Thomas Fowler Applegate^[1]

1845 - 1901  (55 years)

• Name	Thomas Fowler Applegate
  Born	07 Sep 1845	New Jersey, USA   [2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Voress Number	1D3G1A5
  Residence	1850	Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA   [5]
  Residence	1870	Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA   [6]
  Residence	1880	Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA   [7]
  Died	10 Mar 1901  [8]
  	Cause: Murder
  Notes	1D3G1A5 Thomas Fowler Applegate Thomas was born 07 September, 1845. He married Mary N. Jackson on 01 February, 1871 (CJCLDS Film 0493695.) Mary was born in August, 1851 and died after 1900. Thomas was an assessor in Hamilton Township, Mercer County from 1877-1879. He was on the township committee from 1880-1881 (Woodward and Hageman, p. 800.) In 1880, they lived in Hamilton, Second District, Mercer County, NJ. He was 34 and a farmer. Mary N. was 28 while Hannie was 07 and attended school. In 1900, they lived in Hamilton Township, Mercer County. Thomas was born in September, 1845, aged 54, married 29 years and a farmer. Mary was born in August, 1851, aged 48 and had four issue - one living. Mother-in-law Ellen Jackson lived with them. She was a widow. Thomas died 10 March, 1901. Samuel Shinn was convicted of murdering him. See Appendix. APPENDIX (Newspaper stories about the death of Thomas) New York Tribune, April 18, 1901, p. 6 BELIEVE HE WAS MURDERED --- SAMUEL SHINN HELD FOR THE DEATH OF A MERCER COUNTY FARMER. --- Trenton, April 17 (Special)--"We believe Thomas F. Applegate came to his death on his farm, near Extonville, N. J., about 6 o'clock in the morning of March 10, 1901, and we further believe from threats made by Samuel Shinn against Thomas F. Applegate that the said Thomas F. Applegate came to his death at the hands of said Shinn." This was the verdict of the Coroner's jury which this afternoon concluded its investigation of the mysterious death of Thomas F. Applegate, the Mercer County farmer believed to have been murdered by whitecaps. Applegate was found dead in his stable at the feet of his horse, his fractured skull bearing the imprint of the animal's hoof. Before the authorities were notified the body was removed and was about to be buried on the afternoon of his death when the county physician and coroner arrived. The removal of the body handicapped the detectives, but suspicions pointed to young Shinn as having been implicated in the death of Applegate, on whose farm he was employed. Blood stains on the barn door and the fact that Shinn and Applegate had had frequent quarrels and that Shinn had often threatened to take Applegate's life were the causes which led to Shinn's arrest a few days after the supposed murder. Besides this there were current rumors that Mrs. Applegae had been too intimate with the young hired man, who was known to have taken her part with some warmth when family difficulties arose. Mrs. Applegate was the main witness to-day. Her lawyer, Scott Scammell, presented a physician's certificate that she was too ill to attend and asked that the jury go to the house of her sister, in this city, where she was staying. The jury insisted on her presence, and she was carried into the courtroom. She answered all questions with apparent frankness. She admitted being a party to the visits of the whitecaps to her husband, but asserted that the motive was to reform him, as he was then drinking heavily and abusing his family. She admitted that Samuel Shinn and his father, Franklin Shinn, were among the whitecaps. The father conducted Applegate's farm on shares. Mrs. Applegate denied any improper relations with young Shinn. She said when her husband came home on the night before his death he was intoxicated and went to the barn to put up the horse. She did not see him again until his body was found next morning. She knew nothing of Shinn's movements that night. The elder Shinn testified that on the morning Applegate's body was found he discovered his son asleep on a lounge in the Applegate house. Shinn will be hold to await the action of the grand jury. New York Tribune, July 9, 1901, p. 12 TRIAL OF SHINN BEGINS --- COUNTY PHYSICIAN THINKS KICK OF A HORSE KILLED APPLEGATE --- Trenton, July 8.--The trial of Samuel Shinn, charged with the murder of Thomas Applegate, an Extonville farmer, who was found dead in his barn with his skull crushed several months ago, was begun here to-day. After the jury had bee selected Prosecutor Crossley said he expected to prove Shinn's guilt. He charged that undue intimacy existed between Shinn and Mrs. Applegate County Physician Rogers was the first witness. He testified to the finding of Applegate's body, and described the cuts and bruises thereon. On cross-examination Dr. Rogers gave it as his opinion that the fracture of Applegate's skull had been caused by the kick of a horse, and he was also of the opinion that the fractured skull was the cause of Applegate's death. It is alleged that in January last Applegate was warned by "whitecaps" that if he did not stop ill treating his wife he would be subjected to a cot of tar and feathers and be compelled to leave the town. Some time after this Applegate and Shinn had a fight in a barroom, and Shin was arrested on complaint of Applegate. From that time on bad feeling is said to have existed between the two men. Applegate was found dead in a stall of his barn. His body lay close to the heels of his horse, and it was at first generally supposed that he had been kicked to death by the house. The County Prosecutor, however, refused to accept this theory of Applegate's death, and presented the case to the grand jury and had Shinn indicted. New York Daily Tribune, July 11, 1901, p. 6 CONFESSION OF A "WHITECAP" --- SAYS MRS. APPLEGATE SUGGESTED TO VISIT HER HUSBAND. Trenton, July 10.--The third day's trial of Samuel Shinn, accused of the murder of Thomas Applegate, closed with Mrs. Applegate on the witness stand. She denied any improper conduct with Shinn. She also said that Shinn stayed in the Applegate house on the night of March 9, at her request. Shinn, she said, slept downstairs, while she slept upstairs. Ellis Parker tod of seeing Mrs. Applegate and Shinn misbehave, and Gordon Hendrick swore that he heard Shinn say he would kill Applegate if the latter did not stop interfering with him. Joseph Scattergood, a brother-in-law of the prisoner, told of the visit of "whitecaps" to Applegate. Mrs. Applegate was present when the party was made up. It consisted of Sam Shinn, Bertha Suthard, George Suthad, the witness and his wife. They put on nightgowns and wrapped white cloths about their heads. The plan was got up because Applegate abused his wife. Mrs. Applegate suggested it. When they seized and tied Applegate Mrs. Applegate appeared and began to cry. She was only pretending in order to deceive her husband. She begged the party to leave her husband alone, and they departed without hurting him. New York Tribune, July 12, 1901, p. 7 SHINN'S DEFENCE OPENED. --- PHYSICIAN SAYS HORSE, NOT WHTE CAPS, KILLED APPLEGATE-- Trenton, July 11.--The Prosecution in the trial of Samuel Shinn for the murder of Thomas Applegate closed this morning with a short cross-examination of Mrs. Applegate. The defence opened by a statement by counsel for Shinn that it would be proven that Applegate was not murdered. The theory was advanced that Applegate while in the stable was seized with vertigo and was kicked to death by his horse. Dr. Johnson, of Allentown, testified that he though this theory to be correct. Shinn was placed on the stand, and just before his evidence was completed the question was put to him whether or not he had murdered Applegate. Shinn straightened up, and without a tremor in his voice replied, "I did not." Shinn denied there was any intention to harm Applegate when the White Caps visited him. He said the idea was simply to scare him and make him cease abusing Mrs. Applegate.
  Person ID	I5248	Applegate Main
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2018

  
  

  Father	Samuel Applegate,   b. 31 Aug 1806, Ellisdale, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA ,   d. 17 Jan 1887, North Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA  (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Hannah H Fowler,   b. Dec 1808, Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA ,   d. 12 Jan 1871  (Age ~ 62 years)
  Married	30 Jan 1834
  Family ID	F5169	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary N Jackson,   b. Aug 1851, New Jersey, USA ,   d. Aft 1900  (Age ~ 50 years)
  Married	01 Feb 1871
  Children	1. Joseph Applegate   2. William W Applegate,   b. Feb 1872,   d. 17 Jul 1872, Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA  (Age ~ 0 years)   3. Hannah May Applegate,   b. Mar 1873,   d. 28 Apr 1947  (Age ~ 74 years)   4. James J Applegate,   b. Abt 1876,   d. 07 Jan 1878, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA  (Age ~ 2 years)   5. Sadie A Applegate,   b. 28 Jun 1881,   d. 03 Aug 1881, Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2018
  Family ID	F5181	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 07 Sep 1845 - New Jersey, USA Residence - 1850 - Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA Residence - 1870 - Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA Residence - 1880 - Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S612] 1884-02-07 Will of Samuel Applegate 1D3GlA NJ, Burlington Co., Book of Wills S, p. 415. [S86] 1850 United States Census, NJ, Mercer Co., Hamilton Twp., 438/463. age 5, birthplace NJ [S93] 1880 Census (Soundex Index), New Jersey, Soundex A142. age 34, birthplace NJ [S85] 1870 United States Census, NJ, Mercer Co., Hamilton Twp., p. 125, 1034/1029. age 24, birthplace NJ [S86] 1850 United States Census, NJ, Mercer Co., Hamilton Twp., 438/463. [S85] 1870 United States Census, NJ, Mercer Co., Hamilton Twp., p. 125, 1034/1029. [S93] 1880 Census (Soundex Index), New Jersey, Soundex A142. [S872] New York Tribune, April 18, 1901, p. 6.