USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 43
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A few troops, some officers, and prisoners of war were quartered in Chatham up to the time of the signing of the treaty at Paris.
As the winter of 1782 drew to a close the sounds of war died out with only occasional reminders by the way of news through some express rider who broughts accounts of the closing events, or groups of soldiers return- ing home honorably discharged from service. For some years after the war, the log cabins used during the winter of 1776 and '77, were to be seen at Lowantica; and the old pretentious sheds and ovens opposite Day's Tavern were ostentatious reminders of the long and dreadful conflict. The ovens were thoughtlessly torn down in 1835.
It would not be fitting to close the Chatham account of the Revolu- tionary struggle without making mention of the ill-fated Capt. Asgill who was for a time immediately following the war imprisoned in the town. Captain Josiah Huddy was an active patriot of Monmouth county, and through his vigilant action in suppressing the Tory insurrections he became a marked man by the treacherous refugees. In the spring of 1782, Huddy was captured at Tom's River and transported to New York. He was
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charged with the killing of a man by the name of White, and was barbar- ously hanged under the command of Captain Lippincott at Gravelly Point, Staten Island. This inhuman murder filled the country with indignation. It was insisted that the British commander should deliver up Lippincott or otherwise some English officer in the hands of the Continentals should die instead. Steps were taken to carry out this threat by selecting eight Captains and five Lieutenants, on parole in Pennsylvania, from among whom one man, to be fated by lot, was to pay the penalty. The die was cast in Lancaster, Pa. at the Black Bear Tavern, and the unfortunate lot fell to Captain Asgill of the foot guards the youngest officer present. The ill-fated officer was escorted by Major Gordon to the Jersey Line. At Chatham, the place assigned for his execution, he was put in the charge of Colonel Elias Dayton of the second New Jersey regiment. Washington wrote to Colonel Dayton on the 4th of June, 1781, as follows: "Treat Cap- tain Asgill with every tenderness and association, and politeness consistent with his present situation which his rank, fortune, and connections, together with his private state, demands !" A few days later Washington wrote the following: "Sir, I am informed that Captain Asgill is at Chatham without a guard, and under no restraint. This, if true, is certainly wrong; I wish to have the young gentleman treated with all possible tenderness consistent with his present situation, but considered as a close prisoner and kept in the greatest security. I request, therefore, that he may be sent immediately to the Jersey Line where he is to be kept close prisoner in perfect security till further orders." [Story of an Old Farm, A. D. Mellick, p. 545.] Ulti- mately Sir Guy Carlton succeeded in satisfying the Colonial government that the execution of Huddy was not without good reason. Meanwhile Congress was besieged with communications for the release of Asgill. This together with the prospect of peace impelled Congress finally to grant to Asgill a reprieve. On the 7th of November, Colonel Dayton at Morristown gave his prisoner unconditional liberty.
The part played by Chatham in the struggle for freedom was no small one. Not only was the place a strategic point while Washington was en- camped during the two trying winters at Morristown, but it also sent its full quota of men to the firing line and furnished a large amount of supplies for the needy army. Some fitting memorial should be erected in honor of the service rendered by this community during those threatening days of the Revolution. In closing this part of the history of Chatham it is quite ap- propriate to insert a eulogy written by the poet, Charles D. Platt, of this county :
CHATHAM BRIDGE.
Not far to seek is Chatham Bridge As on the highway you may ride From Morristown along the ridge To Madison; here let us bide A moment-list! the ghostly tramp Of troops who once came here to camp.
Then on we ride through Chatham, till The Chatham Bridge at last we reach ; Here as we rest let memory fill The mind with what this spot can teach ; Here let us think of the days of old And tales that of those times are told.
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Hither came all who sought to cross Passaic's stream and onward fare; Here guards were set, for it were loss If o'er this bridge the foe should dare To pass and raid the land or make Some prisoner-all was here at stake.
A company was ordered here By good Benoni Hathaway Of Morristown; it doth appear In pension lists of that far day, That they were led, that company, By Timothy Tuttle of Whippany.
And here on guard stood Ashbel Green A little time as sentinel, When but a youth; his age, I ween, Was fifteen years, yet he guarded well This Chatham Bridge and made arrest Of one whose case was none the best.
And here it was that General Winds Met a British officer afield : Here those two warriors spoke their minds And the Briton thought it best to yield ; So Winds escorted him on his way As he retreated home that day.
These are but trifling tales, in sooth, And yet they point to matters fraught With destiny, this is but truth, As you shall quickly now be taught ; 'Tis in the annals of our State With other matters small and great. 1779-'80.
On Kemble hill our army lay And Washington his quarters had In Morristown and made his stay At Colonel Ford,'s, as I might add; When forth there rode a daring force, A squadron of the British horse.
From Staten Island on they came And in the night they took their way; They passed the sentinels, the same That at Short Hills were set to stay Marauding bands, o'er Chatham Bridge They crossed, and started up the ridge
To Bottle Hill; but snow and hail Had clogged their speed through all the night ; They saw their plan would surely fail And back they turned in sorry plight; For their steeds were lamed by icy crust That cut their feet-retreat they must.
Their guide, he was I know not who, But that he was an American; And, fearing he would not be true Unto their cause, they set the man Within a hollow square, and so, Swords drawn, in haste they homeward go.
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Back to the point they safely rode To which they had crossed when they set out From Staten Island, their abode. 'Twas known then what they were about, And moved was all the country side On hearing of that midnight ride.
For had their errand met success, What it had wrought, no man can say; Our cause had been one man the less; One man the less, mean what that may; Ah! Had they stolen our Washington, Our cause, God wot, had been undone .*
*Ballads of New Jersey in the Revolution, Chas. D. Platt, p. 141.
[Other residents besides those mentioned on map entitled Revolutionary Era, were William Darling, Thomas Randall, Mathias Woodruff, Joseph Grummon, Samuel Alling, Elihu Linley, Jacob Hallet (had store 1779). ]
The War of 1812-The community of Chatham was ever characterized by its military spirit. Not only was this shown in Revolutionary and Civil War times but also in the War of 1812. Captain Abraham Brittin who lived at Union Hill, and was allied with the spirit of the town was one of the leaders in military affairs. After the Revolution he was captain of a group of soldiers known as the fusiliers of Chatham. This company with Captain Brittin at the head went to the front during the war and was in active service from September 1, 1814, until December 3 of the same year.
Visit From Lafayette-The year 1824 is a memorable one in the history of Chatham. Forty-one years had passed since the dreadful Revolutionary conflict had ended. It was at this time that a noted warrior of the Revolu- tion now an aged man came to visit the scenes of warfare between Great Britain and her transatlantic colony. Again he passed over the road from Elizabeth Town to Chatham where his aide and distant relative, Count D'Anteroche, won the love of Polly Vanderpoel.
Elaborate preparations were made for the great general. The stars and stripes were flung from every home, and veterans of the war stood with uncovered heads when the revered Marquis D'Lafayette passed by. In the house where Mrs. Hamblin now lives, on the northeast corner of Main and Elmwood Ave. the Marquis was entertained. The main reception was held in Madison. A great number of the young girls of the town of Chatham, dressed in their prettiest costumes, took part in the formal exercises of the reception. No greater honor and heartfelt gratitude was ever given to any foreign visitor than that extended to the aged Lafayette
Churches-The Rev. David Brainard, of the school of Jonathan Ed- wards, was the first missionary to the Indians in New Jersey. His evan- gelistic work extended throughout the State, and was exercised not only toward the Indians but also toward the white settlers. In his journal he relates traveling from Crosweeksung, at the forks of the Delaware, to Elizabethtown. This journey, which was made in 1746, led him over the old Minisink trail which passed through Chatham. He further states that he stopped at Connecticut Farms and preached. While there is no state- ment to the effect that he visited the church at Hanover yet we are led to infer that he did not pass it without a visitation. [Life of Brainard, by Jonathan Edwards, pp. 254, 273.]
The early settlers of the upper Passaic were Scotch Presbyterians and
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attended religious services at Whippany where a Presbyterian church was built in 1718. [History of Presbyterian Church at Madison, p. Io.] In 1748 a church was built in South Hanover, Hanover Neck, which the mem- bers of the Whippany church in this part of the township of Hanover attended. The Presbyterian church at Bottle Hill, Madison, was built in 1765, and was largely composed of patrons from the town of Chatham.
The Methodists of this vicinity previous to 1800 were related to the church at Turkey, New Providence, until a union meeting house was built in the year 1808, for the accommodation of both Methodists and Presbyterians. This building stood north of Main Street and west of the bridge near Gen- eral Mahlon Minton's store. This first church in Chatham was a two story building without bell or cupola, and had on three sides of its walls, galleries. These were used only when the congregations were unusually large, which happened invariably on the occasion of a funeral.
There were no stoves in this church until the year 1820. Previous to this date each worshipper either brought with him a foot warmer or suffered from the cold. The only lights used were candles, and those who attended church went on foot, horseback or in a springless wagon. Beside the min- ister in the elevated pulpit there regularly stood at his right the chorister whose business it was to set the pitch with his tuning fork and lead the singing.
The Presbyterians of the town were organized as the Chatham Village Church in 1823. There were thirty-eight members at this time. The first pastor of the congregation was Rev. Asa Lyman. The upstairs rooms in the old academy were used for Sunday school and prayer meeting in conse- quence of the two congregations using the regular Union meeting house. In 1828 Rev. Joseph Meeker Ogden was called as the second pastor, and served the people of his church in a most meritorious pastorate until the year 1873. Mr. Ogden was graduated from Princeton College in the class of 1823. He was a scholar of high standing both in Greek and Hebrew and for many years was the examiner in these subjects in the theological school of his Alma Mater. The Rev. Mr. Ogden was well known among the church authorities and had an exalted reputation as a preacher of the gospel.
The members of both the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations who used the Union church found it very hard to work in harmony. Consider- able feeling eventually arose between the two organizations and the most bitter hatred was finally exercised in what is known as the "Battle of the Churches" in ancient Chatham. The quarrel between the Presbyterians who wanted to withdraw and build a new church, and the Methodists who cared not to permit this procedure became so heated that the members of the Presbyterian faction ultimately under the cover of nightfall, in the year 1830, hitched oxen to the corner of the church and pulled it down. The poem herewith presented was written at the time and fully describes the event although throughout a biased opinion is rather evident. This poem, the literary critic will observe, is not without considerable merit.
A MODERN, OR SECOND MONTPELIER.
Montpelier in miniature arrayed,
Or papacy as modernly displayed; Montpelier a noted town in France, Rose to a city, 'twas by art or chance. 'Twas at Montpelier a church once stood,
Devoted by the Huguenots to God :
'Twas here the Huguenots with cries and tears
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Sent forth to heaven their fervent, humble prayers; But ah ! how soon deprived of this retreat, To pay their homage at their Saviour's feet; Louis the fourteenth, tyrant of his age, Commands, and lo! they pull it down in rage; Poor Hugunots, they pile the sacred stones In memory of their pious fathers' bones. Their warm attachment and regard they prove By this last token of paternal love. But lo! we turn from ancient 'peliers down To one of recent date and one of home. I've lived to see said 'peliers rise of late, And lived to see said 'peliers mournful fate. In Morris County, near Passaic's flood, In Chatham town, a Chapel long has stood, Built by the Methodists in days of yore, And stood the test near forty years or more. Yet built for all denominations free, On principles of pure philanthropy ; Near thirty years the house was occupied By Methodists more than all sects beside; But right was not denied, to sect or name, Till Presbyterians usurped their claim. Perhaps they think as Irish rebels thought, None should, but their divinity be taught- And they, in eighteen hundred thirty-two, Commenc'd a Chapel of their own, 'tis true, When rear'd and covered, and adorned with paint, In imitation of a half washed saint; They held a party caucus in the town, And there agreed to pull Montpelier down; A host of men, deliberately led By men in trust, and deacons at their head, Proceed in purpose firm, without a jar, With one intent, pull down the house of prayer ; Took out the windows, and unhinged the doors, Knocked off the boards and then took up the floors; Took off the roof and then the frame took down, And laid poor 'pelier level to the ground.
Then bore their booty from the spot away, As heroes do the trophies of their prey; The shatter'd fragments advertise for sale, And I suppose will pocket the avail- I called to mind the faithful Hittites' lamb, And cried, oh if I am bereaved I am. But here I rest-the bigotry or spite, Leaves men to judge, if wrong was ever right- May generations yet, unborn and free, Proclaim the deed to late posterity, May Gospel, Christian herald, public news, The tidings, o'er this continent diffuse; May packet ships convey the news to France, That 'periers sons may at tidings glance; May England hear, and all her subjects see The blest effects of free born liberty- And may the archives of a free born seed, In faithfulness record the noble deed May a new era in our history rise, To be observed,-till time and nature dies, May travelers of every cast and lot While passing by, point out the sacred spot. And call to mind, 'twas here! 'twas surely here The Methodists once owned a house of prayer. But Presbyterians in the warmth of zeal, With their adherents marching at their heel Pull'd down the house of prayer.
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These facts are true, As here presented to the public view. Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey, September 3, 1832.
After the wave of spirited feeling had subsided in the year 1832, the Presbyterians built on the site of the razed structure a church edifice in which building the Rev. J. M. Ogden was the first pastor. Following is a list of the ministers who succeeded Dr. Ogden: Rev. A. V. C. Johnson, Rev. W. F. Anderson, Rev. J. B. Beaumont, Rev. Dr. E. P. Gardiner, Rev. Dr. John Macnaughtan.
The first reference to Methodism in the territory is found in the quo- tation which follows : "1786 Rev. Ezekiel Cooper made a visit of two weeks to New Jersey." [Light on Early Methodism, p. 43.] Mr. Cooper preached in Chatham during this visit at a Mr. Clark's and Colonel Crane's. [History of Chatham Methodism, Rev. Wm. J. Hampton, p. 8.] It is said that the Presbyterians doubted the authority of the Rev. Mr. Cooper to preach and demanded by what right he undertook so divine a calling. He was about to be arrested but the procedure was obviated through his identi- fication with the Elizabeth Town circuit. Quarterly meetings were held in Chatham as early as January 16 and 17, 1802. However Father John Han- cock of Springfield writes February 23, 1849, that a church was built in Chatham at an early period prior to 1807 where for many years up to about 1830, regular services were held by circuit preachers. This same Father Hancock at one time conducted services in Chatham. Mr. Tuttle relates in the history of the old classical academy of Bottle Hill, in which Rev. Mr. Bradford taught school, that the first Methodist Episcopal services held in Chatham Township were conducted in this building. It will be recalled that it was in this house after it was removed from Madison to Chatham that Shepard Kollock printed the New Jersey Journal. It was after his aban- donment that it was used as a church. This tradition was handed down to Mr. Tuttle by Mr. Enos Bonnel of Chatham. Brainard Dickin- son, Matthias Swaim, and Isaac Searles were the staunch supporters of this early Methodist organization. The last one mentioned is referred to in the Christian Advocate as having been the founder of Chatham Methodism.
After the destruction of the union church a house of worship was built by the Methodists on the southeast corner of Main and Summit avenue. William H. Dickerson was the first regular pastor of the congre- gation in 1852. Previous to this date the church in Chatham was an adjunct to the Madison circuit. The building on Summit avenue was used until the year 1896, when it was pronounced unsafe and the congregation removed to Kelley's Hall for the next two years. During this time a beautiful building was being constructed on Center street, to which many Presbyterians whose ancestors many years before had spitefully opposed and fought the promul- gation of the Methodist doctrine, contributed liberally. Happily all the fervid animosity of former times has disappeared and both congregations are now observed working harmoniously to the one end of Christian uplift.
The brick industry which was begun about the year 1830 later attracted a great many Irish Catholics to Chatham. In 1870 it was apparent to the Right Rev. William M. Wigger that there was need of a Catholic mission in the town. Through the advice of Mr. John McCormack, property was pur- chased of Mr. Paul Lum for a school. This location was later exchanged for a plot of land then belonging to Mr. John Doran, which was nearer the centre of population. A school was erected in 1872 at a cost of $4000, and
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was used for the two-fold purpose of mission and school. Since a number of parishioners worked in the near-by brickyard, sufficient bricks were con- tributed for the construction of the building. For a time the "fog" in Chat- ham was a damper on the courage of the Bishop to establish a church along the Passaic. However, the difficulty was overcome in 1887, and a church was founded by Bishop Wigger, on the corner of Washington avenue and Oliver street. Rev. Muhl was the first acting priest of the parish. Follow- ing him came successively Father McGahan, Rev. Joseph C. Dunn, Rev. William T. Mclaughlin, Rev. James M. McCormack, Rev. Samuel Hedges and Father Keyes. At the present time the church is under the leadership of Rev. P. A. Maher.
In consequence of a flourishing paper manufactory in Stanley, Mr. George Shepard Page organized a Sunday school for his employees in the year 1867. Services were held in an upstairs room opposite the old paper mill on the River Road. This group of worshippers grew until a building was erected and named Stanley Hall, in honor of Mr. Page's mother, which building is the present vapo-cresoline factory. In the year 1873 the Con- gregational Church of Stanley was organized, and Stanley Chapel was built in 1881 on the corner of Hillside and Watchung Avenues. Messrs Abram French and John Munn were active in this movement. The first pastor of the church was Rev. F. S. Palmer and he served in this capacity from the year '73 to '75. In 1902 a handsome gray stone edifice was built by the Congregationalists on the corner of Fairmount avenue and Oliver street. A flourishing organization of about two hundred members now supports this church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Charles E. Hesselgrave.
The beginning of the Episcopal church in Chatham was in the parlor of Mr. John Gould, on Elmwood avenue. A Rev. Mr. Lylburn was the first rector, from 1897 to '98. Mr. Gould at his death gave a plot of ground adjoining his property on which to build a chapel. Funds were not available for some years following and in 1902, when the Presbyterians decided to build a new church, the chapel on Main street, east of the Fairview Hotel, was exchanged for the plot of ground donated by Mr. Gould. The lot lay on the corner of Main and Elmwood avenue, where the present Pres- byterian church stands. The Rev. J. W. Van Ingen, of Milburn, is the officiating pastor.
For a number of years there were no cemeteries in juxtaposition to the churches of the town. The Methodists buried in Turkey ( New Providence) and the Presbyterians in Bottle Hill (Madison). The first graveyards of Chatham were in connection with the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and were located near these places of worship-the Methodist on the corner of Main and Summit, and the Presbyterian north of Main street and west of the river. These continued until the year 1859, when Fair- mount Avenue Cemetery was incorporated. The east side of Long Hill was selected as the site, and the bodies in the old cemeteries were disinterred and placed in this new burying ground. A small family burial plot was at one time located on the present clubhouse grounds. This was used by the Days and later by the Browns. The bodies buried in this plot were also disinterred and placed in the Fairmount Cemetery.
The Public Schools-It is reported that from the earliest time the people of Chatham and Morris County gave special attention to the educa- tion of their children. After a long research it has been quite impossible to find where within the present borough limits the earliest building for the use of school purposes was located. In the history of every town a brief account
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of the old log schoolhouse is invariably presented. Such account concerning Chatham cannot be given for no one knows of the existence of an original log structure. The first school house might have been located across the river near Timothy Day's hotel, since that was the centre of the town pre- vious to 1800. Shepard Kollock entered the following advertisements in his Journal under each of the dates, May 10, 1780, and January 3, 1781. "A schoolmaster that can be well recommended may find employment by apply- ing to the printer hereof." There is also reason to infer that the original building was located on the exact site of the old Academy. This may explain why no trace of the first school of the town can be found. The first reference regarding a school in this vicinity reads as follows: "Joel Jones came from Massachusetts about the year 1787. He kept school on Long Hill." {Littell's Genealogy, p. 196.] The school here referred to might have been one located on the site of the present red schoolhouse.
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