USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 11
USA > New Jersey > Ocean County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 11
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Accordingly a vessel arrived the season following, when they were much rejoiced to see each other ; but the whites laughed when they saw axes and hoes hang- ing as ornaments to their breasts; and the stockings used as tobacco pouches. The whites now put handles in the axes and hoes and cut down trees before their eyes, dug the ground, and showed them the use of stock-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
ings. Here, say the Indians, a general laugh ensued- to think they had remained ignorant of the use of these things, and had borne so long such heavy metals sus- pended around their necks. Familiarity daily increas- ing between them and the whites-the latter prepared to stay with them-asking them only for so much land as the hide of a bullock spread before them would cover ; they granted the request. The whites then took a knife, and, beginning at a place on the hide, cut it up into a rope not thicker than the finger of a little child. They then took the rope and drew it gently along in a circular form, and took in a large piece of ground; the Indians were surprised at their superior wit, but they did not contend with them for a little ground, as they had enough. They lived contentedly together for a long time, but the new comers from time to time asked for more land, which was readily obtained, and thus gradu- ally proceeded higher up the Mahicannittuck (Hudson River), until they began to believe they would want all their country, which proved eventually to be the case.
The name which the Indians first gave to the whites was Woapsiel Lennape, which signified white people. But in process of time, when disagreeable events occur- red between them, the Indians laid aside this name and called them Schwonnack-the salt people-because they came across the salt water ; and this name was always after applied to the whites.
The foregoing traditions are said to have been handed down among both Delaware and Iroquois.
The Delawares owned and were spread over the whole country, from New York Island to the Potomac. They say they had a great many towns, among other places a number on the Lennapewihittack or Delaware river, and a great many in Sheyichbi on that part of the country now named Jersey. That a place named Chi- chohaci, now Trenton, on the Lannapewihittuck a large Indian town had been for many years together, where their great chief resided. The Delawares say Chick- ohacki is a place on the east side of the Delaware river
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TOWNSHIPS IN OCEAN COUNTY.
above Philadelphia, at or near a great bond where the white people have since built a town which they call Trenton. Their old town was on a high bluff which was always tumbling down, wherefore the town was called Chiehohacki, which is tumbling banks, or falling banks.
When the Europeans first arrived at York Island the Great Unami chief of the Turtle tribe resided south- ward across a large stream, or where Amboy now is. That from this town a very long sand bar (Sandy Hook) extended far into the sea. That at Amboy and all the way up and down their large rivers and bays and on great islands they had towns when the Europeans first arrived, and that it was their forefathers who first dis- covered the Europeans on their travel, and who met them on York Island after they landed.
TOWNSHIPS IN OCEAN COUNTY.
The present county of Ocean, as before stated, was once a part of Shrewsbury. This was the case until 1749 when a portion of the lower part of Shrewsbury was set off and formed into the township of Stafford.
The patent creating the township of Stafford is dated March 3d, 1749, and was issued in the reign of George II, and is signed by Gov. Belcher. As this is probably the first official publie document relating to any portion of the present county of Ocean it is a mat- ter of gratification to know that this patent is still in ex- istence in good preservation. It is, as was usual, upon parchment, with the great seal of the province of New Jersey attached, the impression of which still shows to good advantage.
(This patent at present writing is in the care of the author hereof.)
The next division of Shrewsbury affecting the county of Ocean, was the creation of the township of Dover June 24th, 1767, when Wm. Franklin was Gov- ernor. In the recital of the boundaries of Dover, men- tion is made of "Burlington old path " where it crosses
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
the north branch of Toms River, &c." (This "Barling- ton old path" is the one before referred to as having been probably traversed by early travelers.)
The other townships in Ocean have been set off within late years.
Jackson was originally set off in 1844; Plumsted in 1845; Union in 1846 ; Brick in 1850.
Plumsted, it is said, was named in honor of Clement Plumsted one of the early Proprietors; Brick after Jo- seph W. Brick, a prominent citizen of the township; Jackson, probably after General Andrew Jackson, but some contend it was also after the proprietor of "Jack- son's Mills," who was an early and prominent settler in the township; perhaps the township received its name on account of both.
When application was made to have "Union " set off it was proposed at first to call it "Stratton," after Gov. Charles Stratton, but the proposition failed.
POPULATION OF EAST JERSEY, SHREWSBURY, &C.
It may not be amiss to introduce some brief items relative to and showing the increase of population in this section of the State and also of the State at large, as possessing some general interest; though some, per- haps all of them, may be familiar to those well versed in our early history, yet they may contain something not generally known to the public.
In 1648 the celebrated Stout manuscript says there were only six white families in Middletown.
In 1673 Capt. Knyff and Lieut. Snell's report shows there were 391 male adults in East New Jersey.
In 1682 the population of Shrewsbury township was estimated at 400, and Middletown 100 families.
In 1702 the population of the whole State was esti- mated at about 20,000. (Vide Hist. Coll. N. J.)
In 1703 Col. Lewis Morris estimates the population of East Jersey at 8,000.
(Historical Collections of N. J. page 29, says the population of New Jersey in 1702 was supposed to be about 20,000, of which 12,000 belonged to East Jersey
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OUR COAST.
and 8,000 to West Jersey, and Militia 1,400; but Col. Morris estimates as above only 8,000 in East Jersey the following year.)
In 1726 the population of the whole State was 32,442. As these appear to have been the first nearest approach which I have met with to a complete census of the State this year (1726) I append the table herewith as I notice that it appears to have escaped the attention of some writers well versed in the early history of our State. It will be noticed that there were only ten coun- ties then.
(See census table accompanying.)
In 1738 the population of New Jersey was 47,369 - slaves 3,981. 1745 6 61,403-slaves 4,603.
The last two are given on authority of Morse's Geog- raphy (old Ed.)
1765. The New York "Post Boy," December 1765, estimates the number of whites and blacks capable of bearing arms in New Jersey then, at 20,000. The British authorities appear to have kept account of the men capable of bearing arms about this period, as they occa- sionally made calls or drafts for men. For instance, in 1757-8 during the old French war, in our State, soldiers were raised by draft to go North to meet the French. This draft operated with severity among Quakers, espe- cially ; many were forced into the ranks and marched North, but fortunately got into no battles.
OUR COAST.
DR. KOHL'S RESEARCHES. .
There are many interesting items relating not only to Ocean county but to the State at large to be collected from ancient maps and charts. And I will here take the liberty of calling attention to that portion of the Report of the Superintendent United States Coast Survey for 1856 which refers to the labors of Dr. J. G. Kohl. By the sketch given of Dr. Kohl's report to the United States Superintendent it appears that he has examined
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
about five hundred charts, maps and works relating to our coast from 1497 to 1855. These were found in this country and Europe, and his researches for information relative to the American coast were probably the most thorough ever made, and it is a great misfortune that his report has never been published, but yet lies buried in the archives of the Superintendent's office at Washing- ton. As the United States Superintendent's report for 1856 is easily to be obtained for reference, it is unneces- sary here to give a full description of Dr. Kohl's report ; it will suffice to state that, among other matters, it con- tains :
A history of the Dutch discoveries and of expeditions to the regions between Virginia and New England execu- ted during the first quarter of the 17th century by Navi- gators Hudson, Black, Hendrickson, Christiansen, May, Vries, and others. (Part Ist, Chap. 10.) The first part has also a map tracing the routes of the principal discov- erers, and to all the principal bays, harbors, &c., on the coast is appended the names of the principal explorers.
The Second part of Dr. Kohl's report contains a review of the names on the Atlantic coast; to every name is added an essay or note giving the origin and changes of name, its history, &c. Part 1st, Chap. 13, gives New Jersey coast from Shrewsbury inlet to Cape May ; chapter 14 gives Delaware bay and river.
The Third part contains among other matter a list of the titles of books which treat on the history, geog- raphy, &c., of our coast, with critical notices ; also lists of maps and surveys ; and has copies of 40 principal maps having especial historical interest.
A copy of so much of Dr. Kohl's report as relates to New Jersey would prove a valuable acquisition to our Historical Collections. Inasmuch as our Government has paid for his report it should be published.
SCENES ON THE COAST.
August 5th, 1778. "Lately retaken and brought into Little Egg Harbor by two New England privateers in company with Capt. John Rice, a brig and a sloop
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OUR COAST.
loaded. Several at the same time taken into Great Egg Harbor by the privateer sloop Cornet, Capt. Yel- verton Taylor and others." ( N. J. Gazette.)
"By a gentleman from Egg Harbor we learn that a few days since a sloop from Jamaica bound to New York was brought in there. It seems that a number of Americans captured at sea and carried to that island had been put on board in order to be sent to New York, and on their passage rose and secured the master and hands and brought the vessel into the above port. She was loaded with rum, sugar, etc."
In November, 1780, several persons were appre- hended in Philadelphia, for carrying on a contraband trade with the enemy by way of Egg Harbor vessels. Their vessels would clear for Boston but had British passports. Among those taken were Capt. James Steel- man, John Shaw,- Black; a man named Atkinson concerned with them escaped.
CAPT. WM. MARRINER.
" June 17th, 1778. Win. Marriner a volunteer with eleven men and Lient. Johu Schenck of our militia went last Saturday evening from Middletown Point to Long Island in order to take a few prisoners from Flatbush, and returned with Major Moncrieff and Mr. Theophilus Bache (the worshipful Mayor and Tormentor-General, David Mathews, Esq., who has inflicted on our prisoners the most unheard of cruelties and who was the principal object of the expedition being unfortunately in the city,) with four slaves and brought them to Princeton to be de- livered to his Excellency the Governor. Mr. Marriner with his party left Middletown Point on Saturday even- ing and returned at six o'clock the next morning having traveled by land and water above fifty miles and behaved with the greatest bravery and prudence." (Gazette.)
SCENES ON THE COAST DURING THE REVOLUTION.
The sloop Susannah, Capt. Stoeker of eight guns and thirty-five men, fitted out at Egg Harbor. On the 29th of August, 1778, off that port fell in with the " Emerald" . man of war tender, a sloop of 10 guns, when a severe en-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
gagement ensued in which the Lieutenant who com- manded the tender with several of the crew fell and the vessel was only saved by flight. Two vessels under con- voy of the tender in the beginning of the action stood to the northward and also escaped. Capt. Stoeker during the engagement showed the greatest bravery and has gained the esteem and confidence of his crew ; he had one man killed and six wounded.
The privateer General Lee came around from Egg Harbor on Saturday last. (Packet, Sept. 1778.)
About the last of September, 1778, a fleet of thirty British vessels, and the next day fifty more, sailed south- ward along our coast.
August 25th, 1779. The Schooner Mars, Capt. Tay- lor, took a snow (3 masted vessel) the "Falmouth " (see Hist. Coll. p. 66,) a packet and forty-five prisoners; but the prize was retaken by the British ; Capt. Taylor got safe into Egg Harbor. In September, 1779, Capt Tay- lor took a prize into Egg Harbor, containing a Hessian colonel and 214 privates, also dry goods, etc.
In June, 1779, some Jerseymen went in rowboats to Sandy Hook, and took from the British four sloops, one of which was armed ; they burned three and took one, also nineteen prisoners ; the share of prize money was £400, per man.
About December 1st, 1778, Capt. Stevens, in a priva- teer belonging to Egg Harbor, took the schooner Two Friends, Capt. Sion of New York ; the Two Friends had six carriage and twelve swivel guns, and twenty-two men.
About September 1st, 1782, Capt. Douglas with some Gloucester County militia attacked a Refugee boat at Egg Harbor with eighteen Refugees on board, fourteen of whom were shot or drowned, and four escaped. This was supposed to be the band that robbed Mr. Fennemore, Collector of Burlington County.
Mem .- Very many exploits on our coast have been .published in Modern works and are here omitted.
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SCENES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
SCENES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
August 7th, 1782. About this time an American named Richard Wilgus was shot while keeping guard below Allentown to prevent contraband goods being taken to the British.
In regard to the attack on Capt. Huddy's house the Philadelphia Packet contains some items not mentioned in other accounts. The Packet's statements are as rela- ted by Capt. Huddy himself. It says there were seventy- two men attacked him under Lieut. Joseph Parker and William Hewlett about an hour before day. They com- menced stoning a window to pieces which aroused Capt. Huddy; the girl helped defend. Mrs. Huddy and another woman tried to induce him to surrender, as they thought defence was useless. Tye who is here called " one of Lord Dunmore's crew," received a wound. After Huddy surrendered, they plundered the house. They were two hours in taking him. Six militia came near and fired and killed their commander. Ensign Vincent and sixteen men of the State regiment attacked them as they em- barked and accidentally wounded Huddy; the firing made confusion in the boats and one overset and Huddy swam ashore. This paper says the Refugees " made a silent and shameful retreat with disgrace-two hours for seventy-two men to take one man."
The Refugee town at Sandy Hook was not allowed to remain unmolested by the Americans. Capt. Adam Hyler was continually on the alert seizing their vessels there and taking prisoners, &c.
Of the Pine Robbers such as Fenton, Burke, Fagan, and others, it is not necessary here to speak. Accounts of them are already published in modern works.
April, 1870. About the last of April the Refugees attacked the house of John Holmes, Upper Freehold, and robbed him of a very large amount of Continental money, a silver watch, gold ring, silver buckles, pistols, clothing, &c.
June 1st, 1780. Colonel Tye (Mulatto) with his
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
motley company, twenty blacks and whites, carried off as prisoners, Captain Barney Smock and Gilbert Van Ma- ter, spiked an iron cannon and took four horses. Their rendezvous was said to be Sandy Hook.
About this time Colonel Tye with sixty Refugees at- tacked Captain Huddy's dwelling at Colt's Neck. (See Hist. Coll. p. 365.)
(The Refugees had a settlement or "town " as it was often called at Sandy Hook.)
October 15th, 1781. A party of Refugees from Sandy Hook landed at night at Shrewsbury and marched undis- covered to Colt's Neck and took six prisoners. The alarm reached the Court House about 4 or 5 o'clock, P. M., and a number of inhabitants, among whom was Dr. Nathaniel Scudder, went in pursuit. They rode to Black Point to try to recapture the six Americans, and while firing from the bank Dr. Scudder was killed.
February 8th, 1782. About forty Refugees under one Lieut. Steelman came ci Sandy Hook to Pleasant Valley. They took twenty horses and five sleighs, which they loaded with plunder; they also took several prison- ers, viz : Hendrick Hendrickson and his two sons, Peter Covenhoven, Esq., Garret Hendrickson, Samuel Bowne and son, and Jacques Denise. At Garret Hendrickson's a young man named William Thompson got up slyly and went off and informed Captain John Schenck of Colonel Holmes' regiment, who collected all the men he could, to pursue. They overtook and attacked them, and the be- fore mentioned William Thompson was killed, and a Mr. Cottrell wounded. They, however, took twelve Refugees prisoners, three of whom were wounded. But in return- ing they unexpectedly fell in with a party of sixteen men under one Stevenson, and a sudden firing caused eight of the prisoners to escape. But Captain Schenck ordered his men to charge bayonets and this party of Tories sur- readered. Captain Schenck retook nineteen horses and five sleighs, and took twenty-one prisoners ; among the latter were several well known atrocious villains .- (Packet.)
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SCENES IN OLD MONMOUTHI.
COURT HOUSE IN MONMOUTH.
Cov. Robert Hunter, in a letter to the Board of Trade, dated New York, May 7th, 1711, says :
"I am directed by your Lordships to send you my observations on the past in New Jersey during Col. In- goldsby's administration." After alluding to other mat- ters he refers to an act for building and repairing gaols, and says "by virtue of this act they have designed a Court House in the remotest corner of the county of Monmouth which will be a great tax upon the people of that county and was meer party pique." (Was this at Freehold ?)
OLD SHREWSBURY-FREEHOLD.
About the year 1703 Col. Lewis Morris sent a memo- rial to England for a missionary to be sent to East Jer- sey, particularly to Shrewsbury. This memorial con- tained the following items relating to Middletown and Shrewsbury.
" The population of New Jersey (East Jersey ?) is about 8,000. Freehold was settled by emigrants from Scotland. Mr. Keith (George), began the first settle- ment there and made a fine plantation. One-half of the people were Scotch Presbyterians. There is in town a Quaker meeting house but most of the Quakers had sece- ded with Keith. Shrewsbury, he says, was settled by emi- grants from New England and New York. There is in it about thirty Quakers of both sexes and they have a meeting house."
Oldmixon in 1708 says :
"Shrewsbury is the most southern town of the pro- vince and reckoned the chief town of the shire. It con- tains about 160 families ; and 30,000 acres of out planta- tions belong to its division. There is a new town in the county called Freehold, which has not been laid out and inhabited long. It does not contain as yet above forty families."
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
ANCIENT MAPS AND CHARTS.
On ancient maps and charts, which I have had op- portunity of examining, the following items have seemed to me worthy of note :
1614. The map found by Brodhead in Holland, sup- posed to have been made October 17th, 1614, has upon it Eyre Haven, (Egg Harbor,) and north of it an inlet not named, meant for Barnegat. The bay now known as Barnegat Bay is laid down with islands, rivers, &c .; so fair a representation of Toms River, Forked River, Oys- ter Creek and other streams running into it is given that it is evident the map was made by actual exploration.
1616. Capt. Hendrickson's celebrated Figurative 1616 has but one inlet on our coast. probably meant for Egg Harbor and one river.
1614-21. On a map in the Library of the New Jer- sey Historical Society, 1614-21, Barnegat Inlet is given as Barendegat.
1656. A map of 1656 ( Visschers?) has Barnegat Inlet, called Barndegat and Absecon Inlet also called Barndegat.
1656. Vanderdonck's map, 1656, has only river running into Barnegat Bay, and its course southerly ; this river is evidently marked at random, not from actual exploration. On this map is named a tribe of Indians about the lower part of Ocean and Burlington ; this tribe is here called "Ermomex;" near the line of Ocean and Monmouth is another tribe called the "Aquanachoques." Two Indian villages are also laid down, apparently not far from the lines of this county : the northerly village is called " Amacaronck ; " the southerly one " Meotam Ka- ronck." The tribe of Indians on this map called Ermo- mex in other places is called Armeomexs, Erwomee, Ar- mowamex, Arwaymons, Arwamex, Armeomeks, &c. (See also Barker's Prim. Settlements on Del.)
169S. Gabriel Thomas' map, 169S, locates the above mentioned Indian village of Amacaronck about (I should
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ANCIENT MAPS AND CHARTS.
suppose) the head of Toms River, and Meotam Karonck probably in the vicinity of Maurice River.
One or two writers I notice have doubted whether there ever were such villages ; as far as the existence of Indian villages is concerned, the travels of Burnyeute alone settle that point; it is immaterial whether or not the names are correctly given, though my impression is they could not be far from correct, as the last syllable of each name, "onck," is a word signifying " place," in the dialect of the Indians in this section.
" In Memory of ABRAHAM WEAIR, Died March 24th, 1768. Aged 85 years. Whose inocent life Adorned true light."
Tradition says that Abraham Waeir came from the vicinity of the Hurl Gate, where he had a mill washed away in a storm, and then came and settled at this place, where one or two mills were standing in his time ; and that he belonged to a singular religious society of which notice is given elsewhere.
Oyster Creek. From the quantity of oysters in its vicinity. In old deeds this creek is sometimes called "McCoys" Creek and " McCays " Creek.
Forked River. From its branches, three in number, shaped somewhat like a fork.
Cedar Creek. From the cedar along its banks.
Potters Creek. The family of the Potters were among the first and principal settlers in its vicinity. The father of Thomas Potter, the founder of the Goodluck Univer- salist Church, was probably the first.
Toms River. One tradition, quite generally accepted in the vicinity, says that it was named after a noted In- dian named Tom who resided on an island near its mouth, and whose name was said to be Thomas Pumha. A map or sketch made in 1740 of Mosquito Cove and mouth of Toms River (probably by Surveyor Lawrence), has marked on it "Barnegatt Tom's Wigwam," located upon north point of Mosquito Cove. (This map is in pos-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
session of S. H. Shreve, Esq., Toms River.) Indian Tom, it is stated on seemingly good authority, resided on Dil- lon's Island, near the mouth of Toms River, during the Revolution. As the name "Toms River," is found about fifty years before (1727,) it throws some doubt upon the statement that the name was derived from him.
Another tradition, and a more reasonable one, says that the place was named after Captain William Tom, a noted man along the Delaware from 1664 to 1674. A manuscript in the Library of the New Jersey Historical Society-I believe the author's name is Henry-says the stream was named after Captain William Tom. One or two aged citizens who spent much time about Toms River about fifty years ago, inform me they saw it also stated in old publications at Toms River or vicinity when they were there. The manuscript above referred to gives a quotation (elsewhere given) from Delaware records which, however, is not conclusive. I do not consider the facts yet presented on either side give satisfactory rea- sons for deciding either way upon the origin of the name. I will append some few brief items relating to Captain Tom, which show that he was a prominent, trustworthy man, at least, whether the place was named after him or not.
Toms River, as has elsewhere been stated, was often called Goose Creek. The first time it is called Goose Creek ( as far as I have been able to find ) is in a patent to Robert Barclay and also one to Dr. Johnson, 1699. The last time I have noticed it so called is on Carey's map, 1814, where it is called "Goose or Toms Creek." Toms River was also sometimes called the "Town of Dover"-as in Rivington's Royal Gazette when describ- ing Block House affairs.
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