USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 64
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A thrifty farmer, he always had plenty of grain; and yet in seasons of scarcity when the price was high he refused to sell, because he knew that his neighbors in the spring would want seed to sow their fields; and in the springtime, when they came to him for this purpose, he let them have what they needed on the promise of being repaid from the next harvest.
He would at any time rather suffer wrong than do wrong. This generous trait of character developed itself in his sympathy for the colored man. The Quaker is by education opposed to slavery. He was so, also, by the instincts of his soul. It did not please him to hear men talk of "giving" to the colored man his rights. He would say, why deprive any one, especially the weak and helpless, of that which belongs to him. He loved his country, but he felt slavery to be a crime, and a blot on his country's character. Hence, when the fugitive from a government that would only recognize him as a chattel, on his way to a government that would recognize him as a man, stopped at his house, he did not betray him. He preferred even to suffer the penalty of the Fugitive Slave Law, sooner than see a human being in distress without a human sympathizer; and therefore, though a stranger, he took him in; hungry, he fed him; naked, he clothed him; and then, with kind words and a little ready cash, pointed him to the North star and commended him to our Father in Heaven.
Though by education he was opposed to all war; yet he took a lively interest, from the beginning, in the war that has just closed. He did not fail to discern the hand of the Lord stretched out to punish and to purge the nation, and to let the oppressed go free. His conversation reminded one of the story of the good Quaker who said to his clerk-"if thee wish to go to the war, thee can go, and thy salary will be continued and thy place kept for thee till thee return. But if thee do not wish to go, I have no further need of thy service."
Mr. Brotherton was a strictly honest man. He was honest to a proverb, for
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the phrase was current, "As honest as Richard Brotherton." Once, while a director of the bank, a person in drawing his check was supposed by mistake to have been overpaid, but there was no proof. The other directors proposed to settle the case by putting the man under oath. But Mr. B. objected, saying, "If the man has received the money and will not own it, is it not probable that he will take a false oath, which would only increase his guilt without benefitting the bank? Better lose the money." And his counsel in this instance prevailed.
Had he been sharper in trade, more severe with men, and more eager for gain, he would have died a richer man. But he strove to remember the interests of others, especially where his own interests were involved. He believed in goodness and loved it for its own sake. * * *
If there is one virtue in which the Quaker who is true to his principles is likely to excel, that virtue is patience or the complete control of one's feelings. In this respect we never knew a man who equalled Mr. Brotherton. * * *
In the summer of '64 a painful swelling under his chin, which had slowly developed, was pronounced to be an incurable cancer. * * *
Mr. Brotherton was possessed of a good memory. Fond of reading, he was more fond of reflection, so that important facts which came under his notice were thoroughly considered and digested. * *
The writer of this article is a Presbyterian, yet takes pleasure in paying this tribute to the memory of the good Quaker whom he has known for more than a quarter of a century, and only known to love. *
* * .(This was doubtless written by Rev. B. C. Magie.)
Henry Brotherton the second built the dwelling house at Randolph which was occupied by his son William Brotherton and by his (the latter's) son Richard Brotherton and now (second month 1888) occupied by his (the latter's) daughter Rachel and her husband, John Elwood Vail.
Above note is copied from manuscript notes found in the Vail home, 1913. Also the following :
Henry Brotherton, son of Henry and Ann Brotherton, was born in the year 1724. Mercy Brotherton, wife of Henry Brotherton abovesaid and daughter of William and Elizabeth Schooley, was born the 7th of the 7th mo. 1731.
William Brotherton, son of Henry Brotherton and Mercy his wife, was born on the 5th of IIth mo. 1757, Mendham Township, Morris County, New Jersey.
From the above notes some estimate of the age of the house above- mentioned may be made. It was built by Henry the second, who was born in 1724 and whose son William was born in 1757. Hence the house may have been built in 1755 or later. There was once a store in one end of it, towards the road. This may be the store at Randolph, the advertisement of which is found in old newspapers. Moreover, this was the Richard Brotherton house. It is now, in 1913, 168 years old or less. We are not told at what time Henry built it.
Randal Dell, son of Henry Dell, was born on the 28th of the 12th mo. 1736. Anna Dell, wife of Randal Dell abovesaid, and daughter of Michael and Sarah Liken, was born the 5th of the 6th mo. 1744.
Charles Sammis, son of Joseph and Phebe Sammis, was married 5th day, the 9th of the 7th mo. 1812, to Anna Brotherton, daughter of William and Sarah Brotherton, Randolph township, Morris County.
This Charles Sammis taught school in the canal lock house, back of the Presbyterian church.
Grace Brotherton, sister of Richard. Her aunt Grace Brotherton was born 1766 and was a sister of William Brotherton, the father of Richard.
One article of furniture is a secretary, containing drawers below. It belonged to Grace Wilson (grandmother), wife of Gabriel Wilson. It came to her daughter, Mary Wilson, wife of Richard Brotherton.
Anna Brotherton left note books of elegant extracts, as they used to be called, mostly poetry, written out most carefully by hand. They con- stitute, with signatures, an autograph album of her lady friends. Dated
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1845. They appear to be a group of people of great refinement. Several scrap-books confirm this impression by the quality of the selections.
A small trunk, about 15 inches by eight inches, has this note pasted in it .- This trunk was the property of Sarah Lundy, minister in the Society of Friends, member of Hardwick Monthly Meeting. She made two visits through the county (country?) to Canada, on horse back, carrying this trunk, containing her clothing, attached to the horn of the saddle. This was about the year 1787. She was the wife of Jacob Lundy, who were my grandparents.
Warren County, N. J. Ist of 9th mo. 1866. JACOB LUNDY BROTHERTON.
In this trunk was found a letter or copy of a letter from Elias Hicks, dated Jerico, 13th of 12 mo. 1827. It is addressed to Henry Fink and denies emphatically any reports that he, Elias Hicks, does not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. He declares his belief in the miraculous birth of Jesus as given by the evangelists in the gospels.
Among a number of books and tracts was found a small book en- titled: A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers, by William Penn. Philadelphia, Printed by Joseph Rakestraw, 1816.
In one scrap-book were found a few poems by Felix Danton who wrote a poem on the Quaker Church at Mill Brook. Who was Felix Dan- ton? The following are titles of poems by him, written for the Iron Era : The Sunny Side, An Echo from the Mine, The Village Bell, Winter, The Golden Passion.
In a green tin case were found two wedding certificates, one of Jacob Lundy Brotherton, partly printed, on parchment; and one on heavy paper, all engrossed by hand, as follows:
WHEREAS James H. Mann, son of John Mann and Phebe Mann of the Town- ship of Hanover, County of Morris and State of New Jersey, and Isabella Annetta Fitz Randolph, daughter of Wilson and Mary Ann Fitz Randolph (both deceased) of Plainfield in the County of Essex and State aforesaid, purpose taking each other in marriage and nothing appearing to obstruct their proceedings, they having consent of parties concernd therein.
NOW THESE ARE TO CERTIFY ALL whom it may concern that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions this first day of the first Month in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty one they, the said James H. Mann and Isabella Annetta Fitz Randolph appeared in a meeting appointed specially for that purpose in Plainfield as aforesaid and the said James H. Mann taking the said Isabella Annetta Fitz Randolph by the hand, did in a solemn manner openly declare that he took the said Isabella Annette Fitz Randolph to be his Wife, promising through Divine assistance to be unto her a faithful and loving husband untill death seperated them, or words to that effect, and then and there, in the said Assembly, the said Isabella Annette Fitz Randolph did in like manner openly declare that she took the said James H. Mann to be her husband, promising through Divine assistance to be unto him a faithful and loving wife untill death seperated them, or words to that effect, and moreover, they the said James H. Mann and Isabella Annetta Fitz Randolph, who according to the custom of marriage assuming the name of her Husband, as a further confirmation thereof, did then, and there to these presents set their hands, and we whose names are hereunto subscribed, being present at the solemnization of said marriage and subscription, have as witnesses thereunto set our hands the day and year above written.
JAMES H. MANN, ISABELLA A. MANN, SARAH MANN, HERBERT LAWRENCE.
Witnesses: Henry S. Cohen, Rachl W. Pound, Phebe M. Brotherton, S. E. Gibbs, Sarah Gibbs, George R. Pound, Rowland Johnson, Catharine R. Webster, Maria B. Vail, Ann B. Bullman, Mary E. Pruden, Anna Shotwell, P. A. Doughty, Hannah L. Marsh, Rebecca Harned, Rebecca S. Brotherton, W. Hallock Jr., Daniel
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Bullman, Frazee Marsh, Jacob L. Brotherton, Anna S. Mann, John T. Mann, Wm. Brotherton.
From the Vail Home, Randolph :
Robert and Ann Wilson came from Yorkshire, England, in 1683, in the vessel with Wm. Penn, their son Samuel Wilson being at that time 2 years old, at which time there were but 2 houses and a cave where the city of Philadelphia now stands. A pair of spectacles now (1888) in pos- session of Rachel B. Vail (a daughter of Richard Brotherton), of Ran- dolph, Morris county, New Jersey, belonged to this Samuel Wilson, who died at Kingwood, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, December 12, 1761.
Gabriel Wilson, a son of this Samuel Wilson, was born July 23, 1725, and married Elizabeth Lundy, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Lundy, and Gabriel Wilson, their sixth child, was born October 29, 1752, and mar- ried Grace (a daughter of James Brotherton and Alice Schooley Brother- ton), and the children of Gabriel and Grace Wilson were as follows: Mary Wilson, married Richard Brotherton, died 1871 ; Enoch Wilson, mar- ried Christian Lundy ; Elizabeth Wilson, married John Lundy; James Wil- son, married Amy Laing and Eliz Schmuc; Anna Wilson, unmarried; Henry Wilson, married Elizabeth Hance; Hannah Wilson, married John Stevenson.
Dr. Samuel Wilson (son of the first Gabriel here mentioned) was the father of Samuel Wilson of Kingwood, the cancer doctor. The above first Samuel Wilson was grandfather of the Rahway Wilsons, John, Isaac, Josiah, etc. Annabella and Ann Wilson were daughters of John Wilson of Rahway. Annabella married Isaac Townsend Jr. Ann Wilson never mar- ried.
From the Vail Home, Randolph :
Philadelphia, Pa., 5th mo. 1885.
I indite this as for the fifth day of 5th 1885 and in consideration and celebration of the Seventy-ninth Birth day of my dear aunt and last remaining leaf on the family tree of the fourth generation of American growths in direct descent from Henry the Emigrant.
Seventy-nine years! and yet a denizen of the same locality and dweller on the same soil that the first of our line Purchased from the Proprietor of West Jersey, William Penn, and as I contemplatively review the family history, marking its diffu- sion into the varied channels of the family relationships, and especially our direct line of descent to thee, my aunt Rebecca, and recall from my memory's record my first recollection of our childhood's days, and reproduce, as well as memory may, the first scenes and varied experiences of our very humble and simple life as children, developing into maturity, and the pleasant associations and family interests, some shaded pictures are inevitably recalled, some sad and painfully regretted, but when the canceling pencil of time makes a balancing of events, that the sum total may be obtained, I think we may gratefully congratulate ourselves as the remnants yet nearest the theater of the acts and actors, that not wholly in vain and un- satisfactory have our days been, but that in the consciousness of honorable family pride, we may take a pleasing retrospect, and enjoy thee present occasion which the family utilizes as a reunion of its scattered fragments, and in mutual and affectionate interchange, constitute it a memorial day, and one in which the fraternal ties may be strengthened and renewed, and the sentiment of kith and of kindred be consciously deepened in our own thought and reverently planted in the young mind that is to succeed the fast passing generation, and to whom the perpetuity of the name and what of value it may command shall be very soon entrusted.
It is a matter of regret that I cannot in person share with the family who may greet thee and seal with fitting affectionate salutation the assurance of my love and with thee sacrement and sentiment of family and Home.
The roof-tree and the native soil That gave me name and birth, Whose memories are dearer far Than all the wealth of earth.
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There let me lay my outworn frame, With my ancestral dust, Confiding all to the Supreme, In peaceful, hopeful trust.
JACOB LUNDY BROTHERTON, 553 North 16th st., Phil., Pa., 5th mo. 5th 1885
Note-It was the old account book of Jacob Lundy Brotherton of date 1831 that was used as a scrap-book and filled with the poems of Whittier, Longfellow, John G. Saxe, Holmes, Thomas W. Higginson, Lucy Larcom, Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, Wordsworth, Mrs. E. C. Stedman ( 1841), John Pierpont, Rev. Leonard Bacon, W. C. Bryant, Julia Ward Howe, Joaquin Miller, R. H. Stoddard, Alice Cary, Ella Wheeler, and others.
For Friends' Intelligencer :
Account of Richard Brotherton .- Richard Brotherton, an Elder and esteemed member of Shrewsbury and Rahway Quarterly Meeting, was born the 30th of Eighth month, 1787, and was married to Mary Wilson, at Hardwick Meeting house, on the IIth of Fifth month, 1814, and settled on the farm of his grandfather, where he lived until his death.
He was characterized in his youth and manhood for great physical strength and activity, for good mental powers, and for probity and sincerity. Early in life he was brought under very close religious exercises, and consecrated himself to what he was convinced to be his duty, in the adoption of a line of life, in conformity with the precepts and teachings of Jesus, and the discipline of the religious Society of Friends. He was a regular attender of meetings. both for worship and discipline, during a long life. He possessed that peculiar faculty of always having an appro- priate anecdote wherewith to illustrate and settle any subject under consideration. He had in a remarkable degree that power of memory by which particular events and all that passed under his observation were accurately retained. He also seemed to have an almost entire faith in goodness and in that unselfishness and kindness of heart that felt for all, and trusted all, and forgave all. He endured great sufferings without a murmur or complaint; and when queried with whether life under such circumstances was desirable, he replied, "I wish not to fall like an unripe fig, yet whenever the good Father finds me sufficiently mature, I am entirely willing to be removed; yet not my will, but His who knoweth best."
Sitting one afternoon, as was his custom, in a room removed from the family, and in stillness favorable for that Divine communion he very much enjoyed, he said while thus engaged, with all his senses fully awake and devotionally exercised in spirit, there seemed before him a visible presence that spread over him a beautiful white robe, and audibly and gently said, "The Great and Eternal Jehovah;" which was followed by a state of mind so sweet and intensely happy as to be beyond language to express, which continued for the space of an hour.
On one occasion he said, "Without that Divine comfort and strength from the fountain of all goodness to sustain me, I could not endure my sufferings." After a period of great exhaustion he said, "It would seem remarkable how my strength holds out, seeing I have taken nothing material from which to derive it;" but with tender reverence, added, "In the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength." Early one morning, sitting in silence, he said, "I have been thinking how mercifully I have been favored to partake of that bread of life for which I have labored, and yet never dared to think I had earned, yet am I so blessed in the partaking of. I make these remarks by way of encouragement, that if we do not see the immediate effect of our labors, yet will that bread be given them, and their water shall be sure."
He often expressed how thankful he felt for the kind attention and services of those who waited upon him and ministered to all his wants, on one occasion saying, "My heart is filled with gratitude for the tender care given me, and I can only say, that although it is not my privilege or in my power to make the like return, yet I leave it to Him who knoweth the proper way and time."
He was ever kind to the suffering poor, and always remembered them in acts of mercy and charity. Two ministers, members of other religious societies, bore testimony to his general excellence of character, one of them remarking, he believed him "more ripe for Heaven than any person he had ever known;" and the other, that "he acted from pure and true religious motives, and was a profound Christian."
Thus our dear departed friend has left a sweet fragrance behind him, for the
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testimony of these two witnesses seems to be the feeling and testimony of friends and neighburs alike, and of all classes who knew him. And may his bright example be an incentive to others to follow him, as he followed Christ.
From The Friends' Intelligencer, Philadelphia, First Month 27, 1866.
LINES ON MILLBROOK QUAKER CHURCH. BY FELIX DANTON. .
The sun for a century past, with his light Yon old Quaker Church has been warning; He smiles on it last with his golden good-night, His greeting comes first to that fair little height When he gladdens our land with new morning.
The quaint, olden church was reared by our sires, When the forest was swaying around it, They gave it no domes, nor cloud-reaching spires, No gay-colored windows to soften the fires Of the sun when his bright rays had crowned it.
Enough to content them they found in the strong Oaken beams, homely seats and dark flooring. No sweet sounding bell invited the throng,
That roof never rung with a soul-cheering song, For the people sat silent-adoring.
No more through that aisle, with lowly bowed head, Walk the worshippers true and warm-hearted. The bride never comes to that altar to wed, No sounds are there, save the funeral tread And the wail for the one departed.
Thy founders have passed from Life's ocean away- Now we on its billows are riding- Their children have kept from the hand of Decay Thee, church of their childhood; showing that they Have a love for thee, strong and abiding.
A list of some poems found in the small scrap-book:
Felix Danton: Lines on Millbrook Quaker Church; Longfellow: Woods in Winter; Anon: Entering In-little child entering the church; E. H. Whittier : Lady Franklin; Alice Cary: My Dream of Dreams; J. G. Whittier: The New Exodus; Anon: Burning Old Letters; Souvenirs: By M. Winchester Adams, Newark, New Jersey; J. G. Whittier: The Play- mate, The Singer (referring to Alice Cary) ; Anon: Signs of Foul Weather; E. C. Kinney: The Quakeress Bride; J. G. Whittier: Silent Worship, On Longfellow; Bro. Shillaber ( Mrs. Partington) : A Picture- "There's a little low hut by the river's side;" Anon : Evergreen Mountains of Life; J. G. Whittier : The Rock in the Valley of El Ghor; Father Ryan : Rest; Mrs. F. S. Osgood: Song-"Call me pet names;" Miss Proctor: A Woman's Question-"Before I trust my fate;" Lucy Larcom: Ramabai- The little Hindu maiden heard a voice; William Cullen Bryant: Thanatop- sis ; Ella Wheeler : More Fortunate; J. G. Whittier : The Friend's Burial; Longfellow: The Arsenal at Springfield; Anon: The Wish-I ask not golden stores of wealth; Castle Boncourt: From the German of Chamisso; Theodore Tilton : The Prayer of Nations; Joaquin Miller : The Pilgrims of the Plains; George H. Clark: Petition-The Charter Oak; Longfellow: Via Solitaris; A. D. T. Whitney : Their Angels; Anon: Quaker Flowers; Ella Wheeler Wilcox: Laugh and the world laughs with you; Lincoln's Favorite Poem: O why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Mr. Whittier
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and the Jar of Butter; A Big Enough Family ; J. G. Whittier: The Eternal Goodness ; O. W. Holmes : The Voiceless ; Julia Ward Howe : Our Country ; Danton : To His Mother ; John G. Saxe: Allow for the Crawl-A Homily. This scrap-book is an old diary of 1867, hence it must have been filled after that date. The selections show the most excellent taste. The larger scrap-book, made of an old account book of 1831 also shows excellent taste and is mostly filled with poetry. It contains a great deal of matter that shows the agitation for the abolition of slavery, reflecting the influences that operated through the public press for many years to arouse public opinion on this question. There is also a poem by Whittier urging the abolition of the law of imprisonment for debt. The large book must have been filled between 1831 and the time of the Civil War. The smaller book was after 1867.
MY NATIVE LAND!
( The following rhymes were written by J. Lundy Brotherton in 1839, and read before the Lyceum of Dover, Morris county, New Jersey. The development of the locality, and the growth of the town from a hamlet to a city, between 1839 and 1884, challenges a comparison and emphasizes and confirms the sentiment then entertained.)
Th' Ilissus, Tiber, Thomas, an' Seine Glide sweet in monie a tunefu' line! But, Wille, set your fit to mine, An' cock your crest, We'll gar our streams an' burnies shine Up wi' the best .- Burns.
My native land! I sing of thee! Thy hills, thy vales, thy pleasant river, Are dearly prized by me; Unknown to fame, I love thee ever.
True, fairer fields may amply spread Their acres 'neath far sunnier skies, And richer fragrance may distill, From flowers more brilliant in their dyes.
And statelier mansions, by lake or sea, Stand mirrored in more classic wave; Rich temples of the devotee, And monuments that mark their brave.
Science may in more gorgeous halls With more imposing aspects dwell, And fame in flattering tones may call, And of more glorious deeds may tell.
Randolph ! though humble and unknown, Nor opulent in spicy gales, Thou hast that transcending all ;- Health dwells in all thy hills and dales.
Thy fathers, mothers, true and just, Thy daughters graced with purity, Thy sons are noble, strong and brave ;- My native land! I love thee!
Dover! gem amid the hills, Smiling with morn's benignant face, Thine industry shall weave a crown, That thou shall wear with regnant grace.
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Some Quaker Love Letters :
Plainfield, 12th mo. 8th 1846.
Respected Friend: It is with feelings of the greatest delicacy, that I presume to address a person, with whom I have but a limited acquaintance, and it is in strict accordance, with the dictates, of long suppressed feelings; that now induces me to make the intrusion. Since thy visit to Shrewsbury quarter in 5th mo. last; at which time thee visited my mothers; recollections of thee, have not infrequently, risen in my mind; together with desires, for a privalege, of the enjoyment of thy society. This perhaps may be an unlooked for salutation; but it is something, that I in my own mind have long hesitated; and this step, is what I now believe, to be in the line of my duty. With refference to my family, and character, these I submit to thy consideration. Hoping this to meet a cordial reception I shall wait in suspense for an answer.
I am respectfully, and sincerely, thy friend and admirer,
Please address J. - , Plainfield, N. J.
Respected Friend: Think not I have forgotten the although some time has elapsed, since the reseption of thy letter. Nothing could have been more unexpected to me, as our acquaintance is but limited I deferd writing, hopeing upon considera- tion I should find myself better prepared to give the answer as I see no objection ofers, the is liberty to do as the thinks best, with sentiments sincere regard I subscribe myself
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