Sarah Smith, born 4th of 12th month 1671. John Smith, his wife and children, sailed for West New Jerseyon board the ship Griffith, Robert Griffith being master, and landed at a place theycalled New Salem, 23d of 6th month 1675.

The names of their children born in this country are as follows:--Jonathan Smith, born in New Salem 27th of 10th month 1675; Jeremiah Smith, born at Alemsbury 14th of 9th month 1678. John Smith purchased 2,000 acres of John Fenwick, the purchase extending from the head of Alemsbury creek toAlloways creek, and bounded on the east by Edward Champney's land, on the west by Samuel Nicholson. After the townships were laid off, one-half of said allotment ofland was in Alloways Creek township.

Daniel Smith, the eldest son, bought 1,000 acres in Alloways creek township, nearwhat is now called Quinton. The land lay on the north side of the creek. He built andlived on the property that was owned by the late Ann Simpson. This Alemsbury estatewas divided between Samuel, David, and Jonathan Smith. His daughter, Sarah Smith,married John Mason of Elsinborough.

[See additional Family Tree]

REFERENCE:
1. Photograph and information from: American Memory, Library of Congress; HABS NJ-348; http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.nj0782
2. Old Houses of Salem Co NJ, by Joseph S. Sickler, Sunbeam Pub. Co. 1949