Digging through Census Records and Richards Family papers, I am able to share 5 names and connect them to serving under the Richards Family while in residence at the Atsion Mansion.
1840 Federal Census
William Nelson (30) Colored
Margaret Okie (35) Colored
Catharine Green (20)
Benjamin Taylor...
This would actually be a good example of what the Atsion Mansion garden would have looked like in the 1830s.
When I went up to research the Samuel Richards papers, I learned that Richards hired a gardener to tend to his Philadelphia garden and Atsion garden.
Might be a little late to the conversation haha, but it appears this photo shows the wooden frame building off to the left to be the old icehouse for the Mansion and General Store. The overgrowth in front of the mansion are what remains of the English Garden from the Richards Era.
The garden...
I think this map is quite well put together. Have you thought of adding in some of the paper mills such as Harrisville or Pleasant Mills? Paper was another prominent industry in the Pinelands after the collapse of the iron industry.
While doing research on W.W Fleming and Atsion, I came across a paragraph from "The Atlantic City High Speed Line" dated from November 1929.
"The first train to run from Camden to Atlantic City was drawn by the engine "Atsion" and made the first trip on July 4, 1854. At that time there were...
I am saddened to hear he passed away. I'll see what I am able to do, it would be a shame if that artifact was thrown away.
Thank you for tracing him for me, I just wish it had turned out to be a better circumstance.
Hello Jerseyman,
Thank you for sharing this! Originally I had began researching Speedwell Furnace today by going on-site and speaking with Stephen Lee III. I had intended to tie these two locations together as it appears that Union Forge was being supplied with Pig Iron from the Speedwell Furnace.
If this was located near Atsion, this has raised my interest. Would anybody know how to get in contact with the owner of this item? I'd like to do more research on it.