1800 - Road to Robert Doughty’s Mill Built
This road was built from Shore Road to Robert Doughty’s Mill at Mill Road on property presently owned by the Blee family. This road is now know as New Jersey Avenue.
1807 - Absecombe, Absequam and Abeskum
The first Post Office was established with the name designated as “Absecombe”. It’s spelling soon fell victim to it’s pronunciation. Variations such as “Absequam” or “Abeskum” are found.
1812 - Absecum Beach
On a map entitled “New Jersey 1812" plotted from Capt. Wm. Giberson’s Chart Book the nearest town shown from what is now know as Absecon is “Tucker T.” (Actual it is incorrectly shown in an area now known as “Leeds Point”) Gloucester County is depicted extending from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic City area is shown as “Absecum Beach”.
1820 - Dr. Pitney Arrives
In May Dr. Jonathan Pitney arrived on horseback in the small village of Absecon in Galloway Township, Gloucester County.
1821 - Road to Cooper’s Ferry Built
The road now known as West Church Street was known as the road to Samaul Cooper’s Ferry in Camden. This road continued west through lands now occupied by McGinnis Well Drillers and the American Legion to connect to what is now known as New Jersey Avenue and continued west to what is now US Route 30.
1832 - Lenni Lenape Cedes All Lands
The Lenni Lenape (forty in number) ceded all lands for the payment of $2000.00 from the New Jersey Legislature. A spokesman of a Lenni Lenape by the name of Wilted Grass addressed a letter to the Legislature, in which said: “ Not a drop of blood have you spilled in battle; not an acre of our land have you taken but by our consent. Nothing but benisons can fall upon New Jersey from the lips of a Lenni Lenape.
1833 - Pitney Road Built
Before the coming of the Camden-Atlantic Railroad through the village of Absecon, the population of the village of Port Republic was greater than Absecon. Dr. Pitney had to travel Wrangleboro Road to Port Republic to treat patients. This route was today’s Highland Blvd. which traversed through Absecon Highlands to Port Republic. Pitney Road was built to Port Republic bridge to provide Dr. Pitney a direct route to his patients.
1835 Dr. Pitney Advocate for Lighthouse at Absecon Inlet
This year Dr. Pitney being acutely aware of the dangers to seafarers at “Graveyard Inlet”, started his letters and pleas to Congress to build a lighthouse on Absecon Island.
1834 - Village known as Absecum in Galloway Township
Thomas Gordon’s “Gazeteer of the State of New Jersey” refers to “Absecum” as the post town of Galloway Township consisted of a tavern, store, and 8 or 10 dwellings.
1856 - Congress Appropriation for Lighthouse
Finally after 20 years of Dr. Pitney reports of shipping losses, Congress gave in and appropriated $35,000.00 for the construction of the “Absecom Lighthouse”.
1865 - Presbyterian Church was built
The cornerstone of the church was laid on November 16 and construction was underway. Three months later the Reverend Charles T. McMullin became the first installed pastor. Members of the church included many familiar names including Dr. Pitney, Jimmy Leeds, Hannah Doughty.
1872 - Town of Absecom / Town of Absecon
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Absecom, out of parts of Galloway Township and Egg Harbor Township, in the County of Atlantic was approved by the Assembly, No. 104, State of New Jersey. A supplement to above Act was approved February 29th. It contained minor changes to the description of the town’s boundary and a change in the spelling of “Town of Absecom” to “Town of Absecon”.
1875 - Town of Absecon / Town of Absecom
A second supplement to above Act to Incorporate the “Town of Absecon” was approved. It appeared that the spelling of Absecon with an “n” was now officially established. However, a booklet published by the municipality only added confusion. Its cover announced the “Charter of the Town of Absecom, New Jersey” in bold type. Inside the booklet listed the “Present Town Council of Absecom, N.J.”.
1899 - Population of Absecon was only 530 people
1900 - Dr. Samuel Johnson General Store on right and Doctor’s office on left. Present day Ben Franklin Variety Store and Harry S. Harper, Architect office.
This road was built from Shore Road to Robert Doughty’s Mill at Mill Road on property presently owned by the Blee family. This road is now know as New Jersey Avenue.
1807 - Absecombe, Absequam and Abeskum
The first Post Office was established with the name designated as “Absecombe”. It’s spelling soon fell victim to it’s pronunciation. Variations such as “Absequam” or “Abeskum” are found.
1812 - Absecum Beach
On a map entitled “New Jersey 1812" plotted from Capt. Wm. Giberson’s Chart Book the nearest town shown from what is now know as Absecon is “Tucker T.” (Actual it is incorrectly shown in an area now known as “Leeds Point”) Gloucester County is depicted extending from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic City area is shown as “Absecum Beach”.
1820 - Dr. Pitney Arrives
In May Dr. Jonathan Pitney arrived on horseback in the small village of Absecon in Galloway Township, Gloucester County.
1821 - Road to Cooper’s Ferry Built
The road now known as West Church Street was known as the road to Samaul Cooper’s Ferry in Camden. This road continued west through lands now occupied by McGinnis Well Drillers and the American Legion to connect to what is now known as New Jersey Avenue and continued west to what is now US Route 30.
1832 - Lenni Lenape Cedes All Lands
The Lenni Lenape (forty in number) ceded all lands for the payment of $2000.00 from the New Jersey Legislature. A spokesman of a Lenni Lenape by the name of Wilted Grass addressed a letter to the Legislature, in which said: “ Not a drop of blood have you spilled in battle; not an acre of our land have you taken but by our consent. Nothing but benisons can fall upon New Jersey from the lips of a Lenni Lenape.
1833 - Pitney Road Built
Before the coming of the Camden-Atlantic Railroad through the village of Absecon, the population of the village of Port Republic was greater than Absecon. Dr. Pitney had to travel Wrangleboro Road to Port Republic to treat patients. This route was today’s Highland Blvd. which traversed through Absecon Highlands to Port Republic. Pitney Road was built to Port Republic bridge to provide Dr. Pitney a direct route to his patients.
1835 Dr. Pitney Advocate for Lighthouse at Absecon Inlet
This year Dr. Pitney being acutely aware of the dangers to seafarers at “Graveyard Inlet”, started his letters and pleas to Congress to build a lighthouse on Absecon Island.
1834 - Village known as Absecum in Galloway Township
Thomas Gordon’s “Gazeteer of the State of New Jersey” refers to “Absecum” as the post town of Galloway Township consisted of a tavern, store, and 8 or 10 dwellings.
1856 - Congress Appropriation for Lighthouse
Finally after 20 years of Dr. Pitney reports of shipping losses, Congress gave in and appropriated $35,000.00 for the construction of the “Absecom Lighthouse”.
1865 - Presbyterian Church was built
The cornerstone of the church was laid on November 16 and construction was underway. Three months later the Reverend Charles T. McMullin became the first installed pastor. Members of the church included many familiar names including Dr. Pitney, Jimmy Leeds, Hannah Doughty.
1872 - Town of Absecom / Town of Absecon
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Absecom, out of parts of Galloway Township and Egg Harbor Township, in the County of Atlantic was approved by the Assembly, No. 104, State of New Jersey. A supplement to above Act was approved February 29th. It contained minor changes to the description of the town’s boundary and a change in the spelling of “Town of Absecom” to “Town of Absecon”.
1875 - Town of Absecon / Town of Absecom
A second supplement to above Act to Incorporate the “Town of Absecon” was approved. It appeared that the spelling of Absecon with an “n” was now officially established. However, a booklet published by the municipality only added confusion. Its cover announced the “Charter of the Town of Absecom, New Jersey” in bold type. Inside the booklet listed the “Present Town Council of Absecom, N.J.”.
1899 - Population of Absecon was only 530 people
1900 - Dr. Samuel Johnson General Store on right and Doctor’s office on left. Present day Ben Franklin Variety Store and Harry S. Harper, Architect office.
