moore's strawberry vale farm

[stizkidz]

I know this isnt exactly Pine barrens related but there are enough NJ history buffs on here so Im asking anyway:

Anyone know anything about Moore's Strawberry Vale Farm in West Deptford? Google Maps: 39.810681,-75.176559

Im trying to find the history of this particular site which is obviously Colonial.

Thanks,
-Ben

 

[Jerseyman]

Strawberry Vale

Ben:

Located along the east side of Parkville Station Road and north of the New Jersey Turnpike, farmer Benjamin J. Lord owned this property from the 1830s until his death in September 1888. It is he that named the farm “Strawberry Vale.” Despite his membership in the Society of Friends, in 1859 Lord contracted to have the beautiful Italianate-style mansion, complete with the signature belvedere on the roof, constructed on the farm in front of the then extant side-gabled farmhouse as a gift to his new bride. On 7 June 1859, Benjamin married Mary E. Thomas of Philadelphia, daughter of William and Atlantic Thomas. The increased value of the new house and the surrounding farm can be readily observed when comparing the population census from two decennial federal censuses. In 1850, Lord’s farm carried a value of $13,500; ten years later, the enumerator recorded the farmstead’s assessed worth as $23,000. In addition, Benjamin held a personal worth of $25,000 and his wife, Mary E.T. Lord, had her own personal estate of $40,000. I have not conducted any title research to confirm from whom Lord purchased the farm, but it appears he assembled the 338-acre property from several purchases. His late father, Joshua, may have devised some of the land to Benjamin upon Joshua’s death in August 1838. In addition to his main farm, Benjamin owned three other farmsteads in the immediate area of Parkville. After Benjamin’s death, the property passed into the hands of Harry W. Moore and his descendents, which family still own the farm today.

Parkville, or more correctly, Parkeville, takes its name from James P. Parke, the founder of the Parkville Hydropathic Institute, a short-lived water-cure facility that operated between 1845 and 1851. The operating company entered a period of financial difficulty and the institute closed, never to reopen again.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[stizkidz]

Thank you!!!!

Where did that excerpt come from?

 

[Jerseyman]

Thank you!!!!

Where did that excerpt come from?

Ben:

Not an excerpt per se, but a synoptic history compiled from the following sources:

Cushing, M.D., Thomas and Charles E. Sheppard, Esq.
1883 History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland New Jersey…. Everts and Peck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Everts & Stewart
1876 Combination Atlas Map of Salem & Gloucester Counties, New Jersey. Everts & Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MAAR Associates, Inc.
1987 Gloucester County Architectural Survey. MAAR Associates, Wilmington, Delaware.

Rogers, Doris Cole
1994 Gloucester County Wills: 1835-1846. Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury, New Jersey.

United States Census Bureau
1850 Seventh Decennial Census, Deptford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Microform edition, roll M432-451, p. 97B. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

1860 Eighth Decennial Census, Deptford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Microform edition, roll M653-691, p. 26. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Weiss, Harry B. and Howard R. Kemble
1967 The Great Water-Cure Craze. The Past Times Press, Trenton, New Jersey.

and a number of digitized historic newspapers to which I subscribe.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[stizkidz]

Jerseyman:

Have you been to this site and/or are you personally familiar with it? If so, please contact me PM or email jerseyben@gmail.com

Thanks,
-Ben