USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bergen > Annals of the classis of Bergen, of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the churches under its care: including, the civil history of the ancient township of Bergen, in New Jersey > Part 5
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(Translation).
"We, burgomasters, schepins and counsellors of the city of Wagening, declare by these presents, that there appeared before us, Hendrick Elissen and Jordiz Spiers, citizens of this city, at the request of Gerrit Gerritsen and Anna Hermansse, his wife. They have testified and certified, as they do by these presents, that they have good knowledge of the above named Gerrit Gerritsen and Anna Hermansse, his wife, as to their life and conversation, and that they have always been considered and esteemed as pious and honest people, and that no complaint of any evil or disorderly conduct has ever reached their ears ; on the contrary, they have always led quiet, pious and honest lives, as it becomes pious and honest persons. They especially testify, that they govern their family well, and bring
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up their children in the fear of God, and in all modesty and respectability.
" As the above named persons have resolved to re- move and proceed to New Netherland, in order to find greater convenience, they give this attestation, grounded on their knowledge of them, having known them intimately, and having been in continual inter- course with them for many years, living in the same neighborhood.
"In testimony of the truth, we, the burgomasters of the city, have caused the secret seal of the city to be imprinted on this paper.
"Done at Wagening, 27th November, 1660.
"By the ordinance of the same.
"J. AQUELIN.
" A correct translation from the Dutch of the orig- inal document."
(Signed), THOMAS DE WITT. "New York, August 21st, 1841."
From that time until the present, intimate relations have been maintained between the descendants of the original settlers of Bergen and Acquackanonck. Fre- quent intermarriages have occurred. In the lapse of years also, there were those who removed from the former to the latter place. The same modes of culti- vating the soil, the same habits and manners, and many of the same customs and usages have prevailed in both settlements.
Governor Philip Carteret, having returned from England, and being recommissioned as Governor, July 31, 1674, published his commission and other docu-
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ments at Bergen, November 6th, 1674, in the presence of his council and commissioners, from all the towns except Shrewsbury, and internal peace was largely restored .* From this time the Provincial Assemblies met with regularity. The first at Elizabethtown, No- vember 5th, 1675. The members of this assembly from the town of Bergen were, Hans Dedrick and Elias Michelson. This year the whole province was placed under the jurisdiction of county Courts. Ber- gen and the adjacent plantations receiving one. It appears, that in order to raise fifty pounds, the Legis- lative Assembly, in 1683, laid assessments to be raised in the four counties, viz :- Bergen, £11; Middlesex, £10; Essex, £14; Monmouth, £15. In 1694, the sum of £79, 12s., 9d. was assessed for Bergen county :- Bergen, £7, 9s., 6d .; Hackensack, £3, 18s., 9d.
The ferry at Communipan, established in 1661, was placed under regulations by Governor Carteret, and for many years was the only authorized mode of com- munication with New York from the township of Ber- gen. In 1662, however, the ferryman complained that the authorities of Bergen had authorized the inhabi- tants to " ferry themselves over whenever they pleased, to the great injury of his business."+
The communication by ferry to New York was, at first, by skiffs. Periaugers succeeded them. Horse boats commenced A. D., 1812. The first trip is repre- sented in the Sentinel of Freedom, published in New- ark, to have drawn together thousands of spectators, "attracted by the novel and pleasing scene. One,"
* Whitehead's East New Jersey, p. 66. t Ibid., p. 161.
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(says the Sentinel), "may now cross the river on a loaded team, at the slight cost of fifty cents, the same as on a bridge."
Double steam boats, having a wheel in the middle, built by Robert Fulton, supplanted the horse-boats. The two first were named the York and the Jersey .*
In the Revolutionary War, the town of Bergen was not unfrequently occupied by American and British troops, and frequent skirmishes took place. A fort was erected by the Americans, about two hundred yards East from the center of the town. It was an earthen breastwork, covered with sod, with trenches in front. The following extract from an old news- paper refers to the murder of Stephen Ball, by the refugees, Feb. 15th, 1781.t He is said to have been hung on a small persimmon tree, near the tide mill on Bergen Point. After his death the rope was cut, and he fell into a grave dug for him, but subsequent- ly was re-buried, at Newark.
" This unfortunate man was deluded by a declara- tion made by the commanding officer on Staten Island, that all persons who would bring provisions, should have liberty to sell the same and return unmolested ; in consequence of which declaration Ball carried over four quarters of beef, with a full assurance of being well treated, and expected to return undiscovered by his countrymen. But soon after his arrival on that island, he was seized by Cornelius Hetfield, who com- manded a party of six or seven men, and was carried before General Patterson who refused to call a court
* Newark Advertiser, of June 12, 1856.
t Historical Collections of New Jersey, p. 229.
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martial to try him. From thence he was carried be- fore General Sumner, in order for trial; but he also refused, pretending to shudder at the thought of try- ing and executing a person who came to bring them relief. Nevertheless, the said Hetfield and his party, being lost to every sense of humanity, after robbing their prisoner of what property he had with him, car- ried him across to Bergen Point, and without even the form of a trial, immediately informed him that he had but ten minutes to live, and accordingly put their. horrid design into execution, notwithstanding the prisoner strenuously urged that he came with provis- ion, agreeably to the above mentioned declaration. And when he found they were determined to take his life, he begged for a few minutes longer, but was an- swered that his request could not be granted ;- but if he had a desire any person should pray with him, one of their party should officiate. When he was near expiring, James Hetfield, one of the banditti, put a knife in his hand, and swore that he should not go into another world unarmed. The persons who per- petrated this cruel act, were Cornelius Hetfield, Job Hetfield, James Hetfield, Sen., James Hetfield, Jun., Elias Mann and Samuel Mann, all late inhabit- ants of Elizabethtown ; and Job Smith, late an in- habitant of Bergen.
" When Ball's father became acquainted with the tragical death of his son, he solicited a flag, which he obtained, for the purpose of bringing over the corpse ; but the enemy, with savage brutality, would not suf- fer them to land."
Cornelius Hetfield, the principal in this murder,
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fled to Nova Scotia. In 1807, he returned, and was arrested for the crime. After his confinement in Newark jail, he was brought before Judge Penning- ton on a writ of habeas corpus, and finally discharged by the judge, who was of opinion, by the spirit of the treaty of 1783, that he was not answerable for the transaction .*
The scenes of trial and of subsequent glory, which appertain to the times of the Revolution, were recalled most vividly to the minds of the citizens generally, during the welcome visit of General La Fayette, as the nation's guest, in 1823-4. When passing on his tour from New York, through the State of New Jer- sey, the citizens of Bergen presented him with a cane, taken from an apple tree, in the orchard on the par- sonage premises, under whose shade he had, with other officers of the American army, dined-and at which time, a counsel was held in reference to the affairs of the army, then in the vicinity. This cane was elegant- ly mounted with gold, and the loved and honored dominie, John Cornelison, was duly appointed by the citizens to make the presentation, which he did, ac- companied by a felicitous, but brief address. The response of the veteran soldier, was in terms of grati- tude, with allusions appropriate to the remembrance of the event referred to.
The following transcript of a record, respecting the intensely cold weather in the winter of 1779-80, is copied from a blank leaf in an old Dutch Bible, now in the possession of Abraham Oothout Zabriskie, Esq.,
* Historical Collections of New Jersey, p. 229.
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of Jersey City, a lineal descendant of the person who penned it, and no one can question the accuracy of the statement, without presumption; the terms in which the record is made, demanding implicit confi- dence in it :-
"In January, 1780, the North and East Rivers were so frozen over with ice, that as many as an hun- dred sleighs were driven over from Bergen to New York. It continued for a month. And so strong was the ice on the East River, that I saw about seventy- five sleighs ranged one after another, passing over at one time. This is the truth and no mistake.
" JOHN JACOB LANSING, wrote this."
In their quiet way, the inhabitants pursued their accustomed avocations, principally in agriculture. In this department, cabbage constituted a grand staple of produce. The lands fronting on the New York Bay, being peculiarly adapted to its successful growth. Well enriched with the street manure of the neighboring city, this land often gave back to the cul- tivator of this article, his most liberal remuneration. Immense quantities were raised, not only for supply- ing the New York market, but for shipment to every prominent Southern port along the extended Atlantic coast.
Other articles were indeed extensively raised for domestic use, as well as for the supply of the New York market, especially the cereal grains and hay. Large quantities of green grass were, and still are sold, tied up in bunches, and frequently yielding a good return in money. At present, large portions of land
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are devoted to horticulture, but soon will become town or city lots.
The mechanic arts were pursued, as needed, to fur- ther the interests of the community.
The shad fisheries and oyster grounds, furnished by the New York and Newark Bays, gave extensive and profitable employment to very many, and continue to do so, perhaps not quite so largely.
Until within the last half century, it was difficult for any one to purchase of the patentees or their heirs any land, not even a lot on which to rear a dwelling. When by reason of death, a sale had to be made to effect a settlement, it was esteemed unkind if any one, not an heir, should endeavor to purchase. They were reluctant to form acquaintance with strangers,. lest they should be imposed upon. But when such acquaintance was formed and appreciated, it was not easily terminated. Whatever may have been their family broils, when any one of the community was wrongfully involved in trouble, especially in litiga- tion, they were as one man. When such occasions occurred, it was no uncommon thing for almost all the men to resort to the county town, and support and en- courage their assailed neighbor. So also, when any great local question arose, they were as one man for the cause of Bergen. Thus, as recently as when the vote was taken for locating the county Court House and Jail, on the question being asked at the ferry at Jersey City, on the morning of the day after the spe- cial election, what was the vote of Bergen township ? (which then included Hoboken and North Bergen), an old inhabitant of Bergen replied, “ Bergen has re-
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ceived five hundred votes, and Jersey City may have all the rest." The fact was, five hundred votes were all that were cast, and every one for Bergen. This settled the perplexing question of the site.
In their family intercourse, and among themselves in their business matters, they continued to use the Dutch language. Several of the old people do so to this day. Their frugal mode of life, their severe and constant bodily labor, their economical habits, were proverbial. For many generations, their word was their bond, a verbal contract being deemed all-suffi- cient. If they toiled hard and earned money, they studiously endeavored to save it by prudent invest- ment. They indulged in no costly dress or equipage, and in home-spun garments, neat, clean and whole, they visited the market place and the sanctuary. The avails of the family toil, in spinning flax and wool, in weaving and coloring, were constantly seen in the or- dinary dress, and in the many articles for family use. Goodly stores of domestic linens and woolens, were sure to be found in every well regulated family.
Nor were they apt to be long retained in the piece, as they came from the weaver's hands, or from the fulling and dressing mills. They were, at the earliest convenience of the industrious mother, and her active daughters, manufactured into appropriate garments, for every member of the family. So far did these provident arrangements extend, that in the event of a death, the habiliments for the corpse need not be sent for, or hurriedly put together. The well stored caas. or old-fashioned clothes-press, contained them all. We have seen on some occasions, the beautifully
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plaited and well crimped garments, brought forth to meet the painful exigency. From the same bountiful stores, when the daughters went forth in the new re- lation of wives, and commenced house-keeping, their mother's industry, and their own early labors, were well attested by the goodly supply of personal gar- ments, with bedding of every description, and in more recent times, with beautiful domestic carpeting, of their own spinning and coloring.
It was, however, common for the youthful husband and wife, to have their home for the first year of mar- ried life, under the roof of her parents.
With the young people of both sexes, the custom long prevailed of riding on horse-back. Especially about the seasons of the holidays, at New Year, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. In the evening rides, going in pairs, a beau and belle mounted on the same animal, the latter seated behind the former, with firm grasp holding on to him who had sought the favor of her company. Go where you might, you were sure to see, near the parental dwelling, the huge stepping-block, with its convenient and wide notches, well cut in, serving for steps by which to ascend to its even top, as a firm foundation on which for the sprightly girl to stand, until the well-kept steed should be brought up, and thence to spring into her seat, and on which, on returning, to alight. It is only within the last twenty-five years, this once favorite mode of youthful pleasure, riding, gave way to that of com- panies of two pairs each, in a substantial wagon, and which in latter days has been superceded by the more tasteful buggy. On marriage occasions, long proces-
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sions of wagons or sleighs, filled with the mirthful es- cort of " the happy twain made one," told of the nup- tials, wherever they went, the whole company sing- ing by the way.
If they did not possess the luxuries of the neigh- boring city of New York, or indulge in its extrava- gances, the people did possess and enjoy their home comforts, and were well content. The wonder is, that considering all the trials they had endured, especially during the war of the Revolution, when they were compelled to flee from their homes, and resort to the interior among family friends, and were often heavily drawn upon by foraging parties of the enemy, and then, in turn, by similar parties of the American for- ces, under orders from General Washington, and on their return to their homes, after the British evacuated New York, finding fences destroyed, cattle driven off, dwellings disfigured and sadly injured, and themselves compelled to begin the world anew, that they should have exhibited such recuperative energy, that in a comparatively brief season, their gardens and lands were once more clad with verdure and bloom, and re- paying them for their toil and discomforts.
We have heretofore referred to the erection of the county of Hudson, in A. D., 1840. We revert to it, for the purpose of presenting the interesting facts ad- verted to by the Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, at the time Chief Justice of the State of New Jersey, in his address, on the occasion of the opening of the Court House, erected during 1844-5, for the first time for the transaction of business, in which he succinctly exhibits the real character of the people
...
J.W.ORR-NEIY.
HUDSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE AND PRISON.
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of Bergen, while at the same time, the action had on that occasion deserves a permanent record.
It is proper, however, first to state, that efforts were made to secure the location of the public buildings in Jersey City. And that, for a time, the Court Terms were held in the Lyceum Building, in Jersey City, and subsequently in an apartment of the old hotel in North Bergen, (now Hudson), at the junction of the Newark Turnpike and Hoboken Road. On the com- pletion of the Court House, the public authorities of the County, the Chief Justice of the State, and the Associate Judges participated in the exercises of the occasion, on the 11th of March, A. D., 1845, so hap- pily affording opportunity for the venerable and long highly honored Chief Justice to address the citizens, in his wonted, lucid, forceful, kind and yet energetic manner.
The following notices of the occasion, are from the Jersey City Advertiser and Hudson County Republi- can, of Tuesday, March 18th, 1845.
NEW COURT HOUSE.
We were unable to do much more than notice the opening of the Court House on Tuesday last. It is our privilege to-day to be able to furnish a more ex- tended account, which will be found in another part of our paper. The location of the building we believe is generally known, being in North Bergen, a short distance from the brow of the hill, somewhat central between that and the Five Corners. The building is constructed of trap rock, and has been raised, as re- marked by the overseer, "as it were, out of the very ground on which it stands, the stone being taken there- from." The court room is forty-eight by forty-nine feet, and is in the second story. On the ground floor 4*
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are the offices of the County Clerk, Surrogate, State Attorney, and Sheriff; also the Grand Jury Room, affording very convenient and comfortable apartments for each of these purposes. Off of the court room at the entrance, on each side, is also a small room for the use of the jurors. The county jail, about seventy-five feet from the Court House, is fifty-two by thirty-eight feet, and contains eight close cells and three day cells, together with suitable apartments for the jailer. The jail is yet unfinished. The Court House, in its design, manner of execution, &c., so far as we have heard, has given general satisfaction, and as we remarked in our last, reflects becoming credit upon all who have contributed in any way toward its construction.
NEW COURT HOUSE. -
This substantial, handsome, and commodious build- ing, which has just been completed, and which is so creditable to the liberality of the citizens of the coun- ty, and to the good taste of those who have had the immediate direction and management of its construc- tion, was opened on Tuesday last, for the first time, for the transaction of the public business, Chief Jus- tice Hornblower presiding, and notwithstanding the severe storm, the spacious and elegant court room was crowded.
On taking his seat, the Chief Justice directed the courts to be opened; the usual proclamations to be made; and that the Grand Jurors be called, and take their seats.
The Rev. Doctor Taylor, of the Reformed Dutch Church at Bergen, who was present, by invitation of the Court, then offered up a prayer to the Throne of Grace, peculiarly appropriate, eloquent and impres- sive, after which the Grand Jurors were duly quali- fied, and Chief Justice Hornblower, in his usual hap- py and dignified manner, made an eloquent address, suitable to the occasion, which was listened to with
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intense interest by the Court, the Bar, the Grand Jury and a large number of other citizens present.
After the adjournment of the Court, the Members of the Bar, and the Grand Jury, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and a large concourse of other citizens from all parts of the county, met in the Court Room, when Dr. John S. Condit was called to the chair, and Robert Gilchrist appointed secretary.
Asa Whitehead, Esq., stated the object of the meet- ing, and offered the following resolution, which was seconded by E. B. D. Ogden, Esq .:
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to his Honor, Chief Justice Hornblower, for the elo- quent and interesting address delivered by him this morning, and that a committee be appointed to wait upon him and request a copy for publication.
Whereupon, Asa Whitehead, Cornelius Van Win- kle, and Henry M. Traphagen, Esqs., were appointed such committee.
On motion of Peter Bentley, Esq., seconded by A. O. Zabriskie, Esq .:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to convey to the Rev. Dr. Taylor the sincere thanks of this meeting, for his attendance here this morning, and to express to him the gratification and delight ex- perienced by us all in listening to his solemn, appro- priate and eloquent address to the Throne of Grace ; and also to request him to commit it to writing, in the same words in which it was delivered, as nearly as it may be in his power to recall them, and furnish the officers of this meeting with a copy thereof, it being the earnest wish of all present that the same may be published with the other proceedings.
Whereupon, the Chair appointed Peter Bentley, J. J. Van Boskerck, and Cornelius C. Joralemon, such committee.
On motion of J. D. Miller, Esq., seconded by Peter McMartin, Esq.,
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Resolved, That the thanks of the citizens of Hudson County are due to the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the prompt, faithful, and energetic manner, in which they have prosecuted the work of erecting the public buildings :
To the building committee of that Board, for their attention to, and discharge of the trust committed to them; and also for the liberality and good taste they have displayed in furnishing the Court Room, the Grand Jury Room, the Clerk's and Surrogate's Offices, and all the other offices in the building:
To the contractor, Mr. Wm. Browne, for the faith- ful and workmanlike manner in which he has fulfilled his contract-and more than fulfilled it, if we may judge from the substantial and elegantly furnished building in which we are now assembled: to Mr. Kirk, the able and accomplished architect, who fur- nished the plan: to Mr. Daniel G. Van Winkle, the superintendent-in short to all who have had any agency in the construction of this beautiful edifice.
The committee appointed to wait upon the Chief Justice, having performed that duty, reported that his honor at first peremptorily refused to accede to the request of the meeting, on the ground that the re- marks he had made were hastily prepared, and not fit to be published; but the committee were happy to inform the meeting, that he had at length yielded to their earnest solicitation, and given them the manu- script, which they would now hand to the Secre- tary.
The Chairman of the Committee appointed to wait upon the Rev. Dr. Taylor, then read a letter which he had just received from that Rev. gentleman, kindly assenting to the request of the meeting-which was ordered to be published with the other proceedings.
On motion of Matthias Ogden, Esq., seconded by I. W. Scudder, Esq .:
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
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signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published with the prayer by the Rev. Dr. Taylor, and the ad- dress by Chief Justice Hornblower, in the Jersey City Advertiser.
On motion, Adjourned.
JOHN H. CONDIT, Chairman. ROBERT GILCHRIST, Secretary.
LETTER.
PETER BENTLEY, Esq.,
Chairman of Committee, &c.
Dear Sir- In reply to the request of the Committee of the Bar, the Grand Jury and citizens, at a meeting held in the Court House this morning, soliciting a copy, for publication, of the prayer offered up by me at the opening of the exercises, on the occasion of the occupancy of the new Court House, I would state that I will endeavor to embody the substance of the prayer in writing, although I shall not be able to recall its precise language in every particular.
The occasion is one of interest to the citizens of Hudson County, and the request is from such a source, and prepared in such kind terms, that although per- haps unusual, I do not feel at liberty to withhold my assent.
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