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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
SHREWSBURY, 17.5 miles (45 alt., 857 pop.), is a restful interlude in
the feverish life of nearby modern summer resorts. There has been little
expansion here since the Congregationalists founded the place in 1664.
The ALLEN HOMESTEAD, NW. cor. of Broad St. and Sycamore Ave.,
a substantial two-story structure dating from 1667, is perhaps the oldest
building in the county. The house is shingled and has a gambrel roof. Behind paneling close to an upstairs fireplace was found the skeleton of a
youth who had hidden to escape service in the Continental Army. At the
foot of the front stairs were bloodstains which, after a century of wear,
were finally cut out. They came from the body of a British officer, slain
by Continentals on whom he was spying. At another time a party of five
Tories from Sandy Hook hid behind tombstones in the graveyard opposite
and surprised a dozen unarmed Virginia Continentals in the house. Three
of the Virginians were killed. The others, some wounded, were taken to
the infamous Sugar House prison in New York.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SE. cor. Broad St. (State 35) and Sycamore Ave. (open daily), is a severe, rectangular structure, erected 1769.
It has high arched windows, an octagonal belfry and a Georgian Colonial
tower in three sections. Or. the domed cap, supported by the belfry columns and arches, is a weather vane surmounted by an iron British crown
that is pockmarked and perforated by patriot bullets. The parish history
began October 20, 1702, with the baptism of 24 persons, including William Leeds, a reformed member of Captain Kidd's crew who later bequeathed his estate to the church. Among his belongings was a chest, a
plain rectangular box 4 feet long and 21/2 feet deep, which the church has
exhibited at times. It has a hidden compartment – empty. The body of
Leeds was moved here in 1906 and rests by the north side of the church
tower. The present building, succeeding two others, was erected in 1769.
In the church entry is displayed the original charter from King George II
of England. There are carved canopies over pews formerly occupied by the
Provincial Governor, Lewis Morris, and the rector's family. The chancel
stairs are made from an old oak that long served as a belfry. On the lectern
is one of the few known copies of the Vinegar Bible printed at Oxford,
England, in 1717 by John Basket. A typographical error makes the heading over Chapter XX of Saint Matthew read, "The Parable of the Vinegar," instead of "Vineyard."
Several of the tombstones in the yard bear carved stone skulls with
sweeping wings. Fourteen graves that date back nearly a century are those
of Aaron Jones and his family, including small graves of 10 children, each
of whom died within 10 days of birth.
The FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE (not open), NE. cor. of the crossroads,
is a plain, box-like structure built in 1816. There are separate entrances
for men and women. The sliding partition that once kept the males and
females out of each other's sight can still he raised and lowered, but its use
has been abandoned. George Fox, the famous Quaker preacher, visited
the meeting here in 1672. In his party was John Jay, a Barbados planter,
who was thrown from his horse and picked up for dead. Fox felt the
man's neck and found that it was dislocated, not broken. He snapped the
vertebra back into place, and Jay's prompt recovery was hailed as a miracle.
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