Timbuctoo, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timbuctoo, New Jersey
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 Timbuctoo, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Township | Westampton |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 881192 |
Timbuctoo is a special place in Westampton Township, New Jersey. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and people living together, but it's part of a bigger town.
Timbuctoo was started in 1826 by Black people who were once enslaved or were born free. It's located near the Rancocas Creek. At its busiest time in the mid-1800s, Timbuctoo had over 125 residents. It also had a school, a church, and a cemetery. Today, the cemetery is the most important reminder of this historic community. Some people living in Timbuctoo today are descendants of the first settlers.
History of Timbuctoo
Timbuctoo was founded in 1826. It was started by free Blacks and people who had been freed from slavery. This area of New Jersey was strongly influenced by Quakers. Quakers are a religious group who were often against slavery. Timbuctoo first appeared on maps of Burlington County in 1849. It is still shown on maps today.
Meet "King" David Parker
The main leader of the Timbuctoo community was a man nicknamed "King" David Parker. When he passed away in 1877, his obituary (a notice about his death) said he was very smart. It also said he had a strong will. These qualities made him a natural leader for his people. He was often in charge of important community actions.
The Battle of Pine Swamp
In 1860, an important event called the Battle of Pine Swamp happened near Timbuctoo. A man named George Alberti, known as a "slave catcher," tried to capture someone named Simmons. A slave catcher was a person who tried to find and take Black people back into slavery.
The people of Timbuctoo fought back. Armed residents protected Simmons from Alberti. David Parker led the "Timbuctoo Warriors" in defending Simmons. This battle showed how determined the community was to protect its members.
Timbuctoo Today
In 1880, the U.S. Census (a count of the population) officially listed "Village of Timbuctoo." It was noted as a separate place within Westampton Township. At that time, 108 people lived in 29 homes there.
Today, the most important historical site in Timbuctoo is its cemetery. Many of the gravestones belong to United States Colored Troops. These were Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War. There are also gravestones for other community members. The oldest grave found dates back to 1847, which was 13 years before the Civil War began. In 2009, a special study found that there might be as many as 161 unmarked graves in the cemetery.
Some people who live in Timbuctoo now are direct descendants of the first families who settled there. There is also an active Timbuctoo Historical Society. This group works to preserve and share the history of this important community.
