USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 37
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"(Signed) IRENE MILLS. MARIA B. MILLS.
"January, 1898."
III. The following is from the Hon. John Whitehead, late United States Commissioner for New Jersey, and author of the "Judicial and Civil History of New Jersey," and of several hundred historical articles in the historical and analogous publications in the State.
"Morristown, N. J., Feb. 16th, 1898.
"My Dear Sir:
"My relations with Morristown prior to my continued residence there, which began in 1865, have always been of the most intimate character. My ancestors were Morristown people extending back four or five generations. I cannot remem- ber the time when I did not believe fully that Washington while here with the army during the Revolution, partook of the Communion with the Presbyterian church. It was one of those traditions which are believed as much as tho they were actual fact, known to have occurred. So, when I heard some years ago that it was doubted whether such an occurrence had actually happened, I took measures to satisfy myself on the subject. I was quite astounded and more disappointed to learn that there was so little evidence on the subject. The conviction of its truth was shattered, and I began to imagine that, after all, it only rested on tradition, and, almost in despair, I gave up the attempt to fortify my belief.
"But, to my very great delight, I was furnished with proof which seemed to me almost irrefragable. An old lady, one of the representatives of our most re- spected families, informed me that her father, who was then a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, told her that he was present on the occasion when General Washington partook of the elements at the table, and that he himself handed him the bread and wine. The church edifice at the time was used as a hospital for the
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smallpox patients among the soldiers, and the congregation were in the habit of assembling in the open air, in a little dell in the rear of the parsonage, then occupied by the Rev. Timothy Johnes, D.D., then pastor of the church. This parsonage is still in existence, in most excellent preservation, and is now used by the Memorial Hospital.
"I think if any one fifty or sixty years ago, in the hearing of any old or middle- aged Morris County man had expressed any doubt as to the truth of the story about Washington's partaking of the Communion with the First Presbyterian church-members, he would have been most sharply rebuked. It was a story which no one in Morris County ever doubted, until these last years when that iconoclastic spirit, which seems disposed to destroy all our beautiful traditions, attacked this .. It seems to me to savor almost of impiety for an American citizen to attempt to detract from the character of the Father of his Country, and I do not envy the man who attempts to do it.
"Very truly and sincerely yours, "J. WHITEHEAD."
IV. The Hon. Frederick G. Burnham was a lawyer in active civil practice when I consulted him upon this subject. He is still living, and known widely as the donor and founder of the Burnham Industrial Farm.
"Morristown, N. J., February 15th, 1897.
"Dear Dr. Buckley :
"You requested me to give you a short narrative of a conversation that took place between Mrs. Lindsley, my great-aunt and myself, at Morristown, in 1844. My aunt I think was about seventy-eight years of age at that time; she was born in Morris County, a sister to my grandfather, Silas Condict, who died in Morris- town in 1848. My aunt frequently visited at my grandfather's house, and had taken quite a fancy to me; she was in the habit of relating many incidents of Revolution- ary times to me and found a ready listener. The statement which I now make I remember as distinctly as tho it were narrated to me yesterday, and there can be no question but that I perfectly understood her. * * *
"As the time approached, when in accordance with the Presbyterian usage the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was to be administered, Washington wrote to Mr. Johnes that he understood such to be the case; that he was unaware of the rules obtaining in the Presbyterian church as he was a communicant of the Established Church of England, but that if it was in accordance with the rules of the Pres- byterian church, it would give him great pleasure to worship with them on that occasion and to partake of the Sacrament. To this letter the Rev. Mr. Johnes re- plied that the custom of the Presbyterian church was to invite all Christians to the table of the Lord, as it was in no wise an ordinance belonging to the Presbyterian church alone, and that it would give him great pleasure to welcome General Wash- ington at the service on the coming Sabbath. When the next Sabbath came the usual preparations for the church service and for the administration of the Lord's Supper were made in the open air, on the spot where they were accustomed to worship, as I have said. General Washington attended, was seated with the con- gregation, remained through the service, and there partook of the Lord's Supper. The only thing which I wish I could remember distinctly, is whether my aunt said that she was present herself and saw General Washington. But that she spoke of it in the most complete and detailed manner, and without the slightest possible question, and referred to it as to an event which had happened within her recollec- tion and was perfectly remembered, and of which she possessed the most perfect knowledge, there can be no question whatever.
"My profession has called upon me for many years to be cautious in sifting evidence, and I say without any question that, considering the character of the woman, her strong intellect and keen perceptions and perfect memory, there is no more doubt about the correctness of her narrative than there is of the fact that General Washington was present with his troops in Morristown in that winter. Besides this statement, made to me in this clear and emphatic manner, I wish to add that there are several persons still living in Morristown and in its vicinity to. whom the above facts were told by their parents or grandparents, so that the story, as I have given it, is corroborated in a variety of ways and by a variety of persons. "Believe me to remain,
"Very truly yours, "FREDERICK G. BURNHAM."
V. In 1851, James Richards, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian
..
Norris Tavern, Morristown, where Gen. Benedict Arnold was tried by Court Martial. The house is still standing, corner of Water and Spring streets. (Plate of P. H. Hoffman).
13
Fort Nonsense Hill.
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Church in Morristown, and son of the venerable Dr. Richards, who suc- ceeded Dr. Johnes in 1794, informed the editor of the Presbyterian Maga- zine in 1851 that he had often heard his father relate the circumstances of this Communion, he having heard it from Dr. Johnes.
VI. Dr. Albert Barnes, famous as a commentator, was many years the pastor in Philadelphia, and was ordained and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church and congregation in Morristown by the Presbytery on the 8th day of February, 1825. Dr. Johnes had then been dead only 29 years. Dr. Barnes informed the editor of the Presbyterian Magazine that he never had any doubt on the subject.
VII. Although every reasoning mind would be convinced by what has been brought forward, that George Washington participated in the Holy Communion from the hands of the pastor and elders of the First Presby- terian Church in Morristown, I subjoin another testimony of great weight. A few days after my articles were published in the Independent, I re- ceived from Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, known throughout the Protestant world, the following letter :
"Dear Brother :
"I have read your article in this week's Independent with much satisfaction; but if I had known that you were preparing it, I could have saved you the trouble of getting these affidavits.
"Morristown is the native place of my mother and ancestors. Dr. Timothy John's was my great-great-grandfather. In October eight years ago I published in the Independent an account of Washington's Communion from my ancestor Dr. Johnes, and gave my own grandparents for the authority for the facts."
Any method that would discredit the truth of this narrative would overthrow nearly every fact in the history of mankind that rests upon tradition. It has been always believed and believed by all who had op- portunity to know the facts, and has been by them transmitted to their children to the fourth and fifth generations.
Fort Nonsense-The hill known as Mount Washington, or Kemble Mountain, ends abruptly in Morristown, back of the court house, and it is the site of the famous old "Fort Nonsense." The spot is nearly 100 feet above the Park, and 450 feet above sea level. On April 27, 1888, occurred the unveiling of a commemorative monument, and the subjoined account of that interesting event is by Rev. Dr. James M. Buckley, the author previously quoted :
The business portion of the town was decked with flags, streamers and bunting. Many private residences also were decorated. The site of the pre-revolutionary Arnold Tavern exhibited a full length oil portrait of Washington. Stores were closed and business suspended. Various organizations formed in front of, and on either side of the First Presby- terian Church, with whose members Washington worshipped. After the procession had moved through the most important parts of the town, it marched to the Fort, where the right of the line opened, and the invited guests, the orator, the Washington Association, and others, marched and took their position at the Monument. The gun was rushed to the position for the salute. Among the interesting persons were 212 girls from the public school, who, together with the boys, formed a body of 345 children. The Banner devoted four columns to the event.
The Monument stands on the highest point of the Fort, commanding a view on all sides. The exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Albert Erdman, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Morristown.
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This was followed by a short and pertinent address by Mr. J. W. Roberts, the president of the Washington Association. He gave ex-Mayor Miller credit for first proposing the erection of the Monument that would mark the fast-disappearing lines of the Fort.
Dr. J. M. Buckley, editor of the Christian Advocate, of New York, was then introduced, and elevated to the top of the Monument, whence "he held the close attention of the large assembly of ladies and gentlemen as well as those who composed the various organizations massed about the Park."
As early as December 7th, 1776, Washington wrote to the President of Congress that he had directed three regiments from Ticonderoga to halt at Morristown, where 800 militia had collected. On the 14th of De- cember of that year, Col. Ford's militia had an engagement with the enemy, and expected it would be renewed the next morning to gain the passes of the mountains. On the 22d of December, Col. Ford brought militia from Chatham up to Morristown. On the 3Ist of December, the Colonel was taken ill, and died on the IIth of January, 1777; his father, Col. Jacob Ford, Sr., died on the 19th day of the same month. Both of these deaths occurred before General Washington reached Morristown; the latter, as is well known, went there immediately after the battle of Princeton.
During the proceedings, Dr. Buckley introduced various incidents, in one of which, in Whippany, Anna Kitchel said, "I have a husband, a father and five brothers in the American army; and if the God of Battles will not care for us, we will fare with the rest."
At that time the people were generally poor, but there were many patriots in Morristown. Some made powder, and others made powder into cartridges. The ministers were all patriots. When General Wash- ington went to Morristown, he did not like the situation; but, after he had remained some time, he found that the enemy could not possibly get into the county.
In December, 1779, Washington began "his Morristown life," and became the guest of the widow of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., at what is now the noblest monument and still most charming residence which Morristown contains, and historically inferior in interest to Mount Vernon only. "Eighteen of the servants belonging to Gen. Washington's family, and all of Mrs. Ford's, were crowded together into the kitchen and buildings about it." And, as Washington said, "Scarce one of them were able to speak for the colds they had."
The army was encamped about four miles southwest from Morristown. To reach it from that town, one had to go nearly four miles to property now owned by D. H. McAlpin, and turn to the right and go for half a mile. On that estate there were found sixty-six fireplaces in one field, and many of these served as beacon-lights. Often at night there might be seen fire on the Short Hills, afterward followed by the brilliant lights on the Denville mountain, and all the way to the line of mountains of Orange county, New York.
After describing the situation, and what was going on, the speaker then turned to traditions, the clearest of which say that, in addition to the assigned purpose of the fortification, Washington ordered its construc- tion in order to keep the men employed so as to preserve their health and prevent the rising of discontent. Also, when he was removing, and was asked what name should be given to the Fort, he answered, "Fort Non- sense."
4048.36
Nº 105. SURVEY OF MORRISTOWN BY THE CHAIN ONLY,
(4048'24"
MORRISTOWN.
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40'48'72"
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40°48'00"
0.37'24'
37'36"
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3800
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PLAN OF MORRISTOWN BY SURVEY ORDERED BY GENERAL WASHINGTON, 1777. KEY :
1-Benj. Lindsley, about where is now smumer house in front of late residence of Dr. J. Smith Dodge. 2-Life Guard Int. 3-Washington's Headquarters. +Dr. Jabez Canfield: honse now owned and occupied by James Clark. Olyphant lane and Morris street. 5-Frederick King, corner Olyphant lane and Morris street : formerly known as Duncan honse; now owned by Joseph York. G-Occupied by Maj. Mahlon Ford ; not standing now. 7-Old Dickerson house; not known by whom ocenpied during Revolutionary War; about in center of present depot plaza. S-Col. Joseph Lewis: now owned by Lackawanna R. R. Co. 9-Rev. Timothy Johnes ; present Memorial Hospital. 10-Pres- byterian Church. 11-Norris Tavern. corner Spring and Waters streets, where yellow house now stands. 12- Baptist Church: about where old Baptist Church stood; present MeAlpin building. 13-Col. Henry Remsen. 14 -- Court House and Jail; opposite United States Hotel; about center of street. West Park Place. 15-Curtis' store. 16- Arnold Tavern ; present site of "The Arnold," now Hoffman building. 17-Continental Stores, present site of Washington Hall, now owned by W. F. Day. 18-Ex-Sheriff Carmichael: present Bell building. 19-Lieut. Col.
Wm. Dellart ; now owned by Dr. Henry N. Dodge. 20-Squire Samuel Tuthill. 21-Present James street. 22- South street. 23-Basking Ridge road; present Market street and Mt. Kemble avenne. 24-Jockey Hollow road ; now Western avenue. 25-Mendham road; now Early street. 26-Whippany road; now Morris street and avenue. 27- Bottle Hill road; now Washington avenue. 28-Present Spring street. 29-Present Water street.
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If we apply the test of reason to history, it appears entirely harmonious with these known facts: 1. The soldiers were kept in their huts for a long time in a cold and stormy season. 2. They were greatly dispirited. 3. They were poorly clad and sheltered, and poorly paid. 4. They were necessarily idle, unless work was laid out for them by the commander. 5. They were homeless to a great degree.
To hold them together, no more reasonable method could be desired than to keep them at work. All great commanders have understood this. Work everywhere presents an antidote to ill-health, depression and ex- cessive emotion of all kinds. It requires more determination and patriot- ism to endure a winter under such circumstances without fighting than it does to advance in all the panoply of war upon the enemy.
Fort Nonsense, as a name, may be by some doubted. But it is be- cause of the partial view they have of the Father of his Country, and his peculiar situation.
Frequently opposing generals have been friends. This was seen in the Civil War between the North and the South. Scarcely a week after Washington had made his headquarters at Morristown, on January 31, 1777, he wrote two letters to Lord Howe, the commander of the British army, on the subject of the cruel usage our captured soldiers and sailors were receiving in New York, and referred for proof to their emaciated countenances which would confirm it, and "did he not endeavor to obtain a redress of their grievances," he writes, "he would think himself as culpable as those who inflicted such severities upon them."
If Washington was not a wit, he was at times capable of humor. Howe is said to have sent to Washington, in their discussions, a copy of Watts' version of the 120th Psalm, as follows :
"Thou God of love, thou ever blest, Pity my suffering state; When wilt thou set my soul at rest From lips that love deceit ?
"Hard lot of mine; my days are cast Among the sons of strife, Whose never-ceasing brawlings waste My golden hours of life.
"O! might I change my place, How would I choose to dwell In some wide, lonesome wilderness And leave these gates of hell !"
It is also said that Washington returned Watts' Version of the IOIst Psalm, entitled "The Magistrate's Psalm," containing the following pointed verses :
"In vain shall sinners strive to rise By flattering and malicious lies; And while the innocent I guard The bold offender sha'n't be spared.
"The impious crew, that factious band, Shall hide their heads, or quit the land; And all who break the public rest, Where I. have power, shall be suppressed."
Dr. Buckley closed with congratulations to citizens of all classes, and especially those of foreign descent; and gave a tribute to the patriotism and good taste of the Washington Association, closing with the sentiment : The Memory of the Hero is the Treasure of His Country.
The stone is as it came from its native quarry, and stands some four feet high, and weighs about four tons. On it is inscribed :
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This stone marks the site of Fort Nonsense an earthwork built by the Continental army in the winter of 1779, 80
1
Erected by the Washington Association of New Jersey 1888
The Soldiers' Monument-This beautiful memorial to the brave men of Morris county who fought in the War of the Rebellion, stands in a corner of "The Green," facing the First Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches. The monument, erected at a cost of $15,000, was designed and built by H. H. Davis, of Morristown, and was unveiled July 4, 1871, in the presence of the governor and other dignitaries of the State of New Jersey, and an immense concourse of people. The monument is of Quincy granite, fifty feet high, surmounted by the figure of a soldier boy at "parade rest," eight feet high. The shaft is inscribed with the names of the battles of the Civil War in which New Jersey troops fought; and on the base are the following inscriptions :
A grateful country mourns the loss of those who fell in her defense. Their memory shall never fade, who fell in defense of a just cause.
LODGES AND SOCIETIES
Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons, is the successor of American Union Lodge, an army lodge, which was granted a dispen- sation February 15, 1776, by Colonel Richard Gridley, deputy grand master of Massachusetts, to certain brethren of the Connecticut Line of the patriot army. At the close of the year 1779, the lodge was located with Wash- ington's army in Morristown. On December 27, 1779, a meeting of the lodge was held in celebration of St. John's Day (St. John the Evangelist being regarded as the patron saint of the order), the records showing an attendance of sixty-eight brethren, including General Washington, who had been made a Mason on November 6, 1752, by Fredericksburg (Virginia) Lodge, No. 4; he passed as a fellow-craft March 3, 1753, and was raised to the sublime degree of master mason August 4, same year. There is a tradition that at this meeting on St. John's Day, 1779, General Lafayette was initiated.
On December 18, 1786, a convention of Master Masons was held at New Brunswick to form a Grand Lodge of the State of New Jersey. At a communication held there, January 30, 1787, a dispensation was granted to certain master masons for a lodge at Morristown, to be known as Hiram Lodge, No. 4. On April 2, 1787, the dispensation was canceled, and a charter issued by the Grand Lodge, which was returned July 5, 1796, on account of non-attendance of members. A dispensation was granted No- vember 10, 1812, to twelve master masons, under the name of St. Tam- many's Lodge, but after a few years this was also returned to the Grand Lodge. ·
On November 8, 1803, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge to certain masons, and Worshipful Master James Barras, Senior Warden William Bailey, and Junior Warden John Sturtevant, to hold a lodge at Montville, Morris county, to be called Cincinnati Lodge, No. 17. On November II, 1806, permission was granted by the Grand Lodge to change the place of meeting to Hanover (Whippany), where the lodge met until
THIS STONE MARKS THE SITE OF FORT NONSENSE. AN EARTH-WORK BUILT BY THE CONTINENTAL ARMY IN THE WINTER OF 1779-80.
ERECTED BY THE WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 1888.
PHOTO END
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December 26, 1844, when by permission of the Grand Master it was removed to Morristown. On November 8, 1842, the number of the lodge was changed by the Grand Lodge from 17 to 3. James Barras was the first worshipful master, and Stephen Fairchild the first after the removal to Morristown. The lodge has a present membership of 259. The officers are as follows ( 1914) :
Willis C. Drake, W. M .; Albert P. Pruden, S. W .; Albert H. Totten, J. W .; John H. Madigan, treasurer; C. A. Fairchild, secretary; James Douglas, chaplain ; Philip Stone, chaplain; Stuart W. Kay, S. D .; Andrew M. Anderson, J. D .; William E. Van Liew, M. of C .; Floyd J. Kilpatrick, M. of C .; Edward P. Guerin, S. S .; Thomas W. Dean, J. S .; John O. K. Heath, marshal; Henry L. Freeman, organist; Jacob Boehle, tyler. Stand- ing Committee-Henry H. Hays, John A. Stark, Samuel A. Ramsey.
Past Masters-Jacob O. Arnold, John W. Hays, Charles H. Ames, J. F. Lindsley, John B. Wolfe, J. B. Stevens, Stuart M. Toms, Aug. W. Bell, G. A. Becker, M. D., W. W. Cutler, Luther Evans, William Smart, Na- thaniel C. Toms, Charles R. Slater, George H. Millen, Henry H. Hays, John O. K. Heath, John A. Stark, John H. Madigan, William N. Beach, Fred- erick W. Smart.
Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .- On September 26, 1871, a peti- tion for a dispensation to open and hold a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Madison, Morris county, signed by Charles L. Chovey, Henry C. Ohlen, Rev. R. H. Travis, Theodore H. Armstrong and Thomas N. Homan, com- panions of Boonton Chapter, No. 21; Edward B. Linabury and Paul Lum, of Union Chapter, No. 7; James H. Binting, of Corinthian Chapter, No. 159 (New York) ; and John M. Nixon, of Zion Chapter, No. 570, of Shanghai, China, was presented to Boonton Chapter, with the request that they recommend the granting of a dispensation for the above purpose. On November 14 following, Boonton Chapter granted the request, and a dis- pensation was issued December 5, 1871, by Grand High Priest William H. Jeffreys, and placed in the hands of Past Grand High Priest John Sheville, who on December 15, 1871, organized the new chapter and installed the following officers: Charles L. Chovey, M. E. H. P .; James H. Binting, E. K .; Theodore H. Armstrong, E. S .; Henry C. Ohlen, C. of H .; John M. Nixon, P. S .; Rev. R. H. Travis, R. A. C .; Rev. Truman Weed, G. M. 3d V .; William K. Gray, G. M. 2d V .; Paul Lum, G. M. Ist V. At the next annual convocation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Jersey, held at Trenton, September 11, 1872, a warrant was issued to Madison Chapter, No. 27, to be located at Madison, and appointing its three first officers as previously named. The first annual election of officers under the warrant took place December 17, 1872, and resulted in the choice of the following : Charles L. Hovey, M. E. H. P .; James H. Binting, E. K .; Henry A. Ohlen, E. S .; Theodore H. Armstrong, C. of H .; William K. Gray, R. A. C .; John M. Nixon, P. S .; Rev. Truman Weed, G. M. 3d V .; W. F. Muchmore, G. M. 2d V .; Rev. W. S. Galloway, G. M. Ist V .; Henry Bardon, treasurer ; W. F. Morrow, secretary ; James Helm, tyler. The chapter continued to hold its convocations in the rooms of Madison Lodge No. 93, F. and A. M., at Madison, until October 2, 1877, on which date the first convocation was held in the rooms of Cincinnati Lodge No. 3, F. and A. M., at Morristown, the location of the chapter having been changed in accordance with a resolu- tion adopted June 5, 1877, and by the consent of the Grand Chapter, ob- tained September 12, 1877. The chapter has prospered and now numbers
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