Notes for Sarah BADGLEY

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Notes for Sarah BADGLEY

Sarah's father was a landholder of Elizabethtown and lived there until his death approximately September 1759. He is said by a descendant to have been a ship's carpenter, and to have met his death by drowning, although he was known locally as an excellent swimmer. He died intestate and letters of administration to his estate were granted to his son George. His widow lived to an advanced age, and was buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard, but no stone marks her grave.

In 1772 Sarah Clark was married to William Graham.

In the New York Gazette (14 May 1764, No. 284) the following advertisement appeared - "John Graham, who formerly kept the Sign of the Duke at Whitehall, in New York, now keeps the Sign of the Marquis of Grandby in Elizabethtown, in the most publick part of said town, and the most noted house for many years past. It was formerly kept by Mrs. Chetwood [probably widow of Barnaby], but latterly by Mr. John Joline".
Perhaps John Graham was one of the relatives of William Graham. Mrs. John Joline 's tombstone in the First Presbyterian Churchyard states: "Here Li's interr'd the Body of Phebe, Wife of Captn John Joline who died Decer ye 6th A.D. 1763 Et Suae 49". Perhaps the transfer of the tavern was caused by the circumstances surrounding her death.

Mr. Graham made his will 23 September 1777. In it he left his real and personal property to his wife Sarah and named her as the executrix. Witnesses were Hannah Barnet, William Barnet and George Ross. It was proved 17 January 1778, and an inventory, which included a Negro boy, was made by William Harrison and Nathan Woodruff. The estate was still unsettled when Sarah died in 1793. It was finally administered by David A. Ogden of Newark on 25 August 1794.

By 1779 Mrs. Graham, was once again a widow, and as such her furniture was advertised for sale at auction on March 23. She remarried to Robert Forrest in 1791 and took back the operation of the Red Lion tavern, which she had previously turned over to her son-in-law Morris Hetfield.

On Wednesday, 15 March 1780 the following appeared in the New Jersey Journal:
"To Be Rented By Way of Public Vendue the 21st inst. at two o'clock for the term of one year, and entered upon the first of April next:
The noted Tavern formerly kept by William Graham, at Elizabeth Town, about two acres of land, and all the improvements thereon, will be let with the house. Conditions of sale will be made known, by Sarah Graham.
Elizabeth-Town March 14, 1780"

Sarah died in the old Stiles house in the Salem quarter of the town [now Union Township]. Her death was recorded in the Sexton's Book of Elizabethtown as 'Mother of John Clark'. Her estate was administered by Robert Forrest, John Clark, and Morris Hetfield. There is no stone to mark her grave.

The Red Lion Inn was at the corner of Broad Street and Rahway Avenue. In 1926 the site was occupied by the Public Library. The inn was built about 1734. In 1764 it was called the Marquis of Granby. In 1771 the name changed to the "Red Lion". General Washington on the way to his first inauguration stopped and had a reception at the Red Lion. [ Historic Roadsides in New Jersey, The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey, 1926]

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