Another theory of Mary Ann Forge

[Teegate]

That Mrsid crap is a pain in the ass. I am so frustrated with it. Why somone would put a map on that format is beyond me! Just use a format that works!

Guy

 

[Teegate]

I finally have it working and have the map. But I can only extract the portion of the map and depth of view of what is showing on my screen.

It is interesting because someone has written all over the map making corrections and adding things in. It even shows where deer stands are I assume it is ok for me to post them, so if anyone can't get it working I will pass them along.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ben, I am not certain why you think the forge was around c.1861-1877 It is stated in the text that the forge was built shortly after 1827. Or are you saying that it ended around 1861-77 In which case I don't know if that could be considered a short life.

In 1851, Samuel H. Jones gave a mortgage to Anthony S. Morris, trustee, for one half of the Hanover Furnace Tract, Mount Misery Tract, and Mary Ann Forge Tract and several other tracts, which is the first recorded notice of the forge that has been located. The forge itself continued to be operated until late in the Civil War, and on a map made in 1877 is marked "not now in use," and today the only trace of the old plant is a pile of forge cinders, the dam, and sheeting.

I was wrong. 1851. Although you are right, it ALSO says that it was built in 1821.

Judging from Boyer and Bisbee, I guess the 1827 date is correct. So it's 1827-c1877.

 

[Ben Ruset]

MARY ANN FURNACE: A map of 1861 calls this place MARION FORGE. The site is located in the township of PEMBERTON east of NEW LISBON on a branch of MOUNT MISERY BROOK. Most recent maps call the place a furnace. However N. R. Ewan declares that this is a misnomer, and that it was a forge and never a furnace. Here is another forge that "never helped win the American Revolution" for the simple reason that it did not come into being around 1830. Gordon's map makes no mention of this place although it does appear on the Finley map of 1831. A map of 1849 simply calls it MARY ANN and the name of R. Jones "saw mill" and the word "furnace" is shown. Even though the word "furnace" appears on the 1849 map this writer has come to distrust "map-makers" and is more inclined to accept such authorities as Ewan and Boyer. A furnace and a forge even after several centuries can be distinginguished by the difference in the type of slag found at the site. Boyer states that the forge was in still in operation late in the Civil War. The principal product was bar iron and in later years wagon axles and tires.

Place Names in Burlington County, Henry H. Bisbee, 1955.

 

[bobpbx]

You know Jeff, that is a confusing area. Remember I said we used to have parties when my friends uncle owned the A-frame at the bottom of below photo? I remember going downstream just a bit from there and seeing remains of a wooden dam. I wonder if there was a bog there? Thing is, on the topo it is not a normal looking bog, kind of like the guy who did it didn't know what he was doing.

http://terraserver-usa.org/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=18&X=2685&Y=22106&W=3

I'd be up for exploring that area this spring. Looks like some good plant locations by the light areas close to the stream.

 

[Ben Ruset]

I just added the Gordon 1833 map to the Historic Map Archive.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=250&pos=13

UPDATED URL!

It's in JPG format.

That Mrsid crap is a pain in the ass. I am so frustrated with it. Why somone would put a map on that format is beyond me! Just use a format that works!

Guy

It's a lossless compression format. It stores the file compressed at a 50:1 ratio so it's super efficient. You can also do overlays of GIS data.

Converting them to JPG takes a pretty beefy computer. My laptop has 2GB of RAM in it and it brought it to a crawl for about 15 minutes just exporting out from MrSID.

 

[Skido]

Mary Ann Forge was sold by Benjamin Jones during the Panic of 1837 to a man (who's name I can't recall at the moment) who purchased the then-defunct forge to open a sawmill. [Jones manuscript collection, HSP]

I'm not sure where the later dates come from, unless perhaps they are simply derivations of a Beckian mistake.

 

[Tom]

Quote:
In 1851, Samuel H. Jones gave a mortgage to Anthony S. Morris, trustee, for one half of the Hanover Furnace Tract, Mount Misery Tract, and Mary Ann Forge Tract and several other tracts, which is the first recorded notice of the forge that has been located. The forge itself continued to be operated until late in the Civil War, and on a map made in 1877 is marked "not now in use," and today the only trace of the old plant is a pile of forge cinders, the dam, and sheeting.

Just a side note for anyone who may be interested. Anthony Saunders Morris was the brother-in-law of Samuel Jones. He was married to Anne Emlen Jones.

 

[bobpbx]

Thanks Ben, that really is a nice map......

Also, notice the ruins down below Hampton. Ruins in 1833 have to be really old, eh?

 

[bobpbx]

Thanks Ben, that really is a nice map......

Guy, did you notice that the purple lines seem to denote survey lines of some sort?

 

[woodjin]

I remember going downstream just a bit from there and seeing remains of a wooden dam.

Bob, I think the dam you are thinking of is a bridge. It has been somewhat rebuilt for motorcycles in recent years. It might have been just ruins in the time frame you are referring to. It is actually just upstream of the proposed cranberry bog. Due you remember it being a dam for certain, or could it just have been a bridge/ruins of a bridge?

Jeff

 

[woodjin]

Mary Ann Forge was sold by Benjamin Jones during the Panic of 1837 to a man (who's name I can't recall at the moment) who purchased the then-defunct forge to open a sawmill. [Jones manuscript collection, HSP]

I'm not sure where the later dates come from, unless perhaps they are simply derivations of a Beckian mistake.

I know there are other references stating contrary. But this would explain the earlier dates that the Lake appears on maps. I don't, however, think the body of water on the 1833 Gordons map is anywhere near the dimensions of the lake in later maps (scotts). Looks more like a traditional forge pond.

In truth, there are very few lakes in the pine barrens designed for recreational use in that time period. The Browns Mills area would have been a prime target area for that sort of thing though, also, it would have been too easy to create. The Mt. Misery is very old and cut deep into the earth, the banks are very steep. It would have been too easy to make it into a lake. it was asking for it.

Jeff

 

[bobpbx]

Bob, do you remember it being a dam for certain, or could it just have been a bridge/ruins of a bridge? Jeff

No, I am not certain either way. I only remember wood placed there by man.

 

[LARGO]

Thanks Ben, that really is a nice map......

Also, notice the ruins down below Hampton. Ruins in 1833 have to be really old, eh?

Coming in a little late on this but I must agree. Fun map to read. My whole area seems a little compressed while others are stretched out. Neat how these maps can be inconsistant yet each has it's own special little bits of info.

 

[Teegate]

I just added the Gordon 1833 map to the Historic Map Archive.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0

It's in JPG format.

Ben,

You need to fix the link. It has changed.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

Guy, did you notice that the purple lines seem to denote survey lines of some sort?

Bob,

I have been meaning to comment on those line. I don't think you are correct.

The person who drew those lines was quite knowledgeable on "high spots" with some of the locations pretty obvious. They also were familiar with some locations that one would not normally think as a high spot but they are. For example, in Evesham (Marlton) where all of the lines converge is exactly the location I grew up. That spot could be my moms house if the map was modern. I can bet that there are very few people who live in Marlton who even have heard of Gilbo Hill let alone even know they are on one. From that location if there were no trees you could see to Moorestown.

Knowing where a deer stand is near the Forked River Mountains and knowing of Gilbo Hill, I am impressed with the person who did that. Why they did it is another question. It would be interesting if the lines were placed there many years ago because it may mean that the hill my mom lives on had a purpose at one time such as a lookout.

What the yellow lines are is a mystery.

With that said the map has some flaws such as the Old Half Way error. The person who wrote on the map correctly moved it to the proper location. I would think where Old Half Way was incorrectly written was Woodmansie.

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Bob,

I have been meaning to comment on those line. I don't think you are correct.

The person who drew those lines was quite knowledgeable on "high spots" with some of the locations pretty obvious. They also were familiar with some locations that one would not normally think as a high spot but they are. For example, in Evesham (Marlton) where all of the lines converge is exactly the location I grew up. That spot could be my moms house if the map was modern. I can bet that there are very few people who live in Marlton who even have heard of Gilbo Hill let alone even know they are on one. From that location if there were no trees you could see to Moorestown.

Knowing where a deer stand is near the Forked River Mountains and knowing of Gilbo Hill, I am impressed with the person who did that. Why they did it is another question. It would be interesting if the lines were placed there many years ago because it may mean that the hill my mom lives on had a purpose at one time such as a lookout.

What the yellow lines are is a mystery.

With that said the map has some flaws such as the Old Half Way error. The person who wrote on the map correctly moved it to the proper location. I would think where Old Half Way was incorrectly written was Woodmansie.

Guy

I wonder, is this the only clean map left? I doubt it. Also, look at the Forked River, see the mill called Homes? I think it should be Holmes. Thats the one I want to see if we can find remnants. I have also seen that on an 1812 map, but not with the pond like this one. Very interesting map indeed.

Couple more interesting things; He has 8 mile branch by the forked river mountains in the wrong location. It is further east and does not extend far beyond lacey road. And check out Black Cedar Swamp by "Blacks" stone.

PS: how much longer before its a frigging geocache?

 

[Teegate]

I wonder, is this the only clean map left? I doubt it. Also, look at the Forked River, see the mill called Homes? I think it should be Holmes. Thats the one I want to see if we can find remnants. I have also seen that on an 1812 map, but not with the pond like this one. Very interesting map indeed.

Couple more interesting things; He has 8 mile branch by the forked river mountains in the wrong location. It is further east and does not extend far beyond lacey road. And check out Black Cedar Swamp by "Blacks" stone.

PS: how much longer before its a frigging geocache?

That is interesting about the Black Cedar Swamp. Never saw that before. I have found other flaws also. For 1800's it is quite good.

As for the geocache I will personally destroy any that I find there, and geocaching.com will hear from me.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ben,

You need to fix the link. It has changed.

Guy

New URL posted!

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=250&pos=13

 

[bobpbx]

Bob,

I have been meaning to comment on those line. I don't think you are correct.

The person who drew those lines was quite knowledgeable on "high spots" with some of the locations pretty obvious. They also were familiar with some locations that one would not normally think as a high spot but they are. For example, in Evesham (Marlton) where all of the lines converge is exactly the location I grew up. That spot could be my moms house if the map was modern. I can bet that there are very few people who live in Marlton who even have heard of Gilbo Hill let alone even know they are on one. From that location if there were no trees you could see to Moorestown.

Knowing where a deer stand is near the Forked River Mountains and knowing of Gilbo Hill, I am impressed with the person who did that. Why they did it is another question. It would be interesting if the lines were placed there many years ago because it may mean that the hill my mom lives on had a purpose at one time such as a lookout.

What the yellow lines are is a mystery.

With that said the map has some flaws such as the Old Half Way error. The person who wrote on the map correctly moved it to the proper location. I would think where Old Half Way was incorrectly written was Woodmansie.

Guy

Guy, look at the right side of the map, just below the crease. The guy (oh gee, another Guy) who made the lines (H. Prince) kind of explains them but I cannot make out his writing. I think one says.."routes taken in the course of my reconnaissance".