Randolph Homestead (C. 1750)

Randolph Homestead (C. 1750). Stafford Township Historic Site. , The Randolph farmstead dates from approximately the year that Stafford Township was established by separating from Shrewsbury Township in Monmouth County. The building has served as home for several of our noted citizens. Reuben Randolph was the builder and first occupant. He constructed the tavern on Old Shore Road that served as the headquarters of the Manahawkin Militia during the American War of Independence. He was Captain of the Manahawkin Militia (Company #5 - 2nd Monmouth Militia). Randolph is also credited with constructing the original general store that now stands as the "Old Stone Store" in Heritage Park. Randolph's son managed the tavern and lived in the farmstead., In the early 1800's, Dr. G. Augustus Hankinson, first doctor in what is now this part of Ocean County, lived in this house and is buried across the street under the only obelisk in Baptist Cemetery. Dr. William Newell, his nephew, lived here with him to study medicine. In 1836, Dr. Newell witnessed the tragic loss of life from a shipwreck off Long Beach Island. This event initiated a lifelong passion for lifesaving. Dr. Newell worked on life saving technologies on this very ground. In 1848 as a member of Congress, he succeeded in introducing and passing an authorization of $10,000 to fund a series of lifesaving buildings along the NJ coast. His effort later evolved into the U.S. Life Saving Service and then the United States Coast Guard. Dr. Newell went on to become a New Jersey Governor (1856-1860), personal family physician to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, and Governor of the Territory of Washington., Dr. Joshua Hilliard made the farmstead his home from 1901 - 1952. He is said to have delivered more than 3,000 babies in the area. He became the first president of the Ocean County Historical Society. In the 1920's this was the first building to have electricity in Manahawkin. The building became the Thomas L. Shinn Funeral Home in 1957. The west wing addition was erected in 1993.