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Steelmanville: The village located south of Bargaintown on the road to the mouth of the Great Egg Harbor was settled at an early date.

James Steelman (1660/70-1734) lived in Cinnaminson Township in 1693 removing to Great Egg Harbor by 1695. He purchased 200 Acres of land on Patcong Creek from James Adams of Burlington County. He married first Susannah Toy sister of Elias Toy of Chester County, Burlington County. He married secondly, by license dated June 13, 1730, Catherine Ouster, of Gloucester County. Her parentage is not known. James Steelman was a man of some importance.

Peter was the son of James and Catherine (Ouster) Steelman. His father (James) left him by will the farm on Patcong Creek. bought of James Adams He died intestate, the farm descending in title to Richard the eldest son Richard deeded parts of the farm in 1785 to his brothers Zephaniah, James and Peter.

Richard Steelman (c1751/55-1825) the eldest son and heir-at-law of his intestate father "Little Peter Steelman". He divided the inheritance with his youngest brothers. He conveyed, 6th of 8th month 1785, one-third of the homestead plantation to each of his brothers Zephaniah, James and Peter.

On May 2, 1832, Thomas Rodgers and his wife Miriam, late Steelman, of Northhampton Township, Burlington County, and Jane Steelman of Egg Harbor Township, did sell land to Thomas Steelman of Egg Harbor Township on Patcong Creek.

The land descended in title to the families shown on the Sketch.

The Steelman Family by Arthur Adams, Ph.D., Vol 3 # 2 Year Book
of the Atlantic County Historical Society, page 51 to 69

STEELMANVILLE

Zephaniah Steelman (1760-1837) received a third part of the home plantation of his father Peter in a deed from his eldest brother Richard in 1785. (5)  He probably married Celia Logan. Zephaniah served as a Captain of militia in the American Revolution.

His children were:

1 Peter, married first Christann Jefferies, probably of Steelmanville.
   and second Hetty Small wood.

2 Hettie, (1789-1865) m. Japhet Townsend (1775-1860) b. at Zion M.H.

3 James, m. Judith Barton.

4 Lottie, m. Jonathan Townsend.

5 Jessie, m. Keziah Robinson.

6 Zephaniah.

7 David.

8 Washington (1807-1879). He married first Jemima (Somers) Doughty,
   and second Sophia (Shaw) Smith (1825-1906). He lived in the old tavern
   of John Irelan in English Creek, and later on the Mays Landing to Somers
   Point Road. He and his second wife are buried in the old Yard of Asbury
   Methodist Church in English Creek.

9 Lamer (1803-1883). married Submittee Booye, a daughter of Derestus
   and Sarah (Hankins) Booye. Derestus Booye lived on the Main Road of
   Steelmanville. Charles Henry Steelman (1840-1915) a son married Cornelia
   Z. Hood and were the parents of May Steelman Lee, wife of Benjamin C. Lee.

These names are but few of the early families of the old town of Steelmanville.

**page 67 and 68 of Vol 3 #2 A. C. H. Soc. with notes.

Sketch of Steelmanville

Around the time of 1870, the residents of Steelmanville deemed it desirable, due to an expanding population to have a Post office located in their vicinity. Ocean Heights Avenue, previously known as the old Somers Point - Mays Landing Neck Road, was chosen as the logical site for this venture due to the fact a steam locomotive stopped for loading and unloading at the terminal point of the road. This road was centrally located through the center of the town.

James S. Smith (1808-1852) accordingly built a home on the southern side of Ocean Heights Avenue, with Patcong Creek and the meadows at the back of it. The house was large and capable of entertaining friends. The Post Office and General Store were located in this building. Mr. Smith found his Post Office and store to be about the most popular place in town. He was a genial man with many interests and friends. It has been noted he was a Godly man, many times attending church as much as three times on Sunday.

There was always a stir of excitement when the mail arrived. It traveled by mail-stagecoach from town to town, coming from Mays Landing through English Creek and Scullville. When the stagecoach arrived at the Post Office the mail bag would be brought in and thrown on the floor in back of the mail boxes. The Postmaster would dump the mail out of the bag onto the floor and he and his family, on their knees, would sort out the mail. The mail for Steelmanville residents would be placed in the proper boxes. The rest would be replaced in the mailbag to be taken to the next Post Office.

Interest was as keen for news contained in a neighbor's mail as for their own. A letter from a Sea Captain out on a voyage, would be passed around and read by all. Lively discussions would ensue concerning the ports he had visited, the weather he had encountered, his possible destinations, and the probable time of his arrival back home. News of a marriage, birth or death was a prime concern for all, whether or not they knew the people involved.

Many of these discussions took place around the old pot-bellied stove in the General Store, where most anything could be purchased from a side of beef to a paper of pins. As the men gathered around the cracker, pork, and molasses barrels (always with a spittoon handy) jokes and news of the day were exchanged. Sometimes sharp words were spoken. Fights were promoted, settled, and laughed over later. The almanac, too, came in for its share of examination and debate.

All year round was a busy time for these people. Seed time came early followed by plowing and planting. During the summer farms were taken care of and fences built and mended. It was not unusual to go egging in the meadows to secure an abundant supply of eggs from the gulls, herons, and ducks that nested there. In the fall hogs were killed and their size and weight duly noted. Wood had to be cut and piled, some being sold. Salt hay was gathered from the meadows to be used as bedding in the hog pens. In the spring the pens were cleaned out and this was used for fertilizer. Some of the hay that was gathered was taken to Weymouth Mill where it was made into paper used by butchers to wrap meat in. Mussels were gathered to put on their gardens and the men boasted of the size of their load. Clamming, oystering, and fishing added to the diet of the people plus putting a few pieces of silver in their pockets. Winter was the time for repairing broken equipment and enjoying social gatherings.

The church was the focal point for all such affairs. Land had been deeded on Steelmanville Road by Peter (1800-1876) and Lydia (1796-1872) Steelman, for a church and a school. New Friendship was the name of the church which was built in 1863, with a school directly across from it. The name of the church has since been changed to Bible Protestant, and it has been moved to Ocean Heights Avenue. Church meetings, lodge meetings, quilting parties, church suppers and the like, offered the people of the community a social life at the season of the year they had time for it. Cold weather did not deter them for they had blankets to wrap themselves in and hot bricks on the carriage or sleigh floor kept their feet warm. Each and every party was discussed pro and con around the stove in the General Store, while plans were made for future gatherings.

In 1879, Charles H. Smith succeeded his father as postmaster and proprietor of the store. He continued in that capacity until the Post Office ceased to exist in 1913. The general store continued to operate until 1931 when Mr. Smith died. The old Post Office and General Store building has been renovated and today is the picture of gracious living.

There was one other building in Steelmanville where the men met and liked to visit. This was the blacksmith shop, built and owned by Mr. Smith's uncle, Nicholas P. Smith (1819-1890). It was located on Blackman Rd. across from his house. It was in this blacksmith shop that he made the iron trimming for the front porch of his home, which still stands today.

By Florence L. Carman