East Branch of the Wading River

[MarkBNJ]

Interesting. The river north of Harrisville is called the Oswego on all the current topos I can find. But on the old Cook map part of it east of Oswego Lake is called the East Branch of the Wading river.

What got me thinking of this is a section in "Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia" containing the report of an 1899 expedition from Tuckerton across the pines to Atsion. After leaving Munyon Field the writer describes reaching the "lower plains" "south of the east branch of the Wading river," and about "nine miles northwest of Tuckerton." He goes on to say that they crossed the east branch, checked out a fragrant cedar swamp, saw a farmhouse, and then camped "on the banks of the Wading river, at a crossing called Allen's Bridge."

Ok, so the area 9 miles north of Tuckerton does in fact lie just south of what the Cook map labels as the east branch of the Wading. Allen's Coal Rd. crosses in that vicinity, so perhaps Allen's Bridge was that crossing? The cedar swamp may have been that bit south of Penn Place. Here's what threw me, though. He goes on to say that they then visited Callico, "a half-day's travel farther west." Unless they doubled back, or originally went due north from Munyon, and were a lot further East than I am thinking, how the heck could they have been a half-day east of Callico?

I have often tried to put my finger on Callico, without much success. But everything I do know says it was just east of Martha. Did these guys have any idea at all where they were?

 

[Teegate]

Allen’s Bridge is located on the upper Oswego almost to Sim Place. The best way to get there is canoe or kayak which Bob and I did along with his friend on 5/30/04, and a hike with Bob and Steve on 6/12/04. The pillars of the bridge are still there, and the banks on both sides are very noticeable.

Here is a side view of one side.

This view is standing on the bank that is in the above photo, looking across the river. The brown area is the dirt bank. Notice how large the trees are there, telling us it has not been used in many years.

This is what we saw when we were walking down the road that once led to the bridge. Behind us is Federal Property for the bombing range.

This map shows the location of Allen’s Bridge. Now Breakfast Point is another story. Some maps show it right at the bridge, and some show it south of there at a junction of the river. We visited both locations so we can say we visited Breakfast Point

Allen's Bridge was used to transport goods from Martha and Harrisville to various location including Harris Station by Apple Pie Hill. It is a very historic location and it is really beautiful there in May and June.

Guy

 

[MarkBNJ]

Thanks for the information and pics, Guy. That's about where I figured it was. Callico might be a half-day away, but it was obviously more South than West. I think the gentlemen from Philly were just confused.

 

[Teegate]

If you look at aerial maps of that area, the road is still discernable. The Sim Place canal is nearby, and the cedar swamps have many hidden roads in them. An amazing place, but you have to be careful because Haines now owns much of it, as does the Feds.


On our explorations there we found a large turtle, many different plants species, a spagnum filled road in a cedar swamp, an old outhouse if you want to call it that , and a really large pine tree.

Guy

 

[Jerseyman]

Now Breakfast Point is another story. Some maps show it right at the bridge, and some show it south of there at a junction of the river. We visited both locations so we can say we visited Breakfast Point

Guy

Guy and Mark:

Breakfast Point, or as originally identified, Break-Fast Point, is an interesting place. Writing in his place name book, Sign Posts, Doc Bisbee describes the place as: “The finger of land where Papoose Branch joins Oswego River at edge of Penn State Forest.” The first proported documented use of the name is a Surveyor General's survey return drafted 10 September 1787, which document reads in part:

“Beginning at a pine Lettered IB [Joseph Biddle] standing at the head of a slough, about four hundred yards to the northeastward of the Cabbin at Break-fast Point, & which Slough puts into Wading River just above said Cabbin…to the place of the Beginning containing two acres one Rood and twelve perches of Land….” (SGO U:160)

The deputy surveyor fails to identify the owner of the cabin.

The first map to feature this toponym as a label is the 1849 Otley and Whiteford map of Burlington County.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Teegate]

Guy and Mark:

“The finger of land where Papoose Branch joins Oswego River at edge of Penn State Forest.”

We were there, and that location now is the ending point of the canal from Sim Place. We stood right on the point thinking we were at Breakfast Point. Not a place you would want breakfast now if it is wet out.

Guy

 

[woodjin]

Mark, it does seem like a half days travel is too long from Allen's bridge to Calico. Even if they were walking it. And it is not West. However, could they have been following rivers for navigation, and the author percieved that they were moving in a generally westward direction? See what I mean? If they were following the wading river to bodine's perhaps, he would generally percieve that as west. See if there is any text after their visit to Calico that might indicate their general direction.

If they were following the winding, vegetation thick banks of the wading (oswego) river, and they were taking their sweet time, they might have taken a half day. Maybe.

*Note* I believe I came across that bridge when I kayaked up the oswego from the lake. I'm not sure I made it up that far though. are there similar bridge remains further downstream?

Jeff

 

[MarkBNJ]

Mark, it does seem like a half days travel is too long from Allen's bridge to Calico. Even if they were walking it. And it is not West. However, could they have been following rivers for navigation, and the author percieved that they were moving in a generally westward direction? See what I mean? If they were following the wading river to bodine's perhaps, he would generally percieve that as west. See if there is any text after their visit to Calico that might indicate their general direction.

They visited Callico after camping at Allen's Bridge on the north side of the Wading. Not far from Callico they "came upon the rarity of an inhabited house," complete with a stone-lined well. The Adam's farmhouse perhaps? Did it have a well? From there they simply state that they proceeded to Batsto through Martha. From there they went north by Quaker Bridge, where they make no mention of any dwelling or structure, but rather describe it as a garden-like spot.

 

[Teegate]

The Adam's farmhouse perhaps? Did it have a well?

I only saw a cellar hole at the Adams house. There must have been a well, but it could be filled in. It has been so long I forget.

Guy