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OLD TIMES
,
OLD MONMOUTH.
HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES OF
OLD MONMOUTH COUNTY NEW JERSEY.
Being a series of Historical Sketches relating to Old Monmouth County, Now Monmouth and Ocean Counties, originally published in the Monmouth Democrat, Freehold, N. J.
BY
EDWIN SALTER.
Printed at the office of the Monmouth Democrat, Freehold, N. J. 1874.
M7 525
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OLD TIMES
IN
OLD MONMOUTH.
THE MONMOUTH PATENT.
As this noted instrument, though famil- iar to those who have made the early his- tory of our State a special study, is not readily accessible to some of our readers, we copy it here for convenient reference to all interested in the history of Old Mon- mouth :
"To all whom these presents shall come: I Richard Nicolls Esq, Governor under his Royal Highness the Duke of York of all his Territories in America, send greeting.
WALTER CLARKE, NICHOLAS DAVIS, OBADIAH HOLMES, patentees, and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, all that tract and part of the main land, beginning at a certain place commonly called or known by the name of Sandy Point and so runningalong the bay West North West, till it comes to the mouth of the Raritan River, from thence going along the said river to the westermost part of the certain marsh land, which divides the river into two parts, and from that part to run in a direct Southwest line into the woods twelve miles, and thence to turn away south east and by south, until it falls into the main ocean; together with all lands, soils, rivers, creeks, harbors, mines, min- erals (Royal mines excepted) quarries, woods, meadows, pastures marshes, wat- ers, lakes, fishings, hawkings, huntings and fowling, and all other profits, commo- cities and hereditaments to the said lands and premises belonging and appertaining, with their and every of theirappurtenances and of every partand parcel thereof, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular the said lands, hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances hereby given and granted, or herein before men- tioned to be given and granted to the only proper use and behoof of the said paten- tees and their associates. their heirs successors and assigns forever, upon
" Whereas there is a certain tract or par- cel of land within this government, lying and being near Sandy Point, upon the Main ; which said parcel of land hath been with my consent and approbation bought by some of the inhabitants of Gravesend upon Long Island of the Sachems (chief proprietors thereof) who before me have acknowledged to have re ceived satisfaction for the same, to the end that the said land may be planted, manured and inhabited, and for divers other good causes and considerations. I have thought fit to give confirm and grant and by these presents do give confirm and grant unto WILLIAM GURLDING, SAMUEL SPICER, RICHARD GIBBONS,/ RICHARD STOUT, JAMES GROVER, JOHN BOWN, JOHN TILTON, Isuch terms and conditions as here- NATHANIEL. SYLVESTER, WILLIAM REAPE, after are expressed. that is to say,
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OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
that the said patentees and their as- sociates, their heirs or assigns shall within the space of three years, beginning from the day of the date hereof, manure and plant the aforesaid land and premises and settle there one. hundred families at the least; in consideration whereof I do promise and grant that the sald patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, shall enjoy the said land and premises. with their appurtenances, for the term of seven years next to come after the date of these presents, free from payment of any rents, customs, excise, tax or levy whatsoever. But after the expiration of the said term of seven years, the persons who shall be in possession thereof, shall pay after, the same rate which others within this his Royal Highness' territories shall be obliged unto. And the said patentees and their associates, their heirs successors and assigns shall have free leave and liberty to erect and build their towns and villages in such places, as they in their discretions shall think most convenient, provided that they associate themselves, and that the houses of their towns and villages be not too far distant and scattering one from another ; and also that they make such fortifica- tions for their defence against an enemy as may be needful.
"And I do likewise grant unto the said patentees and their associates, their heirs successors and assigns, and unto any and all other persons, who shall plant and in- habit in any of the land aforesaid that they shall have free liberty of conscience, without any molestation or disturbance whatsoever in their way of worship.
"And I do further grant unto the afore- said patentees, their heirs, successors and nssigns, that they shall have liberty to elect by the vote of the major part of the inhabitants, five or seven other persons of the ablest and discreetest of the said in- habitants, or a greater number of them ( if the patentees, their heirs, successors or as- signs shall see cause ) to join with them, and they together, or the major part of them, shall have full power and authority, to make such peculiar and prudential laws and constitutions amongst the inhabitants for the better and more orderly governing of them, as to them shail seem meet ; pro- vided they be not repugnant to the public aws of the government ; and they shall also have liberty to try all causes and ac tions of debts and trespasses arising amongst themselves to the value of ten pounds, without appeal, but they may re.
mit the hearing of all criminal matters to the assizes of New York.
"And furthermore 1 do promise and grant unto the said patentees and, their associates aforementioned their heirs, suc- ressors and assigns that they shall in all things have equal privileges, freedom and immunities with any of his majesty's sub- jeets within this government, these paten tees and their associates, their heirs, she- cessors and assigns rendering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now are, or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the laws of this government. under obedience of his Royal Highness. his heirs and successoors, provided they do no way enfringe the privileges above specified.
"Given under my hand and scal at Fort James in New York in Manhattan Island the 8th day of April, in the 17th year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Eng. land, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c., and in the year of our Lord God 1665.
RICHARD NICOLLS. " Entered in the office of record in New York. the day and year above written.
Myrrin As NicoLes, Secretary."
About seven years after the date of the above instrument, the following confirma- tions to portions of it were agreed to by Governor Carteret and Council :
NEW JERSEY May 28th 1672.
Upon the address of James Grover, John Bowne, Richard Hartshorne, Jonathan Holmes, patentees, and James Ashon and John Hanse, associates, impowered by the patentees and associates of the towns of Middletown and Shrewsbury, unto the Governor and Council for confirmation of certain privileges granted unto them by Colonel Richard Nicolls, as by patent un- der his hand and seal bearing date the 8th day of April Anno Domini One thousand six hundred sixty five. the Governor and Council do confirm unto the said patentees and associates, these particulars following, being their rights, contained in the afore said patent, viz :
Imprimis : That the said patentees and associates have full power, license and an- thority to dispose of the said lands ex- pressed in the sand patent, as to them shall seem meet.
Il. That no ministerial power or cler- gyman shall be imposed on among the in- habitants of the said land. so as to enforce any that are contrary minded to contribute to their maintenance.
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OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
Ill. That all causes whatsoever ( crimi- nals excepted ) shall first have a hearing within their cognizance, and that no ap- peals unto higher courts where sentence has been passed amongst them under the value of ten pounds be adınitted.
IV. That all criminals and appeals above the value of ten pounds, which are to be referred unto the aforesaid higher courts, shall receive their determination upon appeals to his Majesty, not to be hindered.
V. That for all commission officers both civil and military. the patentees, as sociates and Freeholders, have liberty to After describing Middlesex county, he says : " We cross over the river from Mid- ddlesex into prosent two for each office to the Governor when they shall think fit, one of which the Governor is to Commissionate to execute the said office, and that they have liberty to make peculiar prudential laws and consti- tutions amongst themselves according to |Ground on what they call here Out Plan- the tenor of the said patent.
PI. CARTERET.
John Kenney, Lordue Andress, Samuel Edsall, John Pike, John Bishop, Council.
The causes which induced the following very material modification in the grants aud privileges to the Monmouth patentees and their associates will be referred to hereafter.
"Directions, instructions and orders made by the late Lords Proprietors of the prov. ince of East New Jersey, to be observed by the Governor, Council and inhabitants of the said province, bearing date the 31st day of July, Anno Domini, 1674, amongst which there is as followeth, viz : as to in- habitants of Nevisinks, considering their faithfulness to the Lords Proprietors that upon their petition, their township shall be surveyed and shall be incorporated, and to have equal privileges with other the inhabitants of the Province, and that such of them who were the pretended patentees and laid out money in purchasing lind from the Indians, shall have in considera- tion thereof five hundred acres of land to each of them to be alloted by the Gover- nor and Council. in such places that it may not be prejudicial to the rest of the inhab- itants, and because there is much barren land, after sirvev taken, the Governor and Council may give them allowance."
OLD MONMOUTH DESCRIBED BY AN ANCIENT WRITER.
MIDDLETOWN, SHREWSBURY AND FREEHOLD IN 1708 .- NEW JERSEY A PARADISE. "
We copy the following from the cele- brated but quite rare work of Oklmixon, published in 1708. The Capitals, orthog- raphy and italics are about as in the origi-
Monmouth County ; Where we first meet with Middleton a pretty Good Town con- sisting of 100 Families and 30,000 Acres of tations. "Tis about 10 or 12 miles over Land. to the Northward of Shrewsbury and 26 miles to the Southward of Piscat- taway. Not far off, the Shoar winds itself about like a Hook and being sandy gives Name to all the Bay.
Shrewsbury is the most Southern Town of the Province and reckon'd the chief Town of the Shire. It contains about 160 Fami les and 30.000 Acres of Out Plantations, belonging to its Division. 'Tis situated on the Side of a fresh Water Stream, thence called Shrewsbury River, not far from its Mouth. Between this Town and Mid- dleton is an Iron Work but we do not un- derstand it has been any great Benefit to the Proprietors. Col. Morris is building a. Church at the Falls. There's a new town in the County called
Freehold, which has not been laid outand inhabited long. It does not contain as yet above 40 Families and as to its Out Planta- tions we suppose they are much the same in number with the rest and may count it about 30,000 acres.
We have not divided the counties into Parishes and that for a good reason, there being none, nor indeed a Church in the whole Province worth that Name. But there are several Congregations of Church of England men as at Shrewsbury, Amboy, Elizabeth Town and Freehold whose Minis- tor is Mr. John Beak ; his Income is 651. a year ; and a Church is building at Salem.
In another place Oldmixon in speaking of the first settlers of New Jersey says :
" We must note that most of the first English Inhabitants in this country ( East
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OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
and West Jersey) were Dessenters, and most of them Quakers and Anabaptists. These people are generally industrious ; Be their Hypocrisy to themselves if they are Hypocrites ; but we must do them the Justice to own that they are the fittest to inhabit a new discovered Country, as po- sessing Industry, and shunning those pub- lick Vices which beget Idleness and Want. Their enemies drove great numbers of them out of England, and the Jerseys had their share of them. The People here are for this Reason Dissenters to this Day, their being but two Church of England Ministers in both Provinces ; and this may be one reason why there are no Parish Churches, which the Inhabitants may be afraid to build, least it might be a temptation for more Orthodox Divines to come among them.
"A gentleman asking one of the Proprie- taries . If there were no Lawyers in the Jer- seys ? ' Was answered 'No.' And then ' If there were no Physicians ?' The Propri- etor replied ' No' ' Nor Parsons?' adds the Gentleman. 'No,' says the Proprie- tor. Upon which the other crv'd ' What a happy place must this be and how worthy the name of Paradice !" We do not perhaps differ more from this gentleman than we' agree with him."
Oldmixon derived his information of New Jersey from two of the Proprietors as will be seen by the following extract from his preface :
" Mr Dockwra and Dr Cox were both so kind as to inform him fully of the JERSEYS and Mr. Pen did him the same Favor for Pennsylvania ; these three Gentlemen do- ing him the Honor to admit him into their Friendship."
OLD MONMOUTH UNDER THE DUTCHI.
Governor Parker, in his valuable address before the New Jersey Historical Society, produced the old town book of Middle- town township, which gives the history of this section of East Jersey from 1667, to 1702. After the Dutch conquest in 1673, it was stated thatlittleor nothing is recorded in the town book during their brief rule of less than a year.
Your readers may remember that the Dutch had the supremacy in New York | and New Jersey until 1664, when the
English conquered the Dutch. In 1673, a war having again broken out between England and Holland, a small Dutch squadron was sent over and arrived at Staten Island, July 30th. Captain Man. ning, the English officer temporarily in command at New York, surrendered at once without any effort to defend the place and the Dutch again resumed sway over New York, New Jersey and settle. ments along the Delaware. They retained it however only a few months, as by a treaty made in February following, these places were ceded back to England, though the English appear not to have taken formal possession until November following. During this short time while the Dutch were again in authority, em- bracing the time that Governor Parker says the Middletown township book records but little or nothing, the following items relating to Old Monmouth, are found among the official records of the Dutch at New York. The first is an order issued shortly after theirarrival ; theorthography is given as we find it :
" The inhabitants of Middletown and Shrewsbury, are hereby charged and re- quired to send their deputies unto us on Tuesday morning next, for to treat with us upon articles of surrendering their said towns under the obedience of their High and Mighty Lords, the States General of the said United Provinces, and his serene Highness, the Prince of Orange, or by re- fusall we shall be necessitated to subdue the places thereunto by force of arms.
" Dated at New Orange this 12th day of August. A. D. 1673.
"CORNELIS EVERTSE, Jr " "JACOB BENCKES."
In compliance with the above order, deputies from Shrewsbury, Middletown and other places in East Jersey, appeared in court on the 18th of August, and upon their verbal request the same privileges were granted to them as to Dutch citizens.
" August 19th 1673. Middletown, Shrews- bury and other towns in Achter Coll. to name two deputies each, who shall nomi- nate three persons for Schout and three for Secretarys, out of whice said nominat- ed per- ons by us shall be elected for each town, three migestrates and for the six towns, one schout, and one Secretary.
"Jacon BENCKES." "CORNELIS EVERTSE, Jr."
Achter Coll above mentioned, is said to mean " beyond the hills," that is, beyond Bergen Hills. The Dutch in New York il
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OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
is stated sometimes called Old Monmouth and other parts of East Jersey, beyond Bergen Hills, by this name.
"August 23d, 1673. Middletown and Shrewsbury, reported that they had nomi- nated double the number of magistrates.
"August 24th, from the nominations made by the inhabitants, the following were selected and sworn, viz :
" John Hanoe (Hance?), Eliakim War- del, Hugh Dyckman.
"Sept. 6th, 1673. Captain Knyff and Captain Snell were sent to administer the oath of allegiance to the citizens of the various towns in East Jersey to the Dutch.
" 14th of 7 ber, Captain Knyff and Lieut. Snell having returned yesterday from Aghter Coll, report that, pursuant to their commission, they have administered the oath of allegiance in the form herein before set forth, under date of -- to the inhabi- tants of the undersigned towns, who are found to number as in the lists delivered to Council.
"Elizabethtown 80 men: 76 took oath, rest absent. Newark 86 « 75 66 Woodbridge ..... 54 " 53 .6
Piscataway. 43 4 43
Middletown 60 “ 52 .. Shrewsbury. 68 « 38 18 Quakers
promised allegiance, the rest absent."
The following officers of the militia, elected, were sworn in by Captain Knyff and Lieut. Snell, by order of the Council of War, viz :
Middletown, Jonathan Hulmes. Cap- tain ; John Smith, Lieutenant ; Thomas Whitlock, Ensign.
Shrewsbury, William Newman, Captain, John Williamson, Lieutenant ; Nicles Brown, Ensign.
"29th, 7 ber, 1673, Notice is this day sent to the Magistrates of the towns, situated at the Nevesings, near the sea coast, which they are ordered to publish to their inhabitants, that on the first arrival of any ship from sea, they shall give the Governor the earliest possible information thereof.
"Sept. 7th, 1673, Whereas, thelate chosen Magistrates of Shoursbury, are found to be Persons whoes religion Will Not Suffer them to take on any oath, or administer the same to others, whereof they Can Not be fit Persons for that office, I have therefore though fit to order that by ye sd inhabi- tants of ye sd towne a New Nomination, shall be made of four persons of true Pro-
testant Christian religion, out of which I shall Elect two, and Continue one of ye former for Magestrates off ye sd towne."
" Dated att ffort William hendrick, this 29th, 7 ber, 1673. A. COLVE."
The date 7th ber, in the above extracts, means September, and the persons in Shoursbury [Shrewsbury] who could not take the oath were Quakers.)
" March 8th, 1674, In council at fort Wil- liam Hendrick :
" Read and considered the petition ot Bartholomew Appelgadt, Thomas Appel- gadt and Richard Saddler, requesting in substance that they be allowed to purchase from the Indians, a tract of land, situated about two leagnes on this side of Middle- town, near the Nevesings, fit for settlement of 6 or 8 families &c. Wherefore it was ordered :
" The Petitionens request is allowed and granted on condition, that after the land be purchased, they take out patents in form for it and actually settle it within the space of two years, after having effect- ed the purchase, on pain of forfeiture.
" April 18th, 1674, John Bound (Bowne?), and Richard Hartshoorne, residing at Middletown, both for themselves and partners give notice that the land granted to Bartholomew Applegadt, Tho. Apple- gadt and Richard Sadler, in their petition is included in their, the Petitioners patent, requesting therefore that the said land may be again denied to said Appelgadt.
" Ordered, That the petitioners shall within six weeks from this date, prove, that the said land is included within their patent, when further order shall be made in the premises.
" April 19th, 1674, A certain proclama- tion being delivered into Council from the Magestrates of the Toune of Middletoune, prohibiting all inhabitants from depart- ing out of said toune, unless they give bail to return as soon as their business will have been performed, or they be em- ployed in public service &c., requesting the Governers approval of the same, which being read and considered, it is resolved and ordered by the Governer General and Council, that no inhabitant can be hinder- ed changing his domicile, within the Province unless arrested for lawful cause ; however ordered that no one shall depart from the toune of Middletonne, unless he previously notifies the Magestrates of his intention."
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OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
RANDOM REMINISCENCES
OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF OLD MONMOUTHI.
THE WHITES ENTERING SANDY HOOK.
The earliest accounts we have of the whites being in the vicinity of Monmouth county is contained in a letter of John de Verazzano to Francis Ist. King of France. Verazzano entered Sandy Hook mn the spring of 1524 in the ship Dolphin. On his return to Europe, he wrote a letter dated July 8th, 1524, to the King, giving an account of his voyage from Carolina to New Foundland. From this letter is ex- tracted the following :
" After proceeding a hundred leagues, we found a very pleasant situation among some steep hills, through which a very large river, deep at its mouth, forces its way to the sea ; from the sea to the estua- ry of the river any ship heavily laden might pass with the help of the tide, which rises eight feet. But as we were riding at good berth we would not venture up in our vessel without a knowledge of its mouth ; therefore we took a boat, and en. tering the river we found the country on its banks well peopled, the inhabitants not differing much from the others, being dressed out with feathers of birds of vari ous colors. They can e towards us with evident delight, raising loud shouts of ad miration and showing us where we could most securely land with our boat. We passed up this river about half a league when we found it formed a most beautiful lake thres leagues in cirenit, upon which they were rowing thirty or more of their small boats from one shore to the other, filled with multitudes who came to see us. . All of a sudden, as is wont to happen in navigation, a violent contrary wind blew in from the sea and forced us to return to our ship, greatly regretting to leave this region which seemed so commodious and delightful, and which we supposed must also contain great riches, as the hills show- el many indications of minerals."
Historians generally concede that the forogoing is the first notice we have of the whites entering Sandy Hook, visiting the harbor of New York or being in the vicin- ity of old Monmouth.
ARRIVAL OF SIR HENRY HUDSON.
In the year 1609. Sir Henry Hudson visited our coast in the yacht or ship Half Moon, a vessel of about eighty tons bur- then. About the last of August he enter- ed the Delaware Biy, but finding the nav- igation dangerous he soon left without going ashore. After getting out to sea ho stood northeastwardly and after awhile hauled in, and made the land probably not far distant from Great Egg Harbor .- The journal or log book of this vessel was kept by the mate, Alfred Juer, and as it contains the first notices of Monmouth county by the whites, remarks about the coun ry, ns inhabitants and productions, first landing, and other interesting matter, an extract is herewith given, commencing with September 2nd. 1609, when the Halt Moon made land near Egg Harbor. The same day, it will be seer, the ship passed Barnegat Iniet, and at night anchored near the beach within sight of the High- lands.
Their first impression of old Monmouth. it will be seen, was " that it is a very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land to see;" an opinion which in the minds of our pro- ple at the present day show that good sense and correct judgment were not lack- ing in Sir Henry Hudson and his fellow- voyagers !
Extract from the Ley-Bork of the Half Moon.
Sept. 2nd, 1609 .- When the sun arose we steered not h again and saw land from the west by north to the northwest. all alike, broken islands, and our soundings were eleven fathoms and ten fathoms .- The course along the land we found to be north east by north. From the land which we first had sight of until we came to ; great fako of water, as we could judge it to be, (Barnegat Bay.) being drowned land which made it rise I ke islands, which was in length ten loagnes. The m ath of the lake (Bu negut Indet) had many shoals, and the sea breaks upon them as it is east out of the mouth of it. And from that lake or bay the land lies north by erst, and we had a great stream ont of the bay ; and from thene . our soundings ras t. i farh- om- two leagues from land. At five o'clock we anchored, being light wind, and rode in eight Fathoms water ; the night was fi ir. This night I found the hand to hand the compass eight degrees. Far to the north- ward of us we saw high hills ( Highland ?) ;
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