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 8
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 8
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He held at different times the positions of Commis- sary, Justice, Judge. Town Clerk and Keeper of Official Records relating to the settlements on both sides of the Delaware, Collector of Quit Rents, &c. As collector of Quit Rents and agent to sell lands, his duties called him throughout the Southern half of our State, wherever set- tlers were found, and in search of eligible places for settlers to locate. We find that Capt. Tom was continu- ally traveling to and fro in the performance of his duties, was among the first white men to cross the State to New York, was on good terms with the Indians, with whom he continually must have mingled, and it is not at all unlikely in the performance of his duties, he crossed to the shore by Indian paths, so numerous and so fre- quented by the red men in his time, and thus visited the stream now known as Toms River.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
As no outline of Capt. Tom's life and services has ever been published, we give the substance of the facts found relating to him, not only because of its probable bearing on the history of old Monmouth, and that our citizens may know who he was, but also because it gives an interesting chapter in the history of our State. It will be seen that he was a prominent, trusted and influential man before the founding of Philadelphia, Salem or Burl- ington, or before any considerable settlements existed in New Jersey. In looking back to the past, it seems a long while to Indian Tom's day, but Capt. William Tom lived nearly a century before him. The following items are collected from New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware records:
CAPT. WILLIAM TOM came to this country with the English expedition under Sir Robert Carre and Col. Richard Nicholls which conquered the Dutch at New Amsterdam, (New York) August, 1664. Immediately after the English had taken formal possession of New York, two vessels, the "Guinea " and the "William and Nicholas," under command of Sir Robert Carre were despatched to attaek the Dutch settlements on the Delaware river. After a feeble resistance the Dutch sur- rendered about the first of October of the same year, (1664). Capt. Tom accompanied this expedition, and that he rendered valuable service there is evidenced by an order issued by Gov. Nicholls, June 30, 1665, which states that for William Tom's "good services at Dela- ware," there shall be granted to him the lands of Peter Alricks, confiscated for hostility to the English. Capt. Tom remained in his majesty's service until August 27, 1668; during the last two years of this time he was Com- missary on the Delaware. He was discharged from his majesty's service on the ground as is alleged "of good behaviour."
In 1673 Capt. Tom was appointed one of four ap- praisers to set a value on Tinicum Island in the Dela- ware. In 1674 he was appointed secretary or clark for the town of New Castle, and he appears to have had
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CAPTAIN WILLIAM TOM.
charge of the public records for several years. In 1673 the Dutch regained their power in New York, New Jer- sey and Delaware, but retained it only a few months ; after they were again displaced in 1674, Gov. Andross appointed Captains Cantwell and Tom to take possession for the King's use, of the fort at New Castle, with the public stores. They were authorized to provide for the settlement and repose of the inhabitants at New Castle, Whorekills (Lewes) and other places."
In 1675 some settlers complained against Capt. Tom, for molesting them in the enjoyment of meadow lands which adjoined their plantations. The settlers probably supposed because they owned uplands, they should also have the same use of meadow land without paying for the same. The Governor ordered a compromise. In 1676 he was appointed one of the Justices of the Peace and a Judge of the court. He sat as one of the Judges in an important suit in which the defendant was John Fenwick, the Salem Proprietor. Judgment was given against Fenwick, and a warrant issued to take him dead or alive. Fenwick finding it useless to resist, gave him- self up, and was sent prisoner to New York.
Capt. Tom was reappointed justice and judge in 1677. Towards the latter part of this year complaint was made that the town records of New Castle were in confusion, and Mr. Tom was ordered to arrange and attest them. It is not improbable that ill health prevented him from completing this task, as we find his death announced Jan- uary 12, 1678, coupled with the simple remark that, "his papers were in confusion."
From the foregoing and other facts that are pre- served, it would appear that William Tom was about the most prominent, useful and trustworthy man among the settlers from the time of the coming of the English to his decease, that he enjoyed the confidence of Governors Nicholls, Lovelace and Andross, that his varied duties were performed with general satisfaction to settlers, In- dians and officials, and we may safely infer that he did as much or more than any man in his day "towards the
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
settlement and repose of the inhabitants" on both sides of the Delaware. It is no discredit to the name of Toms River that it should be derived from such a man.
In speaking of Capt. Tom's discovering Toms River, we do not refer to its original discovery, nor wish to con- vey the idea that he was the first white man who visited it. The stream was discovered by navigators fifty years before Capt. Tom came to America. They simply marked the stream on their charts without naming it. The fact that this river had been previously visited by the Dutch, was probably not known to Capt. Tom and the English in this day.
PRIVATEERING.
CAPTAIN STORER.
The following is from an ancient paper published in 1782, just previous to the close of the war.
" We learn that the brave Captain Storer, commis- sioned as a private boat-of-war under the State, and who promises to be the genuine successor of the late Captain Hyler, has given a recent instance of his valor and con- duet in capturing one of the enemy's vessels. He went in two boats through the British fleet in the Narrows and boarded a vessel under the flag staff battery. He captured the vessel without alarm. She was a sloop in the Engineers' department of H. B. M. service, and was carried away safely."
CAPTAIN WILLIAM MARRINER.
Captain Marriner lived in New Brunswick during the war. From notice of him in ancient papers, we find he was another brave enterprising partisan, as the fol- lowing extracts will show. The first is from a letter dated June 17th, 1778.
" William Marriner, a volunteer, with eleven men and Lieutenant John Schenck, of our militia, went last Sat- urday evening from Middletown Point to Long Island, in order to take a few prisoners from Flatbush, and re- turned with Major Moncrieff and Mr. Theophilus Bacho (the worshipful Mayor and Tormentor-General, David
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PRIVATEERING.
Matthews, Esq., who has inflicted on our prisoners the most unheard of ervelties, and who was the principal object of the expedition, being unfortunately in the city,) with four slaves, and brought them to Princeton, to be delivered to his excellency the Governor. Mr. Marriner with his party left Middletown Point on Saturday even- ing, and returned at six o'clock next morning, having traveled by land and water above fifty miles, and be- haved with greatest prudence and bravery."
The following is from an official naval work in the Library of Congress :
"The privateer Blacksnake was captured by the British, but in April, 1780, Captain William Marriner, with nine men in a whale boat, retook her. Captain Marriner then put to sea in his prize, and captured the Morning Star, of 6 swivels and 33 men, after a sharp re- sistance, in which she lost three killed and five wounded ; he carried both prizes into Egg Harbor."
After the war Captain Marriner removed to Harlem, where he lived many years.
The Daniel Matthews above spoken of was the Tory Mayor of New York, during the Revolution, and noted for his enmity to all favoring the Americans.
CAPTAIN JACKSON.
" December 18th, 1782 .- Capt. Jackson of the Grey- hound, in the evening of Sunday, last week, with much address, captured within the Hook, the schooner Dol- phin and sloop Diamond, bound from New York to Hali- fax, and brought them into Egg Harbor. These vessels were both condemned to the claimants, and the sales amounted to £10,200.
SUCCESSFUL EXPLOIT.
In the following item from the Packet Jan. 1779, no names are mentioned.
"Some Jerseymen went in row boats to Sandy Hook and took four sloops, one of which was armed. They burned three and took one ; also nineteen prisoners.
The share of prize money per man, was £400."
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
PRIVATEERING ON OUR COAST-TOMS RIVER DURING THE REVOLUTION.
PRIZES TAKEN-AMERICANS CAPTURED-AN ENEMY SEARCHING FOR WATER LOSES HIS RUM-OLD CRANBERRY INLET, &C.
Toms River appears to have been occupied by the Americans as a military post during the greater part of the Revolution. The soldiers stationed here were gen- erally twelve months men, commanded by different offi- cers, among whom may be mentioned, Captains Bigelow, Ephraim Jenkins, James Mott, John Stout and Joshua Huddy. Captain Mott had command of a company called the "Sixth Company" of Dover, and Captain Stout of the Seventh Company. The Fifth Company was from Stafford, and commanded by Capt. Reuben F. Ran- dolph. These companies all belonged to the militia or- ganization of old Monmouth.
The duties of the militia stationed at Toms River, appear to have been to guard the inhabitants against de- predations from the refugees ; to check contraband trade by way of old Cranberry Inlet to New York, and to aid our privateers who brought prizes into the Inlet, which was a favorite resort for New Jersey, New England and other American privateers.
By the following extracts, it will be seen that old Dover township was the scene of many stirring incidents . during the war.
About the 1st of April, 1778, the government salt works near Toms River, were destroyed by a detachment of British under Captain Robertson. One building they alleged belonged to Congress and cost £6,000. The salt works on our coast at Manasquan, Shark River, Toms River, Barnegat and other places, were so important to the Americans during the war that we propose to notice them in a separate article.
May 22d, 1778, it is announced that a British vessel with a cargo of fresh beef and pork, was taken by Cap- tain Anderson and sixteen men in an armed boat, and brought into Toms River.
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PRIVATEERING DURING THE REVOLUTION.
In the early part of August following, the British ship "Love and Unity," with a valuable cargo was brought into the Inlet ; the cargo was saved but the ship was subsequently retaken by a large British force ; the particulars of the capture and recapture are as follows from ancient letters :
"August 12th, 1778. We learn that on Thursday night, the British ship " Love and Unity" from Bristol, with 80 hhds of loaf sugar, several thousand bottles Lon- don porter, and a large quantity of Bristol beer and ale, · besides many other valuable articles, was designedly run ashore near Toms River. Since which, by the assistance of some of our militia, she has been brought into a safe port and her cargo properly taken care of."
The cargo of this ship was advertised to be sold at Manasquan, on the 26th of August, by John Stokes, U. S. Marshal. The articles enumerated in the advertise- ment show that the cargo must have been a very valu- able one. The Americans were not quite so lucky with the ship as with the cargo, as will be seen by the follow- ing extract :
"Friday, September 18th, 1778. Two British armed ships and two brigs, came close to the bar off Toms River (Cranbury) Inlet, where they lay all night. Next morn- ing between seven and eight o'clock, they sent seven armed boats into the Inlet, and re-took the ship Wash- ington formerly "Love and Unity" which had been taken by the Americans; they also took two sloops near the bar and captured most of the crews.
The captain of the ship and most of his officers es- caped to the main land in one of the ship's boats. After they got ashore a man named Robert McMullen, who had been condemned to death at Freehold but afterwards pardoned, jumped into the boat, hurrahing for the Brit- ish, and rowed off and joined them. Another refugee named William Dillon, who had also been sentenced to death at , Freehold and pardoned, joined this party of British as pilot."
By the following extract it will be seen that the ren-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
egades McMullen and Dillon, had been out of jail but a. very few weeks, when they aided the British in this ex- pedition :
"July 22d, 1778. We learn that at the Court of Over and Terminer, held at Monmouth in June last, the following parties were tried and found guilty of burglary, viz: Thomas Emmons alias Burke, John Wood, Michael Millery, William Dillon and Robert McMullen. The two former were executed on Friday last, and the other three reprieved."
McMullen probably had some connection with the expedition, perhaps to spy out the whereabouts of the captured cargo, as he would not have been in that vicinity unless assured that a British force was at hand.
One tradition states that when he jumped into the boat lie was flying for his life-" that he was pursued by the Americans and escaped by swimming his horse across the river near its mouth to a point which he called Good- luck Point to commemorate his escape."
Goodluck Point near the mouth of Toms River, un- doubtedly received its name from some person flying for his life in the above manner, and it is possible that it might have been McMullen.
"On the 9th of December, 1778, it is announced that a British armed vessel, bound from Halifax to New York, and richly laden, came ashore near Barnegat. The crew about sixty in number, surrendered themselves prison- ers to our militia. Goods to the amount of five thous- and pounds sterling were taken out of her by our citizens, and a number of prisoners sent to Bordentown, at which place the balance of prisoners were expected. About March, 1779, the sloop Saccess, came ashore in a snow storm, at Barnegat. She had been taken by the British brig Diligence, and was on her way to New York. She had a valuable cargo of rum, molasses, coffee, cocoa, &c., on board. The prize master and three hands were made prisoners and sent to Princeton. In the case of this ves- sel and the one previously mentioned, it is probable the Toms River militia aided, as the name of Barnegat was
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PRIVATEERING DURING THE REVOLUTION.
frequently applied to the shore north of the inlet, both on the beach and on the main land.
Feb. 8th, 1779, the sloop Fancy and schooner Hope, with cargoes of pitch, tar and salt are advertised for sale at Toms River by the J. S. Marshal. They were probably prizes. The Major Van Emburg mentioned in the fol- lowing, belonged to the 2d Reg. Middlesex militia ; he was taken May 14, 1780.
On the 5th of June, 1780, an ancient paper says : " On Sunday morning, Major Van Emburg and eight or nine men from West Jersey, on a fishing party, were sur- prised in bed at Toms River by the Refugees, and put on board a vessel to be sent prisoners to New York, but before the vessel sailed they fortunately managed to escape."
Toms River then did not seem quite as desirable a place for pleasure resort as it is in the present day. History does not tell us whether the Major was success- ful in catching fish : all we know is that he got caught himself.
About the middle of December, 1780, a British brig in the West India trade, was captured and brought into Toms River. This brig was short of water and provis- ions and mistaking the land for Long Island, sent a boat and four men ashore to obtain supplies. The militia hearing of it manned two boats and went out and took her. She had on board 150 hlds of rum and spirits, which our ancestors pronounced " excellent," by which we conclude they must have considered themselves com- petent judges of the article ! With the British, rum must have been a necessity, as in every prize taken from them rum was an important part of the cargo.
The British brig Molly, was driven ashore in a snow storm near Barnegat ; her prize crew were taken pris- oners by the militia and sent to Philadelphia.
In December, 1780, Lieut. Joshua Studson of Toms River, was shot by the refugee Bacon, inside of Cran- berry inlet. The particulars of this affair are given in a
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
notice of Bacon's career, and therefore it is unnecessary to repeat them.
March 19, 1782. The privateer Dart. Capt. Wmn. Gray, of Salem Mass., arrived at Toms River with a prize sloop, taken from the British galley, Black Jack. The next day he went with his boat and seven men in pur- suit of a British brig near the bar. Unfortunately for Capt. Gray, instead of taking a prize he was taken him- self. For a long time after, the Toms River people wondered what had become of him. In August follow- ing they heard from him. After getting outside the bar he was taken prisoner, and carried to Halifax, and sub- sequently released on parole. He stated he was well treated while a prisoner.
A few days after Capt. Gray was taken, the British attacked and burned Toms River. This was the last affair of any importance occurring in the immediate vicinity of Toms River during the war. But south of Toms River, several noted affairs afterwards occurred. Davenport burned the salt works at Forked River, and was himself killed in June ; in October, Bacon attacked and killed several men on the beach south of Barnegat lighthouse ; in December, occurred the skirmish at Cedar Creek, where young Cooke was killed ; on the 3d of April following, (1783,) Bacon was killed near West Creek.
A RHODE ISLAND PRIZE.
The original and following certificate is in posses- sion of Ephraim P. Empson, Esq., of Collier's Mills :
PROVIDENCE, Feb. 21, 1777.
This may certify that Messrs. Clark and Nightin- gale and Captain William Rhodes have purchased here at vendue, the schooner Pope's Head, which was taken by the privateers Sally and Joseph (under our command) and carried into Cranberry Inlet, in the Jersies, and there delivered to the care of Mr. James Randolph by our prize masters.
JAMES MARO. JOHN FISH.
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PRIVATEERING DURING THE REVOLUTION.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
During the war there were interesting events occurr- ing at Toms River, outside of military and naval matters.
In January, 1778, the sloop, Two Friends, Capt. Alex. Bonnett of Hispaniola, was cast away near Barne- gat, with 1,600 bags of salt, 49 hhds. molasses, also a lot of rum, sugar, &c. Only 160 galls. rum saved. The shore people went to their assistance, but one man was lost. The Capt. of the Two Friends, Alex. Bonnet, then shipped as a passenger in the sloop Endeavor of Toms River, for New York, but sad to relate, while she lay at anchor in the inlet, a storm at night parted the cable and all on board were drowned in the bay.
In December, 1778, Capt Alexander of the sloop Eliz- abeth of Baltimore, was taken by the British, but he was permitted to leave in his small boat, and landed in Toms River inlet.
It was during the war, in the year 1777, that Rev. Benjamin Abbott, expounded the then new principles of Methodism, to the people of Toms River, first at the house of Esquire Abiel Aikens, and then at another place when " a Frenchman fell to the floor, and never rose until the Lord converted his soul. Here (at Toms River), we had a happy time," so says Abbott in his journal.
During the war there was of course no communica- tion with New York, but the people of Toms River had considerable overland intercourse with West Jersey, Philadelphia and Freehold.
OLD MONMOUTH DURING THE REVOLUTION.
Historians generally concede that no state among the old thirteen suffered during the war more than did New Jersey; and it is generally admitted that no county in our state suffered more than did old Monmouth. In addition to the outrages to which the citizens were sub- jected from the British army, they were continually har- rassed by depredations committed by regularly organized bands of Refugees, and also by the still more lawless
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
acts of a set of outcasts known as the Pine Woods Rob- bers, who, though pretending to be Tories, yet if oppor- tunity offered, robbed Tories as well as Whigs.
The Refugees, or Loyalists as they called themselves, were generally native born Americans who sided with the British regularly organized, with officers commis- sioned by the Board of Associated Loyalists at New York, of which body the President was William Franklin, the last Tory governor of New Jersey, an illegitimate son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. The Refugees had a strongly fortified settlement at Sandy Hook, the lighthouse there defended with cannon and British vessels of war always lying in the vicinity. From this settlement or "Refugees' town," as it was sometimes called, these marauders would sally forth to plunder and murder in the adjoining county. To show the perils by which the citizens of old Mon- mouth were surrounded and the outrages to which they were subjected, we append some extracts chiefly from ancient papers, which though plain and unvarnished, yet will give a vivid idea of life and times in this county in the dark days of the Revolution.
REFUGEE RAIDS IN OLD MONMOUTH- PROMINENT PATRIOTS ROBBED, CAPTURED AND MURDERED.
"June 3d, 1778. We are informed that on Wednes- day morning last, a party of about seventy of the Greens from Sandy Hook, landed near Major Kearney's (near Keyport,) headed for Mill Creek, Middletown Point, and marched to Mr. John Burrows, made him prisoner, burnt his mills and both his storehouses-all valuable build- ings, besides a great deal of his furniture. They also took prisoners Lieutenant Colonel Smock, Captain Christopher Little, Mr. Joseph Wall, Captain Joseph Covenhoven (Conover) and several other persons, and killed Messrs. Pearce and Van Brockle and wounded an- other man mortally. Having completed this and several other barbarities they precipitately returned the same morning to give an account of their abominable deeds to their bloody employers. A number of these gentry, we learn, were formerly inhabitants of that neighborhood."
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OLD MONMOUTH DURING THE REVOLUTION.
The "Greens" above mentioned, it is said, were Refugee or Loyalist Jerseymen who joined the British. Their organization was sometimes called "the New Jer- sey Royal Volunteers," under command of General Cort- landt Skinner.
"April 26th, 1779. An expedition consisting of seven or eight hundred men under Col. Hyde went to Middle- town, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury and other places, robbing and burning as they went. They took Justice Covenhoven and others prisoners. Captain Bur- rows and Colonel Holmes assembled our militia and killed three and wounded fifteen of the enemy. The enemy however succeeded in carrying off horses, cattle and other plunder."
In the above extract the name of Justice "Coven- hoven" is mentioned. The names of different members of the Covenhoven family are frequently met with in ancient papers and records among those who favored the patriot canse. Since that time the name has gradu- ally changed from Covenhoven to Conover.
In May, two or three weeks after the above affair, some two or three hundred Tories landed at Middletown, on what was then termed a "picarooning" expedition. The term " picaroon" originally meaning a plunderer or pirate, seems to have been used in that day to convey about the same idea that "raider" did in the late Re- bellion.
"June 9th, 1779. A party of abont fifty Refugees landed in Monmouth and marched to Tinton Falls undis- covered, where they surprised and carried off Colonel Hendrickson, Colonel Wyckoff, Captain Chadwick and Captain MeKnight, with several privates of the militia, and drove off sheep and horned cattle. About thirty of our militia hastily collected, made some resistance but were repulsed with the loss of two men killed and ten wounded, the enemy's loss unknown.
April 1st, 1780. About this time, the Tories made another raid to Tinton Falls, and took off seven prison- ers. Another party took Mr. Bowne prisoner at Middle-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
town, who, but three days before had been exchanged, and had just got home.
About the last of April, the Refugees attacked the house of John Holmes, Upper Freehold, and robbed him of a large amount of continental money, a silver watch, gold ring, silver buckles, pistols, clothing, &c.
June 1st, 1780. The noted Colonel Tye, (a mulatto formerly a slave in Monmouth Co.) with his motley com- pany of about twenty blacks and whites, carried off prisoners Capt. Barney Smock, and Gilbert Van Mater, spiked an iron cannon and took four horses. Their ren- dezvous was at Sandy Hook.
Shortly after this, Colonel Tye aided in the attack on Capt. Joshua Huddy, at his house at Colts Neck. Col- onel Tye, (or Titus, formerly a slave belonging to John Corlies,) though guilty of having a skin darker than our own, yet was generally acknowledged to be about the most honorable, brave, generous and determined of the Refugee leaders. Like our forefathers, he fought for his liberty, which our ancestors unfortunately refused to give him.
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