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F 142 U5 R54+
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
SO BY
EZRA
FROM
Cornell University Library F 142U5 R54 + History of Union County, New Jersey / ed
3 1924 028 828 584 olin Overs
UN
V
EL
E
Y
1865
N
A.D
Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
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HISTORY
OF
UNION COUNTY
NEW JERSEY
ILLUSTRATED
EDITED BY F. W. RICORD
EAST JERSEY HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1897
175 Blanke 14/03/47
0
1
A784720
TYPOGRAPHY AND PRESSWORK BY THE HOLBROOK PRINTING HOUSE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
DB
PREFACE
REPARED by a number of writers, and deriving its informn- ation from various sources, the History of Union County, with its inany excellencies as well as defects, is now submitted to the reader for his criticism. The compilation covers a period of more than a century and a half, and in securing the facts, recourse has been had to divers authorities. These have been numerous, including various histories and historical collections, and implying an almost endless array of papers and documents,-public, private, social and ecclesiastical. That so much matter could be gathered from so many original sources and then sifted and assimilated for the production of one single volume without incurring a modicum of errors and inaccuracies, would be too inuch to expect of any corps of writers, no matter how able they might be as statisticians or skilled as compilers of such works. It is, nevertheless, believed that no in- accuracies of a serious nature can be found to impair the historical value of the book, and it is also further believed that the results of our work will supply the exigent demand which called forth the efforts of the publishers and the honored and able editor, Judge Frederick W. Ricord, whose death occurred shortly after the completion of the material for the history.
Dite credit has in most instances been given for the borrowed matter. The following authorities, however, should be mentioned in particular : Dr. Hatfield's History of Elizabeth has been freely used, .and has furnished much material, both for the annals of Elizabeth and for those of the county at large. Dr. Murray's Notes on Elizabeth have also been unsparingly utilized, as being exceptionally valuable. Besides this, extracts from other volumes, considered authoritative, have been made, with an eye ever single to the historical value of the matter used. Various collections have been made in this way from notes compiled by C. A. Leveridge, some years since, for the History of Union and Middlesex Counties; and from a valuable history of Elizabeth by the Journal Printing House. We are are also indebted to the generosity of this company for many views, which they have kindly furnished us to illustrate the chapters pertaining to Elizabeth. We also pay acknowl- edgment to the Daily Leader, of Elizabeth, for much material bearing upon the manufacturing history of that city ; and also to other publica- tions of the county that have kindly come to our aid in various ways.
Among those who have offered most valuable contributions to the work should be mentioned Henry R. Cannon, M. D., of Elizabeth, who
iv
PREFACE
wrote the history of the courts and also the Masonic history of the county ; Mrs. Emily E. Williamson, secretary of the state board of charities, who wrote concerning the Revolutionary epoch and furnished other sketches; Mrs. Mary N. Putnam, regent of Boudinot Chapter, Elizabeth, who wrote of the Daughters of the American Revolution and also of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America; Warren R. Dix, A. M., LL. D., of Elizabeth, who favored us with a most interesting chapter entitled "Former French Residents of Elizabeth ;" Hon. Lewis S. Hyer, who wrote the history of Rahway; the Rev. Newton W. Cadwell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, of Westfield, who contributes a history, with distinct local coloring and atmosphere, concerning the township and city of Westfield ; and A. M. Cory, M. D., who wrote the history of New Providence. Special mention should be made of the contributions, by permission, of Miss Julia Littell and J. W. Clift, of Summit ; of Charles E. Buell and Rev. A. H. Lewis, D. D., of Plainfield; and of W. P. Tuttle and P. C. McChesney, of Springfield. To many others are we indebted for kindly courtesies and assistance, and with so much accredited authority the publishers feel confident a valuable book has been produced,-one whose intrinsic worth will be cumulative and be the more appreciated as time advances.
THE PUBLISHERS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Indian History-Hostility Against the Dutch-Extinguishment of
Page Claims to Lands in New Jersey . I
CHAPTER II
Discovery of Achter Kol, and Attempts to Colonize by the Dutch 4
CHAPTER III
The English Settlement at Elizabeth Town · . 7
CHAPTER IV
Government of Philip Carteret . IO
CHAPTER V
The Township of Elizabeth Town - When Organized - Lost Records - Originally Part of Essex County - Township Officials-Subdivisions of the Township . 15
CHAPTER VI
Borough of Elizabeth Town - When Incorporated - Charter- Name-First Officers Chosen-"Great Revival "-Negro Con- spiracy-Proceedings of the Borough-Court House of the Borough 19
CHAPTER VII
War of the Revolution-The Spirit Manifested by the People of Elizabeth-Provincial Convention-County Committee-Meet- ing of Freeholders of the Town-Denunciation of Certain Pamphlets-Action Against Inhabitants of Staten Island 22
CHAPTER VIII
War of the Revolution, Continued-Battle of Lexington-Elizabeth Town Rises to Arms-Aaron Burr-Ammunition-Capture of the "Blue Mountain Valley"-New Jersey Militia-British Forces in New York-General Livingston Chosen Governor- Campaign Transferred to New Jersey
25
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
CHAPTER IX
Page
Union County in the War of the Revolution-Military Engage- ments-Discouraging Outlook for Patriots-Battle of Elizabeth Town - Death of Mrs. Caldwell - The Fighting Chaplain Killed-Execution of Morgan 32
CHAPTER X
Elizabeth Town's Glorious Record-The Boudinot House-Liberty Hall-The General Scott House-Hon. Abraham Clark-Gen- eral Elias Dayton-Hon. Jonathan Dayton-Governor Aaron Ogden-Colonel Francis Barber 38
CHAPTER XI
Union County in the War of the Rebellion-Regiments Enlisted- General Taylor's Official Report-Fourteenth Regiment . . 46
CHAPTER XII
Societies, Colonial and Revolutionary-Free Masonry-Sons of the American Revolution-Daughters of the American Revolution -National Society of the Colonial Dames of America-Free Masonry in Union County-Royal Arch Masons-Knights Templar 53
CHAPTER XIII
Representative Physicians of Union County 62
CHAPTER XIV
History of the Courts of Union County 149
CHAPTER XV
Representative Lawyers of Union County I54
CHAPTER XVI
Former French Residents of Elizabeth 200
CHAPTER XVII
The City of Elizabeth-Postal Facilities-Fire Department-Police. Department-Public Works and Charitable Institutions-Rail- road Facilities-New York and New Jersey Telephone Com- pany-Library Hall and Elizabeth Public Library and Reading Room-Educational Advantages-Lansley Business College- Private Schools of the Past-The Massie School-Mr. Fay's
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
School-Mr. Foote's School-The Pingry School-St. Joseph's Academy-Parochial Schools - Financial and Statistical - Suburban Electric Company-Elizabethtown Water Company- Elizabethtown Gas Light Company-Manufacturing-Singer Manufacturing Company-Brooklyn and New York Railway Supply Company-Ball & Wood Company-S. L. Moore & Sons Company-Henry R. Worthington-Elizabeth Ice Com- pany-Bowker Fertilizer Company-Cooke Brothers-Eugene Munsell & Company-Crescent Ship Yards-New Jersey Dry Dock and Transportation Company-Sanford Clark Company- Miscellaneous Enterprises-Elizabeth Pottery Works-Ameri- can Gas Furnace Company-Graff & Company-A. Heidritter & Sons-Borne-Scrymser Company . 205
CHAPTER XVIII
The Church History of Elizabeth-Societies Individually Con- sidered . 233
CHAPTER XIX
The City of Elizabeth, Continued-Newspapers, Hospitals, Asylums, etc .- Elizabeth Daily Journal-Elizabeth Daily Leader-Eliza- beth General Hospital and Dispensary-Alexian Brothers' Hos- pital-Orphan Asylum-Home for Aged Women . . 283
CHAPTER XX
Biographical and Genealogical Records . . 292
CHAPTER XXI
A brief History of Rahway . . . 344
CHAPTER XXII
City of Rahway-Manufacturing-Houseman & McManus-Ayers & Lufbery-Regina Music Box Company-Gordon Printing Press Works-Hetfield & Jackson-Miscellaneous Industries- Rahway Fire Department - Rahway Savings Institution- Rahway Gas Light Company-Friends' Meeting-Churches- Schools-Rahway Library-Young Men's Christian Associa- tion - Children's Home - Woman's Christian Temperance Union-Cemeteries-Biography 352
CHAPTER XXIII
The Township and City of Plainfield-Schools-History of Post Office-Netherwood Heights-The Daily Press and Weekly Constitutionalist-Church History 395
Page
1
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIV
Page
The Township and City of Plainfield, Continued-Churches- Young Men's Christian Association-Educational Advantages- Mr. Teal's School-Plainfield Seminary-Miss Scribner and Miss Newton's School for Girls-Plainfield Manual Training and Grammar School-Plainfield Latin School-P. Ludwig Condé-Public Library-Muhlenberg Hospital-Opera House -- Hotels-Street Railway-Electricity and Gas-Railroad Facil- ities-Water Supply 410
CHAPTER XXV
Biographical and Genealogical Records . 426
CHAPTER XXVI
Springfield-Civil Organization-Springfield's Big Day; Elaborate Ceremonies in Two Places-Springfield Cemetery-First Pres- byterian Church-Biography 48I
CHAPTER XXVII
Brief History of Westfield-Westfield Prior to 1720-Name and Settlement-Westfield in Revolutionary Days -- Battle of Lexington-Brush with the Enemy and Pursuit to West- field-Retreat of the British from Westfield-Hard Winter of 1780-Predatory Raids-Powder-Rev. James Caldwell- Trial of Morgan at Westfield-Further Revolutionary Data- The Jersey Blues-General Washington in Westfield-Famous Old " One Horn "-Captain John Scudder and Lord Stirling- Indians in the Township-Slaves in Westfield-Where They Lived Over a Century Ago-Old Revolutionary Bell-Westfield Township, 1794-Westfield Centennial Banquet-How Setting Off of Westfield was Greeted-Centennial Fourth of July- Historical Exhibition-Westfield Schools-Teachers-Taverns -Postinasters-Physicians-Commuting in 1679 and 1897- Old-time Modes of Punishment-Old Township Records-Rev. Edwin Downer-Rev. David R. Downer-Rev. Philemon E. Coe-Westfield Volunteers-Old Churchyard-Fairview Cemne- tery-Addison S. Clark-Town Officers-Newspapers-Public Library-Free Masons-Royal Arcanum-Ancient Order of United Workmen-Junior Order of United American Mechanics -Woman's Christian Temperance Union-Children's Country Home-Camp Woolfe-Independent Order of Stars-Westfield Club-Water Supply - Sewer Question - Electric Light- Borough of Mountainside-Westfield Curios-Notes-Churches Organized-Townships Set Off-Natural Features-Westfield's Chronology-Biography
504
ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVIII
Page
New Providence - Presbyterian Church - Methodist Episcopal Church-St. Luke's Church, Murray Hill-Biography .. 578
CHAPTER XXIX
Summit - Early Settlement - Civil Organization -Villages and Hamlets - Social and Athletic Clubs- Churches - Calvary Church-St. Teresa's Church-Methodist Episcopal Church- Central Presbyterian Church-First Baptist Church-Young Men's Christian Association-Real Estate-Charities-News- papers-Township Officers-Florists-Fire Department-High School - Free Library - Summit Bank - Early History- Biography
. 587
CHAPTER XXX
Fanwood Township - Early Settlers - Baptist Church - Burial Ground-Methodist Episcopal Church-All Saints' Church- Inns and Inn-keepers-Seeley Paper Mills-Biography 613
CHAPTER XXXI
Union Township-Lyons Farin-Evergreen Cemetery-Connecti- cut Farms-Presbyterian Church . 630
CHAPTER XXXII
Linden Township-Early Settlers-Old Wheat Sheaf Inn-Schools -Linden Village-Reformed Church-Methodist Episcopal Church - Grace Church, Protestant Episcopal - St. Luke's Church, Protestant Episcopal-Presbyterian Church-Baptist Church-Biography 636
1
CHAPTER XXXIII
Township of Cranford-Early Settlements-Craneville-Post Offices -Cranford-A Vine of the Lord's Planting-Methodist Epis- copal Church-Trinity Church, Protestant Episcopal-St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church-Schools 644
INDEX
Ackerman, Ernest R. . A
Page
Page
Ackerman, J. Hervey .
168
Crane, Augustus S. . 286
Ackerman, Warren
623
Crane, J. Williams
.
303
Adams, Daniel C. . .
144
Cross, Joseph
169
B
D
Babcock, George H.
426
Daly, John J 140
Badeau, William E. 605 Davis, Thomas S 139
Barber, Francis .
45
Day, William F. I60
Barr, John D. .
317
Dayton, Elias.
44
Barrell, Henry F.
584
Dayton, Jonathan 44
Bassett, Carrol P. 607
Diehl, Philip . 332
Dillingham, George W. . 611
Baxter, Charles J
434
Dix, J. Augustus. 317
Benton, Thomas H.
308
Dix, Warren R .
320
Doane, Thaddeus O 440
Dolan, Thomas E . I45
Downer, David R.
541
Downer, Edwin 540
Dumont, John B
467
Durand, James H
183
E
Egleston, Melville. .
195
Engel, Francis . .
296
English, Nicholas C. J.
I74
Estil, Hugh M .
473
F
Fisk, Charles J
470
Fleming, Peter G .
336
Fowler, Charles N
165
French, Phineas M .
471
French, Theodore F.
477
Frost, George H.
479
G
Gardner, John J .
316
Gilbert, Alexander .
450
Glasby, Frederick F.
329
Green, James S
117
Green, Robert S. .
159
Gregory, John
325
Coe, Philemon E.
542
Coles, Abraham, (frontispiece ) 62
Coles, J. Ackerman 88
Compton, Halsted C.
467
Compton, Nathan V.
389
Condit, Israel D. . .
499
Coriell, William McD
434
Cory, Abraham M 136
H
Harrison, Joseph B .
142
Hart, Levi E .
193
Hegeman, Benjamin A., Jr
462
Henderson, John J .
123
Hetfield, John M
439
Hetfield, Levi
436
C
Cadwell, Newton W.
568
Caldwell, James.
510
Cannon, Henry R.
141
Chrystal, Joseph O.
611
Cladeck, Walter E·
144
Clark, Abraham.
43
Clark, Addison S. .
544
Clark, Frederick C. .
608
Clark, James
457
Clark, Robert M.
189
Clauss, Henry.
340
602
Closson, James T
466
Codding, Charles N.
570
Codington, William R.
178
327
Brown, John B .
.
455
Bird, George W
189
Bloodgood, Freeman
57I
Bond, Lewis.
438
Bonnel, Johnathan C.
599
Bracher, George S.
383
Breidt, Peter
229
Brennan, James J
325
Berry, Samuel J.
Bassinger, Samuel H. 142
459
Coward, Joseph B 171
Clift, John W.
xii
INDEX
Heyer, William D . .
305
Holmes, Barnabas
306
Holmes, Charles B.
Hope, James W.
642
Nugent, Edward. 191
Horning, George H 296
Horr, Roswell G 43[
0
Horton, Richard
358
Howard, William
384
Hubbard, James F 453
Hyer, Lewis S .
387
O'Neill, Francis
.
280
J
P
Page, George S. 602
Jenkins, Olin L
I34
Johnson, Harris L.
322
Johnson, John W
474
Pfarrer, Henry 326
Potter, Charles . . 44I
Potter Family, The . 601
Kempshall, Everard. .
242
Kirk, William T .
451
Kurtz, Charles
332
L
Lambert Family, The . 575
Lansley, James H .
212
Lewis, Abram H .
Lints, Frank .
Long, John P
379
308
Lowry, Robert
413
Lyon, Sylvanus
501
M
MacConnell, Joseph K . 138
MacDonald, J. Fred
469
Machlet, George W. 334
Magie, William J . 171
Marsh, Francis E . 186
Martin, Frank L. C
464
Silvers, Elihu B
123
Martine, James E 446
McBride, Charles C. 285
McCartney, P. J. . 393
McChesney, Peter C . 502
Mccutchen, Charles W . 449
McGee, Flavel
484
McMahon, William
379
Stelle, Randolph M 454
Stiles, James O .
341
Stillman, Charles H 115
Stillman, Frank M 377
Stillman, William M 176
Suydam, Henry C .
180
Swackhamer, Samuel S
191
Moore, James 298
Moore, S. L. & Sons Company 223
Mulford, Aaron D 322
Myers, Jared K .
461
Savage, Edward S . 181
Sayre, Wickliffe B 331
Schultz, Carl H. 583
Scudder, Mulford M. 575
Serrell, Lemuel W 448
Shotwell, Abel V
378
Simpson, Maxwell S .
I28
Singer Manufacturing Company . Smith, J. Angustus 478 221
Smith, William P
475
Smyth, Patrick E
412
Stearns, Josialı Q .
134
McNabb, Charles J .
188
Miller, David M II4
Miller, George C. .
627
Miller, Lebbeus B. .
327
Miller, Lewis W.
628
Moffett, Charles L.
182
Mooney, Nicholas 385
T
Tenney, George C . 321
Thomas Family, The
309
Titsworth, Rudolph M .
.
444
307
R
Rankin, William H 338
Reeve, Melancthon W 343
Regina Music Box Company 354
410 Root, Charles M. . 330
Runkle, Harry G .
447
Runyon, Harry C .
198
Ryno, Daniel K
391
Page
N Page
New York and New Jersey Telephone
Company 208
Noll, Paul N 3.36
Oakes, James . 339
Ogden, Aaron. 44
Ogden, James C . 314
Jackson, Thomas J 146
Patterson, Robert L 316
Pease, N. W. 211
K
Kelly, Edward B. . 610
Probasco, John B 119
Putnam, Erastus G I20
Putnam, Mary N
S
INDEX
xiii
Page
Page
Tolles, Ralph I . .
447
Williamson, Benjamin . 156
Tracy, Jeremiah E
161
Williamson, Emily E 297
Tufts, Philip E
381 Williamson, Isaac H
154
Tyler, Mason W
163
Wilson, Norton L
133
Woodruff, A. Edward .
179
V
Woodruff, Jonathan . 376
Voorhees, Foster M
172
Woodruff, Newton
612
W
Ward, Clarence D
195
Yates, Joseph W
429
Watson, James Madison .
292
Yerkes, David J
407
Welch, Robert W
334
Westcott, Frank W .
121
Z
Whittingham, Edward T
503
Zeglio, Peter J
. . 127
-
ENS-PAPEL ALL
HEN TION AND ALONG
CANT US, AND MAKE US.A NATION !!
E ARM MAKE US CIERMORE STATE
ARAIRE, ON OUR WALLS WRITE SALVA DORI
THY HEAVLILLY HEITHE.
PRODOTTANA CHASING DUR'NIGHT,
IMLASTILL THE LAND OF THE FREES
INDIAN GROUP LINCOLN PARK, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY EXECUTED BY C. B. IVES, AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF NEWARK BY DR. J. ACKERMAN COLES
CHAPTER I.
INDIAN HISTORY.
HE history of Union county includes that of the Indians as well as that of the whites ; but whence these savage tribes caine or how long they had dwelt on these shores neither history nor tradition can tell. It does not appear that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were very numerous. In an old publi- cation entitled "A Description of New Albion," and dated A. D. 1648, it is found stated that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were governed by about twenty kings, but the insignificance of the power of these kings may be inferred from the fact that only twelve hundred Indians were under the two Raritan kings on the north side next the Hudson river. Whitehead, in his "East Jersey Under the Proprietary Government," says there were not inore than two thousand Indians- within the province while it was under the Dutch. The Indians inhab- iting the lower Hudson and East Jersey country are considered by inost writers as belouging to the Delaware or Lenni-Lenape nation, and the Minsies-a branch of the Delaware nation-occupied the country from the Minisink to Staten Island and from the Hudson to the Raritan valley. In this section of New Jersey they were called Raritans, Hackensacks, Pomptons and Tappeans. On the island of Manhattan dwelt the fierce Manhattans. DeLaet calls them "a wicked nation " and enemies of the Dutch.
Before the white man took up his residence in this country the Lenape nation was subjugated by the powerful Iroquois. The con- quered nation, however, were permitted to remain on their former hunting grounds by the payment of tribute, which, as an acknowledg- ment of their vassalage, was exacted of them annually.
The first hostility of the Indians against the Dutch was directed against their plantation on the Delaware, which was totally destroyed. De Vries tells us that in the year 1630 thirty-two men were killed. In 1641 an expedition was fitted out against the Indians on the Raritan, they having been accused, though wrongfully, of trespassing and committing theft. Various causes led to the outbreak of 1643. One cause was the exacting of a tribute from the Indians by Kieft, the director-general, in 1639 ; another was the killing of a white man by an Indian, in 1641, in retaliation for robbery and murder of one of his tribe many years before.
2
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
In 1655, during the absence of Governor Stuyvesant to expel thie Swedes from the Delawares, troubles again arose with the Indians. The cause of this trouble was the accidental killing of an Indian girl, shot by Hendrick VanDyck while trying to protect his apple orchard from being robbed by the Indians, who had by night landed on Man- hattan for that purpose. News of the outrage spread and the Indians determined on signal revenge. On the night of the 15th of September sixty-four canoes, carrying five hundred warriors, landed at New Amsterdam. They searched through the town until they found VanDyck at the house of a neighbor named VanDiegrist, whom they cut down with a tomahawk, and in the affray wounded VanDyck in the breast with an arrow. The town and garrison being aroused, the Indians were driven to their canoes, and sought safety by flight to the west side of the river. In retaliation they set the houses on fire and soon all Pavonia was in ashes. Thence they proceeded to Staten Island, whose settlements they laid waste. In this assault one hundred persons were killed, one hundred and fifty carried into captivity and over three hundred deprived of their homes. When Governor VanDyck sought to bring them to terms, they hesitated, hoping to extort froin the government a ransom for the prisoners. Finally, the director wished to know how much they wanted for the prisoners en masse, or for each. They replied, seventy-eight pounds of powder and forty staves of lead for twenty-eight persons. The ransom was paid and an additional present was made by the governor. This proved the final settlement with the Indians so far as the Dutch were concerned.
The Pomptons and Minsies having sold their lands, removed from New Jersey about 1730. These two tribes were engaged in the war of 1757 and 1758, but at the treaty of 1758 the entire remaining claim of the Delawares to lands in New Jersey was extinguished, except that there was reserved the right to fish in all the rivers and bays south of the Raritan and to hunt on all uninclosed lands. A tract of three thousand acres of land was also purchased at Edge Pillock, in Burling- ton county, New Jersey, and on this the remaining Delawares of New Jersey, about sixty in number, were collected and settled. They remained there until the year 1802, when they removed to New Stockbridge, near Oneida lake, New York, becoming there the Stockbridge tribe.
In 1832 there remained about forty of the Delawares, among whom was still kept alive the tradition that they were the owners of the hunting and fishing privileges in New Jersey. They resolved to lay their claims before the legislature of this state and request that a moderate sum (two thousand dollars) might be paid them for its relin- quishment. The person selected to act for them in presenting the matter before the legislature was one of their own number whom they called Shawnskukhkung (meaning " wilted grass "), but who was known
*
3
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
among the white people as Bartholomew S. Calvin. He was born in 1756 and was educated at the expense of the Scotch Missionary Society. At the breaking out of the Revolution he left his studies to join the patriot army under Washington, and served with credit during the Revolutionary struggle. At the time he placed this matter before the legislature he was seventy-six years old. and when the legislature granted the request Mr. Calvin addressed to that distinguished body a letter of thauks, which was read before both houses in joint session and was received with repeated rounds of enthusiastic applause.
CHAPTER II.
DISCOVERY OF ACHTER KOL, AND ATTEMPTS TO COLONIZE BY THE DUTCH.
N the third day of September, 1609, the "Half Moon," a two- masted vessel of eighty tons burden, under the command of the renowned Henry Hudson, cast anchor in Sandy Hook bay. On the following day it was visited by the natives, who seemed glad of its arrival, and on the succeeding day some of its crew landed and did some trading with the Indians.
On Sunday, the 6th of the month, John Coleman and four other men, who had been sent out on an exploring expedition in a little boat, sailed through the "Narrow River," the Kills, between Bergen Point and Staten Island. On Coleman's return, the same day, he was slain by an arrow of one of the treacherous natives. These five men, therefore, of whom Coleman was one, were the first discoverers of this particular tract. Henry Hudson commanded his craft in the service of the East India Company of the United Provinces. Their design was to explore a passage to China and the Indies by the northwest.
In 1613 the Dutch merchants established a post at Manhattan, for the purpose of extending trade with the Indians. In 1623 they undertook to plant colonies of agriculturists in what they called New Netherlands, but their relations with the Indians were not friendly enongli to make any extensive enterprises towards a settlement, and the war of 1643, before mentioned, put an end to all thoughits of that kind for several years to come. But the land was too productive not to provoke the greed of the Dutch colonists, and at the close of the year 1651 the attempt was first made to plant a colony in this locality.
To this fair land was directed the attention of the Honorable Cornelius Van Werckhoven, one of the Schepens of Utrecht, in Holland. He desired to plant two colonies, or manors, in New Netherland. A commission was, therefore, given to Augustine Hermans, then an influ- ential and wealthy citizen of New Amsterdam, to purchase the tract of land west of Staten Island from the Raritan to the Passaic river. Accordingly this whole tract, between these two rivers, and extending back into the country indefinitely, was bought of the natives by Hermans for Van Werckhoven. Other tracts were also purchased by this same Dutchman, -one south of the Raritan and two on Long
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