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48-730: Johnson was the only child of his parents, Robert Johnson and Jane Gibbon. He was born on July 23, 1771, at the home of his great-uncle, John Pledger – a large plantation in Mannington Township, New Jersey called the New Netherland Farm. He was visiting the farm in March 1778 when the British raided Salem during the American Revolutionary War and killed several of the inhabitants. The British commandeered Pledger's house, and Johnson

96-745: A Tenth . The five Tenths, stretching from Assunpink Creek southward to an area inclusive of the Cohansey River , fronted the east bank of the Delaware River . John Fenwick acquired title to the Fifth Tenth, which occupied much of the present-day counties of Salem and Cumberland . In the third quarter of 1675, John Fenwick and the other emigrants departed London aboard the Griffin , Robert Griffith in command. The Griffin reached its destination prior to October 8, 1675; that day John Fenwick recorded

144-502: A balustrade , and fine interior woodwork. Johnson wanted this house to remain in the family, but it was sold to the county in 1922 and relocated when a new courthouse was built on the plot. But it still stands today nearby and houses the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors' Center, and similar offices. Johnson's first wife, Hannah, died at about the age of thirty while her son Robert was still a child. In 1813, Johnson married Juliana Zantzinger, who

192-564: A dry town , the sale of alcohol is not legally permitted. Among the oldest buildings are Barrett's Plantation House and the Salem County Insane Asylum . According to the United States Census Bureau , the township had a total area of 37.90 square miles (98.17 km ), including 33.88 square miles (87.76 km ) of land and 4.02 square miles (10.41 km ) of water (10.61%). The Salem River flows along

240-582: A countywide basis are: Clerk Dale A. Cross (R, Pennsville Township , 2024), Sheriff Charles M. Miller (R, Salem , 2024) and Surrogate Nicki A. Burke (D, Woodstown , 2025). As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,014 registered voters in Mannington Township, of which 243 (24.0% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats , 285 (28.1% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 486 (47.9% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated . There were no voters registered to other parties. Among

288-487: A plan to sell it to Prime Healthcare Foundation for $ 15 million. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mannington Township include: John Fenwick (Quaker) John Fenwick (1618—1683) was the leader of a group of Quakers who emigrated in 1675 from England to Salem, New Jersey where they established Fenwick's Colony, the first English settlement in West Jersey . Fenwick

336-641: A staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2024 , Salem County's Commissioners (with party, residence, and term-end year listed in parentheses) are: Director Benjamin H. Laury ( R , Elmer , 2024), Deputy Director Gordon J. "Mickey" Ostrum Jr. (R, Pilesgrove Township , 2024), Cordy Taylor (R, Oldmans Township , 2025), Ed Ramsey (R, Pittsgrove Township , 2026) and Daniel Timmerman (R, Elmer, 2025). Constitutional officers elected on

384-420: A turnout of 49.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 268 votes (46.7% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 225 votes (39.2% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 63 votes (11.0% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (1.9% vs. 2.0%), among the 574 ballots cast by the township's 1,010 registered voters, yielding a 56.8% turnout (vs. 47.3% in

432-661: A turnout of 70.8%. In the 2008 presidential election , Republican John McCain received 394 votes (52.0% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 349 votes (46.0% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.3% vs. 1.6%), among the 758 ballots cast by the township's 1,018 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.5% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County). In the 2004 presidential election , Republican George W. Bush received 414 votes (55.3% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 324 votes (43.3% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.7% vs. 1.0%), among

480-488: Is a township in Salem County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . As of the 2020 United States census , the township's population was 1,475, a decrease of 331 (−18.3%) from the 2010 census count of 1,806, which in turn reflected an increase of 247 (+15.8%) from the 1,559 counted in the 2000 census . Mannington Township was first mentioned on May 12, 1701. It had been previously known as East Fenwick Township, which

528-459: Is the main highway serving Mannington Township. County Route 540 (Pointers Auburn Road) also traverses the township. Their convergence with Pointers Sharptown Road ( County Route 620 ) is named Pointers, or the Pointers, which "pointed" toward Salem . NJ Transit provides bus service between Salem and Philadelphia on the 401 , with local service between Penns Grove and Woodstown offered on

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576-504: The 2000 United States census there were 1,559 people, 539 households, and 409 families residing in the township. The population density was 44.8 inhabitants per square mile (17.3/km ). There were 573 housing units at an average density of 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km ). The racial makeup of the township was 75.63% White , 20.91% African American , 0.51% Native American , 0.38% Asian , 1.73% from other races , and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of

624-591: The 2024-2025 session , the 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Burzichelli ( D , Paulsboro ) and in the General Assembly by David Bailey (D, Woodstown ) and Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro ). Salem County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on

672-441: The 468 route. Once also providing passenger service, the 18.6 miles (29.9 km) southern portion of the freight rail Salem Branch operated under contract by Southern Railroad of New Jersey runs through Mannington, with Mannington Mills being one of the short line's major customers. Salem Medical Center is a 126-bed hospital that was founded in 1919 and moved to Mannington Township in 1951. In 2017, New Jersey approved

720-535: The 31st smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 158 students. Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Salem High School in Salem City , together with students from Elsinboro Township , Lower Alloways Creek Township and Quinton Township , as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Salem City School District . As of the 2021–22 school year,

768-424: The 748 ballots cast by the township's 1,021 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county). In the 2013 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 73.8% of the vote (363 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.6% (121 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (8 votes), among the 497 ballots cast by the township's 999 registered voters (5 ballots were spoiled), for

816-502: The Court House steps he spoke to the crowd about the history of the tomato. ... He picked a choice one from a basket on the steps and held it up so that it glistened in the sun. ... "To help dispel the tall tales, the fantastic fables that you have been hearing ... And to prove to you that it is not poisonous I am going to eat one right now"... There was not a sound as the Col. dramatically brought

864-561: The Mannington Township Committee are Mayor Donald C. Asay ( R , term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Luke S. Patrick Jr. (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Kenneth H. Dunham Jr. (R, 2024). In the 2012 general election, the Township Committee had Democrats in the majority for the first time in township history, though the committee decided to choose

912-401: The average family size was 3.02. In the township the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in

960-623: The committee's only Republican, Donald C. Asay, as mayor. Mannington Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew ( R , Dennis Township ). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and George Helmy ( Mountain Lakes , term ends 2024). For

1008-562: The company was established in Salem in 1915. In 2010, the company undertook an extensive cleanup of contaminated soil on the plant site. Mannington Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by

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1056-401: The county). The Mannington Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Mannington Township School. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 176 students and 21.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.4:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Mannington had

1104-550: The dramatic event with live actors in costume. In 1988, Good Morning America reported that Johnson was the first to eat a tomato in the United States, but there are hundreds such stories about other individuals – Thomas Jefferson , a Shaker bride, immigrant Italians (e.g., Michele Felice Cornè ), and many others – even though the tomato was long recognized as edible throughout Europe and Central and South America. Mannington Township, New Jersey Mannington Township

1152-544: The high school had an enrollment of 399 students and 39.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. As of May 2010 , the township had a total of 69.40 miles (111.69 km) of roadways, of which 30.42 miles (48.96 km) were maintained by the municipality, 32.36 miles (52.08 km) by Salem County and 6.62 miles (10.65 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation . New Jersey Route 45 (Salem-Woodstown Road)

1200-562: The house of his great-grandfather, Alexander Grant, which still stands today in Market Street . After marrying, he built a new house for the family in 1806–7 – Johnson Hall , also in Market Street. This was the first house built in Salem in the Federal style but has some idiosyncratic asymmetries, apparently for functional reasons. It is brick-built with two stories, five bays, a high roof with

1248-454: The large family estate. He married Hannah Carney on June 19, 1798. They had four children, but the first two daughters died in infancy. Their third daughter, Anne Gibbon Johnson, survived and married a Philadelphia lawyer, Ferdinand Hubbell. Their fourth and last child, Robert Carney Johnson, married Julia Harrison and went on to inherit the family estate in Salem. Johnson and his mother moved into Salem town when his father died. They stayed in

1296-435: The population were under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 141.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 143.0 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income

1344-409: The population. There were 539 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and

1392-416: The population. Of the 540 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.4% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09. 18.3% of

1440-556: The suit was unsuccessful, and Reckless did not return to Salem until he had died. In 1794, Johnson served in the New Jersey brigade under Joseph Bloomfield as paymaster of its second regiment and saw action in the Whiskey Rebellion . In 1796, he was commissioned as a cavalry captain by Richard Howell and, in 1798, he was promoted to major. Subsequent governors promoted him to lieutenant-colonel in 1809 and full colonel in 1817. He

1488-519: The tale. With Sickler as a consultant, the CBS radio show You Are There then broadcast a re-enactment of the event in 1949. The legend of Johnson's daring deed then became well-established in numerous works and retold in further dramatic accounts: Col. Johnson announced that he would eat a tomato, also called the wolf peach, Jerusalem apple or love apple, on the steps of the county courthouse at noon. ... That morning, in 1820, about 2000 people were jammed into

Robert Gibbon Johnson - Misplaced Pages Continue

1536-462: The tomato into the area around 1820. Tomatoes became a significant crop in southern New Jersey, which was able to ship its fresh, ripe produce to the local large markets of New York and Philadelphia. However, even though much contemporary material relating to Johnson survives, the first written claim associating him with the introduction of the tomato to Salem dates only to the early 20th century. The apocryphal story accompanying this posthumous reputation

1584-456: The tomato to his lips and took a bite. A woman in the crowd screamed and fainted but no one paid her any attention; they were all watching Col. Johnson as he took one bite after another. ... He raised both his arms, and again bit into one and then the other. The crowd cheered and the firemen's band blared a song. ... "He's done it", they shouted. "He's still alive" For a period in the 1980s, Salem celebrated "Robert Gibbon Johnson Day" by re-enacting

1632-466: The town square. ... The spectators began to hoot and jeer. Then, 15 minutes later, Col. Johnson emerged from his mansion and headed up Market Street towards the Courthouse. The crowd cheered. The fireman's band struck up a lively tune. He was a very impressive-looking man as he walked along the street. He was dressed in his usual black suit with white ruffles, black shoes and gloves, tricorn hat, and cane. At

1680-482: The township was $ 52,625, and the median income for a family was $ 62,500. Males had a median income of $ 45,714 versus $ 29,727 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 24,262. About 3.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over. Mannington Mills operates a manufacturing facility which occupies over 500 acres (200 ha), which it moved to Mannington after

1728-469: The township's 2010 Census population, 56.1% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 68.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide). In the 2012 presidential election , Republican Mitt Romney received 55.8% of the vote (406 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.1% (306 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (15 votes), among the 734 ballots cast by the township's 1,036 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled ), for

1776-610: The township's northern and western boundaries. The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Alloway Township , Carneys Point Township , Pennsville Township , Pilesgrove Township , Quinton Township and Salem . Unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Acton, Claysville, Halltown, Marshalltown , Pointers , Portertown, Slapes Corner, Welchtown and Welchville. The 2010 United States census counted 1,806 people, 540 households, and 392 families in

1824-461: The township. The population density was 53.6 inhabitants per square mile (20.7/km ). There were 592 housing units at an average density of 17.6 per square mile (6.8/km ). The racial makeup was 72.59% (1,311) White , 21.10% (381) Black or African American , 0.66% (12) Native American , 0.44% (8) Asian , 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander , 3.93% (71) from other races , and 1.27% (23) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% (148) of

1872-673: The trustee for Delaware College and Princeton Theological Seminary . He attended the Episcopal Church in Salem, but in 1820–21, he established the First Presbyterian Church in Salem and became its first elder in 1823. He was a keen local historian, and in 1839, his An Historical Account of the First Settlement of Salem, in West Jersey was published. He maintained a collection of important local historical documents and

1920-468: The voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting conducted during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. As of 2022 , members of

1968-426: Was $ 63,650 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 5,287) and the median family income was $ 75,625 (+/− $ 17,613). Males had a median income of $ 59,896 (+/− $ 6,020) versus $ 42,159 (+/− $ 10,096) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $ 33,369 (+/− $ 5,096). About 6.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. As of

Robert Gibbon Johnson - Misplaced Pages Continue

2016-437: Was a keen equestrian and rode in a bold, erect style into his seventies. In 1796, he was appointed a commissioner of the loan office for the county – a New Jersey institution founded to provide mortgages to local farmers to help their cash flow. In 1825, he was a member of the New Jersey Legislature and he served more than one term. In 1833, he was appointed as a county court judge and served for several terms. He also served as

2064-414: Was about 32 years old. Juliana lived until 1854 but had no further children. Around 1826, Hetty Reckless , a Black woman whom Johnson enslaved, escaped to Philadelphia and sought the protection of abolitionists, claiming that Johnson's mother had promised her freedom and that Juliana mistreated her by pulling out her hair and knocking out two teeth with a broomstick. Johnson petitioned to reenslave her, but

2112-645: Was born the second son of Sir William Fenwick at Stanton Manor, Northumberland , England to an ancient family of wealth and influence. In 1648, John Fenwick married Elizabeth Covert, who gave birth to three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne and Priscilla. In 1665, John and Elizabeth Fenwick joined the Religious Society of Friends , or Quakers. After Elizabeth's death, John Fenwick married Mary Burdet, his second wife and daughter of Sir Walter Burdet. They had no children. Prior to 1674, West Jersey had been partitioned by English colonists into five territories, each called

2160-542: Was imprisoned with the family for several days. Still a young boy, he later led his mother away to safety. His early education was in Pittsgrove where Reverend William Schenck taught him Presbyterianism . Johnson was subsequently educated at Newark Academy in Delaware and College of New Jersey from where he graduated in 1790. He had planned to practice law but instead concentrated on agriculture for most of his life, managing

2208-793: Was instrumental in establishing a public library in Salem. He was a founding member of the New Jersey Historical Society and was its first vice president since its founding in 1845. In 1846, he presented a paper on John Fenwick, Chief Proprietor of Salem Tenth to the society in Elizabethtown . Johnson was an active horticulturist and was a president of the New Jersey Horticultural Society, and wrote about draining marshland in The American Farmer in 1826. Johnson's later reputation credited him with introducing

2256-483: Was mentioned on September 3, 1679, though the details of its incorporation are unknown. The township was incorporated by New Jersey Legislature 's Township Act of 1798 on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships . A portion of the township was taken in 1878 and annexed by Quinton Township . The township's name derives from the Lenape deity, variously spelled as Maneto or Manito . As

2304-399: Was popularized by Joseph Sickler, the Salem postmaster, who told Harry Emerson Wildes an anecdote about Johnson publicly eating tomatoes to prove their safety on account of the plant being in the nightshade family. Wildes published the story in his book The Delaware in 1940 and Stewart Holbrook then dramatized the event in his 1946 book, Lost Men of American History , adding dialogue to

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