USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 42
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'I view a future day,' said he, 'Brighter than this day dark is, And you shall see what you shall see, Ha! Ha! one pretty marquis.2
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And he shall come to Paulus' Hook,3 And great achievements think on, And make a bow and take a look, Like Satan over Lincoln.4
And all the land around shall glory To see the Frenchman caper, And pretty Susan5 tell the story In the next Chatham paper'.""
(Patriotic Poems of New Jersey by Wm. C. Armstrong, p. 109.)
1 Rev. James Caldwell. 2 Lafayette. 3 Jersey City. 4 A figure of the devil on top of Lincoln College, Oxford University, England. 5 Susannah Livingston of Eliza- beth, N. J., daughter of Gov. Wm. Livingston, was said to have contributed political articles to the Journal published at Chatham.
The New Jersey Journal was printed in Chatham until December 3, 1783. At this time immediately after the evacuation of New York by the British, Mr. Kollock moved to that city and began the publication of the "New York Gazetteer and the Country. Journal." The removal of Kollock from Chatham led a Mr. David Cree to attempt the publishing of a paper in 1784; but little is known concerning it. Not even the name is remembered. [New Jersey as a Colony and as a State, Lee, p. 53.] While in New York Mr. Kollock conducted a weekly paper in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as early as July, 1784. About April, 1785, this publication was transferred to Elizabeth Town and was there styled the "New Jersey Journal and Political Intelligencer." Later on Shepard Kollock was judge in the court of common pleas in the county of Essex. Mr. Kollock died July 28, 1839, in Elizabeth Town, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a brave soldier, a zealous patriot, a strenuous advocate of the Republican principles of government, and did good services for his country as a soldier and as an editor. His name deserves to be placed among the most noteworthy patriots of the Revolutionary times.
After the encampment of Washington at Lowantica in the winter of '76 and '77, the scene of warfare was removed to the south. The winter of '77 and '78 was spent by Washington with the main army at Valley Forge. There was a recurrence of hostilities in New Jersey during the year 1778, and in the winter of '78 and '79 Washington was found encamping at Middle Brook, New Jersey. On the breaking up of camp at Middle Brook, the commander-in-chief, with his army crossed over to Staten Island, evacu- ating New Jersey. Later he passed back through the central part of New Jersey to Philadelphia where he interviewed Marquis de Lafayette, who had just arrived in that city. After a strenuous campaign in watching the move- ments of the enemy in central New Jersey, Washington removed from Scotch Plains to Morristown for winter-quarters. On December 13th a large detachment of the army passed through Chatham toward Bottle Hill (Madison), where an encampment was made. It is possible that this de- tachment was in charge of Lafayette, and that at this time the pleasing love episode between Count D'Anteroche, one of the aids of the Marquis, and Polly Vanderpoel took place. The story is told that the young count while riding through Chatham over the Morris Turnpike in company with some American officers, encountered near the bridge over the Passaic River a pretty girl who had just stepped out of her father's house, which was located on the slope above the River. On looking into the sweet face of Miss Polly Vanderpoel the young French officer lost his heart. David Vanderpoel upon being informed of his daughter's suitor raged, stormed, and swore
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that she should marry, "no d-m Frenchman." The young chevalier upon hearing the stand taken by Captain David became heart sick and took to his bed. Turning his face to the wall, he said "Let me die! Let me die !" Finally the stern father relented and casting his prejudice aside withdrew all hindrance against his daughter's suitor. Their troth was plighted and in one of the severest winters on record, on the 30th of January, 1780, the twain were made one by good old Dr. Bradford of Bottle Hill. After tlie war Count D'Anteroche and his charming wife removed to Elizabeth Town, where they lived for a number of years with some of the Count's com- patriots. The hero of this romantic story died some years afterwards while on a visit to France. Mrs. Mary Vanderpoel D'Anteroche continued to live in Elizabeth Town until her eighty-sixth year. When Lafayette revisited this country in 1824, she and her children were greeted by him with the affection of a dear relative.
It was during the severe winter of 1779 and '80 that many of the most interesting episodes of the Revolutionary period in Chatham took place. It is said that the temperature was so low throughout this winter that New York Bay was frozen over to such an extent that the British cavalry could pass back and forth into New Jersey at will. Many devastating inroads were made in this part of the State. In consequence of this condition of affairs it was found necessary to keep the bridge at Chatham constantly guarded in order that no British soldier should pass. A company of militia under Col. Jacob Miller was for a considerable time the custodian of this bridge. Ashbel Green a youth of fifteen years was one of the guards and there is record of his having unceremoniously shot down a man who at- tempted to pass without giving the necessary countersign.
During this winter of '79 and '80 an exchange of prisoners was arranged for at the bridge in Chatham. General Winds was deputized to officiate for the continentals. After the transaction was completed the British field officer remarked on parting, "We are going to dine in Morristown some day." "If you do," said Winds, "you will sup in h-1 in the evening." This reply was not made through the habit of profanity, but on the contrary through the fervid patriotic spirit which pervaded the general. In Mr. Platt's poem, entitled, "Chatham Bridge," this incident is one of the number referred to. He also treats of an attempted capture of Washington by the British in the winter of '79. As he speaks of it the soldiery which made this attempt passed beyond the river and as far as Union Hill. There is dispute regarding this statement for in a letter which is herein given, it will be found that the storm of the night and the crust on the snow prevented the detachment from going any further than David Vanderpoel's house which was located east of the river. Furthermore had this company of British soldiers gone beyond the bridge, it could not have been said as it so often was that the bridge at the river was a "closed gate and secure" through which no British ever trod.
The signal gun, on Prospect Hill, was ever in readiness to fire the alarm and the tar barrel blazed forth whenever any movement of the enemy over the eastern plain portended harm to the inhabitants of this vicinity. It is quite probable that numerous officers were quartered in the village and that a detachment of the army was stationed here in the fall of 1779. The oldest inhabitants were wont to relate that Washington accompanied with his retinue of officers frequently passed through the town, and that on various occasions he was accompanied by his distinguished friend, Marquis de Lafayette.
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During the year 1779 the vicinity of Morris county was overrun with spies and banditti of the British soldiers. The following item is indicative of the condition of affairs at that time: "Four armed men were seen south of Chatham. A posse of men, accompanied by dogs, was sent after them. Two were caught and two got away. One of the men caught was George Whelps, Esq., from Coshecton, N. Y. It is hoped he will be treated to a taste of American hemp." [N. J. Journal, April 11, 1779.] The above men proved to be British spies.
The location of Chatham with its protecting hills made it not only a safe retreat for Shepard Kollock, but also a place where patriots unmolested could meet and discuss questions of vital interest concerning the nation's welfare. The following extracts show with what importance the location was considered.
A general courtmartial of the state of which Col. Neilson is appointed president is ordered to set at Chatham on the 27th instant. Col. Frelinghuysen and Van Dyke (Lieutenant), Colonels Jacob Crane and Benoni Hathaway, Majors William Davison and Joseph Lindley, Captains Peter Latham and Daniel Cook, Gawen McKoy, Stephen Monson, Joseph Beech, James Kean are appointed members. Mr. Wilcox is appointed to act as judge-advocate of the court by order of His Excellency, Governor Livings- ton. April 10, 1780. [N. J. Journal, Vol. 2, No. 61, April 12, 1780.]
The committee of Essex County Associators request the Whig inhabitants of Morris County to meet them at the house of Matthias Woodruff in Chatham on Tuesday the 24th, this month, precisely at one o'clock, on business of the greatest importance. Signed, Vauxhall, April 17, 1781. [N. J. Journal, ibid, No. 113, April 18, 1781.]
This quotation from an old letter is further evidence of how strategic a point was the town of Chatham during Washington's encampment at Morristown in the winter of '79 and '80.
Immediately opposite the Presbyterian Church is still standing a frame dwelling owned by Mrs. Mary J. Tallmadge in which Washington at various times sought shelter and relief from the burdens pressing him. It was the home of Jacob Morrell at the time Washington was in Morristown.
In the winter of 1780 while Washington accompanied by his faithful aide, Alex- ander Hamilton, and his two faithful servants, was temporarily quartered in this building, the American army being encamped at Morristown, a party of one thousand British cavalry left New York with the intention of taking Washington prisoner. They came by the way of Elizabethtown. During the night a violent storm of hail, snow, and rain set in, forming a thick crust which cut their horses feet, and ren- dered the road so impassible that when daylight dawned, having journeyed no further than the Passaic River, near what is now known as the Vanderpoel residence, they deemed it prudent to return. Standing in fear of their guide, an American spy, they enclosed him in the center of a hollow square, and then rode with drawn swords.
While Washington was temporarily stopping at the house already alluded to, a scout called Karmel, belonging to the American Army, was on his way from Perth Amboy with important dispatches to Washington's headquarters then at Morristown. When the scout reached Elizabethtown he was overtaken by a blinding snow storm. He proceeded on his way, however. Before reaching Chatham the snow had changed to hail and rain, which froze as it fell, forming a thick crust. His horse's feet were so badly cut by the sharp crust that he was obliged to seek shelter in the dwelling which stood on the site now occupied by the residence of Mr. Vanderpoel, and at which time was owned and occupied by David Vanderpoel, the great grandfather of the present owner. Here the scout learned that Washington had taken refuge from the same storm in the house of one of Chatham's patriotic citizens.
Karmel had not yet retired, although he had been shown to his room, when he heard the tramping of a party of horsemen. His suspicion that soemthing was wrong, having been aroused, he stole noiselessly out of the house to ascertain the cause of the commotion. He was not long in learning that it was a company of British soldiers. He readily surmised from the little he heard of their conversation that Morristown was their destination and the capture of Washington their mission.
Had they succeeded in their undertaking, the American Revolution would have
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been known in history as America's Rebellion, and instead of a Union of forty-five states, we would probably to-day still be provinces of Great Britain.
However, fate had decreed it otherwise, and Karmel the scout, to whom history has scarcely done justice, pushed on that night from Elizabeth Town to Chatham through the sleet and snow. He arrived in time to warn Washington who later made his escape. [Early files of Chatham Press.]
During one of the frequent adventures of the British soldiers in this locality in the winter of '79 and '80 the following occurrence is said to have taken place at Timothy Day's hotel on the eastern side of the Passaic River. The story was related to the author by Miss Phebe Potter. Mr. Day's hotel was opposite the Vanderpoel estate. The family upon seeing the approach of the British soldiers left the hotel and hid behind a stone wall at the rear of the house. The redcoats walked lawlessly into the house and ransacked it from cellar to attic. After their departure Mr. Day found on his return that the spigots from the wine barrels in the cellar had been opened, and that the cellar floor was flooded with wine. Not satisfied with this they had taken the feather ticks from the beds and had emptied the contents into the wine on the cellar floor making a gruesome concoction of feathers and wine. At this hotel, Jacob Morrell's dwelling house, and at the homes of Stephen Day and Aaron Ward, Washington is reported to have been a frequent visitor.
On January 30, 1780, Chatham witnessed preparations for a most dar- ing enterprise. It was Lord Sterling's hazardous attempt to attack the enemy at Staten Island. The detachment left the town with great aspira- tions, but returned much chagrined.
In the spring of 1780, Maxwell's brigade was stationed at Chatham. Following the severe winter there was a very late spring, even on May the 18th the grass was not yet green. Knyphausen was in command of the British force in New York and planned to invade New Jersey and expel from its confines the patriotic army. Consequently in the early part of June, he crossed to Staten Island and thence to Elizabeth Town. These move- ments of the British electrified the community of Chatham with military excitement and put Maxwell's troops in readiness for an encounter. It was reported that they were on their way to Morristown to capture the main depot of the army's supplies and to drive the rebels out of "the Jersies." As soon as the force of the enemy, in order and splendid array, left Elizabeth Town on the Turnpike Road towards Springfield, word was quickly passed along to Prospect Hill where the eighteen-pound signal gun, the "Old Sow," and the tar barrel were fired. Patriotic citizens of the whole country round flew to arms. The army drums at Morristown beat the soldiers in line and under the command of Washington troops marched down to Bonnel Town near Chatham to check the on-coming enemy beyond Short Hills. The militia of the surrounding country joined the main army on its way to the field of action. At Connecticut Farms the onset was checked by the forces of General Maxwell and Colonel Dayton, and the splendid army which marched out from Elizabeth Town went back to Staten Island more or less demoralized.
It was at the battle of Connecticut Farms where Mrs. James Caldwell, formerly Miss Hannah Ogden, was barbarously shot by a British mercenary. [Hatfield's Hist. Elizabeth Town, p. 488.] Mrs. Caldwell was a sister of Mrs. Stephen Day of Chatham, who lived on the northwest corner of Main and Elmwood Avenue. After the murder of his wife, Parson Caldwell moved with his children to Chatham to live with Mrs. Day. From this time until the end of the war, Parson Caldwell kept an ammunition store
Jacob Morrell House of Revolutionary times, East Main Street, Chatham. Washington stopped here frequently.
Day Mansion, in which Washington was entertained, Elwood Avenue, Chatham.
Bonnell Homestead of Revolutionary times, Watchung Avenue, Chatham,
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in Chatham near Shepard Kollock's printing office. He was later murdered at Elizabeth Town by a man named Morgan, one of the rebel sentinels. The following incident shows how the Parson was regarded by the patriots of Chatham. Mr. Tuttle narrates that at one time when the Rev. Mr. Caldwell was about to preach in the open air in Chatham, an old soldier crowded to the front and cried out, before there was time to build a plat- form, "Let me have the honor of being his platform! Let him stand on my body! Nothing is too good for Parson Caldwell."
After the battle of Springfield, General Washington on his return to Morristown sent word ahead to Mrs. Stephen Day that he would stop off to see her on his way through Chatham. Accordingly Mrs. Day dressed her- self in a fine black silk gown with a large white scarf about her neck and awaited the coming of her distinguished visitor. A small mahogany table was placed on the lawn in front of the house, and a pleasing repast was prepared for the General. The call was made and heartfelt words of sym- pathy were extended to Mrs. Day in behalf of the horrible murder of her sister at Connecticut Farms. Much appreciation was shown by the General for her hospitality and often afterwards it is said that Washington called at the Day Mansion. Captain Stephen Day, the husband of Mrs. Jeremiah Ogden Day was one of the staunchest patriots. He was justice of the peace under both the British and Continental rule, served in the army, and was one of the first to aid the Continentals when requisitions for supplies were made. It is said that he gave a whole beef when the first call was issued.
The British were not vanquished by the repulse at Connecticut Farms, and on the 23rd of June, 1780, early in the morning they left camp at Eliza- beth Point and set out, five thousand strong under Knyphausen, in the direction of Short Hills. Again the old eighteen pounder and the tar barrel on Prospect Hill gave signals of the approach of the enemy. The militia was hastily collected from every quarter to guard the pass over the hill. A fierce encounter took place in Springfield at the end of which the Con- tinentals came off victorious. Parson Caldwell was very active in this en- gagement. It was here that he supplied the soldiers with psalm books, out of which to make wads. Although the enemy was finally driven back to Elizabeth Town, it was not done until great damage was committed in the town. It is said that all the houses were burned excepting four. The Americans under General Green lost thirteen killed, forty-nine wounded. First Lieutenant Thompson of the New Jersey artillery was one of the slain. The loss of the enemy is not recorded but it was doubtless much greater than that of the Americans. With this victory, ended all possibilities of the British ever passing beyond the Watchung Mountains.
When the news came that the British were advancing towards Spring- field, there was great consternation in Chatham. The possibility of their defeating the Americans, threatened an invasion of the country beyond the mountains, and in order to safe guard themselves, the greater part of the inhabitants packed their goods in readiness to flee, and in excitement, awaited the outcome of the battle. There was great relief when Mr. Ball on horseback came over the hill with the news that the enemy had been driven back.
The soldiers wounded at Springfield were brought to Chatham and cared for in Timothy Day's Tavern, which became a veritable hospital. Parson Caldwell and many heroic women joined in relieving the suffering soldiers housed within the town at this time.
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Colonel Barber's detachment fell back to Chatham for a short period and then set out for Elizabeth Town. Washington at this time lay in the vicinity of Rockaway ready to reinforce his troops if necessary. Through- out the winter of 1780 and '81, the Pennsylvania troops of Mad Anthony Wayne were stationed at Morristown. It was during this winter of hardship caused by the lack of money in circulation and the wholesale counterfeiting by the tories of the community, that the soldiers under General Wayne mutinied and marched to the Continental Congress at Princeton. Much heroism was shown by the patriots of this vicinity in their attempt to relieve the distressed army at Morristown. The story of Rhoda Farrand's driving around and collecting clothing for the soldiers is illustrative of the loyal spirit ardently aglow in the breast of each patriot. The success of the Pennsylvania regiments in obtaining redress of their grievances, prompted the New Jersey troops at Pompton to attempt the same performance. On the night of the 20th of January, 1781, a brigade of one hundred sixty men from Pompton marched to Chatham and urged the troops stationed there to join them in their revolt. General Washington on hearing of their plans immediately dispatched under General Howe a de- tachment to arrest the movement and to punish the leaders. Howe arrived in the village on the morning of the 21st and surrounded the mutineers encamped in front of Timothy Day's Tavern. Colonel Barber commanded them to parade without arms to designated grounds. The revolters hesi- tated to obey and Colonel Sprout was ordered to advance with his regiment and give them five minutes to comply with the command. Under the threat of bayonets and leveled muskets they instantly complied with the order. Three of the leaders were tried and executed on the spot. This was prob- ably the most exciting military maneuver of the war in the immediate con- fines of Chatham. [Hist. of New Jersey, Sypher and Apgar, p. 175, Memoir of Major Shaw, by Hon. Josiah Quincy, p. 89.]
Soon after the victory at Springfield the scene of action shifted to the south. On the 23d of August, 1781, the French army crossed the Hudson and proceeded on its march to Chatham where for more than ten days artificers were building ovens and forming an encampment on the east side of the Passaic in order to deceive Sir Henry Clinton then holding New York. [Diary of American Revolution, Frank Moore, p. 466.] Washing- ton had decided to close up the war by couping Cornwallis with the main British army in Yorktown, Virginia. In accordance with this idea he had ordered the French regiments and the New Jersey brigades to move south- ward to Virginia, and in order to mislead Clinton, these pretences of estab- lishing permanent quarters at Chatham were made. On the arrival of the French army at Chatham Dayton's brigade was found stationed at this place. The French division, uniformed in black, with red trimmings, made a most striking spectacle. The Royal Deux-Ponts were decked in white broadcloth coats faced with green, and the heavy artillery men in blue with white facings. The French grenadiers who were acknowledged as the elite of the corps marched at the head of each battalion, wearing buckskin hats and distinctive uniforms. No grander spectacle of military parade has ever been presented to the people of Chatham before or since. The allied armies of the French and the Americans marched by different routes in four divisions across the state towards Trenton on their way to Philadelphia. The right column of the Continentals, composed of Hazen's regiment, the corps of sappers and miners, the artillery stores, the baggage, and the thirty flatboats on carriages passed on the 28th through Chatham on its way to
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Bound Brook. The left column under Major General Lincoln separated from the right at Chatham and joined the left at Trenton on the 31st, having marched by way of New Brunswick to Princeton. It can readily be imagined, on the arrival in Chatham of the right and left Continentals driving great herds of cattle before them, with many covered wagons carrying the baggage and tents, and the troops of soldiers permeated with the spirit of victory, that an unusual spectacle was presented to the patriots of this vicinity. Those too sick or lame to march were permitted to ride. It is said that the women contingent to this military procession, were of considerable annoyance since they were not amenable to military discipline. The following order was issued in consequence of their behavior: "Prior to the commencement of our march this morning the commanding officers will inform the women of their re- spective corps that the General saw many of them yesterday from their proper line of march, strolling in gardens and orchards, an irregularity which must not be repeated. Should any attempt it hereafter they will be denied their rations and prevented farther from following the army." [ Story of an Old Farm, A. D. Mellick, p. 536.]
Both the French and Continental troops, which came down from the north with all their artillery and baggage wagons, encamped immediately in front of Day's Tavern, east of the road leading southward to Turkey. Many of the soldiers were quartered in the homes of the community. The Bonnel house on Watchung avenue, in Stanley, was filled to its utmost capacity. Mrs. Bonnel was not content with giving them shelter alone; but all the night long by the stepping back and forth over the soldiers sleeping on her kitchen floor she baked bread that the needy army might be better fed on their long march to the south. What a beautiful exhibition of patriotism this was! On a certain evening the camp looked as usual ; fires were lighted, sentries were set, and all the soldiers numbering at least 6,000 were appar- ently ready for the night. On the following morning, both as a surprise to the local inhabitants and to the British spies who were lurking in the com- munity, there was nothing left on the site of the encamping army excepting wooden sheds and the ovens which the soldiers had built. The two divisions marched in separate directions as heretofore stated. This gorgeous exhibi- tion of military pomp was a fitting close to the Revolutionary excitement of the unmolested country, lying to the west beyond the hills.
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