Penton is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
located within
Alloway Township in
Salem County
Salem County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western boundary is formed by the Delaware River and its eastern terminus is the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which connects the county with New Castle, Delaware. Its cou ...
, in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. The community is the site of the historic Penton Chapel.
History
William Penton received of land from
John Fenwick. William and Daniel Penton lived on a section of this land. The area was later named after a Penton family member (either Daniel or Abner), and was known as Penton Abbey, Pentonville, and Penton. Burton Penton, who died there around 1795, stated Guineatown was the name of the village. His granddaughter suggested the name Penton when the
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional ser ...
was established.
The village was known for its
brickyard
A brickyard or brickfield is a place or yard where bricks are made, fired, and stored, or sometimes sold or otherwise distributed from. Brick makers work in a brick yard. A brick yard may be constructed near natural sources of clay or on o ...
s. Some early ones were established by Jacob Thackra, John Bee, and Smith B. Sickler.
An 1834 survey suggested the town was mostly inhabited by African Americans.
References
Alloway Township, New Jersey
Unincorporated communities in Salem County, New Jersey
Unincorporated communities in New Jersey
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