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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02735 5434
Gc 974.902 T72L LEE, FRANCIS BAZLEY, 1869- 1914. HISTORY OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyoftrenton00leef_0
15-
Complemento . of & Urquhart.
NEW JERSEY STATE CAPITOL.
HISTORY
OF
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
THE RECORD OF ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT AND CORPORATE PROGRESS.
SKETCHES OF ITS GENESIS, COLONIAL CONDITIONS AND MUNICIPAL EVOLUTION.
ITS BUSINESS, FINANCE, MANUFACTURES AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WITH PARTICULAR NOTICE OF THE MEN WHO BUILT THE CITY.
COMPILED FOR THE "STATE GAZETTE,". BY FRANCIS BAZLEY LEE,
Member of the Historical Societies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania; of the Board of Managers of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania; of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; of the American Dialect Society ; of the Medico-Legal Society ; American Numismatic and Archeological Society ; New Jersey Society Sons of the Revolution, etc.
1895.
i
TRENTON, N. J. : John L. Murphy, Printer. 1895.
INTRODUCTION. 1204145
EREIN is traced the history of the Capital of New Jersey. As "The Falls," Trenton entered the lists of colonial towns, a hamlet scarce more than a stopping- place on the stage-route. The turning-point of the American Revolution, the projected Capital of the United States, the political center of a great common- wealth, the home of industries that have won her an international reputation, are all a part of an honorable record. The Trenton of to-day, with her varied economic phenomena, her absorption of outlying territory, and her successes and rapid growth, complete a story of progress.
In detail, her religious, social and municipal evolution is clearly developed from humble origin to present achievements. The churches, clubs and various city departments each have a place. The professions and the men, who have gained for themselves and their city honor and renown, are fully presented. Biographical sketches and portraits of leading citizens in all walks of life are a part of this record. Accurate sketches of the police, fire and school departments, as well as of the National Guard, are given. Works relating to the city are also mentioned, showing the importance of Trenton in the literary and historical world. The State institutions are treated at length.
From title-page to colophon, this is a resume of Trenton-a city whose history embraces two centuries.
FRANCIS BAZLEY LEE.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I .- The Genesis of Trenton-Two Factors in the Institution of the Town, Economic and Religious- Geologic and Climatic Differences Between East and West Jersey-The Calvinist of East Jersey and the Quaker of West Jersey Meet at Trenton-Religious Types in the Town and the Heterogeneous Population- Trenton Becomes the Junction of the Varied Elements of the Colonial Life of New Jersey.
11
CHAPTER III .- Life in Trenton in the Colony-Some Extracts from the Press-Counterfeiting and Horse- Stealing-Property Sales-Slavery and the Redemptioners-Some Early Industries -Records of Freshets- Sidelights on the Life of the People-The Trenton Town Book
CHAPTER IV .- Some Distinguished Trentonians of Colonial Times-Mahlon Stacy-The Trents-William Trent, the Founder-William Trent, Jr .; Andrew "Trent" Hamilton; Archibald Home, the Poet; Thomas Cad- walader, the First Burgess, and his Family ; Mahlon Kirkbride; Sir John Sinclair
34
CHAPTER V .- The Trenton Barracks-The French and Indian War-The Inhabitants Object to the Quartering of Troops-Petitions for Barracks-Legislative Action and the Location of the Buildings-Their Various Uses- Now the Property of the Widows' and Single Women's Home Society.
39
CHAPTER VI .- The Battle of Trenton-Adjutant-General William S. Stryker and his Researches-Conditions Leading to the Battle-Locations of British and Revolutionary Troops-The Crossing of the Delaware -The Attack-The Death of Rall-The Surrender-The Disposition of Hessian Troops-The Effect of the Battle upon America-Washington's Call to Arms
43
CHAPTER VII .- Attempts to make Trenton the Seat of the Federal Government-The Preparations in 1783 for a Permanent Capital-Congress meets in Trenton, on the Site of the Mechanics National Bank Building, in 1784-Trenton Selected, but Congressional Action Defeated by the South-Land Speculation-The Compromise between New England and the South-General Lafayette's Two Visits to Trenton-The City the Temporary Capital of the United States in 1799-Trenton makes an Offer in 1801.
49
CHAPTER VIII .- Washington's Reception by the People of New Jersey, in 1789-The Constitutional Government Established and Washington Becomes President-He Leaves Alexandria, and his Philadelphia Welcome-His Advent in Trenton and the Preparations for his Reception-Those who Took Part Therein -Washington's Letter-Trenton Commemorates the Death of General Washington -Benjamin Harrison, One Hundred Years after, Follows in the Footsteps of Washington-Action of the New Jersey Historical Society.
53
CHAPTER IX .- Some Early Descriptions of Trenton-The Journal of William Edmundson-The Letter of Mahlon Stacy-Smith's Description-The Travels of Marquis de Chastellux-Priest's Mistakes-Elkanal Watson Visits the Town-" Salmagundi"-Bissot and Wansey-The Duke de la Rouchefoucalt-F. A. Michaux- Gordon's "Gazetteer" ..
59
CHAPTER X .- The Corporate History of the City of Trenton-Trenton before the Charter of 1792 -Characteristics of Trenton's Growth-County Lines, with Trenton as the Shire Town-The Organization of Trenton Township -The Early Jail-Character of the Town in the Middle of the Last Century-Trenton's Colonial Charter- The Village Becomes a Borough Town-Its Boundaries-The Officers and their Duties-The Charter Becomes Unwieldy and is Surrendered-A Notice of Trenton's Fair and Market.
CHAPTER XI .- The Corporate History of the City of Trenton-The Charter of 1792-Trenton's Condition in 1790-Abortive Attempts to Organize a City Government-The Charter is Granted, and its Characteristics - Early Streets-Those who First Held Office-The City Seal-Trenton Outgrowing her Village Life-Condi- tions of the Times
63
68
CHAPTER II .- Trenton as "The Falls of the Delaware"-The Royal Grant of New Jersey-Burlington, in West New Jersey, Settled-The First Xth-Trenton a part of Burlington County, 1679-1714-Mahlon Stacy Establishes the Town-"The Court Booke" and the List of Settlers-Forestry Problems -The First Bounds of Nottingham, Maidenhead and Hopewell Townships-Early Court Officers-Primitive Tax Assessments-The First Roads-The Advent of Colonel Trent-"The Falls" Becomes Trent-Town.
16
24
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII .- The Corporate History of the City of Trenton-The Charter of 1837-The New Charter-Powers and Duties of Officials-Wards Established and Various Changes of Lines-Trenton Absorbs South Trenton- Extension of Municipal Powers and the Growth of Modern Ideas in City Life-Trenton at the Outbreak of the War Between the States.
72
CHAPTER XIII .- The Corporate History of the City of Trenton-The Charters of 1866 and 1874-Trenton Out- grows her Old Conditions-A Broad Charter-New Ward Lines Established-Increased Powers of Common Council-Movement for the Present Charter-Trenton Embraces Chambersburg and Millliam-The Municipal Functions are Extended-Officers of Trenton in 1895-A List of the Mayors.
75
CHAPTER XIV .- The Annexed Districts-Trenton's Growth from Within, Outward-Townships of Independence and Ewing-Township of Lawrence-The Borough of South Trenton-Township of Hamilton-Township of Nottingham-Outline Sketch of Chambersburg-Township of Millham-The Present Borough of Wilbur and its Officers-Cadwalader Place
CHAPTER XV .- The City Departments-Trenton's Water-Supply-How the City Secured Water in the Early Days-The Present Organization of this Department-The Board of Health and its Officers-Trenton's Parks -Their History and Commissioners-The Sewerage and Drainage System, Its Origin and Development -The Excise Department-Electric Lighting and its History.
86
CHAPTER XVI .- The Police Department-Its First Organization and Growth-The Present Development-The Precinct Stations-The Present Commissioners and Superior Officers of the Department.
93
CHAPTER XVIII .- Trenton's Fire Department-The Volunteer Companies-Their Names and the Services Rendered the City-Early Firemen-The Organized Volunteer Department from 1846 to 1892-The Paid Department-Its Organization and Present Condition
108
CHAPTER XIX -Trenton's Monuments-The Shaft Commemorating the Battle of Trenton-The History of the Erection of the Shaft from 1843 to 1893-The Corner-Stone Laying and Dedication-The Members of the Battle Monument Association-The Swamp Angel-The Story of the Old Gun-Mcclellan's Monument-The Washington Monument at Cadwalader Park-Volunteer Firemen's Monument.
117
CHAPTER XX .- The Beginnings of the Brick and Pottery Industry-Tatham's Establishment, 1685-The McCullys and Their Works-The Early Days of the Interests which To-day Exist-Bricks and the Making Thereof-Those who were Early Interested ..
127
CHAPTER XXI .- A Brief History of the City's Transportation Facilities-How Trentonians Traveled Before the Revolution-The Shallops and Stages Before the Days of Railroads, and Those who Conducted Them-The Delaware and Raritan Canal - The Camden and Amboy Company-The Railroads which Form the Pennsyl- vania System-The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad-The Former Horse Railway and the Present Electric Railroad.
131
CHAPTER XXII .- Public Institutions-The Post-Office-State House, Library and Great Seal-State School for Deaf-Mutes-Arsenal and State Prison-State Industrial School for Girls-Mercer County Court House- State Normal and Model Schools-Masonic Temple-City Hall-St. Francis, Mercer and City Hospitals-State Hospital for the Insane-Odd Fellows' Home-Y. M C. A .- W. C. T. U .- Taylor Opera House-Inter-State Fair Association-Union Industrial Home-New Jersey Children's Home Society. 139
CHAPTER XXIII .- Trenton's Churches-The Beginnings of Ecclesiastical Life-The Presbyterian, Episcopalian Churches and the Society of Friends the Pioneers in the Field-The Roman Catholics-The Methodists-The Lutherans-The Baptists and Their Churches-Other Religious Organizations. 165
CHAPTER XXIV .- Trenton in the Rebellion and her National Guard of To-day-The City's Attitude upon the Opening of the War Between the States-The Old Militia System-The Companies which Left for the Front- War Times in Trenton-The National Guard and the Naval Reserve ... 177
CHAPTER XXV .- The Bench and Bar of Trenton-The Capital the Mecca of the Practitioners of New Jersey- Dignitaries of Revolutionary Days and Their Immediate Successors-The Bar of the City of To-day. 180
CHAPTER XXVI .- Physicians in Trenton-Early Days of Practice-The Wesleyan Doctrine of "Primative Physic"-Distinguished Disciples of Esculapius and the Present Generation. 206
80
CHAPTER XVII .- Education in Trenton-Colonial Influences-The School and the Lottery-A Colonial Library -Trenton and her Free Schools, 1833 to 1895-The Trenton Academy-Its Organization and History, 1781 to 1883-The Early Libraries and the Free School Movement-Sketches of the Most Prominent Educational Institutions-Business Colleges
96
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII .- Trenton's Clubs-Berkeley-Lotus-Trenton-Elks-Turners-Young Men's Republican Association-Democratic League-County Democracy-Young Men's Hebrew Club-Catholic Club-New Jersey Historical Society-Canoe Clubs-Field Club-Catholic Young Men's Association of St. Mary's Parish-Mercer County Wheelmen-Potters' Club
226
CHAPTER XXVIII .- Secret Societies, Orders and Organizations-Trenton a Great Center in the Work of Secret Societies-A Brief Review of the History of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Junior Order American Mechanics and other Bodies-The Roman Catholic Societies- The Temperance Societies.
236
CHAPTER XXIX .- The Press of the City of Trenton-The Pioneers-The Later Papers and Their Editors-The Development of the Local Press-The Newspapers of To-day ..
239
CHAPTER XXX .- "State Gazette," Trenton, N. J .- A Brief Sketch of the Second Oldest Newspaper in New Jersey, 242
CHAPTER XXXI .- Phases of City Life-The Trenton Markets -Their Humble Beginnings and Present Status- A History of Some of the Older City Streets-River Improvements-Attempts which have been made to Improve the Delaware-Failure of all these Projects-The Present Condition of the Problem-Jolin Fitch and his Steamboat
CHAPTER XXXII .- Trenton's Financial Institutions and Board of Trade-The Origin of Trenton's Banks-The Mechanics National Bank-The Trenton Banking Company -- The Trenton Saving Fund Society-The First National Bank-The Broad Street National Bank-The Trenton Trust and Safe Deposit Company-The Real Estate Title Company of New Jersey-The New Jersey Building Loan and Investment Company-The Board of Trade.
260
CHAPTER XXXIII .- The City of To-day-Trenton's Distinguishing Characteristic a Progressive Conservatism- This Appears in every Phase of City Life-Statistics of Population and Manufactures, 1890 to 1895-The Financial Condition of Trenton.
268
CHAPTER XXXIV .- Books Relating to the Early History of Trenton-General Histories-Special Monographs- The Scientific Studies of Dr. Charles C. Abbott-The Printed Charters and First Ordinances .... 292
280
CHAPTER XXXV .- Introduction to General Biographies-Short Sketches of the Men who have been Prominently Identified with the Commercial and Social Growth and Progress of Trenton
294
B
CHAPTER I.
THE GENESIS OF TRENTON.
Two FACTORS IN THE INSTITUTION OF THE TOWN, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS-GEOLOGIC AND CLI- MATIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST JERSEY-THE CALVINIST OF EAST JERSEY AND THIE QUAKER OF WEST JERSEY MEET AT TRENTON-RELIGIOUS TYPES IN THE TOWN AND THE HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION-TRENTON BECOMES THE JUNCTION OF THE VARIED ELEMENTS OF THE COLONIAL LIFE OF NEW JERSEY.
IKE many another seventeenth eentury town, settled in the American Colonies, two factors are potent in the genesis of Trenton. One is of an economic and the other is of a religious nature. In a resumé of early conditions it is essential primarily to dissuade the mind of the idea of the unity of our Commonwealth, and consider not " New Jersey," but "The Jerseys"-those struggling, ineipient Colonies divided by an artificial boundary, but, nevertheless, two young States planted under different conditions and by different nations. Upon the east were settled the Hollanders, whilst the Swedes occupied the lower Delaware Valley. In 1664, a date previous to the first settlements upon the site of Trenton, the Jerseys beeame politically united by virtue of the English conquest of the New Netherlands. Certain soeio- logical conditions also affeet the problem.
A priori it may be said, as a general assumption, that East and West Jersey were in many respects as unlike as were Connecticut and Virginia, and yet the Jerseys partook of the qualities of both. East Jersey was bold and aggressive, with her port of Amboy, once greater than New York, open to the world, relying on commerce and trade. On the other hand, West Jersey, in which was situated Trenton, was placid and easy-going, with her population widely diffused and of a distinct- ively agricultural character. In the latter Colony small settlements, separated by impenetrable woods and divided by wide streams, developed along purely provineial lines, and became the centers of a life free from extraneous influenees.
Both Burlington and Salem were dependent upon Philadelphia, and all three too far from the sea to actively compete with Amboy for the English trade. They were also removed from the other profitable but somewhat questionable colonial oeeupation of smuggling and privateering 'twixt New England and the Spanish Main.
The colonial differentiations outlived that Revolution in whose throes a nation new was born, one part of which was Jersey-the actual New Jersey, child of its colonial father and mother, who both gave up their existence that it might live.
Even now our provineial terminology requires the use of North Jersey and South Jersey, which virtually is the modernizing of the old-time colonial. divisions. Thus, to this day, the two Jerseys are still unlike, economically, socially and intellectually. And it is of no import whether they be called North or South, Upper or Lower, hill country or tide-water district.
For an economic view, further premises are necessary. These are the forces of Nature as a con- dition for man's occupancy. The various geologic, meteorologie and other natural phenomena form
12
THE CITY OF TRENTON.
a fitting base from which it may be demonstrated that political bounds, though seemingly arbitrary, were largely founded upon such natural conditions. In other words, there is a South and North Jersey in nature.
The Jerseys, too, had an artificial boundary extending in a general course from Little Egg Harbor to a point near the Delaware Water Gap. Whilst the upper portion of West Jersey was actually in northern conditions, and the lower part of East Jersey in southern conditions, never- theless these portions were so little settled that for all purposes the real division of the State may be placed at an arbitrary line extending from Trenton to the Amboys. This assumed boundary is now occupied, as near as may be, by that great artery of the American continent, the Pennsylvania railroad. For the purposes of economie study, we may then consider north and south of the Trenton-AAmboy line as equivalent to East and West Jersey of colonial establishment. Thus Trenton stands, inter- mediate and unique, between North and South Jersey.
Of the natural conditions which strongly tended to differentiate North and South Jersey, the most marked was that of geologie formation. The pioneer of North Jersey found himself con- fronted by the Palisades of Bergen, the trap formations of the Raritan, and the granite, schistie and limestone lands of the hill country which forms the base of the Blue mountains. The valleys alone were cultivated, and this was not accomplished except by arduous labor. Swift-rushing streams put the colonizer in peril of his cattle and erop, whilst the red elay "bottoms" were often cold and inhospitable. Colonial agriculture in East Jersey meant hard work, and it is little wonder that attention was soon turned to commerce. In South Jersey, on the other hand, the sandy loam of the Delaware valley and its tributaries, the rich land overlying the marls of Monmouth, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties, as well as the seashore alluvial, all needed but the slightest cultiva- tion to the end that every crop needful for man's food-supply should spring almost spontaneously from the earth. The streams were sluggish and rich in lowland deposit, almost inviting man to settle on their banks. Briefly, it goes without saying that those who had the hardest labor would develop along a line quite opposed, as far as agricultural activity is concerned, to others more favored. Such geologie causes and consequent effects tended greatly to separate the Jerseys in their embryotie state.
Closely akin to the former is the question of climate. With the rugged soil of North Jersey came the winters of excessive cold. It was then that the Hudson, Raritan, Hackensack and Passaic were frozen from shore to shore. The summers, which could be devoted to agriculture, were neces- sarily shortened by the rigors of winter. Contra, South Jersey's winters were tempered by the warm winds blowing from the Gulf Stream or from the salt waters of Delaware bay and lower Delaware river. That such was the case, note the fact that in colonial times sheep and cattle were turned loose upon the Cape May beaches, spending the winter among the cedars, oaks and hollies, or on the lee of a sand-dune ; whilst in Essex or Bergen these domesticated animals, especially among the Hollanders, were better cared for than the slaves. To this hour, the cattle in South Jersey live in winter under cedar sheds, whilst the same exposure would kill them in Warren or Passaic. The summers of the hill country, if hot, were full of ozone, but in lower Jersey the waters of the Gulf gave rise to the fogs and warm, humid breezes which are still called "Gulf weather." The humidity would of course have a tendency to enervation, as the purer air of the north would have toward vitaliza- tion. This, of course, has had its influence on Jersey people, and is another factor in differentiation.
A third and last influence, arising from the union of geologic and climatic conditions, is that of fecundity of natural productions, particularly of land, but likewise of sea. These are generally known by the term "natural advantages," and of these from the one basis of nearly every colonial view of life-to wit, agriculture-South Jersey possessed much that was denied other portions of the State. Indeed, those interested in East Jersey or West Jersey recognized this, and letters and hand-books relative to the Eastern Division extolled commerce, whilst those treating of the Western Division favored agriculture.
Aside from Captain John Smith's entertaining, though unreliable, story of Virginia, one of the earliest allusions to the fertility of South Jersey is to be found in the diary of Master Evelyn. This chronicler's residence on the Delaware, about the middle of the seventeenth century, as an attaché of Ployden's semi-fabulous expedition, gave him a wide insight into the matter. Evelyn goes into eestacies over the fair and fecund country with its cedar, its lands, only awaiting cultivation, its forests filled with grapes and edible plants, the home of deer, bear and smaller animals. He grows
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
enthusiastic anent the vast flights of ducks and other birds, together with the sea swarming with its denizens. The ocean bordering South Jersey was the admiration of colonizer and Indian alike.
Evelyn's story was published in Europe, and received confirmation in those letters and tracts later collected and edited by the saintly Isaac Aerelius, histriographer of the Swedish colony upon the Delaware. Holland's historians had already verified the narrative of Evelyn. This diarist, the Indians, Swedes and Dutch all uniting in the earliest days to give evidence to the report, it is little wonder that the English colonists at the beginning of the eighteenth century found South Jersey a smiling and fertile land and pleasant to look upon.
The abundance of oysters, clams, shell-fish and other objects fitted for food-supply attracted settlement toward the coast. The population of West Jersey, when not engaged in agriculture, was essentially devoted to fishing. The life of a seafaring people does not, as a rule, tend to material progress nor to the congestion of population, thus forming the genesis of great cities. Touching South Jersey's fertile plantations, abundance of wood easily cut and readily accessible, together with fish, fowl and beast to be had for the asking, there was little incentive to hard labor, and the colonists settled down to easy-going modes of life, caring little for the development of foreign com- merce or local manufacture. Thus North and South Jersey were differentiated as to soil, climate and their sequence, "natural advantages." These conditions were all more favorable to the settlement of South Jersey than of North Jersey, but less favorable to the subsequent development of the former. When men were compelled to delve deeper for the wherewithal of life, particularly when they had cast aside the past, and were endeavoring to make the present the guardian of the future, it is not to be wondered that necessity compelled them to fight valiantly upon a rocky soil, and before inhos- pitable skies, wresting from nature each atom for existence. No man in North Jersey could lead -- as did his brother colonist on the plantations in the South land-a life of comparative luxury. Nature required constant industry, and often poorly paid the expenditure of labor and agricultural enter- prise. So one may say that South Jersey's conditions tended to ease and plenty, and what came readily would be welcomed with joy, for the distasteful price of severe manual labor did not have to be paid.
From colonial times to the present this has been true. The generations which separate us from our forefathers have inherited characteristics and have prenatally grown to regard, perhaps unconsciously, the wide range between the two sections of the State.
It is scarcely necessary to repeat that these "natural conditions " at best can only be approxi- mated. When inductive philosophie study of colonial history shall attain the dignity of popular recognition and appreciation, the day will come when historians can weigh with nicety these conditions and influences. With us the matter must be dismissed with a formal recognition of its presence, and a knowledge of its all-powerful influence upon colonial thought and action, and such modern phases of life as are dependent thereupon.
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