Our History

This simple timeline gives the viewer a sense of how Yorkshire Tenth became Nottingham Township and then Hamilton Township with many milestones on the way. This timeline is not "all encompassing" but the scope of events are displayed. The sources for most of these entries are from two books: "A HISTORY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP" (Helen Almy West, 1954) and "A NARRATIVE HISTORY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP" (Historical Society of Hamilton Township, 1990).
1678

The Good Ship Shield Arrives in Burlington

1678

Dutch and Swedish Settlers Arrive

Dutch and Swedish settlers landed in Bordentown and then worked their way north into small neighborhoods.

1679

Thomas Lambert Builds First Gristmill

1686

The Township of Nottingham Formed.

1702

Jerseys Surrendered to Queen Anne, Governors Appointed by the Crown

1706

Robert Pearson Builds House on 1350 Acre Farm

1708

Isaac Watson Builds His Home on 800 Acres

1730

John Abbott II house built on Kuser Road

1741

Hendrickson House built in Tattletown

1765

White Horse Tavern Erected, Much History Occurs There

1769

Beck Homestead built in Yardville

212 acres purchased at $12.50/acre

1772

Appleton Mansion built in Mercerville

1773

Isaac Pearson House built in White Horse

1776

First Presbyterian Church Erected, Named the Yellow Meeting House

1776

The John Abbott II Story linked here

1776

Washington Routs Hessians in The Battle of Trenton

1776

Isaac Pearson Murdered, Story Linked Here

1777

Nottingham Square Tavern opens.

1784

Bow Hill Mansion Built on Barndt DeKlyn's 700 Acres

1785

Nottingham Baptist Church Erected

1790

The Bear Meade (aka Burlholme) Mansion Built

1797

DeCou-Abbott Mansion Built on Independence Ave.

1799

Yardville Hotel Erected, Much History Ensues

1800

Samuel Fowler Opens Tannery in North Crosswicks

1802

South Broad Street Formally Named

1803

The Town of Groveville Was Organized.

1803

The Groveville School Was Erected

1804

Joseph Abbott Built Three Beaches Farmhouse

1812

Hutchinson Manor Built Near His Mills

1824

The Coleman Family Builds a Feed, Grain and Flour Mill

Later sold to Elijah Hutchinson

1830

Delaware-Raritan Canal System Begins Operations

1831

John Bull Locomotive Begins Test Runs

1835

Covered Bridge Built Over Crosswicks Creek

1836

The Groveville Methodist Church Erected

Oldest continuing use church in the township

1836

Enoch Middleton Builds House in Crosswicks

Will eventually become a stop on the underground railroad.

1838

Mercer County Established in 1838

1842

Nottingham Township Renamed Hamilton Township

1844

Hamilton Square Methodist Church Built

1845

The Waln House Built in Tattletown

1847

The St. Paul's Church was Organized.

1859

The Deutzville Jewelry Factory Opens

1861

Camp Olden Begins Training Civil War Troops

1866

Mercer Rubber Co. Opens on Mercer St.

1867

Trenton Fairgrounds Built in Bromley

1871

The Fashion Stud Farm built in Bromley

1873

RF West Opens Funeral Home in Hamilton Square

Continuously operating today as Saul Funeral Home

1874

Hamilton's Assessed Value is $1,733,450

1878

The Maddox Pottery Established, Will Sell to American Standard

1879

The First Fire District Created in North Crosswicks

1880

The Township Board of Education Formed

1886

First Volunteer Fire Company Organized

Rusling Hose Company

1888

The Bromley Inn Established on Nottingham Way.

1889

First Horse Car Railway (Trolley) in Township

1889

The Bone Mill Established in Edgebrook.

First Commercial Fertilizer Enterprise

1892

The Kuser Farm Mansion Built on 27 Acres

1894

The Hamilton Township School District was organized.

1896

The Mechanics Hall Erected in Yardville

1898

White Horse Volunteer Fire Company Started

1899

The First Automobile Appears in Town

1900

Midland Telephone and Telegraph Runs First Lines

1903

Public Service Corp Runs Gas Mains and Electric Light System

1904

Original Maple Shade School Razed and Rebuilt

Cost: $4500.00

1905

Township Tax Rate Raised to $1.30 per Hundred

1905

The Farmingdale School was Organized

1906

Mercer Motor Cars Begins Manufacturing

1907

Nottingham Volunteer Fire Company Was Organized.

1907

Hamilton Fire Company Was Organized.

1909

Kuser School built on Newkirk Avenue

1910

Mercerville Fire Company Was Organized.

1911

Main St. in Nottingham Square renamed Nottingham Way

1911

Enterprise Fire Brigade Was Organized.

1914

Fairview Park Volunteer Fire Company organized

1915

Bethel Lutheran Church erected on Nottingham Way

1917

Greenwood School built in Bromley

1918

Yardville Heights School built on Soouth Broad St.

1918

Martin Bros. Block Company begins in Yardville

1918

Mack Toy Works opens in Yardville

1919

Groveville Fire Company Was Organized.

1920

St. Phillips Baptist Church opens on Parkinson Ave.

1920

Illegal Stills operated on Uncle Pete's Rd.

1921

Italian-American Sportsmans Club opens

1923

Hamilton Township Library Opens

1925

Yardville National Bank organized

1926

Present Hamilton Township Police Dept. was organized.

1929

Hamilton Township Municipal Bldg. dedicated

1930

Hamilton High School West opened

1932

Trenton Marine Terminal begins operating

1937

Yardville Elementary School opens

1938

First Mass held at Our Lady of Sorrows

1939

Miriam Morris Private School opens

1943

Herend Porcelain Factory begins operations on Uncle Pete's Road

1950

Saint Raphael School opens on South Broad St.

1951

Kisthardt Elementary School opens

1951

Babe Ruth League organized in Yardville

1952

McGalliard Elementary School built on Arena Drive

1953

St. Vincent de Paul Church erected

1954

Township: Population 42K, assessed at $49M, tax rate 7%

1955

Hamilton Hospital organized on Klockner Road

1956

Frederick R. Sayen School opens

1957

William B. Morgan School opens on Stamford Rd.

1958

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection opens

1961

Emily C. Reynolds Middle School opens

1961

Albert Grice Junior High School opened

1962

William A. Robinson School opens

1962

James W. Alexander School opens

1965

St Gregory The Great Scool opens

1966

Langtree Elementary School opens

1967

Sunnybrae Elementary School opens

1967

Hamilton High School East - Joseph Steinert Memorial High School opens

1970

German-American Club opens on Uncle Pete's Rd.

1972

Faith Christian Academy opens on Kuser Rd.

1974

J. Seward Johnson established The Johnson-Atelier Institute of Sculpture

1989

Richard C. Crockett Middle School opens

1989

Grounds for Sculpture opens to immediate success