Hopscotch

     In 1963, the boys at Hainesport School played marbles during recess.  The girls jumped rope or played hopscotch.  It's delightful to see that someone is still hopping through squares, chalked on the pavement, instead of flailing their thumbs around a video game controller.  A section of the municipal complex walking trail, that backs up to the school playground, seems to be Hopscotch Central.

This is Court #3.  Our Hainesport Hopscotchers have drawn a dozen courts on the pavement.

     I preferred to jump rope, trying to perfect my Double Dutch.  I never joined in the hopscotch games.  It's time to figure out what I missed.
     Here's how to play the game: Toss a pebble into Square #1.  Jump into the court - left foot landing on #1, right foot landing on #2.  Use only one foot (left or right - it's your choice) to hop on Square #3 and Square #4.  Use both feet to hop into #5 and #6.  Resume hopping on one foot to cover Square #7.  Use both feet for #8 and #9 and one foot for #10.  Jump out of the course after #10, turn and hop back, picking up your pebble in Square #1.  If players don't step on any lines or lose their balance, they can continue their turn, tossing the pebble into the second, third, fourth square, and so on, until they complete the course.  A misstep, means the next player gets a turn.  The first player to complete the course wins.
     Here some course variations:

      Hopscotch was first documented by Francis Willughby in the Book of Games, a manuscript published sometime between 1625 and 1632.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopscotch  The game is played in many countries under many names.

Lay-Lay - Iran
Peevers - Scotland
Himmel und Hölle (Heaven and Hell) - Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Kith-Kith - India

Hopscotch is called potsy in New York.  In 2010, PBS did a documentary called "Street Games" which included potsy.
     There's nothing in the rules that says you have to stop playing hopscotch when you reach age twelve.  Would anyone like to join me for some potsy?
   

     

Civil War Veterans - Part 3 of Interesting Things in Hainesport

     Civil War veteran Edward B. Chapman was born in 1832 or 1834 in Northampton Township (now known as Mount Holly), Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is first listed on public records in the New Jersey State Census of 1840.  His surname is recorded as "Chatman."  His ethnicity is recorded as "mulatto" or mixed race on this census report.  The first time he appears on a federal census (still using "Chatman") is the year 1860.  By then he had married Martha, a 21 year old woman from Delaware.  In 1870 the spelling of the last name changes, and Edward Chapman appears.  Now his ethnicity is reported as "black."  He is 36 and Martha is 31.  They have three children - Joseph Chapman, age 9, Charles H. Chapman, age 4, and Sarah V. Chapman, age 3. They shared their home with William Hill, age 90, a retired laborer, and Anthony Davis, age 70, a wood scavenger.  By the time the 1880 census was taken, another child had come along, Anna May Chapman, born in October 1877.  The family lived on Washington Street.  Edward worked as a waiter in a hotel, and Martha worked as a servant.
     Edward Chapman died on August 2, 1882 at the age of 48.  Martha buried him in the remote part of the Mt. Moriah cemetery under a free, government headstone.  In 1887 Martha began receiving a war pension based on being a widow.
     It's impossible to see a snapshot of the family in 1890 because the federal census from that year was destroyed.  There was a fire in the National Archives in 1921 which destroyed the 1890 census records.  What wasn't lost in the fire was ruined by the water used to extinguish the blaze.
     By 1900, Martha lived on Chestnut Street with her daughter Anna May.  Anna May married a man named Gibbs in 1895, but he was not listed in the home in 1900.  There were three grandchildren, Helen M. Gibbs, born December 10, 1895, Charles Gibbs, born August 1897, and Herbert Gibbs, born in 1899.  Anna May's brother, Joseph Chapman, also lived on Chestnut Street with his two sons, Norman Chapman, born in 1888, and Sherman Chapman, born in 1890.  Joseph married Emma B. Sharp in 1884, but she was not listed in the home in 1900.  Other family members, Charles Chapman, Sarah V. Chapman, and Walter W. Chapman, disappear from the U.S. census reports after 1880.  Joseph's son Norman isn't named on census records after 1900.
     All mention of the Chapman family disappears until the census of 1930.  Edward's grandson, Sherman Chapman, is a 30 year old single man, living as a lodger in the Filbert Street home of Mary Harris.  By 1940, he moved to Carlton Street, lodging with the Powell family.  He worked as a laborer.  Sherman Chapman died in 1955 from an intestinal hemorrhage.  He is buried in the Mt. Moriah cemetery with no headstone.
     I was hoping to build a family tree for the Chapman family and to be able to bring it down to the present generation.  All leads ended with Sherman Chapman.  Women marry and change their names.  People with limited economic means rent instead of own, so there are no property records to track.  During this era, people might have worked at odd jobs being paid in cash, so they weren't part of the Social Security system established in 1935.  Poor people often don't leave estates, so there are no records of wills.
     Edward Chapman didn't have to serve, but he volunteered at the age of 31.  Maybe he had (what would have been called at the time) lofty ideas about freedom and racial equality.  Maybe he got swept up in the volunteer spirit that swept through Mount Holly's black population.  Maybe his family really needed the $13 per month that he was paid.  Out of all the unknowns comes one truth - he is an American hero who should be honored this Memorial Day.

Edward Chapman's Service Record

  

Edward Chapman's Pension Record

Record of Federal Headstone

       
 

Edward Chapman 1834 - 1882

   
   
   

Civil War Veterans - Part 2 of Interesting Places in Hainesport

     By the end of the Civil War, 179,000 Afro-Americans served in the Union Army and 19,000 served in the Navy.  http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/  In May 1863, the War Department established the Bureau of Colored Troops.  Depending on the source you consult (figures vary), between 1,200 and 3,000 New Jersey black men joined the Union Army or Navy. Twenty-three of these men are buried in the Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Cemetery in Hainesport.
     These men mustered into the service in 1863.  They signed on for three years.  Since the war ended before the end of their three year term, they returned home in 1865.  New Jersey did not have its own regiment, so the soldiers were assigned to other state's regiments.  While enlisted, they earned $10.00 per month with a $3.00 per month clothing allowance deducted from their pay. White soldiers were paid $13.00 per month, and they did not pay a clothing allowance.  In 1864 Congress addressed this inequity and gave equal pay to all soldiers.  The ruling was retroactive, so the black soldiers received their back pay.  Toward the end of the war, recruiters gave signing bonuses called bounties to encourage black enlistment.  The Civil War brought a huge overhaul in the military pension system.  Many of the Mt. Moriah soldiers who lived past middle age received pensions, or pensions payments were made to their widows or children.  http://www.civilwarhome.com/pensions.htm

George W. Still's paperwork shows he received a $100 bounty, or bonus, for signing up in 1864.  Adjusted for inflation, that would be  $1,492.54 in 2013 dollars.

John W. Macklin began receiving a pension at age 44.  Changes in pension rules eventually allowed Civil War veterans to collect for having served.  

Warner Pritchet started collecting a pension at age 30.  His wife started receiving benefits in 1914 when Mr. Pritchet died. 

View from inside the main cemetery looking toward Marne Highway.

View from inside the main cemetery looking toward the Mount Holly By-Pass (behind the trees).

Grave of George W. Still.  

     Here is a list of the Civil War veterans resting at Mt. Moriah:
   
     Charles S. Bowles - Co. B, United States Colored Troops (USCT).  Born 1835.  Died 6/10/1872.  The 1870 United States Census reports he was a railroad worker after the war.
     Joseph Brannan - Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Co. B, 32nd US Colored Infantry.  Born, 1845.  Died 8/30/1914.
     David P. Brown - Born 1847.  Died 1923.
     Edward B. Chapman - Co. G, 22nd Regt. USCT.  Born 1834.  Died 8/2/1882.  Worked as a waiter after the war.
     Isaiah Dillon (Mixed Race) - Co. A, 6th US Colored Infantry.  Born 1850.  Died 12/12/1919.  Worked as a coachman after the war.
     Isaac Gaines - Military unit not verified.  Born about 1839.  Can't locate headstone.  The cemetery reference book at the library indicates there is no stone for Isaac Gaines.  His stone could be one of the illegible stones in the By-Pass plot.  According to the 1880 Census, Mr. Gaines worked as a carpenter.
     Morris Gaines - GAR, Co. I, 1st Colored Infantry.  Born about 1846.  Died 3/22/1919.  Worked as a laborer after the war.
     John Edward Harmon - Co. K, 29th Regt. Connecticut Infantry.  Born 1836.  Died 7/8/1930.
     Charles Shedrick Holland - GAR Marker.  Born 3/25/1842.  Died 6/11/1915.
     Samuel Howard - GAR, Co. A, 6th US Colored Infantry.
     Abram Johnson - GAR, Co. A, 25 Regiment.  Died 1/21/1910.
     John W. Macklin - Massachusetts Cavalry.  Born 1846.  Date of Death Unknown.  Worked as a waiter after the war.
     Jacob Owens - Co. B, 43rd US Colored Infantry.  Born about 1845.  Date of Death Unknown.  Worker as a cook after the war.
     William Henry Owens - Co. F, 127th Regt. USCT.  Born about 1840.  Died 4/13/1811.  Worked as a waiter after the war.
     Warner Pritchet - GAR, Co. I, 143rd Regt. USCT.  Born 1842.  Died 6/13/1914.
     Robert H. Smith - Co. E, 32 Regt. Colored Infantry.  Date of Birth Unknown.  Died 6/5/1901.
     Benjamin Spencer - 25th Regt. US Infantry.  Born about 1843.  Died 2/17/1929.  Worked as a laborer.
     Clayton Still - Co. A, 41st Pennsylvania Colored troops.  Born 1841.  Died 10/23/1907.  Farm Laborer.
     George W. Still - GAR, C0. E, 26th US Colored Infantry.  Born 1845.  Date of Death Unknown.
     Thomas Summers - Born 2/7/1846.  Died 4/19/1909.
     Moses Willows - GAR Marker.  Born 1830.  Died 5/29/1913.  Moses Willows would have been 33 years old, the oldest to enlist.
     John Wilson - GAR, Co. K, 8th US Colored Infantry.  Birth Date Unknown.  Date of Death Unknown.  

   

         
     
       
   

Civil War Veterans - Part 1 of Interesting Places in Hainesport

     I travel the Mt. Holly By-Pass several times per week.  I always look into the tiny cemetery that sits on the west side of the By-Pass, between Rt. 537 and Rt. 38.  When I was a kid, my mother told me this was potter's field, a place where poor people were buried.  Later on, I heard this was a graveyard for Civil War Veterans.  With Memorial Day coming up, I thought it might be time to learn more about this place.

The cemetery is in front of Americyle Recycling.

     The cemetery belongs to the Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Church on 212 Washington Street in Mt. Holly. The church's main burial ground lies east of the By-Pass, next to the Brotherhood Cemetery, on Marne Highway (Rt. 537).  I wondered if the two cemeteries were once connected.  I called the Burlington County Engineer's Office, and they were able to tell me that Mt. Moriah owned the all the land before the By-Pass construction (1968 - 1973).  The county obtained the land from the church, land that had not yet been used for interments, so no graves had to be relocated.  
     Our wonderful county library contains several volumes of books which list the names of the deceased buried in many Burlington County cemeteries.  The By-Pass plot holds the remains of:

     Edward B. Chapman, Civil War Veteran
     Elizabeth, Wife of Charles A. Lewis, Died 1/10/1883
     Elizabeth Mitchell, Died 3/9/1873
     Anna E. Henry, Died 2/12/1879
     Jane Golden, Died 1/22/1876
     Lambert Giles, 5/15/1815 - 4/19/1875
     Wm. Smith, Died 1875
     Chas. Selsey, 5/30/184? - ?
     Rebecca Saunders
     Nancy Hill
     Mary Golden, Died 2/29/1878
     David B. Steven, Died May ?, 18??

There are three other graves.  One is marked only "M. C."  There are two illegible stones, one of which might be a veteran.

     I would have to conclude that this is a potter's field since it holds the remains of only one Civil War veteran, Edward Chapman.  His widow was so impoverished she applied to the federal government for a headstone for the poor.

      The rest of the Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Civil War Veterans are buried in the main cemetery.  Tomorrow I'll tell you what I learned about them.  On Friday, I'll focus on Edward Chapman.    

Wee, Wee, Weeeeeeeeeee!

     What creature doesn't like the wind in their face?

Photo from this site: http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-photos-love

     Then there's the Geico piggy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxRoXuPjAKc

Et moi.

Senior Bride, Blogger, and now YouTube Star: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuNHcZGOubo

Prayer Shawls

     I've been crocheting since I was in my teens.  Shawls and poncho-type garments have gone in and out of style over the past 40-50 years.  The poncho, so hot in the 1970's, was hot again 5 or 6 years ago.  Shawls were something my great grandmother wore because houses didn't have central heating in her day -

My Great Grandparents

In my day, they were lacy affairs worked in sparkly yarn and they were worn with prom dresses.
     People starting making prayer shawls in the 1990's as a way to comfort people recovering from illness.  The maker prayed for the recipient before, during, and after finishing the project.  The recipient would be warmed by the shawl, and perhaps be reminded of God's love.  http://www.madewithloveuumc.com/prayer-shawl-ministry/
     At the April meeting, the Burlington County Crochet Guild asked members to make prayer shawls for local hospital cancer centers.  Chemo patients get chills during IV infusions.  Our shawls could fight of those chills.  A written prayer, or some encouraging words included with the shawl, could lift the recipient's spirits.  Another organization, South Jersey Women Making a Difference, donated much of the yarn to get our project started.  We collected more than a dozen finished shawls at our May meeting.
     Here's my shawl -

The border yarn came from the South Jersey Women.  I found the green in a clearance grab bag at Michael's.

 

Pretty in Pink

Lovely colors

One Dozen Turned In and Counting

     Here are the directions:

     You'll need about 20 oz. of worsted weight yarn and a size G crochet hook.  Don't worry about the gauge.

     

     Pattern Note: Chain 3 at the beginning of double crochet row or round counts as first double crochet.

     Row 1: Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 3 (See pattern note), 2 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring, turn.

                (2 dc groups, 1 ch sp)

     Row 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch sp, ch 1, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in last st, turn.

                (3 dc groups, 2 ch sps)

     Rows 3-55: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 1, [3 dc, in next ch sp, ch 1] across to last 3 sts, sk next 2 sts, 3 dc in last st, turn.

                       (56 dc groups, 55 ch sps on row 55)

     Row 56: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch sp, ch 1] across to last 3 sts, sk next 2 sts, 3 dc in last st, do not turn.

                  (57 dc groups, 56 ch sps)

     Edging:

     Working on outer edge, ch 1, 4 hdc in end of first row, [3 dc in end of next row, 4 hdc in end of next row] 27 times, 3 dc in end of next row, 4 hdc in ring, working on other side, [3 dc in end of next row, 4 hdc in end of next row] 28 times, working in sts and ch sps of last row, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, [2 hdc in next ch sp, 2 hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st] 55 times, 2 hdc in last ch sp, hdc in each of the last 2 sts, join with sl st in top of beg hdc.  Fasten off.

Truck Nuts

     "Are those testicles hanging from that truck?" I asked Mike a couple of weeks ago.
     "Looks like it," was the answer.
     That was odd.  Maybe not so odd, or rare.  I've seen them in various colors, several times in the last week.  Today I saw a pair, up close and personal, hanging from a truck parked in the Shop Rite lot.
     When did these ornaments first appear?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_nuts  Who invented them?  Drive-thru Danglers, Trucksticles, or HitchNuggets have been around since 1998, and were first sold on the internet in 1999.  In the United Kingdom (yes, the Brits are fond of them, too), they are known as Bumper Bollocks.  According to Ask.com, they were brought to the market by Aston Enterprises.  No one person is taking credit for coming up with the idea and executing it. CargoNads (another name) can be made of plastic, and they come in a variety of colors.  The pair I saw today was crafted from what looked like aluminum.  They were, shall I say, intricately detailed.
     As you might have guessed, there are plenty of people out there who are offended by the site of an oversized scrotum swinging from a trailer hitch.  Politicians in Maryland, Virginia, and Florida have tried to pass laws prohibiting the display of the twins.  Virginia Tice, a sixty five year-old-woman from South Carolina got a $445 ticket for displaying her cojones in 2011.  As far as I can determine, Ms. Tice is still fighting the charges.  http://www.thefastertimes.com/crime/2011/08/09/the-rosa-parks-of-truck-nuts/
     I'vs seen a whole lot of this out there in the world:

From Google Images

   
     And this:

From Google Images

         And even this:

From Google Images

     I guess I can handle this:

Also,  from Google Images