Perkintown Cemetery
by Donna B. Counsellor
According to the Booklet "Oldmans Municipal Centennial", page 9 states that John Perkins who had settled here in 1640, bought 600 acres from Roger Pedrick. It also states that Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church in Delaware (on DuPont Highway), was organized in 1708 and a lecturing Scottish minister reported that the Penns Neck Church was sponsored by Old Drawyers in the early 1700's. On February 26, 1798 Poltis Risner and his wife Martha sold to George Hickman and other Trustees the ground for the purpose of building a house or place of worship for use by the members. The church acquired additional lands from John Risner and Elizabeth his wife, and Jacob Ambruster and Lydia his wife on May 22, 1832. Another deed from William Allen and wife Margaret Jane, David Sheets and Mary his wife, James M. Allen and Elizabeth his wife, the heirs at law of William Allen, deceased, was dated December 24, 1836.
In Cushing and Sheppard's History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland New Jersey (1883) we learn that in 1792, Benjamin Abbott and David Bartine traveled the Salem Circuit. Mr. Abbott was invited to preach in a log house, the home of John Stimple, about half a mile from the present (then) school-house. On March 17, 1832 the Methodist Episcopal Church of Upper Penns Neck was incorporated at Perkintown. A brick edifice was erected that year. Sometime between 1832 and 1874 the church ceased to be a regular preaching place, and the Trustees sold the building to the School District No 53 of Salem County. The children of Perkintown attended the school ( formerly the church) for several years. Township resident Mr. Burroughs Perry who achieved the age of 100 on November 21, 1994, remembers attending school there. Local lore has it that the original wood church was given to the Second Baptist Church of Pedricktown and it was moved down the road on logs to the location that church now occupies. The brick church/school was torn down and some of the bricks were used to build what was known as Rena's Bakery in Penns Grove, at the corner of Pitman and Broad Streets.
Please Note - Donna Counselor has pursued a lifelong interest in preserving old cemeteries by actively participating in the cleanup and grounds keeping of the Old Stone Church and New England Crossroads Cemeteries in Cumberland County. She also helped with the cleanup of the Perkintown Cemetery in conjunction with the Oldmans Township Historical Society.
And now for the Puzzle.
The container can be found at North 39° 44.ABC West 075° 25.XYZ .
At the posted coordinates look for a plaque. There are three dates on this plaque.
To get A; take the first date, subtract the first two numbers from the last two numbers and add five.
To get B; take the second date, add the four numbers together and subtract thirteen.
To get C; take the third date, add the first number and last number together.
To get X; use the third number of the second date.
To get Y; use the fourth number of the third date.
To get Z; add B and C together.
Good Luck and have Fun!