USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Chatham > Brief history of Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey > Part 2
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Another reference in the same volume goes to verify the location of this tract of land at the place heretofore selected. "1702, April I, confirmation to John Jolinson of Monmouth County in right of headlands, of a lot in Essex County on the Passaic River where the road from Minisinks to Elizabethtown crosses it." [N. J. Archiv., Ist series, vol. ii, p. 334.] The limits of the counties at this time were quite indefinite and a lot at the crossing might have been referred to as lying in Essex county without any great mistake in location.
In the earliest time there were two gate ways through which the settlers were able to reach the country beyond the Watchung Mountains. These were the gaps at Scotch Plains and at Short Hills through which Indian paths ran to the open low lands lying to the southeast. Scotch Plains was settled by Thomas Gordon as early as November 18. 1685. [Contributions to East Jersey History, Whitehead, p. 62], and surveys were made in the Passaic Valley, according to a map dated May 3. 1749, taken from a survey made for a Mr. Gordon of Gordonston in Scotland. This map is in the possession of Mr. David Dickinson. The survey made for Mr. Gordon was for his first
Nath Wheeler
Same Freeman
John Johnson
David Ogden
The Great Island
Creek
2
Geo Day
John Curtisz
ELIZABETH
To
PASSAIC RIVEL
5
-
Thomas Ptirson
Original owners of lands at Minnisink Crossing, 1698. They were residents of Newark.
Map drawn by James M. Littlejohn, Chatham.
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MORRIS COUNTY
division of land in the province, and consisted of an allotment of fifteen hundred acres as the following item shows: "1701, June 10, Confirmation to Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonston, Scotland, as his first division of land in the province, fifteen hundred acres on the south side of the Passaick along the path from Elizabethtown to Minisink." [N. J. Arch., Ist series. vol. 21, p. 151.] Sir Robert Gordon was one of the proprietors of East Jersey and this is indisputable evidence that his first allotment of land lay on the east side of the Passaic at Chatham. From this map of 1749 it may be concluded that settlements were made in this section of the Passaic Valley by pioneers from Scotch Plains.
It is stated that settlements were made in Morris county as early as 1685 but no definite information concerning them is given. [Barber and Howe, P. 379; also Hist. Madison Pres. Church, Tuttle, p. Io.] Soon after the Robert Treat and Daniel Denton settlements, pioneers came over the Blue Hills from Newark and Elizabeth Town. In their attempt to cross the mountains there was but one way of ingress. This was by the old Minisink Indian Trail which passed through the Short Hills Gap and led directly to Chatham. The ford of the river was known in those early times as the Crossing of the Fishawack in the Valley of the Great Watchung. The chief settlement at that time was probably made at Whippanong or Whippany. There is considerable evidence that a settlement was made at the time mentioned in the attractive locality near the crossing of the river at Chatham. However, no authentic record has been found.
The settlement at Whippanong which included the vicinity of Chatham, was organized into one of the townships of Burlington county in the year 1700. [Proceedings N. J. Hist. Soc., 2d series, vol. 2, p. 18.] Since Chat- ham lay in the territory of the disputed claims between East Jersey and West Jersey, considerable confusion arose concerning the county to which the town belonged. Frequent references are found in which the territory is placed in Burlington county of West Jersey, and likewise, almost as many references locate it in Essex county of East Jersey. Tradition has it that William Penn owned a large tract of land in the upper part of Burlington county about the year 1701. Purchases were made from this tract by many of the proprietors of West Jersey. This land rightfully belonged to East Jersey and these purchases led to the conflicting claims between the pro- prietors of East and West Jersey.
It is definitely known that families moved from Newark and Eilzabeth Town west of the Passaic and settled along its banks in the year 1710. The attraction which lured the adventurer beyond the Blue Hills or Watch- ung Mountains was not only the fertile land in the Valley of the Great Watchung but also the iron ore deposits lying in the hills of north central Jersey. Deposits of ore were discovered by Arent Schuyler previous to 1695 and in consequence of his discovery many forges were located through- out the territory of Morris county and the locality became known as "The Old Forges." In a letter written by Washington during the Revolutionary War he states that there were from 80 to 100 forges within the limits of this county. Tradition says that one of these forges was situated at the crossing of the Passaic river, near where the mill now stands. Local evidence points toward the possible site of this forge having been near the crossing of the Passaic river at Summit avenue. Another of these forges was located at Green Village. It is said that the iron ore found at Hibernia and Wharton was transported by means of pack horses and manufactured into arms,
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM
ammunition, farming utensils, and ship trimmings. These were later trans- ported to Newark and Elizabeth Town for sale.
In the year 1713 the township of Hanover ceased to be a part of Burlington county through the setting off of the county of Hunterdon, and for the next twenty-two years the territory in and about Whippanong was a township in that county.
As previously stated, the land in this locality was in the early part of the 18th century the cause of a great deal of controversy which was brought about by the conflicting claims between the proprietors of East and West Jersey. The proprietors of West Jersey in their ambition for the acquisition of land did not stop with the limit of the old Keith Line established in 1687 between the two Jerseys, but extended their claims over into the Passaic Valley making the eastern boundary of West Jersey the Passaic river. William Penn, John Budd. and John Hayward were the principal pro- prietors who laid claim to the land of this immediate vicinity. According to a map made April 4. 1744 showing the encroachments of the West Jersey proprietors east of the Quintipartite Line, Thomas and Richard Penn owned 4,937 acres in the Great Black Swamp. [This map is in the Surveyor Gen- eral's office at Perth Amboy.] To William Penn belonged in the year 1715, 1250 acres in the vicinity of Dutch Town (Floral Hill) and to Abraham Chapman 833 acres in and about Stanley. John Budd besides possessing a great tract at Whippany, owned 1250 acres extending westward from the Passaic river through the present property of Frank M. Budd. In the immediate locality of Chatham 870 acres were purchased by John Budd for John Hayward in the year 1716. According to tradition, in 1721 John Budd was the owner of a tract of land to the extent of 847 acres including Chat- ham. This tract was probably the identical tract formerly owned by Hay- ward less a narrow strip of possibly twenty-three acres which extended to the west towards Madison. John Budd did not live on this tract, for a bill of sale, dated December 20, 1731, reads as follows: "From John Budd of Hanover to Samuel Bustill a certain brick dwelling house, etc." [Liber C-3 Burlington, p. 89.] Hanover was the home of the Budds until the time when Dr. John C. Budd moved from that place to the farm which is now in the possession of Mr. Frank M. Budd down Budd Lane. With all the diligent research which has been made the most definite date arrived at con- cerning the early settlement of Chatham is that of 1730, when John and Daniel Day settled in the locality where the road crossed the Passaic river west of the Watchung Mountains. These men came from Long Island. It is reported that John Day bought 250 acres of land from John Budd. George Day came into New Jersey and lived on the north side of Long Hill. [Littell's Genealogy. p. 113.] On the map formerly referred to in the possession of Mr. David Dickinson it is recorded that a George Day lived near the Passaic river south of the road leading to Elizabeth Town near the crossing in Chatham, at that time spoken of as "John Day's Bridge." It is possible that this was the George Day who settled on the north side of Long Hill. At this time. 1749. John Day owned the land west of the Passaic river including the present limits of Chatham. Nathaniel Bonnel came from Long Island to Elizabeth Town, from thence he moved to the Passaic river, and became one of the earliest settlers in Chatham. There is slight evidence in the map referred to above that a Mr. Bonnel lived on the present site of the Vanderpoel estate in 1749. However it is stated that the Bonnels settled originally on the present Bonnel homestead in Stanley. The first settlers in the Passaic valley west of the Watchung Mountains were of English and
Jacob Morrell House of Revolutionary times, East Main Street, Chatham. Washington stopped here frequently.
Day Mansion. in which Washington was entertained, Elwood Avenue. Chatham.
Bonnell Homestead of Revolutionary times, Watchung Avenue, Chatham.
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MORRIS COUNTY
Scotch origin. The former came from Connecticut to Long Island and thence to Newark. The latter landed at Elizabeth Town and came over the mountains either directly from Elizabeth or from the Scotch Plains Settle- ment. The carly family names in and about Chatham in Morris county, which county was set off from Hunterdon in 1798, we find are Day, Bonnel. Budd, Carter, Raymond, Genung. Lum, Ward, Bruen, Spencer, and Morhouse. The homestead of the Day family was located on the present site of the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church. It is said however that originally the family of Days lived somewhere near the hotel on the western side of the Passaic river north of Main street. Dr. John C. Budd was the first of the Budd family to live in this vicinity and through his reputation as a doctor the land about the farm where Frank M. Budd now lives became widely known. The road leading from Main street to his farm was in consequence named Budd Lane. Unfortunately the name of this street was changed to Passaic avenue. Previous to the Revolution there were two roads leading from the road to Elizabeth Town to the Cheapside Bridge. One followed the river and left Main street opposite the old Jacob Morrell house and came out on the present Passaic avenue just beyond the Budd farm. The other went down Elmwood avenue, running north of Coleman's Hill. The present Passaic avenue evidently was built to take the place of the two. The nucleus of the Bonnel family was located in the vicinity of Stanley where a Mr. Bonnel built a grist mill. For many years this locality was referred to as Bonnel Town. In 1749 a Peter Raymond lived on the Ridge Farm back of the present Allen estate east of the Passaic river. The Genungs originally settled on the slope of the Hill south from Division street. The oldest known residence of the Lums in Chatham was on the cor- ner of Fairmount avenue and Main street. The progenitors of this family owned land in the vicinity as early as 1730. It is reported that the farm of Frank M. Budd was called the "Lum Estate," during pre-Revolutionary times. The dwelling on Coleman's Hill was known as the Ward Mansion and was the home from which many of the noted men of that family sprang. Mr. Montgomery Ward, a notable merchant of Chicago, was a descendant of this family. He was born in Chatham, in 1843, in the house on East Main street now owned by Mr. Russel Budd. Israel Ward, of Revolutionary times, was the great-grandfather of Montgomery. Israel was a captain in the Eastern Battalion in the Revolution, and also earned a military title in the French and Indian war. Mr. Ward's property on Coleman's Hili was later occupied by his son Aaron Ward who died 1811. It is said that Gen. Washington was entertained at the home of Israel Ward when Aaron was a small child. The Morhouses referred to in Chatham history lived in the vicinity of the Orange water works. For a time previous to the purchase of the present Vanderpoel estate by David Vanderpoel in 1771, Moses Carter owned that farm. At Union Hill the first settlement was made by the Bruens prior to the Revolution and various members of the family have lived in this vicinity ever since that time.
The earliest history of Chatham deals with that locality east of the Passaic river and at the crossing about Parrot's Mill. The notable Day's Tavern often spoken of in connection with Washington, was located on the north side of the turnpike just east of where the River road turns off to the south. For a long time a mass of shrubbery and an old stone horse-block marked the site of this public house which was built about the year 1750. Foster Horton's store of the Revolutionary times was situated west of the Passaic on the south side of the turnpike road near the old mill pond.
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM
Foster Horton was notable especially through his father, Azariah Horton, who was the first American foreign missionary. [Hist. Discourse, Rev. E. P. Gardner, p. 7.] Colonel Seeley of Revolutionary fame kept a tavern previous to the Revolutionary War, just west of Foster Horton's store, on the same side of the road to Elizabeth Town. Not far west from Colonel Seeley's tavern, on the south side of the road, was the home of Jacob Mor- rell, now occupied by Mr. Fred Tallmadge. It is said that the residence of John Day was located on the north side of the road, west of the Passaic and near the river. A map heretofore referred to, which was found by the author of this sketch in the year 1912 represents a survey made for Andrew Johnson on May 3, 1749. This map was among some old papers in the home of Mr. David Dickinson, and the same is now in his possession. The dwellings of George Day and Peter Raymond to whom references has been made, are definitely located thereon. This little settlement lying peaceably along the Passaic was known until 1775 as John Day's Bridge. The name was changed about this date and the town was henceforth called Chatham after William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham. In consequence of his speeches in Parliament in defence of the colonies many towns throughout the east were given his name. The derivation of Chatham is from the Anglo Saxon-chete, cot- tage ; ham, village ; a village of cottages.
Revolutionary Period-When the declaration of war was announced by the Continental Congress the quiet little town of Chatham came forward with its aid for the great cause. There had been much talk of British op- pression and the likelihood of war, and when the final decision was made many were ready to enlist in the army. From this time forth until the close of the conflict Chatham was the scene of constant military maneuvers. Part of the army was doubtlessly kept stationed here throughout the whole eight years following 1775. Lord Stirling of Basking Ridge assembled troops in the early part of 1776, and men from Chatham joined these ranks. A liberty pole was raised in front of Day's Tavern. Young men joined them- selves into battalions and began drilling. An eighteen pound cannon was planted on Prospect Hill, since called Hobart's Hill, to give the alarm by day in case of the approach of the enemy and a tar barrel was fixed on the top of a pole near by to be set on fire to give the alarm by night.
November of 1776 was a time that tried the loyalty of the staunchest patriot. Washington had lost at White Plains; Fort Washington was taken November 16th ; Fort Lee was evacuated on the 18th ; and the retreat across New Jersey began, with the British close upon the rear guard of the army. Families in Elizabeth Town and Newark, seeing the sorry plight in which they would be placed by the British occupation, hastily loaded their belong- ings and started over the turnpike road westward. For many days the highway through Chatham was the scene of passing families with wagon loads of personal property seeking safety beyond the Passaic river. To- gether with these were many soldiers who had left the army on account of sickness. General Charles Lee was ordered to follow Washington across the State with reinforcements. Washington wrote to him from Philadelphia saying "Do come on, your arrival may be fortunate." Leaving Peekskill, Lee reached Morristown, December 8, 1776, with his division of 4,000 men. In a letter written from that place to a committee of Congress he said, "If I was not taught to think the army with Gen. Washington had been considerably reinforced, I should immediately join him ; but as I am assured he is very strong I should imagine we can make a better impres- sion by beating and harassing their detached parties in the rear, for which
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Township Morris
To Bottle
Township of Hanover
Morris 1739
TO TURKEY
Territory of The Boro of Elizabeth
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JOHN DAY
Geo Day
SLOG HOUSES
John Day Property
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From Gordon's Surveys 1701
5
Township of
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Chatham, John Day's Bridge, or Minnisink Crossing, 1749. From original in hands
of David Dickinson. Drawn by James M. Littlejohn.
MORRIS COUNTY
purpose a good post at Chatham seems the best calculated. It is at a happy distance from Newark, Elizabeth Town, Woodbridge and Bound Brook. We shall, I expect, annoy, distract, and consequently weaken them in a desultory war." ( American Archives, 5th Series, vol. iii. p 1121, and Life of Washington, Irving, chap. XLII.)
Evidently Lee came down to Chatham from Morristown to look over the ground, for on the same day, December 8, he wrote from Day's Tavern, Chatham: "In reply to Washington's letter by Maj. Hoope just received, I am extremely shocked to hear that your force is so inadequate to the necessity of your situation, as I had been taught to think you had been considerably reinforced. Your last letter proposing a plan of surprises and forced marches, convinced me that there was no danger of your being obliged to pass the Delaware; in consequence of which proposals, I have put myself in a position the most convenient to co-operate with you by attacking their rear. I cannot persuade myself that Philadelphia is their object at present. * * It will be difficult, I am afraid to join you ; but cannot I do you more service by attacking their rear?" Washington re- plied instantly : "Philadelphia beyond all question is the object of the enemy's movements, and nothing less than our utmost exertions will pre- vent Gen. Howe from possessing it. The force I have is weak, and utterly incompetent to that end. I must therefore entreat you to push on with every possible succor you can bring." (Am. Archives, 5th Series, iii, 1138.)
On the 9th of December, Lee, who was stationed at Chatham, received information from Heath that three of the regiments detached under Gates from the Northern army had arrived from Albany at Peekskill. He in- stantly wrote to him to forward them to Morristown without loss of time. "I am in hopes to reconquer (if I may so express myself) the Jerseys. It was really in the hands of the enemy before my arrival."
Lee left Morristown a few days later, marched to Vealtown ( Bernards- ville) and made his quarters at Basking Ridge, some distance from the encampment of his army where he was captured by the enemy. Gates at once started from Peekskill to march for Morristown, but got no further than Walpack, Sussex county, where he was snowed in. Lee at this time was known to have made many sarcastic remarks about the commander-in- chief, and wrote to Gates: "Entre nous, a certain great man is most damnably deficient."
These actions. remarks. and responses by Charles Lee show the caliber of the man. He was ambitious to be commander-in-chief, set his opinions against those of Washington, attempted to persuade Congress that Washing- ton was incompetent, suggested mutiny within the army, and finally ex- posed himself to capture. His keeping his quarters at Chatham while his army was at Morristown was much in line with his practice at Basking Ridge and might have led to similar results.
Colonel Ford's militia was stationed back of Short Hills for the pur- pose of watching every movement of the enemy on the plains toward Elizabeth Town. Rev. Mr. Caldwell, who had removed with his fam- ily from Connecticut Farms to Turkey ( New Providence), wrote to Gen- eral Lee on the 12th of December as follows: "At a Council of the Field Officers this morning, a majority of them advised to remove the brigade of militia back again to Chatham, for which they assign these reasons. Many of the Militia, rather fond of plunder and adventure, kept a continual scouting, which kept out so many detached parties, that the body was weakened ; and the enemy now being stronger at Elizabeth Town than they
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM
are, they thought they would better serve the cause by lying at Chatham till the expected army approaches for their support." [American Archives, 5th series, vol. 3, p. 1189.] This letter did not reach Gen. Lee for on the next morning he was captured. Colonel Ford evidently fell back to Chatham for on the night of December 17th he wrote the following letter from Chat- ham to General Heath : "We have since sunset had a brush with the enemy, four miles below this, in which we have suffered, and our militia much dis- heartened. They are all retreated to this place and will in all probability be attacked by day-break. The enemy, we have reason to believe, is double our numbers. If in your wisdom you can assist us, we may possibly beat them yet ; but without your aid we can't stand. They are encamped (say 1000 British troops) at Springfield, and will be joined by four hundred and fifty Waldeckers from Elizabeth Town, by the next morning's light." [Am. Arch., vol. 3, pp. 1235, 1260, 1277.] Jacob Ford Jr. was the colonel com- mandant of the American troops lying at Chatham. Major Spencer dis- patched a light horseman to Colonel Ford with word that the British were approaching Springfield. The colonel went immediately to his aid, the enemy was driven back, and a brief campaign followed in which the brave and courageous Colonel Ford was much exposed and exhausted. Soon afterwards he was seized with an attack of pneumonia and died in Jan- nary, 1777. [Morristown Bill of Mortality, p. 29.] A letter of Colonel Symmes gives a much more detailed account of this transaction. [N. J. Journal, No. 4636.]
On the 20th of December, 1776, General Maxwell was ordered by Washington to take command of about 800 militia and to annoy and harass the enemy in the vicinity of Elizabeth Town and to cut off his convoys. The state of affairs at this time was reported from Chatham by General McDougall as follows: "John Halstead left Elizabeth Town this morning at eight o'clock. Says there is no troops in Elizabeth Town but Waldeckers, the same that has been there for two weeks past. Says the drums beat this morning about day-break, and he understood they were to have marched ; but that they did not, and the reason why, as he understood, was the badness of the weather. Knows not which way they were to march, but it is said they were to have a little march out o' town; that he thinks six or seven hundred British troops went through town the day before yesterday, near 12 o'clock towards Newark, and that they have not as yet returned." [ Spark's Washington, book 4, pp. 239, 249.] How this information was communicated is not certain. However it is known that a faithful scout by the name of Karmel operated in this locality, and such information as here recorded may be accredited to him. Sylvanus Cobb Jr. in 1855 made this certain Karmel a hero of a novel called "Karmel the Scout," which was sub- sequently dramatized and played in New York City.
On the 30th of December Washington wrote from Trenton to General Maxwell, "Collect as large a force as possible at Chatham and after gaining the proper intelligence, endeavor to strike a stroke upon Elizabeth Town or that neighborhood." [ Hatfield's Hist. Elizabeth Town, p. 454.] General Maxwell prepared at once to carry out these instructions. The victories at Trenton and Princeton followed soon after this, and the British in the vicinity of Elizabeth Town were thrown into consternation. General Max- well left Chatham, had a brush with the enemy at Springfield, compelled them to evacuate Newark, drove them out of Elizabeth Town, and fought them at Spank Town ( Rahway) a couple of hours. Maxwell held Elizabeth Town but the British did not leave the community for the first half of the
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MORRIS COUNTY
year 1777. The whole country was put in a state of excitement. General Sullivan kept watch over the movements of the enemy while Maxwell occu- pied Elizabeth. "Their troops were continually moving from Chatham 10 Springfield, or from Westfield to Scotch Plains, watching for opportunities to cut off the foraging parties, or to pick up the scouts of the cneniy. Skirmishes, more or less severe, were of almost daily occurrence." [Hat- field's Hist. Elizabeth Town, p. 459.] This winter was doubtless for the village of Chatham one of the most exciting of the whole war. It was dur- ing this season of 1776 and 1777 that Washington was encamped in the Lowantica Valley.
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