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 9
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 9
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October 15, 1781. A party of Refugees from Sandy Hook landed at night, at Shrewsbury, and marched un- discovered to Colt's Neck, and took six prisoners. The alarm reached the Court House about four or five 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. Dr. Scudder was one of the most prominent, active and use- ful patriots of Monmouth, and his death was a serious loss to the Americans.
About the beginning of August, 1782, Richard Wil- gus, an American, was shot below Allentown, while on guard to prevent contraband trade with the British.
February 8th, 1782. About forty refugees under Lieut. Steelman, came via Sandy Hook to Pleasant Val- ley. They took twenty horses and five sleighs, which they loaded with pluinder; they also took several pris-
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OLD MONMOUTH DURING THE REVOLUTION.
oners, viz: Hendrick Hendrickson and his two sons, Peter Covenhoven, or Conover as the name is now called, was made prisoner once before in 1779, as before related, Garret Hendrickson, Samuel Bowne and son, and James Denise. At Garret Hendrickson's a young man named William Thompson, got up slyly and went off and in- formed Capt. John Schenck, of Col. Holmes' regiment, who collected all the men he could to pursue. They overtook and attacked the refugees, and the before men- tioned William Thompson was killed and Mr. Cottrel wounded. They however took twelve refugees pris- oners, three of whom were wounded. But in return- ing, they unexpectedly fell in with a party of sixteen men under Stevenson, and a sudden firing caused eight of the prisoners to escape. But Capt. Schenck ordered his men to charge bayonet, and the tories surrendered. Capt. Schenck took nineteen horses and five sleighs, and took twenty-one prisoners.
The first of the foregoing extracts, relating to a raid of the British in Middletown township, in 1778, and land- ing near Major Kearney's, in the vicinity of Keyport, is probably the affair referred to in a tradition given in Howe's collections, which we give below, as it explains why the Refugees fled so precipitately. It will be noticed, however, that the tradition does not agree with extract quoted as to damage done ; but we have no doubt but that the statement copied from the ancient paper (Collins' Gazette) is correct, as it was written but a few days after the affair took place.
" The proximity of this part of Monmouth county to New York rendered it, in the war of the Revolution, peculiarly liable to the incursions of the British troops. Many of the inhabitants, although secretly favorable to the American cause, were obliged to feign allegiance to the crown, or lose their property by marauding parties of the refugees, from vessels generally lying off Sandy Hook. Among those of this description was Major Kearney, a resident near the present site of Keyport. On one occasion a party of thirty or forty refugees stopped
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
at his dwelling on their way to Middletown Point, where they intended to burn a dwelling and some mills. Kear- ney feigned gratification at their visit, and falsely in- formed them there were probably some rebel troops at the Point, in which case it would be dangerous for them to march thither. He ordered his negro servant, Jube, thither to make inquiry, at the same time secretly giving him the que how to act. In due length of time Jube, who had gone but a short distance, returned and hastily entered the room where Kearney and the Refugees were, and exclaimed : "Oh Massa ! Massa ! the rebels are at the Point thick as blackberries! They have just come down from the Court House and say they are going to march down here to-night." The ruse succeeded; the Refugees, alarmed, precipitately retreated to their boats, leaving the Major to rejoice at the stratagem which had saved the property of his friends from destruction."
The probability is that the ruse prevented the Refu- gees from doing as much damage as they had intended, although they remained long enough to inflict considera- ble injury, as has been related.
FREEHOLD IN THE REVOLUTION.
A few days previous to the battle of Monmouth, the prisoners in Freehold jail, six of whom were under sen- tence of death, were removed to the jail at Morristown, under charge of Nicholas Van Brunt, who was at the time Sheriff of Monmouth County. The following is an extract from the minutes of the State Council of Safety, under date of September 28, 1778 :
"Agreed that there be paid to Mr. Schenck for the use of Nicholas Van Brunt, Sheriff of Monmonth, for his expenses in removing the prisoners from the gaol in Monmouth Co. to that of Morris, at the time of the enemy's march through Monmouth & in fetching back to Monmouth those who were there to be exeented, as per his account, the sum of £48 6s."
It will be remembered that the corpse of Captain Joshua Huddy, after his murder, was brought to the
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FREEHOLD IN THE REVOLUTION.
house of Captain James Green, at Freehold. Captain Green's house seems to have been the principal place, for a time, in Freehold, for meetings to transact public business. A number of trials were held there, notably Courts of Admiralty to try claims for prizes captured by the Americans. Esquire Abiel Aiken, of Toms River, had one here the week before Huddy was taken, to try the claims for the prize "Lucy," of which William Dil- lon had been master. Dillon was one of the eight men in Freehold jail under sentence of death, to whom Rev. Abel Morgan preached in June, 1778, but he somehow escaped death. The next week after Esquire Aiken had the examination at Captain Green's house, at Freehold, for claims against Dillon's vessel. Dillon piloted the British expedition into Toms River, which destroyed the block house, captured Huddy and others, and burned the village and Esquire Aiken's house among the rest.
Captain James Green may have been a seafaring man previous to the war. At a Court of Admiralty he at one time had claim on the Betty, a captured prize.
It will be remembered that one of Captain Huddy's daughters married a Green and the other a Piatt. This last was a Middlesex County name. John Piatt was sheriff of Middlesex in 1779 and thereabouts. John Van Kirk was sheriff before him, and John Conway followed him.
In Monmouth, during the war, Nicholas VanBrunt was sheriff, then David Forman, and the last year of the war John Burrows, Jr.
In 1780, sales were advertised to take place at the house of Daniel Randolph, Freehold. A very prominent man at Toms River in the early part of the war was James Randolph, extensively engaged in saw mills and other business. He died about 1781, and Daniel Ran- dolph's appearance, then, at Toms River, suggests that he might have gone there to manage the estate. An ex- ecutor named Benjamin Randolph then lived in Chest- nut street, Philadelphia.
James Wall is named as an innkeeper, at Freehold,
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
in 1778, and William Snyder, innkeeper, is named 1779.
The only paper published in New Jersey then was the New Jersey Gazet'e, of which Isaac Collins was pub- lisher. There were no post offices then in Monmouth. The nearest one was at Trenton, of which B. Smith was Post-Master. The New Jersey Gazette had many sub- scribers in Monmouth, to whom papers were delivered by post riders who undertook such business on their own account.
UPPER FREEHOLD.
GETTING READY TO TAR AND FEATHER THE KING'S LAWYER- MONEY PANIC AMONG "THE MONMOUTH PEOPLE," 1769.
By the courtesy of C. D. Deshler, Esq., of the New Brunswick Historical Club, the Editor of the Monmouth Democrat, Mr. James S. Yard, was given permission to publish the following interesting paper communicated by Mr. Deshler to the Club, from which paper it is copied :
Bernardus Legrange, an attorney living at New Brunswick in 1769, was complained of to the Assembly for having taken exorbitant fees. For this he was repri- manded by the Council, but this punishment was miti- gated by their publishing, subsequently, letters from Chief Justice Smith, and Second Justice Read, which stated that his charges were only such as were custom- arily made.
Shortly after, a singular letter was addressed to Le- grange. It was anonymous, and was thought to be of sufficient importance to be inserted in the Minutes of the Assembly. It was as follows :
To Bernardus Legrange, Esq., Attorney at Low in New Brunswick :
FRIEND LEGRANGE-As I am a lover of peace and concord, there is nothing gives me greater pleasure than beholding the same having a subsistence among man- kind. And on the other hand there is nothing can give me so much pain as to see any of the human species be- come a Nuisance to the commonalty of mankind. Whether they become such thro' an act of inadvertence
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UPPER FREEHOLD.
or from a selfish ambition. As for the Ist I heartily be- moan and bewail them (as it may flow from some natural passion) and I think so ought all considerate men rather than ridicule 'em ; for my own part I am always led to pity & lament the condition of that man I see act against his own peace & well-being here. And if it is Ambition, that has made him such to his fellow creatures, Oh! Wretch indeed ! that Satan shou'd lift up his mind, that he shou'd become the cause of his own ruin, and the de- rision and hissing of the general part of his acquaint- ance. What has begotten you the hatred & aversion of the public in these parts are best known to thyself, & whether deservedly or undeservedly I shall not deter- mine ; but one thing I can assure you, that thou hast accrued it to the highest degree. And, if thou comest this way, may God Almighty have Mercy on thee, for I am convinced the people have none, if the Lord does not turn their hearts from their present resolutions.
I will let thee know what I heard the other day among a parcel of people, having met accidentally with 'em at the Mill at English town concerning you and some more of your brethren; thee especially they seemed to have the greatest grudge against : One of them said, He wished that fellow Legrange would come to Court this month, he should not escape from out of a back window as he did before; another of the company makes answer Damn him, I hear he is to come and act as King's Attorney ; but that shall not screen the rascal, says he ; Ave, says he, the lawyers has done that a purpose, that we might not disturb the villain ; but if we catch him, we will Legrange him !
I hearing the people expressing themselves in this manner I began to examine them what you had done unto them that enraged them so against you. Why, says one, he will bring down our heads & humble us. They say you egged up their Creditors to put their bonds in suit saying Monmouth people are all like to fail, and much more of the like nature. And, I inquired, if they con'd prove their assertions against you, they say, yes they can, by some of their creditors; and will if you carry some action ; but I could not learn against whom, or where the person lived.
Yesterday I was in Upper Freehold among some Company, where I heard them resolve concerning you, much the same as above; wishing you might come to Court, for there were between seven and eight hundred of them ready to receive you. Nay, I have heard some
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
of them declare solemnly they would use you as the in- formers were used at New York and Philadelphia. I know, they collected some money to purchase two barrels of Tar and have agreed with a man to haul it a Monday. And as far as I can learn it is for you. They intend to tar & feather you, and to cart you from the Court house to Vankirk's Mill & back again. In imitation of the Oister- man in New York.
I shou'd have taken the trouble to come to your house and informed you of the plotters against your per- son ere now, only, as I have some considerable property in this County, I know they would utterly ruin me if they knew I divulged to you the least matter.
Friend Legrange, you can act as you think will best suit you. Only I would advise you as a friend, to con- sider seriously the fury of an enraged mob; mad with oppression ; and think deliberately with yourself how you expect to escape their hands : 0, 1 beseech You! to ponder well in your own breast, the fate of many Kings & Princes, when they become obnoxious or hateful to the people. And the spirit of rioting seems to increase in our day ; think of the fate of Major James Ogden, and many of the custom house officers. Nay, we have daily instances of one or another falling a sacrifice to the peo- ple when provoked. And I can positively affirm if thou hadst dwelt in this County there would not been left one stone on another of your house ere now.
Raro antecedentem scelestum desiruit pede pona- ceaudo.
I ordered my young man to leave this for you, at your house or Duff's for thee.
This letter was thought of sufficient importance by the House of Assembly to be made the subject of its action, and the following additional record is to be found concerning it in the Minutes of Assembly :
"On the question
" Resolved that the said letter is scandalous and un- warrantable: and that this house look upon the same as manifestly tending to a breach of the public peace. The voices being equal the Speaker decided in the Affirm- ative."
On the vote the members from Middlesex voted in the negative, and those from Monmouth and Somerset were divided.
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OLD TIMES.
OLD TIMES.
AN ANCIENT TAVERN BOOK.
Certainly the tavern accounts of a New Jersey Coun- try Inn, of over an hundred years old, would be a curiosity. The kindness of a friend has placed before us just such a document. It is a home-made book of the ancient ribbed and unruled fools-cap paper. The book is made by folding each leaf down the middle, lengthwise, so that each sheet makes four leaves or eight pages. The length is thirteen inches, and the width is nearly four and one-half inches. The cover is also home-made, being of a coarse, thin paste-board, made by pasting to- gether several sheets of paper, and then pasting a strip of thin paper a quarter of an inch wide round the border. The opening is made on the inside of the cover, where the owner writes : "His Book of Tavern Accompts November 14 1766 the Money prock." The abbreviated word "prock " needs explanation, which has been kindly furnished by Mr. C. D. Deshler, of the New Brunswick Historical Club. It alludes to the official and legislative proclamations regulating the currency as to its value. The accounts, however, are kept (though not very artisti- cally, yet with care,) in pounds, shillings and pence.
A private note accompanying the book informs us that it is "the account of a hotel in Somerset county." However that may be, the names found in the entries are the family names of nearly all the old families of Mon- mouth county, and the adjoining county of Middlesex. There are accounts with one hundred and forty persons. Very numerous among these are the Cowenhovens. Of these one is entered with strict formality as "Wm. Cowenhoven Pt S." and another as " Court house William Cowenhoven." We have also the Buckelews, Carliles, Combses, Claytons, Cassleers, Campbells, Clarks, Craigs, Millers, Coopers, Disborrows, Dorsets, Englishes, Em- leys, Erricksons, Formans, Gastons, Pages, Herberts, Hagemans, Loyds, Lairds, Murrays, Moxols, Morfords, Newells, Perines, Patersons, Rue, Reed, Smalley, Smith,
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
Scobey, Polhamicees, Tilton, Wooley, Winerite, White, Ac. It is seen that these names are spelled differently now. And very curious are the entries in this old book. Doubtless the following customer was a hard working, sturdy woman of those times. We copy the whole entry: 1767. DOLLEY HAGEMAN, Dr.
January 2 To 1 mug of Cider & 1-2 Dram
To 1 mug of Beer 6.
6.
To 1-2 Dram 2.
To 2 mugs of Beer 1 -.
April S To 1 Dram 4.
To 1-2 Dram 2.
0. 2. 8.
So Dolley's " accompt " was 0.£. 2s. 8d. She paid the account, as it is cancelled by two lines drawn diagonally across the page. She is the only lady customer this trusting publican had. A customer named Rogers has a long and varied account. "To 1 mug of Cider 4d" oc- curs often. We hnd him on New Year's day taking " 1 inng of Cider at 4d.," and again on the same day indulg- ing in two mugs, for which he is charged Sd. The next day we find him charged with "2 Pints of Cider 4d. Query : did a mug of cider contain two pints, as it is charged 4d., also? If so, on New Year's he must have taken three quarts of apple juice.) This same day he is charged "to Victuals 5d. To 1 Dram 4d. To Supper 10d. To Hot Rum 1s. 2d." As a dram was a gill, and cost 4d., this hot rum at 14 pence must have been a pretty heavy night-cap after supper. But this customer was generous, as we find him charged "To liquor in Company (that is, to treating round) 1s. 7d." Other en- tries against him are in March, "1 mug of Beer 6d." Next month occurs an entry "2 mugs of beer 6d." (Query : did they have different sized mugs ?) The en- tries occur "To Beer and egg rum 9d. To liquor & Bread & Cheese 1s. 11d. To Beer & Egg Rum 9d. April 9. To 1 Dram & Pint of Beer 7. To Cash 2s. To 1 Egg Dram 6. On this date is an entry to his favor : "Cr. By
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OLD TIMES.
Cash 7s. 6d." Two days after, another fit of good nature comes on, so he is charged "To Dinner & Liquor in Comp. 1s. 8d, " and the same day he borrows of the land- lord Is. On the 27th he stands charged "To 2 Drams Sd. To Egg Rum & Wine 1s. 4d."
In an account running against one William Orchard through several months, we find among many entries for drinks certain items that would indicate him to be a ped- dler, and which afford some insight into traveling ex- penses : "To Vietual & mug of Cider 1s. 6d. To Lodg- ing 4d. To hay & oats for horses Is. To breakfast and dram 1s. To hay 1 day & 1 Night 1s. To 2 Quarts of oats 4d. To Breakfast & mug Cider 1s. 2d. To Dinner 1s. To hay for your horse ls." &c.
A curious account is one that shows a bad debt brought from the day book, and the landlord's shrewd- ness in his further dealing. The account is as follows : 1766. MATTHEW RUE, Blacksmith Dr.
Dec 16. Brought from the Day Book 4. 6.
Jan 30. To mug of Beer on a ship in pawn 6.
So the poor blacksmith had to pawn a miniature ship in order to get his drink. As to how the affair ended, there is no clue.
Among a good many entries, William Carlile is charged " To 1 Sling 6d. To 1-2 Bowle of Punch 9. To 1 Pint of Beer 3d. To 1 mug of Beer 6d." It would seem, then, that the mug was of the capacity of a quart.
In the account of David Welch, January 12, 1767, is the entry : "To mug of Beer Wagered on Carlisles Wed- ding 6." The same day Welch is charged "To Stewed &- Rum 5d." What cookery may be implied in the word " stewed " is not clear, as the price does not permit the following to explain it : "To Cider, Quaker & Beer 1s. 3d. To mug of Stewed Quaker Is." This "Stewed Quaker " consisted of cider with some cider oil in it, and a hot roasted apple floating on top. This whim of the fre- quenters of our ancient American Tavern wasreally only a refinement on the luxury indulged in by the evening patrons of the old English hostelry, when a roasted or
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
wild apple was floated on the mugs of ale. David Welch's account runs through four months, and foots up 0 15s. 2d. At the bottom is written: "The above acc. is paid."
One Peter Yatsman runs an account in the years 1766 -- 67 -- 68. From the nature of the entries it would seen that he is a traveler-likely a peddler-as among similar entries is found this one : "To hay Stabling, Sup- per, Lodging & Rum 2s. 8d." The heaviest single entry in the book occurs in his account. " To liquor & Vict- uals in Com. 6s. 3d." He is also charged " To 1 Bole of Toddy 1s.," and to "a pound and a half of Tobacco 11d." We suspect a half pound was meant. Peter is credited by "31s. york," which is entered as " 1€. 9s. 6d.," and finally (a rare case, certainly), the landlord makes a closing entry of 7s. 2d. in Yatsman's favor.
One David Wilson seems remarkably free, as in a short account he is charged seven times liquoring and victualing the company. This Mr. Wilson stands, in one entry, credited with "two turkeys, total 5s. 6d."
A John Cowenhoven stands charged "To 1 mug of Swezel." What that is, does not appear; but it cost 10d., and as a mug of cider cost but 4, and a mug of beer but 6, it was rather costly.
Charles Scobey gets credit " By soaling 2 pairs of Shoes, 4s.
Jonathan Forman gets credit for "two bushels of Corn, Gs."
In settling one account certain differences are struck between York money and Prock (proclamation) money, and an allowance is made for what is called "light money."
This short sketch from this curious old book, is given to show the prices of some things at that time. It would be interesting to get at the old time talks, when the old folks gathered at this hostelry to hear the news and discuss the scandals. The book shows vividly the social status of the alcohol question then. Among the names is one Gilbert Tennent-we dare not say it was
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OLD TIMES IN OCEAN COUNTY.
the minister, because we are not sure. But this is eer- tain, that since then the change in sentiment has been stupendous. It was then no disgrace to sit in the tavern and indulge-the wedding, the funeral, the ministers' gathering, all saw the social cup pass freely. Verily, temperance men have wrought wonders ; and the world moves for the better, as is testified to by this old witness of the days of 1766.
OLD TIMES IN OCEAN COUNTY.
REMINISCENCES OF ITS DISCOVERY-SETTLEMENT-CHURCH HISTORY-REVOLUTIONARY AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTER- - SCENES ON THE COAST-FISHING AND WHALING-RELIG- IOUS SOCIETIES, &C.
The first mention by Europeans of that portion of our State now comprised within the limits of the county of Ocean is contained in the following extract from the journal kept by Robert Juet mate of the "Half Moon," of which ship Sir Henry Hudson was commander. Sin Henry Hudson himself has given us no account of his discoveries on this trip in 1609. The Half Moon left Delaware Bay and was proceeding northerly along our coast when Juet wrote as follows :
"Sept. 2nd 1609. The course along the land we found to be N. E. by N. from the land which we first had sight of until we came to a great lake of water as we could judge it to be, being drowned land which made it rise like islands, was in length ten leagues. The mouth of the lake has many shoals and the sea breaks upon them as it is cast out of the mouth of it. And from that lake or bay the land lays N. by E. and we had a great stream out of the bay, and from thence our soundings was ten fathoms two leagues from land. At five o'clock we anchored in eight fathoms water, wind light. Far to the northward we saw high hills."
The next morning the Half Moon proceeded on to- wards the Highlands.
Juet's description of the coast, its two courses, one
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
above and the other below Barnegat gives it as it still is ; the soundings are about as he describes, and the inlet and bay still present the same appearance.
SAW AND GRIST MILLS IN ANCIENT TIMES-FORD, FERRY, ETC. AT TOMS RIVER.
Among the sawmills first erected in Ocean county may be mentioned the following :
John Eastwood had a sawmill on Cedar Creek pre- vious to 1740.
Edward Beak's, sawmill, Kettle Creek, 1742.
Van Hook's sawmill, Dry Cedar Swamp Brook, 1749.
Everingham's sawmill, north branch Toms River, 1750.
Van Horn's sawmill, Van Horn's brook, Toms River, 1759.
Coward's sawmill, north branch Toms River, 1762.
In the New York Gazette, April, 1768, appears an advertisement offering for sale a tract of land of 1,000 acres at Toms River ; also a sawmill four miles from the bay, renting for 82,000 feet good inch boards a year. The advertisement is signed by Paul and Abraham Schenck, and reference given to John Williams, Tiniconk Bridge.
Jackson's Mills and Schenck's Mills, Jackson town- ship, Willett's Mills, Stafford, Kimmons' Mills, New Egypt and mills on Forked River (upper mill), Waretown and Oyster Creeks, were also built at an early date. The saw and grist mill at 'Toms River (where the village now is) were burnt by the British, March, 1782.
We find that some of these mills were established farther up some of these streams than many now would suppose would be the case ; the lumber would be made into small narrow rafts and floated down towards the bay, where vessels would be in readiness to carry it to market. Old Cranberry Inlet being then open it was much more convenient to get to New York than at the present day.
In 1748 we find in ancient records mention of Marcus Hedden's dam at Toms River called "The old
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OLD TIMES IN OCEAN COUNTY.
giving over place ; " other writings speak of " The old riding overplace," which was near the present bridge. In 1749 we find mention of A. Enker's Ferry at Toms River.
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