Hosea Moore - Murdered In The Tavern

On a headstone in the Old Lumberton Cemetery is carved a tightly closed hand with the index finger pointing up. The name on the stone is Hosea Moore. Born 28 May 1772 died 23 March 1838. The carving symbolizes Hope.The Hope of heaven. 

                 Photo by Shirley Kepner Maribona

Hosea Moore is my Very Great Uncle, born in Evesham Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. He was murdered. 

Forensics in 1838 were certainly not the stuff of 2019 crime scene investigations however there was a confession from the murderer but that is also a bit tangled. It would be great fodder for an episode of Dateline. The simple truth is Hosea was murdered by the man who said he did it. But things are usually not that simple. 

In a Quaker meeting Record Book for the Evesham Monthly Meeting is a record of the birth of Hosea and his sisters and brothers.  He is mentioned again in March 1784 as living with his parents in a Monthly Meeting Book. June 1796 Hosea is seen by friends (members) of the Quaker community dressing in a "vain fashion" copying the clothing worn by non-members and paying a substitute tax. After pointing out his inconstancy and entreating him to come to church they claim they dealt with it.   Friends (members) of the Meeting House try to meet with Hosea in July of 1796 regarding some degree of "tendencies" in him which are outside the acceptable for the Quakers.  In early August 1796 it is reported that friends (members) of the Quaker family were asked by Hosea to show "forbearance" on his situation when they attempted to speak with him about it. By late August 1796 the Committee of friends who have been working on Hosea report back that he refuses to make satisfaction for his deviation from the friends and they recommend disownment. September of 1796 the friend committee assigned to deal with Hosea come to the conclusion that he does not see his way clear to make satisfaction for his deviance from their doctrine. They make a judgement of disownment.  October 1796 in a meeting it is decided that the friends will draw up disownment papers and present them to Hosea. The friends make an attempt to deliver a disownment paper to Hosea in November 1796 he declines.  In December of 1796 friends (members) attempt to give Hosea a copy of the disown paper when he tells them he intends to appeal.  Hosea is 24 when he is disowned from the Evesham Meeting House.

In March of 1797 Hosea marries Mary Bishop they had 9 children. 

In 1820 Hosea is running Fox Chase Inn a stage coach Inn and Tavern. 25 March of 1838 ended badly for Hosea Moore. He was found bludgeoned to death in his bed at the Tavern. His head pounded until there was nothing but cracked skull, fragments and scattered brains. The murderer still at the scene with the hammer in his hand admitting he did it. The story went viral in many national newspapers. 

The Baltimore Sun  

The New York American

The Morning Courier and the New York Enquirer 

There are several other reports on the incident in other papers. A few things are known. Hosea and the murderer were drinking together the night before.  Hosea was boasting that night that he was "under the Lord's Protection" and defied anyone to harm him. The murderer had locked himself in the tavern and refused to let anyone in. 

The murderer as his defense pleaded insanity. He was sentenced to life in prison but was released after only 12 years.  Rumors were whispered that Hosea wanted to die. That he even gave the murderer the weapon. That he told the murderer to pretend to be insane so they would not judge him harshly.  Rumors spread that Hosea and the murderer had been having private meetings and were very close just days before the murder as though they were planning it.  What actually happened that night after the last patron left and the days preceding is a mystery.