Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey facts for kids
Carpenter's Landing was a busy trading town located in Mantua Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey. It was built right where small boats, called sloops, could travel up Mantua Creek. This made it a great spot for buying and selling goods.
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What Was Carpenter's Landing?
In the late 1780s, a man named Thomas Carpenter (1752-1847) moved to Carpenter's Landing. He opened a store and started a business selling lumber. This helped the town grow.
A Busy Trading Spot
By the 1860s, Carpenter's Landing was described as a place with a lot of trade. People bought and sold things like lumber and cordwood (wood cut for fuel). The town had one tavern (a type of inn), two stores, and about 30 homes. There was also a Methodist church where people could worship.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The town is called Carpenter's Landing for a good reason! There are two main ideas about how it got its name.
The Boat Builder
One idea is that it was named after a man named Carpenter who built boats there. This would have happened during the town's busiest trading days. Building boats was important for moving goods on the creek.
The Carpenter Family Connection
Another idea is that the town was named after Edward Carpenter. He was the son of Thomas Carpenter and a relative of Samuel Carpenter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Edward Carpenter owned a glass factory nearby in Glassboro, New Jersey. This factory was called Heston & Carpenter Glass Works. He owned it in 1786 with his wife's nephew, Colonel Thomas Heston.
Notable People
Some important people were connected to Carpenter's Landing. They were either born there, lived there, or had strong ties to the town.
- Thomas Carpenter (1752–1847): He was an important early American glassmaker.
