The New Jersey Glass Manufactory of Thomas Heston and Thomas Carpenter.
Thomas Carpenter and Thomas Heston also known as the Fighting Quakers purchased the Old Solomon Stanger owned Glass works from Solomon in 1784 when the American Currency was devalued during the time period after the war of Independence. They called Stangers old glass works the New Jersey Glass Manufactory.They advertised heavily in Newspapers as far away as New York City. The furnaces were updated and they began to produce a high grade of white glass to be able to compete with the British for the tableware market in the young United States. Heston and Carpenter were also the first colonial glass works in New Jersey that were able to wash the silica of the impurities found in it from being located to close in proximity to the green sand marl to make the first clear aqua bottle glass for their common bottles. Heston and Carpenter made some of the first Robert Turlington Bottles made in the United States. With the Stanger family still having a hand in the factory's output the Germanic influence seen first at the Wistar works was carried on again at Glassboro. Sometimes it is difficult determining where a particular bottle especially the chestnut type ones were blown whether it was Glassboro or Wistars Alloway New Jersey works.
In addition to the glass factory Thomas Heston also built a tavern across the street from his home and the glass works. Later a company store was added on the corner again across the street from the glass factory on the other side. In near by Carpenters Landing a tavern,a store and lumber business were also maintained and carried on by Thomas Carpenter. Carpenter's Landing ( named after Thomas Carpenter ) was located at the furthest inland navigable point on the Mantua Creek from the Delaware River. Supplies were unloaded and goods were loaded for sale from the glass works which were delivered by Horse and carriage from nearby Glassboro. The business was successfully carried on even after the death of Colonel Heston in 1802 as Thomas Carpenter and the widow Heston ran the works for two years before Thomas Carpenter retired and passed his half of the business onto his son Edward Carpenter. Judging from the wealth attained by each owner the glass works were a huge financial success. Products of the factory were capers bottles,snuff bottles,medicine vials,chestnut flasks,mustard bottles,Robert Turlington Balsam Of Life bottles,common farmers bottles which were ( large crude Demi John looking type glass containers) and the factory was upgraded and they were producing quite a bit of white glass table ware as told by Lord Sheffield when he wrote in 1783 a factory has set foot in Western New Jersey lately that makes white glass equal to the English type.
In addition to the glass factory Thomas Heston also built a tavern across the street from his home and the glass works. Later a company store was added on the corner again across the street from the glass factory on the other side. In near by Carpenters Landing a tavern,a store and lumber business were also maintained and carried on by Thomas Carpenter. Carpenter's Landing ( named after Thomas Carpenter ) was located at the furthest inland navigable point on the Mantua Creek from the Delaware River. Supplies were unloaded and goods were loaded for sale from the glass works which were delivered by Horse and carriage from nearby Glassboro. The business was successfully carried on even after the death of Colonel Heston in 1802 as Thomas Carpenter and the widow Heston ran the works for two years before Thomas Carpenter retired and passed his half of the business onto his son Edward Carpenter. Judging from the wealth attained by each owner the glass works were a huge financial success. Products of the factory were capers bottles,snuff bottles,medicine vials,chestnut flasks,mustard bottles,Robert Turlington Balsam Of Life bottles,common farmers bottles which were ( large crude Demi John looking type glass containers) and the factory was upgraded and they were producing quite a bit of white glass table ware as told by Lord Sheffield when he wrote in 1783 a factory has set foot in Western New Jersey lately that makes white glass equal to the English type.
From his home site Thomas Carpenter was able to ship the glass factory products to Philadelphia. Behind this property is the Chestnut Branch of the Mantua Creek. It is at this exact spot in the creek where the wharf Carpenter built allowed the furthest inland point of navigation to occur. Carpenter and Heston also later on were able to persuade the New Jersey Legislature to build a road between Glassboro at their factory and this point which at the time was named Carpenters landing. This was to be one of the first toll roads established in Southern New Jersey. Across the street from this home today sits the Telford in a restaurant. Back in 1790 Carpenters inn and general store served the small community beginning to become established and served as a resting area for weary travelers. Carpenter not only hauled his glass products to Philadelphia he also was a water taxi service to the large city. At one time the property contained more then 15 acres which later in the mid 1800s John Eastlack would own.