An unidentified "father and son at Somers Point, 1909"
Somers Point is located in Atlantic County. For more detailed information on this place,
you may consider contacting the Atlantic County Historical Society, who I understand
have recently published a booklet on the history of this place:
The Atlantic County Historical Society
P.O. Box 301
Somers Point, NJ 08244
Their website can be found at www.aclink.org/achs.
Of course, if you have anything to add to this page (especially pictures!) that may be of help to other researchers, please send us an e-mail at [email protected].
Some of the highlights of Somers Point history that are worth noting:
The town was originally known as Somerset Plantation. It was settled by seven men - John Somers,
Jonas Valetine, John Gilbert, Sr., Jonathan Adams,
Peter Covenhaven, John Scull and James Steelman.
A ferry across the Egg Harbor River from Job's Point to to Beasley's Point was organized in 1695. John Somers, who also founded Somerton, a Philadelphia suburb, was the first family to settle here. They had three children.
Somers Mansion, a local landmark, was built between 1720 and 1726. It is the oldest house standing in Atlantic County. A stagecoach route was started in 1775 that went from Philadelphia to Somers Point, routed through Absecon.
Col. Richard Somers was licensed to operate a tavern in Somers Point. He was a surveyor and a Colonel in the Third Battalion, Gloucester State Troops, during the Revolutionarty War.
Somers Point was a port of entry with a customs house. It functioned from 1791 to 1912. The building still stands.
A fort was built at the start of The War of 1812 but ufortunately, it was demolished.
The Post Office was organized there in 1806.
The town was a shipbuilding center. Seventeen ships were built here between 1860 and 1890.
Master Commandant Richard Somers, the only man to have a statue at Annapolis, was killed in the famous raid against the Tripoli pirates in 1804.
.....more to come soon.......