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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02255 3207
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HON. JOHN LAMBERT. BORN MAY, 1746. DIED FEBRUARY, 1823.
1703-1903
Early History
OF
Lambertville, N. J.
By SARAH A. GALLAGHER
TRENTON, N. J .: MACCRELLISH & QUIGLEY, PRINTERS. 1903.
The ladies of the Improvement Band of the First Baptist Church, who publish the Early History of Lambertville, are indebted to Mr. J. A. Anderson for the gift of the photographs from which the engravings have been prepared.
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Early History of Lambertville, N. J.
FOREWORD
THIS Historical and Traditional Narrative of Lambertville, N. J., comprises a collection of facts told me by the aged grandsons of Emanuel Coryell, the founder of this city, and also by his great-great-grand- children, who were the companions of my youth.
Much of this knowledge has been confirmed or cor- rected by old letters and documents kindly furnished me by descendants of the Coryell family.
I have also mentioned many events that have transpired within my own recollection, having been born in the place on the thirteenth day of September, eighteen hundred and twenty-one. Since that time my residence here has been a continuous one, being at the time of the writing of this article eighty-one years of age.
SARAH A. GALLAGHER.
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HISTORY
T WO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, in 1703, Wil- liam Biddle, Jr., John Mills and John Reading, acting for the Province of West Jersey, negotiated with two Indian Chiefs, Himhammoe and Copponnock- ous, for the purchase of the township of Old Amwell, which was ceded to the Province, to the lasting satisfaction of the natives and the Province as well.
This Council, in their permission for the sale, strictly ordered the three commissioners to go to the "Wigwam" of Himhammoe and there have the deed properly executed and the lands marked off; also, a like treaty with Coppon- nockous, who held possession of the more westerly portion of the original tract.
This tract contained about 150,000 acres, and was purchased for £700, then divided into proprietary shares of five thousand acres each, of which Benjamin Field took his portion in two lots, one of three thousand acres, fronting on the Delaware river, from Lambertville, southward, thence east, and the other, two
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thousand acres, in and around Ringoes, of which Field conveyed a smaller tract of two hundred acres, to certain land speculators in succession.
John Holcombe, a resident of Abbington township, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of November, 1705, purchased three hundred and fifty acres of land of Richard Wilson, of Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania.
This land was in New Jersey, and was that tract south of Alexsauken creek, bordering the Delaware river on the west, and Coat's line on the south, extending through the city of Lambertville, between Delevan and Jefferson streets, and extending easterly from the river to a distance of about one and one-half miles.
The purchase was made on this wise: First, he leased the tract of land for the sum of 5 shillings, and for a release paid £100 sterling, in our currency $1.40, per acre.
As the township of Amwell had only been purchased from the Indians two years before, his purchase as a resident owner ranks him among the earliest in all this region.
John Holcombe was married to Elizabeth Woolrich, of Abbington, Pa., according to the order of "Friends," as the minutes of the Abbington meeting will show, on fourth
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month, twenty-eighth day, in the year seven- teen hundred and seven.
To them were born six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons were John, Samuel and Richard. John died a young man, unmarried. Samuel married Eleanor Barber, and had seven sons and two daughters.
Dr. George L. Romine, Dr. Frank Larison, Alexander H. Titus and others of the Hol- combe family, who are residents of the town at the present time, 1902, are the lineal de- scendants of Samuel Holcombe.
Richard was married twice, his first wife being Mary Harvey, his second, Ann Emley, by whom he had two children. The first, a son, whose name was John, lived near Lam- bertville. His death occurred in 1851, at the family homestead, which is now known as "Washington's Headquarters," from the fact that this "Commander" was entertained there during his short stay in this vicinity, in 1778.
In 1731, nearly thirty years after its pur- chase from the Indians, this region was still a "howling wilderness," and still inhabited by the "Red Men." The forests were infested with "Wolves, Foxes and Panthers." But civilization was advancing, and the Govern- ment put a price on their heads for their ex- termination.
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Between the years 1720-1730, a young man, from the eastern part of the Province, more in quest of fortune than of fame, came here and settled along the banks of the "Delaware," and constructed a "Hut" in which to dwell.
He was, evidently, both shrewd and enter- prising. Seeing his opportunity, he embraced it, by buying an extensive tract of land and beginning traffic with the Indians.
The shortest and most direct route between New York and Philadelphia was the "Indian Path" through the forest to the river, along whose banks he had his "Hut," and tradition tells us that, at this time, he was the only white man in this region.
In 1732 this man applied to King George II. for the exclusive right of a ferry three miles above and the same distance below his "Hut."
This he obtained, calling it "Coryell's Ferry," from his own name (which was Emanuel Coryell), a name it retained for eighty years, and one that was notable in his- tory during the Revolution.
In that same year (1732) he built a com- modious and (for the time) imposing stone house, which was an Inn for the travelling public.
The house now owned and occupied (1902) by the heirs of the late Griffith Williams is on
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the site of the original "Ferry House." It was a very pretty location, as the ground sloped to the creek.
The canal and canal banks are responsible for its present elevated perch.
An addition was built to the "Ferry House" in after years, which was left standing for some time after the original was razed, and was leased to tenants.
Mr. Sydney Blackwell tore down the addi- tion and built the present edifice. It also con- tained a tablet on which was cut the date, 1749. (Mr. Daniel Gallagher is authority for this last statement, as he saw the tablet and date when Mr. Blackwell was tearing it down.)
Tradition says that the "Hut"' was the tavern until the "Ferry House" was occupied, and that its location was on the corner of Main and York streets, on the site where the Episcopal Church now stands.
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The Old Well .* In vain ask the question, "Who dug it?" Tradition attempts not to tell, And history also is silent About this extremely old well.
But history tells of the "Mansion," As built by Emanuel Coryell, And that in his yard was dug deeply This ancient and freely used well.
The "Mansion," an inn for wayfarers, Not far from the Ferry it stood, No doubt in its day it was useful, But harm did along with the good.
For gold, rum was sold to its patrons, The evil it did who can tell? "Twere better for buyer and seller Had all slaked their thirst at the well.
Tradition and history tell us That the army from Valley Forge, When on their way over to Monmouth To battle with hosts of King George,
Crossed the river at Coryell's Ferry, And camped here for resting a spell, Commander-in-chief and his soldiers Drinking freely from this same old well.
I remember the well in my childhood, The old curb just ready to fall, The moss, like a soft velvet cushion, That covered with green the old wall.
*Located on South Union street, on the east side of the site of the old Ferry House.
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3 1833 02255 3207
I remember the yard and the garden, The beautiful slope to the brook, But the march of improvement has marred it, Not at all like the same does it look.
The earth it contained was all wanted, Wheelbarrows and carts, men and all, Have carted away yard and garden, Barely leaving the well and its wall.
The "Mansion," again I speak of it, Don't wonder that on it I dwell,
There my eyes to the light I first opened, And supped my first drink from its well.
The house that now stands there so lofty Was built on the site of the old, With the well, that once useful appendage, Left outside the yard "in the cold."
This new lofty house now reminds me Of friends that we often may meet : As soon as they find they don't need us, Like the well we're left out in the street.
Some feet of the top of the old wall Was cut from the well in a lump, And in place of the curb and the windlass, It's modernized now with a pump.
And now the old well looks so lonely, No longer so high nor so deep, So changed since the day when its waters Were drawn from its depth by a sweep.
It seems like an humble old cast-out, Dispensing its good like a saint, Refreshing the weary and thirsty And those who are ready to faint.
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Who are they? Vain question; why ask it? Oblivious their course is now run; One century hence the same question
May be asked of the works we have done.
Where are they? Go ask the old graveyard, Embosomed they lie in its breast, The digger, the builder, the owner, They long since have gone to their rest.
To rest-many years have been numbered Since mingled their dust with the carth; Their spirits returned to their Maker, The God who at first gave them birth.
1732 seems to have been an eventful year in Emanuel Coryell's history, for it was in this year his son Cornelius was born.
Emanuel Coryell died when comparatively a young man, being less than fifty years of age, and was buried in his field in sight of his late dwelling, the "Ferry House."
Four sons survived him, and in the division of his real estate the heirs apportioned the burial plot in which their father was buried to be a "Grave Yard" for his descendants forever. It is the same on which the Presbyterian Church now stands.
It seems to be a singular act of neglect that in this "Grave Yard" no stone marks the rest- ing place of the first white resident and founder of this city.
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MONUMENT OF GEORGE CORYELL.
His sons and grandsons also were remark- able for longevity.
A coffin-shaped stone, hewn from the
granite of his own "Goat Hill," records the names of two of those sons. Cornelius, about whom I have previously spoken, died in the hundredth year of his age, being ninety-nine years and six months old.
His brother Abram's record on the same stone is ninety-one years.
John Coryell, a grandson, died October 31st, 1861, in the ninetieth year of his age.
It may interest some of my readers to know that a modest monument marks the resting place of George Coryell, son of Cornelius, who died in this city in 1850, aged ninety-one years.
He was a fellow-Mason with George Wash- ington in the Masonic Lodge at Alexandria, Va., and, as is stated on the monument, the last survivor of the six men who laid the "Father of his Country" in his tomb. Lest some one question the historic accuracy of this statement, it should be mentioned that, as a member of the lodge, next in degree, Mr. Coryell was called on to take the place of one of the six pall-bearers selected-(Lieutenant) Moss, who was taken ill.
Mr. Coryell was a personal acquaintance of George Washington through connecting cir-
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cumstances in his youth, and through his influ- ence was induced to go to Alexandria, when he eventually married the daughter of Commo- dore Hamilton, U. S. N. Here he continued to be a resident citizen until he was an aged man and retired from all business.
His family all gone, he then returned to his native home to spend the remnant of his days among his remaining kindred.
The writer was well acquainted with Mr. Coryell, and talked with him about George Washington's funeral, knowing that he had been one of the bearers on that occasion.
He told her that after the body had been lowered in the grave, with appropriate cere- monies, each member of the lodge drew from his right hand his glove and threw it on the coffin.
The writer attended Mr. Coryell's funeral, and not a glove was thrown in the grave, but his brother Masons, with the ceremonies of their order, threw on his coffin a little branch of evergreen.
The Rev. Dr. P. O. Studdiford delivered very impressive services on that occasion.
During the summers of 1776-1777, when Washington was retreating through New Jer- sey, and watching the movements of Lords Howe and Cornwallis, to prevent their seizing
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and occupying Philadelphia, Cornelius Coryell, the son of Emanuel, made himself useful to Washington, both as a guide and in every other way possible.
The army was divided into three canton- ments, the middle one coming to Coryell's Ferry.
Redoubts and batteries were cast up on the Pennsylvania side of the river.
Washington reconnoitered and took obser- vations from the hills and prominent surround- ings. There is a flat rock near a spring on "Goat Hill," known as "Washington's dining rock," on which he is said to have dined on one of these occasions. Also another on the south side of the same hill called "Pinnacle Rock," from which the most extensive view could be taken. The western shore of the "Ferry" performed a very prominent part in the history of 1776, both in collecting and secreting boats all along the Delaware, as well as sheltering them behind the small island of "Malta," one and one-half miles below the "Ferry."
In these boats the loyal troops were con- veyed across the icy "Delaware" at "Mc- Konkey's" on Christmas, and surprised and captured the enemy at Trenton on the follow- ing day, December 26th, 1777.
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Cornwallis had previously heard of boats being collected at "Coryell's Ferry," and sent spies up on the New Jersey side, but they saw nothing to verify the report, and dared not cross the river and face the frowning batteries on that side.
Nearly every foot of the shores of the "Ferry" is full of interest to the student of historic lore pertaining to the Revolution as enacted here. The whole section abounds with incidents connected with the Colonial and Revolutionary days.
At Coryell's Ferry, on the Pennsylvania side of the river, it is said that Washington, with Generals William Alexander (Lord Stirling), Green and others who were in command of the troops at that time, planned the "Battle of Trenton," which we have already mentioned.
General Benedict Arnold (The Traitor) was at Coryell's Ferry, June 16th, 1777, and from there wrote to General Washington. .
On the 29th of July, 1777, we find the honored and lamented Alexander Hamilton, then a Captain of Artillery, writing to the Honorable Robert Morris from the same place.
Colonel James Monroe, afterward President of the United States, was also quartered at a farm-house a little below the Ferry, 1776.
In June, 1778, when the British evacuated
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Philadelphia, to avoid being caught in a trap, Washington broke camp at "Valley Forge" and came to the Ferry, crossing over into what is now Lambertville. His soldiers camped in an orchard, which is now one of the business portions of our city, viz., the northeast corner of Bridge and Union streets.
While here General Washington penned the following letter to Major-General Arnold :
HEADQUARTERS NEAR CORYELL'S,
June 22d, 1778.
To Major General Arnold,
SIR :- I have the honor to inform you, that I am now in New Jersey, and that nearly all of the troops have passed safely across the river, at Coryell's.
The latest intelligence I have, respecting the enemy, was yesterday, from Gen. Dickinson, who said, they were, on that morning, at "Mount Holly" and at "Mor- ristown," but that he has not been able to learn what route they would take from thence; nor was it easy to determine the matter from their situation.
They will either proceed to South Amboy, or by way of "Brunswick."
We have been a good deal impeded in our march by rainy weather.
As soon as we have cleaned the "arms," and can get matters on train, we propose moving towards Princeton, in order to avail ourselves of any favorable occasions that may present themselves, for attacking or engaging the enemy.
I have the honor to be writing to Major General Arnold.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
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When the soldiers again took up their line of march, it was through a valley, between two heavily timbered hills. That valley is now known to us as "The Hook." The road was at the foot of the north hill, crossed "Swan's Creek," then ascended the "Old Saw-mill Road" to the high ground, or "Farmers' High- way," which was a steep ascent. Following this route the army reached "Hopewell," where they again rested. The onward march from there was to "Rocky Hill," "Kingston," Cranbury, and then to Monmouth, where they overtook the enemy and fought that memorable battle, June 28th.
The statement regarding the army while here is unquestionably correct, as the writer heard it from the lips of an aged man-the son of Captain George Coryell, and grandson of Emanuel, at whose house some of the officers were entertained, he being at the time a lad presumably twelve or fourteen years of age.
Washington, with other officers, was quar- tered at Richard Holcombe's, in the ancient mansion we know as "Washington's Head- quarters."
It is said that just previous to their departure a council of war, lasting two hours, was held with the officers and General Greene, under an old apple tree at the rear of the "Mansion,"
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and it is further stated that in that house Washington wrote his letter to Arnold.
Abram and John Coryell, two of the four sons of Emanuel, were at that time the pro- prietors of the "Ferry," Abram on the New Jersey side, and John on the Pennsylvania. These brothers conveyed the army across the river; also furnished commissary supplies and forage for the horses, for which they were paid in Continental money, which was never redeemed, in consequence of which these men were greatly impoverished.
Mention has been made of the "Old Saw- mill Road," the location of the "Mill" from which the road derived its name being where Mr. Harry Montgomery's house now (1902) stands. The old slanting wall, over which the water flowed from the mill, was still there in the writer's childood days; also the mill-race, the north bank of which was supported by large oaks and beech trees. The dam was gone, but about where it had been was a "Mineral Spring," with a depth of four or more feet, and having a millstone encircling its top, with its waters strongly impregnated with iron. [The writer has often drunk of this water. ] When undisturbed, a scum covered the surface, and the stones near by, together
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with the drain from the spring, were always covered with a heavy, rusty sediment.
In 1776 we find plenty of evidence that this region was fast becoming a farming district, and that the people were quite thrifty.
There was a small "Grist-Mill" at the head of the "Falls," run by one Jonathan Pidcock (an Irishman), also a small saw-mill on Swan's creek, about one-half mile distant from the river.
Just on the ouskirts of our town is now stored, in two large reservoirs, the water from that creek, this being the water-supply for the city of Lambertville.
The tailor and the shoemaker of those days not infrequently plied his respective trade in the house of his patrons; this, perhaps, being done both for convenience as well as economy's sake; while the schoolmaster took turns board- ing at the homes of his patrons.
At the time of the Revolution there were but four commodious houses in the hamlet-"The Ferry House," Captain George Coryell's, Rich- ard Holcombe's and George Tanner's. Tan- ner's house was located on the south side of Coryell street, along the river bank. To this house was attached-on the west side-a store- house for the storage of grain and other mer- chandise. The Delaware being the highway
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for the interchange of commerce between Easton and Philadelphia and the surrounding country, made it very profitable for this man who lived so near to it. Through this medium a large business was done, during the war, the produce being conveyed to and fro on large canoe-shaped boats, called "Durham boats," from the name of the place where they were first built.
These "Durhams" were propelled by sails and setting-poles, with a long steering oar at the helm.
Immense quantities of lumber were rafted down the Delaware annually from the Lehigh and Upper Delaware. Now a raft on the river would be a curiosity. The destruction of the forests, as well as two canals, has tended to rob the river of much of its earlier copious water flow.
The oldest houses now standing are the "Washington Headquarters" and the Bellmont House, which latter was built by Judge John Coryell in 1797, where he commenced his mar- ried life.
There all his children were born, and from it he buried both his wives and his father, Cap- tain George Coryell.
The yard and surrounding grounds extended as far back as Coryell street.
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Since then stories have been added, and ex- tensions and additions have been made, thus changing its appearance entirely.
The old store-house on the southwest corner of Coryell and Main streets, is said to have been built at the same time as the Judge's house.
Coryell street is the oldest street in our city. It is recorded that it was opened by Judge John Coryell in the year 1802, at which time a few building lots were sold. This street extended from Main street to the river. The ground east of Main street to the foot of the hill was known as "Bog Meadow;" the water course from there to the river, in wet times, being through what is now Ferry street. A small stone bridge with one arch crossed Bridge street about the center of Dr. Lilly's lot. The first house built on Coryell street at that early date was erected by Dr. Richard Kreusen, who died in 1807, aged forty-nine. (His successor was Dr. John Lilly.) Kreusen's widow, with her son and daughter, occupied this house until all were deceased. Opposite their home was the residence of Joshua Anderson. A brick dwelling was built on this site, in 1846, by his son, John H. Anderson. This house is owned
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at the present time (1902) by Mrs. Helen Matthews.
Another building lot on which a commo- dious frame house was erected -by whom it is unknown-was located midway between what is now Union street and Anderson's prop- erty. The house was purchased by Mr. Bran- non, a brother-in-law of Dr. John Lilly.
On the southwest corner of Union and Coryell streets was built a frame residence, known to the writer as the "Yellow House." No doubt it was a very pretty dwelling when occupied by the original owners, as it had the appearance of having been well finished inside as well as out.
The next mentioned is the property of Mrs. Thomas B. Fidler, which has undergone many changes. The date of building and original ownership are unknown to the writer.
Another frame dwelling on Coryell street was owned, and occupied until his death, by a very aged man, named Charles Pidcock, a native-born citizen of this community. This house adjoined the present property of Mr. Jacob Heins.
The stone house on South Main street, at the foot of Goat Hill, was built by Jacob Coryell, son of Cornelius and grandson of Emanuel.
There is no known date of its erection, but
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it is supposed to be coeval with the Bellmont House, if not older. At the present time this house is owned by Mr. Samuel Case.
"Tanning" was the business carried on by Jacob Coryell and his sons.
The water-supply for the use of the "Tan- yard" came from a small brook which flowed down between Cottage and Goat Hills. This "Tannery" was in operation until a later date than 1840.
On the northwest corner of Main and Coryell streets was a dwelling and storehouse, sup- posed to have been built in 1805 by Emley Hol- combe, who for many years kept at this place a store for general merchandise.
In 1812 the building of the Delaware bridge was begun, it being finished two years later, at a cost of $69,000. As this bridge was to make a new road or street, Captain John Lambert commenced the erection of a new "tavern," the present "Lambertville House." This was a well-conducted and respectable "hostlery," which he kept himself until his death. The "Ferry House" was then closed, and became a private dwelling.
Judge John Coryell sold to Doctor John Lilly a lot of land from the "road" (Bridge street) to Swan's creek on the south, said lot
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extending to Franklin street on the east, and to Main street on the west.
On this lot he built a brick residence front- ing Bridge street. A broad path led up to the front door, which was covered by a commo- dious portico, and was reached by a flight of steps. There was another high porch on the south side, to the right of which was the base- ment-kitchen. What is now called Lilly street was the doctor's private driveway and entrance to his office, kitchen, etc.
His barn, carriage-house, wood-house, "sty," etc., were opposite, and near enough to the home.
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