USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 1
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES,
NEW JERSEY,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF MANY OF THEIR
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN.
EDITED BY W. WOODFORD CLAYTON.
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA : EVERTS & PECK. 1882.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIAOF WOODRIDGE MAIN LERARY GEORGE FREDERICK PLAZA
.
REFERENCE USE ONLY
..
PREFACE.
THE History of Union and Middlesex Counties, although chiefly a compilation, contains much original matter. It has been the aim of the editor and of his assistants to investigate all original sources of information relating both to the general and local histories of the Counties, and to give due credit for all that has been borrowed, from whatever source. The authorities which have been consulted are numerous, embracing many volumes of history and historical collections, and an almost endless variety of lesser papers and documents, public and private, descending to the minutest details of social, ecclesiastical, and family records, and covering a period of two hundred and fifty years. That all this matter could be handled and wrought into a volume so comprehensive and exhaustive as the one now before the reader, without any errors or mistakes, would be too much to expect of human vigilance and skill, especially when exercised within the limits prescribed to the compilers. We have done the best we could under the circumstances. The volume doubtless contains some errors, but we trust that none of them are of so grave a character as to impair the general accuracy and value of the history.
Materials have been found for a somewhat larger volume than was originally contemplated in the prospectus. Indeed, such might naturally have been expected from counties so ancient and important as Union and Middlesex,-counties containing the first English settlements in East Jersey, the seats of the Proprietary and Colonial Governments, and the scenes of some of the most stirring and important events of the Revolutionary period. But the work might have been swollen to much larger dimensions, and yet been of less value. For, while it has been the endeavor of the editor to so condense the material introduced as to eliminate all trashy or worthless matter, he has been no less solicitous to conserve all important and valuable infor- mation relating to the counties.
The authorities consulted in the volume are chiefly referred to in foot-notes. Due credit has been given in most instances for the borrowed matter. The only exception to this rule is in some cases where assistant writers in furnishing matter to the editor were not sufficiently careful to indicate the sources whence they derived this data. It was afterwards found impossible to accurately insert the proper quotation marks. This explanation will show that, whatever may be the seeming, there has been no intentional plagiarism.
Dr. Hatfield's "History of Elizabeth, New Jersey," has been, with his permission, freely used, and has furnished much valuable material relating to Union County and to the Borough and City of Elizabeth.
In Middlesex County there is no better historical authority than the gentleman whose accurate and graceful pen has furnished matter for some of the most important chapters in that
iii
316436
iv
PREFACE.
department of the work,-Mr. Charles D. Deshler, of New Brunswick. Mr. Deshler's name is a sufficient guarantee that his part of the work at least has been well done. We acknowledge our indebtedness to him for valuable information and assistance in many ways, also to Dr. Cook, State Geologist, to Professor Smock, and to the members of the press and the county and local officials generally. The countenance and assistance of these gentlemen, and others, have greatly lightened our task in compiling the volume which is herewith submitted to the intelligent judgment of our readers.
PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 1882.
W. WOODFORD CLAYTON.
CONTENTS.
UNION COUNTY.
PAGE
I .- Discovery and Occupation of New Nether- land . . 13
II .- Attempt to Colonize Achter Kull under the Duteh Rule 15
III .- First English Settlement at Elizabethtown . 17
IV .- Original Patentees and Associates of Eliza- bethtown . 21
V .- Indian Occupation 40
VI .- Indian Hostilities 45
VII .- Physical and Descriptive Features 48
VIII .- Government of Philip Carteret . 51
IX .- Government of Philip Carteret (Continued) 54
X .- Title to Lands 57
62
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
CHAPTER PAOE
LVIII .- Organization of Middlesex County . .
417
LIX .- A Brief Account of East Jersey .
420 LX .- Clay District of Middlesex County . . 422
LXI .- Early Roads 431
LXII .- The Partitiou Line between East aud West Jersey . 437
LXIII .- Courts of Middlesex County 446
LXIV .- Middlesex County in the Revolution 452
LXV .- Middlesex County in the Revolution (Con- tinued) . 462
LXVI .- Middlesex County in the Revolution (Con-
tinued) . 470
LXVII .- Middlesex Men in the Revolutionary War. 492
LXVIII .- Bench and Bar of Middlesex .
496
LXIX .- The Medical Profession in Middlesex County . ·
LXX .- Medical Profession (Continued)
LXXI .- The Press of Middlesex County
LXXII .- Middlesex County Civil List 532
LXXIII .- Middlesex County in the War of the Revo- lution 537
LXXIV .- Record of Middlesex County Men in the Civil War 539
LXXV .- Woodbridge 552
LXXVI .- Woodbridge (Continued) . 560
LXXVII .- Woodbridge (Continued) . 563
LXXVIII .- Woodbridge (Continued) . 565
LXXIX .- Woodbridge (Continued) . 568
LXXX .- Woodbridge (Continued) .
572
LXXXI .- Woodbridge (Continued) . 584
586
LXXXIII .- Piscataway (Continued) .
59]
XLII .- City of Rahway (Continued)
XLIII .- City of Rahway (Continued) 282
XLIV .- Township of Plainfield
CHAPTER PAGE
XLV .- Township and City of Plainfield 297
XLVI .- Township and City of Plainfield (Continued) 302 XLVII .- Township and City of Plainfield (Continued) 312 XLVIII .- Township and City of Plainfield (Continued) 316 326 XLIX .- Township of Westfield
L .- New Providence .
344
LI .- Springfeld . 362
LII .- Union Township .
37
LIII .- Summit Township
38
LIV .- Lioden Towaship
396
LV .- Township of Cranford . 409
LVI .- Clark Township .
40
LVII .- Fanwood Township
.
41
XI .- Beginning of the Revolutionary Struggle XII .- War of the Revolution 70
XIII .- War of the Revolution (Continued) 74
XIV .- War of the Revolution (Continued) 79
XV .- War of the Revolution (Continued) 87
XVI .- Early Lawyers, Courts, and Judges 100
XVII .- Bench and Bar of Union Couuty 108
XVIII .- Civil Organization 118
XIX .- The Medical Professsion 120
XX .- Press of Union County 135
XXI .- Union County in the War of the Rebellion. 142 XXII .- Union County in the War of the Rebellion (Continued) I46
XXIII .- Union County in the War of the Rebellion (Continued) 151
XXIV .- Record of Union County Soldiers, 1861 to 1865. 157
XXV .- Township of Elizabethtown 173
XXVI .- Borough of Elizabethtown . 179 .
XXVII .- The City of Elizabeth . 184
XXVIII .- City of Elizabeth (Continued) XXIX .- City of Elizabeth (Continued)
187
191
XXX .- City of Elizabeth (Continued)
XXXI .- City of Elizabeth (Continued)
217
XXXII .- City of Elizabeth (Continued) 227
XXXIII .- City of Rahway . 241
XXXIV .- City of Rahway (Continued) XXXV .- City of Rahway (Continued)
. 244
246
XXXVI .- City of Rahway (Continued)
XXXVII .- City of Rahway (Continued)
XXXVIII .- City of Rahway (Continued)
. 257
258
. 270
XLI .- City of Rahway (Continued)
272
275
LXXXIV .- Piscataway (Continued) . 595
602
296
LXXXV .- City of Perth Amboy
V
195
249
251
XXXIX .- City of Rahway (Continued) XL .- City of Rahway (Continued)
LXXXII .- Piscataway .
CHAPTER
vi
CONTENTS.
- CHAPTER
PAGE
CHAPTER
PAGE
XXXVI .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
608
XCVII .- City of New Brunswick (Continued) . 711
739
our . XXVIII .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
6IS
XCIX .- East Brunswick
757
LXXXIX .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
. 621
C .- South Brunswick
784
S' XC .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) . .
628
CI .- Monroe
797
XCI .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
631
CII .- Madison .
814
XCII .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
633
CIII .- South Amboy .
822
XCIII .- City of New Brunswick
.
640
CIV .- Raritan Township
839
XCIV .- City of New Brunswick (Continued)
650
CV .- Raritan Township (Continued)
842
XCV .- City of New Brunswick (Continuod) 656
CVI .- Sayreville .
852
XCVI .- City of New Brunswick (Continued) . 675
CVII .- Cranbury .
862
.
a sulXXXVII .- City of Perth Amboy (Continued) .
. 614
XCVIII .-- North Brunswick
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
Adrain, G. B. .
facing 507
Doying, I. E., Residence of
facing 392
Allen, George W., Property of .
between 394, 395
Drake, Lewis .
129
Appleby, Leonard .
. facing 782
Dunham, D. B.
253
Appleby, Leonard L. F. .
Dunham, D. B., Works of
256
Ayres, John R.
Dunham, H. V.
.
.
602
Babcock, John F.
facing 530
Earl, William .
facing 382
Baker, Aaron M.
66
387
Elmer, John C.
66
128
Baker, Henry .
342
Essex Felting Mills .
410
Baker, James C.
384
Excelsior Fire-Brick and Clay Works
between 584, 585
Bayles, William G.
793
Freeman, John L.
facing 255
Berry, W. H.
582
Freeman, Joho L., Factory of .
.
255 341
Bigelow, A. B., Residence of
116
Hait, Seymour, Residence of
304
Boice, D. J.
66
755
Headley, John S.
facing 672
Brown, II. If. .
S21
Hough, D. C. .
132
Brown, James M.
How, Ilenry K.
. 756
Buckelew, James
Howell, Martin A.
facing 655
Burnet, Aaron W.
between 378, 379
Hutchinson, John T.
. 387
Burnet, Daniel .
378, 379
Hyer, Lewis S.
141
Chapman, James M.
facing 510
Jardine, Andrew
faciog
254
Clark, A. Il.
331
Jardine & Co., Andrew, Factory of .
.
. 254
Clark, Staats
736
Jobs, Engene
facing
125
Clark, William, Sr. .
328
Jones, Evan
Clark, William, Jr. .
330
Kinch, Frederick A.
126
. Conover, Garret
738
Kirkner, J.
Kirkner, J., Residence of
300
Coriell, William McD.
326
Kuhlthan, Philip
66
757
Certelyon, Peter
784
Laforge, 1. & J., Works of
Cory, Joseph
Laforge, Joel .
334
Lambert, John
Crane, John
383
Latimer, Henry G.
between 322, 323
Lee, Themas
facing 415
Letson, Johnson
660
Cutter, Ilampton
Leveridge, C. A.
407
Cutter, J. C. . Cutter, W. H. .
between 580, 581
Long, Dennis .
between 386, 387
Lowry, Robert .
facing 307
Dally, Samuel .
583
Lnfbery, John H.
293
Daly, John J. .
facing 133
Lufbery, Joseph O. .
293
Darby, Levi
414
Magee, Joseph C.
812
Dayton, Gen. Elias .
96
Magie, Edwin .
. 385
De Forest, W. H., Residence of
388
Male, Job
facing 325
Denman, John
408
Male, Jeh, Residence of
298
Denman, John C.
290
Map, Outline, of Middlesex County .
· between 12, 13
De Voe, Isaac .
facing 781
Map, Outline, of Union County
12, 13
Disbrow, Andrew J.
between 782, 783
Marsh, S. C.
facing 401 ¥ 585
Disbrow, S. M.
.
facing 526
Manrer, Henry
vii
.
facing 319
Hall, Alfred
638
Booream, Ilenry H. .
380
Boynton's Draio-Pipe and Tile Works
570
Higgins, D. S.
386
Brant, William
376
Hill, John B. .
584
Flatt, William H.
.
286
Boice, Cornelius
402
French, Robert
facing
324
Coriell, R. R. .
321
Coriell, William McD., Residence of
309
Laforge, Ira
294
340
Cory, L. .
416
Crane, M. B.
385
Cruser, John S.
796
580
580, 581
256
294
578
808
Barron, Jebo C.
between 782, 783 285
.
322
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Mershon, William
facing
288
Scudder, I. F. .
PAGE between 340, 341
Meyer, Christopher .
664
Seeley, E. A., Residence and Works of
facing 413
Meyer Rubber Company .
662
Smith, Samuel C.
375
Miller, John .
333
Snedeker, Thomas S.
788
Morrogh, Clifford T.
16
522
Spader, Peter .
670
Munn, George B.
=
737
Squier, William C. .
289
National Bank of New Jersey .
Neilson, John .
facing
468
St. John's Church, Elizabeth, 1882 .
226
New Jersey Rubher Shoe Company .
657
St. John's Church, Elizabeth, Parsonage of, 1817
225
Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company
658
St. John's Church, Elizabeth, Parsonage of
222
Ogden, John
195
Stites, William .
facing
373
Osborn, Corra .
124
Street, Robert .
facing 130
Parkhurst, A. M.
343
Taylor & Bloodgood, Works of.
66
371
Pierson, Oliver M.
338
Thompson, John C.
524
Pierson, Squier
450
Titsworth, I. D.
601
Plainfield Academy .
300
Titsworth, R. .
. 134
Pope, E. R.
facing
Townley, J.
149
Porter, Lucius P.
661
Townley, Robert W.
facing
185
Potter, C., Jr. .
320
Tucker, M.
332
Tucker, William B. .
194
Potter Printing-Press Works
facing
318
Urmston, John .
252
Randolph, Asa F.
602
Vanderventer, J. R.
311
Richards, John
374
Voorhees, Abraham .
671
Rogers, E. Y. .
117
Winans, E. P. .
=
400
Rowland, Andrew
facing
791
Winans, Job
398
Rowland, Stryker
790
Winans, Jonathan, Jr.
381
Runyon, Mahlon
674 Withington, I. C.
786
Ryno, D. K.
295
Withington, I. C., Residence of
787
Salamander Works
facing 562 Woodruff, Jonathan .
291
Savage, J. W. .
287
Woodruff, Noah
386
672
St. John's Church, Elizabeth, 1850
224 ·
Osborn, Isaao .
292
Sutphen, John C.
410
Paxton, John .
811
Teller, Henry W.
336
Thornal, Israel .
851
Pillory and Stocks
Potter, Jotham .
361
.
.
323
.
383
PAGE
OUTLINE MAP of UNION COUNTY
E
Engraved expressly for this Work
S
5
E
×
0
ESSEX RR.
C
Hantler Sta
New Provident
Suunmat Stay
MORRIS
5
Deartown
Springfield:1.0.
L
River Providence
Mor
Valley Road
DELAWARE
HinIsta
Feltvilla Road
E
Berkel PASSAIC
Stony Hill Road
Feltrille
Branch Mills
Narmashiggin
ver
Union Vifte
Mountain
Prospet!
-
BrotchPlain's -
CENTRAL RXP
Central Ave
D
Nethewest Sta
Av.
Lambert Mills
Robinson Branch
I
Doğ Cors.
C
P
Prona
P
SOMERSET
ctwoodsta.
-
Leland
Tyrrell Road
Raliway In
----
AF
Springfield
Ave .
Passaic
1
Rahwin Riv
Lawrence Av
0.
C
MIDDLESEX
SPRINGFIELD
MORR
1
D
C 0
N
T
tillesturn
Y
WEST
. LINE RR
Turnpike po
Elizabeth
Lyons Farns
amedicul Farmis
River
Salefu -
Morriy
RAILROAD
Humboldt
E
B
T H
North Roselle
L
JERSEY
huselle
1
-
J Wood
L
Shu
Morsies!
Minden
Ed qur'
Trembly Esta
Rakwah
PERTH AMBOY' & ELIZABETHIR.R
STATEN ISLAND
0
ICION PENNSYLVANIA
Elizabetigjort Sti.
NEWARK AND ELIZABETH RR
WEMARK BAY
R.R.
-
5
HISTORY
OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES,
NEW JERSEY.
UNION COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF NEW NETHER- LAND.
UNION COUNTY, although not organized under this name until the year 1857, embraces territory very anciently known and occupied by Europeans. That portion of it lying along the western shores of Achter Kull, or Newark Bay, was discovered, together with the North River and the Bay of New York, by Henry Hndson and his companions in 1609. Hudson was an Englishman by birth, and previously to sailing upon this voyage had made two trips to America under the auspices of English merchants, with a de- sign of discovering a northwest passage to China and the Indies. Failing in these adventures, but not dis- couraged, although his former patrons refused to supply him with a vessel for another voyage, he applied to the rivals of the E_glish, the Dutch East India Com- pany of the United Netherlands, by whom he was fitted out with a two-masted " Vlie-boat" of eighty tons burden, called the " Half-Moon." This adven- turous cralt, manned by twenty men, part of whom were Dutch and part English, anchored in Sandy Hook Bay on the 3d of September, 1609.
Three days later, on Sunday, September 6th, the eye of the adventurous stranger from the Old World first rested on the goodly spot afterwards chosen by the Elizabeth Town Associates as the site of the first colony planted in Union County. The discoverers were John Coleman and four others, whom Hudson had sent in a boat through the Narrows to explore the harbor, and who, after finding " very good riding for ships, and a narrow river to the westward between two islands," which they entered and followed a dis- tance of " two leagues to an open sea," must have seen directly before them across that sea, which was New- ark Bay, the shores of that beautiful location chosen at a later time for the first English settlement in East Jersey. The journal of the. voyage, kept by Jnet, says, "The Lands were as pleasant with Grasse and
Flowers and goodly Trees as any they had seene, and very sweet smells came from them."
Coleman was slain the same day, on his return, by the treacherous arrow of a native, and his body was buried on Sandy Hook, at a place which still bears the name of Coleman's Point. Probably these hos- tile savages were of a different tribe from those who met Hudson in so pleasant a manner at his first land- ing, whom the journalist describes as " Very glad of our comming, and brought greene Tabacco, and gaue vs of it for Kniues and Beads. They go in Deere skins loose, well dressed. They haue yellow Copper. They desire Cloathes, and are very ciuill. They haue great store of Maiz or Indian Wheate, whereof they . make good bread. The Countery is full of great and tall Oakes."
The day following some of the crew landed, who " saw great store of Men, Women, and Children, who gaue them Tabacco at their comming on Land. So they went vp into the Woods, and saw great store of very goodly Oakes, and some Currants. One of them came aboord, and brought some dryed. Many others also came aboord, some in Mantles of Feathers, and some in Skinnes of divers sorts of good Furres. Some women also came with Hempe. They had red Cop- per Tabacco pipes, and other things of Copper they did weare about their neckes." 1
Returning again through the Narrows, Hudson cast anchor on the 11th of September in the harbor of New York, "and saw it was a very good harbor for all winds." His first landing appears to have been at a point about six miles up on the New York side.
Having thus familiarized himself with the bays and inlets about Manhattan, he prepared next to explore the noble river which bears his name, and which he still hoped might be the long-sought passage to the Indies. With what feelings of joy this thought must have inspired him for a time, and how great must have been the disappointment when he found the
2
1 Juet's Narrative, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. C'ol., 1. 135.
13
14
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
river gradually growing less and less navigable, and saw before him the lofty mountain ranges among which it had its source ! The precise point at which he terminated his voyage northward is not material, though it is believed that he stopped at a point in what is now the town of Half-Moon, in Saratoga County, some eight or ten miles above Albany.1 He returned on the 2d of October, and in consequence of an attack from the Indians at the head of Manhattan Island, " he bore gradually across the river, and an- chored in Weehawken Cove, just above Castle Point.2 On the 4th, with fair weather and a northwest wind, he weighed anchor, passed through the Kills to Am- boy, and then stood out to sea."
Occupation of New Netherland .- The report of Hudson's discovery on his return to Holland created a great stir among the merchants. It had opened a new field for trade which they were eager not only to occupy, but to monopolize. In 1610, it appears that at least one ship was sent hither by the East India Company for the purpose of trading in furs, which it is well known continued for a number of years to be the principal object of commercial at- traction to this part of the New World. Five years after Hudson's voyage, a company of merchants, who had procured from the States-General of Holland a patent for an exclusive trade on Hudson River, had built forts and established trading-posts at New Am- sterdam (New York), Albany, and the mouth of the Rondout Kill. The latter was a small redoubt on the site of what is now a part of the city of Kingston, N. Y. It was known as the " Ronduit," from whence comes the name of Rondout.3 The fort near Albany was upon Castle Island, immediately below the present city, and the one at New York was erected on what is now the Battery. It was finished and occupied later than the others, on account of the hostility of the "fierce Manhattans," who were not disposed to allow the Dutch to gain possession of the island. On the expiration of the grant of the United Company of New Netherland, the States-General refused to renew it, but they continued to trade thither until 1623 or 1624, when the Dutch West India Company, a powerful mercantile association chartered in 1621, took possession of the lands temporarily granted to their predecessors. In 1624, Peter Minuit was ap- pointed Director of New Netherlands, built Fort Amsterdam, and brought over colonists who settled on Long Island. Staten Island and Manhattan were purchased of the Iudians, and up to 1629 the settle- ments were merely trading-posts. In that year the West India Company's Council granted to certain individuals extensive seigniories or tracts of land with feudal rights over the lives and persons of their subjects. Under this grant Kiliaen Van Rensselaer,
a pearl-merchant of Amsterdam, secured in 1630 and subsequently a tract of land twenty-four by forty- eight miles in extent, composing the present connties of Albany, Rensselaer, and part of Columbia, and other wealthy patroons obtained large grants for sim- ilar seigniories in other portions of New Netherland.
The Dutch at the same time were engaged in col- onization on the Delaware, which they called the South River, and regarded as a part of New Nether- land. This river had also been discovered by Henry Hudson, who sailed into it a short distance prior to entering New York Bay. The West India Company attempted to settle this portion of their colony as early as the portion on the North River, and to put it all under the government at New Amsterdam. In 1623 the company dispatched a ship under the com- mand of Cornelius Jacobse Mey, with settlers fully provided with means of subsistence and with articles of trade. Mey entered the Delaware Bay, and gave his name to the northern cape,-Cape May. After exploring the river he landed, and effected a settle- ment below Camden, erecting Fort Nassau on a small stream called by the natives Sassackon.
On the 12th of December, 1630, David Pieterson de Vries left the Texel in command of another vessel, and arrived on the Delaware in the course of the winter. He found none of the Europeans who had preceded him, and Fort Nassau had fallen into the hands of the Indians. Misfortune also awaited the new settlers. Having erected a fort, the commander returned to Holland ; and during his absence a feud arose with one of the native tribes which at length terminated in the massacre of every one of the col- onists. De Vries returned shortly afterwards with a new company, and was only saved from a similar fate by the kindness of an Indian woman. Disheartened by repeated disasters, the colony soon after abandoned the country, and for some years not a single European was left upon the shores of the Delaware. The Swedes next visited it, but into their history it is not our purpose here to enter.
De Vries, having been driven from the Delaware, next turned his attention to the Hudson, where in a few years he became an influential patroon of New Netherland.
About 1640 he purchased of the Indians a tract of about five hundred acres at Tappan, to which he gave the name of " Vriesendael." " It was beautifully situated along the river-side, sheltered by high hills ; and the fertile valley through which wound a stream, affording handsome mill-seats, yielded hay enough spontaneously for two hundred head of cattle. Build- ings were soon erected, and Vriesendael became for several years the home of its energetic owner."
The first attempt was made to plant a colony at Achter Kull, at the close of the year 1651. The policy of the Dutch government had been to encourage the settlement of colonies.or manors similar to the lord- ships and seigniories of the Old World by men of
1 He explored the river, according to his own account, a distance of fifty-three leagues from its month.
3 Juet's Journal, N. Y. Hist. Coll., N. S., i. 331, quoted by Winfield,
3 Brodhead's Hist. N. Y., vol. i. p. 7.
15
ATTEMPTS TO COLONIZE ACHTER KULL UNDER THE DUTCH RULE.
large fortunes, known as patroons, to whom peculiar privileges both of trade and government were ac- corded. These manors were of great extent, and their proprietors were looked upon as an order of nobility, much like the old barons of the feudal period. The most desirable tracts, both on the North and South Rivers, had thus been colonized princi- pally by several shrewd and enterprising directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Com- pany. The whole of the neck opposite New Amster- dam, as far as the Kills and Newark Bay, together with Staten Island, had been appropriated for years.
Directly west of these colonies stretched for miles along the waters of Achter Kull, and the estuary to the west of Staten Island, one of the most inviting regions in all New Netherland. To this land was now directed the eager attention of the Hon. Cornelis Van Werckhoven, one of the schepens of Utrecht, in Holland. He duly notified the Amsterdam Chamber of his intention to plant two colonies or manors in New Netherland. A commission was thereupon given to Augustine Heermans, of Bohemia, who had made New Amsterdam his home since the year 1633, and had become an influential and wealthy citizen, to purchase these lands from the natives. Accord- ingly Heermans negotiated with the resident pro- prietors, and purchased for Van Werckhoven the whole of the tract, extending from " the month of the Raritan Creek westerly up unto a creek, Mankack- kewachky, which runs northwest up into the country, and then from the Raritan Creek aforesaid northerly up along the river behind States Isle unto the creek, namely, from the Raritan Point, called Ompoge,' unto Pechciesse, the aforesaid creek, and so the said creek Pechciesse up to the very head of it, and from thence direct westerly thorowe the Land nntil it meets with the aforesaid Creek and Meadow Ground called Man- kackkewachky aforesaid." 2
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