Richard Tozer, in Upper Precinct, Cape May, was taxed in 1784, for 40 acres and 1/2 vessel owner.  It is assumed that Rev. John Goff owned the rest of the vessel, as he is listed as owning 1/2 a (Shallop?) as well as another vessel. He was also owner of a store in Eldora, Cape May Co. There are records from this store in the names of Richard Towser in 1785, and Hannah Towser in 1790. There are also accounts in the names of Johnathan, Enoch and James Towser in 1794.

Hannah Towser and John Goff, on May 15, 1790, were bonded for 120 pounds in the estate of Richard Towser, deceased. (See documents below)

The 1793 Militia Census lists John Towser and Jeremiah, in Upper Precinct, and  William in Maurice River Twp, Cumberland Co.  

Jeremiah and William were listed in 4th Comp. 1st Regiment, at Lower Maurice River, Cumberland Co.

 Married Hannah in Upper Precinct Twp, Cape May Co. N.J.

Children

John Mattler Tawzer 1772 , Jeremiah 1750, Johnathan ? Enoch?, James? William? Richard II? (More research needed on these, but they are presumed to be sons of Richard and Hannah)

Copies of Bond Papers for Richard's Estate and Will

Page One        Page Two

Jeremiah Towser applied for a pension for service in the Revolutionary War on June 7,1833, stating that he was born in Gloucester Co. New Jersey and was a resident of Maurice River. Maurice River is across the line near Eldora (where John Goff's store was) in Cumberland Co, and that county at one time bordered Cape May County on the north.

The joint ownership of sailing vessels by Richard and John Goff seems natural, since Richard was a sea Captain, who sailed on trips to and from England.  William Tawzer used to speak of his grandfather Richard as "being a captain on a ship and made many trips from England to the U.S.. He had a very coarse voice when he spoke and I was afraid of him".  The family of J.B. Tawzer with whom John lived until his death, have stories of Richard being a ship's carpenter and hunting whale as far away as Greenland and Nova Scotia.  He also told of working in the off whaling season, in South America.  His ship's compass survived and was in the possession of Nellie Tawzer in Minneola, Kansas.  She tells the following, "While on the seas one day, pirates boarded the ship and were going to steal him. He had never smoked or chewed tobacco, so the captain made him smoke so he would get sick and the pirates wouldn't want him.  The captain told the pirates he wasn't any good and he was going to kick him off at the next port."

 The earlier history of Richard Towzer seems to be derivative of the family name Tozer or Tozier,  a number of families that were all descendants of a Richard Tozier who lived at Boston and then married, for a second time, in Maine, Judith Smith on July 3, 1656. He was taxed in Dover, New Hampshire, in 1659, but in the same year the town of Kittery, Maine granted him 60 acres.

When the King Phillip's War raged in New England in 1675, the house of Richard Tozier was attacked while he was absent, but all occupants escaped.  Later on June 18, 1675  it was attacked again, this time mortally wounding Richard.  Richard had 4 sons, Thomas, Richard, Simon and Job, and 2 daughters, Experience and Martha.  The son Thomas was carried off by indians, Richard Jr. had only daughters,  Simon had only one son, Richard (July 26, 1701). There is no information on Job, born abt. 1665.

(Much Information thanks to research of  Frederick Weiser)