Timbuctoo in Westampton Township in Burlington County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Historic Timbuctoo: A Free Black Community
Photographed by Guy Weston
1. Historic Timbuctoo: A Free Black Community Marker
Timbuctoo was established in 1826. The first settlers were David Parker, Wardell Parker, Ezekiel Parker, Hezekiah Hall, and John Bruer. Most residents owned their land, including Matilda Parker who was a board member of the Beneficial Society of the United Sons and Daughters of Timbuctoo. Residents also established the African Union School in 1834 and Zion Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal African Church in 1854. In 1860 the community rose to defend their neighbor Perry Simmons from slave catchers. Timbuctoo embodies Black New Jerseyans centuries-long resilience and courage.
Erected 2025 by New Jersey Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2024.A.10.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.
Location. 39° 59.99′ N, 74° 48.772′ W. Marker is in Westampton Township, New Jersey, in Burlington County. It is in Timbuctoo. It can be reached from Church Street south of Rancocas Road when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 Church St, Mount Holly
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South Jersey and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mansion of James Langstaff (approx. 1.2 miles away); Historic Prison (approx. 1.3 miles away); Historic Burlington County Prison Museum (approx. 1.3 miles away); Historic Burlington County Court House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Shinn-Curtis Log House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Grist Mill Stone (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cannon Made in Mount Holly (approx. 1.3 miles away); House of John R. Slack (approx. 1.3 miles away).
Also see . . . Timbuctoo Historical Society. (Submitted on January 20, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, November 6, 2025
2. Historic Timbuctoo Marker Unveiling Ceremony
On November 6, 2025, the New Jersey Historical Commission unveiled a marker to recognize Historic Timbuctoo: A Free Black Community in Westampton, New Jersey. Timbuctoo is an antebellum free Black community first settled in 1826 by formerly enslaved and free Black people, with the assistance of Quakers.
Photo provided by Guy Weston
3. Aaron-Jamal Weston (left), Mark Weston (center), Guy Weston (right) and Mary Weston
After they installed the historical marker at Timbuctoo as part of the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail. Mary is mother of Mark and Guy in the grandmother of Aaron-Jamal. Credit: Photo provided by Guy Weston.
Photographed by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, 2010
4. 2010 dig at Timbuctoo
Archaeologist Christopher Barton (second from right) was a Temple University doctoral student in 2010 when he worked with staff and volunteers during a 2010 dig at Timbuctoo, the historically Black hamlet in Westampton Township, Burlington County.
Photographed by Elizabeth Robertson, Philadelphia Inquirer
5. Timbuctoo graveyard in Westampton Township
Mary Weston (left) and her son, Guy Weston, in a historic Timbuctoo graveyard in Westampton Township, Burlington County.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2026, by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail of Trenton, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 79 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 14, 2026, by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail of Trenton, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
