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Facts and Events
| Name |
John Somers |
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth[1] |
30 Apr 1648 |
Worcestershire, England |
| Immigration[3] |
Aug 1682 |
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAboard the Society of Bristol |
| Marriage |
2 Jan 1683 |
Abington MM, Montgomery, Pennsylvaniato Hannah Hodgkins |
| Other[4] |
30 Nov 1685 |
Great Egg Harbor, Ocean, New Jersey, USASettlement |
| Occupation? |
20 Mar 1693 |
Great Egg Harbor, Ocean, New Jersey, USASupervisor of roads and Constable of Great Egg Harbor |
| Occupation? |
2 Oct 1695 |
Great Egg Harbor, Ocean, New Jersey, USAThe Grand Jury for the County of Glouster doe appoyntt and make Choyce of John Somers to keep a Ferry over Great Egg Harbor for man, hors & Kattle; to pass Cape May & from Cape May to east Jarsey and other ports as passengers may have occasion. He shall and may exact for the passage of every single person twelve pence per head, and for sheep and hogs four pence per head, and for all manner of grain two pence per bushel. The Ferry left the Great Egg Harbor side at Job's Point and passed on the Cape May side . |
| Death[1] |
19 Dec 1723 |
Somers Point, Atlantic, New Jersey |
John’s goods appear in the inventory of the ship Society of Bristol: (2 May) John Summers; 5 cwt. wrought iron, 1/2 cwt. nails, 1 firkin butter, 20 pounds leather manufactured, 1/2 cwt Shot, 1/4 cwt gunpowder. He married Hannah Hodgkins in 1684 according to Monthly Meeting notes, and his first three children were recorded there. Richard, the fourth, was born 3 Mar 1693, and his birth was recorded in the records of the Cape May/Great Egg Harbor meeting. Later that year, John was appointed a supervisor of roads and constable.
In November of 1695, he and 7 other men settled the “Somerset Plantation” in New Jersey (the area later known as Somer’s Point). The other men included Jonas Valentine, John Gilbert Sr., Johnathan Adams (uncle of his daughter-in-law Abigail),two Dutchman: Peter Covenhover (his granddaughter m. John’s grandson),John Scull, and James Steelman. A few days later, on Dec. 2, he was granted permission to run a ferry from Cape May to East Jersey, near Great Egg Harbor.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Atlantic County Historical Society (New Jersey). Yearbook, with historical and genealogical journal. (Somers Point, New Jersey: Atlantic County Historical Society, 1948-)
Vol. 1-2.
"The Somers Family of Somers Point" by Florence Somer Scull
- Jordan, John W. (John Woolf). Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania: genealogical and personal memoirs. (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911).
- ↑ It is possible that he arrived on the ship " The Society of Bristol " Aug 1682. On that same ship with a date of may 2 1682 a list of one John Somers Possesions was listed as 5 cwt. wrought iron , 1/2 cwt. nails, 1 firkin butter, 20 pounds leather manufactured, 1/2 cwt shot , 1/4 cwt gunpowder. It is thought he was on that ship with his possesions or followed soon after. A survey of 500 acres in Philadelphia Co., for John Somers, was not returned until 12 june 1682, Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series, 111, 14 (paper no . 2139 ). John Somers was also witness to the will of Thomas Freame of " Avon " , in the County of Gloster" probated Aug 10 1682 in Philadelphia. One of the first wills entered into philadelphia records. John Somers was one of seven men who settled and founded " Somerset Plantation", now known as Somers Point, NJ . All their deeds were recorded within two days of each other, ( 29th and 30th of Nov 1695 ) John Somers witnessing the others. Since they had to record the deeds in burlington Co. at the time , they probably all traveled there together. The mens names were; John Somers, Jonas Valentine, John Gilbert Sr , Johnathan Adams ( englishmen ), two Dutchmen: Peter Covenhover ( cowanover), John Scull ( Skull ), and James Steelman a swede. All lands were purchased from Thomas Budd, a merchant in Philadelphia.
- ↑ This indenture made this 30th day of November Anno Domni 1685 Between Thomas Budd, Merchant of Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania of ye first part and John Somers of ye Province of West New Jersey of ye other part, Witnesseth that the said Thomas Budd for in consideration of ( torn and faded ) lawfuf money.... sells to John Somers land situate in Great Egg Harbor in ye Province of West New Jersey.... Being bounded on the North East side by the line of James Steelman and on the North West side by Patcong Creek. On the South West side by the bay of Great Harbour and on the South East with the south within which bounds contains 1500 acres and allowances for roads. Witnesses; Jerimiah Price , Pat Robinson.
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