HENDRICKS ISLAND

Hendricks Island is in the middle of the Delaware River between Center Bridge and Lumberville Pennsylvania and is about 112 acres in size. Because of my Hendricks heritage I was curious how and for whom the Island was named. On a survey done ca.1744 it is shown as Tinkers Island, in 1851 the Island has the name of Paxson's Island and then in 1860 a map shows it as Huffnagle's Island. Since then, all preceding maps including the current ones of today identify it as Hendrick's Island.

The deed books for Bucks County contained the necessary information to come to the conclusion that the Island got its current name from a John Hendricks. In March of 1866, John Hendricks was a 50-year old farmer, his wife Mary Ann (Carver) around 49 years of age. The only child that possibly still lived with them was their son Charles Solliday Hendricks, not quite 20 years old, who had returned home from the Civil War.

On the 24th of that month John Hendricks purchased an acre plot of land from Robert B. and Rachel K. Lyons. This plot ran along the River Road by the Canal in the Village of Lumberville. He paid them $95.00 in cash and appears to have assumed their mortgage lien of $600.00. Five days later on the 29th of March, John and Mary purchase two other tracts of land from the Estate of Lewis S.Coryell. The first tract was the Island known as Paxson's Island, the second was a piece of land lying between the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal and the Southerly Branch of the Delaware River. For these parcels he paid a tremendous sum of $6500.00.

In October 1871, John now 55yrs old, sold part of the one acre property he had bought in 1866 from Robert and Rachel Lyons to Joseph R. Reigle for $800.00 The plot he sold to Mr. Reigle is described as containing "seventy-four perches and seven-tenths of land more or less." Also by this time, his son Francis had died in 1868, and Charles had married Hettie Sharp in December of 1867. His daughter, Rachel and her husband Henry C. Wanamaker probably somewhere close by. It is believed that Charles and Hettie lived on the Island with his parents, because their first born son, John was thought to have been born there, and the newspaper obit for their son Harry states that he was born on the Island.

In 1872, two of John Hendricks neighbors appear to be Andrew Manderson and David R. Johnson, as the deed book shows a right of way and release between them, concerning the property along the Canal from the River Road. By the year 1877, John now 61 yrs old had lost his wife Mary and daughter Rachel, and it must have been difficult for him at that age to continue farming, it is not known at this time whether or not his son Charles was living on the Island.

Things took a turn for the worse in the year 1879 for John Hendricks, his debts were so great that he had to turn over to Samuel A. Firman a voluntary deed of assignment on the 3rd of January. On November 10, three of John's properties, the Island, the 15 1/2 acre plot, and the rest of the plot purchased from the Lyons, were sold at auction to the highest bidder. These properties that John had paid around $7,000 for in the 1860's went for a measly $510.00 on that day in November. Thomas O. Atkinson, the purchaser, got alot for his money.

In a deed from March 23, 1883, it is noted that somehow John still had some land. In this deed, John paid John Kitchen and his wife the sum of One Dollar for the use of the water from a Spring that ran through part of their property, that could be piped onto the "lands of John Hendricks." At this point in time John was 67yrs. old. There are other deeds of use in 1891 that lead me to believe he still had land, but further research is needed.

I am pleased that the deeds of record permit the conclusion that Hendricks Island got its name from one of my ancestors. John Hendrick's legacy may not have been a rich one, but the family name will undoubtably grace the maps and atlases for years to come.

In the Lambertville Beacon of September 2, 1898, I came across this item about the Island.

"Hendrick's Island property has recently changed owners. Improvements there on are very marked. Buildings have been repaired, the dwelling treated to fresh paint and a nice front porch added. We hear that the new owner and occupant Mr. Redfield, contemplates building a bridge to connect the Island with the main land on the Pennsylvania side" Edward Redfield, was an artist known for his painting of the fire that destroyed Center Bridge in 1923.