|
|
ACTON, R. M. (Pages 415 and 416)Richard Miller Acton is a descendant in the sixth generation of Benjamin Acton, the ancestor of the family in Salem County. The line of descent is Benjamin 1, Benjamin, Jr. 2, (1695), John 3, (1728), Clement 4, Benjamin 5, and Richard M. Acton 6 (1810). Benjamin 1 is believed to have emigrated from London about the year 1677, and soon after that date is mentioned in connection with the public affairs of Fenwick�s colony. He was a tanner and currier by trade, an occupation in which many of his descendants also engaged, and also a land surveyor. In Connection with this latter calling he is frequently mentioned in the early records of the colony. He purchased a lot of sixteen acres of John Fenwick, on Fenwick Street, now East Broadway, and erected his dwelling house thereon, where he continued to reside until his demise. He was elected the first recorder of the town of New Salem at the time of its incorporation, in 1695, and in 1705 was one of the commissioners and surveyor in laying out a public road from Salem to Maurice River. In 1709, in connection with John Mason and Bartholomew Wyatt, Sr., he laid out a public highway from Hancock�s Bridge to the town of Greenwich. He subsequently did a large amount of surveying for the heirs of William Penn in Salem Tenth, besides being busily engaged in other public and private surveys throughout his life. He married in 1688 or 1689, and had children, - Elizabeth (1690), who married Francis Reynolds; Mary (1692), who became the wife of William Willis; Benjamin Jr., (1695), Lydia (1697), and Joshua (1700).
Benjamin, eldest son of Clement and Hannah H. Acton, father of the subject of this sketch, married Sarah, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth W. Miller, of Mannington, and had a family of ten children,viz.: Richard M., born February 2, 1810; Clement, born January 8, 1813; Benjamin, born September 1814, Hannah Hall, born February 10, 1816, married Samuel P. Carpenter, of Mannington; Elizabeth W., born September 28, 1818, became the wife of Franklin Miller, of Mannington; Charlotte, born July 9, 1821, married Richard Wistar, of Mannington; Caspar W., born September 18, 1823; Letitia, born July 17, 1825, married John Wistar; Sarah Wyatt, born September 3, 1827, became the wife of Emmor Reeve; and Catharine, born June 22, 1829.
Rich Miller Acton was born in Salem, February 4, 1810. His earlier education was derived at the common schools of his native place and at the Friends� Academy at Westtown, Chester Co., Pa. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the tanning and currying trade at Wilmington, Del. After attaining his majority he returned to Salem, and establishing business for himself on the corner of Market and Howell Streets, continued to follow the occupation of a tanner and currier until 1847. For a portion of this period his brother Benjamin was associated with him as a partner. Since that date he has lived in retirement in his native place, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits and to the discharge of the public duties that devolved upon him. He has always taken a deep interest in local affairs and for more than twenty years served as a member of the board of trustees of the public schools of Salem, a portion of that time holding the position of president of the board. He was appointed by Governor Randolph a member of the State Board of Education of New Jersey, and served in that body for several years. He has been a director of the Salem Library Association since 1845, and is president of the association in 1883. He is also president of the Salem Gas Company. He was for many years a director of the Salem County Mutual Insurance Company, and is a director of the Salem Railroad Company, now under lease to the West Jersey Railroad Company. Politically, he has served on the board of chosen freeholders, and in other local offices. In 1864 he was elected to represent Salem County in the Senate of the State, and discharged the duties of that important place with fidelity and to the general satisfaction of his constituency for three years. During the trying days of the great Rebellion he supported the Union cause by vote and influence, believing that the integrity of the nation was assailed and our national liberties were threatened. In religious affairs he has been a life-long member of the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. He is recognized as one of the most useful and estimable citizens of Salem, and is held in general respect. He married, on April 14, 1835, Hannah Hancock Mason, of Elsinboro Township, and a descendant of John Mason, who emigrated from England to America in 1683, and soon after located at Salem, where he became one of the large land-owners of the new colony. In 1696 he erected a substantial brick dwelling in Elsinboro Township, where he removed, and which is now owned by Mrs. Richard M. Acton. Of the three children of Richard M. Acton and Hannah H., his wife, only one survives, viz., Mary Mason, wife of William C. Reeve, of Salem.
