South Jersey Towns: History and Legends [Paperback]

William McMahon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1973

No region in the nation has a richer heritage than the eight counties of South Jersey--Cape May, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, and Ocean. In this book William McMahon has collected an assortment of little-known information and historical anecdotes about the people and places of this area. "Mr. McMahon offers a chronicle that is full of storms and fires, shipbuilding and shipwrecks, privateers and pirates, taverns and publick houses, Indians and Liberty Boys, boom towns and ghost towns, moonshining and medicine shows, stagecoach lines and railroads, spies and betrayals, and--botanically--cranberries, eelgrass, and poison love apples (tomatoes)."--New York Times Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (April 1, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813507189
• ISBN-13: 978-0813507187
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #512,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The history of South Jersey Towns, April 21, 2001

By A Customer

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This review is from: South Jersey Towns: History and Legends (Paperback)

I am a New Jersey native having grown up in a small town in the southern half of the state. I have been researching the history of the towns that I know so well and the best resource I have come along is William McMahon's "South Jersey Towns." This book is an incredible resource for anyone interested in American history! As our nation was being developed by the Europeans, so many historical events took place in New Jersey! William McMahon's careful research and detail brings them to light. A must read for history buffs!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid history of South Jersey, October 27, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: South Jersey Towns: History and Legends (Paperback)

Published in 1973, this book traces the history and legends of the 8 counties that make up the southern half of New Jersey. McMahon has arranged his information by county, and although the book has the word "Towns" in its title, he includes much that is not linked to any specific town (ship wrecks, personalities, historical events, to name just three).

It's natural to compare this book with the works of that other famous Jersey local historian and author, Henry Charlton Beck, who covered the same ground as McMahon. A major difference is that McMahon writes much more from the point of view of the historian (he cites the historical record and includes an extensive bibliography) where Beck's approach was on a more personal level. Much more information is found in McMahon as well. But where Beck was more inviting, drawing the reader into his adventures, even inspiring the reader to get out and see for himslf, McMahon keeps the reader at arms length and is more interested in providing factual information. The book contains a handful of pictures (almost all historical and not current), and an appendix that lists towns and their former names. A few rather cursory maps appear, too. People interested in the history of South Jersey will find this book entertaining and informative. Well worth checking out.