A recent newspaper article reported on a village of "freed and runaway slaves along Rancocas Creek" in Burlington County, NJ. A Temple University archaeology dig at the site is turning up thousands of artifacts on the buried village. A small cemetery off Church Road is the only thing left of the site and has grave markers of 13 soldiers of the US Colored Troops who fought in the Civil War. It is believed the village started aroung 1825, included 125 families and ended in mid 20th century. Besides being a site on the Underground Railroad during the Civil war is was also known for a battle to protect runaway slaves from a slave catcher and his 12 or so followers in pursuit of a runaway. The village members fought them off with what ever weapons they could find to protect the former slave. That incident is known as the Battle of Pine Swamp in 1860. The township of Westampton and the Burlington County Lyceum of History at Mount Holly Library are preserving the site and displaying the artifacts.
(Source: "Enclave of former slaves uncovered in South Jersey" by Jan Hefler of The Philadelphia Enquirer. From The Record on 12/2/14.)
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