As was mentioned earlier, the chain of title for this property goes back to 1686,
as follows:

• 1686 – Proprietors of East Jersey to John Barclay (East Jersey Deed B40, 42).
• 1686 – John Barclay to Robert Barclay (East Jersey Deed B41, 43).
• 1699 – Robert Barclay to John Reid (East Jersey Deed G223).
• 1701 – John Reid to John Bowne (Monmouth County Deed D159).
• 1706 – John Bowne to Richard Clark (Monmouth County Deed F34).
• 1720 – Richard Clark to George Walker (Monmouth County Deed G67)-
                Richard Clark’s house was on this property at this time.
• 1729 – Richard Clark to George Walker (Monmouth County Deed H39).
• 1748 – George Walker, Sr. to George Walker, Jr. (New Jersey Will 01599).
• 1794 – George Walker, Jr. to Aaron Forman Walker, Administrator
                (Monmouth County Will Liber 33, p.425).
• 1801 – Aaron Forman Walker et al. to Elijah Combs (Monmouth County Deed N118).
• 1832 – Commissioner of Monmouth County/Estate of Elijah Combs to Rulif R.
                Schanck (Monmouth County Deed A3 147).
• 1842 – Rulif R. Schanck to Richard S. Hartshorne (Monmouth County Deed E4 258).
• 1873 – Commissioner of Monmouth County/Estate of Richard S. Hartshorne to
                Acton Civil Hartshorne (Monmouth County Deed 250 409).
• 1911 – Acton Civil Hartshorne to Charles Oakley, Jr.
                (Monmouth County Deed 904 286).
• 1997 – Farmhouse and Outbuildings deeded to Freehold Township by the Estate
                of Elizabeth Oakley for Historic Preservation.

According to Monmouth County Inventory Records as of 1981, this farm was one of
the oldest working farms in Monmouth County. The earliest recorded reference is that it began in 1720 as a subsistence farm. Typical farm products for the time period were meats and grains such as pork, beef, poultry, wheat, rye and Indian corn. The family provided labor for the farm. In the cases of George Walker and Elijha Combs, the labor was provided by black slaves (Monmouth County Inventories I 1001, May 17,1748, and Monmouth County Inventory 203, July 28, 1831). It has been said that the farmhouse was part of the Underground Railroad in the latter part of the 1800’s to help free slaves.

Another noteworthy piece of property on Route 537 approximately three-quarters of a mile past the Route 9 intersection was known as Cincinnati Hall. It was the home of Dr. Thomas Henderson, a well-known and important Freehold citizen. This was the first house to be burned to the ground by the British during their march into Freehold in June, 1778. The house was set ablaze on June 28,1778, along with all the houses along the route that the British did not want to use as a headquarters. Dr. Henderson was an active patriot, a colonel in the Revolutionary War, a judge, surrogate, counselor, lieutenant governor, and had been elected to Congress (but declined
to serve).

Thomas Henderson was born in Freehold in 1743. He graduated Princeton College in 1761. He then entered the office of Dr. Nathaniel Scudder where he studied medicine and was admitted to the practice. Dr. Henderson began his practice at Mt. Pleasant and later moved to the home on Route 537. After the war he rebuilt his home. In honor of the American victory and the creation of the Society of the Cincinnati, a veteran’s organization or officers who served in the Revolutionary War, he built a new house on the old foundation and named it Cincinnati Hall. It remained standing until December 1989 when it was demolished due to neglect.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. “Historic Resources Report-Township of Freehold-Monmouth County, N.J.”—prepared for the Freehold Township Preservation Commission by Gail Hunton (Historic Preservation Consultant) 1989

2. “A Century’s Progress in Education Values in Freehold” lecture given before the Freehold Woman’s Club (Under the Auspices of the Educational Department-Freehold High School) 3/15/1944 by Lillian F. Lauler

3. The Early Schools of Freehold, N.J. and Vicinity 1667-1928 written by Lillian Lauler Wilbur c.1969, Schuyler Pr.

4. Letter from Richard S. Walling, President, Friends of Monmouth Battlefield dated September 2, 2000.