Allentown, N.J., its rise and progress, Part 23 08/04/2005 (javascript: openEmailWindow();) _Email to a friend_ (javascript: openEmailWindow();) (javascript: openOpinionWindow();) _Voice your opinion_ (javascript: openOpinionWindow();) (http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1091&dept_id=425690&newsid=14968584) _Printer-friendly_ (http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1091&dept_id=425690&newsid=14968584) From the New Jersey Historical Society, Charles Hutchinson's Rogers genealogy continues with Samuel, youngest son of Isaac and Hannah Talman Rogers. He inherited the Tavern House property — now Woody's —site of Court of Admiralty proceedings and gaol, or jail. (XII) Samuel Rogers, son of Isaac and Hannah, born August 12, 1772, married (first) December 14, 1797, Helena Hendrickson, and had by her two children. He married (second) Sarah, daughter of Burnet Montgomery, by whom he had seven children. He was a hatter by trade; died about 1836. March 29, 1793, "Samuel Rogers, Junr, of Allentown, &c. Hatter, executed a mortgage to "Henry Drinker, of Philadelphia, &c. Merchant, surviving partner of the house of James & Drinker, for L357,4,1 covering a "Messuage, Tenement and Lott of Land in Allentown, on the south side of the main road or street, in the tenure of the widow of David Randolph, containing in part on the same being part of three acres, more or less, which Samuel Rogers, the father of Isaac Rogers and grandfather of the said Samuel Rogers, Junr, purchased of John Campbell, John Little and John Henderson, auditors, by indenture dated the 10th of June, 1741." No further description is given, but the premises appear to be the same conveyed by the following deed: April 18, 1803, "Samuel Rogers and Helena his wife, of the township of Upper Freehold," &c. conveyed to Asher Borden, of the same, for $1400: "All that Tavern House and lot in Allentown, &c. which said Tavern House and lot of land, by the will of Samuel Rogers, the grandfather of the grantor to this Indenture, dated August 6, 1756, were with other houses and lots devised to Isaac Rogers, the father of the above named grantor, and which said house and lot were by the will of the aforesaid Isaac Rogers, dated February 8, 1777, devised &c. to his son, the said Samuel Rogers: and which said lot is situate on the south side of the main street in Allentown, and bounded generally as follows, to wit: on the north side by the said street, on the west by a road or way leading from the said street to the [early Episcopal] church, on the south by land now in the possession of and belonging to James Middleton and on the east by land now in the possession of Daniel King but owned by John Paxton. Together with all an singular the shed, stables, outbuildings, rights," &c. No courses or distances given in this deed, but the premises were bounded easterly by John Paxton, now [1888] the Moyer property: westerly by the old church alley, which separated it from the present residence of Mrs. Elizabeth P. Ford: and southerly by the tanyard lot of 3¼ acres, which John Paxton conveyed to James Middleton 9mo. 21, 1792 (the day after he bought that and the Moyer property from Thomas Barnes) and which is now included in Edward H. Hendrickson's farm. The whole lot, with exception of a small lot on which is the harness shop of William R. Savidge, is now owned by the Albert Nelson Company, whose store is on the easterly part, and on the westerly part is a double dwelling house, which was the "Tavern House" above mentioned. I cannot give the history of this (which was a part of Nathan Allen's 100 acres) previous to 1741, when Samuel Rogers acquired it from "auditors." From that time until 1803 it remained in the Rogers family, but who were its earlier tenants I do not know. Daniel Randolph kept tavern there in 1787; was succeeded by his widow in 1792, and she was still there in 1793, when she paid a "tavern tax" of L2. Town Meetings were held there, alternately, from 1787 to 1793. After that taxed in Upper Freehold in 1758, married Margaret Steward in 1760; was a soldier in the Revolution and was taken prisoner at Toms River, March 24, 1782. In 1790, he was taxed in Upper Freehold for a house and lot (½) acres, 1 horse, 1 dog. After its purchase by Asher Borden the tavern became a private dwelling, and he lived there until 1817, carrying on his business as a hatter in a building which stood where Savidge's shop now is. Adjoining this hatter's shop easterly, where is now the Nelson store, there was then a double dwelling belonging to James B. Stafford, which remained till recent years. April 5, 1817, "Asher Borden and Ann his wife, of the township of Upper Freehold," &c. conveyed to William Imlay, of the same, for $3000, "All that Tavern House and lot in Allentown, &c. Beginning at stone standing on the south side of the main street, and even with the front of said Borden's shop, 22/3 links from the northwest corner of the same: Thence S44'E 28 links to a stone near the other corner of said shop: Thence S54'E 95 links to a stone near the corner of the stable: Thence N49'E running along James B. Stafford's line to Daniel Leigh's line: Thence along said Leigh to John Palmer's line: Thence along said Leigh to John Palmer's line: Thence along said Palmer's line to the Church Lott: Thence along the same and Church Alley to the side of the main street aforesaid: Thence along the same to the beginning; containing 1¼ acres, be it more or less," &c. The term "Tavern House" used in the deed was perhaps copied from the former deed. I do not find that any tavern was kept there during the ownership of Asher Borden, although it is possible there may have been. Daniel Leigh, who was a "saddler" and a man with one leg, had succeeded James Middleton as owner of the tanyard lot. The premises, although conveyed to William Imlay, passed into the possession of Doctor [and Congressman] George Holcomb[e] (his brother-in-law) and became his residence. April 13, 1820, George Holcomb[e] and Elizabeth his wife executed a mortgage to Robert Montgomery, for $582, upon "all that Tavern house," &c. described as in the above deed. April 21, 1825, "John J. Ely, late High Sheriff of Monmouth, conveyed to Richard M. Stout for $48, the same "Tavern house" &c. by same description, it being sold as the property of Dr. George Holcomb[e] at the suit of the said Richard M. Stout; and January 19, 1828, Elizabeth Holcomb[e], his widow, released the same to said Stout, for $536.38. Richard M. Stout lived on this property for a number of years; how many I cannot say, for I have never found the deed by which it passed out of his possession. In 1857, it was again a tavern, in the possession of Thomas S. Pearson, who died there, and was succeeded by others up to 1900, when, in the deed to Albert Nelson, a clause was inserted prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors on the premises at any time thereafter. I have made no mention of later generations of this Rogers family, which long ago disappeared from this locality, and what I have written is surely long enough anyway. Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, president of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. 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