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HISTORY
OF
Paterson and Its Environs (The Silk City)
BY
WILLIAM NELSON and CHARLES A. SHRINER 1
Historical -Genealogical-Biographical
VOLUME I
1920 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK and CHICAGO
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 564529B
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS B 1950 L
COPYRIGHT LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO. 1920
FOREWORD
I feel as if I were treading on forbidden ground, entering a field which should ever be closed to all but one individual. William Nelson devoted nearly all of his life to historical research, and he subordinated to this all which most men would have considered the imperative duties of life. Unmindful of social duty or financial loss, he was ever ready to abandon, no matter what he might have undertaken outside of the realm of history, for the pursuit of what to him was the most important call. He published scores of pamphlets and wrote thousands of pages for magazines, but the great work of his life, which he had ever in mind, was his History of Paterson. Begun immediately after the Civil War, he busied himself with accumulating material, and it is doubtful if a day ever passed which did not contribute its meed of research or literary toil.
No man's span of life is long enough to have completed the task undertaken by William Nelson in the manner in which he desired to see it completed. "If you work in the field of literature, work as though you were to live long into eternity," was the advice once given by a writer of history, and it was this advice that was followed by William Nelson. He began printing his history forty years ago, in days when the issuing of ponderous tomes, set in type smaller than is used in the present day news- paper and with footnotes frequently running many pages ahead of the text, had almost passed into desuetude, but William Nelson recognized as the best way to print history the way in which it had been done for cen- turies. The result was that at his death he had completed only a small fraction of what he intended to leave to posterity, and this printed after the fashion which entitled it only to a place in the library of the antiquarian. It was found necessary to have a literary executor, and this task was entrusted to me. On the printed pages before me I found his exhaustive treatise on the aboriginal inhabitants of the territory now covered by the City of Paterson, his monograph on the early settlers, and an almost completed account of military doings in Revolutionary days. In addition to this, I obtained possession of numerous pamphlets and other publica- tions in which I found contributions from the pen of William Nelson, and from this material-a mosaic intended for more pretentious structure- I have put together the volumes now before the reader. Wherever lacuna occurred, I supplied the deficiencies from the best available sources, notably, as far as the history of Paterson's early industries are concerned, from the minute book of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufac- tures, a book, though its first pages tell of the ambition and exertions of Alexander Hamilton and his advice as it fell from his lips, in which are still recorded the present-day doings of the organization to which Pater- son's founding is to be attributed. CHARLES A. SHRINER.
Paterson, N. J., August 1, 1920.
CONTENTS
The Historical Narrative is paged consecutively, and is carried into Volume II, ending with the Historical Index. The Genealogical and Biographical Department follows immediately thereafter in Volume II, and ending with Volume III.
THE ABORIGINES Page
Chapter I-Whence they came-Researches and speculation of stu- dents-The Leni Lenape. I
Chapter II-Indian home life-Code of laws-Marriage, disease and death I2
Chapter III-The Indian language-More primitive than the Arvan -Holy Writ as read by the Lenape-"The Indian Interpreter," by Dr. J. Dyneley Prince. 30
Chapter IV-Religion of the Indians-Story of the Flood-Their Gods-Amulets and sacrificial dances 51
Chapter V-The three Lenape Tribes-Duties of the Chief-Ora- tory-The Pequannock and Pompton Indians. 58
Chapter VI-Indian title to the soil-Recognized by the Dutch --- The English claim-New Jersey State authorities buy rights of the Aborigines 72
Chapter VII-Indian place names-Aboriginal nomenclature still retained 77
THE EARLY WHITE SETTLERS
Chapter I-Settling of Acquackanonk -- Early real estate transfers- A celebrated patent-First map of Paterson-Old deed and receipt for quitrents 87
Chapter II-Division of Totowa-Boundary lines-Mining rights- Indian deed to Wagaraw and Goffle neighborhoods-Garret Mountain II5
Chapter III-Pioneer life-The Kill von Kull-Early dwellings - Home industries-Mining-Boundary disputes I31
Chapter IV-From cradle to grave-Domestic life of early settlers -Courtship, marriages and funerals. 155
Chapter V-King's Highway-Coaching days-Turnpikes and fords -First bridge at Paterson-Laying out streets. 163
Chapter VI-Human slavery-Punishment and execution of slaves -Sale of slaves 174
V
CONTENTS
PASSAIC COUNTY
Page
Chapter I-Land transfers-Patents held by the Dutch and the Eng- lish-Early missionaries-Settlement and division of Acquacka- nonk 185 .
Chapter II-Organization of Passaic County-First courts and elec- tions-County buildings-Officiary 190
THE NATION'S WARS
Chapter I-British oppression-The people protest-Organization of a General Committee-Doings of General Assembly-Begin- ning of the Revolution .. 201
Chapter II-Washington's retreat through Acquackanonk-British pursuit-Destruction of bridge at Acquackanonk 207
Chapter III-March of the British-Lord Cornwallis at Dundee Dam-Depredation and spoliation. 213
Chapter IV-Second invasion-The Hessians-March of Gen. Lee -Invasion of New Jersey from New York. 221
Chapter V-Lord Stirling at Acquackanonk-Washington at Ring- wood-His encampments at Preakness-The Dey house-Sur- geon Thacher's journal-Lafayette at Haledon. 231
Chapter VI-Marquis de Chastellux-Camp life at Totowa and Preakness-Court martial at Totowa .. 245
Chapter VII-Washington's contemplated attack on New York- Winter quarters at Pompton-Autograph letter of Washington 253
Chapter VIII-Mutiny of Pennsylvania forces-Revolt of New Jer- sey Brigade-Energetic measures by Washington-Court mar- tial in the snow -- Execution of ringleaders-Washington off for Yorktown 257
Chapter IX-Revolutionary officers from Passaic county-The God- wins -- Robert Erskine-William Colfax-Sympathizers with the British 27I
Chapter X-Lafayette's visit in 1824-A Paterson prodigy . 292
Chapter XI-Second war with England-Capt. Mitchell's Rangers -Colfax, Rogers and Danforth. 294
Chapter XII-Opening of Rebellion-Enthusiastic response-The City Blues and Fire Department. 295
Chapter XIII-Paterson's contribution in defense of the Union- Some conspicuous figures 296
Chapter XIV-Spanish-American War-Paterson military saw no action but suffered from disease. 301
Chapter XV-Paterson's participation in World War-Eight thou- sand men in National uniform-National Guard absorbed in 114th Regiment 302
vi
CONTENTS
Page
Chapter XVI-Home activities during World War-Liberty Loans -Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus and United War Work drives-Proud record of Red Cross. 304
THE MILITARY
Chapter I-Early organizations-Van Riper's corps-City Blues and Montgomery Rifles-Volunteer companies disappear at outbreak of War of the Rebellion. 307
Chapter II-Paterson Light Guard-Second Regiment of New Jer- sey Volunteers during Spanish-American War-Four compa- nies of Fifth Regiment-Loss of identity during World War- Present prospects of Militia 310
INDUSTRIES
Chapter I-Famous early grist mill-Conflicting deeds . 315
Chapter II-Alexander Hamilton's manufacturing project-Five years' struggle to establish manufacturing-The Colt family- Historic pieces of sculpture 317
Chapter III-Early experiments at establishing industries-Attempts at cotton manufacture-Story of a duel-Working metals -- A famous dam 337
Chapter IV -- Origin and rise of silk industry-Paterson took and retains a leading position-John Ryle, "Father of the Silk Indus- try"-Catholina Lambert-William Strange. 340
Chapter V-Locomotive building-The Grant and Rogers works- Machine shops, brass works, and other metal working establish- ments 351
Chapter VI-Flax working-Barbour Brothers' Company-Growth of the flax industry 357
BANKING INSTITUTIONS-Early struggles-Wrecking of a Trust Company-Successful modern institutions. 36
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Chapter I-Paterson becomes a municipal corporation-Struggles as a township-Cholera visitations-Township officers. . ...... 373
Chapter II-Paterson as a city-Extending territorial limits-New charter-New City Hall-Trunk sewer-Present wards .. . 376 Chapter III-Education in early days-Old-time schoolmasters- First Free School-Evolution of present system. 389
Chapter IV-The City Government - Board of Health - Public Library - Parks - Departments of Police and Fire - Public Works 396
.
vii
CONTENTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES Page
Chapter I-Organization of Passaic Water Company-Early strug- gles and development of water system. 407
Chapter II-Consolidation of Water interests in the Passaic water- shed-Purchase of supplies by Newark and Jersey City-A large part of the State depends upon a Paterson corporation for a water supply 410
Chapter III-Horse Railroads and Trolley Lines
417
Chapter IV-Gas and Electricity 420
BENCH AND BAR-Distinguished Lawyers-Bar Association- Bar of the present day . 423
MEDICAL HISTORY-Medical Society-Officiary
431
HOSPITALS-Work of Sisters of Charity-Ladies' Hospital-The Paterson General Hospital its successor 433
CEMETERIES-Burial places of early settlers-Sandy Hill Ceme- teries-Present-day Cemeteries 439
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
Chapter I-Reformed Dutch Churches-The First, Second, and Broadway-Other churches 445
Chapter II-Presbyterian Churches-First, Second, Broadway Ger- man-Other churches 453
Chapter III-Protestant Episcopal Churches -St. Paul's - Holy Communion-Trinity-Other churches 463
Chapter IV-Roman Catholic Churches-St. John the Baptist-St.
Boniface-St. Joseph's-St. Mary's-Other churches 468
Chapter V-Methodist Episcopal Churches-First Church-Market Street Church-Other churches 474
Chapter VI-Baptist Churches-First Church-Willis Street-Union Avenue-Other churches 483
Chapter VII-Christian Reformed Churches 488
Chapter VIII-Lutheran Churches-St. Paul's-Swedish-First Eng- lish Lutheran-St. John's German 491
Chapter IX-Hebrew Synagogues 493
Chapter X-Other Religious Organizations-Congregational-New Jerusalem-Other churches 495
GARRET MOUNTAIN RIOT 499
DEVASTATING ELEMENTS-Nine Million Dollar Fire-De- structive flood 505
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مسعلى
THE ABORIGINES.
CHAPTER I.
Where did the Indians come from ?- Possibly from Asia, via Behring's Strait-Researches and speculations of students-Apparently a com- mingling of various fundamental types-Their civilization originated in America-The Leni Lenape whose wigwams were in the hills of Passaic County.
The doomed Indian leaves behind no trace, To save his own or serve another race; With his frail breath his power has passed away, His deeds, his thoughts, are buried with his clay. His heraldry is but a broken bow, His history but a tale of wrong and woe, His very name must be a blank. -Sprague.
From the time that men began to think, they have been wont to specu- late on the unsolved problems : Whence come we? What are we? Whither do we tend? The olden Rabbis spent centuries in overlaying the Pentateuch with an amazing mass of mysticism, as where they said in the Zohar:
And YHVH Elohim formed Adam, i. e., Man, therefore is written: 'YHVH Elohim, created Adam,' with the full Name, like we have stated, that he is perfect and comprises all. We have learned: On the sixth day Man was created at the time when the Kiseh, i. e., Throne, was perfected, and is called Kiseh Throne; it is written: 'The Throne had six steps' (I Kings, x, 19), and therefore Man was created on the sixth (day) because he is worthy to sit on this Throne. And we have learned: When Man was created everything was established, everything which is Above [Ideal] and Below [Concrete], and all is comprised in Man.
Sepher ha-Zohar, Book of Illumination, or Splendor, or ancient Qabba- lah, is a mystical, running commentary on the Pentateuch or Thorah, based on the Sod, or Secret Doctrine, which perhaps antedates the Christian era. Many of the Rabbis believed the Hebrew text of the Pentateuch had a secret, hidden meaning, for the Illuminati or Enlightened, and another meaning for the ordinary reader.
On the other hand, such modern materialists as Haeckel will not tolerate the idea of a Creator, but insist that Man, in common with all animate beings, has developed from a simple cell, or bit of protoplasm. Whence came the cell? Whence the protoplasm ?
As widely different as these two views of the origin of Man, are the opinions of writers as to the origin of the copper-colored natives of America. From a time soon after the discovery of this continent it was a favorite con- jecture of students and travelers that in the new world the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel had found a refuge. This view is discussed by Elias Boudinot, of
P-1
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PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
Burlington, in his "A Star in the West; or, a Humble Attempt to Discover the Long Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, preparatory to their Return to their Beloved City, Jerusalem," printed in Trenton, New Jersey, 1816. Innumer- able volumes have been written in support of this view. Some travelers, from an imaginary resemblance of certain Indian words to those in other languages, have leaped to the conclusion that they were allied to or descended from the Romans, the Greeks, the Chinese, the Welsh, or other nations, according to the fancy or whim of the hearer. But the old method of making the facts fit a theory has given way to the modern spirit of scientific research, which aims to be sure of its facts before it attempts deductions. Scholars are generally agreed that there are no data yet come to light which enable us to say when, whence or how the American continent was first peopled. Some scientists have inclined to the belief that the natives were autochthon- ous. That is, admitting the correctness of the evolution theory, the several races of men in different parts of the world were evolved independently from a common type of ancestor-the "missing link." The civilization of Peru and that of Mexico arose and developed independently of each other, and were widely different in character-in religion, government, customs and language. That of Peru seems to have come from the South, possibly from islands now sunk in the Pacific; that of Mexico from the North. Were the Mound Builders an earlier and different race from the American Indians, or were they the Cherokees, who built mounds in Georgia and other Southern States within the last three centuries? The study of anthropology and ethnology is of the profoundest importance to us, who are all interested in learning the origin, whence we may infer the destiny, of the human race. Anthropology and its attendant handmaidens, Ethnology, Archeology, Linguistics, Mythol- ogy, are every day bringing us nearer the solution of the ancient problem.
One of the most important contributions to the history of man in America was the discovery in the Trenton gravel, in 1875, by Dr. Charles C. Abbott, of Trenton, of certain rude stone implements inferior in make to those of the Indians. He and other explorers have since discovered many such specimens in situ at Trenton, several feet below the surface. These implements were found in such positions as showed that the people who dropped them there must have lived near the close of the last Glacial epoch, if not before ; that is, when the climate of this part of America resembled the Arctic regions of to-day. In the same drift, as already mentioned, the tusk of a mastodon has been found. Bones of the Greenland reindeer, the wal- rus, the caribou, the moose and the musk-ox have come to light in the same region, together with some human remains. All these facts go to show that New Jersey was inhabited at this period, and by a race much lower in civili- zation than the Indians of the time of Columbus. The inferences are strong that the Eskimo accompanied the advance of the great ice sheet, and probably retreated with it northward. Palæolithic man appears to have inhabited Europe, as far south as Aquitaine, in France, during the Glacial period, and the Palæolithic implements picked up in the Trenton gravel very closely resemble those found in France. This is regarded by many as substantiating
3
THE ABORIGINES
Haeckel's view that America was first peopled from Asia via Benring Strait, which has been ascertained to be a feasible route. Haeckel's view is that the human race was first developed on a now sunken continent in the Indian Ocean, which he calls "Lemuria ;" thence issued in successive migrations the first few races, as they were developed, spreading over the earth. Among these were the Mongols, occupying all of Asia, except India, and also extend- ing into Northern Europe (the Finns, whence, according to other writers, the Finnians or Fenians, the primitive inhabitants of Ireland) ; from the Mongols issued the Hyperboreans of Northwestern Asia and the Eskimos of the Arctic regions of North America (No. 8 in the scale), and from the Eskimos there issued (No. 9) the Americans. But it is a curious and suggestive fact that so far not an arrow head, nor grooved ax, nor stemmed scraper has been found in the Trenton gravel, all the implements being of the very simplest make, showing that the primitive dwellers on the Delaware had not even reached that stage of civilization when the bow and arrow were known to them, whence F. W. Putnam infers that these men belonged to a race distinct in type from the Eskimos, and earlier than they. It has been conjectured from the inferior maxillary bones found in caves in France that Palæolithic man was speechless, but the latest investigators do not believe this. It is evident that here we are getting back into a remote antiquity. Whoever were the fashioners of these rude stone implements, it is certain that they must have fished and hunted south of the Glacier border while the whole country north of them was covered with an ice sheet. How long ago was that? Not less than ten thousand years. Perhaps a thousand centuries.
In the Smithsonian Report for 1868, p. 33, Prof. Henry quoted with sympathetic approval the sentiments of the Bishop of London, uttered in a lecture at Edinburgh : "The man of science should go on honestly, patiently, diffidently, observing and storing up his observations, and carrying his rea- sonings unflinchingly to their legitimate conclusions, convinced that it would be treason to the majesty at once of science and religion, if he sought to help either by swerving ever so little from the straight line of truth." Many Biblical scholars believe that the chronology of Archbishop Usher, which has been printed in the margins of the Bible for the last two centuries (taken from his "Annals of the World," 1658), and which foots up 4,004 years as the precise age of the world to the time of Christ, is based on an erroneous interpretation of the patriarchal genealogies, which related to the founding of tribes or nations, instead of to the lives of individuals.
Contrary to the rule of human progress, there is an abrupt transition in the Trenton gravel, from the rude argillite implements of the palæolithic man to the skillfully-chipped flint arrow-heads of the neolithic period. Were the older people exterminated by the mighty glacial floods? Or, were they driven away by the later comers? Perhaps they had retreated with the Glacier centuries before their successors arrived on the scene. Certain it is, that this primitive people who hunted and fished in New Jersey during and before the existence of "Lake Passaic," and who often gazed with simple awe upon the mighty cataract which we call the Passaic Falls, had vanished
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PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
from this neighborhood ages before the first white man set foot on our shores. It may be that he has left unsuspected traces behind him, and that the industrious explorer will find in the valley of the Passaic relics of this forgotten race, such as have rewarded the search in the Delaware drift.
The same scientific method which has been applied of late years to the gathering of the facts concerning the geological history of the earth, and the manners and customs of primitive man, has been more recently devoted to the study of the American races. One result has been to dismiss as unworthy of consideration all the fanciful hypotheses which traced affiliations between the peoples of the eastern and western continents. Most modern scientists agree with the Marquis de Nadaillac: "The present peoples of America, like those of Europe, are the issue of the intermixture of several races. The crossings are true modifications of fundamental types. The men of the primitive races have resisted these modifications; they have not yet com- pletely disappeared, and in spite of variations from one extreme to the other, an attentive study frequently enables us to recognize a predominant type." "Doubtless, as with the ancient races of Europe, those of America were made up of diverse elements, of different varieties. A primeval dolichocephalic race appears in the first instance to have invaded the vast regions included between the two oceans. The men of this race were contemporary with the huge pachydermal and edentate animals; and, as did their contemporaries in Europe, they passed through the various phases of the Stone Age. Other races arrived in successive migrations, the first of which doubtless dated from very remote ages, and brought about, amongst the ancient inhabitants of America, modifications analogous to those produced in Europe by similar migrations."
As that most accomplished investigator, Dr. Daniel G. Brinton, says : "Anyone at all intimately conversant with the progress of American archæ- ology in the last twenty years must see how rapidly has grown the conviction that American culture was homebred, to the manner born : that it was wholly indigenous and had borrowed nothing-nothing, from either Europe, Asia or Africa. The peculiarities of native American culture are typical, and extend throughout the continent."
In his excellent work on "The Primitive Superstitions of the American Aborigines," Dorman expresses the same opinion : "American agriculture was indigenous. This is proved by the fact that grains of the Old World were absent, and its agriculture was founded on the maize, an American plant. Their agriculture and their architecture show an indigenous origin of their civilization, as does also their mythology. * * Fear is the pre- vailing religious sentiment among all the tribes of America. Religion did not have much moral influence toward ennobling hearts or humanizing man- ners, but merely excited emotions of fear and increased fanaticism. Prayers were offered for material things, but touched not morals. Among the sav- age tribes we find very little evidence, if any, of a moral sentiment."
Speaking of the Mexican and Central American ruins, Baldwin says : "The more we study them, the more we find it necessary to believe that the
5
THE ABORIGINES
civilization they represent was originated in America, and probably in the region where they are found. It did not come from the Old World. The culture and the work were wholly original, wholly American."
Much has been written of supposed physiological resemblances between the Americans and other races, but on this subject Dr. Brinton may be again quoted: "The anatomy and physiology of the various American tribes pre- sent, indeed, great diversity, and yet, beneath it all is a really remarkable fixedness of type. * * These variations are not greater than can be adduced in various members of the white or black race. In spite of them all, there is a wonderful family likeness among the tribes of American origin. No observer well acquainted with the type would err in taking it for another. * We reach therefore the momentous conclusion that the American race throughout the whole continent, and from its earliest appearance in time, is and has been one, as distinct in type as any other race, and from its isola- tion probably the purest of all in its racial traits."
Another writer, in concluding an able paper on the Astronomy of the Red Man, says: "Inquiry into the astronomical knowledge of the Red Men, their arithmetic, division of time, names of months and days, shows that their whole system was most peculiar ; and if not absolutely original, must antedate all historic times, since it has no parallel on record. * * Assuredly, the astronomical knowledge of the aboriginal Americans was of domestic origin ; and any of the few seeming points of seeming contact with the calen- dars of the old world, if not accidental, must have taken place at an exceed- ingly remote period of time. In fact, whatever may have come from the old world was engrafted upon a system itself still older than the exotic shoots."
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