Archaeological studies and recovered artifacts dating from 6,000 to 8,000 years ago, and nearby finds dating from more than 12,000 years ago, confirm that parts of the area now known as the City of Bordentown were inhabited by prehistoric people. Much later in the late Woodlands era, some areas of the City were occupied, fished, and hunted, by predecessors of, and later still, members of, the Lenni Lenape tribe. Their trails formed the basis for early pathways leading to and from City creeks, the Delaware River, and the Trenton-Hamilton-Bordentown Marsh. Lenni Lenape people were present when settlers arrived from Europe.

Joseph Borden bought the property owned by Farnsworth. This became Bordentown City.

Born on Long Island in 1725, Patience moved to Bordentown at age 4. In her home at 100 Farnsworth Avenue, Patience developed a talent for sculpting in both wax and dough. In 1772 she traveled to London to work in the royal court as a sculptress. During the American Revolution she provided information overheard in King George III’s Court to the Continental Congress, becoming the first female US spy.

Son of Francis Hopkinson, Joseph graduated with a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a federal judge, a Congressman in the House of Representatives from 1814 to 1819, and as a member of the NJ Legislature. In 1798 he penned the lyrics to Hail Columbia which was the unofficial national anthem until 1931. Today it’s used as the official anthem of the Vice President of the US.

A lifelong resident of Bordentown, he was an art school graduate of the School of Industrial Arts in Trenton. As an accomplished illustrator, his work often appeared in the magazines of Red Book, McCall’s, and the Saturday Evening Post. As his fame grew in the 1950’s, he illustrated Lone Ranger comic book covers for the Dell Publishing Company. During his life, he drew over 400 portraits including those of U.S. presidents, military generals, and national sports figures.