Edward Test was the fourth child of John Test and Elizabeth Sanders.Early in its history, Salem consisted of two streets–Wharf street (later named Bradway and now called Broadway) and Bridge street (now Market) that crossed at right angles. Examination of early deed records mention a number of taverns in Salem. Most of the buildings are not longer in existence. However, five locations of early taverns are noteworthy:
(a) At the northwest corner of Broadway and Front
(b) At Broadway opposite Front
(c) At the northwest corner of Market and Broadway
(d) At the head of Market on south side of Broadway
(e) At Broadway opposite Seventh street.
James Ridley, called an innkeeper in a deed dated February 8, 1704/5, kept a tavern on Broadway at Walnut street. He sold the tavern in 1803 to William Griffin. Whether he remained there until his death in 1705/6 is unknown.
Griffin was noted as an innkeeper on a bond in 1722 in connection with the estate of Michael Ezard.
"In 1733, Griffin sold a portion of the land to Sarah Smith, who soon conveyed it to Edward Test. The latter rented the property to John Turner, who continued to keep the tavern until his death, when he was succeeded by his widow for three years.
In 1743, Edward Test moved into the house and soon applied for a tavern license which was granted and renewed annually until 1758, when he moved to Mannington Township, where he died the following year.
In an inventory of his estate which was valued at £1691.18.5, were ‘meat book debts' of £63.2.7 and ‘tavern book debts' of £476.12.10.
The property passed to his son Edward Test, Jr., then a minor, and it is not known whether it was kept as a tavern after that.
In 1771, it was conveyed to Dr. Samuel Dick, who was a surgeon in the French and Indian War. He was commissioned Colonel of the western Battalion of the Salem County Militia on June 30, 1776...."
From Charles S. Boyer, Old Inns and Taverns in West Jersey (Camden, New Jersey: Camden County Historical Society, 1962), p. 250.
All paragraph breaks in quoted material were added by the transcriber-- RWT 4/7/2001.