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 31
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 31
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Whether Will's journey to the beach was for the purpose of philosophical meditation is a question that has never been fathomed : at all events, to the beach he went, and with eyes directed toward the incoming waters proceeded to pace down shore, leaving his moccasin prints in the shimmering sand. Will had not proceeded far in his stroll when he discovered, much to his satisfac- tion, a number of pieces of shining metal half buried in the sand. He eagerly stooped down and picked them up, and, contrary to his expectations, they proved to be Spanish dollars. In these dollars Will saw visions of fire-water, and pushing his search still further, he was rewarded with a handful of the Spanish coin. Think- ing that the quantity of money in his possession was sufficient to purchase whiskey enough to satisfy his desire for days to come, he withdrew from the beach, and with a vigorous and consequential step directed his course toward the old inn.
Will's entrance in the barroom was a source of sur- prise to those there congregated, who had so recently seen his departure, and their surprise was increased when he strutted up to the bar and threw thereon his handful of dollars, exclaiming at the same time :
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A REMARKABLE INDIAN.
" Now will you let Indian Will have more whiskey ?"
The innkeeper surveyed with mingled greed and astonishment the profuse outpouring of that which was a scarcity in the neighborhood and before Will had time to again express his desire, took down the whiskey decanter and tumbler, and told him to help himself. Owing to Will's recent impecunious condition he had been without his usual portion for an uncommon long time, so the present occasion, so far as the magnitude of the potation was concerned, was an uncommon one. Owing to the transformative qualities of the whiskey, Will's truculent demeanor gave away to one of a more affable nature. So the innkeeper also assumed the affable, and, after he had safely stored away the Spanish dollars, persuaded Will to follow him into a private room, where he underwent a cryptic examination. The result of the interview was simply this : Indian Will agreed to conduct the innkeeper to the beach and show him where the Spanish dollars were found.
The innkeeper did not think it policy to go immedi- ately to the beach, and so retained Will in voluntary confinement for a while. One after another left the old hotel, until finally the guests were all gone. At last the two, Will and the innkeeper, started for the beach. Arriving at the spot where the coin was discovered they began searching for additonal treasures. As the waves receded the innkeeper discovered a kind of iron chest, half buried in the san.l. Fortunately the tide was fall- ing, and enabled the treasure trove hunters to obtain possession of the trunk without much trouble. With their united strength they brought it high upon the shore, and a brief examination convinced the innkeeper that he had possession of the treasure box from which came the coin obtained by Indian Will. From the action of the elements, the box had been unjointed enough to enable the coin to escape. Suffice to say that the chest was, as soon as circumstances would allow, taken to the inn , which upon examination proved to contain a princely sum of money in Spanish coins.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
From the time of the discovery of the iron chest, the life of the innkeeper, or otherwise his mode of living, underwent a radical change. He soon relinquished his hostship of the inn and built a residence more to his liking in the immediate vicinity. The fact of the discoy- ery of the treasure trove was in a measure a secret between the innkeeper and Indian Will. Of course there was a great deal of talk about the innkeeper's sudden rise in point of wealth; there were surmises in reference to it, and they frequently fell little short of the mark ; in fact-
"Iwas long the talk of the neighborhood
The old innkeeper acquired considerable real estate, and this, when he had done with the things of earth, passed to his children, whose descendants to this day still dwell along the shore, and can thank the old ocean and Indian Will for whatever wealth they possess.
Indian Will, after the find, ceased to live in his old cabin, and became a part and parcel of the inn- keeper's household; his wants were few, and were ungrudgingly provided by the innkeeper-the principal wants being tobacco and fire-water.
Tradition has it that Indian Will had two half grown sons, who, like the ordinary urchins of our time, delight- ed in having to do with pyrotechnics. They got hold of their father's powder horn one day and in some way ignited its contents ; it flashed up and horribly disfigured both of their faces. Like the Spartans of old, Indian Will did not think it to their benefit, or to those perfectly formed, for the young bueks to continne longer on the face of the earth, so he killed them and buried them in Indian Field. Their names, so it is said, were Diek and Dave, and their mounds are still to be seen, as corrobo- rations of the tradition.
Poor Hannah and her brothers-if the stories of the credulous are worthy of serious attention-"did not sleep quietly in their graves." At intervals in the last fifty years, local gossips have said that during the moon- lighted nights of autumn-about that stage of the
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WAS CROMWELL'S BROTHER AN EARLY SETTLER.
season's progress when the hne of decay has enstamped itself on the foliage of the forest, and the withered blades of corn rustle in the faintest breezes-they have seen the diaphanous forms of the unfortunates rise suddenly from the earth, float gracefully along for a distance, and as suddenly disappear. There is nothing traditionary that indicates that he who should have been was ever "haunted." According to the most authentic versions, the closing years of Will's life were in harmony with his plane of thinking; perfectly happy, he lived to a ripe old age, and died some seventy-five years ago, the last of his tribe, and was buried at Indian Field. Contrary to what should have been his just deserts, Indian Will, during the last of his career, "lived in peace, died in grease, and was buried in a pot of ashes."
WAS OLIVER CROMWELL'S BROTHER AN
EARLY SETTLER OF MONMOUTH?
A tradition handed down in some branches of the Crowell family in the United States that they descend from the noted Cromwell family of England, and that the name was changed by the first of the family who came to America, for fear of the persecutions which followed members of the family of the Protector. It seems evi- dent that some of the ancestors of the Crowell family were desirous of assuming a feigned name, for when they landed in Massachusetts they were first known by the name of Crowe, as may be seen by reference to Free- man's History of Cape Cod and other works, and the name of Crowe is found among the first settlers of Wood- bridge, N. J., as may be seen by reference to Dally's His- tory of Woodbridge.
In the old Town Book of Middletown, pages 31-33 and 57, an Edward Crome is named as having bought land in Middletown in 1670 and as selling the same in 1674. The name of Crome is an unusual one and diffi- cult to account for, and it is probable that it should have been transcribed Crowe ; and that the person meant was
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
Edward Crowe, whose name shortly after appears at Woodbridge, N. J., with the Parkers and others who came from Massachusetts to that place. If this supposi- tion is correct, then it is probable that this man who was among the first settlers of Old Monmouth, was the one traditions allege to have been a brother of the noted Oliver Cromwell of England.
Those familiar with English history will remember a tradition recorded that about 1638 several ships bound for New England, on board of which were Oliver Crom- well, who was subsequently Protector, Pym Hampden, Haselrig and other leading Puritans, were stopped in the Thames by the King's orders and all the passengers for- bid leaving England. Some writers doubt the story, but Paxton Hood, in his life of the Protector, says the rumor seems to be too extended to be altogether unfounded. He thinks these patriots were actually on board the ships. This tradition points to the supposition that the King did not wish members of certain families to leave England. And here comes in the reason why some mem- bers of the Cromwell family had to assume some other name that they might stand a chance to get to New Eng- land. This difficulty would not occur with the sons of Col. John Cromwell in Holland, for they could leave that country without trouble under their real name, and this will account for the John Cromwell at Woodbridge, N. J., who shortly removed to Westchester Co., N. Y.
AN OLD IRISH PATENT OF NOBILITY.
We copy below a curious document on parchment, some 88 years old. The writing is very beautiful, but the punctuation and use of capitals, which we have given, exactly, seem regardless of rules. It is contained in a tin case, outside of which is a little box with lid ingeniously arranged. This once contained the seal, which was of wax, and attached to the patent by a ribbon. It is a patent or right to wear a coat-of-arms, and is granted by " the King of Arms of Ireland," to the one DANIEL
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AN OLD IRISH PATENT OF NOBILITY.
CRANEY and his decendants forever. It was found in a garret of the JACOB BROWN estate, of Matawan, by Mr. CORTENIUS WYCKOFF. At the top of the parchment, beautifully painted, are the escutcheons, or coat-of-arms, the one to the left is that of the King of Arms, or Herald, himself; the one to the right shows the new insignia granted to CRANEY. The one at the left has upon the seroll, underneath, the words, ARMA OFFICERI' ULSTERI.' Above this is the shield, the lower part occupied by a red cross on a golden ground or field. The upper part of the shield, on a red ground, has in the center a Lion passant, in gold, to its right is a golden portcullis, and to its left is the Irish harp in gold. Over the shield is the crest, so called, which is a crown of gold, with ermine and crimson satin ; this is surmounted by a thistle in gold. On the golden band of the crown is the motto MISERERE ME. The new coat-of-arms is painted at the right upper corner of the patent. It is described in the patent which here follows :
Jo alı and ingular to whom the Presents shall come
Chichester Fortescue fint. 1J Ister King of Arms and Principal Herald of all Ireland sendeth Greeting.
percas Daniel Craney late of Portarlington in the Queens County and now of Fimchal in the Island of Maderia Gentleman has made application to me to grant unto him fit and proper Armorial Bearings.
therefore that I the said Alster by virtue of the power and authority to me given DO by these presents fhrant and Jonfrm unto the said Daniel Craney the Arms following Viz't,
rgent on a mount vert an elephant proper, on a chief per pale holes and alert. in dextera crane proper, in sinister
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
a wolf rampant OR. For Urest, an arm empowered vested Azure cuffed fules, holding a cutlass proper. And for Motto Amor Proximi.
The whole as above more clearly depicted to be borne and used by him the said Daniel Craney and his decend- ants forever according to the Laws of Arms.
n itness whereof I hereunto subscribe my Name and Title and affix the Seal of my office this fifth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eight.
Chichester Fortescue Ulster-King of Arms of All Ireland.
In heralding, every color and character is symbolic, and while each has a meaning of its own, when united, or combined with one or two others, it then assumes another meaning. Argent means silver by itself, and symbolizes purity and innocence, but if combined with red, it means boldness. Gules means red ; Vert, green. Or, gold ; Azure, blue. The elephant from an Egyptian hieroglyphic, means wealth. The crane is a pun on the name Craney. The significance of the wolf does not occur to us. As wolves once infested Ireland, perhaps the Craney progenitors had performed some deftly deeds in their extermination. The emblazonry of the elephant is amusing, for it has its tusks growing out of the lower jaw; but as the heraldic limner knew no better, this would cause no trouble, it being on heraldic grounds orthodoxically correct.
HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF ITS FOUNDER AND ITS FIRST PREACHER.
In giving the history of this church, it is proper first to quote the account found in the journal of the celebrated
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HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
Rev. John Murray, the founder of the Universalist Society in America, as this account has made the Potter Church noted in the religious history of our country.
The Rev. John Murray, the first preacher of Universal- ism in America, sailed from England for New York, July 21, 1770. When he left England, though a warm advo- cate of the principles of that society, he was not a regular preacher, and had but little idea then of becoming one in America. During a thick fog in the early part of the month of September, the brig "Hand in Hand," on which he was acting as supercargo, struck on the outer bar of old Cranberry Inlet (now closed,) nearly opposite Toms River. She soon passed over, and was held by her anchors from going ashore. Here she remained several days before she could be got off. While lying here the provisions of the brig were exhausted, and after locking up the vessel, all hands proceeded in a boat across the bay in search of sustenance. Being unac- quainted with the main, they spent the greater part of the day before they could effect their purpose, after which, it being late, they proceeded to a tavern to stay all night. Mr. Murray's mind appears to have been much exercised by eventful scenes in his previous life, and he longed to get somewhere where the busy cares of the world would not disturb his meditations ; and hence as soon as the boatmen arrived at the tavern, he left them for a solitary walk through the dark pine grove. "Here," said he, "I was as much alone as I could wish, and my heart exclaimed, ' Oh, that I had in this wilderness the lodging of a poor warfaring man; some cave, some grot, some place where I might finish my days in calm repose.'" As he thus passed along musing, he unexpectedly reached a small log house where he saw a girl cleaning fish; he requested her to sell him some. She had none to spare, but told him he could get all he wanted at the next house. "What, this?" said Mr. Murray, pointing to one he could just discern through the woods. The girl told him no, that was a meetinghouse. He was much surprised to find a
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
meetinghouse there in the woods. He was directed to pass on by the meetinghouse, and at the next house he would find fish. He went on as directed, and came to the door, near which was a large pile of fish of various sorts, and standing by was a tall man, rough in appear- ance and evidently advanced in years. "Pray, sir," said Mr. Murray, "will you have the goodness to sell me one of those fish?" "No, sir," was the abrupt reply of the old gentleman. "That is strange," replied Mr. Murray, " when you have so many fish, to refuse me a single one !" "I did not refuse you a fish, sir; you are welcome to as many as you please, but I do not sell the article ; I do not sell the fish, sir, I have them for taking up, and you may obtain them the same way." Mr. Murray thanked him; the old man then inquired what he wanted of them, and was told he wished them for supper for the mariners at the tavern. The old man offered to send the fish over for him and urged Mr. Murray to tarry with him that night. Mr. Murray consented to return after visiting the crew at the public house. The old gentle- man was Thomas Potter. Mr. Murray says he was astonished to see so much genuine politeness and hospi- tality under so rough an exterior, but his astonishment was greatly increased on his return. The old man's room was prepared, his fire bright and his heart opened. "Come," said he, " my friend, I am glad you have re- turned, I have longed to see you, I have been expecting you a long time." Expecting him ! Mr. Murray was amazed and asked what he meant. Mr. Potter replied : "I must answer in my own way. I am a poor ignorant man, and know neither how to read or write; I was born in these woods, and worked on these grounds until I became a man, when I went on coasting voyages from here to New York; I was then about getting married, but in going to New York once I was pressed on board of a man-of-war and taken in Admiral Warren's ship to Cape Breton. I never drank any rum, so they saved my allowance; but I would not bear an affront, so if any of the officers struck me I struck
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HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
them again, but the admiral took my part and called me his new-light man. When I reached Louis- burg, I ran away, and traveled barefooted through the country and almost naked to New York, where I was known and supplied with clothes and money, and soon returned home, where I found my girl married. This rendered me unhappy, but I recovered my tranquillity and married her sister. I settled down to work, and got forward quite fast, constructed a saw-mill and possessed myself of this farm and five hundred acres of adjoining land. I entered into navigation, own a sloop, and have now got together a fair estate. I am, as I said, unable to read or write, but I am capable of reflection ; the sacred Scriptures have been often read to me, from which I gathered that there is a great and good Being who has preserved and protected me through innumerable dan- gers, and to whom we are all indebted for all we enjoy ; and as he has given me a house of my own I conceived I could do no less than to open it to the stranger, let him be who he would; and especially if a traveling minister passed this way he always received an invitation to put up at my house and hold his meetings here.
"I continued in this practice for more than seven years, and illiterate as I was, I used to converse with them, and was fond of asking them questions. They pronounced me an odd mortal, declaring themselves at a loss what to make of me ; while I continued to affirm that I had but one hope ; I believed that Jesus suffered death for my transgressions, and this alone was sufficient for me. At length my wife grew weary of having meetings held in her house, and I determined to build a house for the worship of God. I had no children, and I knew that I was beholden to Almighty God for everything which I possessed, and it seemed right I should appropriate a part of what He bestowed for His service. My neighbors offered their assistance, but 'No,' said I, 'God has given me enough to do this work without your aid, and as He has put it into my heart to do so, so I will do.' 'And who,' it was asked, ' will be your preacher ?' I answered,
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
' God will send me a preacher, and of a very different stamp from those who have heretofore preached in my house. The preachers we have heard are perpetually contradicting themselves ; but that God who has put it into my heart to build this house, will send one who shall deliver unto me His own truth-who shall speak of Jesus Christ and his salvation.' When the house was finished, I received an application from the Baptists, and I told them if they could make it appear that God Almighty was a Baptist I should give them the building at once. The Quakers and Presbyterians received simi- lar answers. 'No,' said I, 'as I firmly believe that all mankind are equally dear to Almighty God, they shall all be equally welcome to preach in this house which I have built. My neighbors assured me that I should never see a preacher whose sentiments corresponded with my own, but I uniformly replied I assuredly would. I engaged for the first year with a man whom I greatly disliked; we parted, and for some years we have had no stated minister. My friends often asked me, 'Where is the preacher of whom you spoke?' and my constant reply was, 'He will by and by make his appearance.' The moment, sir, I saw your vessel on shore it seemed as if a voice had audibly sounded in my ears, 'There, Pot- ter, in that vessel, cast away on that shore, is the preacher you have so long been expecting.' I heard the voice and believed the report, and when you came up to my door and asked for the fish, the same voice seemed to repeat, 'Potter, this is the man-this is the person whom I have sent to preach in your house !"
As may be supposed, Murray was immeasurably astonished at Mr. Potter's narrative, but yet had not the least idea that his wish could ever be realized. He asked him what he could discern in his appearance to lead him to mistake him for a preacher. "What," said Potter, " could I discern when you were on the vessel that could induce this conclusion ? Sir, it is not what I saw or see, but what I feel, which produces in my mind full convic- tion. Murray replied that he must be deceived, as he
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HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
should never preach in that place or anywhere else.
" Have you never preached? Can you say you never preached ?"
"I cannot, but I never intend to preach again."
" Has not God lifted up the light of His countenance upon you? Has He not shown you the truth ?"
"I trust he has."
" Then how dare you hide this truth ? Do men light a candle and put it under a bushel ? If God has shown you His salvation, why should you not show it to your fellow-men ? But I know that you will-I am sure that God Almighty has sent you to us for this purpose. I am not deceived, sir, I am sure I am not deceived."
Murray was much agitated when this man thus spoke on, and began to wonder whether or no, God, who ordains all things, had not ordained that this should come to pass ; but his heart trembled, he tells us, at the idea. He says he endeavored to quiet his own fears and to silence the warm-hearted old man by informing him he was supercargo of the vessel, that property to a large amount was entrusted to his care, and that the moment the wind changed he was under solemn obligations to depart.
"The wind will never change," said Potter, "until you have delivered to us, in that meetinghouse, a message from God."
Murray still resolutely determined never to enter any pulpit as a preacher ;. but being much agitated in mind, asked to be shown to bed after he had prayed with the family. When they parted for the night his kind host solemnly requested him to think of what he said.
" Alas," says Murray, "he need not have made this request ; it was impossible to banish it from my mind ; when I entered my chamber and shut the door, I burst into tears; I felt as if the hand of God was in the events which had brought me to this place, and I prayed most ardently that God would assist and direct me by His counsel.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
So much exercised was he in mind that he spent the greater part of the night in praying and weeping, " dreading more than death," he says, " supposing death to be an object of dread, the idea of engaging as a public character."
In his writings he gives the substance of his medita- tations on that memorable night. In the morning his good friend renewed his solicitations: "Will you speak to me and my neighbors of the good things which belong to our peace ? "
Murray, seeing only thick woods, the tavern across the field excepted, requested to know what he meant by neighbors.
" O, sir, we assemble a large congregation whenever the meetinghouse is opened; indeed, when my father first settled here, he was obliged to go twenty miles to grind a bushel of corn, but now there are more than seven hundred inhabitants within that distance."
Murray still could not be prevailed upon to yield, but Potter insisted and seemed positive the wind would not change until he had spoken to the people. Thus urged, Murray began to waver, and at length he tells us he "implored God, who sometimes condescends to indulge individuals with tokens of His approbation, graciously to indulge me upon this important occasion, and that if it was His will that I should obtain my soul's desire by passing through life as a private individual; if such was not His will, that I should engage as a preacher in the ministry, He would vouchsafe to grant me such a wind as might bear me from this shore before another Sabbath. I determined to take the changing of the wind for an answer."
But the wind changed not, and towards the close of the Saturday afternoon he reluctantly gave his consent to preaching the next day, and Mr. Potter immediately despatched his men on horseback to notify the neighbors, which they were to continue to do until ten o'clock in the evening. Mr. Murray appears to have had but little rest that night, thinking over the responsibilities of the
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HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
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