Ong's Hat

Ong's Hat Ong's Hat

You can read an interesting article about Ong's Hat at this link.

This town in the Pine Barrens was supposed to have been known in 'olden times' for it's prize fights among the residents of that part of the world, and for it's Saturday evening dances.

The last known resident of Ong's Hat was a man named Eli Freed.

In the 1890s the town still existed, as there is record of a man named Samuel Harris being arrested from there for selling liquor without a license. At one point a man named John Chininiski moved in, when there were only seven remaining residents of the town. Soon after his arrival, all of them had vanished. Years later, a skull was found in the ruins of his home and many believe it to be that of his wife.

A recent visitor here sent me this rather bizarre link concerning the town of Ong's Hat, which is good for a laugh if nothing else. It's really odd:
www.incunabula.org

Max Howard wrote this children's story about Ong's Hat in the early 1970s:

ONG'S HAT

" Are you thinking of Ong? Every night I think of Ong and of how he came to the pine woods long ago, hung his hat on a tree, and vanished from the face of the earth. I wonder... Was he devoured by bears or other wild beasts? Was he swept away by a flood or sucked up by a tornado? Was he murdered and dragged off? Did he, wanting to "disappear," leave his hat behind as a false clue pointing to foul play? Was he kidnapped by beings not of this earth? (I wonder, for example, about those "strange boot prints" reported at the finding of his hat.) Or did he stumble upon some hole in time and space, that led nowhere in this world but everywhere in another? Does he now live somewhere close by, where we can't see him? Which is the answer? From time to time, as I worry over this mystery of Ong's disappearance, I go into the pine woods and walk up and down, kicking over the sandy soil and calling out. It is always quiet there and very hot. Alone, I think of Ong and of being invisible. I wonder if hanging his hat on a certain tree hadn't triggered some secret door in the middle of the air, that opened to another world. Perhaps I shall hang my own hat on this branch here, and... "

It was written in 1974 and published by (I have been told) Harlan Quist Publishers.

Recently I discovered an obituary from a resident of Ong's Hat, in the New Jersey Mirro newspaper dated 14 May 1884:
SHAW.--May 3, at Ongs Hat, Joseph Shaw.
Not very much information, I know....

The following advertisement from the New Jersey Mirror of 17 Jul 1856 gives some descriptions of the geography of Ong's Hat at that period in time:
In pursuance of a decree of the Orphans' Court of the County of Burlington, made in the term of April, 1856, will be sold at public sale, on WEDNESDAY, the 20th of August next, between the hours of 12 and 5 o'clock, P. M., at BIRMINGHAM, the late residence of Thos. E. Deacon, dec'd., situate on the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek, between Pemberton and Mount Holly, about two miles from the former and four from the latter place, in Pemberton township, Burlington county, N. J., all the following described Land and Real Estate, whereof the said Thomas E. Deacon died seized, viz: No. 1--That Valuable Mill Property, FARM AND TIMBER LAND, Known as Birmingham, where the said dec'd. resided, containing about 135 ACRES OF LAND, about 75 acres of which is valuable Wood Land, about 15 acres superior Bottom Meadow, and the remainder Arable Land, adapted to the growth of Grain or Grass--with an apple Orchard and other Fruit Trees thereon.-- The Buildings consist of a large and commodious 2 story FRAME MANSION, with Barn and Carriage House pertaining thereto; 5 Tenant Houses, and a Stable belonging to each; a large and convenient GRIST MILL, that has done a very extensive amount of custom work ever since it was established, beside the merchant grinding, which can be extended, as there is rarely ever any scarcity of water in the stream. There is a large Woolen Factory, Fulling Mill and Saw Mill. Also, a Wheelwright and Blacksmith Shop--all of which have a very good run of custom. The above Mill Property can all be put in first-rate repair with little trouble and at trifling expense--as the flood-gates, fore-bay, tumbling-dam, and the foundations thereof, have been newly put in within the last two years. Persons wishing to view the said Mill Property, will call on James W. Deacon, on the premises, or either of the last two named Commissioners, living near thereto. No. 2--Is a Lot containing about 8 acres of CEDAR SWAMP, Adjoining lands of Samuel B. Bryan, Caleb Newbold and others, situate on the Pole Bridge Branch, about 2 miles above Black's Bridge. About one-half of said Swamp is covered with a very heavy growth of Cedar Timber, now fit to cut into logs and rails. It will be sold in lots to suit purchasers. No. 3--Is a Lot containing about 21 1/4 ACRES OF PINE LAND, Adjoining lands of James S. Hulme, Job Butterworth, Jacob L. Githens and others, situate on the road leading from Ongs Hat to Bispham's Lower Mill, between Stop-the-Jade Branch and said Lower Mill Stream, and is thickly set with thrifty Oak and Pine Timber. No. 4--Is a Lot containing about 19 3/4 acres of PINE LAND, adjoining lands of Jonathan Hilliard, John Chambers, Richard C. Woolston and others, situate on both sides of the straight road leading from Ongs Hat to Cedar Bridge, about three-quarters of a mile from the former place. It is growing up rapidly with Oak, about four acres of which is interspersed with very large Pine Timber, suitable for Logging and Wood for present use. No. 5--Is a Lot containing about 11 and 90 hundredths Acres of PINE LAND, adjoining Isaac Woolston and others, situate on the northerly side of the said straight road leading from Ongs Hat to Cedar Bridge, and on both sides of what is called Shinn's road, about half a mile eastward from No. 4. It is covered with a handsome growth of young Pine and Oak Timber. No. 6--Is a Lot containing 11 Acres of PINE LAND, adjoining lands of Restore S. Lamb, Joseph Stokes, dec'd., John Tomlinson and others, situate on the road leading from Jones' road, crossing Tarkill, to Burr's Mill, and near the High Stump, being about one mile and a half southerly from Ongs Hat. It is growing up with thrifty young Timber, principally Oak. The subscribers will meet persons wishing to view the Cedar Swamp, at Brown's Mills, on Thursday, the 14th of August, at 9 o'clock, A. M., to show the same--and will meet persons wishing to see the four Lots of Pine Land, at Samuel Haines' Tavern, (at Ongs Hat) on Saturday the 16th of August, at 9 o'clock, A. M., to show the same. Conditions at sale. JAMES S. HILLIARD, JAMES LIPPINCOTT, Jr., JOHN G. SMALLEY, Commissioners. July 16, 1856. (This notice also appears in the July 24, 1856 edition at Page 3, Column 4 and the July 31, 1856 edition at Page 3, Column 4.)