A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume I, Part 37

Author: Urquhart, Frank J. (Frank John), 1865- 4n; Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, N.Y. ; Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1186


USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume I > Part 37


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"The troops being divided into two parties after making the proper dispositions, a sham fight ensued, to the great entertainment and satisfaction of the spectators; then returned to a large bower built on the occasion, and partook of a cold collation. At 4 o'clock the clergy and other gentlemen of the town, with the officers of the different companies, partook of an elegant dinner provided by Mr. John Reading, when the following toasts were drank, accompanied by cannon, viz :


"1. The United States. ·


"2. The ten States that have adopted the New Constitution.


"3. The Government and State of New Jersey.


"4. General Washington, President of the late Convention.


"5. The officers and soldiers of the late American Army.


"6. The memory of the officers who fell in the late war.


"7. The officers and militia of Newark.


"8. The Farmers and Mechanicks of Newark.


"9. May the Constitution last until days come to an eternal


pause, and sun and moon shall be no more.


"10. The day.


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"In the evening a piece of transparent painting (executed by young Mr. Higgins) was exhibited, representing the head of General Washington, encircled with the ten States that have adopted the Constitution; New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina, loose and detached. Around the ten States was this mottoe: 'We have agreed to the New Constitution ; do you follow. * * -


"The whole was conducted with the greatest decorum and regularity ; not a dissatisfied countenance was seen; cheerfulness appeared in every face, and the day was spent in great hilarity, everyone vieing with each other who should be most agreeable."


Then follows the "order of the procession," which, after the companies of militia, was as follows:


"Ten yoke of oxen, drawing a plow, supported by Mr. Nathaniel Camp, assisted by Mr. Caleb Wheeler, two venerable farmers of the first respectability ; followed by farmers, with their implements of husbandry.


"Tanners and Curriers, preceded by Mr. Johnston, to the number of 20, with their knives and hooks.


"Cordwainers, preceded by Mr. Plumb on a stage with four journeymen at work, to the number of 50, with their tools. Last and heel makers to the number of 10. Nailors with their tools.


"Carpenters and joiners, preceded by Messieurs James Nichols and Bruen, on a stage, with a master millwright laying out work for thirty-six journeymen, carrying tools of all sorts, decorated.


"Quarrymen and stone lifters, preceded by Captain Nurting- ton, to the number of 8, in their frocks and trousers, with their tools.


"Stone cutters to the number of 10, with their tools.


"Masons, preceded by Mr. Shipman, to the number of thirty, with their tools.


"Blacksmiths, preceded by Mr. Alling on a stage, with a furnace, journeymen at work to the number of 12, with their tools. "Seythe makers, to the number of 4.


"Coach and chair makers.


"Painters with their brushes.


"Wheelwrights and turners, preceded by Mr. Allen on a stage with turning lathe, etc., to the number of 18, with their .tools.


"Comb makers.


"Silversmiths, to the number of 6, with anvils and hammers decorated.


"Clock and Watch makers.


"Tailors, to the number of 14, with their tools, measures, etc.


"Hatters, to the number of 8, with brushes, bows, etc.


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"Saddlers and harness-makers, to the number of 12.


"Coopers, preceded by Messrs. Crane and Andress on a stage with a shop and people at work, to the number of 20.


"Butchers-two with cleaver and knife.


"Bakers.


"Weavers, to the number of 6, with their shuttles, etc.


"Dyers and fullers.


"Tobacconists with their knives.


"Ditchers with their spades and knives.


"Furnace men in their frocks.


"Millers.


"The young gentlemen of the two academies (in their respec- tive classes, carrying the different authors read by them), to the number of 60.


"Sheriff and deputy, with their maces.


"Coroners.


"Constables with their staves.


"Magistrates.


"Clergy.


"Lawyers.


"Physicians.


"Ship Carpenters, preceded by Mr. William Byvank, with a small ship neatly rigged and decorated, followed by the sailors.


"Merchants and Shopkeepers.


"Private Gentlemen.


"Half troop of Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Ward, to the number of 25."


REASONS FOR INDUSTRIAL PARADE OF 1788.


But why an industrial parade? Ah, that is most important. The country, like a child just loose from its mother, stood trembling with the realization of the fact that it had its own way to make; that it must hereafter shift for itself. The people were just coming to understand that they had, in the past, as colonists, busied themselves chiefly with producing the raw material, and that they knew little about turning that material into the finished product. The old country had done all that, and had taxed them roundly for it, too. Now it was vitally true that the people of the new republic must learn to make things themselves if the new nation was to live.


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No community on this continent realized this more forcibly than Newark, and none entered into the upbuilding of industrial strength more zealously than did this community. That is why there are but ten other cities more powerful industrially to-day (1913) than Newark. The call for the development of the indus- tries that was then ringing throughout the country arose out of the purest patriotism; so, while men were then starting mills and workshops for a livelihood and to make fortunes, if they might, they were doing it for the country's good, and they were risking their all to do it. The industrial feature of that first Fourth of July parade of which Newark has any record was therefore peculiarly appropriate. A dozen years before there had been a procession or parade down Broad street-Washington and his army fleeing before the triumphant British. Now, in 1788, five years after the end of the war, the village had its first peace parade; what could be more typical of Newark, in the light of its develop- ment since 1788, than that patriotic-industrial parade ?


THE NEW CONSTITUTION.


After the parade there were exercises in the First Church, with the reading of odes and of the Declaration of Independence and with a splendid oration by grand old Dr. Macwhorter, the patriot pastor of the First Church. In the afternoon the dinner was served in one of the taverns, and the second toast on the list was: "The ten States that have adopted the new Constitution." The Constitution was then less than a year old, having been adopted by Congress in the fall of the previous year, New Jersey having been one of the three States to adopt it unanimously and among the very first. Another toast was: "May the new Constitu- tion last until days come to an eternal pause and sun and moon shall be no more." A third toast, of special significance as showing how clearly the men of Newark seemed to see where the com- munity's future prosperity lay, was: "The farmers and mechanicks of Newark."


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In 1793 the great event of the day was the dedication of the first flagpole in the town, at the apex of Military Park, which had been set up the day before. The dinner was served, in the day- time, in a bower 120 feet long and 15 feet wide, set up for the purpose on the north side of Academy street, back of where the Postoffice now stands.


In 1794 the day was observed with a parade and the usual speechmaking, not at the centre of the town, but at Second river, now Belleville, and then considered part of Newark.


A committee of prominent men was chosen every spring, in May or early in June, to arrange the program for the Fourth. The committee chose the orator of the day, selected the toasts, chose the citizen who was to carry the cap of liberty, and, in fact, seems to have had absolute charge of the day's doings. The carrying of the cap of liberty was a great honor. In the early days soldiers of the Revolution seem to have been given the preference. The cap was of velvet or of silk and was borne upon a standard. Some Newarkers of the older generation remember this feature of old Fourth of July parades well.


In 1796 the committee had a very grave problem to solve. Hitherto everybody that was anybody at all, could find room at the Independence Day dinner; yes, all the men in the village could be comfortably entertained in one of the tavern "long rooms" or in a bower 15 feet wide by 120 or so feet long. Now a change had come, as the following, taken from the Newark Gazette of June 28, 1796, will show: ·


"As the citizens of this flourishing town have become too numerous to assemble with any convenience or comfort, to dine in one body, it was judged expedient to leave a public dinner out of the general plan of amusements, on the presumption that the respective classes of citizens would take their own measures for evincing their gratitude to the Benevolent Parent of Nature for the unparalleled blessings we enjoy in such manner as to them may appear most eligible. Such as choose to associate in different circles for festive purposes, may interchange congratulatory deputations to diffuse the general joy."


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In the description of the celebration, in the Gazette, July 6, we find the following:


"Nor did the day close without its usually concomitant fes- tivities. On this auspicious occasion a tribute of respect was paid to the ladies. The society of this village, having become so numer- ous it was found necessary to divide for the purposes of more comfortable accommodations -- two Bowers were constructed, one at the head of the parade (Military Park, near Trinity, or just above the church), the other in a new street in the southern part of the town."


The bower on the parade was circular, 50 feet in diameter, with sixteen arches (one for each State) 12 feet high and 8 feet wide, with a series of eight interior arches, forming a sort of colon- nade. The pillars were twined with greenery and flowers, and the ladies sat in the colonnade, facing each other, partly shielded from the gaze of the curious by means of the greenery. One hundred and eighty ladies and gentlemen attended. Cake and tea were enjoyed "with perfect ease and the highest glee and satisfaction."


The Southern bower was oblong, 160 feet long, 14 feet wide. Two hundred ladies and gentlemen attended, "who passed the afternoon with the greatest conviviality and harmony."


A BOWER CONSTRUCTED IN THREE HOURS.


"As an instance of the spirit of enterprise and exertion which has often distinguished the citizens of this town, it is worthy of remark that the last mentioned bower was begun and finished within the space of three hours. The Northern bower was com- menced on Saturday and completed on Monday. The assemblage of ladies at the two bowers was the most numerous and brilliant ever known in this town. Before the companies departed a deputa- tion was sent from the citizens of the Southern bower by Messrs. A. Pennington and Canfield, with a congratulatory address."


Reply was made by Messrs. Boudinot, John Macwhorter and G. W. Burnet. In the evening there were two balls, at Major Sayre's and at Tuttle's taverns.


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The greetings from the Northern bower have this:


"We sincerely hope that the same humanity which has so conspicuously marked the proceedings of this day may ever dis- tinguish the citizens of this flourishing village."


In 1797 the parade was remarkable as being led by a band of music "composed of our own citizens," the first on record.


In 1798 the good people of Newark sang "Hail Columbia" for the first time on Independence Day. After the exercises in the First Church the militia and the citizens marched to Military Common, where they formed what the newspaper of the day called a "hallow" (hollow) square, when they "chanted" "Hail Columbia." It was a dramatic moment for the patriotic little town, as war with France was expected to begin any day, and the song expressed the feelings of a certain proportion of the people and breathed something of their defiance to the tyranny of the Old World.


There were two bowers, but on this occasion one was placed about where the Court House now stands, on "Mount Union," as the ridge there was called, "Pork Hill" being a still more ancient name, dating back to the Revolution and before. The "North Bower" remained on the green near Trinity Church. Political party lines were now becoming quite clearly defined. The Repub- licans held a banquet at Archer Gifford's tavern, while the Federal- ists, the so-called aristocrats, dined in Tuttle's tavern, Tuttle being a veteran of the Revolution who was wounded at Brandywine.


UPROAR IN THE CHURCH, 1799.


In 1799 "Hail Columbia" had become quite unpopular with the Republicans, chiefly because the Federalists delighted in it. A great sensation was caused at the Fourth of July exercises in the First Church this year, all because of this song. The Republicans were in the majority on the committee of arrangements, and they did not put it on the program. So, as the preacher was about to pronounce the benediction, "had composed himself for prayer," says the Centinel of Freedom, the company of militia known as the Federal Blues "started croaking 'Hail Columbia.'" After they


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had finished, the uproar caused by the clapping of hands and other expressions of enthusiasm made it impossible for the preacher to continue the benediction, and the assemblage had to leave the church without it being pronounced-something probably unheard of since the founding of the town.


The Republicans afterward explained the omission of the song from the program by saying in their newspaper, the Centinel, "The clamour which usually attends singing it rendered it improper at that time by impairing the modest decorum so essentially requisite to the majestic solemnity of church music." At the same time we may all suspect that the omission was a more or less cunning political trick, which the Federals resented in the manner described above.


PLATOON FIRING, 1804.


In 1804 the committee arranged a novelty, which was so pleasing to the village, now numbering three or four thousand inhabitants, that it was repeated several times thereafter. It was a federal salute of eighteen guns (there then being eighteen States in the Union), a "gun" being a volley from a platoon. The salute was fired at daybreak, and it was done in this wise: The artillery company, posted in Military Park, fired one volley, and the Rangers, in Washington Park, followed with one volley, or platoon, the whole company firing as one man. The Federal Infantry, posted in Military Park, followed the Rangers, and then the Fusilliers, sta- tioned "in front of Parkhurst's School," in Lincoln Park, finished the first round. This was kept up until eighteen "guns" had been discharged, the noise being quite equally distributed over the entire town. In those days the northern boundary of the town proper was at Bridge street, the southern end at Lincoln Park, as it is now called, while Washington street was the "west back street" and Mulberry street the "east back street."


For several years thereafter the celebrations departed but little from the routine. The dinners in the taverns reflected in the toasts the feelings of the two or three political parties. There


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were usually seventeen set toasts, spoken by the master of cere- monies. Some were followed by three cheers or "huzzas," some by nine cheers, others, such as the toast to "Washington" by a "silent wave" of the glass, while still others called for the singing of some patriotic air. Then there were one or two impromptu toasts or "volunteers" as they were called. These came late in the evening, after the "West India Rum," "Cherry Bounce" and so on had been circulating briskly for two or three hours. In 1809 or '10, one of the "volunteers" was to the ladies of Newark, "As Chaste as Diana; as Determined as Lucretia."


AFRAID OF ENGLAND, 1805.


By 1805 the troubles with Great Britain, which seven years later were to culminate in the 1812 war, had become quite acute. In common with many of their countrymen, many Newarkers strove to influence their fellow-citizens to avoid doing anything that would offend Great Britain, for they feared a collapse of the infant industries and of the now moderately flourishing commercial business. They saw their own enterprises in danger, as did the shoe and leather manufacturers of this same Newark, on the eve of the Civil War, fifty years later. Besides, the Newark loyalists, those who had stood by the crown at the opening of the war, and who had been forced to fly from Newark to Canada and Nova Scotia, were beginning to return. All these tried to have the Independence Day celebrations as devoid of anything calculated to arouse the British Lion as possible. And the old newspapers show that the dyed-in-the-wool patriots and their children loudly opposed anything like truckling to Great Britain.


An effort was made in 1805 to have the reading of the Declaration of Independence omitted from the exercises at the First Church, for the reasons outlined above. It is a striking fact that both of the ministers of the First Church, Dominie Mac- whorter and his assistant, "found it convenient," to use the words of one of the Newark newspapers, "to be absent from town on the day, so that they could not be called on to countenance the


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reading of the Declaration." The pastor of Trinity Church, how- ever, was at home and took charge of the exercises, and the Declaration was read. It is probable good Dr. Macwhorter was unavoidably absent, as he had faced many a far more serious crisis than this, and the next year, 1806, he was on hand and the Declara- tion was read, in spite of even more strenuous opposition.


The people were slowly making up their minds that they would have to fight the mother country again, and the militia became more warlike (albeit in what we would call very crude and puerile fashion). To show what mighty defenders of the nation they would be when the time came, they fought a sham battle on Independence Day, 1805. It was a truly tremendous affair, and it was repeated on several succeeding Independence Days. The Centinel of Freedom for July 9, 1805, describes it as follows:


A SHAM BATTLE IN 1805.


"The novelty of sham battles in this place and the curiosity excited thereby induces us to descend to particulars. A line was formed on the common, which was divided into two detachments, the one under the command of Captain Ray and the other under that of Captain Canfield, the one called (for distinction's sake) the friend and the other the enemy, General Cumming having the supreme command and Captain Hays acting as aide-de-camp. The whole body marched from the commons by platoons into Market street, where one division halted and the other continued their march to an elevated situation of the town on the South Orange road, where they halted. Presently an alarm gun was fired, which was the signal for the other detachment to advance and attack the enemy.


"No sooner did they arrive in sight of each other than the field pieces opened a brisk fire, which continued during the succes- sive charges and firings of the horse and infantry in a valley between the hills on which the artillery were placed. At length the enemy became masters of the field and their opponents retreated into the town and concealed themselves in advantageous situations for attacking and surrounding the pursuers if they continued the pursuit into the town. This was done, and no sooner had they advanced to a spot agreed upon than they were on a sudden attacked on all sides, when a very brisk and promiscuous fire was opened by each detachment, which lasted some time.


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"Finally a parley was beat by the invading foe and propositions made for a surrender, which were acceded to by laying down their arms and becoming prisoners of war. A numerous assemblage of people were collected on the roof's of the houses and on the adjacent hills to behold an occasion so rare, innocent and diverting."


JOHN HOMESPUN AND JOHN BULL.


The parades were almost invariably formed in Military Park and for many years moved from there to the First Church where the exercises were held, always in the morning. At noon the paraders re-formed and marched to Military Park where they disbanded for the feasting, the militia to gather again in the late afternoon, in the park, for maneuvers. A typical procession during the first fifteen years of the Independence Day celebrations (after the remarkable one of 1788, when the industries were so promi- nently exploited) was that of 1809, which was made up as follows: "1. Dismounted dragoons. 2. Volunteer company. 3. Militia officers. 4. Citizen bearing emblem of Liberty, with a citizen bearing the standard of the United States. 5. Orator of the day, and a Gentleman with the Declaration of Independence. 7. Civil officers. 8. Gentlemen of the Bar. 9. Teachers of the schools with their pupils. 10. Citizens."


A few days before the celebration in 1809, some local patriot delivered himself of a little masterpiece of literary expression, which was published in the town newspaper, and was entitled: "The Jubilee of Freemen. John Homespun and the Stranger. Scene, the Town of Newark." Homespun, a sort of Brother Jona- than, escorts Stranger, John Bull, about the town on the morning of the Fourth, descanting somewhat bombastically, according to modern standards, upon the benefits of patriotism, etc. The con- cluding paragraphs furnish some information of value as to the sentiment of the times. Plainly enough, Newark was a hotbed of contending political forces. Here are the closing sentences of the unknown patriot's effort:


"We continued slowly along. The bells rang. The populace was in motion. A company of uniform soldiers hove in sight, and the beat of the drum fixed the attention of the stranger. Their


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appearance is good, said he; they look like a company of Regulars. Indeed, sir, said I, they are Regulars-they are regular Volunteers; they are regular Republicans ; they are regular members of society ; they are advocates of regular government-but on my soul, sir, they would sooner be hangmen than your King's Regulars!


"We proceeded. Do all your Townsmen, says the Stranger, unite in the Festival, and swell the procession of the Sons of Liberty No, sir, says I, there are many who do not. Some neglect it, some are opposed to it and others fought against it. But the main part you see yonder are industrious farmers, thriving mechanics, and respected labourers. Some of them are the soldiers of the revolution-some of them are their sons-and others are the sons of those whose ashes now mingle with the native dust. These are the jewels of liberty !


"Proceeding still slowly on, the Stranger stopt. My God! says he, who is that limping over the common with a wooden leg! Oh, says I, that spectacle tells you that American liberty cost much, and cannot be too lightly prised. That is one of the Whigs of the revolution. Because he stood up for the liberties of his country, and had the patriotism to stand before the British cannon, they shot off his leg-and no thanks to them that his head did not go along with it. Venerable soldier! said the Stranger, how superior your fame to the laurels of a Bonaparte.


"Proceeding a little further, the Stranger espied a like group of well-dressed gentlemen standing aloof from the crowd. Pray, sir, says he, who are those yonder Ah, sir, says I, these men do not associate this day with the sons of liberty. They can meet to celebrate the birthday of their sovereign and on such occasions make noise enough too, but the birthday of a nation is to them of minor importance.


"To-day they are as still as mice, or like the tarrapin their head is drawn within their shell. Some of them are the sons of St. Albion. Some of them are the apostate children of Columbia, who have returned from Nova Scotia. Some of them are those who went into the enemy's lines-made frequent excursions into this town-drove away our cattle-alarmed the inhabitants-and entrapped the Whigs. Such men we do not expect to celebrate the Fourth of July."


The troublous state of the times is clearly expressed in the soberness of the celebration in 1810. War with England was near, and the oft-repeated warnings of the minority not to indulge in rejoicings of a character likely to arouse Great Britain, dominated the community to a considerable degree. The parade was a modest


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one. There was no drilling nor sham battle in the afternoon, and in its place literary exercises were gone through with by the boys of Newark Academy. There was the usual feast, however, with its seventeen toasts, the concluding being this remarkable effusion : "The fair daughters of Columbia. Chaste as Diana, determined as Lucretia; may they imbibe the minds of their offspring with love of country and hatred of tyranny."


In 1811 there was no parade at all. The pastor of the First Church preached a sermon appropriate to the day with the tactful text: "Righteousness exalteth a nation," from Proverbs xiv, 34. In the afternoon there were literary exercises at the Academy. Cannon were not fired at sunrise and sunset as formerly and there was no ringing of bells. The people of Newark seem to have been husbanding their martial energy for actual combat at arms.




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