The Amos Tindall Homestead

Amos Tindall farmhouse (center) and barn (right), Nov. 2024.

An old, 2-story, T-shaped house with small front porch stands next to a small board and batten barn at 1645 Old Trenton Road. This property is the historic Amos Tindall homestead - once the main residence of a much-larger farm, a member of West Windsor's "100 Club," and owned for almost its entire history by the Tindall family.

Both structures' dates of construction are unknown, but a house does appear here in an 1849 map of Mercer County.[1] At the time, the property was owned by William I. Tindall, who had inherited 300 acres in 1837 from his father, John T. Tindall,[2] himself a Revolutionary War veteran.[3] This property had presumably passed through the Tindall family for several generations by that point.[4],[5]

Although in 1849, William owned the farm, it was apparently his son, Amos, who lived in the house at 1645 Old Trenton Road.[6] Six years later, Amos was deeded the house and 87 acres of surrounding farmland.[7] The 1860 census shows him living with his wife, Ann, and their children: Amy, Theodore, Samuel, and Phebe.[8]

According to the 1883 publication History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, Amos established a "distillery and cider manufactory."[9] This was probably between 1849 and 1860.[10],[11] A different publication attested that "he made nothing stronger than applejack [an alcoholic apple-based drink] and after a few years, the plant was used solely for making cider."[12] Amos was also a West Windsor Overseer of the Highways, Township Committeeman, Surveyor of Highways, Freeholder.[13]

Extent of 1855 deed with 2023 aerial imagery.

Amos died in 1873,[14] after which the farm passed to William J. Tindall.[15] However, the History of Burlington and Mercer Counties attested that it was Amos' sons, Samuel and Theodore, who maintained operation of the distillery,[16] which probably shut down between 1875 and 1890.[17],[18] Meanwhile, William himself was a Commissioner of [Taxation] Appeal and Township Committeeman in the 1880s-90s.[19] More notably, however, he was on West Windsor's Board of Education for more than 35 years.[20] According to his obituary, "His keen interest in education and his excellent judgement in financial matters won for him a place of respect among his associates. Of equal importance to him was the Windsor Grange, in which he took an active part for many years. Throughout his long career he kept paramount in his thoughts the idea of being a help to farmers, and he had met with many farm folks of New Jersey and discussed with them their agricultural problems."[21]

​The 1900 census shows William and his wife, Phoebe, living with their children - George, Emma, Ada, Clifford, and Russell - as well as a boarder named James Williams.[22] In 1936, a year after William died,[23] the property was sold to Russell and his wife, Ruth C. Stelle.[24] The 1940 census shows the couple living here with their sons, Donald and Earl.[25] Although they sold the farm to Edward and Barbara Dilatush in 1942,[26] six years later, it was deeded back to Russell and Ruth.[27]

William R. Tindall at house, probably 1910s-30s. From Earl Tindall.

​Russell, a dairy farmer, passed in 1951,[28] after which Earl took over the farm while only in high school.[29] However, the property remained in Ruth's hands for many years, until finally deeding Earl and his wife, Mildred the property in 1972.[30] The couple lived here for several decades, each with their own vibrant stories. When Mildred in 2005, her obituary lauded her service in the armed forces:

She was a nurse and 1st ​Lieutenant with the U.S. Air Force, having been stationed at Luke Air Force Base Hospital in Arizona in the labor and delivery unit. She was also a registered nurse at Helene Fuld Medical Center.[31]

Earl's 2014 obituary, in turn, painted a portrait of a prolific farmer:

In 1954 ... he and his cousin, W.G. Dye, formed a partnership, rented 250 acres, and planted corn. With a brief span of growing and selling tomato crops to Campbell's Soup and Stokely canned goods, Earl continued to evolve his farming endeavors, progressing into crops of wheat, barley, rye, and soybeans.[32]

William R. Tindall loading hay, date unknown.

The document continues:

  In 1969, he purchased a local grain elevator and founded E.H. Tindall, Inc., where he ran a successful grain elevator operation. Mr. Tindall, along with his business partner, Steve Jany, developed Rustin Farms into one of the largest operations in the state of New Jersey, farming approximately 2,000 acres. Some highlights of Earl's career include the production of high-protein soy beans and winning numerous awards for selling and distributing seeds and farm supplies. Earl was recognized by New Jersey Farm and Garden as "Star Farmer of the Month" in May 1955 and proclaimed as being "on a threshold of a promising career," a statement he lived up to. Many might have viewed that observation as a masterpiece of understatement in view of what he ultimately accomplished. Mr. Tindall was affiliated with many farming organizations throughout the state of New Jersey. Locally, he was an alumnus of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), the past president of the Mercer County Board of Agriculture, and a member of the Mercer County Development Board and the Farm Credit Advisory Board.[33]

From Trenton's "Sunday Times Advertiser," May 7, 1967.

Finally, it concludes:

Statewide, Mr. Tindall was a past director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau and a member of both the NJ Soybean Board and the Grain and Forage Producers Association. He was a member of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, where he once served as a deacon. Mr. Tindall was a founding member of the West Windsor State Bank and a former member of the West Windsor Planning Board and the Delaware Valley Businessmen's Club. Mr. Tindall was affiliated with many farming organizations throughout the state of New Jersey. Locally, he was an alumnus of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), the past president of the Mercer County Board of Agriculture, and a member of the Mercer County Development Board and the Farm Credit Advisory Board. Statewide, Mr. Tindall was a past director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau and a member of both the NJ Soybean Board and the Grain and Forage Producers Association. He was a member of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, where he once served as a deacon. Mr. Tindall was a founding member of the West Windsor State Bank and a former member of the West Windsor Planning Board and the Delaware Valley Businessmen's Club.[34]

From Oct. 1, 1967 "Trenton Evening Times."

In the mid-1990s, much of the land around the homestead was transformed into suburban development centered on Cottonwood and Aspen Drives.[35],[36] However, at the time of this writing (2024), the house and barn remain. In fact, the exterior facade of the house and barn were recently rebuilt and a front porch added to the house.[37]

Barn at 1645 Old Trenton Road, date unknown.

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Bibliography

1. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
2. Tindall, Jonathan T. “Will of Jonathan T. Tindall.” Trenton, New Jersey: New Jersey State Archives, 1837. Published in Middlesex County wills, Volume C Page 314.
3. McMurray, John Coddington. “John Coddington McMurray’s Application for Membership to the Board of Managers of the Connecticut Society of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution,” March 31, 1967. Application examined and approved: January 14, 1967. Accepted by the State Board of Management: February 19, 1967. Approved and registered by the Registrar General: March 31, 1967. Certificate of Membership delivered: June 26, 1967.
4. Tindall, Jonathan. “Will of Jonathan Tindall.” Windsor, New Jersey: New Jersey State Archives, 1793. Published in Middlesex County wills, Lib. 34 Page 524.
5. Tindall, Jonathan T. “Will of Thomas Tindall.” Middlesex County, New Jersey: New Jersey State Archives, 1712.Republished in Middlesex County wills book; located in the New Jersey State Archives.
6. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
7. Tindall, Amos H., Tindall, William I. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1855. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 32 Page 94.
8. ​United States Census, 1860 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1860.
9. Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
10. Otley, J W, and James Keily. “Map of Mercer County, New Jersey.” Map. Camden, New Jersey: L. Van der Veer, 1849.
11. United States Census, 1860 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1860.
12. West Windsor Township: People - Purpose - Progress. West Windsor, New Jersey: West Windsor Township, 1964.​
13. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
14. Hamilton Square Baptist Church. (n.d.). Hamilton Square Baptist Church graveyard. West Windsor. Hamilton Square Baptist Church graveyard gravestones, which often list birth dates, death dates, and ages of those buried there - including those of many of central New Jersey's oldest families.
15. Hooper, Amy, Hooper, Thomas, Tindall, Lydia, Tindall, Mary, Tindall, Samuel, Tindall, Theodore, Tindall, William James. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1876. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 111 Page 462.
16. Woodward, Evan Morrison, and John Frelinghuysen Hageman. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck, 1883.
17. ​“West Windsor Township.” Map. 1875 Historical Atlas of Mercer County, New Jersey - Map of West Windsor. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Stuart, 1875. https://www. loc.gov/item/2010587333/.
18. “West Windsor.” Map. Scarlett and Scarlett's Fire Map of Mercer County, New Jersey, Including Trenton and Suburbs. Newark, New Jersey: Scarlett and scarlett, 1890. 
19. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
20. "William James Tindall Dies at 88 Years." Trenton Evening Times. October 22, 1935.
21. Ibid.
22. ​United States Census, 1900 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1900.
23. "William James Tindall Dies at 88 Years." Trenton Evening Times. October 22, 1935.
24. Grover, Harvey M., Tindall, G. Elmer, Tindall, Russell, Tindall, Ruth. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1936. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 754 Page 533.
25. ​United States Census, 1940 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1940.
26. Dilatush, Barbara F., Dilatush, Edward L., Tindall, Russell, Tindall, Ruth. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1942. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 843 Page 230.
27. Dilatush, Barbara F., Dilatush, Edward L., Tindall, Russell, Tindall, Ruth. “Indenture.” West Windsor, 1948. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1046 Page 470.
28. "W. Tussell Tindall." Trenton Evening Times. February 21, 1951.
29. “Official Obituary of Earl H. Tindall.” Saul Funeral Homes, 2014. https://www.saulfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Earl-H-Tindall?obId=7447862. 
30. McGovern, Frances T., Tindall, Donald R., Tindall, Earl H., Tindall, Janet T., Tindall, Mildred C., Tindall, Ruth S. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1972. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 1929 Page 263.
31. “Official Obituary of Mildred Charolette Tindall” Saul Funeral Homes, 2005. https://www.saulfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Mildred-Charolette-Tindall?obId=7444530. 
32. “Official Obituary of Earl H. Tindall.” Saul Funeral Homes, 2014. https://www.saulfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Earl-H-Tindall?obId=7447862. 
33. Ibid.
34. Ibid.
35. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1995.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1995.
36. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1997.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1997.
37. Personal observations of Paul Ligeti, the author of this article.