People often tell me that they enjoy reading this column, and learning of the people and places that have contributed to the formation and growth of our township.
Essentially, that shows their appreciation of the work done to research and present “short stories” of specific aspects of Ewing’s rich history.
But the TRUE repository of so much of “Ewing’s rich history” is the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society (ETHPS), which is thriving in its home on Federal City Road at the historic Benjamin Temple House! And that repository grows each and every month, with the conscientious and dedicated efforts of its Board, the contributions of its membership, and the submissions of information, materials and resources from the public.
If you have not been to the Benjamin Temple House to visit the Society, you really should go! And very soon, there will be a new reason to do so.
For several years now, the ETHPS has been researching and preparing exhibits of stories of particular aspects of Ewing’s history, with the goal of one day creating the Ewing Museum there at the Temple House.
These efforts began with a focus on the history of the Benjamin Temple House, but have also expanded to the related history of the Township. They have created exhibits on the Temple family and on farm life during the period of 1700 to 1850. The parlor of the Temple House displays these exhibits.
But ETHPS is also committed to telling the whole story, including a glimpse at acknowledging and understanding the enslaved people who also lived and worked on the farm over the years.
Following several years of research led by ETHPS Board Member Marge Delaney, the Society is pleased to announce that the exhibit “Blacks in Ewing: From Slavery to the Civil War” is ready, and will open to the public on Sunday June 9, from 2 – 4 pm. The exhibit will remain permanently displayed.
Ms. Delaney’s research affirms that, “People of African descent have resided locally since at least 1722, when a Hopewell Township tax list recorded eleven enslaved people. Ewing farms were small and unlikely to use forced labor, but those that did typically had one to three enslaved people who, along with indentured servants, performed agricultural and domestic tasks.”
As was unfortunately common in the 18th and 19th centuries, enslaved Black people often provided labor on farms and elsewhere, and the farm belonging to Benjamin Temple and his descendants had enslaved individuals performing various agricultural and domestic tasks.
This was demonstrated in the inventory taken of his estate upon Benjamin Temple’s sudden death in 1777, showing possession of “Negros valued at £145”. The estate likely included enslaved elders, women and children as well, who were not usually inventoried.
The exhibit follows the local effects of legislative actions towards emancipation. It explains that in 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to begin the emancipation process, decreeing that children born to enslaved mothers after July 4, 1804, were “free,” but would be bound in servitude until they reached adulthood.
When the Temple Estate was next inventoried in 1813 upon the death of John Temple (son-in-law of Benjamin), there was no mention of slaves. Instead, there were listed “Time of a black boy George – $240” and “Time of a black girl Peg — $140.” George and Peg were bound in servitude to John Temple and his heirs until their adulthood.
Other panels display the achingly “slow and fitful” progress within New Jersey towards the complete abolition of slavery. It is an important exhibit, raising our awareness of this history within a local and state context.
The ETHPS has invested countless hours of energy, research and planning to present this important story about our Township. If you are interested in local history, be sure to make this exhibit a “must see”!
Free tours of the Benjamin Temple House are offered on the first Sunday of every month, 2 – 4 p.m. Visitors may also visit the house and library on Wednesdays, 10 a.m – 2 p.m., and other times by appointment. You can also visit their website, www.ethps.org; call them at 609-883-2455; or email them at info@ethps.
Helen Kull is an advisor with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.
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