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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01292 2529
GENEALOGY 974.9 N421D V.26
ARCHIVES
OF THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
1
FIRST SERIES.
Vol. XXVI.
This volume was prepared and edited by authority of the State of New Jersey, at the request of the New Jersey Historical Society, and under the direction of the following Committee of the Society :
WILLIAM NELSON, GARRET D. W. VROOM, AUSTIN SCOTT, FRANCIS B. LEE, ERNEST C. RICHARDSON.
:
DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO THE
COLONIAL HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
EDITED BY
WILLIAM NELSON.
VOLUME XXVI.
EXTRACTS FROM AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS, RELATING TO NEW JERSEY.
VOL. VII. 1768-1769.
PATERSON, N. J .: THE CALL PRINTING AND PUBLISHING CO.
-
1904.
PREFACE. 1136418
Within the five hundred and ninety-three pages of this volume the attentive reader will find a vast amount of information concern- ing conditions -- social, economical, religious and political-in New Jersey in the years 1768 and 1769.
The newspapers of the day, though still innocent of any expres- sion of opinion by the printers-editors and editorials being as yet unknown even, in American journalism-became more than ever the vehicles of public sentiment, expressed in communications from "A True Patriot," "Independent Freeholder," "Taxpayer," and their confreres of the ready pen, eager to discuss at intolerable length the great questions filling men's thoughts. It will be observed that most of these letters relate to economic subjects, indicating that they were the principal causes of discontent among the Colonists. New Jersey was growing fast. Trade and commerce were seeking new outlets. New stage routes were being established, there being two between New York and Philadelphia much of the time, a stage setting out daily each way. A new line between Newark and New York con- sidered that the traffic between those places would be accommodated by four trips a week, probably carrying four or five persons at a time. The people had become so used to these vehicles that it was no longer necessary to seek custom by advertising them as "flying machines," as formerly. The increase of travel was naturally fol- lowed by a multiplying of taverns, which were evidently of a better quality than formerly. The growth of commerce led Governor Franklin to urge upon the Legislature the importance of better roads.
But the growth of the Province caused a demand for more currency ; and the lack of it was followed by a rise in the cost of living, and to some extent a falling off in trade. The writers for the newspapers had their several explanations and as diverse remedies to offer. The pessimist ascribes the "hard times" in 1768-9 to the scarcity of money (the experience of most people from the earliest ages even to the present day) ; to the increased cost of living, greatly swollen from 1755 to 1768; but chiefly to the "expen- sive diversions and sins of dissipation unknown among us until of late"-a remark which has a familiar sound in the year of Grace 1907. This writer estimates that the people of New Jersey actually expended as much as £40,000, or say $100,000, annually in tea,
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PREFACE.
obviously a waste of good money for a needless luxury. The decay of trade, he somewhat inconsistently assumes, was due to the same cause. Others, however, lay the grievances the people were supposed to have groaned under for some ycars past to the oppression of the lawyers, who were "rioting in luxury," having "acquired estates from the toil and labor of the necessitous." The remedy, then, was to reduce the fees of the legal fraternity, and to increase the juris- diction of the justices of the peace in actions of debt, from £6 to fio, or from $15 to $25. So easily, it was thought, could the rich be made poorer, and the poor richer, by a simple act of the Legis- lature.
It is evident, however, that the popular irritation was largely due to the interference of the British King and Parliament with the internal affairs of the Colonies. The Stamp Act, passed in 1765, though repealed in 1766 was not forgotten; nor the distinct assertion by the British ministry of the right of Parliament to tax the American people. The New Jersey Legislature more than once, in obedience to the popular demand, had passed bills for a large emission of paper currency, well secured, only to have the acts disallowed by the King. Similarly, bills to increase the civil juris- diction of the justices of the peace had met a like fate. This feeling of resentment was greatly heightened by the measures taken by the ministry to punish the people of Boston, and the merchants and traders and citizens generally of New Jersey enthusiastically entered into the agreement with the other Colonies to import no British goods until the embargo should be lifted from Boston port, denounced the merchants and traders of New York for proposing even a modification of the boycott which was ruining their com- inerce, and dealt mob law out to any unfortunate individuals so much as suspected of opposing the Non-Importation agreement. These views were reflected in the speech of Hendrick Fisher, on being re-elected to the Assembly from Somerset county, in 1768. Cortlandt Skinner presented them fairly and plainly to the home government in the same year; and the Assembly boldly addressed the King -- with profuse avowals of reverence and loyalty-remon- strating against the acts of Parliament interfering with the Colonies, and especially protesting against Parliamentary taxation. Again, the Assembly declared that "no transaction of theirs tended in the least to widen or continue the unhappy differences subsisting between Great Britain and the Colonies," but at the same time (October 18, 1769) they voted their thanks to "the merchants and traders of New York and Pennsylvania, for their disinterested and publie spirited conduct in withholding their importations of British merchandise until certain acts of Parliament laying restrictions on
vii
PREFACE.
American commerce for the express purpose of raising revenue in America be repealed." Yet there has been a tendency in recent years to question the importance of the issue of "No taxation without representation," as one of the causes of the American Revolution.
Another burning question of the day was the proposition of the Bishop of Landaff to have Bishops appointed in England to super- intend the affairs of the Church in America-a project regarded with intense disfavor by the Colonists, at least by those not con- nected with the Church of England, who regarded it as another scheme to place the American people under English control, in a inatter very near to their consciences. The character of the argu- ments on this question is indicated in the letters abstracted on pages 77-86, 94-120, 125-6, infra.
Business troubles were doubtless accelerated by the unsettled political condition of the times. It is melancholy to see so many advertisements of insolvent debtors in "goal." Perhaps these cir- cumstances account for the large number of farms offered for sale, most of them well-cultivated, with many improvements, choice orchards, etc. Perhaps for the same reasons many iron mines and iron works were seeking buyers, the minute descriptions of such plants, as set forth in the advertisements, being of great interest and value. On the other hand, the non-importation agreements en- couraged domestic manufactures, glowing accounts of which were exultantly published in the newspapers of the period. The attrac- tions of Sussex county, as captivatingly advertised herein, indicate that population was drifting into that comparatively new region for settlement.
Still another cause of controversy between the people and the royal authorities was the robbery of the treasury of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, at Perth Amboy, July 21, 1768. This unfor- tunate circumstance was promptly and with avidity seized upon by the Assembly to bait the Governor, who, however, met the attack squarely and with much skill; but the quarrel smouldered for years, and was used as another argument in favor of having the Provincial officers appointed by, or at least responsible directly to, the Assem- bly, as the people's representatives.
A pleasant episode was the attendance of Governor William Franklin and Chief Justice Frederick Smyth, of New Jersey, at the Congress of the Six Nations and their tributaries at Fort Stanwix, New York, where our diplomatic young Governor conducted himself so ably that he received from the admiring savages the compli- mentary title of Sagorighwiyoghsta, or "Great Arbiter or Doer of Justice," whichi style he cleverly devolved upon the Province of New Jersey.
viii
PREFACE.
Another important event chronicled herein was the appointment by the King, of Commissioners, in 1769, who settled the northern boundary of New Jersey, between this Province and New York.
Princeton College seems to have maintained a well-managed bureau of publicity, by which the affairs of the College were con- stantly kept before the community. A preparatory school was established at Princeton, which was soon followed by stricter requirements for matriculation in the College, students entering being obliged to have a knowledge of vulgar arithmetic. The ex- penses of students were preposterously low. (See pp. p69, 304, 427.) The very prosperity of the College drew upon it the animadversions of the envious. (P. 195.)
Here we note the beginnings of Queens, now the flourishing Rutgers, College, at New Brunswick. Schools of a higher grade than formerly, teaching the learned languages, are advertised, at New Bridge, Hackensack, Elizabethtown and New Brunswick, indi- cating a development in intellectual culture. More books are announced, by New Jersey authors.
The New Jersey Medical Society, established in 1766, is flourish- ing in 1768 and 1769, and holding regular meetings.
Other incidents herein chronicled may be briefly noted: A man torn to pieces by a panther, at Shrewsbury. Mob law checked in Morris county by the judicious use of a gun, in determined hands. A disastrous fire at New Brunswick, destroying several buildings, and records of great importance. The board of justices and free- holders of Middlesex County indicted for illegal expenditures, but acquitted-a history repeated one hundred and thirty-eight years later. More runaway servants advertised than formerly, but better clad, and evidently in better circumstances.
Such are some of the topics touched on in these Extracts from American Newspapers, relating to New Jersey. They are all referred to, and many besides, in the copious index at the end of the volume.
FEBRUARY 10, 1907.
Newspaper Extracts.
EXTRACT of a LETTER from PRINCETON,
dated January 5, 1768.
"I take this Opportunity to acquaint you of several un- fortunate Events that have lately happened in this Neigh- bourhood, which may be of Service (by Way of Caution) to publish in the Pennsylvania Chronicle. They are as follow :-
"On Thursday the 3Ist of December ult. Obadiah Wil- kins, a Constable, having executed a Warrant on one Crow, for Debt, attended him to a neighbouring House in order to obtain Security - - - but the Prisoner being disappointed, watched an Opportunity, and made his Es- cape to his Waggon, then in the Road, and drove away, which Wilkins discovering, called to him, and charged him to stop, being his Prisoner - - This being disre- garded, he pursued and overtook the Waggon, and en- deavoured to stop the Horse; but Crowe still determined to proceed, told him if he did not desist he should drive over him which happened immediately after, poor Wilkins being entangled in the Geers of the Horses. It is said the Wheels dragged him thirty Yards, then run over and killed him, notwithstanding a Person present called out that Wilkins was under the Wheels, and did all in his Power to stop the Horses .- I am informed the Jury of Inquest have brought in their Verdict, "An Acci- dent, owing to Crow's driving the Horses."
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1768
"The same Day as a Man in Hopewell was driving a Team, in jumping off his Waggon, he slipt, and the Wheeles went over and killed him."
"And on Monday Night last, the Barn of Mr. Steel, near Somerset Court-House, was burnt doren, with a con- siderable Quantity of Provender, &c. but providentially all the neighbouring Houses were preserved, tho' the Barn, I believe, was not twenty Fect from the Court- House, and said Steel's Dwelling-House -- - There were also several other Houses contiguous. In the Hurry and Confusion on the Occasion, a Negro Child, about six Months old, was smothered on a Bed, being covered over inadvertently with Bedding and other Goods.
Philadelphia, January 4, 1768.
THE Creditors of Thomas Lawrie, late of Allen Town, are once more requested to bring or send in their De- mands against his Estate, on or before the 27th Instant, to JAMES and DRINKER, Merchants, in Philadelphia. SAMUEL ALLINSON, Attorney at Law, in Burlington, or MARIEN LAMAR, at Allen Town that they may be ad- justed by the Trustees, who expect to be prepared for paying said Creditors, their first Dividend of his Estate, by the Ioth of February, in Burlington, where they, or their Representatives, may apply for the same.1
Those who neglect to deliver in their Demands, by the Time abovementioned, must necessarily be excluded a Share in the first Dividend.
Extract from a Letter of ATTICUS.
To the Printer of the PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE :
The letter sent to me some months ago, without a name or signature, dated from Mansfield, in Burlington county.
1 See N. J. Archives. XXV., 650.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1768]
New-Jersey, contained an instance of greatness of soul, which deserves publication; and the reason of its being hitherto delayed was, that I might be fully assured of the truth of the fact, and having lately seen several persons of credit from that way, who tell me, it is to be depended upon, I now give it in my correspondent's words, "An "early settler in this neighbourhood, acquired a large "estate-he had five farms or plantations, and as many "sons; and for each son, he intended one of the places, "and his mind in that respect was well known in his fam- "ily; he however neglected to get his will reduced into "writing. and died without one, so that as the English "laws, in regard to descents, take place in this province, "the whole landed estate, became the property of the eld- "est son. This he knew, but tho' he had then a family of "children of his own, he, without hesitation or delay, or- "dered deeds to be drawn, and cheerfully executed them; "to convey to each brother the plantation designed for "him by their common father: "The name of this just "man was William Black, and as he has been deceased "several years, its hoped that the mentioning of it, can "give no offence to any body, nay, rather may it not be "called a tribute due to such virtue, and the more neces- "sary as his privite way of living prevented him from "being much known, and his religious profession from "directing any marble monument to be erected to his mem- "ory!"
The opportunities of shewing such disinterested acts of justice, such proofs of real goodness, beyond the obli- gation of human laws, happens to few, and when those to whom the trial is permitted, acquit themselves with honour, the recital of their conduct affords great and heartfelt joy to the best of mankind, and even such as are
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1768
too selfish and degenerate to have behaved thus in the like circumstances, cannot but outwardly applaud those who have done so .--
Philadelphia, 1768. No. 22. ATTICUS. -The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 52, January 4-11, 1768.
NEW-YORK, December 28.
It is said, that the Merchants of this Town, trading to the West-Indies, are about applying to the Corporation, to pass a BYE-LAW, that no White-Oak Hogshead Staves shall be deemed merchantable by the Cullers, but such as are Three-quarters of an Inch thick on the Heart Edge, and broad, clear of Sap, which we hope will restore the Credit of our Lumber, and enable us to share that Branch of Trade with Pennsylvania, and other Provinces, that have, for some Years past, rivalled us in it at the West India Markets. The North-River Lumber is remarkably good, which, from the great Plenty of fine Lumber on each Side that River, it is hoped will so continue: Indeed the Thing most likely to hurt its Credit is, the permitting the Stave-Getters from New-Jersey, and other Parts ( who have been used to get very ordinary Lumber) to work our good Timber.
PHILADELPHIA, January 7. Captain Eastwick, from St. Eustatia is got into Cohansey-Creek.
ON Friday Night, the first of this inst. January, was broke open, the House of John Delong, at the new Fur- nace at Badston,1 near Little Egg-Harbour, and sundry Goods taken, viz. a new Suit of brown Saggathy, with gilt Buttons, two Blankets, two Sheets. a Sett of China.
1 Batsto.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1768]
and several Handkerchiefs. The said Robbery was com- mitted by one William M'Coy, a short set Man, stoop shouldered, a little Pock-marked, and has sandy curled Hair; he was seen with the above Clothes on, in Com- pany with a short well set Woman, of a dark Complexion, and black Hair, who wore a Damask or striped Silk Gown. white Stockings, and Leather heeled Shoes; they crossed Cooper's Ferry on Tuesday last. Whoever apprehends said Thief, so as he may be brought to Justice, shall have Five Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by
JOHN DELONG.
-The Pennsylvania Gasette, No. 2037, January 7, 1768.
NEW-YORK.
Jan. 4. Friday night came up from Sandy-Hook, Capt. Young in a ship, in 12 weeks from Bristol; On the 30th of December, lie spoke with capt. Inglis in a brig bound from New-York, for Dominica, about 135 leagues from Sandy-Hook; and on the 22d of December spoke a brig from Philadelphia, but it blowing very hard they could not learn the master's name: She had chairs lashi'd on her quarters, and supposed themselves to be about ninety leagues from the Capes .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1309. January 7, 1768.
Mr. GODDARD,
We hear grievous complaints of the languishing con- dition of these provinces, arising from the scarcity of cash, and loud cries for Money! Money !- Money, it seems, is to do everything for us, to clothe the sluggard, provide bread for the indolent, support the extravagant, and sup- ply the luxurious-In short, it is to help those who will not help themselves. In order to put my countrymen
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. 11768
upon an inquiry whether this is likely to be the case, I beg you would give the following hints a place in the next CHRONICLE, which will oblige your constant Reader,
Hunterdon. West-Jersey, A PLOUGHMAN.
Jan. 7, 1768.
The Seven United Provinces were formerly a part of the Spanish empire, till the inhabitants, rendered desper- ate by oppression, and impelled by a thirst of freedom, after a long and obstinate struggle, purchased to them- selves a state of independance, and carefully established that freedom which had cost them so dear. This people. possessed of a small barren territory, incapable of sup- porting one tenth of its inhabitants one tenth of the year. destitute of every article of trade and themselves reduced, by the war, to extreme poverty, rose to a state of opti- lence and power, with an amazing rapidity; it may then be useful for us to inquire into the cause which produced such surprizing effects. Was it freedom only? Not so, that gives the government of the will, but reaches no farther, happiness, and things desirable, are obtained by the prudent use of freedom ;- it was their industry, ac- companied with frugality. that raised them to the height they now stand: it was this produced those effects then. and will do the same now, it is the true magnet that at- tracts riches.
Let us apply the foregoing to ourselves, and impartially examine, whether the complaints we meet in every street. and from every quarter, for want of money, be real or only imaginary, i. c. whether, attended with that indus- try and œconomy which ought to obtain under our cir- cumstances, there is not a sufficiency of cash to give strength and vigor to trade and improvement? The lat- ter, I am persuaded, is the case, and that the extreme plenty of money, in the latter part of the late war, hath
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1768]
proved the greatest mischief that ever happened to these provinces; it relaxed industry, promoted idleness, en- couraged running in debt, opened a door to profusion and high living, luxury, and excess of every kind, that the most superficial observer must be surprised at the differ- ence in living and dress between 1755 and the present time, besides the expensive diversions, and scenes of dis- sipation, unknown among us till of late; and now. the ebb tide not floating us where we used to swim, it occa- sions loud complaints, charging all our distresses to the scarcity of cash. Whether that is really the case, may appear from the following computation.
In the year 1754, New-Jersey had not £. 20,000 in bills of credit; she hath now near £. 220,000, and I suppose the state of Pennsylvania may be near similar; and there is certainly a much greater plenty of gold and silver now than at that period. I therefore conclude I am within bounds in judging there is four to one more money now circulating in these two provinces, than there was in 1754. Judge then from whence the source of these complaints.
To make money, with many other appendages of free- dom, we find is dispensed to us at the will and pleasure of others; but frugality and œeconomy is wholly in our own power, and is the only means that will yield us sure and lasting relief, and is a resource that cannot fail. for it is evident our expences will greatly admit of being re- trenched, so as for the savings scon to pay all our domes- tic debts. To demonstrate which, the following partic- ular may serve for a sample.
From a critical and ingenious calculation there appears to be expended in New-Jersey upwards of 40,000 1. an- nually in tea, and allowing four times that quantity for Pennsylvania, together makes 200,000 1. per annum, to these two provinces, for this single article ( which I need
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1768
not inform my readers we could do without) ; what an amazing sum then must all our superfluous and unneces- sary imports cost us, and with what propriety do we com- plain of the scarcity of money, when we thus wantonly lavish away such immense sums for meer articles of lux- ury! Having mentioned tea, I may add that the bare purchase, though no inconsiderable sum, sinks to a trifle. scarce worth a thought, when compared with the cost of its equipage, and consequences attending the use. . -The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 53, January 11-18. 1768.
A MISTAKE.
ON Friday the 6th Instant, two Pieces of Dowlas, and one Piece of brown Shallon, tied together, and directed to William Graham, Taylor, at Elisabeth-Town, were put on board of a Boat at White-Hall Wharf, which was then supposed to be the Boat commanded by Capt. Dobbs, be- longing to Elisabeth-Town: But as said Graham, has not received the said Goods, and as Capt. Dobbs denies that they were put on board his Boat, and carried elsewhere by Mistake: The Person therefore who has them, will please to deliver them to the Printer hereof, or to said Graham, at Elisabeth-Town, and he will be thankfully rewarded for the same.
New-York, January 8, 1768.
MAJOR PULLENE, and Mr. Kelly, have been kind enough to collect a Sum of Money for the Relief of Moses Scars, a Poor Man, that lives in the Highlands, who lost his Sloop in the late Storm, by which Accident, himself, and Family, were real Objects of Charity. The Money is lodged in the Hands of the Mayor, for the Use of the said Moses Scars. And we are desired by the MAJOR, to give this Notice of it, that the poor Man may have the
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1768]
Money, whenever he will call for it .- The New York Mercury, No. 845, January II, 1768.
Hackensack, at the New-Bridge,
WE the subscribers, being encouraged by the favour- able notice, and approbation of many gentlemen of char- acter, both in city and country, to pursue our present busi- ness, do hereby, from an expectation of further encour- agement, inform the public, that it is our honest design in conjunction with each other, in order to extend our use- fulness to mankind in general, to continue to teach the learned languages. A necessary and beautiful accomplish- ment for young gentlemen who desire to make any con- siderable figure in life, as they are the proper foundation of all other advances in speculative knowledge. in the ap- proved method; with the same accuracy and care as for- merly, and hope our good intentions, together with our diligence, and assiduous labour, will always be such, as to merit the assistance and approbation of all gentlemen of letters.
Strangers may have satisfaction, as to the character of the school, by applying to a number of competent judges. in New-York, whose sons are now under tuition; and as another inducement the situation of the place is almost sufficient of itself to recommend it.
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