Essays on Sussex County and New Jersey Postal History

DEVELOPMENT OF SUSSEX POs: Hamburg & The Paterson-Hamburg Pike ~ Len PeckAt the time Lawrence applied for the post office, the area was known asSharpsborough after the Sharp family who were early settlers in the area. However, JessePotts and his brother, who had emigrated from Germany to Trenton N.J. when it was just acolony, had moved to Sharpsborough and built a forge there in 1792. That forge becameknown as the Hamburg Forge, which prompted Lawrence to name the post officeHamburg as well. The forge was located on the Wallkill River, just below the Sharphomestead, which later became known as the Haines Mansion.Thomas Lawrence not onlyserved as postmaster of Hamburg butalso was one of the prime movers inestablishing the Paterson-HamburgTurnpike which would pass throughHamburgh, Stockholm, Pompton,Paterson, and Aquanock (Passaic). Hewas also one of the capitalistsinvolved. In addition, he also had ahand in the development of JerseyCity.Fig 2: The Smith Simpson Hotel stood at the intersectionof Rt.. 94 and Rt. 23. Rt. 23 – for the most part – followsthe route of the Hamburg-Paterson Turnpike.The name chosen, Hamburg, was originally spelled with no H at the end. Kay &Smith 2 indicates that by 1827, the name was standardized as Hamburgh – but cancels seem toprove that to be not exactly the case.Fig. 3: This 29 Apr (1841) cover bears a manuscript cancel from Hamburg, NJ which does notappear to have an H at the end. Sent to Orange County, NY, this letter is from Daniel Haines,Hamburg’s most prominent son – he served 2 terms as State Governor and became a Justice onthe State Supreme Court.NJPH 106Vol. 37/No. 2May 2009 Whole No. 17434