Mount Pleasant, Burlington County, New Jersey

Mount Pleasant hill, ca. 2010

Mount Pleasant is a historic community located within the southeastern range of Mansfield Township and the northeastern range of Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. Mount Pleasant encompasses the intersection of Mount Pleasant Road (running east-west) and Gaunt's Bridge Road (running north-south), 40°3′56″N 74°40′4″W / 40.06556°N 74.66778°W. The intersection is located about three miles (5 km) east of Columbus and one mile (1.7 km) south of Georgetown.

Mount Pleasant was named for the area's most conspicuous landmark: a small hill tapering to a pointed peak. Mount Pleasant hill is wooded and it's located in a cultivated farm field in the southwest quadrant of the intersection. A low, wooded ridge runs for about one mile (1.7 km) from the west side of the hill along the south side of Mount Pleasant Road toward Skunk Island Road. South of the ridge and Mount Pleasant Road lies an expansive meadowland that encompasses Assiscunk Creek, the township's southern border. The meadowland was called Ye Great Meadow during the 17th and 18th centuries. North of the ridge and Mount Pleasant Road lie cultivated farm fields that encompass Crafts Creek.

Early history

Barzilla and Sarah Newbold house, ca. 2010
"The Shreve Homestead- Mt. Pleasant, Burlington Co., N. J."

Mount Pleasant was settled by Quakers during the latter part of the 17th century. In 1688, Mansfield Township was established and its borders were published:

"The Constabulary of Mansfield to lye on ye south side of William Black's Creek, down Delaware River to the town bounds of Burlington, and soe up Birch Creek to John Pancoast's, to Michael Newbold's, and soe ye north of ye Great Meadow to Eliakim Higgins' plantation."[1]

In 1699, Caleb Shreve purchased Mount Pleasant hill, and 325 acres (1.32 km2) of land encompassing it, from Richard and Sarah French.[2] In 1725, Shreve built a brick house to the west of the hill. The east side of the home was constructed in 1742. This property, named Mount Pleasant, was the homestead of the Shreve family for many years.[3] It is the birthplace of steamboat captain Henry Miller Shreve and may be viewed via the Internet link shown below.

The Barzilla and Sarah Newbold house was constructed in 1740 and is located in the northeast quadrant of the intersection. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Burlington County, New Jersey and may be viewed via the Internet link shown below.

Early residents and landowners

Gallery

References and notes

  1. ↑ Birch Creek is synonymous with Assiscunk Creek.
  2. ↑ Nelson, p. 513: "1699 April 22. Deed. Richard ffrench of Mansfield Township, Burlington Co., yeoman, and wife Sarah to Caleb Shreeve, now of Freehold, East Jersey, yeoman, for 325 acres (1.32 km2) at Mount Pleasant, said township, between John Butcher, Michael Newbold and Joseph Pancoast, being part of the 460 a. lot of Wm. Ellis, bought by grantor of Wm. Biddle, executor of said Ellis November 16, 1693."
  3. ↑ The address is 27430 Mount Pleasant Road, Columbus, NJ 08022-1854
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 New Jersey Colonial Records, vol. 21, 1664-1703

Bibliography

External links