Posted By:Sherry Dalton
Email:
Subject:Obadiah Eldridge of NJ - Sorting out
Post Date:April 21, 2000 at 09:23:54
Message URL:http://genforum.genealogy.com/eldridge/messages/845.html
Forum:Eldridge Family Genealogy Forum
Forum URL:http://genforum.genealogy.com/eldridge/

Sorting out the Obadiah Eldridges of New Jersey

Karen Henry and I have been working together to determine one Obadiah Eldridge from the other. Here is what we have put together so far. A reference number precedes each fact and the references are at the bottom. Each idea is preceded by the tag IDEA and has no real proof behind it but seems to make sense. I may not have grouped the IDEAs and REFerences together correctly so I hope you can help to support or dispute the ideas and references below. It’s certainly a challenge.

Thanks for the help.
Sherry Dalton


#1. Obadiah Eldridge,
IDEA: son of Thomas and Amey Eldridge, brother of Jonathan Eldridge (first in America)
IDEA: 1658, 4, 15 born in Driffield, Gloucester, England
REF2: 1699 daughter Mary born (based on age at death)
REF2: 1768 12-4 Mary, daughter of Obediah died at age 69
IDEA: I’ve seen several gen posts stating that Jonathan Eldridge came over in 1678 on the ship SUCCESS. It’s even on this website: www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy/sucesshp.htm. However, I was always told as a child that my ancestors came over on a ship called the SHIELD and I found mention of this ship in REF8. This book even shows a picture of the “Old buttonwood on River Bank. Traditionally the tree to which the SHIELD was moored in 1678.”
I found a passage in REF8, pg 33. which seems to suggest that Jonathan Eldridge didn’t come on the SHIELD or the SUCCESS. The SHIELD arrived at Burlington in “10th month (December) 1678 O.S. It records many of the passengers on the SHIELD but then it states “The ship from London, to which Smith referred, brought ‘John Denn, Thomas Kent, John Hollinshead, with their families, William Hewlings, Abraham Hewlings, Jonathan Eldridge, Thomas Kirby, John Petty and others’”. So I don’t believe it was the SHIELD or the SUCCESS that brought Jonathan Eldridge to America but another London ship.
The question is what ship carried Obadiah #1 to America?

#2. Obadiah Eldridge
IDEA: 1694 Obadiah born              (Idea from Karen Henry)
REF10: 1761 4-12 Obadiah died
REF10: Obadiah #2 had a son named Obadiah

#3. Obadiah Eldridge
REF1: son of Jonathan
REF2: 1696 Obadiah born (based on age at death)
REF1: 1731, 8, 7. married first Phebe Guest
REF2: 1732 6-17. Phebe Eldridge (nee Guest) buried
REF1: 1736, 2, 22 married Mary Oldman (nee Garret)
REF2: 1741 9-20 Hannah, daughter of Obadiah & Mary, died
REF2: 1744 4-13 Joseph, son of Obadiah, died
REF2: 1746 4-1 Martha, daughter of Obadiah, died
REF1: 1749, 6, 25 Obadiah & wife, Mary disowned from the Phila. MM
REF2: 1770 7-27 Obadiah died ae 74
IDEA: The birth and death of this Obadiah are skeptical because the record doesn’t specifically identify him. I’m guessing it’s him because many of his records are in REF1 and REF2 e.g. marriages and children. But I could also argue that the 1749 entry shows he was disowned so there should be no later entry for this Obadiah. What do you think?

#4. Obadiah Eldridge
REF6: son of Abraham & Amey (nee Wilson) of Nottingham, Burlington Co., NJ
REF6: 1788, 12-17 A minor at the time of his father, Abraham’s death
REF9: “Obadiah appears to have left this part of the country”

#5. Obadiah W. Eldridge
REF7: 1839 approximate birth year since his parent were married on 12-24-1838
REF7: second son of Alexander & Hannah (nee Holmes)
REF7: grandson of Wilson & Lydia (nee Douglas)
REF7: great-grandson of Abram (or Abraham) & Amey (nee Wilson)

#6. Obadiah Eldridge
IDEA: son of a previous Obadiah since REF3 identifies him as a Jr.
REF3: 1740 4-21 Obadiah Eldridge, Jr., Burlington, married Ann Wilson, Burlington
REF4: 1774 12-20 Obediah died
REF5: 1779 Ann Eldridge (nee Wilson) died

#7. Obadiah Eldridge
IDEA: 1741 Obadiah born              (Idea from Karen Henry)
REF3: 1764 11-28 Obadiah of Burlington married Achsah Haines
IDEA: possibly the brother of Abraham              (Idea from Karen Henry)
IDEA: migrated to Gloucester Co. in 1773/4              (Idea from Karen Henry)
IDEA: children for Obadiah & Achsah. Joshua b. 1765, Reuben b. 1766, Suzanna b. 1768, Rachel b. 1770, Job b.abt 1770, Sarah b. 1774, Obadiah b. bet. 1780-1800 (This Obadiah died single).
(Idea from Karen Henry)

References:
REF1: Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. II, PA and NJ, William Wade Hinshaw, 1991 Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore. pg. 513 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting
Pg. 513 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting

ELDRIDGE
1704, 3, 11. Thomas [Elridge], s Jonathan, Burlington Co., West Jersey, m Mary James, Phila., Pa., at Phila. MH
1716, 6, 31. Mary rqc with h
1731, 8, 7. Obadiah, s Jonathan, Phila., Pa., m Phebe Guest, dt George, Burlington, West N. J., at Phila. Mtg
1736, 2, 22. Obadiah, s Jonathan, Phila., Pa., m Mary Oldman, wd, dt Samuel Garret, Phila., Pa., at Phila. Mtg
1749, 6, 25. Obadiah & w, Mary, dis
1764, 6, 29. Jehu recrq
1764, 8, 31. Jehu gct Haddonfield MM, New Jersey
---- -- -- Jaheu [Eldrage] rocf Haddonfield MM, dated 1765, 7, 8
1766, 7, 10. Jehu [Eldredge], s Wm., Phila., Pa., m Elizabeth Durburow, dt Jacob, Phila., Pa., at Phila. Mtg
1783, 1, 31. Jehu dis disunity
1804, 5, 25. Samuel reported mou (d before case was settled)
1811, 4, 25. Wm. M. & w, Sarah & infant s, Wm. Matlack Eldridge, rocf Woodbury MM, dated 1811, 4,9
1813, 12, 2. Wm. M. & w, Sarah, & minor ch, Wm. Matlack & Joseph Eldridge, gct Mount Holly MM
1820, 2, 24. Hannah P. rocf Green St. MM, Phila., dated 1820, 1, 20
1822, 4, 25. Hannah Fogg (late Eldridge) dis mcd
1823, 1, 30. Job, a minor, rocf ND MM, dated 1823, 1, 28
1826, 6, 29. Job [Eldrige] gct ND MM
1827, 1,25. Job dis disunity

Abbreviations:
b born
bur buried
ch child, children
d died
dis disowned, disowned for
dt daughter, daughters
gc granted certificate
gct granted certificate to
h husband
m marry, married, marrying, marriage
MH meeting house
MM monthly meeting
mou married out of unity
mtg meeting
NDMM Philadelphia MM for the Northern District
rocf received on certificate from
rqc requested certificate
rqct requested certificate to
s son, sons
w wife
wd widow

REF2: Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. II, PA and NJ, William Wade Hinshaw, 1991 Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore. pg. 357 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting
IDEA: notice on this reference page that there is a distinction made in the spelling of Obadiah vs. Obediah. It may be intentional.
pg. 357 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of the same source
ELDRIDGE
Elizabeth bur 9-14-1802
Hannah, dt Obadiah & Mary, d 9-20-1741
Jehu bur 5-22-1800, ae 62
John & Elizabeth
Ch: Esther       b 6- 6-1767 d 8-10-1768
William “ 9- 1-1769 “ 8-17-1770
Jacob “ 6-15-1771 “ 9-22-1771
Samuel “ 7- 8-1778
Elizabeth “ 7- 8-1778 “ 7-19-1778
Joseph, s Obadiah, d 4-13-1744
Martha, w Jonathan, bur 9-24-1713
Martha, dt Obadiah, d 4-1-1746
Mary, dt Thos. & Mary, d 7-3-1708
Mary, dt Obediah, d 12-4-1768, ae 69
Obadiah d 7-27-1770, ae 74
Phebe, w Obediah, bur 6-17-1732
Samuel bur 11-5-1772
Samuel bur 10-13-1804, ae 31
Samuel, s Samuel, bur 9-17-1807, ae 2
Thomas & Mary
Ch: James b 12-20-1704/5
Mary “ 3-11-1710
William & Sarah
Ch: William Matlack b 12-14-1809
Joseph “ 2-27-1812
-----, s Jehu, d 9-23-1771, ae 3 m

Same abbreviations as REF1.

REF3: Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of NJ, Vol. XXII, Marriage records, 1665-1800,” edited, with an historical introduction of the Early Marriage laws of NJ, and the Precedents of which they were founded, by William Nelson. Paterson, NJ, The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 269 Main St., 1900. Pg. 123-124, 632.
New Jersey Colonial Documents New Jersey Marriages Males
“…
Obadiah Eldridge, Jr., Burlington, and Ann Wilson, Burlington 4/21/1740
Obadiah Eldridge Burlington, and Achsah Haines, Burlington 11/28/1764
…”

REF4: NJ Archives First Series Vol. XXXIV, Abstract of Wills Vol. V. 1771-1780. Pg. 161
“1774, Dec. 20. Eldridge, Obediah, of Nottingham Township, Burlington Co. Int. Adm’r - Abraham Eldridge. Fellowbondsmen - Joseph Chambers and John Cubberly; all of said place.
1774, Dec. 21. Inventory, L1,218.12.2, made by Abraham Skirm and John Cubberly.
1776, Jan. 17. Account by Adm’r. Paid wages due Abraham Eldridge; wages due Amey Eldridge. Balance due to the estate of Jonathan Eldridge settled with his Executor. Legacy to Uriah Adams. Paid Anne Eldridge her 1/3. Lib. 15, p. 501; Lib. 16, p. 485.”
IDEA: Abraham Eldridge (son of James & Ester (nee Rogers)) was married to Amey (nee Wilson). Maybe this Obediah’s wife, Anne (nee Wilson) is some relation to Amey.

REF5: NJ Archives First Series Vol. XXXIV, Abstract of Wills Vol. V. 1771-1780. Pg. 160
“1776, Jan. 16. Eldridge, Ann, of Nottingham Township, Burlington Co., Int. Adm’r - Abraham Eldridge. Fellowbondsman - John Cubberly; both of said place. Witness - Micajah How, Surrogate.
1779, Account by Adm’r. Inventory, L393.5.5˝. Paid out L308.1.0. Balance L85.4.5. Lib. 16, p. 496; Lib. 21, p. 345.”
IDEA: I don’t understand this reference. Did Ann write the will on Jan. 16th 1776, the day before she received the money from her husband’s estate, if REF4 is her husband? Then did she die in 1779?

REF6: Documents Relating to the Colonial Revolutionary and Post Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey." First Series - Vol. XXXVI, Volume VI 1786-1790. Edited by Elmer T. Hutchinson.
"1788, July 9. Eldredge, Abraham, of Nottingham, Burlington Co.; will of. Wife to have the 1/3 of the profits of the lands and the other 2/3 to bring up my children. My 3 sons to be put to trades when old enough. Eldest son, Obadiah, house where I live and 250 acres, which is bounded by James Schooley. Second son, John, 100 acres on the Allintown Road. Third and last son, Wilson, the place where Nathaniel Roszill lives. Daughter, Mary, 50 pounds. Daughter Ann, 50 pounds. Daughter, Tobitha, 50 pounds. Daughter, Martha, 50 pounds; all when they are 18."
"1788, Dec 17. Eldridge, Obadiah and John, of Nottingham Township, Burlington Co., Wards. Sons of Abraham Eldridge, of said place, deceased. Having real and personal estate, they make choice of their mother, Amy Eldridge, as their Guardian.

REF7: Major E.M. Woodward and John F. Hageman, History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, NJ with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, (1883, press of J.B.Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, Everts and Peck), pg. 813, Alexander Eldridge bio.

REF8: Burlington: A Provincial Capital, historical sketches by George DeCou 1945 third printing 1973. Pg. 17, 33.
       
REF9: Francis Bazley Lee, Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer Co., New Jersey, (1907). Pg. 766.

REF10: Abstracts of the State of New Jersey, Calendar of Wills, Vol V1, 1761-1770 p 128
“1761 April 12. ELDRIDGE, OBADIAH of Springfield, Burlington Co. yoeman, will of.
Son Reuben 20 pds. Sons Ezekiel, Obadiah and Jonathon 5 shillings each. Daughter Ame McClutch 5 pds. To my five sons my clothing. My plantation is Springfield that joins James Langstaff to my daughter Sarah Harris, wife of John Harris, and at her death to my son Jabez.
Executrix: Sarah Harris
Witnesses: Abel Thomas, Sarah Woolman, John Woolman
Proved May 24, 1762
1762 May 15. Inventory 121.10.7-1/2 pds. made by Lot Ridgway and Richard Collins
Lib 11, p. 208”

REF11: Kenn Stryker - Rodda, Revolutionary Census of NJ, (Hunterdon House, Lambertville, NJ 1986), An Index based on Rateables of the Inhabitants of NJ during the period of the American Revolution.
List I from 1773-1774 lists (among others) Obadiah, Obediah BNt; GG (where BNt stands for Nottingham, Burlington County, NJ and GG stands for Gloucester, Glocester Co., NJ).