I have no idea. Getting ready for a survey in Jackson Township, west of Lakewood.
The Alligator
- Thread starter bobpbx
- Start date
I've seen old newspaper articles alternately referring to the site as the "Alligator Farm". I don't recall the source though and would have to re-dig for them.
I did a google search last night, and there were several sightings of small alligators in some of the lakes, but long after 1930.
Bob,
That name is intriguing. My go-to source for possible meanings is the Oxford English Dictionary.
That name is intriguing. My go-to source for possible meanings is the Oxford English Dictionary.
- U.S. A tough frontiersman
- North American colloquial. A rough, lean hog
- alligator snapper n. = alligator snapping turtle n.
- A person who binds or ties something.
On the "Ghosts of the Pines" documentary there is a brief cut to a map of the pines and there is an 'Alligator Ridge."
Huh,
Never heard of that creature...
The next thing I like to do is visit Early Land Records, 1650-1900s and search "Alligator"—
- Early Land Records, 1650-1900s - New Jersey Land Records, Colonial, 1650-1990, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th century; 20th century; Genealogy
This database indexes warrants and surveys of the Proprietors of the provinces of East and West New Jersey, in the years 1670-1727. Based on the joint rights granted by the Duke of York to Sir George Carteret and John, Lord Berkeley, New Jersey became a proprietary colony divided into two...
TO: Joseph W. Brick (of New York State; Deceased; Estate of); Robert Campbell (Acting Executor of Joseph W. Brick, deceased)
FROM:
5 Nov 1857
RESURVEY AND RECTIFICATION OF THE BOUNDS OF LAND. 12721 acres. On the North and South Branches of Metetecunk River; Branches of Fishing or Kettle Creek; part in Howell Township; part in Dover Township; part in Jackson Township; Fork of County Line Road, or Road from Jackson to Squan; old Freehold Road leading to the Bergen Iron Works; up the Watering Place Branch; Road from Joseph Mount's, called Alligator, to Bergen Iron Works; Edge of Grassy Hollow; Main North Branch of Toms River; Road from Toms River to Bergen Iron Works; Westerly edge of Green branch; Southerly side of Tunes branch; South of Eagle Hill; a old Pine Stump called the "Iron Pot Corner"; Road from Green Branch to Kettle Creek; Toms River Upper Road; Road to Cedar Bridge Village; Chambers Bridge over the South Branch of Meteteconk River; Gum Branch; Schoolhouse Branch; Cabinfield Branch; Monmouth County; Ocean County. Based on resurveys made in 1855, 1856 and 1857. Resurveyed for 13,506 acres strict measure; remaining for 12,361 22/100 strict measure; after deducting 1,214 78/100 acres for exceptions. The total acreage according to accounts of his former surveys being 12,721.02 acres; including an additional mislocation of 705 77/100 acres; for which the Estate of Joseph W. Brick, deceased, is entitled to a Certificate of Mislocation. After deducting this quantity there remains 12,015 25/100 acres; deducting that amount from the total resurvey of 12,361 22/100 acres; there remains 345 97/100 acres strict measure to be returned [overplus]; for which a portion of the Certificate of Mislocation is applied. Notation at margin: Class 27 [erased].
OTHERS NAMED: Andrew Bell (Owner of adjoining land; Returned: March 5, 1814 (S16, 351); Returned: March 12, 1808 (S16, 53); [and other tracts]); Elisha Boudinot (Owner of adjoining land; Recorded: October 16, 1797 (S11, 273)); F. W. Brinley (Surveyor General) (Signatory); Francis W. Brinley (for William G. Johnson; Adjoining land; Returned: May 29, 1847 (S22, 298); [and other tracts]); [Unrecorded] Chambers (Chambers Bridge; Adjoining land); Richard DeBow (and Thomas DeBow; Owners of adjoining land); Thomas DeBow (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: March 28, 1815 (S16, 478); January 6, 1829 (S20, 300); [and other tracts]); Thuenis Denice (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: March 21, 1764 (S5, 150); May 24, 1770 (S6, 119)); Annaniah Gifford (Annaniah Gifford's Eagle Hill tract; Owner of adjoining land); William Griffith (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: August 5, 1810 (S16, 151); Returned: April 15, 1812 (S16, 209)); Kenneth Hankinson (Former owner of adjoining land; Returned: May 5, 1789 (S9, 115)); Jonathan Johnson (by Francis W. Brinley, for Jonathan Johnson; Owner of adjoining land; Returned: January 7, 1837 (S22, 41)); William G. Johnson (by Francis W. Brinley, for William G. Johnson; Owner of adjoining land; Returned: May 29, 1847 (S22, 298)); [Unrecorded] Kearny (Kearny and Parker; Owners of adjoining land; Recorded: March 26, 1822 (S18, 490)); John Laurence (Owner of adjoining land; Returned: November 28, 1822 (S18, 526)); Joseph Laurence (Owner of adjoining land; Returned: June 20, 1825 (S20, 164)); John Lippincott (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: April 8, 1810 (S16, 135); Returned April 3, 1810 (S16, 137)); William McGill (Owner of adjoining land; Formerly owned by Jesse Richards); Robert Montgomery (Owner of adjoining land; Returned May 20, 1814 (S16, 381)); Joseph Mount (Owner of adjoining land; Joseph Mounts [land], called Alligator); Gertrude Parker (Owner of adjoining land; Recorded: June 3, 1800 (S11, 442)); James Parker (Deceased; Executors of; Owners of adjoining land; Returned: May 25, 1812 (S16, 212)); James Parker (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: July 30, 1824 (S20, 104); Returned: August 12, 1799 (S11, 282); [and other tracts]); John Rattoone (Owner of adjoining land; October 12, 1807 (S16, 39)); John Reid (Former owner of adjoining land; Returned: June 24, 1769 (S6, 70)); Jesse Richards (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: July 18, 1814 (S16, 405); Returned: August 15, 1815 (S18, 8)); [Unrecorded] Runyon (The Runyon Place; Adjoining land); John Rutherford (Owner of adjoining lands; Returned: August 24, 1857 (S20, 249); Returned: September 4, 1827 (S20, 251)); Elizabeth Stevens (Deceased; Executors of John and Elizabeth Stevens; Owners of adjoining land; Returned: January 7, 1796 (S11, 154)); John Stevens (Deceased; Executors of John and Elizabeth Stevens; Owners of adjoining land; Returned: January 7, 1796 (S11, 154)); Joseph Throckmorton (Owner of adjoining land; Returned: October 25, 1825 (S20, 189)); [Unrecorded] Wier (Wiers old field; Adjoining land); John Williams (Owner of adjoining land; Recorded: August 4, 1761 (S4, 372))
LOCATIONS: East Jersey; Monmouth; Ocean; Alligator; The Alligator; Cedar Bridge; Dover Township; Howell Township; Jackson Township; Eagle Hill; Grassy Hollow; Cabin Field Branch; Fishing Creek; Green Branch; Gum Branch; Kettle Creek; Metedeconk River; Schoolhouse Branch; Toms River; Tunes Brook; Watering Place Brook; County Line Road; Freehold Road; Road from Jackson to Squan; Toms River Road; Bergen Iron Works; Bridges; Chambers Bridge; Forges, Iron Works, Iron Mines, Iron Mills; Iron Pot Corner; Roads, Streets, Highways, Paths
S22 (EJ Surveys) : Folio 487-498 (PEASJ003)
TO: Joseph W. Brick (of New York; Deceased; Estate of); Robert Campbell (Acting Executor of Joseph W. Brick, deceased)
FROM:
5 Jan 1858
RESURVEY AND RECTIFICATION OF THE BOUNDS OF LAND. 813.83 acres. On Doves Mill Branch; East side of the North Branch of Toms River; from a stone former (by erroneously) placed in an old field; Middle of the East side of Bowmans Bridge; South side of the brook coming from Wild Cat Swamp; Road leading towards Bennets Mill; Crossing Sandy Gully; on a Sandy Knoll, fifty links Eastward from an old coal pit; West of a stone hill; crossing the Road from Bowmans Bridge to the old Red Tavern; Edge of lowlands called "Big Cripple"; Road from Alligator to Goshen; Dove Mill Dam tract; Doves Mill Branch; Road from Doves old Mill to Bowmans Bridge; Jackson Township; Ocean County. Resurveyed in 1857. Resurveyed for 813 83/100 acres; 25 55/100 acres [overplus] (W11, 53). [Notation for Index book: [Class] 11].
OTHERS NAMED: Andrew Bell (Owner of adjoining landa; (S18, 305); (S13, 297)); [Unrecorded] Bowman (Bowmans Bridge; Adjoining land); F. W. Brinley (Surveyor General) (Signatory); Francis W. Brinley (Owner of adjoining land; (S20, 545)); William Burnet (Owner of adjoining land; (S11, 12)); Thomas DeBow (Owner of adjoining lands; (S20, 507); (S16, 394); (S20, 456); (S20, 522)); Samuel Dove (Owner of adjoining lands; (S13, 11); Doves Mill Dam tract; (S3, 37)); Samuel Emley (Owner of adjoining land; (S11. 311)); Susan Faesch (Owner of adjoining land; (S20, 380)); John Johnston (Owner of adjoining land; (S7, 289)); Moses Laird (Moses and William Laird; Owners of adjoining land; (S9, 171)); Robert Montgomery (Deceased; Executors of; Owner of adjoining land; (S20, 369)); John Rattoone (Owner of adjoining lands; (S13, 135); (S13, 136); (S13.327)); Stephen Seabrook (Stephen and Thomas Seabrook; Owners of adjoining land; (S16, 432)); Thomas Seabrook (Stephen and Thomas Seabrook; Owners of adjoining land; (S16, 432))
LOCATIONS: East Jersey; Ocean; Alligator; The Alligator; Goshen; Jackson Township; Big Cripple; Creeple, Cripple; Old Field; Sandy Gully; Sandy Knoll; Stone Hill; Wild Cat Swamp; Dove Mill Branch; Doves Mill Brook; Toms River; Goshen Road; Bennetts Mill; Bowmans Bridge; Bridges; Coal Pit; Dams; Doves Mill; Mills; Mill Lots; Red Tavern; Roads, Streets, Highways, Paths; Taverns, Inns, Public Houses
S22 (EJ Surveys) : Folio 526-530 (PEASJ003)
Interesting Mark. Some good old names there. It happens that it is the Dove Branch I'm looking at. I see both "alligator" and "the alligator". I wonder if it was a road with whoop-de-doos like we have now from motorcycles.
Actually, that "alligator thing" is right under the "the"!
https://boydsmaps.com/sync/#17/40.094135/-74.276504/midatlidar/0/0/njgin1930/15/0/0
No tax record for that parcel. But - funny - whatever it is - it's within the proximity zone I created for "The Alligator" (note the historical features data)
https://boydsmaps.com/pines/#17/40.094158/-74.276504/lidar2021hd/0/0/
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Gustav Kobbe has us covered in his guidebook to "The New Jersey Coast and Pines". The Alligator, as one might suspect from the definite article, was a tavern. "derived its name from the figure-head of a wrecked vessel, which was nailed to a tree opposite the tavern".
Seems straightforward enough, though in the next breath he attributes the name of the Seven Stars to an observation made by a guest through a hole in the roof. Innkeepers were as unlikely then as now to feature gross deficiencies of their establishment in advertising. I suspect whoever picked that sign was educated enough to know about the Pleiades, and the story of the hole a later back-formation, like the invention of "Hocking Mick".
Seems straightforward enough, though in the next breath he attributes the name of the Seven Stars to an observation made by a guest through a hole in the roof. Innkeepers were as unlikely then as now to feature gross deficiencies of their establishment in advertising. I suspect whoever picked that sign was educated enough to know about the Pleiades, and the story of the hole a later back-formation, like the invention of "Hocking Mick".
Hmmm. And I wonder, if these are actual taverns, why would their topographic maps eliminate the building? Although I now see they had no structures in this map when they called out a town. Convenient to do that.
And still, in what Mark posted, it refers to a mount, which the old topos do not depict.
"road from Joseph's Mount [land], called Alligator".
"road from Joseph's Mount [land], called Alligator".