I started my tour at the Forks of the Rancocas Creek, which is a mile or so East of Centerton bridge. This is where the first Quaker pioneer settlers of this area came to barter with the Lenape Indians for land. The Lenape Indians lived in the Inner Forks of the creek and the Quaker's bartered for the high land on the North bank of the North Branch of the creek. The Quakers selected the high land to avoid mosquitos and malaria. Quakers bartered for land in 1677.

To the left of the photo we see the tree line of the North bank of the North branch of the Rancocas creek. We can also see the trees of the Inner Forks projecting out. More photos later in the tour. ¹

Looking across the South branch of the Rancocas Creek to the Inner Forks were where the Lenape Indeans lived. ²

Looking up the South Branch of the Rancocas Creek which goes up to Lumberton. ³

Forest in the Inner Forks of the Rancocas Creek where the Lenape Indians lived. ⁴

Looking from the forest of the Inner Forks where the Lenape Indians lived to the North bank of the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek which goes to Mount Holly. ⁵

Looking from the Inner Forks of the Rancocas Creek where the Lenape Indians lived across the North Branch to the old farm house which we will see later in the tour. ⁶

I'm (Warren Johnson) holding up a piece of Jersey sandstone. There is a tradition that the Indians had a stone walkway across one of the Forks of the Rancocas Creek. The Indians had plenty of sandstone to make a walkway. ⁷

Looking for the caves the Quaker pioneer settlers lived in the first winter they were here (1677). ⁸

Did I find the caves where John Haines, the cave man, lived? Hainesport was named after John. Is this where the Quakers lived the first winter? ^{9 10 11 12}

Now we are over on the North bank of the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek. This is the land the Quakers bartered for with the Lenape Indians. The mansion house is one of four that is still left from the 1700's when the Quakers lived along the North Bank of the Rancocas Creek. This old mansion house from the 1700's is in a restricted area of Rancocas State Forest. ¹³

A view from the mansion house which is in picture number 13, across the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek to the forest of the Inner Forks where the Lenape Indians lived. ¹⁴

From the mansion house we view the North Branch flowing to Mt. Holly. ¹⁵

From the mansion house front lawn we viewed the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek flowing west to the Forks, where it's high tide at four o'clock in the afternoon every full moon. ¹⁶

Before Rancocas and the Mt.Holly-Berverly road existed, Woodlane Road at Irick Road veered to the left, through Bunker Hill woods. It went by the one room brick school, and down to the Rancocas Creek. The road went by the Quaker mansion homes and on to Beverly. I'm (Warren Johnson) standing on an old bridge in a deep ravine, showing part of the old road. (see map) ¹⁷

In the hedge row between fields, you can still see the deep wagon wheel ruts, part of the old road. ¹⁸

The letters on the Western end of this mansion house, A and R.W. 1786 stand for Aaron and Rachel Wills. Aaron was a descendant of Dr. Daniel Wills (who came over on the Kent in 1677). This house is in the restricted area of the Burlington County Parks. ¹⁹

A rear view of the Aaron and Rachel Wills mansion home built by them in 1786. ²⁰

Front view of the Aaron and Rachel Wills mansion. I'm (Warren Johnson) looking down the rolling hill to the meadow and the Rancocas Creek from the front porch, a beautiful view! ²¹

Map ²²

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