A Romance in Real Life - The Isabella Douglas Stories 
Hopewell N.J. Herald, December 18, 1907 
In the year 1707, as near as can be told, a daughter was born to Sir Charles and Lady Douglas, in Scotland, who was destined to become the progenitor of one of the old New Jersey families. As this daughter grew toward womanhood she evidently was beset with some of the difficulties that have ever been strewn along the pathway of womankind, for she had a stern father who thought himself best fitted to chose a life partner for his daughter, while she, with the individuality born of the Royal blood that flowed through her veins, disdained to marry aught except from love’s dictation. She had a lover whom she loved in return, but Sir Charles would have none of him for his daughter, but would give her hand to a man higher in the scale of what he considered to be nobility. Isabella, for this was the name of the daughter, finally resolved that something would have to be done if she was to wed according to her own fancy, and after many conferences with her lover and many sleepless nights it was decided that they take the matter in their own hands, and what better course could they pursue than to go together to the ‘’new world, America,” where they could live in happiness and contentment. A night was appointed when a ship bound for America was to be lying offshore, and then Isabella and her lover were to go on board, separately, and join each other when the ship was well underway. Isabella was true to her purpose, but whether her lover was finally too faint-hearted to make the attempt, or whether he mistakenly boarded another ship, was never known, but certain it is that “‘the course of true love did not run smooth,‘’ even in those days. The ship sailed on; the sorrow of Isabella now almost an agony, as she had lost both home and lover; but nothing could change what had been arranged before the beginning of time. The ocean was infested at that time with bands of pirates, who made a practice of overhauling ships and despoiling the passengers of whatever of value they possessed, and during the passage of this ship it was unfortunate enough to become the prey of one of these bands of outlaws, and Isabella Douglas, who had lost so much that was dear to her, was now to lose everything of value that she had brought with her to remind her of the home she had left behind, and she was left penniless. As the ship drew near the landing place, Philadelphia, the passengers were asked to pay for their passage , but as they had lost their money, and the fashion was at that time to pay when you disembarked, there was nothing to do but submit to the laws then in operation, which gave the ships company the right to sell the passengers time to the highest bidder, that they might work out the amount of their passage, and those who were passengers on this trip were duly advertised after the custom of the times. A farmer named Fortner living in Sussex County, New Jersey, was in need of some domestic help, attracted by the notice of the sale of the these passengers, went to Philadelphia to be present, and Isabella Douglas was bought by him. It was a long drive to his home from Philadelphia, and during the trip Mr. Fortner became impressed with the fact that his purchase was no ordinary person, and upon his arrival at his home, when he was greeted by his son Benjamin, who was a young man, he made a remark , ‘’Ben, I have brought you home a wife.’‘ This remark, probably made in jest, proved prophetic, for Ben prevailed upon the mourning Isabella to let him console her, and she became his wife. In the course of time ten children came to this couple, their names being Louis, Andrew, James, Benjamin, Jonas, Abigail, Sarah, Elizabeth, Francina and George. Abigail Fortner married William Garrison, probably somewhere about 1770, and it was he who was the ancestor of the Garrison family who has been well known in the locality for over one hundred years. William Garrison and Abigail Fortner had only one child, who was later known as ‘’Major’‘ and whose remains now lie in the Old School Baptist Graveyard in Hopewell. Major William Garrison married Ose Roberts, and had five children, John, Ursula, Abigail, Sarah and Naomi. John Garrison married for his first wife, Johanna Sutphin, and had six children, Ann, William, Peter, Ose, James, and Margaret. His second wife was Martha Titus, and the result of this union was seven children: named Joseph, John, Charles, Ose, Sarah, Benjamin, and Spencer, all born and have always lived in the western states. Urusla Garrison married Walter Skillman, and one of her children, William Garrison Skillman, late of Philadelphia, was well known here. Andrew Garrison removed to Minnesota and was murdered. Elizabeth married Samuel French of Chicago, Abigail married John Sorter. Sarah Garrison married Spencer Stout Weart and lived all of her life at ‘”Hill Top”’ where George A Weart now resides. Of her children, and there were nine, only four are now living, namely William A. of Blawenburg, George W. of Ocean County, Mrs. Jonathan H. Blackwell of Trenton, and Mrs A.L. Holcombe of this place. Naomi Garrison married Robert Phillips and moved to Algonquin, Ill., and had six children. One Dr. Edward H. Phillips, of Cape May is still living and is well known here. Peter S. Garrison married Hannah Boggs and lived at Blawenburg on a farm that was part of a tract that belonged to Peter Sutphin his grandfather, and this farm is still in the possession of his son John B. who is a practicing physician in New York City. James married a Miss Cleve and two of their sons are living, Benjamin of Philadelphia and Wellington of Trenton. Ose Garrison married the late John Van Horn Whitlock and lived and died at Blawenburg. Their son Spencer W. still lives at that place. Margaret married Abner Hageman, and had one son James G., who is now living at Rocky Hill, N.J. She married a second time, Abraham J. Voorhees, and two sons by this marriage are still living, namely William of Trenton, and Charles of Chicago. Hopewell N.J. Herald, December 18, 1907