All,
I had an interesting adventure today. I hope you enjoy.
Back in December of 2010 the members of PBX were plowing through the "Springer's Savannas and Spungs of Shamong" hike, and during one of the breaks I made a short side trip to look for a property stone. I make it a point while on a hike with others to not effect the hike in any way, so I rushed to find the stone and make my way back as quickly as possible. It was uneventful as I found the stone and returned.
Fast forward to a few months ago, I was looking over information transcribed from old deeds, and the words "Herd Cabin" was written. Here is what it said.
Beginning at a stone standing 6 feet East of a Well at a place called Herd's Cabin, which said place is between and near the forks of Atamgain and unknown branches.........
Looking over the rest of the deed I used the information to compare to what I know and realized I had been at the stone on the PBX hike. However, in my rush I somehow missed a well 6 feet away. I dug a little deeper into my files and found this.
Beginning at a stone at Herd's Cabin about 6 feet East of Mill (should have said Well not Mill) on a high point of land in the forks of Atawaquam ( differs from Atamgain above) and unknown branches.....
And the info finishes with this. North forty-five minutes East forty-six chains to a stone standing fifty-five links (36.3 feet) East of the beginning; thence due West fifty-fife links to the beginning.
That last line tells us that 36.3 feet due East of the stone I found is another one. So there was a Well to find and another stone, so I prepared myself for a day when I would be alone and sat back and waited. As with last week Jessica has a busy Monday at work and decided to not go out with me today, and I realized my chance had arrived and I was ready.
There were various ways to get there such as retracing the PBX hike, coming in from East Stokes Road, or making a longer and possibly more challenging bushwhack from Deep Run on Hampton Road. I chose the latter. So early this morning I headed into the woods passing by the ruins of the former residence of James McGinn.
Long shadows from the early morning sun.
Once I entered the more dense sections of the woods the briers were terrible. But I was able to make small adjustments and find breaks. Early on I ran into hunters stands with feed and camera's, but eventually it was wild country.
The hunter has me coming and going on that camera, plus a few mug shots. I did not moon him like at least one other person did on our PBX hike.
After a long struggle I finally made it to the Savanah at the below link. If you ever wondered what it looks like, now you know.
Next came the Bard Branch. I was concerned about this but in the end it was just a wide slow moving 8 inch maximum depth mess.
Then came the canal which I also worried about. There was no way I could cross where I came upon it, but looking south I saw a branch across it. I climbed on it, stretched as far as I could to grab a branch on the other side, let go of the branch on the side I was on, and promptly one leg slipped off and I was knee deep in water sitting on my ass on the branch. A quick tug and I was able to stand up and get across.
Then came the short climb up to the "high point of land" mentioned in the deed, and I was there. Pushing through the brier I eventually came to the stone I visited 10 years ago. Here it is today.
And sure enough I was correct, and had made it to Herd's Cabin. Here is the well 6 feet away. How I missed this is impossible to explain.
The arrows point to the stone, and the well is at the bottom of the photo.
So I still had to find the stone 36 feet away. Walking directly East I calculated where 36 feet was and set down and started poking. Nothing ... very frustrating. But in an instant I looked down beside me and saw this.
Having found Herd's Cabin, or the "area" of Herd's cabin as one deed says, I am quite certain this dates back far into the 1800's since the 1930 aerials show nothing. And the intersection of the Atamgain or Atawaquam is most certainly the present intersection of Springer's Brook and the unnamed branch is Bard Branch.
The canal I crossed can be viewed here going North and South.
Having found Herd's Cabin I sat there a while thinking of the long walk back. The time was 11:05AM. I had been so interested in what I was doing I had missed this laying right there.
On the way back I was able to follow my GPS, and almost 1 hour later I was at my car.
Here are my tracks minus the location of Herd's Cabin. The curve at Deep Run on Hampton Road is at the bottom right. I would suggest nobody do what I did. It was a tough one.
I want to thank Bob for his concerns by calling Jessica to see if I was okay. Both of them had my back and I appreciate it.
Guy
I had an interesting adventure today. I hope you enjoy.
Back in December of 2010 the members of PBX were plowing through the "Springer's Savannas and Spungs of Shamong" hike, and during one of the breaks I made a short side trip to look for a property stone. I make it a point while on a hike with others to not effect the hike in any way, so I rushed to find the stone and make my way back as quickly as possible. It was uneventful as I found the stone and returned.
Fast forward to a few months ago, I was looking over information transcribed from old deeds, and the words "Herd Cabin" was written. Here is what it said.
Beginning at a stone standing 6 feet East of a Well at a place called Herd's Cabin, which said place is between and near the forks of Atamgain and unknown branches.........
Looking over the rest of the deed I used the information to compare to what I know and realized I had been at the stone on the PBX hike. However, in my rush I somehow missed a well 6 feet away. I dug a little deeper into my files and found this.
Beginning at a stone at Herd's Cabin about 6 feet East of Mill (should have said Well not Mill) on a high point of land in the forks of Atawaquam ( differs from Atamgain above) and unknown branches.....
And the info finishes with this. North forty-five minutes East forty-six chains to a stone standing fifty-five links (36.3 feet) East of the beginning; thence due West fifty-fife links to the beginning.
That last line tells us that 36.3 feet due East of the stone I found is another one. So there was a Well to find and another stone, so I prepared myself for a day when I would be alone and sat back and waited. As with last week Jessica has a busy Monday at work and decided to not go out with me today, and I realized my chance had arrived and I was ready.
There were various ways to get there such as retracing the PBX hike, coming in from East Stokes Road, or making a longer and possibly more challenging bushwhack from Deep Run on Hampton Road. I chose the latter. So early this morning I headed into the woods passing by the ruins of the former residence of James McGinn.
Long shadows from the early morning sun.
Once I entered the more dense sections of the woods the briers were terrible. But I was able to make small adjustments and find breaks. Early on I ran into hunters stands with feed and camera's, but eventually it was wild country.
The hunter has me coming and going on that camera, plus a few mug shots. I did not moon him like at least one other person did on our PBX hike.
After a long struggle I finally made it to the Savanah at the below link. If you ever wondered what it looks like, now you know.
NJPineBarrens Maps
maps.njpinebarrens.com
Next came the Bard Branch. I was concerned about this but in the end it was just a wide slow moving 8 inch maximum depth mess.
Then came the canal which I also worried about. There was no way I could cross where I came upon it, but looking south I saw a branch across it. I climbed on it, stretched as far as I could to grab a branch on the other side, let go of the branch on the side I was on, and promptly one leg slipped off and I was knee deep in water sitting on my ass on the branch. A quick tug and I was able to stand up and get across.
Then came the short climb up to the "high point of land" mentioned in the deed, and I was there. Pushing through the brier I eventually came to the stone I visited 10 years ago. Here it is today.
And sure enough I was correct, and had made it to Herd's Cabin. Here is the well 6 feet away. How I missed this is impossible to explain.
The arrows point to the stone, and the well is at the bottom of the photo.
So I still had to find the stone 36 feet away. Walking directly East I calculated where 36 feet was and set down and started poking. Nothing ... very frustrating. But in an instant I looked down beside me and saw this.
Having found Herd's Cabin, or the "area" of Herd's cabin as one deed says, I am quite certain this dates back far into the 1800's since the 1930 aerials show nothing. And the intersection of the Atamgain or Atawaquam is most certainly the present intersection of Springer's Brook and the unnamed branch is Bard Branch.
NJPineBarrens Maps
maps.njpinebarrens.com
The canal I crossed can be viewed here going North and South.
NJPineBarrens Maps
maps.njpinebarrens.com
Having found Herd's Cabin I sat there a while thinking of the long walk back. The time was 11:05AM. I had been so interested in what I was doing I had missed this laying right there.
On the way back I was able to follow my GPS, and almost 1 hour later I was at my car.
Here are my tracks minus the location of Herd's Cabin. The curve at Deep Run on Hampton Road is at the bottom right. I would suggest nobody do what I did. It was a tough one.
I want to thank Bob for his concerns by calling Jessica to see if I was okay. Both of them had my back and I appreciate it.
Guy
Last edited:
. Unfortunately, you guys found out the hard way, but you "had" to know, I would have also.
