Burlington County Historical Society Vol. 1 No. 1 • Spring 2013 In this issue: Change of Name . 1 Breaking News! Feature Article . 1 We’ve changed our name. Formerly The Burlington Spy, the BCHS Society Directory . 1 Newsletter will henceforth be known as The Family Casket. Articles of Note . 2 Taken from the name of an early Burlington County newspaper Calendar of Events . 2 that focused on Burlington county news and history, The Society Information . 2 Family Casket of BCHS will do much the same thing bringing President’s Message . 3 you articles on Burlington County history and early families as well as news of the activities of the Burlington County Historical Query . 3 Society. So welcome to the first edition of The Family Casket. Research Spotlight . 5 Perinchief Chapels & Influenza . 6 Library News . 7 From the Vault . 8 William Wright The Family Casket: Editor: and Wrightsville Judy Olsen “MEDICINE” AND MYSTERY [email protected] Dr. William Wright began the man- ditional healing arts, they were widely Newsletter Committee: ufacturing of Wright’s Indian Vegetable regarded as “scientific” medicines. Lisa Fox-Pfeiffer Pills in Philadelphia and later moved Cures for pain caused by the”Stress of Ann Hiros the operations to Burlington. He began modern civilization” were touted for The Burlington County the “North American College of men, while women were advised to Historical Society: Health,” situated on the northwest cor- take daily doses for “sick headaches,” ner of 5th and Race Streets, “female complaint,” and “the weak- Lisa Fox-Pfeiffer Philadelphia. It was the first manufac- ness.” Daily dosing with patent medi- Executive Director turing site for Wright’s Indian Vegetable cines became common. [email protected] Pills. Originally founded in Alcohol was a common ingredient Jeffrey Macechak Washington, DC in 1844, it served in patent medicines; often it was the Education Director mainly to lend an air of medical major ingredient. Opium and its deriv- [email protected] respectability to Wright’s remedies atives, such as codeine, also found their Laura Ayers (patent medicines). way into the home medicine cabinet. Program Associate In America during the mid-1800s Late in the nineteenth century the [email protected] the sale and manufacture of patent problem of addiction to these home Judy Olsen (popular) medicines rose sharply. remedies became a focus of widespread Genealogist Although many of these concoctions [email protected] contained remedies familiar in the tra- continued on page 4 www.burlingtoncountyhistoricalsociety.org Page 2 The Family Casket Spring 2013 Burlington County Articles of Note Historical Society Have you recently seen an article related to Burlington County’s history or its Board of Trustees families? If so, please send a copy or the reference to the attention of the BCHS Newsletter Editor at [email protected]. Executive Committee Judy Olsen Bernadette Boyle Gus Mosca CALENDAR OF EVENTS Jeff Taylor Gail Sweet SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 1, 2013 Wilbur Watts Intermediate School, Burlington Board Members Spring Meeting, Genealogical Society of New Jersey Ann Barone Keynote Speaker: Judy Russell Two lecture tracks; Betty Baird Four great talks plus a box lunch followed by research and tours at BCHS; Linda Dickman Don’t miss this great event! Ellen Fayer Burlington County Library Marge Norton 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060 Davis Parker Burlington County Genealogy Club “Huddle.” First Wednesday of each month from 7-9 PM To contact BCHS [email protected] Florence Historical Society Meetings are the first Thursday of the month in the former firehouse at 25 W. Third Street, Florence. Judy King, President (609-499-2405) Society Information Dues are $10 per year for individuals and $15 for families. Membership is free for people 90 and older. Burlington County Historical Society Newsletter Southampton Historical Society –2013 Submissions and News Releases First Monday Meetings – Olde Town Hall, 25 Plum St.7:30 Pm Articles highlighting a library or Program Chairman: Joe Laufer historical society; how-to and Email: [email protected] methodology, local history; • May 6, 2013: Clifford W. Zink, Author: “The Roebling Legacy” genealogies; and internet sites • June 3, 2013 : (no speaker): Strawberries, Stories and Surprises of interest to Burlington County • September (date TBA): Dick Sheeran (former Philadelphia reporter) researchers of both local • October (date TBA): Carol Suplee: History of Willingboro history and genealogy may be sent to the Editor First Sundays at Peachfield $5 Per Person ([email protected]) The theme for the 2012-2013 series is “A Century of American Authors.” for publication consideration. Each program is a first person presentation which includes time for questions and answers and is followed by light refreshments. The BCHS Newsletter is • May 5, 2013 2-4 PM—Mark Twain published by the Burlington County Historical Society and October 2013: is copyrighted by them. Discover History and Their Culture of the Hunterdon County Palatines The opinions, articles and Celebrating 300 years, 1713-2013 Clinton/Oldwick statements are solely for the use Volunteers/Vendors Needed of our readers. 732-297-6686 or [email protected] Designed and printed at Burlington County College. Spring 2013 The Family Casket Page 3 PROGRAMS FOR 2013 From the President of Sunday Lectures 2 PM-4PM; $5 the Board of Trustees April 21, 2013: Richard Flint: “The Hunt Brothers Circus We’re having such a good A presentation focusing on The Hunt Brothers’ Circus and time meeting many new circus history. Dr. Flint is an expert on circus history and a friends–all ages and from lecturer at The John Hopkins University in Baltimore. many different places. It’s amazing how well known May 5, 2013; Betsy Estilow: Medicine in the Civil War we are outside of Burlington County. We have had sever- Ms. Estilow currently serves as the president of the Board of al exciting events for families and adults. The Directors of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Spring is filled with new events for families and adults. has been a museum docent and respected lecturer since the Museum’s founding. She is one of the co-founders of the If you aren’t a member yet, now is the time to join and Conference on Women and the Civil War and has served as come have fun with history with us. president of the Historical Society of Frederick County. Ms. We’re having a great adventure, finding new information, Estilow is a recently retired Professor of Biology and current exploring history in new ways, and meeting many new Adjunct Lecturer in Civil War History at Hood College in people. Frederick, MD. She received a BS degree in biology from Albright College and a certification in medical technology The Library has had visitors from California, New York, from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. After Minnesota, and Arizona. Many people have new documen- completing a Master of Science degree in Clinical tation for their family trees. We are currently expanding our Microbiology at West Virginia University, she became the family files and preparing a database of our book collection. director of the microbiology laboratory at Washington Sincerely, County Hospital in Hagerstown, MD. In 1975, she joined Judy Olsen the faculty at Hood College where she has taught a wide vari- President, Board of Trustees ety of courses ranging from introductory biology to biology of aging to pathogenic microbiology. She developed and taught a weeklong course on Civil War History for Hood QUERY Elderhostel entitled, “In the Footsteps of the Blue and Gray.” BANKS, BALLENGER Ms. Estilow is the recipient of the Mortar Board Excellence in Seeking information about Teaching Award, an award given by the students at Hood Alexander Banks and his family of College. Burlington County, New Jersey, also about his relationship to the June 30, 2013: Dr. Richard Veit: “The Archaeology of Scott/Eldridge/Wright/ Hancock Joseph Bonaparte’s Point Breeze Estate in Bordentown” families. He was probably born Professor Veit teaches undergraduate and graduate courses about 1830 in New Bern, North on Historical Archaeology, North American Prehistory, Early Carolina. As a child he came to American Material Culture, particularly vernacular architec- New Jersey with an older free African-American man named The African American ture, pottery, and mortuary art, New Jersey History, and Civil War Memorial – Spirit of Public History. His many publications include his award- Donum Banks, likely a relative. Freedom, Washington, DC winning book Digging New Jersey’s Past: Historical Archaeology Census schedules also show that in the Garden State (Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, he was a coachman, foundry worker, and upholsterer during his 2002) and Stranger Stop and Cast an Eye: New Jersey’s Historic life and that he married Emily Ballenger. He served in the 1st US Cemeteries and Graveyards Through Four Centuries (with Mark Colored Infantry during the Civil War and was promoted to ser- Nonestied, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage geant. His name appears on the African-American monument in Commission) Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, Washington, DC. He died in 1910 and had several obituaries 2006. which unfortunately were not legible in copy form. He is buried with his wife Emily and mother-in-law Louise Ballenger in the FAMILY EVENTS: All are Saturdays from 2-4 $5 each old Scott Cemetery #1 at the Masonic Home in Burlington April 13: “Shake, Rattle & Roll” A 1950’s Sockhop! Township. Contact Marian Gold, 5141 Proctor Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618 ([email protected]) ATTENTION MEMBERS! Please send any change of address (including email) to [email protected] Page 4 The Family Casket Spring 2013 William Wright and Wrightsville continued from page 1 concern. There was no from the Hahnemann Hospital, which taught homeopathic ingredient list for Wright’s medicine. He also practiced medicine in Philadelphia.