I (Stacy's dad) would like to thank James J. Bohning, Ph.D.,
Visiting Research Scientist, at
The following is taken from "Annals of Philadelphia," by John F.
Watson, pub. 1870-1879. (There are 3 volumes,
and it turns out,
a copy).
"Colonel Coxe, the grandfather of the late Tench Coxe, Esqr., made an
elopement in his youth with an heiress, Sarah Eckley, a Friend [Quaker].
What was singular in their case was, that they were married in the woods of
New Jersey by fire light, by the Chaplain of Lord Cornbury, the then
Governor of New Jersey. The fact gave some scandal to the serious friends
of her family. A letter of Margaret Preston, of 1707, which I have seen,
thus describes her umbrage at the fact, saying:- The news of Sarah Eckley's
marriage is both sorrowful and surprising, with one Colonel Coxe, a fine
flaunting gentleman, said to be worth a great deal of money, - a great
inducement, it is said, on her side. His sister Trent was suppose to have
promoted the match. Her other friends were ignorant of the match.
It took
place in the absence of her uncle and aunt Hill,
between two and three in
the morning, on the
since proselyted her, and decked her out in finery."