USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Annals of Morris County > Part 16
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Another prominent man in the movement was Gilbert Hedden who as I was told by the late Col. Joseph Jackson, built the first grist mill in this vicinity "about the year 1760." This was a short distance below the Rolling mill. The frame of that first mill is now used as a carriage house by Mr. Halsey. What be- came of Mr. Hedden I have not learned.
This date (1760) for the erection of the first grist mill is probably too late a one. April 20, 1762, Samnei Mann a blacksmith conveyed to David Beman "one-half of a grist mill stand- ing on Rockaway river about half a milo down stream of said Beman's Iron Works." Dec. 17, 1763, John Lewis yeoman sells to Wyllis Pier- son, blacksmith, one-half the same grist mill "which mill he the sd person is to moove of from wheir it now stands from of Lewises land to be taken of by the first day of April next."
In Col. Jackson's handwriting is a note to the Munn deed made in 1801 as follows : " Mr. B. (Beman) says he built the mill where it now stands abont the time he received this deed. made ure of the old mill stones and irons to build the new one with." From which it ap- pears that Pierson and Beman Having become joint owners of the mill (then an old mill) about 1763 they moved it up to a place near the forge on the race bank. By deed dated January 2, 1765, Wyllis Pierson couveyed the nndivided half of the grist mill "standing on rockaway river just below the bridge that crosses the river by David Bemans houes with one acre of land," to David Beman evidently after the building was in its new place. Here it stood probably till removed for a wagon house. As a mitl it was probably supplanted oy the one now standing opposite Dr. Jackson's home which is spoken ot in a road return in 1785, as Stephen Jack on's new mill. This was disused after the erection of the present mill by Judge Hat- sey in 1854-5.
Another leading man in the movement was David Beman. He was an early settler in the place, and became the owner of the upper forge. the grist mill, an I saw mill ; he owned also other property in the neighborhood. He was a man of uncommon energy in everything he anderlook, and it was a common saving among his neighbors " that Deacon Beman had not walked a step in seven years !" He would till the bopper of his grist mill and then nux to his saw mill to put that in motion ; then he would RUN to his forge to hammer ont a loop. Thus he was constantly RUNNING in his haste to keep up with all the branches of his business. He was chorister. sexton, and deacon. Fre- quently he waited on the Presbytery for sip- plies for the pulpit. When he had set the tnnes for many years in the church he was to his own disgust supplanted by some young men who introduced the novelty of singing the psalm without reading the line. This was in the pastorate of the Rev. David Baldwin in 1786 and was finished under Rev. John Carl as late as 1797. He was a very useful inan, and an examination of the subscription papers for nearly fifty years shows that he was not a whit behind his neighbors in devising liberal things for the church. He was buried in this church yard, and his descendants ought to put up a stone to mark his grave .*
*Mr. William Jackson in a paper he wrote for me says that he, Beman, when he first kuew him lived in Franklin on the property after- wards bought for a personage for Mr. Carle. From there he moved to Rockaway and lived where the "Henry Berry house" is, near the Mt. Hope ore docks west of the village. He after- ward sold this property to Mr. Carle and removed to Guinea Forge, where the old road
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Of Andrew Morgan (or Morreson) and Abra- ham Johnson each of whom gave five pounds to build the first meeting honse I know nothing. The five men just mentioned signed tive pounds vach.
William Winds was a signer of each of these papers, and he was the most noted man in the community. He was famous in his practical refusal to use the bated stamped paper in his business as a Justice of the Peace. He served as Captain in a Jersey regiment oue year at the North during the French war, and in some of onr carly church records he bears that military title. Concerning the strength and clearness of his voice many emions traditions exist among us. Dr. Ashbel Green, who served in- der Winds, speaks of his "stentorophonie voice" which "exceeded in power and efficiency, for it was artienlate as well as loud, every other fuman voice that I ever heard." (Life of Dr. Green p. 98.) He also commanded a regiment at Ticonderoga in 1776. In 1777 he was elected a Brigadier General in the Militia of the State. Ilis soldiers admired lum, but as a soldier he lacked self control. This was a principal dofect in his character. To bring his wagon whip across the back of an uuruly boy during public worship, to thrash a lazy cooper with one of his own hoops, and to order a dilatory Quarter master to be hung without ceremony, were characteristic of the man. His service in the army did not tend to correct his hot and im- perious temper. Our venerable Mrs. Ennice Thersou remembers him as he appeared when his anger was excited, and he was wont to make a somewhat curions di-play of his fervid tem- perament in praying in " the Deacon's ineet- ings" on the Sabbath during the Revolution for the triumph of his country over her enemies. Ou these occasions his voice would rise into a most excited key resembling thunder. His worst characteristics were the most apparent, for under this rongh aud fiery exterior there
leaves the Glen road for WInte Meadow. Mr. Jackson says he died there. Another inform- ant says be removed to Rockaway Valley near the old Poor House now owned by Wm. Dixson. The latter statement is probably a mistake.
Mr. Jackson says that Deacon Beman was a great stulterer aud sputterer, very impulsive and as smart as a squirel and as shrewd as a fox, full of mother wit. He was always on hand upon any discussion respecting church matters and particularly singing, of which he claimed preeminence. Although at last worsted on his sgining-war with Benjamin Jackson he yielded with pretty good grace. He was always cheer- Inl and full of good humor.
I may add that I think Mr. Jackson is mis- taken as to the Parish having bought the Frankhn parsonage for Mr. Carle from David Beman. The records show that the Parish bought of Jacob Shotwell, through Wm. Ross as ageut, that property. (See records July 30, 1792, and February 21, 1793.)
was genuine kindness, which led him to deeds which are preserved in the traditions which come to us from those days. A true patriot, a kind neighbor, a friend to those in distress, a singular but sincere christian, such was one of the founders of this church, manifesting his attachment to it by his liberality during his file time, and making it his principal heir in the will be signed just betore his death .*
Johu Huntington whose manly siguature ix affixed to both these papers resided about one mile south of the Union School House, and I suspect that he was connected with "the Colo- uel's forges" as Ninkie and Shaungum were then called on account of Col. Jacob Ford's interest in them. It is possible that the place spokeu of as " the Colonel's Forges" may have been Mt. Pleasant or Denmark as Col. Ford had forges there at work long before 1758. The late Mr. Anderson and also the late Mr. David Gordon have often told me that he was a mau of most venerable aspect an I dev mi piety.
The name of Deacon Obadiah Lum 18 not on the first paper, but it is on the second, and for several years is usually on all the subscrip- tions for the chinrch. He resuled in Franklin just below th old Palmer house, and tradition speaks of him as a ver, good man.
I may here mention also Deacon Jacob Aller- ion although his nante does not appear among those who founded the church. In 1767 be was a prominent man. (Copied records of church p. 29) and for many years he filled the office of Ruling Elder in a manner that in- pressed his acquaintances with the conviction of his sincerity as a christian. He resided on the property half way betreen Rockaway and Denville recently sold by Mr. David Anderson. He was noted for his exact regard to truth and his deferring the punishment of his children until the excitement of the occasion bad passed away.
Of these four early Elders I have been told by old people that Deacons Allerton and Lun sat under the pulpit during the service, that Deacon Bemau led in singing, and Deacon Huntington or one of the other Deacons read
*In his last illness General Winds was al- tended by Dr. John Darbe of Parcippany who acted as his physician, then as his minister, and finally as his lawyer. He prescribed for his disease, censoled him in his dying hour. drew up his will, preached his funeral sermou, and wrote his epitaph. His grave is in the rear of the old church and the monument bears this inscription : "Under this monument lies buried the body of Wm. Winds, Esq., who departed Oct. 12th, 1789, in the 62d year of his age, &c." (See article ir these annals "William Winds. ")
John Darbe was graduated at Yale 1748. licensed by Suffolk Presbytery 1749, ordained by the same 1757, settled at Connectient Farms 1758, staid two years, removed after 1768 to Pareippany, withdrew from New York Pres- bytery 1773.
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the Psalm hne by fine. They were venerable, pions, efficient men, and worthy first to hold office in the church which was to hve long after they had ascended to their rest.
The names of Moses Tuttle, Jacob Ford, Jr., Stephen Jackson, Benjamin Beach, Abraham Kitebel, and many other important members of the congregation do not appear in the records until some years afterward. The iuference is that they were not then living here or too vonng to take a part in it. By deed dated September 17th, 1759, William Winds and linhemab his wife convey to Joseph Jackson, father of Stephen, a tract of 162 6-10 acres, part of Peun's tract of 1250 acres, which lay in whole or in part between the Dover road and tho Rockaway river. In 1769 atter tho death of Joseph Jackson, this tract of 162 acres is men- tioned in the inventory of his effects as " the plantation." The first mention I find of Stephen Jackson, who was a liberal friend of this church, is 1768 wuen Robert Schooley conveys to Joseph and Stephen Jackson one-fourth of a property "commonly known as Schooley's Forge." This was at Dover back of the house recently (1876) bniit by Alphous Bremer, Esq., on the south si le of the road to Suce .suuna. The next year " Joseph Jackson, Jeoman," conveys his right in Schooley's Forge to "Stephen Jackson of Menthan. Bloomer." This was the beginning of the fino property which he acquired by thrift and industry. He was fifteen years old when h's fither bought the tract of William Winds the year the church was rai od.
In 1760 and 1702 the name of Moses Tattle 18 on subscription papers, and in 1767 he was one of a committe . for agree on the terms of settle- ment with his brother the Rev. James Tuttle, tue fest pastor of the church. He probably came to Mount Pleasant abont 1756 to manage the forge property at that place fos his father- in-law, Col. Jacob Ford, Sen., who was the original builder of that forge. He (Col. Ford) took up from the proprietors the land covering '.the falls of the branch of the Rockaway" at Mt. P.casant and where the forge stood, as early as 1750. A location b low on the same stream in 1757 is spoken of as below said Ford's Iron Works. As early as 1757 -how much carlier 1 cannot learn - Mr. Tuttle's brother-in-law Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., built a forge at Denmark and lived there until 1770 when he built the large alone house at Mt. Hope. In 1772 he soll his Mount Hope property to John Jacob Fæsch. The books of the church show that Col. Ford was an active member of the congregation dur- ing the few years he was here.
The name of Benjamin Beach I do not find on our ricorda until 1769 where he is named as one of the parish Collectors, Ile was the son of Abger Brach whose name frequently occurs on
the records of the Morristown church, and was when chosen Collector but 24 years of age. H was noted lor his preciseness in business, an ' the exact management of everything about him. His rate was "a place for everything and everything in its place," and the transgressor of that rule received no quarter from him. Although not a member of the church until he was an old men, he frequently acted as Trustee and in other capacities by appointment of the congregation, and bore his share in the peenviary burdeos of the church.
In April, 1773. Abraham Kitebel is mentioned as Moderator of the parish meeting, in which capacity, and as Trustee, Committeeman, and Collector, he frequently served the parish. His brother, Aaron Kitchel, was om of the most intelligent men in the county, taking a proor- m ut part in the Revolution, and frequently serving the State in the Provincial and the Continental Congress. Abraham wasn man of better education than was common in his day among men who had not been trained in the higher schools and colleges. From the time he came into the Parish outil he left it in the Fall of 1792 he was a leading man, whose firm- ness sometimes amounted to obstinacy. H. was a man of some unmor, great independent and p.ysical strength. He was in the employ of Benjamin Cooper at Hiberuma with his team. On one occasion happen.og to meet Cooper b a very bad mud bolo he asked lus to have ti fixed. Cooper gave him a rongb answer, an l Kitchel sexed him and threw Imm into the me ! hole saying, " web, then, I will mend it will you !" Having " neither poverty nor riches " he was liberal according to ins means, aud whe . be removed he lett this two sons Jaun - and Ford to assist in copying the burden of the chure', a task which they were not loth Io perform many years. He first lived in a log honse near the old stone house. not standin_ Dow, but ocenpied many vears by his son Jam Kitchel. In 17.6 James was in the arny and was brought to Hanover sick of "camp distemt- per." His mother, Charity Ford, in nursing him caught the disease and died October 7.h. 1776, the very day that the Kitchel house was raised. I have been told that Abraham Kitchel once owned the place now held by Cot. S. s. Brach, which be exchanged with Francis Me- Carty for the White Meadow property. H. built the Muir house and occupied it unnl November, 1792, when he sold it to Bernard Smith. He died at Parsippany Jan. 11tb, 1807.
To this bst I munst add one more, although he did not remove into our bounds nntil 1772. I refer to John Jacob Fuesch, for many years # leading man in this region. He was a Gorman. a native of Hose-Cassel, and was sent to tius country by "the London Company" as the
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manager of their extensive iron works in Bergen County as it then was, but in Passaic as it now is. In April, 1740, one Cornelius Board sold a tract of land to Josiah Ogden, John Ogden, Jr., David Ogden, Sr., David Ogden, Jr., and Uzal Ogden, all of Newark, and associated together under the corporate name of "the Ringwood Company. This company bought other lands in that vicinity, and built iron works on the property. In July, 1764, " the Ringwood Company " sold to " Peter Hasenclever, late of London, merchant" for five thousand pounds all the company's lands at Ringwood. The deed states that on the property are "erceted and standing a furnace, two forges and several dwelling houses." Ha- senclever also bought land of Joseph Wilcox and Walter Erwin in the vicinity of Ringwood, and of oue Delancey anl others ; he bought ten thousand acres three miles from Ringwood. (E. Jersey Records, Liber B. 3 pp. 76-118.) I suppose he also bought the Charlottenburgh tract. This Hasenclever was the agent of the "Loudon Company " and with him was issoci- atud Mr. Faesch who ca.de to this country abont 1766. (Mrs. Betsy Doland's statement. ) For some canse the intnagement of Hisen- ekver and Farsch did not satisfy their em p'oyers who superseded them probably in 1772 by one Humphries who was superseded by a very intelligent Scotchman, Robert Erskine. I bave Erskine's copy of his own letter to that effect. Facsch then parchased the Mount Hope property of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., and iu September 1772 for the sim of one thousand two hundred and forty-six pounds, seven shil- lings and six pence he bought of William Burnet and John Johnson six thousand and two hundred aeres in Pequannock, known as "The Mount Hope Fract" which was located that year by them at Fresch's "request "-the property bought of Ford being locations in whole or in part within the large survey. The same year he built the Mount Hope Furnace and employed many workmen. He soon became a contributor to the expenses of the church, and his dashing signature ternuating in a flourish in form lik'e a tobacco pipe, may be seen on many subscription papers which are stilt preserved. When the Revolution began he took the side of the colonies and was regarded a very warm patriot. He cast large quantities of balls and shell for the American Army. Ou one occasion during the war he had the honor of entertain- ing Washington at Mount Hope for a day. Some years after the war he left his Mount Hope property and removed to Morristown where he converted the " old Magazine " build- ing, on south-east corner of Morris Green, into a dwelling. Subsequently he removed to "Old
Boonton" where he died in 1799 and was buried at Morristown. The Mount Hope Tract after Mr. Faesh's death was sold by Geo. Doughty. a commissioner appointed by the Court of Chancery for that purpose, who had it surveyed and divided into lots by Lemuel Cobb, father of the late Judge Andrew B. Cobb, in 1805 or there- abouls. Here I may add that his friend Haxen- clever according to some is the hero of a tradi- tion in this community, that on bis death bed he ordered a considerable sum of money to be paid to the trustees of this church, provided they would bury his body under the pulpit of the uld church. Several old people, now dead, have told me that his body was buried under the pulpit, but the books make no mention of the money being received for a privilege which in former days was so highly prized in the Old World. Some of my infor- mants say that a Capt. Friesburgh was the person. Coneerning Mr. Faesch I may add the words of a very discriminating man who knew bim well : " In his relations to society he was very generous and large-hearted. H. did much to support rehgious institutions in the community, not from any person il interest in such things, but because in his opinion these institutions were a powerful means to keep the lower classes in proper subjection." In thess opinions he was not singular : he then had. an.] he now bas, many " like-minded with himsetf." not clearly recognizing the great truth thit every man, rich or poor, master or slave, nerd. not merely religious education but a new heari to fit him for every social sphere in this life a+ well as for the immortality beyond the grave.
Joseph Hoff, the son of a gentleman in Hun- terdon Conuty, in the Spring of 1775 becima the manager of Hibernia works for Lord Stir- ling. His letters show that he was a man ot very considererable intelligence. He was here two years. After his death his brother Charles Hoff, the son-in-law of Moses Tuttle. suceee led him, and whilst living there his house was robbed by a troop of Tories, led by the famous Claudius Smith. Mr. Hoff afterward re- moveit to Mount Pleasant and his family have never warered in their attachment to this church. The descendants of Moses Tut'le and his wife Jane, daughter of Col. Jacob Ford, Sr., ia at least two hnes have been and they are still ranked among our best friends. The fifth generation in each line is now on the stage.
Deacon John Cobb, residing where Mr. Halsey now, (1858,) lives, was an active and useful member of this society in early times. He built the first trame honse in Rockaway. It was removed to south of the forge to make way for the large house built by Col. Joseph Jackson and now occupied by E. D. Halsey. As early as 1776 Benjamin Jackson's name also
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begins to appear in the transactions of the church. He was a sprightly young man with "music in him " in more senses than one. He was gifted with a sharp tongue somewhat ehar- acteristic of the family ; his temperament was both ardent and firin; honorable in his feelings he was honored even when a young man ; but bis chief merit was his love of sacred music. The old people of a few years ago were wont to describe the clearness, sweetness and compass of his voice, very much as the atten- dents on the modern opera describe the voices of the world-noted tenors. He had no equal in this region as a singer of sacred music. It is not difficult to imagine the process by which he and his young friends were led to think that the "lining the Psalm " by one Deacon, and "the setting of the tune " by another, were to be borne no longer than circumstances would permit. Concerning this cothsion so famous in our history 1 may have more to say in another place.
There are other names belonging to the carly period of our history which deserve mention, such for instance as Willys Pierson, one of the trustees in 1762, Jacob Garigues, the grand- father of our Elder, the Burwells, one family of whom removed to Canada and there attained wealth and social position, George Stickle, the son of a German. and after George Harris- who taught he first school in Rockaway-one of the earliest and most thorough school teachers. There is not a teacher in New Jersey who can excel the penmanship of either Harris or Stekte which I have now in my possession. To these names I might add the names of Robert Ayres, Joseph Beman of Dover, brother of David, Withian Ross who for a tune was an officer in the church, Chilion Ford, Robert Gaston. Bernard Smith, John MeGibbons and Henry Tuttle, able to build pews for themselves in the old church, Benjamin Prudden of whom the ehnreb lot and burying ground were bought, James Puff Losey, Eliakim Anderson, Frederic Miller, Deacon Joun Clarke, Josiah Hurd, Amos Lindsley, Silas Haines, Isaac Southard, and some others who either assisted in founding the church or bore a part io sustain- ing ot during the first year of its existence .*
I have endeavored thus to place before you some of the men who assisted to found our church or to support it during its infancy. A very cursory examination of our church records show us that they were none of them educated to any greater extent than in the common branches, and the most of them very imper-
feetly even ir. these. Some of them signed their names by proxy; and the most of those who could write show that their hands were more accustomed to the axe-helve, crowbar, or forge-tongs than to the pen. It is very rare to find a single subscription paper, or petition, or entry made by them in which there are not ludierons errors in spelling and grammar. This is not to be wondered at for I had been told by Dr. Lewis Condiet that m his boyhood the children and young people in this country had few educational privileges beyond the occasional night school in winter, and the scanty instruction in the chimney corner. Col. Jackson once informed me that George Harris taught the first school ever opened in this parish in 1784. This was near the house now occupied by Dr. J. D. Jackson. All Mr. Harris' scholars that quarter came from thirteen families and were in number twenty- eight. What people then acquired was prines- pally by their own efforts with very little assis- tance. The wonder is not that the literary performances of our pioneers were so fanlty, but rather that they are so good as to express the ides of the authors, an excellence not always attained byeducated men. Our fathers were plain, sensible, and hard-working men. They lived in very plaiu dwellings, with very plain furniture, and on very plain food. The luxuries which are on the tables of our poorest people were rarely seen on the tables of their richest. In the Spring the children had their only confectionery in the delicious suger made from the maple. The silks and broadelothis of our day have succeeded the home-made linens aud woolens of their day. The only " help " the women bad in those days were their own hard hands and their maiden daughters who were trained from childhood in the mysteries of the wash tub, the kneading bowl, the spin- Ding wheel and the loom. Their hands may not have been so white as young ladies have nor, but their cheeks were more ruddy and their step more elastic, The men occasionally indulged in the luxury of apple whiskey, but it was not adulterated, and their plam diet and abundant work promoted robust health and long life until thus region has become famous for the numbers of its very aged people. That . was not the age of baby jumpers, tight stove rooms, and paper shoe-soles. The men did manly work in a manly way, and the women aspired after Solomon's " virtuous woman " as their beau ideal of excellence. (Prov. 31. 10- 31.) The simplicity of their times is seen in the facts stated to mo by more than one, that young woman have been known on Sunday to walk bare-footed until they reached the vicinity of the meeting-house before they put on tho carefully preserved shoes which were so hard
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