In April 1977, we received a donation from Mr. George Symonds of Nutley of a rocking chair that belonged to Margaret Mary Stuart Kingsland. Margaret was born in Delaware County, New York., near the Catskill mountains, in 1825. She married Joseph Kingsland III in 1850. Joseph was born in 1813 in the Kingsland Manor and was the grandson of the original Joseph Kingsland who moved to the area in 1790. Together, they had six children of whom only four survived into adulthood. Margaret’s story of the loss of one of her children was featured last year in the A&E program, Psychic Kids. Joseph Kingsland III passed away in 1899 and Margaret passed away in 1910. We are not sure of the age of the rocker, but it is safe to say that it is over 100 years old.

The description written when the rocking chair was accepted by the Historic Restoration Trust was: 9 spindles on back; 25” across; rockers – 28”; seat height 15” from floor; overall = 40”.