The authoritative source on
  early churches of New Jersey

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We've created a database and photographic inventory on more than half the 18th & 19th century churches in the state and add to it each month. We welcome and solicit all contributions and suggestions from our visitors.

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Walnford Friends
Ellisdale, Burlington County

    

Henry Beck (in Fair to Midlands) tells the story of an early Quaker meetinghouse in the vicinity of Ellisdale, but his description and directions were not very explicit. Even when he had written of it the building had been converted into a residence. Fortunately I corresponded with a lady who grew up in the house, although she said that when she drove by it the recent additions and changes made it all but unrecognizable to her. I think this is the meetinghouse, and I am hoping some reader can confirm that or steer me to the proper building. Beck says the Walnford Meeting was organized about 1700.
     The meetinghouse is located a short distance from Monmouth County's Historic Walnford Park, a 36 acre mill village/plantation that was founded in 1734. An important owner of the plantation in 1772 was a wealthy Philadelphia Quaker who sympathized with the British and so established his family here. That suggests to me that the 1770s is a more likely date for the founding of the meetinghouse.

 

 

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