USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Annals of Morris County > Part 3
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These quotations present the Ringwood man- ager in a light that reflects credit on him as oue who clearly read the signs of the times and interpreted those signs honestly to his British employers. It is very evident that, he desired the Revolution to be arrested by the honest retraction of their odious measures by the British ministry, and the faithful cession to the American colonies of the rights which they justly claimed. Were there no other sont- ces of muformation than these letters, it would be evident that their writer was a warm advo- cate of the Americans in their dispute with the mother country, but taken with other prouts, they present Robert Erskine in a noble a ttitude in the struggle which he predicted iu such strong language, together with its issue.
He died at Itingwood, and Ins grave occupies a retired spot about a quarter of a mile from the ruins of the old Ringwood Furnace, Dear the road leading from Ringwood to West Mil- ford. There are only two graves at this place, these laying side by side, the one that of Rob- ert Ens kine and the other that of his former clerk, Robert Monteath. Mr. Erskine's monu- ment is of gray marble, is supported in a re- cumbent position by a brick wail about one fout high, and bears the following inscription :
"In memory of ROBERT ERAKINE, F. R. S. Geographer and Surveyor General To the Army of The United States ; Son of the lev. RALPH ERSKINE. Late Minister at Dunfermline In Scotland. Born September 7th, 1735. Died October 2d, 1780, Aged 45 years And 25 days."
I am tempted here to copy an autograph tet- ter from Margaret Erskine, "the loving and af- fectionate mother" of Robert, which shows the canny Scotch woman not Too prudent about "the Lotry tickets, their being a few that gets anything that way," and yet who says "I will be glad to hear it you get anything that way, and what you payd for your ticket." It is evi- dent from the letter that he had sought a Pro- fessorship at Glasgow.
" Dear Robbie, I received your's this day I wrot to yon this day eight days with a ship- masters recept for a box to yon with some lin- nings which youl have got by this time. I shall be very glad that I am in a mistake about your being oblidged to be present as a candidat for Je vacancy at Glesgow it was the openeau of
your Brother and many others that you should be present but if it is neadless it may be they may cause you get for to be sure the profes- serss is not pleased with that Buchanuan but i is like as ve D of Argyl is hear he will oblidge them to take him fit or nutit if it serves his than I think you have got a suttiseeant swach of his Gress as I hope you will expect no favours from him it would be a great merey if you could think of doing something bear for I am afrayd you will get some offers to go to Jeameky Ge- brealter or some of the colonys abroad which would be very disagreeable to me. You may be sure I would be very glad to see you hear for I almost desper of ever seeing you and if you go lather abroad it will corteanly be the case I hope you will take care not to medle with Lotrytickets their being few gets anything that way Garvok give out 100 pounds ster for ticket- and they came ont all blanks. I will be glad tu hear if you get anything that way and what yon payed for your ticket. I hope it will be as you say that the people you stay with are religenss sober folk but I thought it best to let you see my Brothers letter that you might be on your gaird-I hope the Lord himself will keep his hand about you and keep von out of evel com- pany for to be sure their are many temtatione in and about London and ollmost in every place I am Dear Robie your loving and affectuat
Mother MARGARET ERSINE." Dunferm (date torn off).
As already said, it was io 1772 that Mr. Faesch was superceded in the management of Ine London Company's Works by Mr. Ershine. Previous to 1770, Col. Jacob Ford, JJr., of Mor- ristown-his widow was Washington's hostess during his second winter in Morristown-It said to have purchased some 2,000 acres of the land which afterward constituted a considera - ble part of the large tract bought by Mr. Facseh. Col. Ford built a forge some three miles north of the Mount Hope mansion, shen known as Burut Meadow, but subsequenth Denmark. He there built a house and lived a year or two. Col. Ford was at Denmark as early as 1768, because that year he is mention- ed in the Rockaway Trustee book as occupying "Pne No. 5," in the first meeting house. For some reason he was dissatisfied with Denmark as a residence, and in 1770 built the stono man- sion at Mount Hope. Thus is still standing. and I may add that I saw a pane of glass in one of its windows on which was the diamoud-ent autograph of Samuel Ogden, of Boonton, with a date which I have forgotten. This rehe was lost on repairs being made on the house.
In 1772 Mr. Faesel removed to Mt. Hope .*
* I have not seen the deed for lands purchas- ed from Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., but the fact is
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ANNALS OF MORRIS COUNTY.
and the fate Col. Joseph Jackson, of Rockaway. says that Facsch built the Monnt Hope Fur- nace in that year, and gradually enlarged his purchases until he was said to own ten thous- and acres, the most of which was wood land. He became the lessee of the Hibernia Works at some time during the war and east a large amount of shot and shell for the Government. Gen. Washington and staff once visited him at Mount Hope, and he was regarded as a thor. onghly loyal man, entering into the war with great zeal. It is said that he was successful in his business as an iron master nntil, at the elose of the war, foreign importations broke him down. After the war he removed to Mor- ristown and purchased the old magazine which stood on the southeast corner of the Square. This he converted into a dwelling and ocenpied it until his wife died, Feb. 25, 1788. After this be removed to Old Boonton, and died of dropsy May 26, 1799, at that place, aged 70 years. He was buried at Morristown. Mr. Faesch was said to be skeplical in his religious opinions, but one of the promptest supporters of the Rockaway church, giving as a reason for the apparent inconsistency, that "religion was a very good thing to keep the lower classes in proper sub- ordination !" His autograph may be seen on several subscription papers of the parish, and the flourish at the end was in form like a pipe. He married Miss Elizabeth Brinkerhoff, of Par- sippany, and left two sons and two daughters. The sous, John Jacob and Richard, never mar- ried, and died whilst yet voung men. Que of the danghters died abont 1848. She was not married. The other marriel a Mr. Wm. H. Robinson and had two daughters, one of whom married Robert I. Girard, of New York, and died about 1848 or 19, leaving children, and the other was hving in California in 1851. Mr. Farsch himself married for his second wife a widow Lawrence, whose maiden name was Leonard, her mother being a Kearney .* There were no children hy this marriage.
In his day John Jacob Faesch was one of the great men of Morris County, regarded as its
Known that he bought the Mount Hope house and a large tract of land with it that year. Sept. 12, 1772, he bought of William Burnet and John Johnson for 1,246 pounds, 78. 6d. Procla- ination, a tract of land in Pequanune, measur- ing 6,200 acres, ont of which certain tracts are reserved. May 8, 1772, he bought of "Abraham Ogden a tract in Mencham Township known and cabed Jackson's Mme. containing ten acres for 10 pounds." He also bought, Nov. 6, 1772, another tract in same township of four 42-100 acres for 33 pounds 18s. 6d. And Feb. Ist. 1773, ho bought of Jacob Ford, Jr-"both of Pequannack Township"-a small tract of land "at a place known as Mount Hope," for 5 pounds. East Jersey Records, Liber G, 3 pp. 96, 237, 9, and 200.
*Whitehead's Amboy, p. 92.
greatest mon-master, one of its richest men and one of its most loyal citizens. The robbers Moody and Claudius Smith several times at- tempted to rob his house, but. provided with arıns by the Government and surrounded with his own men, he was not a very pleasant ob- jeet of attack by the bandits.
As mention has been made of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., as one of the early settlers ot the upper part of Morris County, I may add that he was the son of Col. Jacob Ford, Sen., and that after his sale of Mount Hope to Mr. Faes ·li, he returned to Morristown, Ile he'd a commission in the American army, built a pow- der mill at Morristown, and saw some service, but shortly after Washington led his army into winter quarters, early in January, 1777, Col. Ford died of pneumonia, Jan. 11, aged thirty- nine. Eight days afterward-Jan, 19-his fa- ther, Col. Jacob Ford, Sen., died of fever aged seventy-three years .* By order of Gen. Washı- ington, the son was honored with a military funeral. His descendants are among the most houored citizens of the County.
Not l'ar from Mount Hope is Hibernia, at the head of the "Horse Pound" Valley, and situa- ted between two steep mountains about four miles north of Rockaway. At one time no lit- tle interest was connected with this piace and some men who figured there. The land was taken up and the works built earlier than either at Denmark or Mount Hope. I am not able to give the precise date, only it was prior to Oc- tober 28, 1765.t
It will be noticed that in 1765 John Johnson had iron works at "Horse Pound," as Beach Glen was then called, from the fact that near
* Morristown Bill of Mortality, 29.
+ At this time Samuel Ford and his wife Grace -daughter of Abraham Kitchel-for the sum of 265 pounds, 13s. 4d. sold to James Anderson. of Newtown, Sussex County, "one equal and undivided third part of all and every of the Re- spective five following lots of land hereinafter mentioned, and scituate in the Township ot Pequannock, in the County of Morris afore- said, about one mite and a half above John Johnson's Iron Works, &c." Lots number one, two, three and four contain ten acres each. strict measure, and number five ten acres and thirty-four hundredths. This land is described as part of a "lott of land returned to Col. Ja- cob Ford, and recorded at Perth Amboy in Book S, 4 p. 350." The same convevance of Ford to Anderson speaks of "outhouses, build- ings, barns, Furnaces, &c .. mines and miner- als, &c.," as included in the deed. The deed is acknowledged "before me. Joseph Tuttle, Esq .. one of the Judges of His Majesty's inferior Court of Common Pleas, heid at Morristown, July 9, 1766." On the same day. Oct. 28, 1765. Samuel Ford and his wife Grace, sold to Benja- inin Cooper, of Newtown, Sussex County, for the same sum, "one equal and undivided third part of all aud every" of the same "five Jotts of fand" as deseribed in the conveyence to Ander- son-East Jersey Records Liber D. 3 pp 42-6. -
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ANNALS OF MORR S COUNTY.
the upper end of the valley the Indians, and perhaps early settlers, had a log enclosure made, in which to catch the horses that had been running wild over the mountains during the summer. The names of Lord Stirling, Ben- jamin Cooper and Samuel Ford, are connected with the original building and o "nership of the Hibernia Works. The history of Lord Stirling is fully set forth in a volume published under the auspices of the Historical Society.
Benjamin Cooper was the son of Judge Dan- iel Cooper, and in 1768 I find that "Benjamin Cooper & Co." hell "pew No. 6" in the old Rockaway meeting house. Lord Stirhng was the "Company." It is said that Ford and Lord Stirling built Hibernia Works. The former became a notorious character, and as a part of his villainons career was run at Hibernia, it will be interesting to record a few things con- ceruing him.
Mr. Whitehead, in His paper on "The Bob- bery of the Treasury in 1768," describes Ford as "an artful rogue, an Englishman by birth but married and having relations in New Jer- sev."* In this he is mistaken. In the census of New Jersey, taken in 1771-2,t is the follow- ing item : "Widow Ehzabeth Lindsley, moth- er of Cot. Jacob Ford, was born in the city of Axford, in Old England, came to Philadelphia when there was but one hons in it, and into this Province -New Jersey-when she was but one and a half years old. Deceased April 21st, 1772, aged Of years and one month." Samuel Ford was the grandson of this estimable lady.# lle was regarded as a very ingenious man, and from Benjamin Cooper's confession, and Ford's rejomder, I infer that the business of conuter- feiting was agitated before the latter sold out his Hibernia interests to Anderson and Coop- er, in 1765. Mr. Whitehead intimates that Ford went to Ireland in 1769, "for improve. ment in the profession,"§ bit Rivington's New York Gazette of July 22d, 177:3, says that "Ford went to Ireland six years ago, and to England eighteen months ago." He made two trips across the ocean in the prosecution of his business. The date of the Hibernia Works 1 suppose was to raise the means to make the voyage in 1765. He was back in 1766 and we lind under date of June 28, 1766, in the minutes
* Proceedings N. J. Historical Society, V, p. 53.
t Historical Society Library.
#Illa father's name was Samnel. He married Grace, the daughter of Abraham Kitchel, of Hanover, and sister of Aaron the Congressman. ller great-grandfather was the Rev. Abraham Pierson, sen., of Newark. Her nieco Mrs. Eu- nice Pierson, of Rockaway, who lived to the ex- traordinary ago of ninety-three years, onee tokl me that, Samuel Ford was a handsome man but "he was a great grief to his friends."
of Privy Council of New Jersey, that the Gov- ernor . ighed a warrant on the Treasury "to the Hon. John Stevens, Esq., for sending an express into this Colony to inform the inhabi- tants of a large sum of Jersey bills of credit being arrived in a vessel from England." There em be httle doubt that this was the fruit of Ford's professional visit to Ireland. then reputed to furnish the most skillful conn- terfeiters in the world. "Whilst in Ireland he married an interesting young Irish gir!, with whom he is said to have received some money. On reaching this country she was well nigh crazed on tintling that Ford had a wife and children. This was one of the worst acts ot his wicked lite."*
In the letter which Ford wrote to Cooper, after his own escape from the Morris jail, he berates Cooper for his "attiocions falsehood" in charging on him the robbery of the Treas- ury at Perth Amboy, and then speaks in terms of virtuous indignation because in the confes- sion "Yon describe me as being the chiefest promoter anl first introducer of the money making affair," as he pleasantly denominates counterfeiting. He then adds this sentence, "Did yon not in the time of our distressed cir- cumstances at the furnace [Hibernia] firat move such a scheme to me?" From the deed of two-thirds of the Hibernia property in 1765, it is fair to infer that he then sold out all his interest there, and in connection with his own letter just quoted, it seems to me clear that "the money-making affair" was in progress as early as that tm. Further it seems probable that he soll his property in order to go to Ire- land that very fall or the next spring, and that his return was made known by the arrival in June, 1766, of a shop with "a large sum of counterfeit Jersey, bills of credit." With this harmonises the fact that in 1767 he was resid- ing in New York, where he was arrested "oa a charge of uttering false New Jersey bills of credit."t
It is evident that after his return from Ire- land be sought a more sceluded place for his business, and found it in a swamp-island on the Hammock, midway between Morristown and Hanover. The late Sheriff Robertson, of Morris county, became the owner of the house Ford lived in, on the Hammock, and in repair- ing it found some of his counterfeiting tools in the walls where they had been secreted by Ford, many years before. In July, 1768, the robbery of the Treasury took place, and Ford's
* Dr. Timothy Kitchel heard his father say that thuis young woman was afterward married to an Irishman, and lived at Whippany many veurs.
t Mr. Whitehead's Paper, Proceedings of N.
§ Proceedings N. J. Historical Society, V, 53. | J. Historical Society, V, 52.
1
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ANNALS OF MORRIS COUNTY.
letter to Cooper with other testimony leaves the strong suspicion that he was the planner and excentor of that crime. This is confirmed by the confessions which Cooper, Haynes and Bndd made under the gallows. all pointing as is said. to Ford as the Treasury robber, but there is no direct proof of the charge, and Ford himself denies it.
In the Pennsylvania Gazette, of Sept. 29th, 1773, we find the substance of Cooper's confes- sion. "He confessed himself privy to the rob- bery of the Treasury at Amboy, and that he re- ceived 300 pounds of the money; that it was concerted by Ford, and perpetrated by him wud three soldiers then quartered there ; that the plan was first to attempt to carry off the iron chest, and if that failed, next to take the key from Mr. Skinner's bed room, and to kill him or any person who should discover them, and that afterwards if any of them should be suspected or convicted, they were to turn King's evidence and accuse Mr. Skinner as be- ing an accomplice with them. When some of them were shocked at this proposal, as thereby an innocent person might lose his life, Ford replied, "'No, d- him. he will only be con- demned, he has friends enough to save bim from the gallows.'" That after breaking into the Treasurer's office, adjoining his bed-room, they attempted to carry off the chest, but find- ing it diffenlt set it down again, and breaking open a desk in the room in hopes of finding money, they there found an old key to the money chest, which was rusty and thought un- fit for use (the key then in use being in Mr. Skinner's bed-room); with this old key they opened the iron chest, and thereby the lives ¿ liat would have been exposed were probably preserved." I copy this not to vouch for its truth but as supplying a needod document in this singular history .*
The emission of counterfeit money had grown into an alarming evil, and it was generally be- lieved that Samuel Ford was the leader of the gang. Accordingly, on the 16th of July, 1773, he was arrested and imprisoned at Morristown. During the night, or the next day after his ar- rest, he escaped, "being aided," as Mr. White- head says, "by his confederate, King-a rival veteran in villainy," This John King was prob- ably "John King, late under-Sheriff of Morris county," and thus was able to aid in his jail- breaking. Moreover, deputy-Sheriff King was before the Privy Council in February, 1744. The Sheriff, Kinney, was himself indicted for allowing the escape of so dangerous a prisoner. Indeed some pretended to believe that Kinney,
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and others higher in society, wero implicated in the crime .* Certain it is that very little care was taken to hold the rogne, and the pur- suit of him was not very vigorous. He first fled to a lonely spot on the mountain, between Mount Hope and Hibernia, and staid in "Smuitz' Cabin," a deserted cabin in an old colliery.t The late James Kitchet, of Rocka- way,¿ when fourteen years old, was one Sunday at the Rockaway meeting house, and saw Sher- aff Kinney arrest Abraham Kitchel as a guide for his posse to Ford's hiding place. Greatly excited, the boy ran home, but on the way stopped to tell one John Herriman the occur- renee. He says that this man stript off his coat and ran straight over the meadows for Hibernia, for "Simultz' Cabin." The Sheriff took tho matter leisurely, although Mr. Kitch- el, his guide, said to him publicly, "I know where Ford is and will take you to the spot, but yon know you dare not, for your own sake, arrest him !" At last, at a leisurely pace, they reached the cabin, and sure enough Ford was gone. "There, Sheriff," said Kitchel, as they entered the cabin, "18 where Sam Ford has been secreted, and you would rather give your horse, saddle and bridle than to find him here NOW !" The Privy Council regarded Kinney as "blameable for nogligence in his office, respect- ing the escape of Ford." He was indicted for it, and the Council advised the Governor "to prosecute the said indictment at the next court."§
It was a widely prevalent opinion in Morris County, as has been stated, that some meu in high positions were interested in Ford's "mon- ev-making business," which he pleasantly calls "a piece of engenuity." Four men were con- victed in Morris County and one in Sussex County, and all sentenced to be hung : Benja- mın Cooper of Hibernia, Dr. Bern Budd, Sam- uel Haynes, David Reynolds and one Avers. Reynolds was a common man, with no strong sociál connections, but Cooper, Haynes and Ayers were Justices of the Peace. Cooper's own father, Daniel Cooper, was one of the Judges of the Court that tried him. Dr. Budd was a physician greatty esteemed in the County for his social position, and also for his reputed skill in his profession, Indeed, so great was the latter, that this bad business and his bav- ing been sentenced to death in consequence of it, did not prevent his retaining his practice, One of his patients, a very inquisitive woman,
* Mr. Whitehead's paper, already referred to, gives a succinct narrative of the principal cir- cumstanees, and their bearing upon subsequent nvents.
* When the Sheriff sold ont what little prop- erty Ford had left, even to a tin cup filled with milk for the babe, bis son said to him "I have seen you in my father's shop."
+ Statement of his niece, Mrs. Eunice Pier- SON.
# Mrs. Pierson's brother.
§ MS minutes of Privy Council.
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ANNALS OF MORRIS COUNTY.
the first time she had occasion for his services, asked him very naively "how ho kind of felt when he came so near being hanged ?" Dr. Bndd died of putrid fever Dec. 14, 1777, aged thirty-nine years .* Of the four Morris County conviets, Cooper, Haynes and Budd were re- prieved the morning of the day appointed for their execution.t The substance of Cooper's confession has already been given, and the min- utes of Privy Council show that in a trial insti- tuted by Lord Stirling against Col. Samuel Og- den and Samuel Tuthill, Esqs., for unfair deal- ing in the taking of affidavits and confessions "in the County of Morris, in or about the months of August, September and October last-1773-relative to the counterfeiting of the paper bilts of eredit of this province and the Robery of the Treasury of this Province." Budd and Haynes bad both mado confessions, for the minutes direct that "Wm. DeHart, Esq., bring with him the affidavits of Budd and Haynes, taken after they were released from Gaol, and the original paper which he-DeHart-received from Haynes' wife." These affidavits I have not seen, nor the substance of them, but the whole series of incidents, taken together, looks as if they also told the same story as Cooper did, charging on Ford the Amboy robbery. And I cannot refrain from expressing tho feel- ing which an examination of all the accessible records as well as traditions leave on my mind, that whilst Samnel Ford was a very great vil- lain, he was acting his villainy in very respect- able company, a part of which did not get to court and the scaffold os some others did. Reynolds, the least guilty of the whole, was hung, having been arrested on the testimony of a brother Irishman, who after the execution manifested the most lively grief.
How long Ford was concealed in the vicinity of Hibernia is not known, but his fetter to Cooper was proved by Joseph Morris, his bro- ther-in-law, and Jonathan Ford, his brother, September 8, 1773. I have carefully examined the files of the Pennsylvania Gazette for 1773, aud also Rivington's New York Gazette, and am surprised to find how dilatory the Sheriff and Governor were in their efforts to arrest Ford. He broke jail on the 18th of July, and was known to be in concealment not far away during the entire month of August, and per- haps longer, yet Sheriff Kinney does not get his offer of reward published until August 5th in the ftivington ; and tho Pennsylvania Ga- zette does not get the Governor's proclamation until December 1st. It is not until September of the same year that the last named paper be - gins to publish items concerning the pursuit of
Ford, and then we have items in the issues of September 22d, 29th, October 20th, December 1st and 9th, 1773, and Jannary 26th, 1774.
From the best authority, Ilearn that Ford made his way to what was called the Green Brier Country, among the mountains of Vir- ginia, where he assumed the name of his moth- er's family, Baldwin. He there was a silver- smith, and fermed a partnership with another man. During a severe illness he disclosed his real history to his partner's wife, whe so syt- pathized with him that after his recovery and the death of her own husband she married him. so that he had his third living wife. His oldest . son, William Ford, and Stephen Halsey (son of Ananias), visited him in Virginia, where they found him with "a great property," a new wife aud some promising young Baldwins. It is possible that this distinguished Jerseyman. "who left his country for his country's good," may be the ancestor of some of the Virginin Baldwins who have figured in public life. The Jersey visitors asked the new wife if he had not deceived her, but she said she knew all his past history, and she had no fear of his returning to New Jersey. They described Ford as a "most melancholy man." He professed to his son and Mr. Halsey his senitened, a grace that led to a religious lite, which must have been some. what weak in its nature, as it did not lead hnm to abandon his adulterous relations and do jur- lice to the excellent woman in New Jersey. whom he left to sustain ber family without a tarthing's aid from him.
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