USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Records of the town of Newark, New Jersey, from its settlement in 1666, to its incorporation as a city in 1836 > Part 1
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Gc 974.9 N426c v.6 1550978
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
Mc
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02232 7701
A MAP of the Town of NEW - AR K in the State of NEW -JERSEY Published in 1806
The
Stone
Orange
Quarries
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2
1
1
street
FLmle
Jasper Crane
The Pier su .
Benjy Bauliwin
Thos Huntington
Alexr Minrow
. EMers Lot
Jola Ward Je
ER Laurence
afterward
1
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John
Ino-Teddington
Spha burwell
Zach" Burwell
Sich Rond
Parconage Lot
John Johnson
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7
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a ã
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2
2
MEADOW
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Macur |William
Joseph, Nacht Ceerge
This
jobt son
afterward
Josian
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Mulberry
Street
Mulberry
Pennington's Face
A
Stephen
IF Burying Place
Seth
Pennington
Ephriam
Complains
Jonathan
Jun!
Thos
i Blauld.
curus
Freemen
V Mill Brookor First River
VI Old Town Dock.(?)
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10
1
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SALT MEADOW
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12 Hule
NEWARK is one of the most pleasant and flourishing Towns in the UNITED STATES
Scale of half a Mile.
It is on the main road between NEW-YORK and PHILADELPHIA.
The Map as originally published had no References The following figures indicate some of the localities at that time
nine Miles from the former and eighty seven from the latter Its stone quarices are
MF^Var. Cortiand's House. 10 Academy
H
2 George Nelson's House. lì Baptist Church 3 M" Jay R. Smith's House 12 The Bank.
+ The Stone Bridge
13 Old Meeting House
14 Jail
5 The Old Ogden House 6 The Stone Dock
15 Presbyterian Church
/
7 The Upper Common
16 Souch School House
8 The Lower Common
17 Site of Old Gifford Tant
1
20
9 Trinity Church.'Epis1) 18 Egg Dock
Po
Philadelphia
Matthew williams
Lot
Mill
Cran
Deliverd :
Hans Albers
Samuel
Rose
Joseph
Abramp
Walters
Johnson Treat
LYST
Shington
M+W Canfield
Street
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John
47112
Ward
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Sent
Boik.nºDenison
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rsoni
vel
Tichenon Camp
Biggs Wheeler! Day
Az Crans
Ward
Street
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""References to
eariy portions of Map
Watering Place
Ferk. Bir-nell,
HABE
IIITraining Place.
Tompkins
John Bauldwin
John
: john
Join Begriff
TV Market Place
Tompkins
Staples Win Sent
Toa.at.
VIDAº Buch,
: ... . Harrison
A
The dotted lines and names in
Roman letters have been introdu- ced into the wiap to shew the Home lets of the first settlers They were not in the May as published m 1806
To New York 55
visited by travellers from curiosity It is noted for its Ceder_ the making of Carriages s'all sorts Coach-lace Men's and women's Shoes, In the manufacture of this lust article
one third of the Inhabitants are constantly employed
. Academy New . w . Del
A Anderson Se
All ,
Hugh Robartse
Broad
Henry
:Rob& Dalglish
re et.
Boaunankle
Jona? Sargent
Join Caria
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John
Sam
Brooks:
Brown
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Pond
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1
Tichenors inte
Thos PersonJA
Street
Joseph John
John
Gregory: | Lyon
Brick
: Sam+ Canfield
Jokn Brow
Sam' Harriso"
.S tree
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John
Ableirm : Robert
:Treat
Micah
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et
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Edward RIgas
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COLLECTIONS
OF THE
NEW JERSEY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mawork
VOLUME TI.
974.9
N426C V. 6
NEWARK, N. J. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 1864.
山藥
R 18
1550978
OFFICERS
OF THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ELECTED 1864.
JOSEPH C. HORNBLOWER, LL. D., PRESIDENT. HON. JAMES PARKER, 1ST VICE PRESIDENT. HON. RICHARD S. FIELD, 2D VICE PRESIDENT. HON. HENRY W. GREEN, 3D VICE PRESIDENT. WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD, CORRESPONDING SECRETARS. DAVID A. HAYES, RECORDING SECRETARY. SAMUEL H. CONGAR, LIBRARIAN. SOLOMON ALOFSEN, TREASURER.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. SAMUEL H. PENNINGTON, M. D., REV. HENRY BEERS SHERMAN, HON. CHARLES S. OLDEN, REV. RAVAUD K. RODGERS, D. D., N. NORRIS HALSTED, EsQ., REV. SAMUEL M. HAMMILL, LYNDON A. SMITH, M. D.
1
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS. RICHARD S. FIELD, WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD, HENRY W. GREEN, SAMUEL H. PENNINGTON, REV. JOHN HALL.
BECORFIE
RECORDS
OF THE
TOWN OF NEWARK,
NEW JERSEY,
. FROM ITS SETTLEMENT IN 1666, TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A CITY IN 1S36.
.
NEWARK, N. J. : PRINTED FOR THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AT THE DAILY ADVERTISER OFFICE. 1864.
INTRODUCTION.
Early in the month of May, 1666, a few small vessels entered the Passaic River and steered their course towards the uplands that loomed in the distance towards the west. The low meadows, through which the river winds its way to its confluence with the Hackensack, must have possessed then, as now, little that was picturesque or attractive, although those on board the vessels referred to may have estimated the "plains of good Hay of 50 acres of Ground, with hardly one tree to be seen upon the whole Spot-and several Places so," as highly as did the early settlers elsewhere in New Jersey, who pointedly alluded to them as among the natural objects that wooed them hither. But the higher land beyond, to which the voyagers were destined, then lying in all its orig- inal beauty, varied with hill and dale, plain and forest, must have presented so many unmistakable advantages for the loca- tion of a town, that it is not remarkable they should have looked towards it with bright anticipations; although we cannot reasonably suppose that the most sanguine among them, when their thoughts rested upon the probabilities of the future, ever fancied results so great as have flowed from the settlement they were about to make-for these vessels bore to New Jersey the pioneers of those who founded NEWARK.
Since then, while Time has been unrolling his eventful scroll of nearly two hundred years, the successors of the first- comers have diligently labored to cover the site selected for their "town upon the Passaic River" with all the utilitarian adjuncts and appliances which the world's progress has ren-
vi
INTRODUCTION.
dered essential to the comfort and happiness, physically and mentally, of a population of 80,000 souls. Success has crowned their labors, and the New Jersey Historical Society present in this volume, the official record of the public meas- ures by which the first adventurous spirits and those who came after them, secured good order, peace and prosperity from the settlement of the town until its incorporation as a City in 1836; confident that the duty thus performed cannot but prove serviceable to the people of the State through all time.
In the month of August, 1665, PHILIP CARTERET-the commissioned governor of his brother Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkley, the first proprietors of New Jersey under the grant from the Duke of York-arrived in the Province on board the " Ship Philip," bringing with him "about thirty people," who, with four families who had arrived a short time previously, formed the nucleus of the settlement at Elizabethtown. Immediately after his arrival, the governor despatched messengers into New England to publish " the Con- cessions," so called, of the Lords Proprietors-being the terms upon which settlers would be admitted-and to invite emi- grants to the rich and virgin soil of New Jersey.
The propositions of the governor appear to have received immediate attention from the people of Milford, Connecticut, and ROBERT TREAT, a prominent man among them, and sub sequently governor of that province, was delegated, in conjunc- tion with others from adjoining plantations, to visit New Jersey and examine into its actual and prospective advantages. Their first intention was to settle on the Delaware river, near the present site of Burlington, but not being favorably impressed with that location they returned to Elizabethtown, and were induced by Gov. Carteret to select lands lying north of that place. Some negotiations had already taken place with the aboriginal owners looking to the acquisition of the tract, and
vii
INTRODUCTION.
the governor furnished Mr. Treat with a letter to their chiefs, requesting them to perfect the sale directly to him.
These arrangements must have been made in the autumn of 1665, but no interview with the Indians seems to have taken place at that time. The following Spring, as we have seen, the vessels bearing the first company of settlers, arrived in the Passaic. "But," said Mr. Treat, twenty-three years thereafter, "no sooner was the company present got on the Place and landed some of their goods, than I with some others was by some of the Hackensack Indians warned off the Ground, and [they] seemed troubled and angry that we landed any of our goods there, tho' first we told them we had the governor's order ; but they replied the land was theirs, and it was unpur- chased; and therefore we put our Goods on board the vessels again and acquainted the Governor with the matter."# This conference with the governor, and subsequent negotiations with the Indians, led to the purchase and quiet possession of the lands ; although in after years a disinclination on the part of many of the settlers to obtain from the Proprietors the confirmation of their titles by Patents for the property, was the occasion of many disorderly acts and harrassing legal proceedings.
It was while these preliminary measures were being taken that the meeting was held, either on board of one of their vessels, or on the land " near to Elizabethtown," on 21st May, 1666, the result of which may be seen in the opening docu- ment of the records, providing for the common occupancy of the new tract by the people from Milford, Guilford and Brand- ford, should the latter so determine before the ensuing Novem- ber. It is thought that the first party consisted of about thirty families, but it is probable that only a few remained on the ground the first summer.
On the 30th October of the same year, 1666, the inhabitants
* Elizabethtown Bill in Chancery, p. 118.
viii
INTRODUCTION.
of Brandford, previous to embarking, formally acceded to the propositions for a common interest in the new "Town upon Passaic River," and those already on the ground subsequently joined in committing themselves to the "Fundamental agree- ments," which are on the second and subsequent pages of the book.
As yet the name of the new settlement does not appear in any of the documents, but it seems from " Scot's Model of the Government of East Jersey" (p. 274) that it was probably at first known as " Milford ;" but on the arrival of the people of Brandford, bringing with them their Church organization, such pre-eminence in the councils of the new settlement was secured, that the name of Milford was dropped and that of NEWARK conferred upon the town, in honor of the Rev. Abraham Pier- son, their pastor, who had officiated, or been ordained, at New- ark, in England.
To Robert Treat, the first Recorder or Town Clerk, we are probably indebted for the preservation of the documents re- lating to the settlement from its commencement until 1672, when he returned to Connecticut; and the Treasurer, as ordered by the Town in 1669, provided a Book, which is still extant, in which Mr. Treat commenced the " Record of Lands." The irregularity observable in entering the proceed- ings of several Town Meetings in the Town Book is probably attributable to the inadvertence of Mr. Treat's successor on copying his papers.
In 1775, Joseph Hedden, Jun'r, agreed with the Town to purchase a Bound Book in folio, and to " transcribe the old Town Book into the new one," in a legible fair hand. This volume contains the Minutes of Town Meetings in Newark from 1667 to 1775, as found in that book, with the exception of the Meetings from April 12th, 1714, to March 8th, 1714-15. which are omitted in that transcript. These are from the original record made by John Cooper, Town Clerk, of which
السحالي ـساء
ix
INTRODUCTION.
a few leaves relating to the following year are lost. The Town Patent of 1713, and also the Survey given in the Appendix, are printed as recorded by him.
From 1775 to 1832 we have the books as written up by the several Town Clerks, and it has been thought proper to follow the originals as nearly as possible in orthography, abbrevia- tions, capitals, and punctuation, except in the transcript from the old book, in which some additional pointing seemed neces- sary. In a few instances, an explanatory word or name has been introduced in brackets. The first part of the transcript, or about six pages of this volume, was printed in November, 1834, in the Newark Daily Advertiser, at which time the first leaf containing the names of the signers of the fundamental agreement was mislaid. In the substituted one, the name of Zachariah Burwell is omitted. It is now restored to its place as then printed, and as the Indian and the English Proprie- tors' Deeds, given in the Appendix, have been carefully com- pared with the record in the office of the Secretary of State, it is believed they are as near correct as they can be made, as the depositories of the originals, if they are yet in existence, are unknown.
This brief introduction to the contents of the volume is all that has been deemed necessary. It would have been rendered of more interest to the general reader, and more useful in some respects, had it been accompanied by notes and explana- tions, but it was thought more consistent with the objects of the Society, to place the Records in the hands of the people of the State in their original form, leaving to individual enquirers the developement of obscure events or contemporaneous mat- ter. The Genealogical and local information it contains must render the volume exceedingly acceptable, not only to all in any way connected now with the city to whose history it par- ticularly refers, but also to the inhabitants of a large portion of the State of which Newark is the centre, whose population
x
INTRODUCTION.
and business relations, whose customs and manners, as well as their politieal and religious opinions, have been in a great degree drawn from it, or been framed in accordance with the influences it may have exerted in the past.
The labor and responsibility of superintending the passage of the work through the press devolved upon Mr. WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD, the Society's Corresponding Secretary, and Mr. SAMUEL H. CONGAR, its Librarian. The Table of Officers in the Appendix, and the Index to the Contents were con- tributed by the former, and to the latter was deputed the diffi- cult task of reading the proof sheets. It is due to Mr. Congar to say that by no other person could the duty have been so faithfully and intelligently performed, his intimate acquaint- anee with names, localities and circumstances connected with the town and its history, enabling him to solve doubts and correct errors, where another person would have been entirely at fault.
The Map appended to the volume shows the extent of the town at two periods, being lithographed from a photographi- cally reduced copy of one published in 1806, from surveys made by C. Basham, then principal of the Newark Academy, with additional lines, showing the first home-lots of the settlers.
RECORDS OF NEWARK. 1
- more
1666.
TMPRIMIS, In the Province of New Jersey, near to Elizabeth Town, and the Town Plotts on Passaic River, made choice of by friends from Milford and other neighboring plantations, there- abouts from New England, on the twenty first day of May, one thousand six hundred and sixty-six, the above mentioned per- sons had a meeting, together with the agents sent from Guilford and Brandford to ask on behalf of their undertakers and selves with reference to a township or allottments, together with friends from Milford; at this meeting it was agreed upon mutually that the aforesaid persons from Milford, Guilford, and Brandford, to- gether with their associates, being now accepted of, do make one township, provided they send word so to be any time between this and the last of October next ensuing, and according to fun- damentals mutually agreed upon, do desire to be of one heart and consent, through Gods blessing with one hand they may endeavor the carrying on of spiritual concernments as also civil and town affairs according to God and a Godly government ; there to be settled by them and their associates. They then mutually chose eleven empowered for a committee, viz: Capt. Robert Treatt, Lieut. Samuel Swain, Mr. Samuel Kitchell, Michal Tompkins, Mr. Morris, Sergt. Richard Beckly, Richard Harrison, Thomas Blatchly, Edward Riggs, Stephen Freeman, and Thomas Johnson for the speedier and better expedition of things then emergent to be done; then also six or more, at the least five of the committee who might remain or be in the place, were mutu- ally chosen and appointed to order and settle the concernments and people of the place, till another committee be chosen and settled ; all of the eleven above said, do in the name and behalf' of the inhabitants there being, or to come, do mutually covenant
2
RECORDS OF NEWARK.
[1666.
and agree, that the agents from Guilford and Branford do take up and hold till June in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty seven, and fully to dispose of, provided it be possessed, built upon, and settled according to order, for their associates, for themselves, theirs and such as they shall send, provided that these last bring due testimonials to the committee there for the town, and they approve of them lots, allottments in every divis- ion equally privileged as far as may be with the rest of the planters then being or to be ; as also the aforesaid agents, and their asso- ciates shall be respectively equalized in all privileges whatsoever ; the town or limits thereof according to their fundamentals agreed upon with the place may at any time afford or be capable for a mutual benefit. To the true intention and performance hereof, we whose names are underwritten, do subscribe or sign in the behalf of the persons above mentioned in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty six, the twenty fourth of May.
Signed
Copy enrolled per me ROBERT TREATT, Recorder. S
ROBERT TREATT, SAMUEL SWAIN.
OCTOBER 30th, 1666.
At a meeting Touching the Intended design of many of the inhabitants of Branford, the following was subscribed :
Ist. That none shall be admitted freemen or free Burgesses within our Town upon Passaick River in the Province Deut. 1-25. Exod. 18-31. Deut. 17-15. of New Jersey, but such Planters as are members of some or other of the Congregational Churches nor shall any but such be chosen to Magistracy or to Carry on any part of Civil Judicature, or as deputies or assistants, to have power to Vote In establishing Laws, and making Jerem. 36 -- 31. or Repealing them or to any Chief Military Trust or Office. Nor shall any But such Church Members have any Vote in any such elections ; Tho' all others admitted to Be planters have Right to their proper Inheritance, and do and shall enjoy all other Civil Liberties and Privileges, Accord- ing to all Laws, Orders, Grants which are, or hereafter shall be made for this Town.
2nd. We shall with Care and Diligence provide for the main. tenance of the purity of Religion professed in the Congregational Churches. Whereunto subscribed the Inhabitants from Branford.
1
Jasper Crane
Ebenezer Camfield
. Abra Peirson
John Ward, Senior
- Saml Swaine Ed. Ball
, Laurance Ward
John Harrison
. Thomas Blacthly John Crane
3
RECORDS OF NEWARK.
1666.]
Samuel Plum
Thomas Huntington
Josiah Ward
Delivered Crane
Samuel Rose
Aaron Blacthly
Thomas Peirson
Richard Laurance
John Warde
John Johnson
John Catling Richard Harrison
Thomas L Lyon
mark
And upon the Reception of their Letters and Subscriptions, the present Inhabitants in November following declared their con- sents and readiness to do likewise ; and at a meeting the twenty fourth of the next June following in 1667, they also subscribed with their own Hands unto the two fundamental agreements Expressed on the other side their names, as follows :
Robert Treatt
hig
Robert Daglesh
+· · Obadiah Bruen
. . Matthew Camfield
Thom. Morris
. . Samuel Kitchell Jeremiah Pecke
John Bauldwin, Sen. ; Hugh Roberts
, John Bauldwin, Junr. Eph'm Pennington
. , Michael Tompkins Stephen Freeman Henry Lyon
Jona. Tomkins
Martin Tichenor
Geo. Day „John Browne, Jr
· · John Browne
Thomas Johnson
Jona. Seargeant
. John Rogers
" John Curtis Ephram Burwell his Robert R Denison mark
Samuel Lyon
Joseph Riggs
Stephen Bond
Robert Kitchell bia
Nathaniel Wheeler Zachariah Burwell
J x B Brooks
William Campe
mark
his
Joseph Walters
Robert v Lymens mark
Item, it is fully agreed upon that every Man that comes to be admitted an Inhabitant with us, shall first produce and
Fundamental
Agreement. bring a certificate from the Chief of the Place from whence he comes unless the Town be upon their Knowledge satisfied in and about the Good Carriage and Behaviour of them otherwise : then it is agreed upon by a full Vote of the Town assembled, that all and every Man that comes to be received . an Inhabitant in our Town on Passaick River, shall first subscribe his Name and declare his assent with the rest of the Town, to all and every one of our fundamental agreements on the other side recorded and here following agreed upon, viz : That it is fully and unanimously agreed upon, as a Condition upon the which every one doth reckon and hold his Lands and accommodations in the Town, viz: that they will from Time to Time pay or cause to be paid yearly in their full
Azariah Crane
. . Stephen Davis Edward Rigs
Francis F Linle
Daniel Tichenor mark Hauns. Albers
4
RECORDS OF NEWARK.
[1666.
in relation Proportions equally, to the Maintainance & allowance agreed upon for the upholding of the settled Ministry and preaching of the word in our Town, and that was agreed upon before any Division of Land was laid out except Home Lotts-and Eighty Pounds per the year was agreed on and allowed for the present Minister.
Minister Item, it is agreed upon, that in case any shall come into us or arise up amongst us that shall willingly or wilfully disturb us in our Peace and Settlements, and especially that would subvert us from the true Religion and worship of God, and cannot or will not keep their opinions to themselves or be reclaimed after due Time and means of Conviction and reclaiming hath been used; it is unanimously agreed upon and Consented unto as a fundamental Agreement and Order, that all and Persons so ill disposed and affected shall after Notice given them from the Town quietly depart the Place Seasonably, the Town allowing them valuable Considerations for their Lands or Houses as Indifferent Men shall price them, or else leave them to make the best of them to any Man the Town shall approve of.
Item, it was ordered and agreed upon, in Case of changes of Lands or any kind of obligation whatsoever by Gift, Sale, Ex- change or otherwise that any new Inhabitant shall arrive or come into Town to inhabit with us; it is agreed and ordered that he or they from Time to Time shall in all Respects subscribe and enter into the same engagements as his Predecessors or the rest of the Town have done, before he or they can or shall be accounted Legal Inhabitants in.our Town, or have Title to their Lands or Possession therein.
Item, it is solemnly consented unto and agreed by all the Plan- ters & Inhabitants of the Town of Newark from their Submit to law amongst settling together at first, and again publickly renewed as their joint Covenant one with another, that they ourselves. will from Time to Time all submit one to another to - be lead, ruled and governed by such Magistrates and Rulers in the Town, as shall be annually chosen by the Friends from among themselves, with such orders and Law whilst
Law settled in the Province. they are settled here by themselves as they had in the Place from whence they came, under such Penalties as the Magistrates upon the Nature of the offence shall determine. Item, the present Inhabitants of the Place for their better security & Neighbourhood, desired Liberty to set down and take up their Lotts in a Quarter together, which Motion of theirs was consented unto ; and after the Line was run in the Center or Middle Street of the Town by the Surveyor General, and the several Ranges of Lotts agreed upon, and the Middle Highways both in the Length and Breadth of the Town to be Eight Rods wide and the Highways. Rest four, with a full Power and Liberty to appoint and agree upon and set out High ways in the most conveni-
16 mi
.
.
5
RECORDS OF NEWARK.
1667.]
ent Places necessary for the publick uses and Benefits of Water Passages. the Town, with the like Liberty for Passages for Drains, Gripes, or Water Courses where they were needful ; yea though it should fall out to be across or within any Mans Lands or Meadows what and wheresoever for the present untill the Town shall see Cause to repeal this order : the Intent whereof was not but that every Particular Person or Persons should have full satisfaction otherwise for every such High way or Water Pas sage that shall be taken from him ; which was consented unto by the Inhabitants then present that had full Power to order mat- ters for the Good of the Town.
Item, it was by a full consent agreed upon, that the Neighbour. hood of Milford and New Haven should take up their Home Lotta Home Lotts and Quarters in that Part of the Town where now they are, and the Neighbours from Bran- ford and Guilford then present, in Places where now they are; and the Neighbours from Milford and New Haven freely gave way that Captain Robert Treat should chuse his Lotts, and they agreed amongst themselves to go over and fix the Lotts, which was before by the whole Committee agreed upon to be Six acres, according to their Pattent [pattern] of the Surveyors Line, for the General . .
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