EARLY HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY. 193 



paid. My wife, understanding he had a daughter, sent her a pre- 

 sent of a new-fashioned cap. Three years afterward, this skipper 

 being at ray house with an old. farmer of Cape May, his passenger, 

 he mentioned the cap and how much his daughter had been pleased 

 with it; but, said he, 'it proved a dear cap to our congregation.' 

 How so ? ' When my daughter appeared with it at meeting, it was 

 90 much admired, that all the girls resolved to get such caps from 

 Philadelphia ; and my ^yife and I computed that the whole would 

 not have cost less than one hundred pounds.' ' True,' said the far- 

 mer, 'but you do not tell all the story. I think the cap was never- 

 theless an advantage to us ; for it was the first thing that put our 

 girls upon knitting worsted mittens for sale at Philadelphia, that 

 they might have wherewithal to buy caps and ribbons there ; and 

 you know that that industry has continued, and is likely to continue 

 and increase to a much greater value, and answer better purposes.' 

 Upon the whole, I was more reconciled to this little piece of luxury, 

 since not only the girls were made happier by having fine caps, but 

 Philadelphians by the supply of warm mittens."* 



"March 13th, 1761. — The election of Representatives began; 

 and on the 14th, it was ended, when the poll was : — 



•^' Jacob Spicer, 72; Aaron Learning, 112; Joseph Corson, 41. 

 Whole amount of votes polled, 225. Spicer and Leaming elected."! 



In the year 1752, an association of a large number of persons 

 was formed for the purpose of purchasing of the West Jersey So- 

 ciety their interest in the county, having particular regard to the 

 Natural Privileges. These privileges, consisting of fishing and 

 fowling and all the articles of luxury and use obtained from the 

 bays and sounds, were held in high estimation ; and it was diflScult 

 to name a valuation upon a right so endeared to the people as this. 

 This association being slow and cautious in its movements was no 

 doubt astounded, in the year 1756, to find that Jacob Spicer, upon 

 his own responsibility, had superceded them, and had purchased 



» Franklin's Works, 2nd Vol., page 577. t A Learning's Memoirs. 



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