A Historic Marker was placed in the area of the site of Thomas Potter’s Cave, primitive first home of Ocean Township’s earliest European settler, by the Museum at the Stucile Farm Water Tower.
Born in England in 1630, Thomas Potter immigrated to New England with his family as a young child. Years later, possibly drawn by land available to Englishmen under the terms of the “Monmouth Patent” after the British takeover of New Amsterdam in 1664, Thomas relocated to New Jersey. As early as 1670, records show he owned 552 acres in the area of Ocean Township known as Poplar (from today’s Poplar Road in Wayside east into Oakhurst).
Thomas arrived to an Ocean Township inhabited only by Native Americans. There was no saw mill to provide lumber, no blacksmith to forge nails, no kiln to bake bricks. He, like many other early Monmouth County settlers, carved shelter for himself in the banks of a stream. His early “cave” was dug about four feet deep. Its walls were built up with rocks. Tree limbs covered with mud and branches formed the roof. Stories of Potter’s Cave were passed down through generations. It was a point of reference in old deeds. And for years, it was the object of a quest for local historians Jim Foley and Dr. Rich Fernicola.
Following the clues from historic documents, Jim and Rich began their search along Harvey Brook. But not until they shifted their attention to Poplar Brook did their persistence pay off.
Because of the its fragility, the Museum is not revealing the site’s exact location.
Tom Reu is the Producer; Produced by the Township of Ocean.
To see more of our videos in this or other series, go to our YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIOaBayfT_BJ9qQ8IcO6e-A
The Township of Ocean Historical Museum, founded in 1984, is a member-supported, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. Its headquarters, the Eden Woolley House, is one of the few 18th century structures still in existence in the Township and is open to the public on Thursday Evenings (7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 15 through December 15) and the first and second Sundays of each month (1p.m. to 4 p.m.). The Township of Ocean Historical Museum offers exhibits on the history of coastal Monmouth County and a full calendar of events. The Museum is also 100% volunteer supported, with no paid staff. The Museum maintains a library and archive, which houses manuscripts, books and photographs of historical and genealogical interest. For more information, please call 732-531-2136 or visit our website at http://www.OceanMuseum.org
Click [_] box on the bottom right of the video for fullscreen