As early as 1740 several families of Friends, most of them from Woodbridge Township, settled in Randolph (then Mendham) Township, and meetings were held at their homes. Among these early settlers were William Schooley, James Brotherton, Robert Schooley, Jacob Laing, and Hartshorne Fitz Randolph, with their families. In 1740 meetings for worship were being held on first days at the home of William Schooley, a log house about three-quarters of a mile east of the present meeting house. The Quaker Meeting House on Quaker Church Road built in 1758 is the oldest standing church in Morris County.
William Penn was one who early located large "returns" of land in this region, taking up with the Kirkbrides some thousands of acres. Leonard Elliott's house, once known as the Munson Homestead, was in the Penn Return of 1715 (Dover History, page 473). Thus we see that Dover touched the hem of William Penn's garment, so to speak.
The Richard Brotherton farm, it is said, was bought from William Penn and has stayed in the family ever since. Richard Brotherton married Mary Wilson, a great-great-granddaughter of the Robert and Ann Wilson who came over from Yorkshire, England, 1683, in the same ship with William Penn. In 1681-82, Lady Elizabeth Carteret sold the Province of East Jersey to an Association of twelve persons, mostly of the Society of Friends, among them being William Penn.
William Penn's object in taking up so much land appears to have been to provide a place of refuge for the Quakers who were persecuted in the Old Country. He gathered them together and led them out of the land of persecution into the wilderness of Pennsylvania and New Jersey —a regular exodus into a new Promised Land. Randolph and Millbrook, then, were parts of this Promised Land in the New World. Perhaps the present inhabitants have forgotten that fact. Some of the country schools in the vicinity of Dover might get up excellent historical programs based upon their interesting past and it would be a good lesson in American history. Morris County is full of historical interest.
A volume might be written about the Quaker settlement, and much about these Quakers may be found scattered through the pages of Dover History. They were strong for the Abolition of Slavery. From 1800 on the Quakers were agitating in a peaceful way for the emancipation of the slaves, and felt it their duty to assist runaway slaves in their escape to Canada. The "Underground Railway," as it was called, had one station at Randolph.
The Randolph Township Historic Geotrail tour project was developed between Randolph Township and The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC.org who have partnered, volunteered their time, expertise and assistance and help develop and implement the Randolph History tour and Geotrail.
The Randolph Geotrail caches are placed with approval by Randolph Township Parks department, any new caches will only be allowed by first obtaining written permission by Randolph Township.
The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.
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