Postmarked April 18, 1908, Masonville, New Jersey
Maggie R.[V.?] Evans
Birmingham
New Jersey
Our Dear Niece Margaret.
Many Many thanks for the beautiful Easter card rec’d this eve very kind of [them] to remember us, trusting you are all well & with love to all [from all]. Aff’tly [i.e., Affectionately] Uncle + Aunt John [Mc?] R.E. [U, V, N, or H?] [Holyoak?]
Rancocas
4/18/1908
Postcard #5 in this series has been the most difficult to track so far. As you can see from the above, transcription was difficult, (assistance would be most welcome!)
After nearly giving up, I think I found the correct Margaret Evans. Key word: think. So, with that caveat…
Margaret R. Haines was born on April 3, 1865 to Benjamin D. Haines and Elizabeth Hilyard. In 1880, she lived with her parents, sisters Rachie [i.e., Rachael] and Anna, and brother James in Rancocas, Westampton Township, Burlington, New Jersey. The census shows 13-year old Margaret (Maggie)’s birth year as 1867 rather than the 1865 on her headstone.
Her parents were Quakers; they had married at the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1864.
According to the Township of Hainesport, New Jersey — about 7 miles from Birmingham, the postcard’s destination — the Haines family has a long history in the area:
One family of particular interest was that of Richard and Margaret Haines who set sail from Northamptonshire, England in 1682. The land grant for which the Haines family emigrated covered approximately 1700 acres, including a portion of the present Mount Laurel Township. Their son, Joseph Haines, who was born in mid-ocean, purchased a tract of land beyond Lumberton covering several hundred acres, including the Village of Long Bridge which was the original name of Hainesport. The village was named after the long wooden toll bridge crossing the south branch of the Ancocas (Rancocas) Creek on the only road leading from Moorestown to Mt. Holly, known as the Philadelphia Road. The Haines family were Quakers, as were most of the original settlers to this area.
Township of Hainesport website, “History” page, accessed 10 Feb 2022.
On March 15, 1887 Maggie married John B. Evans in Rancocas — the same place named at the end of the postcard.
The 1910 Census lists John E. Evans, 45; wife Margaret R. Evans, 44; and their 17-year-old son Maurice as living on Birmingham Road (near Birmingham), Vincentown, Southampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. Despite the difficult handwriting on the postcard, it was definitely addressed to a Maggie — referred to in the letter as Margaret — R. Evans of Birmingham, New Jersey. John and Margaret, both born in the state, were general farm workers.
Four years later, on December 9, 1914, John passed away at age 50. He is buried at Woodlane Graveyard, Mount Holly, Burlington, New Jersey. John’s middle initial on the headstone is B.; the E. on the 1910 Census was likely an error.
Margaret died on June 1, 1939 and is buried in the same cemetery as her husband.
Are you a descendant of the Haines/Evans families? Do you have information or photos to share? I’d love to hear from you. Please reach out using the “Contact” page.
Sonia Nicholson 