198 EARLY HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY. 



some a third time, since located. At the present time, there is 

 not an acre of original growth of swamp standing, having all passed 

 away before the resistless sway of the speculator or the consumer. 

 The annual growth is sufficient to fill our wharves yearly with 

 many thousands of rails and sawed lumber. 



It was not until recently, within the present century, that cord- 

 wood became a staple article of trade. Many thousand cords are 

 annually shipped from the county, in return for goods and produce 

 of various descriptions, of which flour and corn were formerly the 

 most heavy articles. 



The failure in some measure of wood and lumber, and the im- 

 provements progressing in all parts of our State in agricultural 

 pursuits, have prompted our farmers to keep pace with the era of 

 progression, so much so that the corn and wheat now raised in the 

 county, fall but little short of a supply; and when the grand desi- 

 deratum shall have been achieved, of supplying our own wants in 

 the great staple of corn and flour, it will be a proud day for Cape 

 May, and her people will be stimulated to greater exertions, from 

 which corresponding rewards and benefits may arise. 



Being partially surrounded by water, inducements were extended 

 to her sons at an early day to engage in maritime pursuits. As 

 early as 1698, Richard Harvo owned a sloop; and in 1705, Gov. 

 Cornbury granted a license to Capt. Jacob Spicer, of the sloop 

 Adventure, owned by John and Richard Townsend, burden sixteen 

 tons. The license privileged her to run between Cape May, Phila- 

 delphia, and Burlington; and in 1706, Dennis Lynch built and 

 owned the sloop Necessity. About the year 1760, there were nu- 

 merous boats trading from the county to Oyster Bay, L. I., and 

 Rhode Island and Connecticut, carrying cedar lumber mostly ; and 

 others to Philadelphia, with oysters and produce of various kinds. 

 Spicer shipped considerable quantities of corn, which he purchased 

 of the people in the way of trade and cash, and forwarded to a 



