August 11, 1824
The Somerville Messenger mentions the extraordinary circumstances of the death of James
Wilson, son of Joseph Wilson, of Lebanon in this county, having been killed by falling from a fence, over which he
was getting, with a pitcher in his hands – as he fell the pitcher broke and a piece of it came in contact with
his neck and severed the jugular vein; he died in a few minutes. A similar accident happened to a man in this
town about 20 years age – the main artery was cut – and he died of the wound. – Trenton Federalist. [Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - Submitted by Nancy Piper]
January 8, 1882?-
As John McNalty, an employee,
at Sproat's Mills, Lambertville, was reaching from a ladder to arrange a belt, by some cause the belt lapped around
a revolving shaft, pulling a section of another shaft from its position, the shaft striking and breaking the ladder,
throwing McNalty upon some machinery, badly bruising his breast and otherwise injuring him.
The Glen Gardner correspondent of the Hunterdon Republican says: John Ray, our barber, while crossing the railroad track on his way home, a few nights ago, became
exhausted and lay down across the track to recover. He was found by his wife, who was on the search for him, and
timely rescued from having his body severed by an approaching train.
January 11, 1882 - A five year old boy, son of Jonathan Haines, of Ringoes, had the misfortune to run a pointed stick in his eye, on Sunday last. It
caused the loss of the eye.
January 15, 1882-William Smith,
of Hunterdon county, is recovering from the wound received at the hands of his wife a few weeks ago, and is not
dead as reported. It was also reported that Mr. Smith had made confession of several burglaries committed during
the past few years; this is also false.
January 18, 1882
*A number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Reading,
near Ringoes called on them Tuesday evening week and presented a castor and napkin rings to remind them it was
the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage. Mr. C.R. Nightingale made the presentation in a few well chosen
remarks, after which Mr. Helsley surprised Mr. N. by resenting him an excellent rubber coat, the gift of his Ringoes
friends.
*Dr. Wm. J. Poulson, of Flemington,
slipped on the pavement in front of his residence last Sunday evening spraining his ankle so severely that he has
been confined to the house ever since the accident.
*During the Revolution, while the American army lay in winter quarters west of Mt. Airy, Gen Washington, had his
headquarters in the stone house now owned by Mr. Garvis Ely, on the road leading from Lambertville to Stockton. And during the same winter Gen. Lafayette
was confined two weeks by sickness, in the house now occupied by Mr. Larison Dilts, in Ringoes. There is no mark
about the old houses, however, that indicates that either of the beloved patriots had ever case their illustrious
shadows athwart the doorways.
January 25, 1882
*Georgeana Smith was lodged in
the Flemington jail last Wednesday for the murder of her husband, Wm. R. Smith, at Mount Joy in the upper part
of Hunterdon county. It appears that Mrs. Smith had two husbands one of which she had not seen in fifteen or twenty
years. Lately she learned that he was in the county and fearing difficulty she went to a neighbor's and stole a
revolver, then started for the saw mill where her husband William was at work; he saw her approaching and went
out to meet her; when within a few feet of each other, she drew the pistol and fired, the ball striking Smith in
the abdomen making a fatal wound from which he died in a few hours. Mrs. Smith attempted to shoot herself afterwards
but failed.
*On Tuesday morning Mrs. Nathaniel T. Rittenhouse
stepped up on a chair to hang a picture on the wall, and not being able to reach she raised her foot to step on
the table, when the chair turned and threw her to the floor. In falling she struck her arm on the edge of another
chair, breaking it just below the shoulder joint. Drs. Reiley and Deemy were called and rendered the necessary
surgical air, and she is doing well now.-Frenchtown Enterprise
March 1, 1882- John Orts, a Hunterdon
county man, aged 77 years, a short time since walked to Teeter's Mills and back, a distance of over four miles,
carrying on his back a grist of meal, carrying on his back a grist of meal. The old gentleman is the father of
seven sons. His wife, to whom he has been married over 50 years, is 76 years old.
March 8, 1882 - The Lambert Beacon says: "On Wednesday Martin Pidcock, of New Hope, met with a severe accident while at work at the Lambertville Iron Works.
It appears that a heavy leather belt broke and swung around striking him across the nose, inflicting a deep wound.
It is thought that the sight of one eye is destroyed. Medical attention was given and he was conveyed to his home."
April 5, 1882 - Last week a monument was erected in the "Old Amwell Graveyard," near the residence of
Mr. John Priestly, on the York
road, between Larison's Corner and Reaville, in Hunterdon county, over the grave of John reading, who was a Colonial
Governor in the year 1757. The remains have been buried there about one hundred and fifteen years and the only
distinguishable evidences of burial found in the ground-after search had been made-were two coffin handles. The
monument was erected by Messrs. John G. Reading, of Philadelphia, and Frank Reading of Williamsport, Pa., who are
descendants of the deceased Governor. The two named gentlemen formerly resided in Flemington, and their action
is very praise-worthy. Although they have left the county they have not forgotten their ancestors and birth place.
The monument is very handsome Quincy granite, about fifteen feet high, and is a very prominent feature in its vicinity.
It may not have been known by many Hunterdon county people that a Colonial Governor was buried in the county, and
we take occasion to remark that the graves of our forefathers should be more prominently marked, for in time they
become places of interest. The following is a short description of the honored dead: "Gov. John Reading was
a surveyor and secured himself six hundred acres of land on the South Branch River, where he built the "Reading
mansion," now occupied by Phillip Brown, two miles west of Flemington and near Mettler's mills. He was a member
of the Colonial Council from 1728 and Vice President for a number of years. In 1747, by the death of Governor Hamilton,
he became Governor until Governor Belcher arrived from England. In 1757 Gov. Belcher died and he again became Governor
of the Province of New Jersey, until the arrival of his successor, Governor Bernard.
John Reading was born at Gloucester, N.J., June 6th, 1686, and died Nov. 7th, 1767, and consequently has been buried
the number of years above named. The father of Governor Reading, in 1701 purchased a large tract near Lambertville,
on which he resided and followed the profession of a surveyor until his death. - Lambertville Beacon
May 10, 1882 - Mr. Howell Scarborough,
residing about one mile north of Lambertville, became insane and was taken to the asylum at Trenton for treatment.
June 28, 1882 - On June 6th, James Brady,
a young man, aged eighteen years, an employee of the Lambertville Iron Works and an axle turner by trade, left
his home in Lambertville, and has not been heard of since. He is about five feet and seven or eight inches in height,
has brown hair, and weighs about 125 pounds. Any particulars in reference to him will be gladly received by his
father, Mr. Stephen Brady, of Lambertville, N.J.
