Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Ogden, Mary Depue
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Newark, N.J. : Memorial History Company
Number of Pages: 980

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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02248 0633

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MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA

OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF

MARY DEPUE OGDEN

FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE WOMAN'S BRANCH OF THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ADVISORY BOARD

MRS. GARRET A. HOBART, PATERSON.

MRS. JOSEPH D. BEDLE, JERSEY CITY.

MRS. HENRY S. WHITE,

RED BANK.

MRS. CRAIG A. MARSH, PLAINFIELD.

MRS. E. GAYLORD PUTNAM, ELIZABETHI.

MRS. JOHN MOSES, TRENTON.

MRS. R. V. W. FAIRCHILD,

PARSIPPANY.

MRS. ANDREW SINNICKSON, SALEM.

MISS ELIZABETH STRONG, NEW BRUNSWICK.

MISS MARGARET O. HAINES. BURLINGTON. MISS SARAH NATHALIE DOUGHTY, ATLANTIC CITY.

MRS. MARY ROBESON SMITH, BELVIDERE.

VOLUME I.

563

MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

1915

1742308

THE LANDING OF CARTERET

ا.وين ]

FOREWORD

EW JERSEY'S history is singularly replete with personal incident. It needs little explanation to convince any thoughtful person that no history can be more graphic, authentic or more entertaining than that told in the acts and lives of those who made it. A vividness and humanness is imparted by this treatment that can be gotten in no other way.

Every age in the State's history, from the earliest times, bears many shining names. Even when New Jersey was a practically unknown wilder- ness, from the Hudson to the Delaware, there were Indian Chieftains of remarkable attainments, including old Oraton, famed throughout the region for his wisdom and uprightness. Some of the Dutch rulers who were personally concerned in the earliest Dutch settlements were most interesting characters.

There were men of force during the regime of the Lord's Proprietors, but among the Lords themselves (including none other than William Penn himself) and among the people who often opposed the Lords with courage and shrewdness, preparing the way, unconsciously, for the War for Independence. Then there were the Royal Governors, from 1700 to 1776, some strange personalities, indeed, reflecting in their conduct of affairs the ruinous and shortsighted policy of the home government, down to the very last of them, the cultured but misguided William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin.

From the very beginning of the Province of New Jersey, one finds towers of strength among the men of the people, and it is the story of their lives that makes all that long period before and after the War for Independence singularly fascinating. Scores of names rise in the mind as an inspiration and serve as an explanation of why New Jersey has behind her the glorious history that she possesses.

The object of this Memorial Cyclopedia is to present in durable form complete, accurate and carefully prepared memoirs of citizens of reputation and usefulness, who during their lifetime have contributed to the advance- · ment of the intellectual, moral and material welfare of the commonwealth.

10Je 25L.C /Y

The group of Jerseymen who have taken a large and vital part in the making of the nation will be found much larger than most persons realize. Her soldiers and sailors of note are many. Her eminent statesmen, lawyers, preachers, physicians, inventors, scientists ; her financiers, authors, artists, merchants, manufacturers-are a long and impressive list.

The aim of the work, told through the medium of biography, is to record and perpetuate in the broadest sense the life histories of many -of- these men and women who by their deeds are entitled to a place of honor in the pages of this memorial, and it contains many portraits of the persons whose life stories are told in it.

The editor and publishers would express their great appreciation of the cordial co-operation of the several members of the Advisory Board whose names appear upon the title page, and of many other friends. It is con- fidently believed that the work will prove a real addition to the mass of genealogical and personal literature concerning the people of the historic region under consideration, and that, without it, much valuable information therein contained would be irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of many custodians of family records, and the disappearance of such material.

Mary Duque Oder

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

CARTERET, Philip,

First Colonial Governor.

Philip Carteret was born in 1639, on the Island of Jersey. He was eldest son of Helier de Carteret, Attorney General of Jersey, and Rachel his wife; and grandson of Peter de Carteret, Jurat of the Royal Court of Jersey. By inheritance Philip Carteret was Seigneur of the Manor of La Hougue, Parish of Saint Peter, Jersey, but these honors did not prevent his leav- ing his native land to assume the govern- ment of a province in the new world. It was a wild land, for we are told that when Philip Carteret landed at Achter Coll, a few primitive houses marked the site of Elizabethtown; the rest of Nova Caesarea was a trackless wild.

Brought up on the Island of Jersey, where the spirit of feudalism lingered longer than in more traveled parts, loyal to the house of Stuart and high in favor at court, the train- ing of Captain Carteret hardly fitted him to govern a people in whom the seeds of liber- ty and self-government seemed already sown.

In 1664, the Duke of York had granted to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret all land between Hudson's river and the Del- aware river, and in 1665 Philip Carteret re- ceived his appointment to settle the province and act as governor under the authority of the Lord Proprietors.

On July 29th of that year the good ship "Philip" arrived at New York bearing the new governor, and a party of thirty settlers, including eighteen male servants, part French, and probably from Jersey. Gov- ernor Carteret allowed but a few days to elapse before taking possession. He and

his party landed without ceremony at Ach- ter Coll, and proceeded to lay his creden- tials before Jolin Ogden and others who had settled there the year before, under a grant from Governor Nichols of New York.

Until the grant of the Lord Proprietors, New Jersey had been included with New York and Maine in the territory governed by Colonel Richard Nichols, who had al- ready granted two patents-one the site of Elizabethtown; the other, where Shrews- bury and Middletown were founded in 1666 by Quakers and others from the western end of Long Island. Although the Duke of York repudiated the grants of Governor Nichols as without his authority, Carteret saw fit to confirm them, at least by in- ference, and sent word far and wide through the colonies that New Jersey was open for settlement under the protection of a gov- ernor. In response to this notice, a com- pany of Puritans from Connecticut obtained a grant on the Passaic river from Carteret, and other small settlements were made. For two years all went smoothly. The people were pleased to have the governor and seat of government at Elizabethtown. Carteret bought land and established a residence.

Anxious for the growth of the new prov- ince, the Governor was lenient in enforcing the terms of the Concessions, and allowed the Hempstead Code of Laws to stand. The colony prospered. Ships came and went. bringing settlers and their goods. In April, 1668, the Governor issued his first call for a General Assembly to meet at Elizabeth- town, May 25, 1668-"For the making and constituting such wholesome laws as shall be most needful and necessary for the good government of the said Province, and the

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

maintaining of a religious communion, and civil society, one with the others, as be- cometh Christians without which it is im- possible for any Body Politic to prosper or subsist." The legislature was in session five days, and enacted the "Elizabethtown Code of Laws," just and moderate, and very like the Hempstead Code formulated in 1664 at Hempstead, Long Island.

There were differences almost at once between the Governor and the delegates, who were prone to take their own way without consulting any one. The first Mon- day in November was appointed the regular date of meeting, and the members adjourn- ed until that day. Meeting on November 3, conditions between Carteret and the dele- gates were so strained that the Governor abruptly dissolved the Assembly on the 8th, and for two years refused to call another session, carrying on the government with the aid of his council.

In the meantime, both the Lord Proprie- tors-Berkeley and Carteret-were in finan- cial difficulties in England, and for some time were in danger of disgrace for dis- honest practices. Governor Carteret. un- easy lest their downfall might involve him, was only too anxious that affairs in his colony should run smoothly, and the people seeing the end of his term of office, let mat- ters go in a degree.

Governor Nichols, of New York, seized this opportunity to attempt the recovery of the New Jersey grant, and seems to have influenced the Duke of York to lay claim to it. Berkeley and Sir George Carteret were however able to reinstate themselves in royal favor, and New Jersey remained a separate province.

Emboldened by the stability of the posi- tion of the Lord Proprietors at home. Car- teret attempted to enforce the provision of the Royal Concessions providing for an annual rent or tax of a half-penny per acre to be paid the proprietors from March 25, 1670. This proved a most unpopular move. People holding lands by previous purchase

ignored the Governor's demand, and pur- chasers who had not taken out patents from Carteret's government would not do so nor would they pay rent.

The settlers of Newark offered to pay in wheat. People divided themselves into two parties, one siding with the Governor, the other against him. The Governor's oppon- ents characterized his acts as arbitrary, and threatening public rights. His claim to preside at town meetings in person or by proxy by virtue of his office and the reward- ing of his servants with town lands, added to his unpopularity. Matters came to a distinct head when Carteret appointed his menial servant, Richard Mitchell, a free- holder-a step only to be taken by the peo- ple in town meeting.

Feeling was so strong that a riot ensued, resulting in the destruction of Mitchell's fence, and damage to his house and garden. Although the perpetrators were known, and warrants issued for their arrest, the Gov- ernor was powerless to combat public opin- ion, and the matter was dropped. Later, the rioters were brought to trial, but fines imposed could never be collected, nor were the rioters ever imprisoned. The people were too strongly on their side.

During the heat of all this controversy, appeared James Carteret, a son of Sir George Carteret, recently appointed a Land- grave of one of the counties of Carolina. He seems to have interfered in the quarrel between the Governor and the people, and widened the breech to such an extent that in March. 1672, following a new outbreak of controversy between the Governor and the House of Assembly, then in session, Philip Carteret removed in haste to Bergen and, calling his council, issued a proclama- tion accusing the Assembly of mutiny and rebellion. and giving them ten days to sub- mit. This meant a complete break between the Governor and the people.

Failing to bring the people to terms, on the advice of his council, Carteret returned to England early in July, 1672, to consult

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

Sir George Carteret, appointing Captain Berry of his council, Deputy Governor. Berry remained in Bergen and Captain James Carteret occupied Government House in Elizabethtown, practically usurping all authority.

Bollen, Parllon and Moore, of Carteret's council, accompanied him to England. They returned early in May, 1673, with authority from the King, Duke of York and Lore Proprietors, upholding the Governor, and a letter from Sir George Carteret to his son James directing him to leave New Jersey at once and proceed to Carolina.

James Carteret, a disturbing element eliminated, Deputy Governor Berry assert- ed his authority and ordered all who de- sired to be considered freeholders to ob- tain new patents from the Proprietors, upon pain of forfeiture. Far from settling mat- ters, the people were angry and considered sending a petition themselves to Sir George Carteret. Just at this juncture, in July, 1673, New York surrendered to the Dutch, and in September of that year the people of New Jersey submitted to Dutch rule. Following the assumption of authority in New Jersey, the Dutch ordered an inven- tory taken of the estate of the late Gov- ernor Carteret. This step was resented by John Singletary and Robert Lapriere, two of Carteret's associates, with the result that Singletary was fined, and Lapriere vanish- ed from the province.

In November, 1674. the English again took possession of the colonies, and Philip Carteret returned newly accredited as Gov- ernor of East Jersey. Accompanying him on the same ship was his kinsman, Sir Edmund Andros, the New Governor of New York.

Time had softened the animosity of the people and the resentment of the Gov- ernor, and Carteret was warmly welcomed by his people, who met to hear His Ma- jesty's letter, the Governor's commission, and the letters of instruction and orders brought over by the returning governor.

Life in England at the court of the Stuarts had confirmed Carteret in his opin- ions, and the lenient Dutch rale had strength- ened the spirit of freedom in the people, and the same disagreements arose almost at once. Not content to let old grievances drop, Carteret revived the old question of land patents and other matters of former dissensions. The people offered a com- promise whereby a payment of twenty pounds annually should leave them in undis- turbed possession of their township, con- firmed by charter to them and their heirs forever. Governor Carteret, however, re- fused to recede from his position, and the people were obliged to yield. A season of comparative peace followed, and the Prov- ince developed under Carteret's rule.

In March, 1680, Governor Andros, hear- ing of the death of Sir George Carteret, determined to press a long dormant claim to jurisdiction over New Jersey. Find- ing Carteret unwilling to yield his authority peacefully, Andros resorted to violence, and on the night of April 30 kidnapped the governor of New Jersey. Andros' men " treated Carteret roughly, throwing him un- clothed into a canoe to convey him to New York, where he was imprisoned.

He was brought to trial on May 27 of the same year, on the charge of usurping authority. After hearing the evidence, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. Reinstructed by the judge, they were three times sent back to reconsider, always with the same result. However, the court de- clared it their opinion that if "the said Captain Carteret shall go to New Jersey, he should give security or engagement not to assume any authority or jurisdiction there civil or military."

Practically deposed, after sending an ap- peal to the home government, Carteret set- tled down quietly in Elizabethtown to im- prove his property and lead the life of a private citizen.

Andros claimed his rights from the peo- ple of East Jersey, in which they tacitly

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

acquiesed pending an opinion from Eng- LAWRIE, Gawen,

land, claiming, however, the right to retain their own laws and declining the Hemp- stead Code offered them by Andros.

During this period of leisure, Carteret met and married Elizabeth Smith, widow of William Lawrence, and a daughter of Richard Smith, of Long Island. This gentle lady was the mother of seven children and a stepson.

In March, 1681. on receipt of letters from England, Governor Carteret resumed office by proclamation, and took up the con- troversy with the people. The question of the value of the old grants prior to Gov- ernor Carteret's coming, remained a matter of litigation until the Revolution intervened.

In November, 1682, Carteret was super- ceded by Deputy Governor Rudyard, rep- resenting Robert Barclay, as a result of the sale of East Jersey by the heirs of Sir George Carteret.

Carteret died on Demember 10, 1682. in his forty-fourth year. His death was un- doubtedly hastened by the exposure and ill treatment at the time of his arrest by Andros.

Carteret was an honorable man, of good character, and sincerely tried to govern his people well according to his lights. Unfor- tunately he was a Royalist, believing in the Divine right of kings, and could have had little sympathy with Puritan religion and roundhead politics. Taken as a whole his governorship cannot be considered a failure. He was a man of good moral character, . firmness, even temper and simplicity. East Jersey developed under his rule without check or failure. He showed possibly a lack of adaptability but he came to the col- onies to rule. not to be ruled by those under his authority.

In none of the contentions of those in opposition was he ever accused of dishones- ty of purpose. The only criticism seems to have been a certain arbitrariness which was a painful reminder to the Puritan set- tlers of all they had left England to avoid.

Provincial Governor.

Gawen Lawrie, who was a merchant of London, England, became one of the twen- ty-four Proprietors, owners of East Jersey. He took a very prominent place in the prov- ince, was essentially a man of peace, and his influence was most salutary. He was one of the assignees of Edward Billinge, who had conveyed his interest in West Jer- sey to William Penn, Nicholas Lucas and Gawen Lawrie as assignees, for the benefit of his creditors, of whom Lawrie was one. He was appointed deputy governor, and bringing with him his family, took up his residence in Elizabethtown and entered up- on his duties with zeal and discretion. A staunch Quaker, he settled many colonies of Friends in his domain, and satisfied both those over whom he ruled and those whose servant he was, the other Proprietors. Very soon after his coming, the Proprietors stren- uously urged him to remove from Elizabeth- town to Perth Amboy; this he as stead- fastly refused. At the same time he took a deep interest in the last named place, and may be regarded as one of its founders. Elizabethtown had grown to be a place of some pretensions, while Perth Amboy was just entering upon its existence. It is there- fore not astonishing that Lawrie preferred Elizabethtown, where he could secure for himself and family more of the comforts of civilized life than he could possibly hope for in the newer settlement. Very little is known about him, although his prominence in the colony and his administration of affairs tended greatly to its growth. He was appointed to his deputy-governorship in July. 1683. but did not reach his province until the early part of the following year. He is recorded as having brought with him a party of eight persons, but whether they were all members of his family is not now ascertainable. He certainly had some chil- dren. among whom was a son James. He was succeeded in 1086 by Lord Neill Campbell.

Leurs Morris.

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

MORRIS, Lewis,

Colonial Governor.

Lewis Morris, the first important figure in an important family, was born in New York City, in 1671, son of Richard and Sarah (Cole) Morris. His father, who was an officer in Cromwell's army, came from England at the time of the Restora- tion, going first to the West Indies, and coming thence to New York ; he purchased from the Indians a tract of three thousand acres, a part of which became Morrisania.

Lewis Morris was one of the prominent lawyers of his day, practicing in New York. He was judge of the Superior Court of New York and New Jersey in 1692, and became a member of the Governor's Coun- cil and of the Assembly, in which body he strongly antagonized Governor Corn bury, drew up the complaint against him. and personally presented it to Queen Anne. He was chief justice of New York and New Jersey from 1710 to 1738. and acting governor in 1731. He effected the division between New York and New Jersey in 1738, was that year chosen governor of the latter colony, and held the office until 1746, in which year he died, in Kingsbury, New Jersey, May 21. He married Isabella Gra- ham.

BELCHER, Jonathan,

Provincial Governor.

Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 8, 1682, son of An- drew Belcher, a man of wealth and a pro- vincial councilor, and a grandson of An- drew Belcher of Cambridge, 1646.

Jonathan Belcher was graduated from Harvard College in his seventeenth year. and soon afterward sailed for Europe. where he stayed for six years. During this period he was received at the court of Hanover, where he made the acquaint- ance of the Princess Sophia, and her son, who subsequently became George I. of Eng-

land, and this laid the foundation for his future honors. Returning to Boston, he became a merchant and a provincial coun- cilor. In 1729 he visited England as agent of the colony, but current statements credit the appointment to discreditable methods. He returned as governor of Massachusetts, to succeed Governor Burnet, and filled the office for eleven years. He was a man of the world, a consummate politician, inclin- ing to intrigue and tortuous methods. He came into disrepute with the people, and such a clamor ensued that he was removed by the home government. He vindicated himself there, however, and was appointed governor of the province of New Jersey. He entered upon that office in 1747, and con- tinued in it until his death, August 31, 1757, at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. His ad- ministration was successful, and he left per- manent influences for good. He was the chief patron of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), extended its charter, and left to it a fine library.

FRANKLIN, William,

Last Royal Governor.

William Franklin was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, about 1731, a son of Benjamin Franklin, the distinguished pa- triot, statesman and philosopher.

Like his talented father, he was in child- hood greatly inclined to books, and in dis- position was enterprising and adventure- some. In his sixteenth year, during the progress of the French war, he attempted to ship in a privateer. Failing in this, he procured a commission in the Pennsylvania forces serving on the Canadian frontier, and before he was twenty-one had attained to a captaincy. After returning home the influence of his father obtained for him respectable employment. From 1754 10 1756 he was comptroller of the General Post Office, and during a part of the same time was clerk of the Provincial Assembly. In 1757 he accompanied his father to Lon-

CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

don, where he studied law, and was admit- ted to the bar the following year. In 1762, while yet in Europe, he was appointed gov- ernor of New Jersey, and this brought him home early the next year. Unlike his fath- er, he adhered to the crown during the Revolutionary struggle. Several of his let- ters, containing strong expressions of Tory views, were intercepted, and a guard was placed over him in January, 1776, to pre- vent his escape from Perth Amboy. He gained immunity by giving his parole that he would not leave the province, but in June of the same year, as governor, he issued a proclamation summoning a meet- ing of the Assembly, which had been abro- gated by the Revolutionary authorities. For this he was placed under arrest by the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, and sent to Burlington as a prisoner. Shortly afterward he was removed to Connecticut, where he was held under strict guard for more than two years. After his liberation he remained in New York until August, 1782, when he went to England, where he re- sided the remainder of his life, the British government, in compensation for his losses, having made him a grant of 1800 pounds and an annuity of 800 pounds. He had been estranged from his father on account of his adherence to the royal cause, and in 1784 he made advances looking to a recon ciliation. His father replied that he was willing to forget as much of the past as was possible, yet in 1788, in a letter to Dr. Byles, he referred to still existing misunder- standings, and in his will he recites: "The part he (the son) acted against me in the jate war, which is of public notoriety. will account for my leaving liim no more of an estate he endeavored to deprive me of."

William Franklin owed his appointment to the governorship of Jersey mainly to the friendship and kindly influence of the Earl of Bute, who had strongly recommended him to Lord Halifax as a deserving subject and one worthy of confidence in the trou- blous hour of riot and rebellion. He died

in England, November 17, 1813, aged eigh- ty-two years.

LIVINGSTON, William,

First Governor Under Constitution.

William Livingston, whose name adorns some of the brightest pages of American history, was born in Albany, New York, in 1723. He was a grandson of Robert Liv- ingston, a very distinguished clergyman of the Established Church of Scotland, who, after the accession of Charles II., fled to Holland, thence coming to America in 1675 and locating in Albany, New York, where he married the widow of Nicholas Van Rensselaer. To Robert Livingston was granted the manor and lordship of Living- ston, and confirmed by royal authority, the second of the five great manors granted in what is now the State of New York, and comprising nearly 150,000 acres. Philip, father of Governor William Livingston, second son of Robert, succeeded to the ma- norial estate, the elder brother having died. He married Catherine Van Brugh, of a respected Dutch family.

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Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Ogden, Mary Depue Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Newark, N.J. : Memorial History Company Number of Pages: 980

Author: Ogden, Mary Depue
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Newark, N.J. : Memorial History Company
Number of Pages: 980