Estaugh, Elizabeth Haddon (1680–1762)

American colonial proprietor. Name variations: Elizabeth Haddon. Born Elizabeth Haddon, May 25, 1680, in Southwark, London, England; died Mar 30, 1762, in Haddonfield, New Jersey; dau. of John Haddon (blacksmith, manufacturer of ship anchors) and Elizabeth (Clark) Haddon; sister of Sarah Haddon; m. John Estaugh (Quaker minister and missionary), 1702 (died 1742); children: (adopted nephew) Ebenezer Hopkins.

Skilled businesswoman and founder of town of Haddonfield, was born into prosperous Quaker family in London; received liberal education in Friends school; experienced religious persecution of family in form of fines levied upon father, leading to his purchase of land in America in an attempt to emigrate, but he was foiled by poor health and business responsibilities; arrived in America to manage 500 acres of his land in Gloucester Co., West Jersey (1701); moved into house on south bank of Cooper's Creek which came to be known as Old Haddonfield; married John Estaugh (1702) in Quaker ceremony; continued to take active role in management of father's properties despite husband's legal status as executive; was frequently left in charge of her family's business concerns as husband traveled extensively as missionary and also suffered bouts of ill-health; moved from Cooper's Creek to new plot of land, founding settlement of New Haddonfield (1713); traveled 3 times to England to visit parents and returned from last visit with nephew Ebenezer Hopkins (1723); founded Friends Meeting House in Haddonfield with grant of land from father (1723); widowed when husband died in British Virgin Islands (1742); published husband's tract A Call to the Unfaithful Professors of Truth (1744) with introduction by Benjamin Franklin; became fully vested with property rights after husband's death and administered these with skill.

See also Rebecca Nicholson, Contributions to the Biography of Elizabeth Estaugh (1894).