Smithburg, New Jersey
History
In 1684, the 2nd Deputy Governor of East Jersey Gawen Lawrie instituted "The Burlington Path", a stagecoach route meant to connect Burlington, the Capital of West Jersey, and Perth Amboy, the Capital of East Jersey. Much of modern day Monmouth Road (County Route 537) coincides in general direction and trajectory with this historic stagecoach route. By the mid 18th century, one of the stagecoach stops listed on the route was the Smithburg Tavern, suggesting that the community had already been rather established by this point.
The Smithburg Tavern was the birthplace of New Jersey politician Joel Parker, a prominent "War Democrat", who would later in life serve two nonconsecutive terms as the 20th Governor of New Jersey; one term from 1863-1866, and another term from 1872-1875. Parker died on January 2, 1888, in Philadelphia and was buried in nearby Maplewood Cemetery, within the center of Freehold Township, New Jersey. His burial place also happens to be located right along the historic "Burlington Path" on what is now West Main Street (County Route 537), adjacent to the Freehold Raceway Mall.
The Smithburg General Store, the only store in the area, operated on the corner opposite the Smithburg Tavern on County Route 537 and Smithburg Road.
The only sawmill in the area, located on County Route 537, produced lumber for building in Smithburg and Freehold.
The historically preserved Monmouth Battlefield and the historic villages of Clarksburg and West Freehold are a short distance away.
Some farmers claim Hessians, mercenary German soldiers for the British during the Revolutionary War, either deserted their fighting at the Monmouth Battlefield or lost their way. Their bodies were found on the site of a local farm.
Geography
The Manalapan Brook flows through the center of this community. The brook continues to the South River, which starts along the border of Spotswood and Old Bridge Township. The headwaters for the Manasquan River also originate near the community.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Smithburg include:
- Joel Parker (1816–1888), Former governor of New Jersey who was important to the Union's cause during the American Civil War.
References
- ^ "Smithburg". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Smithburg, Freehold Township, New Jersey" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived 2020-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, Freehold Township Heritage Society: 'History of the Burlington Path'. Accessed June 9, 2020.
- ^ "Joel Parker Dead. Stricken With Paralysis While Visiting Friends". The New York Times. January 2, 1888. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
Ex-Gov. Joel Parker of New-Jersey, while visiting friends at 1019 Mount Vernon-street, this city, yesterday, was stricken with paralysis and died at 1 o'clock this morning.
- ^ New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated March 30, 2023. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- ^ [2] Freehold Township Heritage Society: 'History of the Village of West Freehold'. Accessed June 9, 2020.
- ^ "Watershed Protection And Restoration Plan For The Manalapan Brook Watershed", New Jersey Water Supply Authority, on behalf of the Manalapan Brook Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan Project Committee Watershed Protection Programs. February 2011. Accessed November 21, 2020.
- ^ [3]. Raritan Basin. New Jersey Water Supply Authority: Manasquan Watershed. Accessed June 23, 2021.
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